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What killed the Pelikan Level series?


Russ

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The Pelikan Level (5) is a mystery. Its virtues include great ink capacity, a clean and convenient filling system, a quality nib, and good feel in the hand. Yet there is virtual silence about them online. Few people write about them, still fewer retailers carry their unique ink bottles, and almost no one offers them for sale.

 

As I begin to write a review of the pen, I keep asking: "What killed the Level series? It's a great pen!" I hope that some of our old hands at FPN can share their knowledge. I entered the hobby too late to see the Level series come and go.

 

So, to put the question plainly: Why did the Level series quietly disappear from popular use?

 

My hunch is that the series died because (1) the pens and their docking station looked too futuristic and utilitarian, and (2) ink color cannot be changed with convenience. There's no romance about the Level series. Nothing to win the heart. They're all function: cold, clean engineering, which appeals only to a narrow segment of the user market whose personalities fall on the highly rational end of the spectrum.

 

I have had to remind myself that the Level series is made by Pelikan at all. I have grown accustomed to the appearance, performance, and -- typically -- unspoken yet inherent values of Lamy products, and the Level series seems more like a Lamy product than anything from Pelikan. I have wondered whether Pelikan tried to cross over into Lamy product territory and decided to return to its specialty line(s) of Souverans and Limited Editions. If this is so, it's too bad.

 

The Level 5 is a keeper!

 

 

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1. They were quite overpriced. They don't feel as valuable as their price tag indicates.

I got my steel nibbed one at a department store with huge discount. I paid EUR 10 (the gold nibbed was only EUR 20 there, but no ideal nib size available), down from EUR 80 or so ...

 

2. For me, the section is too slim, while you can't post that cap.

 

3. Not easy to clean, unless you know the inofficial trick.

 

4. The pregnant shape feels strange in my hand. A straight barrel would be better.

 

5. My nib is dry. No writing with iron gall ink possible. Noodler's-Swisher Tahitian Pearl works well.

 

6. Limited official ink choice. Of, course, if you unscrew that bottle valve with some force ...

 

 

I would like some new releases with more moderate prices and more practical shape and better looking material. I like that fillinbg system

Edited by saintsimon
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Hi,

 

They are rather overpriced from my point of view. Could be a lot cheaper. I had both the Level 5 and the Level 65s and liked them quite a bit. :)

 

I might be able to get them into stock. I just need buyers. In the meantime, If you want one, I take special orders.

 

Dillon

Edited by Dillo

Stolen: Aurora Optima Demonstrator Red ends Medium nib. Serial number 1216 and Aurora 98 Cartridge/Converter Black bark finish (Archivi Storici) with gold cap. Reward if found. Please contact me if you have seen these pens.

Please send vial orders and other messages to fpninkvials funny-round-mark-thing gmail strange-mark-thing com. My shop is open once again if you need help with your pen.

Will someone with the name of "Jay" who emailed me through the email system provide me an email address? There was no email address provided, so I can't write back.

Dillon

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I keep a Pelikan Level 5 and ink bottle at my desk at all times. I almost exclusively use the pen to sign bank checks, though occasionally I do grab it for some other purpose if my leather 3-pen case is not nearby. I did empty out the ink dispenser and fill it with Noodlers Black, as permanent ink is more appropriate for my purpose.

 

The nib is a B, and its a decent enough writer. Sometimes it can feel a bit to gooshy and thick, but other times it lays down just the right amount of ink with aplomb. My biggest complaints are:

 

1. I wish there was a way to use the pen like a real desk set, like I could just throw the cap in the drawer and keep the pen in its holder nib down.

 

2. Can't post the cap. I'm not even a big poster, but not even having the option annoys me.

 

3. Near impossible to clean.

 

4. The filling mechanism is really cool, and fun to use, but I only filled this pen one time, and that was this past spring. I love changing inks and filling my pens, its part of the hobby for me. So the large ink capacity is a blessing/curse kind of thing.

