I'm surprised...

[lamarax]

Look what came in today!

 

 

Before I took it in my hands, judging from the promotional images, I had the intention of inking it up with Sailor Yodaki. But then I decided J. Herbin Éclat de Saphir is much more in-character :3

[Doug C]

12 minutes ago, lamarax said:

Look what came in today!

 

 

Before I took it in my hands, judging from the promotional images, I had the intention of inking it up with Sailor Yodaki. But then I decided J. Herbin Éclat de Saphir is much more in-character :3

Can't wait for mine!  Do you like it?

[lamarax]

9 minutes ago, Doug C said:

Can't wait for mine!  Do you like it?

 

I love it! Although it represents quite the departure from my usual black, austere pens 🙂 What surprised me coming from the other Pelikans I own, is that the medium nib is actually... a medium 🤔😄

[Penguincollector]

7 hours ago, lamarax said:

Look what came in today!

 

 

Before I took it in my hands, judging from the promotional images, I had the intention of inking it up with Sailor Yodaki. But then I decided J. Herbin Éclat de Saphir is much more in-character :3

   Oh, I think I will have to look at it in person- it’s lovely in photos! 

[lamarax]

21 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

Oh, I think I will have to look at it in person- it’s lovely in photos! 

 

Allow me to say that I find a stark contrast between the two first "Art Collection" editions; while the original artwork of Glauco Cambon is frankly a masterpiece (the monochromatic pelicans swimming down in line), I think that the 'translation' to a pen suffered by being too... undefined and vague. Here, it's the opposite: they took inspiration from a rather run-of-the-mill illustration of the Jugendstil and abstracted it into a stunning object.

[Penguincollector]

2 hours ago, lamarax said:

 

Allow me to say that I find a stark contrast between the two first "Art Collection" editions; while the original artwork of Glauco Cambon is frankly a masterpiece (the monochromatic pelicans swimming down in line), I think that the 'translation' to a pen suffered by being too... undefined and vague. Here, it's the opposite: they took inspiration from a rather run-of-the-mill illustration of the Jugendstil and abstracted it into a stunning object.

 

  You are not the first person that I have heard/read that sentiment from. I love Cambon’s work, and actually haven’t seen that pen in person yet either. The only recent offering I have been able to hold has been the blue and cream version, which I am still dithering about buying (so behind on these releases). 

[Manalto]

Pelikan price frustration affects me, too. Neither of the new introductions tempts me, but there is one model that I lust after that carries a price I can’t justify: the striated tortoise. It’s on-brand for Pelikan - understated, elegant, and traditional; I’d even say it suits the mark more than the standard green. I was asleep at the switch when the M800 was introduced and, since then (if I’m not mistaken) it has climbed in price. Too big or too heavy is not usually a concern, but in that price range, I’d prefer to handle the 800 and the 400 to determine which I prefer. (Is there a 600?) I also don’t know if a metal piston is important, or preferable. The solid tortoise is nice, but the striations say “Pelikan,” and brown (without tortoise-shell effect) is a poor substitute. Is the F too bold? Do I want the EF? Doubts and questions. So I procrastinate. 
 

[Bo Bo Olson]

Can say if you are not tariffed; in you don't say where in Antarctica you are at, buying a tortoise vintage '50-54 400 or a '56-65 400nn on German Ebay is the way to go.

 

If you have lots of money, you can pay Stateside prices, $/€285, if you are impatient and Buy Now. If you enjoy the Hunt, then they can be had for €100-120 on the common sense Auction section.

Do look up erweirt/advanced to see what they have actually been selling for.

 

The '82=now 400 holds only 1.25 ml of ink.600/800-1.35ml. The 1000 holds @ 1.45 ml as much as an MB 146. The 149 holds 1,60 or as much as a large Shaffer's cartridge. 

 

The Vintage 50-65 400/400nn holds 1.95-2.00ml of ink.

They have factory stubbed, semi-flex nibs. Flair nibs. (Only took me 3 years to say the medium-long (long not large -same width barrel as the 400) 400nn, balanced better than the standard sized 400.

 

Semi-flex adds flair to your writing. Where you naturally press harder on a letter it will be wider, and narrows as you let up on the pressure. 

It Is Not a calligraphy nib.

I scribble along just like it was a nail nib.

I had wondered why folks were always complaining about having to write slow with semi-flex, until I found out they were practicing NIB ABUSE. Pushing the nib wider than 3X a light down stroke.

 

'50-65 the nibs were semi-flex factory stubs....outside the hard H nib, and the nails-nail the D nib.

The '82-97 nibs are teardrop tipped springy nibs, I call regular flex in, that was what I had for normal school pens back in B&W TV days. Including the 800, the 600 then was just a deluxe 400.

Both those nibs write with a nice clean line.

 

'98 Pelikan's new owners ruined its nibs by going over to the fat and blobby double tipped nib, so ball point users wouldn't have to something complicated, like learn to hold the fountain behind the big index knuckle, instead of before it, like with a ball point.

 

Second point was it was harder for ball point users to make pretzels out of semi-nail 400/600 and 800 nail nibs.

