What's Your Experience Buying Standalone Nib Assemblies?

[bwDraco]

I just purchased a standalone EF nib assembly for my Pelikan M600 today because I've always found my existing F nib to be too broad and too wet.

 

Fountain Pen Hospital charged $245 for an M600 nib. I ran into some trouble getting a EF nib because they did not have any spares on hand. After some searching, the sales rep managed to pull an EF nib out from one of their pens, but they had to take it from a Vibrant Orange Special Edition M600. I'm a bit surprised that Pelikan EF nibs were in such short supply, but they nonetheless managed to sell one to me. They had a number of spare F and M nib assemblies in stock, though.

 

What's your experience with getting standalone Pelikan nibs?

 

Draco

[ItsMeDave]

I just purchased a standalone EF nib assembly for my Pelikan M600 today because I've always found my existing F nib to be too broad and too wet.

 

Fountain Pen Hospital charged $245 for an M600 nib. I ran into some trouble getting a EF nib because they did not have any spares on hand. After some searching, the sales rep managed to pull an EF nib out from one of their pens, but they had to take it from a Vibrant Orange Special Edition M600. I'm a bit surprised that Pelikan EF nibs were in such short supply, but they nonetheless managed to sell one to me. They had a number of spare F and M nib assemblies in stock, though.

 

What's your experience with getting standalone Pelikan nibs?

 

Draco

About 3 years ago I purchased an M800 with a fine nib from a local retailer. After a day or so I realized that I needed an extra-fine. The retailer and the company rep in Toronto were unable to find one in North America. I ended up getting the nib ground to something I could use.

Since then I’ve purchased a stand alone M805 nib unit from the UK where they appear to be in abundant supply.

[bwDraco]

I've had lots of sample variation with Pelikan nibs, but with my usual ink for this pen, Edelstein Onyx, this is probably the best-behaved of all the Pelikan nibs I've gone through.

I've had a Pelikano P460 with F nib that suffered from flooding, two different M600 F nibs that write too wet and too broad, a Toledo M700 with OM nib that writes a tad dry, and an M200 with F nib that wrote very dry. This new EF nib is wet, but not overly so, and writes a consistently fine line that is marginally wider than my Pilot F and Lamy EF nibs, but finer than the Pelikan F nib it replaced.

All told, despite the price, I'm very happy I got the new nib. It's a shame that Pelikan EFs are so hard to find...

Draco

Edited December 28, 2018 by bwDraco

[inkstainedruth]

The only time this came up for me was when I lost a pen case somewhere (probably at a hotel in Bowling Green, KY) several years ago. One of the pens was an M200 Café Crème, with a nicely tuned B nib (the nib originally skipped like crazy). By that point, finding a replacement pen for anything like an affordable price was quite difficult, since it was an LE pen. I got lucky a couple of months later on eBay with a used pen with a "wide" nib, which turned out to be an IM nib -- a firehose even by Pelikan standards of wet (even with a very dry ink such as an iron gall ink). I trailed around the Triangle Pen Show that summer trying to find a replacement B nib for the pen (and then lost or misplaced *it* ). I still have the IM nib. But I was able to find a spare gold plated B nib for the pen -- and I didn't pay anything LIKE $245....

I had no idea that buying 14K nib units alone were that expensive. I mean, I can maybe see it for a nib width they no longer make -- but an EF nib? That shouldn't be so rare, should it? I mean, I don't have anything larger than an M400 size -- but when I bought my two M405s, I was able to pick the nibs I wanted for the two pens; I couldn't get the rhodium plated gold nib as a B, but I got a regular (two-toned) B nib. No muss, no fuss, no extra charge (I got the two pens from Rolf Thiel at Missing Pens and it just took a day or two messaging each other back and forth on eBay).

I've never gotten a pen from FPH, so I don't know what their policies for such things are. But that does sound *really* pricy....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[bwDraco]

The only time this came up for me was when I lost a pen case somewhere (probably at a hotel in Bowling Green, KY) several years ago. One of the pens was an M200 Café Crème, with a nicely tuned B nib (the nib originally skipped like crazy). By that point, finding a replacement pen for anything like an affordable price was quite difficult, since it was an LE pen. I got lucky a couple of months later on eBay with a used pen with a "wide" nib, which turned out to be an IM nib -- a firehose even by Pelikan standards of wet (even with a very dry ink such as an iron gall ink). I trailed around the Triangle Pen Show that summer trying to find a replacement B nib for the pen (and then lost or misplaced *it* ). I still have the IM nib. But I was able to find a spare gold plated B nib for the pen -- and I didn't pay anything LIKE $245....

