Pelikan M150

[Bernie0104]

Hi everyone,

 

I've heard only good things about Pelikan's range of fountain pens, but I'm embarrassed to say that I've never used one. About time I did! So, just for starters I was thinking of starting at the bottom end of the range and going for an M150. My thinking here is that if the lower-end pens are good (and to my own liking), then chances are that the high-end models can only be better. I have no doubt that even the M150 will be a quality item, but if for any reason I don't get on with the pen then at least I haven't blown a load of cash on something I'll never use.

 

I've seen lots written about the M200, but the M150 doesn't seem to get a lot of coverage. A lot of Pelikan dealers don't even stock this model as far as I can see, certainly where I live. So, is there anyone out there who actually has one of these pens? If so, any information would be greatly appreciated. The M150 looks like a bit of a bargain to me (I've seen it online discounted to around £24), but I'd just like some opinions from anyone who is more familiar with Pelikans than I am.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Bernie.

 

http://www.mrpen.co.uk/contents/media/150.jpg

[OldGriz]

Depending on the size of pen you like, you might find the 150 to be too small for your hand...

I find the 200 just about perfect and the 800 and up too large for me.

[Rique]

I have one, black with a F nib. The 150 looks very much like the 200, only smaller and a bit thinner (capped lenght 122 mm against 127; body diameter 10.8 against 11.7 mm). Also, the range of colours is more limited (only black, black with green cap, black with blue cap. No marbled finishes or translucent bodies). The nib is a bit shorter and thinner too.

The quality is the same as in the 200, which means very high. I have five Pelikans in this line (3 Pelikan 200, one 250 and one M400) and they have been excellent pens since day one. I wish I could say the same about my Parkers...

All in all, a great introduction to Pelikan, in my view.

 

Rique

 

BTW, the 150 is about the same size as an Esterbrook SJ, if you know them. On the small side, compared to most modern pens.

Edited October 15, 2006 by Rique

[TMann]

Hi Bernie,

 

I'll echo what Riquie said about the m150. It's a great little pen. It's small enough to be a "carry-everywhere" pen, but it's still large enough to be comfortable to write with.

 

If you like your pen and find that it's a good size for you, you may want to look at Pendeomonium.com's website. They are selling an italic nib for the m150 for about $30. It's a great introduction to the world of Pelikan FP's.

 

TMann

[KCat]

The only reasons the 150 doesn't get the press of the 200s are the size and more limited body colors. WRT quality, it is of the same quality as the 200 as others have said.

 

The 150 is a bit small for me but I'm also very picky in that regard. 600s are my upper limit, 200s my lower.

[Bernie0104]

Thanks for the replies folks! This is a great forum - very helpful. It's fantastic to meet some like-minded people you know!

 

As far as the M150 is concerned, I quite like small compact pens, so the size will not be an issue for me. A black one will do me nicely, so the limited colour availability is not a problem either. I'm definitely going to buy an M150 (for starters!!!) and I'll post my thoughts here once I've spent some quality time with it! Even though it's quite an inexpensive pen, I'm really looking forward to trying one! This could be the start of a long love affair, if what I hear about Pelikans is true!

 

Thanks again everyone!

[Bill]

I have two of them. A gray/black that I have never inked (my only such pen--can't explain why!) and a red/black medium that came with the matching BP. The dark red color is actually more of a burgundy. It is well behaved but not as smooth OOTB as many of the larger Pels I have. Coincidentally, I took it out of the rotation about two hours before reading this thread...after over three months of very sporatic, but flawless, use on one tankful of Noodler's Kiowa Pecan.

 

I find that the medium lays down a line the same width as the M800 fine. That's no surprise to Pel fans, but could be confusing to someone just getting into them.

 

Bill

[thewolfgang]

So, just for starters I was thinking of starting at the bottom end of the range and going for an M150. My thinking here is that if the lower-end pens are good (and to my own liking), then chances are that the high-end models can only be better.

Do you think this is a true statement about all or most pen lines?

 

If so, could you name a few brands and the lower-end pen or pens that give an good idea of what the mid-price and high-end models are like?

[Mary P]

Several years ago Katie Hill was shot and killed while attending the Washington D.C. Pen Show. Pentrace members rallied. Len Provisor, Richard Binder and others came together to produce Katie Hill memorial pens. The proceeds from the sale of these pens went to Kattie's favorite charities.

 

My Katie Hill pen is a black and green Pelikan 150. "Katie Hill Forever our Pen Friend" is engraved on the cap. Their was a drawing and a limited number of us who ordered the special pens got ours with custom Binder nibs. Mine has a wonderful fine stub. This pen has never been out of my rotation since I received it. It is always filled with a green ink of one kind or another. Right now it is loaded with Noodlers Sequoia.

 

Katie is one of few Pentracers that I have met. We both worked for non-profit agencies in the Pacific Northwest. We met at a conference about grant funding for early childhood programs. At that time Katie was an attorney for the Casey Family Program and I was a staff member and grant writer for United Way of Pierce County. That was before either of us became Pentrace Snails. We sat at the same table and both of us used fountain pens to take notes as Melinda Gates spoke to the assembly.

[Phthalo]

I had a Burgundy-Black M150 which I gifted to a fellow FP nut because the steel EF nib was more like a Light-Medium.

 

I own the Souveran M400 and M300, then two M250's - one a clear demonstrator. Comparing them all, the only difference I noted in quality between the M150 and the others were that the plastic seams on the grip section were detectable, whereas on the Souveran’s the seams are not evident.

