Pelikan Level L65: Yellow/Black, (F) nib

[rroossinck]

First Impressions

It's translucent black with yellow trim, and it's pretty good-sized. Mine came without the factory packaging, so I can't comment on that.

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1029/907495154_61a4651f51_o.jpg

 

Appearance

As I understand it, the Pelikan Level L65 was initially designed as a school pen, and as such, it's not real flashy. No bling here; all business. The cap is a big one, designed with a top-bottom taper. The top of the cap is quite wide, relative to the pen, so that when posted, it can sit vertically on a desk. The clip is black plastic with a thin yellow trimline in the center of it, and it's pretty secure. Not that it grabs the shirt quite the same way that the Conklin Duragraph's clip (or the Kershaw Scallion pocketknife's clip) does, but it'll hold pretty securely in the placket of a polo shirt. It snaps onto the barrel with a pretty resounding "Snap!"

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1268/906643041_a79d2ef92d_o.jpg

Look ma! No hands!

 

The body of the pen has a chrome-plated steel nib, and a yellow section with a mild taper from the nib downward, and tactile rings set in the plastic for a positive grip (another school pen feature, as it promotes proper grip). The barrel is smokey-grey, and stamped LEVEL - the only exterior markings on the pen, save for the nib's width (which is stamped into the steel). The blind cap is also yellow, and rotates to allow for filling (more on this later).

 

Design

Folks, this one is a pretty big pen. I've heard that it's about the same size as an M8xx-series pen, but I haven't confirmed this. Since it's plastic, it doesn't have the M8xx's weight, but it's big. Capped or uncapped, it's very well-balanced, and fits very nicely in my hand. It posts securely, too (which is vastly different from the upmarket L5 that doesn't post at all).

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1389/906643383_9101411362_o.jpg

Pictured here with a Lamy Safari and a Bexley Simplicity for size.

 

Nib

It's essentially the same nib as on the Pelikano/Pelikano Jr., and perhaps the Pura as well (I've compared, and I'm not sure). A steel nib, it's very smooth and quite frankly, it seems to write well on nearly anything. When I write on a Moleskine, I don't get much of any feathering at all, which is a dramatic change from the norm for me (I don't have many good "Moleskine Pens" at all). The nib is neither wet nor dry - I'd call it a 4 or 5 on the Binder Scale.

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1233/906642071_b4f1c097db_o.jpg

While it's not a macro shot (none of 'em turned out), here's a decent picture of the nib.

 

Filling System

This is where it gets tricky. The pens fills from only one bottle design, and it's proprietary to Pelikan. Filling happens (I believe) through a type of capillary action. Twist the blind cap, and set it on the ink bottle (mine doesn't balance well at all); supposedly, the pen is a self-filler at this point.

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1396/906642479_3a490e6b8e_o.jpg

Normal position.

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1343/906640637_6e5946b81b_o.jpg

Filling position.

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1108/907493812_47caf34df1_o.jpg

Here's the pen attached to the bottle for filling. I think (not sure) that I have my hand on the pen to keep it stable and locked on.

 

Practically speaking though, you really need to flip the pen upside-down and carefully insert the bottle into the "nozzle" to get a good seal, and then gently squeeze the ink bottle so that you essentially force the ink into the reservoir. In my opinion, this is a case of over-engineering on Pelikan's part. If the system works, and there's a practical use for it, great; but in my opinion, there's too much to the design and way too dependent on too many variables.

 

However...there is an upside to this system. The ink reservoir is utterly gargantuan. It's a two-stage design that has a small reservoir attached to the feed, that's attached on the other end to a huge reservoir. For the Aurora Optima owners in the house, it's like yours, but backwards (and on a much bigger scale). The first stage that feeds the nib holds about 1mL of ink, like a normal Pelikan piston-filler. The secondary, though, holds darn near 4mL on its own! Essentially, the entire barrel is the gas tank for this thing.

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1385/906641763_c425f471b5_o.jpg

This whole thing is a giant gas tank! For reference, the pen is about half-full right now.

