Pelikan M200 (56k warning)

[Wilfred86]

This is a review of the new-style Pelikan M200. Enjoy!

 

1. First impressions

 

Some time ago, when I started collecting pens, I got a Pelikan brochure from a penshop. I really liked the classic styling of the Pelikan pens, so I decided I would buy one of those Pelikans sooner or later. A couple of years later I bought an old style M200. This was the pen I wrote with most for the past years. Was, because I lost it a couple of months ago at school. I still have hope that it will one day turn up, but that chance is getting smaller every day.

 

Two years ago (or three, I don't know exactly), I read a review in Stylophiles about the new colored M200's. I had to get one of these, or, even better, two. Some time later I bought two of these pens from marktplaats (kind of eBay-like site) for 35 euro per pen.

 

The transparant colors are very nice, this adds a mordern touch t oan otherwise classic pen. The screw-on style cap, well...screws really smooth, better than any other pen in my possession (apart from my M400).

 

The pens came with a nice presentation box, a bit more substantial than the old Pelikan boxes, as I might add.

 

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/8094/dscf4641wn9.jpg

 

2. Appearance & Finish

 

The pens are made from a shiny kind of plastic. The pen is very well made, the screw-on cap works very smooth, piston filler idem dito.

The not-so-nice thing about these pens is that the goldplating from the nib quickly wears of. Two of the three M200's I had/have in my possession have thi problem. On my first M200 it was so bad, I could scrape it of with my fingernail, (But the pen wrote deliciously).

 

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/7383/dscf4653ce1.jpg

See? This looks a bit cheap...

 

3. Design/Size/Weight

 

The pens have a classic design, originating from the Pelikans from the 50's. Its size is in the league of Parker Sonnet, Sheaffer Prelude, to name a view. Its weight however, is not. Because the pen is made from plastic, it is very light (13 grams without ink).

 

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9425/dscf4666ze8.jpg

 

4. Nib design & Performance

 

The nib (wich can easily been screwed out from the section) of the M200 is gold plated stainless steel. The gold quickly wears of (see 2. Appearance & Finish). It has a bit of flex in it, and writes smooth nor scratchy, almost a bit ballpoint-like (both pens do). The pens lay down a wet line.

 

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/120/dscf4688qe9.jpg

 

The pens are very comfortable to hold, you don't get tired when you use one of these.

 

5. Filling system

 

A very smooth piston filler, nice! Holds quite a lot of ink.

 

6. Cost/Value

 

I got two pens for 70 euro at marktplaats.nl (Dutch website). I believe the retail price of these pens is about 50 or 60 euro, and I think that is too much for an all-plastic pen (although a classic designed pen).

 

7. Overall Opinion/Conclusion

 

These pens look nice, the moving parts all move SMOOTH (cap, piston filler). The nibs were a bit of a disappointment, compared to my old M200. A pity that they are made from plastic, I would LOVE to see those pens in stainless steel, that would make it just the ideal pen for me. I doubt that's going to happen in the foreseeable future.

 

Some additional pictures

 

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/6378/dscf4686qn6.jpg

 

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/236/dscf4690ix4.jpg

This is the brochure I was talking about in "First impressions"

 

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/53/dscf4691qe3.jpg

Another page...

 

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/2244/dscf4662is8.jpg

 

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8681/dscf4645sa4.jpg

 

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/2121/dscf4646xs6.jpg

 

 

 

 

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it!

 

Wilfred

Edited January 6, 2008 by Wilfred86

[Kiolden]

Cool pens, too bad they are a bit scarce in demonstrator versions now. I'm thinking about a black one with a Binder cursive italic, but my wallet has other priorities for now, I think. The M205 is also neat, I really like the look of Pelikans in general with silver trim.

 

In the third to last picture, are the caps on the blue M200 and the black M400 switched? It looks like it.

[Wilfred86]

Hello Kiolden,

 

When I bought the M400, it had an M200 cap...And price label. I discovered the difference at home, when I took a closer look.

 

Wilfred

[cmeisenzahl]

Great work, and pen!!!

[schmittypods]

I love my M200 as well, the Binder nibs for these are also great!. That white one is gorgeous! Let me know if you are ever interested in selling or trading!

Best,

Michael

[FrankB]

This is a good review. Thank you.

 

I am really wondering about the gold plating coming off the nib. I have a number of Pel plated nibs and I have never had one loose the plating. I guess it happens.

[andyk]

Nice review and nice pictures, I have several M200s including 2 demonstrators (red and amber) and they are amongst my favourite everyday pens, most have steel nibs which all write well, but a couple have 14ct nibs which I guess technically makes them M250s (which also write well).

 

I only have one that the GP has worn on but it writes well and at first glance looks like a two tone nib, as the plating has worn on the top of the nib near the tip. The nibs are fairly cheap to buy anyway if it is a problem for you.

 

The price you paid is pretty good, shame they don't make the coloured demo versions any more, wish I had bought a blue and an anthracite one while they were still being made.

 

Andy

 

[santander02]

This is a good review. Thank you and congratulations for your handwriting.

[Dima]

The pens have a classic design, originating from the Pelikans from the 50's. Its size is in the league of Parker Sonnet, Sheaffer Prelude, to name a view. Its weight however, is not. Because the pen is made from plastic, it is very light (13 grams without ink).

 

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9425/dscf4666ze8.jpg

I have a question about Sheaffer Prelude on the picture. It seems to have a gold-plated nib, while the pen has chrome trims. Did it come in such combination or you replaced the nib yourself? Such chrome trim Prelude is my everyday writer and your picture gave me the idea to buy a gold-plated nib for my pen too.

 

[Bill Smith]

Great review, I have a grey transperant 200 and it's a great pen, the gold plated nib was not my cup of tea so I switched it out for a single toned 14k gold and now I have a 250 demonstrator.

[DRP]

Informative review & well illustrated. Thank you.

[Federalist Pens]

It is a great review- great pics too!

 

I have a red M200 and the M205.

I love these Pel Demos as well! They are nice daily users!

 

Frank

[breaker]

nice review

[mori45]

I'm sorry you've had trouble with gold flaking on your nibs. I've had some for over a decade and they're still going strong. Maybe it's just bad luck?

[dzg]

Can anyone hazard a guess as to what the silver pen with notched blakc section is in the 3rd picture? It looks like a Parker 75 but it isn't because Parker doesn't have two-tone nibs on the 75 .....

[LYTH]

Nice review !

I've got a M200 and M400, and I prefer the M200.

[ThirdeYe]

Can anyone hazard a guess as to what the silver pen with notched blakc section is in the 3rd picture? It looks like a Parker 75 but it isn't because Parker doesn't have two-tone nibs on the 75 .....

 

Looks like a Sheaffer Prelude to me. I have a couple of them, one with a gold plated nib and one with an all steel colored nib.

[mrphyig]

Can anyone hazard a guess as to what the silver pen with notched blakc section is in the 3rd picture? It looks like a Parker 75 but it isn't because Parker doesn't have two-tone nibs on the 75 .....

 

Looks like a Sheaffer Prelude to me. I have a couple of them, one with a gold plated nib and one with an all steel colored nib.

 

It's a Sheaffer Prelude with Medalist colouring---brushed steel and gold highlights, with a two-tone stainless steel nib. (I had one as my very first pen; heaps of sentimentality, &c.)

 

- Mr. P