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Recommendations For A Vintage Pelikan


Jobesmirage

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I would love to try out a vintage Pelikan. I recently picked up a modern M205 in transparent Blue and found the design very beautiful but the size a little small and the nib a little scratchy (I got an EF, but even for an EF I thought it was a little scratchy). Then I purchased one of these 1745 Reform fountain pens on Ebay and found that it wrote wonderfully. This got me thinking about Pelikan again and I thought that may be if I purchased a vintage model, the experience would be better, but I don't know very much about Pelikans so I thought I would post here.

 

Any recommendations on my first vintage Pelikan? In terms of nib, I generally write with a EF in Western sizes and a F on Japanese. I like the size of the Parker 51 but Im not sure what the corresponding size would be on Pelikans.

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The vintage birds aren't that big sized actually, for example the vintage M600 is the size of the current M400.

 

Getting a vintage Pelikan would mean a thinner line (not so much tipping material).

 

The 51 is about the same length as a current M600. For that length you would have to find a vintage M800, with the 14k nibs.

 

If budget is an issue, perhaps a 120 (steel nib) or 140 (gold nib). They are about the size of a M200 though, so you'll have to post if you found the M200 small.

 

 

~Epic

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1348/557449480_2f02cc3cbb_m.jpg http://null.aleturo.com/Dumatborlon/Badges/5EH4/letter.png
 
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If you would like to have a vintage Pelikan with the traditional look and the experience of a very nice nib on a work-horse pen that was a true pert of the times, I'd look for a 140 Stresemann (green with black stripes like the Minister's black-striped morning pants). If you can find it with original package and papers, so much the better.

 

If you like it and the writing experience, or simply the owning experience, the world of Pelikans opens for you!

 

PS

 

If the pen is not being auctioned, don't be afraid to make an offer!

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I'll second there idea that most vintage Pelikans won't be larger than your M205. However, vintage Pelikans are a lot of fun! I really enjoy using my 120's even though I have larger birds. The cigar shape is very comfortable in the hand and the steel nibs are great. 140's are often available on eBay for not much money and will have a gold nib, a month ago I picked up one for under $40. BTW the gold nib from the 140 will also fit your 205.

...............................................................

We Are Our Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams

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I would suggest a 140 or 400NN from Pelikan's vintage catalog. You might find this link useful in your quest; https://thepelikansperch.com/2015/06/22/choosing-pelikan-fountain-pen/

PELIKAN - Too many birds in the flock to count. My pen chest has proven to be a most fertile breeding ground.

fpn_1508261203__fpn_logo_300x150.jpg

THE PELIKAN'S PERCH - A growing reference site for all things Pelikan

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If you would like to have a vintage Pelikan with the traditional look and the experience of a very nice nib on a work-horse pen that was a true pert of the times, I'd look for a 140 Strassner (green with black stripes like the Minister's pants). If you can find it with original package and papers, so much the better.

 

If you like it and the writing experience, or simply the owning experience, the world of Pelikans opens for you!

 

PS

 

If the pen is not being auctioned, don't be afraid to make an offer!

Would this be normally just labelled as the Pelikan 140

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Would this be normally just labelled as the Pelikan 140

Yes, a 140. Sometimes it may be called a "Stresemann", but that was not an official name bestowed by Pelikan. It refers to the green striped or striated color of the barrel:

 

[/url]">http://http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj157/dick168/IPDV-0212_zpsbfecvysz.jpg

 

v.

 

In Germany, the striped trousers became popular after Gustav Stresemann, Foreign Minister of the Weimer Republic, had worn them for the first time in combination with a black single breasted lounge coat on December 1, 1925.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Stresemann

 

This style was more relaxed when worn with a short jacket rather than the swallow tail coat of traditional Morning Wear . President Reagan wore the informal look for his second inauguration as President.

 

[/url]">http://http://s271.photobucket.com/user/dick168/media/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-01%20at%201.30.45%20AM_zpsjbfz382z.png.html'>http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj157/dick168/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-01%20at%201.30.45%20AM_zpsjbfz382z.png

 

More than anyone might possibly wish to know!

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A 400 & 400n (200) are Standard sized pens, that are not too small if posted like they should be. A 400nn is a tad longer, a medium long pen, same girth. Somehow, holds much more ink than the regular 400=1.27 ml, 400nn = @1.97.

 

The 140 is a medium small pen that posts exactly as long as a posted 400....it has a smaller nib and if of them all the only one I'm sure of is semi-flex. (Outside the marked, H-hard and D...nail's nail special nibs that also goes for the '50's 400's.)

The 400-400n-400nn can be either semi-flex or maxi-semi-flex...there is no way of telling but by handling and knowing the difference. It is pure luck, unless you buy from someone on this com who knows the difference.

I do suggest semi-flex first, in it's strong enough to handle a ham fisted writer...as I said, I was one. It is natural coming over from ball points, which is like plowing the south 40 with out the mule.

 

I do suggest the 140 in it will be semi-flex. It took me some three months with that pen to lighten my Hand enough naturally for my maxi-semi-flex 400nn.

 

Even though I 'learned' to use a fountain pen in the '50's, after 35 or more years of just using a ball point, I was Ham Fisted. After 3 months with the 140 I was only Slightly Ham Fisted, so could use a maxi-semi-flex with out stressing the nib.

 

My 400nn's an OF and I suggest your first '50's oblique :puddle: :drool: :notworthy1: :thumbup: be an OB....it's easier to use.....and do not waste money on any oblique outside the '50-65 era, they do not give the line variation of that era, by far. Those after that era are only good for those who naturally cant their pens due to left eye dominance.

 

The nibs of that era (not the 120's American Bump Under school pen) are stubs, very little expensive 'iridium' added to a tad of flex, gives you flair with out doing anything. A nice clean line too.

My 140 was a OB, :puddle: and the nibs are @ 1/2 a width narrower than fat & blobby ham fisted ball point barbarian proof modern 400/600. The nib is @ as wide as a 200. So the 140 OB is a writing nib, not a signature nib, like a fat M.

 

By the way have you checked your scratchy 200's nib with a 10-12X loupe, it could be misaligned. 95% of scratchy is misaligned tines and holding the fountain pen before the big index knuckle like a ball point. A fountain pen must be held behind the big index knuckle to float in the small puddle of ink. If held before the big knuckle, you are plowing furrows in the paper...part of scratchy.

 

If for religious reasons you refuse to post your vintage 400's (and complain it or the 200 is too small) your only way out is to buy a modern 600 and there are many beautiful ones and mount a '50-65 nib on it. I have a 400n's semi-flex B nib on my 605. :thumbup:

The medium-large 600 is a better balanced pen posted than unposted....but religion is religion.

In reference to P. T. Barnum; to advise for free is foolish, ........busybodies are ill liked by both factions.

 

 

The cheapest lessons are from those who learned expensive lessons. Ignorance is best for learning expensive lessons.

 

 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Yes,140s are delightful and relatively easy to get.

 

Good hunting!

 

Erick

Using right now:

Visconti Voyager 30 "M" nib running Birmingham Streetcar

Jinhao 9019 "EF" nib running Birmingham Railroad Spike

Stipula Adagio "F" nib running Birmingham Violet Sea Snail

Sailor Profit "B" nib running Van Dieman's Night - Shooting Star

 

 

 

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