Pelikan - 4001 Royal Blue

[Sandy1]

Please take a moment to adjust the brightness & contrast of your monitor to accurately depict this Gray Scale.

As the patches are neutral gray, their colour on your monitor should also be neutral gray.

Mac My link

Wintel PC My link

 

Figure 1.

• Gray Scale.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/INK576-1.jpg

Figure 2.

• Swabs & Swatch
• Paper: HPJ1124 24 lb. Laser Copy.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pelikan%204001%20Royal%20Blue/INK994.jpg

Figure 3.

• NIB-ism My link
• Depicts nibs' line-width and pens' relative wetness.

WRITTEN SAMPLES: Moby Dick

 

Row Height is 8mm.

 

Figure 4.

• Paper: HPJ1124.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pelikan%204001%20Royal%20Blue/INK996.jpg

Figure 5.

• Paper: Rhodia.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pelikan%204001%20Royal%20Blue/INK997.jpg

Figure 6.

• Paper: G Lalo, Verge de France, white.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pelikan%204001%20Royal%20Blue/INK998.jpg

Figure 7.

• Paper: Royal, 25% rag.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pelikan%204001%20Royal%20Blue/INK999.jpg

Figure 8.

• Grocery List
• Paper: Pulp. One-a-Day calendar page.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pelikan%204001%20Royal%20Blue/8a71478a.jpg

 

OTHER SAMPLES:

 

Figure 9.

• 'HAPPY!' on Glossy Card.
• Smear/Dry Time on Glossy Paper.
• Smear/Dry Time on HPJ1124.
• Wet Tests on HPJ1124.
• Wet Tests on Royal.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pelikan%204001%20Royal%20Blue/INK995.jpg

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

 

Type:

• Dye-based fountain pen ink.

Daily writer?

• Oh yes.
• 'Times New Roman' in a bottle.

A go-to ink?

• Yes - when one cannot determine which ink to use, and just wants to write.

USE:

 

Business:

• Easily.
• Internal and eternal correspondence.
• Pretty much anything, but ...
• It falls short for mark-up, editing, etc.
• Does not suit error correction or grading of assignments.

Illustrations / Graphics:

• Quite possible.
• Good performance on lesser papers is an advantage.
• It can hold a nice tight line, so may be suitable for detailed work.

Students:

• Of course! Need you ask?
• Millions of students cannot be wrong, (unless they're graded on a bell distribution curve.)
• Perfectly wonderful.
• The use of eradicators should allow for edits; and spots on clothing/skin/hair should come clean.
• As it is quite dry, PRB should perform well on inexpensive papers that may cause wetter inks to feather, bleed-through, etc.
• Fairly wide availability should allow for cost avoidance of shipping expense.

Personal:

• Absolute stealth.
• This ink is so very absent that the recipient must read what is written.
• The writer must have something interesting to write about, because PRB may not enthrall the reader.
• This is a multi-purpose ink: except for the most dire and grim topics, it can easily be used for a wide array of correspondence.
• For pro forma business writing, go ahead and use PRB: it's pro forma ink.
• Billet doux completely out of reach - unless one has many beaux and chooses to mass produce billets doux as if they are form letters. (Oh dear! The only time a woman needs so many beaux is when none of them are any good.)
• If I were to receive a letter written in PRB, I'd read it, but be in no hurry to reply. Not just a faux pas; I mean - really!
• One could easily run any shape of nib with this ink, or a semi-flex seems wonderfully appropriate as it may generate an 'old school' look.

PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE & CHARACTERISTICS:

 

Flow Rate:

• Low - a dry ink.
• Manages well on all but the Lalo, where the dryness is very evident, and even the rather wet Safari stumbled.

Nib Dry-out:

• Not noticed.

Start-up:

• Immediate.

Lubrication:

• A bit less than average, but just fine on smooth papers.

Nib Creeping:

• None.

Staining:

• None after 3 days.

Clogging:

• Not seen.
• Seems very unlikely.

Bleed Through:

• None on papers used.

Show Through:

• None on papers used.
• Both sides of the sheet may be used.

Feathering / Woolly Line:

• None.

Smear/Dry Time:

• Glossy: 2 - 5 seconds.
• HPJ1124: 12 - 15 seconds.

Water Resistance:

• HPJ1124 & Royal 25% rag
  • -2- on the 4S Scale:
  • "Over half is legible.
  • May provide basis for 'best guess' restoration. (Think Dead Sea scrolls.)"

Note: Apparently PRB is designed to be washable / eradicated, so the above results may well be viewed as a success.

 

Smell:

• Very faint.
• Sweet esters.

