Pelikan Prices

[Waltz For Zizi]

Does anyone have any idea why the pink pelikan is selling so high on ebay? Is it because of the high demand and scarcity? In my country this pen is still selling for as low as 290$ and as high as 370$, and I'm still kicking myself I didn't buy it when I found it at a discount a year ago for 200$. I bought it for 290 though.

But I see the green m600 from a few years back selling for a measly 370$ on ebay. I personaly find it more appealing than the pink one, but never bought from other countries anything, so I'm a little reluctant.

Edited November 2, 2017 by Waltz For Zizi

[Bo Bo Olson]

Normally Romania is on the lower end of pen prices....but that might be the old pens. LOM has prevented me from even thinking about that.

 

In checking the German Ebay, the seller has to mail out of Germany (Some won't even ship to England or Spain)....Pen Pal is safer for him....in Romania once had a bad name for scammers. That has moved south to Bulgaria.

[Waltz For Zizi]

Normally Romania is on the lower end of pen prices....but that might be the old pens. LOM has prevented me from even thinking about that.

 

In checking the German Ebay, the seller has to mail out of Germany (Some won't even ship to England or Spain)....Pen Pal is safer for him....in Romania once had a bad name for scammers. That has moved south to Bulgaria.

The m800's are crazy expensive though. It's double the price of an m600, that's why I like to lie to myself that it's probably too big for me, and this happened about 2-3 years ago when pelikan raised considerably in price here, it was much cheaper before.

 

But your reply didn't actually answer my question. Why is the vibrant green m600 selling for 1/3 of the price of the m600 pink?

Edited November 2, 2017 by Waltz For Zizi

[inkstainedruth]

Perhaps because there was less buzz about it? Maybe not as popular a color? The Pink M600 really was pretty unique. Which green were you talking about? The M600 Green o Green? I just did a Google search, and it's nice enough, but.... Man, that pink one....

I couldn't have afforded the Pink when it came out -- let alone the current eBay prices . I did really lust over the color, since it wasn't a super girly pink. But the M600s are just enough heavier than the M400s that the weight would have been an issue.

Maybe they'll reissue the Pink in a few years. Or (better yet) bring the pink out in the M400 size. I remember when the grey M800 Stresemann came out a couple of years ago and thinking it was really classy looking -- but the M800s are entirely too big for my hand. So I was keeping my fingers crossed (and IIRC whining about it on FPN as well ) that Pelikan would come out with the grey in a smaller size. And then they did, and due to circumstances last spring I was able to afford one (and couldn't be happier).

It may be that the prices on the pink ones goes down some in a few years, once the hype is over and done with. Or not....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Bo Bo Olson]

Green O'Green is one of the many 600's I like. The pink nor the new white stripe do nothing for me.

I would think many women or married men might buy the pink when they'd not buy a pen at all. So there is more demand.

 

I find the 800 a thick clunky pen...lacking balance, with a substandard nib.

The W.Germany one would interest me, because of the slightly more springy than regular flex nib. I had one in my hands for some 3 days, in I was told I could play with it, in I was trans-mailing it to Spain, in some German idiot refused to mail outside of Germany.

Growing up in the Standard era I've found Large pens outside the thin Snorkel take me some time to get use to it.

I have a great balanced with a grand nib, medium-large '50's 146 and a 'modern' large one from the '70-80 era, and it does take me a few seconds to get use to the Large 146. The new 146 is lighter and more nimble than a 800.

 

I like my medium small 140s or Geha 760 that were very IN in Germany in that era. They post as long as a 400.

I find the medium-large 600 to have a comfortable girth, that I don't have to think about when I change from using a standard pen. It is light and nimble...still. (the 400NN is the same length, but it is standard in girth....it took me some two years to finally give the nod to the NN over my 400 for better balance.) For pure balance I'd pick the NN over the 600.

 

The best part of having a 600 is you can put on a semi/maxi-semi-flex nib from the '50-65 era. I finally had my BB 605 stubbed to 1.0....but my '54 semi-flex B in that pen was and is .

 

You can't do that with an 800. An 800 is a fat and blobby nail nib....unless you get a regular flex W.Germany or 'pre-98.....then it's narrower than Standard Pelikan, having had it's very own size range. In between normal Pelikan and Waterman. I have an old chart that shows the normal Pelikan being narrower than Parker and Sheaffer................we can blame that on the ham fisted pretzel making Ball Point Barbarians for that.

Nails and semi-nails are harder to make into pretzels.

 

PS... I buy old used pens in they are cheaper....even used 600's are a bit expensive. I do like many 600's but some like the Grand Place, is more expensive used than when it was new.

Edited November 3, 2017 by Bo Bo Olson

[yeepers]

I would like to know where you can still get the Pink Pelikan for $290. Please share!!!!!

