Deciding Between Pelikans?

[biancitwo]

The m200, m400 and m600 are the same length uncapped and unposted with the m600 being slightly girthier. The nibs are swappable between all three of them.

The M600 uncapped is slightly longer than the 400s, and 200s uncapped. The nibs are interchangeable. The larger size of the M600 is readily apparent.

[Granddad75]

ooooo

The blue M120 is nice

I agree...found a blue 120 in my grandfather's things. It is truly beautiful and new in the original box. I just wish I wasn't downsizing and had time to learn this beautiful art form!

[Granddad75]

Is anyone looking for this particular pen? I want it to go to someone who will appreciate the history and tradition of this pen and actually love it! Feel free to pm me. TY

[Bo Bo Olson]

Grandad....one don't have to learn much. Just let the pen rest behind the big index finger knuckle; just after at 45 degrees or at 40 degrees at the start of the web of your thumb.

That allows the bottom of the nib tip to float/skate in a nice puddle of ink.

 

Holding before the big index knuckle makes the tip too small, too little ink, and you make little Grand Canyons in the paper.

 

Barely hold the pen.....hold it as gently and lightly as you would a featherless baby bird.

Don't make baby bird paste!

 

It will write just fine. No more hand fatigue, nor pain at the middle fingers first joint at the nail junction....like a ball point.... Ball points are like plowing the south 40 with out the mule.

 

If you move the pen 1/3 of an inch out of the dent or callus at the middle finger nail junction, = less pain also.

In that ball points are fatiguing and painful, folks don't write much with them. Folks scribble with fountain pens for the fun of it.

 

Otherwise, we'd not be here. Is there a ball point com????? There are many fountain pen coms, because scribbling with a fountain pen is fun.

 

Yes, you can print with a fountain pen..............my handwriting had become so bad with a ball point, I had to print.

Cursive can be re-learned when you have time for it.

 

Scribbling for the fun of it.......we do live in the Golden Age of Inks.....but that is for later.

Try what I told you, and keep your grandfather's honor high. He did know what he was doing.

[mana]

What Bo Bo said ^

Pelikan 120 (or should it be 140 if it is a vintage blue one?) are really solid pens that are very much fuss free (albeit a bit small to some users). I would definitely hold on to that one (already have one 140 in black). Been thinking of gifting one to my better half as she has smaller hands.

Oh and a short primer on those:
Pelikan 120 > "School pen" produced in the 1950s in green & black color configuration with a steel nib.
Pelikan 140 > Same size/build/era but with a greater variety of colors (green striped, black, burgundy, green, blue, gray, light tortoise) and a 14k gold nib.
Pelikan M120 > Recently made modern reproductions of the previous pens including the most recent M120 in blue.

And a bit about the art (my 2¢), I used to hate handwriting until I found good fountain pens (such as vintage Pelikans). It has been a thrilling journey ever since that has changed my attitudes towards writing. I currently love writing in cursive and find it to be much faster and neater than writing in print.

[Bo Bo Olson]

+10 on it might be a rarer blue 140....compared to a newer blue 120 (made only in the last 2-3 years) , which has I think a different nib imprint than the rest of the Pelikans.

 

If a 140 unless the nib says D for the nail's nail or H for hard.....'will be' semi-flex.

What does the pen say, in the width of the nib if a 140, if made before 1955 on the barrel near the piston knob....or what width is marked on the nib if made later.

 

My made after '55 made 120 says F on the nib, and is a nice springy regular flex nib that gives a good ride. A real good 'starter' pen, if I may say so. Built to survive school kids...well balanced, when posted.

Edited July 19, 2018 by Bo Bo Olson