Hand oil sensitivity:

• Not noticed.

Archival:*

• Specifically denied by Pelikan. (See Note on Water Resistance above.)

Clean Up:

• Very quick and thorough with plain water.

Mixing:

• It's fine as it comes from the pot.
• There may be a temptation to increase wetness by adding a surfactant, such as Kodak PhotoFlo.
• As PRB is so common, and put in the hands/pens of curious students, I have no doubt that it is included in all manner of mixes.

* No FP ink is certified as 'archival' by a recognised standards organisation. e.g. ISO, ANSI.

 

THE LOOK:

 

Presence:

• Routine.
• A yawn, but an 'I-need-a-coffee' size of yawn, not a 'hippopotamus' size of yawn.
• Not so boring. (I use Diamine 'Indigo' as the standard reference for boring.)
• The ink is quite friendly for a Blue, but does not go out of its way to attract or hold the reader: A wave of salutation from someone who looks really really familiar.
• Based on one's prior experience, PRB may be considered institutional.

Saturation:

• Depending on the writer+paper combo, a highly saturated appearance may be achieved.

Shading:

• Some shading can be achieved, but I do not consider it to be all that attractive. (Ms Fussy again.)

Variance depending on pen+nib combos used:

• The change in density (light-dark) between writers is evident, but less than expected.

High Resolution Scans:

• From 51 on HPJ1124 My link
• From 502 on Rhodia My link
• From Estie on G Lalo My link
• From Safari on Royal My link

FIDELITY:

 

• Fidel-ism: Does Fidel have a Che T-shirt?

Is the name appropriate?

• Quite so. WIKI LINK

Are swatches accurate?

• There are small circular swatches on the box and bottle, which are not very accurate at all. I suppose that Pelikan considers that they only need to distinguish one Pelikan ink from another. (?) So in bird-brained way, they're fit for purpose, but not much more.

SIMILAR COLOURS:

• Readers, please save your breath on this one - no need to chime in unless you're highly motivated to do so.

PAPERS:

 

Lovely papers:

• Crisp white paper.
• Does well on natural papers.
• A go-to ink when using a highly absorbent paper. (Excellent on the Royal!)

Trip-wire Papers:

• Overly hard / non-absorbent papers.
• It may be overwhelmed by papers with optical brighteners.

Tinted Papers:

• PRB could work well on a blue, a buff, and a pale violet.
• At high density from a wet writer, it could take-on an ivory or cream.

PrePrinted Paper:

• This is the ink for forms.
• As mentioned, it is a stealth ink - making it so very perfect for officialdom and administrivia: filing taxes, incident/accident reports, missing person reports (ex-beaux), making written declarations, applying for odd permits & special licences.
• Hopefully it will also fade/erode quickly - removing all trace of activity. Now you see me, now you don't. (Plausible deniability?)
• Also, if forms are poorly designed, and require tiny writing, PRB should do the trick on 'lowest bidder' papers.
• As PRB may be corrected, one can use their favourite writer to zip through The Times Sunday Crossword.
• For grids, etc., I would favour a wet writer, especially if run from a narrow nib.

Is high-end paper 'worth it'?

• Not if it is any less absorbent than Rhodia.
• (Clairefontaine Triomphe was not sampled, but previous experience indicates it may be a non-starter.)

OTHER THAN INK:

 

Presentation :

• Bottle in a box.
• Sizes up to one liter are readily available; the 30 ml and 62.5 ml sizes are most common. For the purpose of this Review, I shall refer to the 62.5 ml size. (The 30 ml. bottle is a scaled-down iteration with the same 24mm∅ opening. Larger sizes are 'tankers', apparently not designed for inking-up.)
• No HazMat warnings.

Country of origin:

• Germany

Container:

• A clear glass broad-shouldered bottle; with a maximum width of 70mm, capped height of 65mm, and 37mm deep. When ink level is low, the shape of the bottle allows it to be tipped to draw more of the remaining ink.
• The centred round opening is a roomy 24mm ∅.
• Single tank, no sediment collector. Tsk
• The bottle label does not include the word 'ink'.
• The hard plastic screw cap has adequate grippy bits, and is a good height for an easy grip.
• The cap seal seems to be a bit of plastic foam.
• The cap is not child-proof.
• N.B. Consumption is not to be considered as nutrition. (A nice svelte Pelikan?)

Box:

• 75x70x40mm
• Modestly coated.
• Text is is multi-lingual - more languages than I recognise!
• Colour swatches abound, like polka dots, on every side save the bottom.
• Bottom surface lists the Pelikan (Germany) contact details.