 

Otherwise, it's a classy and nicely-made piston-filler for less than $50 - nothing else really compares.

[kissing]

M150

 

I'm having a love affair with my one!! (A certain generous person gifted it to me )

 

It's a great little compact pen. If you're used to writing with bigger pens or heavier pens, it may take a bit of getting used to though. The M150 is very lightweighted and is slightly smaller than the 'regular' pen size. I find this to be an advantage though, because the Pelikan M150 size is my pen size of preference

 

The filling mechanism is a convenient Piston, and holds LOTS of ink (despite being a small pen). I think I read somewhere that the M150 actually holds more ink than it's bigger relatives (i might be wrong).

 

The cap is screw on Classical touch! The material is polished 'resin' - nice glossy appearance which makes the pen seem very elegant.

 

If you don't mind the small size and the light-weightedness of the M150, I'm sure you will enjoy your one very much. It's a reliable and consistent writer which is comfortable for me. Though it's priced as a "lower end" pen, the quality is very high

Edited October 16, 2006 by kissing

[fjf]

It is a bit smaller than the m200, but it is a very nice pen. The more expensive m400 have golden nibs, but they do not write any better.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/sales/pelikan/Pelikans.jpg

Edited October 16, 2006 by fjf

[sonia_simone]

I personally like the feeling of the gold nibs better--I wouldn't say it's objectively better, but it's different and I prefer it.

 

I do use my 150 a lot, though, and it's a very good pen.

[Vintage Pens Fan]

Hello,

 

I am mainly interested in vintage FPs. Currently the only other "modern" pens I own are Namiki VP, & Pel M800. Both are fairly substantial (in weight).

 

I am considering getting the M150 around Christmas (plus some Noodler inks) from Swisher pens: (Usual disclaimer: I have no relationship with Swisher, just a satisfied customer from previous purchases).

 

https://secure5.nexternal.com/shared/StoreF...ount2=998359322

 

 

David

[Bernie0104]

My goodness! I'm overwhelmed! Thanks to all who replied to my post - your comments are most helpful. Without doubt my next pen purchase will be a Pelikan M150. I have others in mind too though... I like the idea of the Pelikan M215 - a metal bodied Pelikan, and of course the Namiki Vanishing Point/Pilot Capless (call it what you will!!!), but those are for another day. Maybe Santa will be good to me!

[Bernie0104]

So, just for starters I was thinking of starting at the bottom end of the range and going for an M150. My thinking here is that if the lower-end pens are good (and to my own liking), then chances are that the high-end models can only be better.

Do you think this is a true statement about all or most pen lines?

 

If so, could you name a few brands and the lower-end pen or pens that give an good idea of what the mid-price and high-end models are like?

Thewolfgang,

 

My thinking here may be way off base. I don't own that many expensive fountain pens, except for a couple of Cross and Parker FPs. I can't justify the cost now that I am a parent! However, in my (admittedly limited) experience, USUALLY if you spend more you get a better product. This is not always true though. For example, I own two Parker Sonnets - one is a black laque model with an 18K rhodium plated nib and the other is a stainless steel model with chrome trim. The cheaper model is the better writer in my opinion, even though I have had two nib changes on the 18K pen. Don't get me wrong, the 18K is a nice pen - the steel nibbed one just seems that bit smoother.

 

So, in that respect my theory may be flawed. I was just generalising there!

 

Bernie.

[kissing]

re: Parker Sonnets

 

I agree with you. I know a few other people who prefer the lower end Sonnets with the stainless steel nibs over the 18K gold ones. The Steel ones seem to be springier and 'cushions' your writing. A very comfortable pen to use for extended periods of time. The only issue is Quality Control...faulty nibs often do get sold. However, Parker will gladly replace faulty nibs, and once you get your hands on a proper Sonnet - it's a great pen

 

The 18K Gold nibs are not bad, but they feel stiffer because the metal has to be thicker due to the Gold.

 

It's true that often the more you pay, the better the pen is. However, there is an elusive 'middle range' which defy this trend (eg: Waterman Phileas and the Pelikan 150). Some expensive pens write better than inexpensive pens, and some inexpensive pens write better than expensive pens

[KCat]

re: Parker Sonnets

 

I agree with you. I know a few other people who prefer the lower end Sonnets with the stainless steel nibs over the 18K gold ones. The Steel ones seem to be springier and 'cushions' your writing.

eek! Springier still? My 18K sonnets were very springy. One was stubbed. It's fun to write with but I'm just not great with spring or flex. Stubbing it gave me a little more control.

[goodguy]

I own a black M150.Its a high quality pen and simply a beautiful writer.But like everyone else I find it to be too small for my hands.My M800 is just a perfect fit.

Other than the size I have NO complains what so ever agains this pen just good things to say about it.

[Junk Collector]

I would like to know what size nib that you use to write with your M150? How does it write with the Medium nib? Do you think that the Medium nib will do for everyday writing and heavy usage writing? I found a really good deal on 5 Pelikan M150 Medium point fountain pens that I just ordered. The only problem is that all 5 of them come with the Medium nib. Do you think that the Medium Nib will suit me well for everyday heavy usage writing? I am currently used to writing with a Waterman Phileas Fine Point. I also own 2 Phileas Medium point fountain pens. I'm hoping that all 5 Pelikan M150 fountain pens that I ordered will do for all of my writing needs. What do you think about this? Did I make the right purchase choice getting the M150 with the Medium nib?

Edited April 28, 2007 by Junk Collector