Care and maintenance of vintage Pelikan 400s...

[capdek]

I've done some searching on this forum related to this topic, but I've not had any real luck finding any specific info.

If this topic has already been addressed in detail on this forum somewhere, a simple link to it would be appreciated. Otherwise, here's my question.

 

Just so you all know, I generally try and use my pens at least once a day, and so my pens are generally always filled with ink.

Other than using safe inks like Pelikan, Parker Quink, Aurora, Waterman, Diamine, J. Herbin, etc., what routine maintenance practices would any of you recommend for my vintage 1950s Pelikan 400s? Should I flush them between fills for example? When flushing, should I use warm water, or cool water, or room temperature water? What additional routine maintenance practices would keep the piston mechanism and the associated seals functioning reliably? How often - if ever - should these pens be completely disassembled, cleaned, lubed and put back together? Are there third-party specialists out there that recommend and do this work for a nominal fee? Would Chartpak offer this service? Is this something I could do safely on my own? What materials should I purchase in order to properly maintain these pens? You get the idea.

These pens are my pride and joy and I want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to ensure they will be functioning reliably in another 50 or 60 years. Naturally, I prefer to prevent problems from occurring in the first place rather than having to send them away for repair after a problem has already occurred.

If anyone knows of a pre-existing web-site or resource that can answer these questions in detail, I would appreciate the info. I have already visited Rick Propas' site and am aware of his recommendations concerning the care and maintenance of cork seals, though I'm not sure if my 400s actually contain cork seals.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can throw my way.

[Rick Propas]

David,

 

Your 400s were originally produced with synthetic seals and I have tested and renewed the seals as necessary.

 

There really is no special maintenance necessary on these pens. Keep them clean. If not in use for more than a few weeks empty them and flush them three or more times with tap water.

 

Many folks here like to remove nibs for cleaning, but on vintage Pelikans I strongly discourage doing this.

 

Rick

[capdek]

Thanks Rick - low maintenance is a always a good thing! And don't worry about nib removal. Why on earth would I ever want to remove something so perfect? .

Edited November 29, 2009 by capdek

[Iskender]

I wouldn't be surprised if the problems people might have with as reliable a pen as the 400 result from over-maintenance as much as lack of care/abuse.

[jde]

I have two wonderful old 400's.

 

Because it was possible to do so I used to remove the nibs for a more thorough flushing. One day I seriously misaligned the nib on the feed. I managed to fix this but it was a little scary at the time (Rick was in England and didn't want to cry about it to him). The pen is fine and writes like a dream again, but I no longer remove the nibs for cleaning.

 

Enjoy 'em.

--Julie

[capdek]

The fact that the Pelikan 400 requires so little in the way of maintenance is a testimony to its superior design. In fact, this would be true for the entire Souveran line. Couple this with the aesthetic beauty of these pens, and you begin to realize that the Pelikan Souveran has to be one of the best pens ever made. True, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I seriously doubt I will find much disagreement with my conclusion on this forum.

[PJohnP]

Pelikans are pretty robust pens, all things considered. Many people have used them for years without flushing or other maintenance, albeit usually with only one ink being used. I personally had a couple that were used with Quink Blue-Black and Red in this manner. Fill, use to almost empty, fill, repeat and repeat with never even a small hiccup in writing a smooth line.

 

I have taken to lubing some of my Pelikans with a smallish dab of very pure silicone if I've been switching inks a lot, especially complete brand switches with flushing extensively/repeatedly. Aside from some external cleaning and (very) light polishing with a cloth, nothing else has been required. My tortoise 400NN is older than me (a bit) and it's running like a champ (although it's now sitting loaded with Iroshizuku Tsukushi - not too sure if the plant expected that ink to be put into place more than a half-century back!)

 

I sometimes see Pelikans compared with Mercedes and BMW cars, but with the sure steady heavy service they provide, I'm more reminded of a deuce-and-a-half truck as a metaphor for how they perform !

 

 

 

John P.

[islandlife]

I too have been using a light coat of pure silicone. I like the way it repels ink in the window making them clearer to read.

[Bo Bo Olson]

The longer one has a Pelikan the classier it looks, like a Daimler.

[1000km]

Agreed!

 

The longer one has a Pelikan the classier it looks, like a Daimler.