Vintage 140 cap question

[GradenF]

I just received a vintage 140 and it works great. Capping and uncapping just feels a bit odd and I think I can see why. It looks like there is a metal ring that is dented inward and makes it feel like there is a detent when capping/uncapping. I can kind of see it being intentional as a secondary stop in case the cap comes loose, but I am not sure. 

 

Is this normal?

[tacitus]

A metal ring acts as a clutch ring. There is a ring-shaped indentation at the end of the grip section threads, and as the cap is turned to close, the metal ring snaps into this indentation (a clicking sound may be heard). Thus, even if the cap is accidentally loosened, the clutch prevents the cap from coming off, and there is no danger of accidentally contaminating the pocket with ink. This mechanism was often called "cap safety device". Please refer to the Pelikan P1 RG and Pelikan 400NN of my HP. Not all 140s had this system. After 1958, 140 was equipped with cap safety device, presumably until its discontinuation. Thank you for your post, @GradenF.

 

 

[GradenF]

13 hours ago, tacitus said:

A metal ring acts as a clutch ring. There is a ring-shaped indentation at the end of the grip section threads, and as the cap is turned to close, the metal ring snaps into this indentation (a clicking sound may be heard). Thus, even if the cap is accidentally loosened, the clutch prevents the cap from coming off, and there is no danger of accidentally contaminating the pocket with ink. This mechanism was often called "cap safety device". Please refer to the Pelikan P1 RG and Pelikan 400NN of my HP. Not all 140s had this system. After 1958, 140 was equipped with cap safety device, presumably until its discontinuation. Thank you for your post, @GradenF.

 

 

That is great information, thank you! I thought that some sort of safety feature may have been the case. Even if it was a manufacturing flaw or some sort of damage, I may have left it anyways   German engineering at its finest. Thanks again!

[Bo Bo Olson]

The thinks ya can learn.

[stoen]

Here’s a scan of the original user instruction leaflet for a vintage 140 or 400 (1958-64). They called it “a patented snap-spring” for safer closing of the pen.

[Bo Bo Olson]

I noticed the click to lock, only on my 400nn's. Not on my 120/140 or early 400's.

[stoen]

7 hours ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

I noticed the click to lock, only on my 400nn's. Not on my 120/140 or early 400's.

This is a perfectly accurate remark.

This patent exists as of 1958, which means it covers only a fraction of 140 (not 120!) & 400 family (which only applies to 400NN between 1958/9 and 1964). No early 400NN.

 

No 400N, no “original” 400! Their four-part cap construction is entirely different. Same for the 300 caps.

 

For later models such as P1, I don’t know enough. @tacitus is the right guy in this subject.

[Claes]

I have the click on one of my Pelikan 140s.

[stoen]

On 5/23/2024 at 7:33 PM, Claes said:

 

I have the click on one of my Pelikan 140s

 

I don’t have it. Mine must be an early pen (ca. 1954).

[Bo Bo Olson]

Another beautiful Pelikan of yours.

........................

I kept my black one OF, sold my stripped OB to the upstairs neighbor to set him up with the four nibs he needed. OB semi-flex 140. M regular flex 200, EF regular flex 1745 and F maxi-semi-flex Geha.

He had a common Parker to start with, and now also has a Pilot. Slowly but surely he will join the rest of us with too many pens.