 

When the primary starts to dry out, you'll once again twist the knob into "filling position", and the secondary opens up and refills the primary. The process takes a second or two (and sometimes longer - I think it's dependent on the humidity and temperature, honestly) to get the process started. Once it's done, you twist the knob back the other direction to break the connection and seal off the two stages again. To a point, it's another example of over-engineering, but mine seems to manage the process okay. For reference, in other threads, Dillon Ang has shown a way to essentially "hack" (figuratively and literally) this whole primary/secondary business out of the pen. I haven't done this yet, but when I finally empty this thing, I might try it.

 

(For reference...I got this pen in February. I'm still on my first fill.)

 

Cost and Value

I like this pen. It's properly sized for my hand, it writes REALLY nicely, and it'l write for eons before you have to refill it (and potentially bump around town with blue hands thanks to spilled ink). I traded a few bottles of ink for mine, but typically, there are plenty of NOS pens selling on eBay from a handful of vendors for somewhere in the $30-40 range (although I know of one guy from Texas who sniped an auction and got it for about $12 part and parcel!), and they typically come with original packaging and ink bottle.

 

This brings up one other point I wanted to make. To the best of my knowledge, the Levels only shipped with a bottle of Pelikan blue. This is fine for me, as Pel's Royal Blue is my go-to ink for nearly everything. However, I know that there are a more than a few of you who are into other inks and colors. You'll have to empty the bottle first (and if you bought it second-hand, clean the nozzle out really well, too) before you can fill it up with the ink of your choice. It opens up easily enough, but be sure to get a good seal...there's a good chance that you'll be flipping this bottle upside down at one point or another. Spare bottles are available (I think that there are still a handful of stationers with bottles they never got rid of), but they're getting a little hard to come by.

 

Also...while I'm thinking of it...flushing this pen takes some work, too (and depending on how much hassle you're up for, a spare bottle to fill with water). Caveat emptor. This is probably not the pen you want to use if you're going through a "color discovery" phase.

 

Conclusion

Despite its engineering issues, this pen is an excellent knockaround pen. Rugged in design, not typically prone to leakage unless you've torn it apart and un-seated the o-rings(there are instructions and plenty of caveats out there...use the search button), and it writes really well. However, as I think I've laid out...it's definitely not without its faults. It's a prime example of ridiculous over-engineering. There's nothing inherently WRONG with the pen...it just is overly complicated, and thus, finicky.

 

For the price, it's an excellent writer. Is it worth the hassle? For me, it is (due to the size, weight, and balance - and the fact that I can't afford an M805 at the present). However, it's probably not a pen for everyone.

Edited July 31, 2007 by rroossinck

[J-san]

Pretty cool pen. Sharp looking, too. I like the over-engineered filling and feed system. I think I should have gone into engineering because I tend to like the overly technical things in life.

[arbatrmwc]

Nice review! I'd get it if I hadn't put myself on financial probation ... :embarrassed_smile:

 

I just wanted to say, your last picture, the one showing the reservoir, is great! :ltcapd:

It looks like the pen is taller than the house (talk about a BIG pen).

[rroossinck]

Glad someone picked that one up... I took about three different pictures, but that one towards the sunlight was the only one that showed the translucence.

 

Jason, had I thought about it, I'd have brought it with me so you could take a look at it.

[Maja]

Excellent review, rroosnick! I have a red version of your pen that I bought second-hand and mine has a Broad nib but it has some italic qualities to it. I am not sure if the pen was reground or not, or whether it's just my imagination. Did you notice any line variation with your yellow L65?

 

[AndyHayes]

Excellent review.

 

I have got the Level 5, which has the same filling system. It's wonderful when you start to run out of ink and you just twist the valve to see ink running from the reservoir to the large feed chamber. With pens other than these you would be looking for the ink bottle and the tissues. There's another thing too, no more tissues. These pens fill cleanly with no mess to wipe up afterwards. Very cool. If only the nibs were gold, they would be almost perfect.

[rroossinck]

Thanks Maja! I appreciate the kudos!

 

As for the line variation, you know, I have noticed just a little of it. Not much, but just a little.

 

On the color...I really wish I had one in green/black. There's not enough green in the world.

[rroossinck]

Update to some information in my review. After searching a little bit, I learned that Pelikan DOES make black ink in these bottles. It's available from a handful of resellers, I believe.

[Erica Kline]

Plus, you can always fill the bottle with some other ink when it's empty. I have a L5 and I like it, it always starts right up!

