So, I'm Thinking About Going Full-Pelikan...

[GranTorino25]

As the title says, I'm thinking about going full-Pelikan with my collection.

 

What would you suggest for my collection? 1 of each model, each colour of each model, all the LEs?

 

I have an M1005, M1000, and M800.

[blueboy]

If you are going to specialise in a particular mark, Pelikan is a pretty good one.

 

The only thing I can add to your ambitious plan is that you will need a very (that is VERY) big wallet

[aeba]

If you are going to specialise in a particular mark, Pelikan is a pretty good one.

 

The only thing I can add to your ambitious plan is that you will need a very (that is VERY) big wallet

And / or slash out some models, like m100x specials (mmmm, Raden starlight...).

 

Personally I would go for selected m60x or m80x pens. But seeing that you, that is @GranTorino25, already has two m100x, I would likely continue with those.

[OCArt]

Pelikans are fantastic pens and form the base of my collection. I have a couple of every size--- obviously the slimmer sizes are cheaper. BUT, I find I most enjoy writing with the 600, 800, and 1000 models. I thought I would concentrate on the M600 size but I keep getting allured away by those beautiful, soft., m1000 nibs. Maybe you can pick a size and stay with it and collect all the various colors.

[BayesianPrior]

You can define the scope of your collection quite simply, but you run the risk of it becoming too wide (and expensive).

 

Personally, I have vacillated around the M80x size. After learning what I don't like (and trying to keep the scope manageable), I have narrowed my collection down to:

 

• M800 only (gold trim)
• Cap must match barrel
• No demonstrators (this one is subjective, but mainly defined by the section - nothing translucent where I can see trapped ink)

At this moment, this means my collection consists of:

 

• M800 Black
• M800 Blue O'Blue
• M800 Grand Place
• M800 Renaissance Brown

Am I missing any?

 

I've got the surplus pens on the classifieds now.

 

Good luck in defining what works for you!

[Bo Bo Olson]

Pelikans are fantastic pens and form the base of my collection. I have a couple of every size--- obviously the slimmer sizes are cheaper. BUT, I find I most enjoy writing with the 600, 800, and 1000 models. I thought I would concentrate on the M600 size but I keep getting allured away by those beautiful, soft., m1000 nibs. Maybe you can pick a size and stay with it and collect all the various colors.

 

I checked one out in my B&M, the 1000's nib is semi-flex..........just like my assortment of '50-65 era pens.

 

I have an assortment....not a collection......missing sea green tortoise and such....full '30's tortoise............and many pens I never ever expected to own, in they were 'over of budget'....then I lucked out.

 

100n (superflex....first stage what I call Easy Full Flex), Ibis**, four 400's, one tortoise, a 500**, two 140's, and a 400nn**

The ** = maxi-semi-flex.....and the 500 has an OBBB 30 degree grind and the maxi. You need from 2/3rds to 3/4ths a page for a legal signature.

 

Do use German Ebay.....up to half again cheaper than US.

 

My '54 400 tortoise cost E110, my 500 E165..................

 

I have 15 and 30 degree grinds in a mix of semi&maxi-semi-flex in OBB, OB, OM and OF....pure luck....Different pen companies too.........................

I often think out side the 500, the Original buyer, was asked at the corner pen shoppe, if he wanted a bit more oblique and the nibmeister counter clerk took it into the back room for a bit more grind. I have 16 obliques in semi&maxi. 5 with 30 degree girnds.

Outside of Osmia; diamond for semi-flex, Supra for maxi-semi-flex .....semi&maxi is pure luck.

 

 

The good thing about a collection of 600's is you can replace the fat and blobby butter smooth nib with real nibs from the '50's.

 

Sargetalon sold his 297 foot yacht for his collection of 200's.

Edited December 9, 2017 by Bo Bo Olson

[Chrissy]

I would love to own a M600, but so far I just have 3 M400 sized Pelikans. I have to say, they aren't my EDC pens though. This is what has stopped me from buying the M600 so far.

[Mew]

I've the following pelikans:

M800 Brown Tortoise

M805 Vibrant Blue

M805 Ocean swirl

M1000 Black

 

I like both the series, and would likely stick to them as anything smaller than M8xx is not usable for me without posting, and I don't post.

 

I have considered the following:

Renaissance Brown

Grand Place

Red stripe

Vibrant Green

M620 Stockholm (exception)

 

All M8xx size but can't seem to get myself to buy them even though they were offered to me multiple times. I don't like Demos either. Though if M1005 black shows up with EF nib I would immediately buy it.

