Pelikan 400, Tortoise, 1950-1956

[thott]

Hello,

 

just a brief review of my new one, Pelikan 400, tortoise, nib OBB.

Produced from 1954-1956.

 

 

First look:

When I saw him the first time it was amazing. The different colors all over the

tortoise barrel. The dark brown cap fits perfect to the pen.

The clip and the cap rings are for a over 60 years old pen in a perfect condition.

No cracks at the barrel and the cap.

The nib looks very fine…

The nib size is engraved in the filling knop.

 

No imprint in the cap ring, imprint in the rear barrel, a cylindric filling knop

and the ebonit nib holder shows his production periode 50-56.

 

Feeling:

It fits perfect in my hand and it is fine balanced with the cap at the rear pen.

When you take it in your hands it you feel the handsome shape. Its not a cold piece

in your hand, it takes immediately your hand temperature and becomes a part

of your hand.

 

Filling:

The filling mechanism is as smooth as the other new Pelikans. I didn´t

disassemble it, due to missing tools.

But it feels that it is ok……

 

Nib:

The OBB nib is new for me and was not easy to write when you do not know it.

When you hold it in the wrong position, it scratch.

But with the training it brings a nice writing picture to the paper without scratching.

After cleaning the ebonit nib holder the ink flow is very good as I like it.

Like all Pelikans the nib was easy to take out of the pen and to disassemble it.

 

 

Ink flow:

I try several inks and could not see any difference in the ink flow…..

 

Conclusion

It is amazing to write with such an old pen in this beautiful shape and to use it still

today daily.

 

It would be great if such a pen could tell you, what he experienced in the last 60 years……..

 

I could not find any weakness and it seems the Pelikan 400 is build for the next 60 years.

 

I am pretty sure that this will be not my last vintage Pelikan tortoise pen.

 

Happy New Year!

 

Thomas

[Uncle Red]

That is a beautiful pen Thomas, thank you for sharing it with us. I love that nib. Could you post a writing sample?

[Earthdawn]

Gorgeous pen!

 

Nice review with excellent pictures. What a beautiful nib

[thott]

That is a beautiful pen Thomas, thank you for sharing it with us. I love that nib. Could you post a writing sample?

 

Hello,

 

following you find a writing sample.

Sorry for the bad picture quality. It is taken with my iPhone and the white balance at this

pictures are not ok.

 

 

I even do not know, if I write in the right way with this nib.

I often read, that it is not so easy to write with this nib

type.

 

HNY!

 

Thomas

[da vinci]

Thank you for this comprehensive review and excellent pictures. It looks like a fantastic pen.

 

Is the nib flexible or is it just the nib type that is giving you the line variation in your writing sample?

 

I am guessing the nib feels fairly soft? How does it compare to the modern pelikans?

[thott]

Thank you for this comprehensive review and excellent pictures. It looks like a fantastic pen.

 

Is the nib flexible or is it just the nib type that is giving you the line variation in your writing sample?

 

I am guessing the nib feels fairly soft? How does it compare to the modern pelikans?

 

I am not a nib expert and I do not have the writing knowledges of a flexible nib.

 

But I can say, that the nib is more "soft" than a B size nib of a today Pelikan M400.

The line variation comes more due to he shape of the nib as I can see.

I do not push pressure to the nib during the writing.

And as I wrote I do not know If I hold it the right way

 

I hold it so that it write soft. That means, the hand angle is like the angle of the

nib cut.

 

I made a video of the writing in Macro mode. Not so easy to catch the right scene :-)

 

AVI Video, 4 MB

MPG Video, 11 MB

 

I hope it works.......

 

HNY!

 

Thomas

[tandaina]

OBB nibs tend to give a bit of line variation based on their shape alone. I have a MB 144 with a BB nib that writes like a stub it gives so much variation. But it is hard as a nail. This looks more stubby/OBB to me. Quite nice!

[da vinci]

Thank you for this comprehensive review and excellent pictures. It looks like a fantastic pen.

 

Is the nib flexible or is it just the nib type that is giving you the line variation in your writing sample?

 

I am guessing the nib feels fairly soft? How does it compare to the modern pelikans?

 

I am not a nib expert and I do not have the writing knowledges of a flexible nib.

 

But I can say, that the nib is more "soft" than a B size nib of a today Pelikan M400.

The line variation comes more due to he shape of the nib as I can see.

I do not push pressure to the nib during the writing.

And as I wrote I do not know If I hold it the right way

 

I hold it so that it write soft. That means, the hand angle is like the angle of the

nib cut.

 

I made a video of the writing in Macro mode. Not so easy to catch the right scene :-)

 

AVI Video, 4 MB

MPG Video, 11 MB

 

I hope it works.......

 

HNY!

 

Thomas

 

Thanks Thomas! Happy new year to you too.

[thott]

OBB nibs tend to give a bit of line variation based on their shape alone. I have a MB 144 with a BB nib that writes like a stub it gives so much variation. But it is hard as a nail. This looks more stubby/OBB to me. Quite nice!

 

Happy New Year dear tandaina!

 

I am not a experienced specialist regarding nibs.

I think also that line variation is not due to flexibility but due to the shape of the nib tip.

 

When I see some videos of flexible nibs.....my one is really not a flexible one......

 

Thomas

[mrul]

That is a beautiful pen Thomas, thank you for sharing it with us. I love that nib. Could you post a writing sample?

 

Hello,

 

following you find a writing sample.

Sorry for the bad picture quality. It is taken with my iPhone and the white balance at this

pictures are not ok.

 

 

I even do not know, if I write in the right way with this nib.

I often read, that it is not so easy to write with this nib

type.

 

HNY!

 

Thomas

 

Gorgeous pen :puddle:

[da vinci]

Hi Thomas, apologies another question if i may!

 

Can you see the ink level through the barrel, i.e is it transparent to any degree?

[thott]

Hi Thomas, apologies another question if i may!

 

Can you see the ink level through the barrel, i.e is it transparent to any degree?

 

Hello,

 

it is very hard to see the ink level.

It is betwenn the dark stripes transparent, but to due the small

transparent area you have to look very carfully.

 

Have nice day!

Thomas

[da vinci]

Hi Thomas, apologies another question if i may!

 

Can you see the ink level through the barrel, i.e is it transparent to any degree?

 

Hello,

 

it is very hard to see the ink level.

It is betwenn the dark stripes transparent, but to due the small

transparent area you have to look very carfully.

 

Have nice day!

Thomas

 

You too, thanks Thomas