 

5. I also find the gripping section a bit to thin.

 

6. The pen body and nib are unnattractive. I get no aesthetic pleasure from this pen.

 

Actually I've recently been on the hunt for a cheapie desk set with a B or wider nib that I can leave at work to replace the Level 5. So if anyone has one with a nib worthy of signatures, let me know. :thumbup:

happiness isn't caused

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I have a Level 5 and 2 Level 65s.

 

I think that if you are going away somewhere for a while and don't want to take a decent pen then one of these would be great for the amount that they hold. Take the bottle of ink and you have a no mess filling system that will go on forever. As long as you don't mind using the same ink for ages. There is that lack of flexibility that is forced on you by this system, but in the real world people probably only buy one bottle of ink and wait until it runs out before they buy the next.

 

I could have done with a broad nib, but sadly they are fine or medium. I hate the fact that the nibs are nails with no flex whatsoever.

 

Its a functional pen that should suit everyone except us!

Skype: andyhayes

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I have both and quite like them , both picked up cheaply on ebay. The 65 sits in my desk at work in the unlikely event I forget an FP, the Level 5 sits at home.

 

The bottles are fairly easy to fill with your favourite ink, I just wrapped a rubber band round the cap and made sure I didn't squeeze the bottle. I usually prefer to post, but the L 5 is quite well balanced without, they write well and whilst the nib is quite stiff I don't really have a problem with them.

 

Shame that they were discontinued, I also have a Pelikan Level retractable rollerball, but ben told they have discontinued making the refills, so unless I can find a substitute, that will have a limited lifespan.

 

The FPs can be picked up on ebay, there is an Austrian seller selling them fairly cheaply.

 

Whilst not in the same class as the more traditional Pelikan pens these are still pens that get regular use and have the advantage of holding a large amount of ink.

 

Andy

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I think the answer is quite simple. Pelikan designed and built a product for which there was no waiting market and a new market could not be developed.

 

 

YMMV

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I think one of the most amazing things about my Level 5 (everyone has already done a great job of outlining the design flaws) is that, I can walk up to mine after 6 months and it will still start writing without a skip. I don't know that there is any other pen I own that can do that.

the Danitrio Fellowship

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PROS: I love the ink capacity and the no-muss filling system. Great ink capacity for trips - you can't run out of ink! Good fine point nib, yes it's a nail, but a nice nail. I personally like the way they feel in the hand and comfort while writing. They feel better than they look, really.

 

CONS: Don't love the inability to post the cap and the inability to switch ink color with ease. Agree that for what they look like, they look cheap for the original price tags. The level 5s are too cheap looking for the original price, and the level 1/65s are pretty low trim level too.

 

SUGGESTION: A nice "NEW LEVEL" priced at about $40 with a range of ink colors and a better flushing system would be a killer pen, IMO. There are a lot of people out there who don't want to get inky fingers!

<i>"Most people go through life using up half their energy trying to protect a dignity they never had."</i><br>-Marlowe, in <i>The Long Goodbye</i>

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I've got an L5 and L65, both of which are good writing pens. The filling system, designed for someone who uses a FP everyday, was probably over-optimistic by Pelikan. It's a typical German-type solution: logical, elegant engineering, completely proprietary, and too complicated for most users. It was also hideously expensive for what it was. Maybe if it had been MSRP's at $80, it would have sold, but $250?, that's crazy!

 

I store the L65 nib-down, which is easy with it's flat, flared cap. It's extremely reliable, almost never failing to start.

 

The L5, OTOH, has been a real PITA. I'd like to clean it, but that's not a very easy task. I tried to get the filler out via the FPN L65 instructions, but I never could get the two buttons pressed at the same time. I really like the balance of the pen, however. My L5's nib has dried out and I can't really get it cleaned and re-primed, so any help would be appreciated.

 

I also had an L5 rollerball, which was a very reliable pen, but poorly balanced, IMO. It was too back-heavy. I gave it away.

 

I think that the L5's are very good looking pens, very very Teutonic and modern.

