I Just Couldn't Resist - Pelikan M400 (Schildpatt-Braun/turquoise Brown) New Old Stock

[Serlo]

Dear members of the forum,

 

today I went into a bookstore (!) to order a book and at the checkout, behind the counter hidden away in a dark corner, I saw this little box. I think I have been to this store a hundred times but had never seen it before:

 

http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg565/Serlo78/Mobile%20Uploads/E432945C-B1A4-4225-ABE0-BF05700891C4_zpsquftkf6q.jpg

 

 

Of course, I had to have a look at this because I know that some of you are Pelikan aficionados and I have only read good things about Pelikan so far; I think my first school fountain pen actually was a Pelikan, alas, I lost it. So the lady hand the box over to me and I had a look at the back of the box and knew immediately that this, indeed, is a very old pen. The price is still in DM and the postal code has only got four digits (I think that this was changed in the 90s, although I am not sure when exactly). The price for this pen was 188 DM (about 125 if converted into today's currency so it was far from being a cheap pen even back then) and it says that the box is modeled after the original presentation box from 1897. It also says that it contains a M400 schildpatt brown - I had never seen this combination before - with an M nib and a bottle of ink "1897".

 

 

http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg565/Serlo78/Mobile%20Uploads/B89CAB33-765C-400F-88AD-88D5D88A0C7A_zpsbww1trvi.jpg

 

I was very close to buying an M805 Stresemann a couple of weeks ago, but didn't pull the trigger and decided to go for the Montblanc WE Balzac instead. Well, I am still waiting for this pen to arrive.

 

Of course, I had to ask how much it was.

"Oh, this is a very old pen, indeed. We used to sell pens, but we stopped selling them about 20 years ago. Nowadays you can get cheaper pens from big chains like Müller, and this is the only one left. I ordered it for a doctor, but he went for a green pen and I kept this brown one. Actually I thought about keeping it myself as no one buys pens and stationary here anymore."

"Can I have a look at it?"

"Of course you can!"

So I opened the box and this is what I saw: What a beautiful pen it is and I like the brown translucent body; I don't have to explain that it was love at first sight!

 

http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg565/Serlo78/Mobile%20Uploads/9599351A-649E-4220-B589-4EC388448C75_zpsgu6knyhr.jpg

 

http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg565/Serlo78/Mobile%20Uploads/6C76A61D-EF0D-41DF-9BC4-5AB362A8DE75_zpsjohuqlau.jpg

 

http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg565/Serlo78/Mobile%20Uploads/8014D86E-4D5A-45EE-8926-57FFBEFD0A3E_zpscqfadx4s.jpg

 

I also had a look at the nib. This 14C gold nib is not like the bicolour nibs that Pelikan uses today, but it looks very nice, indeed.

 

http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg565/Serlo78/Mobile%20Uploads/810AD9E4-E4F4-4CA2-9AF1-F079FEB18FB1_zpsspilaa6m.jpg

 

http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg565/Serlo78/Mobile%20Uploads/3FA898C4-0080-4449-9718-050FE3ACF2EC_zpssevzfwvl.jpg

 

And now, what did I pay? She gave it to me for less than the price I would have had to pay when it was produced (and much less than I would have to pay for a new pen), so I guess that this is a bargain that none of you could have resisted. And apparently the pen has never been inked before. I don't want to try it today as I am still at work (without a bottle of ink and I don't want to open the bottle that came with the pen; do you think that this ink still can be used? Probably not...).

 

I can't wait for tomorrow when the pen is going to write for the very first time after at least 25 years.

 

Can someone tell me more about the pen I bought? I wonder when it was manufactured and how old it really is. Is it enough to flush the pen before inking it? Or would you leave the pen untouched as it is (I don't think that I can do that as I am not a collector but a user).

 

I hope that I can take more pictures tomorrow (with writing samples). The nib feels as if it was rather flexible - I had to "write" with it, even if it wasn't inked - and it also feels quite smooth.

 

Thank you for bearing with me and I hope that you enjoy the pictures.

Edited July 11, 2015 by Serlo

[Notgatherox]

This is THE BROWN TORTOISE

 

OK, I do actually have one of my own and I love mine, it is a daily writer!

 

This looks to be the M400 Brown Tortoise from 1984-1986. More info on it here: http://thepelikansperch.com/2014/09/07/a-treatise-on-the-modern-tortoise-1980-2014/

 

Yes, do flush. Clears the pen of any manufacturing residue.

 

Enjoy your pen. It's a beauty.

 

 

 

~Epic

[Lam1]

Oh, my!! A NOS M400 brown tortoise! :puddle:

What a finding! I don't think anybody would pass on an opportunity like this.

Congratulations and enjoy your pen.

[ink-syringe]

Goodness. Epic score. wow.

[DrCodfish]

Nice, very nice. I have one, an earlier (1950's) version always inked and gets more use that almost any other single Pelikan I have. I too am a 'user' there is no pen I have that is just and only for looking so like you I would definitely use it if it were mine, but I don't fault those who think an unused, vintage pen should be kept in NOS unused condition.

 

I think flushing with warm water first is a good idea and ... can't hurt.

 

As for the ink. I suspect that it would probably be fine to use. See if you can tell if any has evaporated from the bottle, if not that suggests a good seal and likely if nothing can get out, then nothing bad can get it. I have a couple bottles of old Sheaffer's Skrip and they seem fine in my pens. Might ask the question in one of the ink forums.