[Mew]

 

I find the 800 a thick clunky pen...lacking balance, with a substandard nib.

I have been reading your posts regarding pelikan pens for a while. May I ask why you call the current M800 nib a sub-standard nib?

[rochester21]

The world is full of green striped pelikan fps. Boring! Pink ones on the other hand...never seen one! Who would pick green if the other choice is pink?

 

And top of the line pens(M800) are almost always too big for practical use. It`s like people with money to spend have to have huge hands as well, otherwise they have to settle for a junior-sized M150 ??!

Edited November 7, 2017 by rochester21

[praxim]

And top of the line pens(M800) are almost always too big for practical use. It`s like people with money to spend have to have huge hands as well, otherwise they have to settle for a junior-sized M150 ??!

 

You're kidding, surely? The M800 is not skinny but any smaller would be too small for me. I am a little taller than average with normal hands for my height, nothing special so far as I know.

 

Note, I do not post pens except where they are too short otherwise (Waterman 52 1/2V, Onoto 21).

Edited November 8, 2017 by praxim

[Driften]

 

 

And top of the line pens(M800) are almost always too big for practical use. It`s like people with money to spend have to have huge hands as well, otherwise they have to settle for a junior-sized M150 ??!

 

 

I have medium side hands and I love my Pelikan M805. It is in no way too big for practical use for me. I swap off daily between it and my MB 146. it is more comfortable to me then my Pelikan M200 and M215.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Mew..."I have been reading your posts regarding pelikan pens for a while. May I ask why you call the current M800 nib a sub-standard nib?"

 

The '87-90 nib was more springy than normal springy regular flex nibs (of the '90's)....like the 400 and 200 of that era, which also had the 'famous' W. German nib.

The 800 had then it's own nib size, narrower than the normal Pelikan size, half way to the then skinny Waterman nibs.......Japanese nibs were not big enough to make the chart.....so this was late '80-early90's chart. Pelikan was then narrower than Parker and Sheaffer.....the EF was narrowest of all....including Waterman.

Nibs up to '97 were 1/2 a size or more thinner than modern and wrote with a clean line. A nice comfortable springy ride............not of course semi-flex.....but a flex I've learned to like a lot....regular flex. A good nib for shading, better than the wetter semi-flex....which is better in line variation.

 

Modern 400/600/800 have now fat and blobby tipped nibs, the 400/600 are now semi-nails and the 800 a nail. Made for the Ball Point Barbarian, who holds his pen like a ball point and turns regular flex nibs into pretzels. If you hold your pen right you are offered 'butter smooth' baby bottomed nibs.

[rochester21]

 

You're kidding, surely? The M800 is not skinny but any smaller would be too small for me. I am a little taller than average with normal hands for my height, nothing special so far as I know.

 

Note, I do not post pens except where they are too short otherwise (Waterman 52 1/2V, Onoto 21).

 

If i follow this train of thought, it would mean that only small children could use a M150/M200, which are a lot smaller than a "regular sized" M800. I believe the sweet spot in the pelikan range is the M600. The M200 is indeed a wee smaller than expected.

 

As far as nibs go, i admit i don`t see any "magic" in old style pelikan nibs, but it`s a question of finding the right pen with the right nib. Plenty of people apparently also enjoy the modern versions, otherwise they wouldn`t buy them...right?

Edited November 8, 2017 by rochester21

[praxim]

If i follow this train of thought, it would mean that only small children could use a M150/M200, which are a lot smaller than a "regular sized" M800. I believe the sweet spot in the pelikan range is the M600. The M200 is indeed a wee smaller than expected.

If I follow this train of thought then it would mean only gorillas could use an M800 / M1000.

 

I was careful to point out the matter of posting or not. I have pens smaller than the M150 which I post and use. Large pens are used easily provided they are well designed for balance. The Pelikan M800 is a lesser example, there being longer pens easily used by normal hands of the same size. Your individual preferences do not represent general useability.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Standard sized 400/200, Esterbrook DJ, were the normal sized pen in the '50-60's to me then a medium large P-51 was a big pen.....that the thin Snorkel which has great balance posted a Large pen was a shock.*****

In the '50-60's the 146 was a medium-large pen...in @ 1970 the 146 became a large pen. The older 146 is the better pen for balance and nib.

Only to those after the late '80's could think a 800...a normal pen.

Those of that era, were after big and Bling to be seen across the conference table or whipping out their Signature pen....in they used ball points for everything else.

 

**** In the 50-60's in Germany the medium-short, long capped medium short pens were IN, the 140, the Geha then flagship the 960, the Kaweco Dia, and Osmia also made some medium-small pens. MB made Standard sized pens like the 234 1/2 or 742...before and after the war till at least '54.