Eco-Green:

• All bits easily recyclable.
• Cap likely benign.

Availability:

• Widely available across Europe, but somewhat less so across North America. (Often found in art / craft / hobby shops.)

Other locations?

• Dear readers, no need to chime in, but - Where is the most unlikely place that PRB was found to be on offer?

ETC:

 

Majik:

• Never happen.
  
• This is a Journeyman ink - too busy working to be distracted.

Personal Pen & Paper Pick:

• Sheaffer 330+M on HPJ1124 - how 'right up the middle' is that?

Yickity Yackity:

• Well, here we have another taken-for-granted ink that is a really good performer, with a particular set of characteristics.
• Perhaps when used sparingly, it will regain the enthusiastic popularity it deserves.
• Ah kushbaby, I imagine your one liter bottle is on the second shelf.

{=x*x=}~{=w*w=}~{:=V]|I|[V=:}~{=w*w=}~{=x*x=}

 

MATERIEL USED:

 

To be relevant to most members, I make an effort to use papers, pens & nibs that are readily available. For pens, I use those for which I paid $100 or less, new or used; and are 'factory stock' - not customised.

 

For the 'One Of The Ten' suite of inks, the same set of pens are used. LINK

 

A. Parker 51, Flighter^✩, Mark I + 14K XF nib.

B. Pelikan M200 + M200-series g-p steel XF nib.

C. Waterman England 502 + some-flex 14CT 2A nib.

D. Sheaffer 330 + inlaid steel M nib.

E. Esterbrook J + 9968 firm steel B nib.

F. Lamy Pink Safari + steel 1.1i nib.

 

^✩ I cannot determine if this pen is a true 'Flighter' - set-up for use at low atmospheric pressure.

 

For lines & labels:

• Pilot Penmanship + steel XF with Montblanc Racing Green.

On these papers:

• HPJ1124 24 lb. Laser Copy.
• Rhodia.
• G Lalo, Verge de France, white.
• Royal, 25% cotton rag.
• Pulp.
• Glossy paper.
• Glossy card.

_________________

 

Images

• Scans were made on an Epson V600 scanner; factory defaults were accepted.
• Figures shown were scanned at 96 dpi & 24 bit colour.
• Images linked were scanned at 300 dpi & 24 bit colour.
• Scans were cropped and straightened; no other changes were made.

_________________

 

Densitometer Readings (FWTW)

Red 117

Grn 135

Blu 131

Lum 150

===============

 

-30-

[Sandy1]

COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

The Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue is the fourth ink to be reviewed in the 'One of the Ten' (OOTT) group of Blue inks.

 

When complete, the intention is to have the OOTT inks reviewed in the same manner, and compared in the same manner to the maximum practical extent.

 

Hopefully the OOTT reviews and comparisons will assist practitioners in choosing their lynch-pin Blue/s, and avoid unintentional purchase of equivalent ink/s. (As was seen in the comparisons of the Cd'A Blue Sky to Cd'A Blue to Sheaffer Skrip Blue.)

 

Also, the OOTT results should give common ground for claims, rumour and scuttlebutt to be discussed. Or be considered irrelevant, and so be ignored.

 

Bye,

Sandy1

[indigirl]

You keep on rockin the ink reviews Sandy1! I am so grateful!

[piembi]

I am impressed!

 

Pelikan blue had been the ink of my first years in school - used with a wet Geha schoolpen.

When I switched to a Parker 45, I switched to Parker black and never looked back.

 

Now I am using Pelikan blueblack or a 1:1 mix of Pelikan blue/blueblack with my vintage Pelikans. Guess I have to give good old Pelikan blue another try!

[1point1mm]

How many blues can one have? Nevertheless, another impressive review!

[Felix1]

It's one I always have in the ink cabinet but rarely use. Not because it has any bad characteristics (it doesn't); rather, because it lacks pizzazz.

 

But the good far outweighs the bad and it's the gold standard for German elementary school children.

 

And my ink of choice for trying out new pens...I know it'll flow well in any pen and cleanup is a snap if I decide the pen and I don't make for a good marriage.

[Sandy1]

I am impressed!

 

Pelikan blue had been the ink of my first years in school - used with a wet Geha schoolpen.

When I switched to a Parker 45, I switched to Parker black and never looked back.

 

Now I am using Pelikan blueblack or a 1:1 mix of Pelikan blue/blueblack with my vintage Pelikans. Guess I have to give good old Pelikan blue another try!

Hi,

 

It would be really nice if you could post some of the samples of PRB from your vintage Pelikans! I mentioned that when paired with a nib with some flex, it may give an old school look. So .... here's an opportunity, yes? The more Written Samples the better.