I had no idea that buying 14K nib units alone were that expensive. I mean, I can maybe see it for a nib width they no longer make -- but an EF nib? That shouldn't be so rare, should it? I mean, I don't have anything larger than an M400 size -- but when I bought my two M405s, I was able to pick the nibs I wanted for the two pens; I couldn't get the rhodium plated gold nib as a B, but I got a regular (two-toned) B nib. No muss, no fuss, no extra charge (I got the two pens from Rolf Thiel at Missing Pens and it just took a day or two messaging each other back and forth on eBay).

I've never gotten a pen from FPH, so I don't know what their policies for such things are. But that does sound *really* pricy....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

IME, Fountain Pen Hospital tends to price stuff higher than other pen dealers here in the US. However, because I'm a New Yorker, I get to actually see, touch, and test the product. When you're spending this sort of money on a luxury product, it pays to know exactly what you're buying before you actually spend the money on it.

 

Draco

[Doug1426]

IME, Fountain Pen Hospital tends to price stuff higher than other pen dealers here in the US. However, because I'm a New Yorker, I get to actually see, touch, and test the product. When you're spending this sort of money on a luxury product, it pays to know exactly what you're buying before you actually spend the money on it.

 

Draco

Nothing against FPH, they are a great store and all of my experiences with them have been very positive. But for new nibs that are professionally tuned, Classic Fountain Pens (nibs.com) is the best IMO. They have new Pelikan M600 nibs, including EF, for $212, and you can have it adjusted to your flow preference. All the usual disclaimers, I’m just a satisfied customer. And again, FPH is a great store, and they clearly gave you great service. But for extensive availability,and nib expertise, nibs.com gets my vote.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Yes, you are right.....modern Pelikan nibs outside the 200 are too fat for width.

 

What ink(s) were used that the Pelikan was always too wide? Wet Pelikan nibs and feeds are made for 4001 Pelikan inks...........which are dry.

The combo is to meet in the middle. Waterman made a thin nib to go with a wet ink.

:headsmack:I have mostly semi-vintage and vintage Pelikans.....and enough nibs to put in my 600. See the bottom.

 

Same goes for paper; a slick hard paper like Triomphe or Rhodia makes the pen write @ 1/2 a width narrower.

 

A monotone semi-vintage regular flex or vintage semi-flex Pelikan nib is also @ 1/2 a width narrower than modern and they will fit a 600. ........just not two toned.

 

I have an old and out of date chart, from before Japanese pens became popular, ie mid '90's..It shows Conway Stewart as very wide, followed by Parker and Sheaffer, then come Pelikan and Pelikan had two widths, one stand a lone for the 800's a bit skinnier than the others (Don't know if that is still the case...I don't think so or folks would be bragging the narrow 800.). and thinnest was Waterman....out side the Pelikan EF which was the skinniest of all EF's.

 

That was back in semi-vintage day.... before the fat and blobby nibs post '97. (The springy regular flex 200's nibs are still semi-vintage narrow........so putting a gold plated 200's EF nib on the 600 might give the true EF width that is wanted. Give a nicer ride than semi-nail........though one would expect butter smooth on your 600's modern EF&1/2.

I do find a 200's good and smooth polish to be quite good...in I never chased butter smooth. I knew sooner or later I'd get some good paper.

Lots cheaper than buying a fat and blobby semi-nail EF 600 nib, and having someone make it proper skinny.

 

In fountain pens is a secret society, none will know it's a gold plated nib....and if they do, then they can be told the '200's nib is a better ride and narrower....and that should do the trick..Knowing over Bling.

Edited December 28, 2018 by Bo Bo Olson

[bwDraco]

Yes, you are right.....modern Pelikan nibs outside the 200 are too fat for width.

 

What ink(s) were used that the Pelikan was always too wide? Wet Pelikan nibs and feeds are made for 4001 Pelikan inks...........which are dry.

The combo is to meet in the middle. Waterman made a thin nib to go with a wet ink.

 

I've been using Pelikan Edelstein Onyx as my standard ink for Pelikan pens. It's slightly wetter than the 4001 series (which my long-lost M200 originally used), but drier than the Lamy and Sheaffer inks I use in my other pens. My M600 and M700 have never had anything other than that ink.

 

Draco

[outsidephilly]

I have a M200 that I carry as a backup pen. Its green marbleized material (read that as old). It came with a steel fine nib that frankly wasn't too impressive. I wound up buying a 14K fine nib from some store online and it fit right into the M200. (the nib that I bought was for a M400). The pen works well. Its too small for me to use consistently, but I know full well that my little one is eyeing my MB149. If she really shows an interest, she can definitely have the M200.

