Pelikan 140 Celluloid Rot

[Burnham]

Hello everyone.

 

I was given a Pelikan 140 by my family's German exchange student when I came home for christmas about 5 years ago (she found out I collected fountain pens and loved the brand). The pen was her Grandfather's and needless to say I was very moved by the gesture. The pen was in rough shape but I like a project. The vertical fins on the feed where broken off, and the nib unit was very stuck in the barrel. I managed to remove it with some difficulty and bought a Pelikan m150 nib unit, stealing the collar and feed. I put it back together with the 14k OM nib and the new feed (someday I would love to acquire and original ebonite feed). There is some brassing on the center band and the clip but after putting some silicone grease on the piston, I used the pen for some time like this. However, I recently realized some of the discoloration on the barrel might be celluloid rot. I ended up purchasing a replacement barrel (for a shockingly reasonable price for the condition).

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, the old barrel never leaked so I have been thinking about putting together a Fraken-140. I managed to put together an osmiroid feed and collar I had with a nice steel m200 nib I had lying around. Now I just need to find a cap that fits it. I have been looking but nothing so far. I wonder if an m200 cap would fit.

 

 

 

I guess there is no real story here. Just the ramblings of a tinkerer, but maybe someone has some thoughts on the celluloid rot if that is really what it is.

 

Best,

 

Alex

[mana]

Celluloid rot... interesting. Is it inside the sleeve/binde or on the outside, as in, seems that the stripes are unaffected so... inside? Marks on the outside are usually easier to explain (things like heat/open flame or alcohol) but if it indeed is on the inside (outer surface is smooth) then it is more of a mystery.

Those Pelikan 140 are lovely pens... I actually gifted my niece (and goddaughter) a nice black Pelikan 140 with a 14K M-nib (later model with the chevrons), a bottle of Pelikan 4001 Blue Black and a nice A5 sized Hahnemühle notebook (Reporter style so binding on the top). Hope she gets good use of those. I also left her a 14K M-nib Lamy Panther and a bottle of Lamy Blue in case she would prefer those. Let's see...

[Burnham]

Celluloid rot... interesting. Is it inside the sleeve/binde or on the outside, as in, seems that the stripes are unaffected so... inside? Marks on the outside are usually easier to explain (things like heat/open flame or alcohol) but if it indeed is on the inside (outer surface is smooth) then it is more of a mystery.

 

Those Pelikan 140 are lovely pens... I actually gifted my niece (and goddaughter) a nice black Pelikan 140 with a 14K M-nib (later model with the chevrons), a bottle of Pelikan 4001 Blue Black and a nice A5 sized Hahnemühle notebook (Reporter style so binding on the top). Hope she gets good use of those. I also left her a 14K M-nib Lamy Panther and a bottle of Lamy Blue in case she would prefer those. Let's see...

 

It only seems to be in the clear material, but you can feel it from the outside. If you look at the clear material, its ambered and has a lot of swirly imperfections that make it look pretty fragile.

 

That is a wonderful gift! I am sure she will get a lot of use out of those!

 

Alex

[Bo Bo Olson]

The mar should polish off with some finger applied Semi-Chrome....rub with only the fingers....do't put it on a cloth and rub....buff it off with a flannel cloth....You may have to polish the pen there two or three times.

A while back everyone was into Semi-Chrome....there is something I think is called Nova, a three level polish that is better.....used to polish the canope of jet fighters.

 

If you get a real 140's nib it will be semi-flex and not regular flex of the 150....a real different animal.

Edited March 3, 2018 by Bo Bo Olson

[Burnham]

The mar should polish off with some finger applied Semi-Chrome....rub with only the fingers....do't put it on a cloth and rub....buff it off with a flannel cloth....You may have to polish the pen there two or three times.

A while back everyone was into Semi-Chrome....there is something I think is called Nova, a three level polish that is better.....used to polish the canope of jet fighters.

 

If you get a real 140's nib it will be semi-flex and not regular flex of the 150....a real different animal.

 

Thanks for the tip. It actually is a 140 nib. It's just the feed that is from a 140. As a lefty, flex doesn't do a lot for me. But the oblique shape of this nib is awesome.

 

Alex