 

I think that PRB is over-used, and by using it less often, it may be seen with 'fresh eyes'. For personal use this Summer, I didn't use Blue ink, which gave me the opportunity to look at some of the too too common inks anew. Not easy to do, but I think I managed in my own way. (Ann hasn't shown me the Yellow Card - yet.)

 

Bye,

S1

Edited September 12, 2010 by Sandy1

[Sandy1]

You keep on rockin the ink reviews Sandy1! I am so grateful!

Thanks!

[Sandy1]

It's one I always have in the ink cabinet but rarely use. Not because it has any bad characteristics (it doesn't); rather, because it lacks pizzazz.

 

But the good far outweighs the bad and it's the gold standard for German elementary school children.

 

And my ink of choice for trying out new pens...I know it'll flow well in any pen and cleanup is a snap if I decide the pen and I don't make for a good marriage.

Hi,

 

Yessir, so common that I don't use PRB too often for personal writing.

 

I find it a bit too dry for use as a 'gold standard' - Waterman Florida Blue and MB Midnight Blue are my sampling inks. One would be too easy now wouldn't it?

 

But once out of elementary school, what inks do the German elementary school use? Dragons' Napalm?

 

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

How many blues can one have? Nevertheless, another impressive review!

Hi,

 

"How many Blues ...?" You don't want to know!

 

I'm glad you enjoyed the review.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited September 12, 2010 by Sandy1

[Felix1]

But once out of elementary school, what inks do the German elementary school use? Dragons' Napalm?

 

One of my grad school classmates was a German citizen and we've remained lifelong friends since our college years to include annual family visits. Now to answer your question, Sandy, I once posed nearly the same to my friend's children. And was amused to hear them say they couldn't wait to start the Gymnasium (university-bound school track) in the 6th grade because that meant they no longer had to write with fountain pens. ;-)

 

Their pen of choice was the Stabilo Point 88 in various colors.

[TWRDO]

Thanks for another awesome review! You obviously put a lot of work into these.

 

I've been thinking about trying a blue ink or two but I've put off buying one since you started these One of the Ten reviews. I'm always waiting for the next one, and they'll definitely be helping me choose a nice blue.

[lovemy51]

thx for the review, sandy! my P21 super is the only pen i have inked with this. comes out really nice and wet out of the med nib.

[Sandy1]

Thanks for another awesome review! You obviously put a lot of work into these.

 

I've been thinking about trying a blue ink or two but I've put off buying one since you started these One of the Ten reviews. I'm always waiting for the next one, and they'll definitely be helping me choose a nice blue.

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

I reckon it's a good idea to have some Blue ink close-by - just in case. Though I didn't use Blue for personal stuff this Summer.

 

The One Of The Ten inks are planned to have side-by-side comparisons - 45 total, 3 posted to date.

When I'm done, if you need certain samples side-by-side, just let me know. (I redesigned my Written Sample template into 'cells' which increase support of ad hoc comparisons. e.g. Pilot asa-gao from the Parker 51 on Rhodia compared to the Eclat de Saphir from the Pelikan on HPJ1124.)

 

Cheers!

S1

[Sandy1]

thx for the review, sandy! my P21 super is the only pen i have inked with this. comes out really nice and wet out of the med nib.

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

My RED Super 21 was/is supersaturated with Skrip Turquoise this Summer. I concur that the M nibs on the Super 21s are wet & unexpectedly luxurious. The PRB would be another fine ink for such a writer. Good pairing!

 

Bye,

S1

[gro]

This is the best review I have read on FPN, the OPs dedication is incredible!

[Sandy1]

But once out of elementary school, what inks do the German elementary school use? Dragons' Napalm?

 

One of my grad school classmates was a German citizen and we've remained lifelong friends since our college years to include annual family visits. Now to answer your question, Sandy, I once posed nearly the same to my friend's children. And was amused to hear them say they couldn't wait to start the Gymnasium (university-bound school track) in the 6th grade because that meant they no longer had to write with fountain pens. ;-)

 

Their pen of choice was the Stabilo Point 88 in various colors.

Hi,

Perhaps the FP would make a resurgence if it were promoted as a 'green' means of writing, which it is: no disposing of disposables.

And the students could use any ink, save whatever ink/colour the teachers use for marking.

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

This is the best review I have read on FPN, the OPs dedication is incredible!

Hi,

 

Thanks!

 

S1

[Koyote]

Come on, Sandy, you need to provide more detail in your review.

 

 

 

 

(Joke!)