 

The 100/100n, are medium-small pens that posted long (is a bit thicker)....like the 140 posted is exactly as long as the 400, a standard pen when posted.

 

I've not noticed that the 200 is skinnier than the 400 that is news to me! When I put the two pens back to back....I see no overlap. Yes the 150 is smaller and thinner. I can see a small bit of overlap, when it's in front of a 400.

 

I do like the 600, which is a medium long pen like the 400nn, but with thicker girth. It balances well, and is still light and nimble.....if I had enough money I'd have 4-5 of those pretty pens. I do have '50's or 90's nibs to put on it instead of that fat blobby semi-nail it has on it. I did what needed to be done with that substandard nib and had the BB stubbed to 1.0. That is almost as good as my '54 Transition 400's semi-flex B.

 

I can not help folks that for religious grounds refuse to post a Esterbrook DJ, 400 or even a 140 and then have the nerve to claim they are too small. They were made to be posted, in it is then they have the grand balance that every good pen once had....in in long posting medium short, standard and medium-long.

 

Outside the Snorkel, all Large pens I have or tired, are too short for balance and ill balanced when posted. (well, my Waterman 52 has good balance....not great...and is a Large pen, but it's lighter than modern.)

My long 381 and Celebry pens, don't quite have the balance un-posted nor posted....they are acceptable to me, in they are thin......but being metal are heavier than absolutely needed, .and I have some cartridges that I need a pen for.

 

""""As far as nibs go, i admit i don`t see any "magic" in old style pelikan nibs,""""

How many '50-65 Pelikans do you have?.........the 140-400's stub nibs should be at least semi-flex...it is possible to luck into maxi-semi-flex***................those are not so called "Flex" pens. which are properly termed superflex.................My post-war 100n is first level Superflex; what I call Easy Full Flex.That was a surprise.

 

I find the obliques from that era, being stub, semi or maxi, 15 or 30 degree grind....are magical....I don't have to do anything but cant the nib....learn anything....and they make my writing look like I knew what I am doing................built in flair and style....for the non-canted regular nib.....and even more for that era's obliques.

 

*** I have three maxi-semi-flex Pelikan nibs, an Ibis, 500 OBBB and 400nn OF. Out of my total of 16 of them...I've more in Osmia's Supra nibs. My WOG is one pen in 5 in that era could be maxi....Not counting the nail Lamy's or Lamy's regular flex Artus, Herlitz and a few others.

 

The regular semi-flex can with a bit of effort and my calligraphy book out, make an occasional descender look good. With less effort a maxi does the same.

They are not Superflex............so it is not making The Thurston...making the Elephant disappear on stage....it's more like pulling the rabbit out of a top hat.for semi-flex. With maxi, the rabbit then does card tricks.

 

You have to have a regular flex pen....may I recommend a 200? Well mashed it will spread it's tines 3X. Semi-flex requires half of that pressure to max 3x. Maxi, half of that or 1/4th the pressure needed by a regular flex to get to 3 X.

One should Not always max any of those nibs. That goes for every nib. My 100n will go 5 X, but I try to go no more than 4 X. My 52, can go BBB and I strive to keep it no more than BB.

 

In spite of using a fountain pen as a young lad, I spent decades as a Ball Point Barbarian. Even after a year back into fountain pens, I was still Ham Fisted when I got my 140 my first semi-flex, it took me three months to stop maxing the nib......it was good so....in the next pen my 400nn was maxi....not that I knew that then. Again after 3 months I stopped always maxing that nib.

 

A fine poster said this, "Stub and CI is always 100% line variation. Semi(&maxi) are line variation on demand. You do have to want it....unless you are still Ham Fisted, then the nib writes wider than necessary.

Semi-flex is ++ to regular flex....Maxi is +++ to regular flex or + to semi-flex.

Please read my signature.

[georges zaslavsky]

Back in 2006, I paid 180€ for a 1987 m800 with a flex m nib, 5 years later I paid 220€ for a pre 1997 m800 with a slightly semi flex f nib, and between 2009-2011, I bought two m1000s in second hand from 2003 that I paid 240€ each from my favorite penshop. You need check what's for sale at terim or gary lehrer where you perhaps can snag nice pens. Patience and sparing money are a virtue especially in pen collecting.

Edited November 8, 2017 by georges zaslavsky

[robert1962]

 

 

I have medium side hands and I love my Pelikan M805. It is in no way too big for practical use for me. I swap off daily between it and my MB 146. it is more comfortable to me then my Pelikan M200 and M215.

 

Side hands? I just have the couple on the ends of my arms to work with. I'm envious ... On second thought... I'm good.

 

Bob

[Driften]

 

Side hands? I just have the couple on the ends of my arms to work with. I'm envious ... On second thought... I'm good.