Edited December 28, 2018 by outsidephilly

[inkstainedruth]

 

IME, Fountain Pen Hospital tends to price stuff higher than other pen dealers here in the US. However, because I'm a New Yorker, I get to actually see, touch, and test the product. When you're spending this sort of money on a luxury product, it pays to know exactly what you're buying before you actually spend the money on it.

 

Draco

 

True. I was in there just today (my sort of annual winter pilgrimage) and was able to get a couple of vintage Esterbrook nibs there (I asked to see the tray of vintage Estie J pens, but the nibs on them weren't marked -- and when the guy heard I was mostly looking for some specific 9xxx nibs, he just pulled out the containers with the nibs in them to see what he had in stock.). Truthfully, the prices I paid for the nibs -- while not great -- were certainly better than some of the prices I've seen for those same nib units on eBay. Although I decided that I was feeling sufficiently poor that I did NOT get much in the way of ink this afternoon -- just a back up bottle of Eclat de Saphir (I couldn't justify the cost of a bottle of Edelstein Topaz, and I have enough of the other colors I like to not want to spring for their discounted price if you bought three bottles of Edelstein).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[bwDraco]

[Bo Bo Olson]

I have a M200 that I carry as a backup pen. Its green marbleized material (read that as old). It came with a steel fine nib that frankly wasn't too impressive.

I wound up buying a 14K fine nib from some store online and it fit right into the M200. (the nib that I bought was for a M400). The pen works well. Its too small for me to use consistently, but I know full well that my little one is eyeing my MB149. If she really shows an interest, she can definitely have the M200.

Well if one wants butter smooth, a modern semi-nail 14 K 400's nib will give you that.

If that's all you know....butter smooth..............then a springy proper width regular flex 200, is different; being only good and smooth. I do like the ride............in butter smooth can be had anywhere with stiff nail, or semi-nail nibs. No ride to it.....just slide.

 

The fatter more polished Pelikan nibs are the ones with baby bottom problems from over polishing. It appears you lucked out with your 'fat and blobby' modern 400 nib.

 

I like the semi-vintage in I couldn't afford new.

I got to like the 200 after mailing some 200's nibs to a pal in England, in some German Idiots won't mail outside of Germany. After trying them....having a semi-vintage m400, 400, 400NN, decided not to get a 200, so got the 215 for the 200's nib. Since then I've added two 200's, in compared to my semi-flex nibs, the regular flex nibs do a better job at shading. And I have no problem with a M nib....which I like.

 

I had a thinner 14 K regular flex semi-vintage ('90-96...they didn't make a Tortoise in '97). And have other @ semi-vintage 381 in gold , and Celebry in gold and steel regular flex nibs. So could relate to the 200. (The W.Germany 200 nib I do have is that tad more springy nib than the Germany '90's nibs.) So after stopping being a semi-flex snob, found the springy ride of a regular flex to be a nice ride. Good and smooth.....so I don't have to worry about slipping and sliding on slick paper.

 

Draco, All nibs have tolerance, a fat F can equal a skinny M... exactly and still be in tolerance.

Well, my 200EF seems to be as wide as my 151 F.........or close to it. A slight surprise.

[bwDraco]

Draco, All nibs have tolerance, a fat F can equal a skinny M... exactly and still be in tolerance.

Well, my 200EF seems to be as wide as my 151 F.........or close to it. A slight surprise.

 

Yup. The old M200 (edit: F nib) I used to have wrote like a nail. It was very, very dry and had lots of skipping issues on 4001 Brilliant Black. It was better-behaved on Edelstein Onyx, but that didn't alleviate the issue. The M600 later purchased to replace that pen wrote very wet and suffered from a bit of flooding with the same ink. That M600 was later replaced under warranty—the entire pen—for an unrelated issue and the nib the replacement shipped with not only had similar flooding issues, it was also scratchy unless you held it at a very specific angle. Though I tolerated the issue for the last couple of years, after getting a couple of Japanese (Pilot) pens with F nibs that were better behaved as well as a Lamy with EF nib as a souvenir, all of which had no such issues, I didn't really want to use my M600 any more.

 

I've thought about getting an EF nib for that pen a number of times before and was always deterred by the price. I decided to bite the bullet this time around, but was very surprised Fountain Pen Hospital had no spare M600 EF nibs on hand, and had to pull one out of a Special Edition pen no less.

 

Draco

Edited December 29, 2018 by bwDraco

[Driften]

Cult pens has EF nibs in stock and in general has the best prices on Pelikan pens and nibs. At least compared to US prices. I have bought several Pelikan's from them as well as spare nibs.