 

Erica

 

 

Update to some information in my review. After searching a little bit, I learned that Pelikan DOES make black ink in these bottles. It's available from a handful of resellers, I believe.

 

[donwinn]

Cost and Value

I like this pen. It's properly sized for my hand, it writes REALLY nicely, and it'l write for eons before you have to refill it (and potentially bump around town with blue hands thanks to spilled ink). I traded a few bottles of ink for mine, but typically, there are plenty of NOS pens selling on eBay from a handful of vendors for somewhere in the $30-40 range (although I know of one guy from Texas who sniped an auction and got it for about $12 part and parcel!), and they typically come with original packaging and ink bottle.

 

For the price, it's an excellent writer. Is it worth the hassle? For me, it is (due to the size, weight, and balance - and the fact that I can't afford an M805 at the present). However, it's probably not a pen for everyone.

 

Actually, the total was $10.99 - $10.00 for shipping, $0.99 for the pen. After I won, the seller contacted me and noted I got a really good deal because it's a Pelikan, and did I still want the pen. I replied yes, and two email requests for shipping info later, the pen was shipped yesterday (auction closed on the 22nd). I will give a short mini-review once I get it and try it out. Not much remains to be said after this excellent, thorough review, but I might have a slightly different perspective. At a minimum I will ditto what this review says, if I in fact have the same experience.

 

Donnie

[AndyHayes]

Dillon Ang has shown a way to essentially "hack" (figuratively and literally) this whole primary/secondary business out of the pen. I haven't done this yet, but when I finally empty this thing, I might try it.

 

I have searched high and low and can't find reference to this.

 

Can you point me in the right direction?

[rroossinck]

My apologies to Dillon and Blorgy. I believe (now) that Blorgy was the one who hacked it apart.

 

Here's the thread.

 

Blorgy's L65 Review: Great review!

[andyk]

rroossinck,

 

Although you probably found this one, they sell black ink here

 

http://www.theinkflow.com/catalog2a.htm

 

I have one of these in a different colour picked up for about £7 on ebay I thought mine said L1 on the packaging.

 

Andy

[rroossinck]

Thanks Andy. I've seen those before, but still don't own one.

 

Come to think of it...never tried Pelikan Black.

[Maja]

Thanks Maja! I appreciate the kudos!

 

As for the line variation, you know, I have noticed just a little of it. Not much, but just a little.

 

On the color...I really wish I had one in green/black. There's not enough green in the world.

A green and black Pelikan fountain pen---how radical!!

 

Thanks for the info re: your own pen's nib.

[Samovar]

Very good review. I just bought one in Germany for 2.50 euros! They are almost giving them away. I wanted a fine nib, but ended up with a medium. It's quite a nice writer. Mine came in a black body with a really dark blue cap.

I should have bought a few

 

Samovar

[rroossinck]

Addressing the L1/L65 naming convention, I'm not sure why it happened, but Pelikan sold them in some years as the L1, and in other years (or countries, perhaps) as the L65.

[meanwhile]

Dillon Ang has shown a way to essentially "hack" (figuratively and literally) this whole primary/secondary business out of the pen. I haven't done this yet, but when I finally empty this thing, I might try it.

 

I have searched high and low and can't find reference to this.

 

Can you point me in the right direction?

 

I wouldn't do this!

 

One point of the two tank design is to avoid expansion of the air bubble in the main tank causing the pen to drool ink through the nib. Remember - that's a potentially huge bubble in direct contact with the pen wall. It will heat up easily.

[rroossinck]

Ah, I see. You're right, that makes a lot of sense.

 

BTW...for all those interested, the nibs from the PURA are interchangeable with this pen. As a result of last night's little hack-fest on the yellow Level, this one now has a Pendemonium Cursive Italic on it!

 

And now none of you shall have it. SWMBO has claimed it for her own now that that nib is on it, with a request (demand?) for an ink changeover (to Montblanc Blue) in short order.

[donwinn]

After receiving my Level 1/65, bringing home my Level 5 inkwell, and putzing for a day and a half to get it inked (I must have been doing something minutely wrong, because the final try seemed no different to me than the first five), I carried it for two days. My experience validates that of rroossinck, except that mine is the green and black rather than the yellow. :bunny01: The pen writes like my M200, and carries enough ink to imitate a Visconti traveling ink pot

Donnie