 

I'm jealous, I never stumble upon finds like this. I would say if you had to pick a pen for this kind of 'stumble upon it, NOS, back of the shelf, never been used, vintage, iconic pen to get an absurdly low price on , well .... you picked a great make and model. Consider this source for basic information on your pen.

 

Anxious to hear how you like the pen once you have it up and running.

Edited July 10, 2015 by DrCodfish

[inkstainedruth]

That's an awesome find. I have an M400 Brown Tortoise from the 1990s, and it's a great pen. Mine's got an F nib, but it's very juicy and got some spring to it. But I paid a bit more for mine, plus mine wasn't NOS. Very exciting for you. Let us know what you ink it up with, and show us a writing sample.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Serlo]

Thank you very much for your answers. I have learned quite a bit about my new old pen and now I know that it was produced between 1984 and 1990 (as it says W-Germany on the cap band).

 

http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg565/Serlo78/Mobile%20Uploads/49A9CD2A-5E14-4CA2-8680-04869A250805_zps4eqlrxk9.jpg

 

Well I thought about keeping it uninked for about 30 seconds and thought that (as I am not going to sell it) it would be a pity not to use it. The user in me beat the collector, sorry guys! And I just couldn't wait until tomorrow, so the first thing I did when I got home was to flush it, ink it and to write.

 

I am in pen heaven.

 

http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg565/Serlo78/Mobile%20Uploads/ADBCF5F0-CAFF-4AAB-AC5B-ED2D925F5B7E_zpsrfrsdukz.jpg

 

http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg565/Serlo78/Mobile%20Uploads/F88F2880-4C33-43F0-AF90-C474CBBF2BF9_zpspmrecmh0.jpg

 

http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg565/Serlo78/Mobile%20Uploads/BADE4E5D-0E7D-4AD5-8091-963E35BFD509_zpsdv4jxu8f.jpg

 

http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg565/Serlo78/Mobile%20Uploads/36D2017D-15AD-4655-9EBA-28E29CE11DCE_zps1lshb7b3.jpg

 

And a little size comparison to the Montblanc 146:

 

http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg565/Serlo78/Mobile%20Uploads/542437D8-635C-4C98-9ED6-5461CD0FE213_zpscfoillhp.jpg

 

The Pelikan is an excellent writer out of the (old) box and hasn't even skipped once, at least so far.

Please excuse my handwriting and don't be mad at me for having inked it. I can resist anything except temptation.

 

Thank you all once again for your very helpful replies.

Edited July 10, 2015 by Serlo

[FayeV]

Congrats!!! It's beautiful.

[sargetalon]

Great story, beautifully presented. Thank you so much for sharing. These brown tortoises are some of my favorites and to find a NOS one like this in person is just amazing. Congratulations on your purchase and enjoy it. It will serve you well for a long time to come.

[teva]

Congratulations on the excellent catch.

 

Nice review and presentations on the package as well.

[Buster99]

Congratulations, a great find, great pen and a great story!

Keep it, use it and never let go.

 

Best regards,

Marc

[lisantica]

As I began reading your post I thought, I sure hope he bought it.

Glad you did, what a find, congrats!

[benbot517]

I have a green stripe from that era. It is my favorite pen. Those 80s Pelikan nibs are wonderful things. Very smooth, springy, and responsive... What a fantastic find!

[shedberg]

Stunning!!

[Christopher Godfrey]

Serlo, stop apologizing for having inked it -- I suspect that <no one> around here is going to rebuke you for having filled it and for using it for exactly what it was designed! Enjoy your lovely find! I'm green with envy ;^)

Edited July 12, 2015 by Christopher Godfrey

[Serlo]

Thank you all for your kind comments. Yes, it is an extraordinary find that might only happen once in a lifetime. This Pelikan is on its way to becoming my favourite pen. I certainly don't regret the decision to ink it. Well, I also wear my 100-year-old pocket watch so I am used to using vintage items.

 

But I hope that the fountainpennetwork legend that Pelikans are breeding isn't true...😀

[sargetalon]

But I hope that the fountainpennetwork legend that Pelikans are breeding isn't true...😀

Don't try to kid yourself. Worst part about it is that Pelikan breeding season is 364 days/year. That's why their such prolific breeders. Only a matter of time I'm afraid.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Great! A 'W. Germany nib' on a 400 or 800 is a tad better than the Germany pens of the 90's-97.

It has a small tad of spring more in regular flex than the younger '90-97 'Germany' ones.

 

I have three tortoises, my '90-96...in Tortoise started a year after the first M400 and ended a year before the end of that M400 1997, when the new model 400 with the piston band came in.

I have a 500-a rolled gold cap and piston capped 400, and a 400n. Both are '50's and they are lighter than my '90's one.

 

It's a grand start to a tortoise collection....don't count on getting a lot of NOS tortoise pens.

 

My '90's 400 Tortoise has the blackest brown cap and section and piston cap.

I read about it over on Rudiger's com....and needed to set it next to a true black pen to see .... if one looked hard....it was very dark brown instead of pure black.

 

Check yours?

Edited July 14, 2015 by Bo Bo Olson

[fly_us]

Beware of the old style nib, they are addicted.

 

Congrat on the find, and the pen and display box are just.. oh my.. gorgeous.

Edited July 15, 2015 by fly_us

[Mangrove Jack]

Super find. You were in the right place at the right time looking in the right direction. That pen had your name on it when it rolled off the production line many years ago.