 

Skip

 

 

Skip Williams

www.skipwilliams.com/blog

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Hi,

 

They are rather overpriced from my point of view. Could be a lot cheaper. I had both the Level 5 and the Level 65s and liked them quite a bit. :)

 

I might be able to get them into stock. I just need buyers. In the meantime, If you want one, I take special orders.

Dillon

 

 

Interested in a Level 65, What would the cost be?

Edited by SB1
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I agree with the reasons given for the relative lack of sales success of the Level series. I myself have a L65 but I was hesitant to even buy one because I was worried that it was too complicated ("docking system??" :unsure: ). Turns out it's not hard to fill...it's hard to *empty* the pen of ink. Having said that, if you want a pen to use during a long university/college exam, this pen is for you! ;) (It holds a ton of ink!)

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I just bought one of these, and it seems like a nice pen. I had a bit of trouble getting ink to flow from the storage chamber to the ink supply chamber, but it eventually did.

 

Anyone figured out how to flush these, or should I just stick with Pelikan an other "thin" inks and hope it never clogs?

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I just bought one of these, and it seems like a nice pen. I had a bit of trouble getting ink to flow from the storage chamber to the ink supply chamber, but it eventually did.

 

Anyone figured out how to flush these, or should I just stick with Pelikan an other "thin" inks and hope it never clogs?

Hi Chip,

There are some good responses here : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=38648

and check out my post in that thread for *another* link to a more detailed response.

Edited by Maja
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I thank everyone for their thoughtful responses.

 

I have to agree that the Level (5) is overpriced. I anticipated more metal and less plastic on the pen, but I realize that in order to compensate for the weight of additional ink weight had to be sacrificed elsewhere, and plastic was the way to go.

 

I appreciate Maja's links to disassembly / cleaning posts; they were so helpful that I saved the information myself. Thanks, Maja!

 

Maja was also right: the Level, in paradoxical distinction to our bank accounts, is "easy to fill yet hard to empty."

 

One other question: Why did Pelikan name the series "Level"? There must be a reason ....

 

All in all, I like the L5. It balances well in the hand, carries a supertanker load of ink, and writes smoothly. Hard to not like it. Now if I just get Richard Binder to grind a nice stub on it.......... :)

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You're welcome, Russ....but I just linked to them ;)

It's the very helpful folks on FPN who took the time to post their solutions to the Level ink-emptying mystery that truly deserve our praise :) I myself haven't attempted to mechanically empty my Level 65, basically because I'm worried about breaking mine (but I also like the Pelikan blue ink that came in the Level ink bottle, so I didn't feel the need to use another)

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Why the name LeVel? Well, you can see it (the ink level), can't you? ;)

 

Or maybe just a marketing thing ...

 

I wouldn't be so sure about the death of the L5. It still features on their website. They may be discontiued regionally, however.

Edited by saintsimon
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Managed to find some broad nib Level L65's on German Ebay at the massive price of.........6.99 Euro plus shipping, after conversion thats about £11, just ordered one and if anyone else is interested here's the item number

 

Item number: 230184230127

 

 

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  • 11 years later...

This is sort of necro'ing the post, but I wanted to add to the thread that I was eyeballing getting a Level (if it was cheap enough) to play with.

 

They're available on E-Bay right now, for $30, _new_. I'm assuming it's actually NOS.

 

Not sure I want to drop $30 plus shipping from Germany for a pen that will require a lot of hacking to use it going forward, when I have a pile of other pens to use.

 

One insane person on there wants over four hundred dollars for a Level, another three hundred, etc. From the comments on this thread, I wonder how many people would actually be willing to cough up 'more than new' price for it.

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I've come really close to buying one several times at the 30 dollar price range. That price usually includes a bottle of ink too. But I know I wouldn't want to use the ink in the bottle and would want to fill it with something else.

 

I want to know if you can fill the Level pens with a blunt tip syringe instead of using the bottle. If that is verified, then that would make this pen much more attractive to own and use -- and I might just buy one. But then the question becomes: Level 65 or L5? The 65's are much cheaper, but they look it too...the L5's are too expensive for me to take a punt on not knowing if I'll like it or not...would be nice to see one at a pen show.

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