[BillH]

SO many ways to collect Pelikans! And very personal... I suggest starting here at the M8xx's

https://www.pelikan-collectibles.com/en/Pelikan/Models/Souveraen-Series/M800-Basis/index.html

 

But you can go through all the pages of that marvelous website and see just how broad and varied the Pelikan brand really is. Size? Modern or vintage? One of each model? One color only, or one of each? Just old style, or both? Demonstrators? Radens? Maki-e? The whole line, or just specific ranges? Enough to drive a person crazy, and very, very poor.

 

Oh heck, just do what I did... get yourself a Black and Red notebook, then list every size, line, color, etc that Pelikan has ever made. There's your checklist! Good luck!

 

And remember, we want to see pictures

[Bo Bo Olson]

https://www.pelikan-...asis/index.html

It's a good think I don't care for the 800's size.

I do like the 600's size, and there are very, very many pretty ones too.

 

As soon as I hit the lottery big enough....I could see having a Pelikan room attached to my library.

Even if part of it would be filled with some 800's.

[Glenn-SC]

What would you suggest for my collection? 1 of each model, each colour of each model, all the LEs?

 

 

Buy what you like and can afford!

How are people that don't know you and that you don't know supposed to know that you like, what fits your use and style, and is within your budget????

[BillH]

Bo Bo, you're a genius! That's what I'm going to ask my wife for Christmas next year, a Pelikan wing off the office/sewing room!

 

Budget? Easy, 4 lines... tithe, mortgage, food, pens.

[Bo Bo Olson]

MEW is is IMO, too bad you don't post.............the 600, 400, 200/140 have great balance posted. Something neither the 800 nor 1000 has....posted or un-posted.

If one waxes one's pen, it will not mar because of posting.

 

Back in the Day, when fountain pens were used by all, balance was a major consideration of getting one's decade's worth of pen.......pens were supposed to last 7-10 years of 8 hours a day writing, and light and nimble, along with balance was In. One Man, One Pen.................and each brand had to have balance or else....their brand loyal buyer would buy a better balanced pen.

 

Of course I grew up in the day of the Standard and Medium-large pens, which were posted as far as I remember even the for the time 'big' P-51.

 

I didn't grow up when "large" pens were considered normal.....

 

I can well understand not posting a 800 or 1000................I have large pens I seldom post...I can if I want....but through use found they lack balance posted......lack balance period on the whole.

 

I will admit the narrow/thin 381 and Celebry, which are large or at least long pens, I will post, but they are not I find as clunky as a 800.

The Snorkel has great balance and is a Large pen, but has it's balance in it is a thin pen. Boy was that a shock to me when I found the Snorkel as long as a Safari.

 

.....I don't have an oversized one, nor ever will.

[oregano]

It sounds like you like the bigger pens and may be a completist. Personally if I could use the M800 size, I would focus on just collecting those. I really feel like Pelikan is putting most of their creative brainpower into coming out with exciting m800 models every year (not the M600s or M400s anymore), so there is a lot to keep you busy.

 

However, in my opinion, no collection of modern Pelikans (if we are talking about bonafide collectors) is complete without the M101n vintage-inspired models, the Toledos and some version of brown tortoise.

 

I concentrate on the m600s I like since they are my EDC. The City Series (M600 size) is also beautiful and worth collecting. If you are collecting vintage, then one of each model, and the tortoise 101N.

[Marioferu]

I am one of those who took Pelikans for overpriced pens and put way below in my to do list. Some days ago I found one used Souveran M400 at awesome £80. Seller was telling it had some brassing but Ok. So I said to me, Why not? I received from the UK a beautiful black pen with doble gold ring on cap and a ring in the back boton feeder and at the final of the feeder section. After looking at a specialist Pelikan page, I realized that the pen was a Souveran M600 with a 18 ct two tone nib dated from 1985 to 1997. It writes like a dream and love that pen.

[sargetalon]

I did this some years ago and havent regretted it. I first focused on the classic series for its relative affordability when I was starting out. Now as Ive nearly competed that, Ive moved onto M800s. Of course, Ive picked up a lot of others along the way like the wonderful M7xx series. No wrong answers here. Pick what you like to start and see where it grows from there.

[ian1964]

Probably the wrong time to move into Pelikans (a bit like Bitcoin ) because in recent years the prices have become silly expensive.

Edited December 10, 2017 by ian1964

[praxim]

Allowing that I would be dissatisfied to have only one brand myself, of those I have I think Pelikan a great choice were I to cleave to a single brand.

[FOUR X FOUR]

Too many other gorgeous pens to stay with one brand.

Allan😀😀

[Runnin_Ute]

I have a number of wonderful pens, among them are my Pelikans.

 

Those are:

120 Merz & Krell M

140 F

M150 F

M200 blue marbled old style OB

M200 Cognac F

M200 brown marbled M incoming

 

The 140, M200 Cognac and brown marbled are my three most expensive pens.