 

Bob

 

 

Take that as a lesson... typo+autocorrect = moving your body parts around

[Mew]

 

The '87-90 nib was more springy than normal springy regular flex nibs (of the '90's)....like the 400 and 200 of that era, which also had the 'famous' W. German nib.

The 800 had then it's own nib size, narrower than the normal Pelikan size, half way to the then skinny Waterman nibs.......Japanese nibs were not big enough to make the chart.....so this was late '80-early90's chart. Pelikan was then narrower than Parker and Sheaffer.....the EF was narrowest of all....including Waterman.

Nibs up to '97 were 1/2 a size or more thinner than modern and wrote with a clean line. A nice comfortable springy ride............not of course semi-flex.....but a flex I've learned to like a lot....regular flex. A good nib for shading, better than the wetter semi-flex....which is better in line variation.

 

Modern 400/600/800 have now fat and blobby tipped nibs, the 400/600 are now semi-nails and the 800 a nail. Made for the Ball Point Barbarian, who holds his pen like a ball point and turns regular flex nibs into pretzels. If you hold your pen right you are offered 'butter smooth' baby bottomed nibs.

Hi,

 

I don't particularly care whether a nib is a nail or superflex as long as writes well. I also don't care about how broad the lines are. These things are inherent to the company and by no way reflects the quality of the nib. If you are going to buy a Pelikan pen, it is going to write broader than usual European nibs, and is going to be a nail unless you get M1000.

My writing pressure is not enough to eke out line variation even out of the vintage superflex nibs. So these things don't matter. Neither am I a flex enthusiast who seeks out line variation out every nib.

 

Also, I find the pens you are talking about (the 400NN etc.) rather small for using. I would never drop below M8xx.

[Bo Bo Olson]

I as I said grew up with pens that were used all day long....standard and medium-large. Posted they are well balanced, or they would have been loser in sales. Balance was expected.

 

 

Do you post your 400NN?

Or are you just talking width? In a posted 400NN which has fine balance is a good deal longer than an un-posted 800.

 

I would guess you grew up having a large clunky pen as your first one, so are use to pens with no balance.

I find the 600 to have adequate girth and good balanced.

For me an 800 is too wide.....the modern large 146 not, even if I do prefer the medium-large '50-60's 146.There is some seconds were I have to get use to the modern wider 146. I have no such problem with the 600 or some of the medium large vintage Osmia pens I have.

 

The Snorkel is unfortunately too thin for you, it does have the great balance expected of a top of the line pen of that era.

 

It is not to me that the modern Pelikan nibs are so wide; it is they do not have a clean line of the older less blobby nibs of yesteryear. There is no 'give' to the nibs....like riding a hard tail Harley.

 

My Hand is not so light that superflex don't flex. My Hand is still a tad heavy. I am glad you have a light Hand, many don't. I didn't when I came back to fountain pens.

 

I don't care for the ride of nail or semi-nail nibs.

I like the springy ride of the '80-97 or other regular flex nibs. Something I have learned to like. (In for a while I was a semi-flex snob ) Regular flex was the 'normal' nib on the whole of my childhood; outside of the Parker nails. Yes, Sheaffer also made nails, but had regular flex also. And a very few semi-flex in the early '50's.....that I never ran into....but I was using their school pens.

 

When I use semi/maxi-semi-flex I get that old fashioned fountain pen flair with out doing anything. If I wish, I can make some fancy descenders. I get line variation, which I like...it's not so boring.

 

The medium-large 400NN is standard width that somehow gets a lot more ink in it than the standard 400s. So any of the 400's will have that same width.....200's too as far as my eye can measure. There is no edge sticking out if I put them back to back.

[jmnav]

 

If i follow this train of thought, it would mean that only small children could use a M150/M200, which are a lot smaller than a "regular sized" M800. I believe the sweet spot in the pelikan range is the M600. The M200 is indeed a wee smaller than expected.

 

As far as nibs go, i admit i don`t see any "magic" in old style pelikan nibs, but it`s a question of finding the right pen with the right nib. Plenty of people apparently also enjoy the modern versions, otherwise they wouldn`t buy them...right?

 

Maybe that train of thought should make obvious that "to each his own".

 

I'm on the boat of those that barely can stand the Pelikan 400 size and "my" size is the M800 -which means it's very difficult for me to find "my" right combination of pen and nib, since the 400 size is not only standard but even bigger than average by pre 1990's standards.

 

Note that while the M800 is quite big, has a somehow narrow section which makes it (to the likes of me) very comfortable, i.e.: the Montblanc 146 is more or less the same size than the M800 but its section is wider -a bit too wide, in fact, for my tastes.

 

...If only Pelikan had decided to build an 800 model back in the fifties! If only Montblanc had build its 146 the length of the modern one back in the fifties!