They finally ruined the grand springy steel 200 nib in '85-@2018 by going double ball.

 The springy '82-97 gold is = to the '85-2019 steel nib of the 200.

I used to rave about how great the 200's nib was...pre-double ball....do look for a teardrop tipped 200. There are many pretty ones.

 

If I had one pen, it would be a 400nn tortoise in semi-flex, for me in M. I have two 400nn's one in F and one in OF, and or a probably '54 transition 400, with a marked nib, no barrel marking of a B. 

That one is a lighter tortoise, like my 500, OBBB 30 degree grind. A pure signature pen. The 500 is a maxi-semi-flex nib. My 15 letter legal signature takes 2/3rds-3/4ths a page. It has a 30 degree grind rather than the normal 15 degree grinds of most of my obliques. They seem to come mostly in 15 Degree grinds, I do have some from various companies in 30 degree grind. (I've found only 15 and 30 degree grinds, no 22 degree ones.)

 

I have some 35+ semi-flex German pens, and some 16 maxi-semi-flex. I'd not worry about that as they are not advertised, so are luck of the draw, outside Osmia.

 I used my 400nn for years before I discovered maxi-semi-flex (another story for another day), and it was one. But that is delightful hair-splitting.  

[Manalto]

On 9/27/2025 at 9:54 AM, Bo Bo Olson said:

Can say if you are not tariffed; in you don't say where in Antarctica you are at, buying a tortoise vintage '50-54 400 or a '56-65 400nn on German Ebay is the way to go.

.  

Thank you for your detailed response! I’m in the US. If I can navigate German eBay auctions with my pathetically rudimentary knowledge of the German language (I searched for a “view this site in English” button, to no avail.) I will explore this option. A vintage 400NN with a flexy nib sounds lovely. (I’m pretty gentle on nibs.) I like the simpler design of the 50s version without the bling-rings, too. I guess this was before the concept of “luxury pen” took hold at Pelikan. Really, all the tortoise versions are handsome, to my eye.

 

A German seller on US eBay is going for the gold, with BIN prices of some of the 1950s Pelikans approaching $600. Serbia also gets in on the act with slightly lower prices.

 

I originally commented here about Pelikan pricing in order to not clutter up this site with yet another new thread, but I now realize I’ve hijacked. Apologies!

[Manalto]

On 9/27/2025 at 9:54 AM, Bo Bo Olson said:

Can say if you are not tariffed; in you don't say where in Antarctica you are at, buying a tortoise vintage '50-54 400 or a '56-65 400nn on German Ebay is the way to go.

.  

Thank you for your detailed response! I’m in the US. If I can navigate German eBay auctions with my pathetically rudimentary knowledge of the German language (I searched for a “view this site in English” button, to no avail.) I will explore this option. A vintage 400NN with a flexy nib sounds lovely. (I’m pretty gentle on nibs.) I like the simpler design of the 50s version without the bling-rings, too. I guess this was before the concept of “luxury pen” took hold at Pelikan. Really, all the tortoise versions are handsome, to my eye.

 

A German seller on US eBay is going for the gold, with BIN prices of some of the 1950s Pelikans approaching $600. Serbia also gets in on the act with slightly lower prices.

 

I originally commented here about Pelikan pricing in order to not clutter up this site with yet another new thread, but I now realize I’ve hijacked. Apologies!

[carola]

On 9/18/2025 at 3:52 AM, PAKMAN said:

Never heard of the first one and it doesn't exactly fit my style. The second one is very pretty. Is the design an Indian motif? 

 

No, it´s not. It´s taken from the girl´s dress in a Jugendstil ad he designed for Pelikan. The ad is included in the box, just like the one from Glauco Cambon was.

 

@lamarax You have already got it? I am surprised. I was told by the brick and mortar store I ordered it from that they would get it some time in October.

 

As for the M805 Metal Sleeve, my first thought was "Nice!" But the second thought was "Yes, but somehow not a must-have." I don´t know exactly why, but the pen attracts me - and then again it doesn´t. Currently I think that I will be buying the Rudi Rother and not buying the Metal Sleeve.

[lamarax]

6 hours ago, carola said:

You have already got it? I am surprised. I was told by the brick and mortar store I ordered it from that they would get it some time in October.

 

Yes, it was officially supposed to 've come out today (29/9) but, ya know, in Greece things like "street date" don't really mean much 😁

 

October is the date set for the M805, although I wouldn't be surprised if I see that ready to ship by next week also 😄 

 

6 hours ago, carola said:

As for the M805 Metal Sleeve, my first thought was "Nice!" But the second thought was "Yes, but somehow not a must-have." I don´t know exactly why, but the pen attracts me - and then again it doesn´t. Currently I think that I will be buying the Rudi Rother and not buying the Metal Sleeve.

 

I'm thinking they've tried to imitate the 'Spirit of Gaudi', without catching its uh, spirit. But it's a start with the new ownership, and I applaud the fact that they don't seem to have abandoned the 'fine writing' division of the Pelikan brand.

 

 

[PAKMAN]

Saw one in person at the Dallas pen show. The fellow from "Toys from the Attic' had it.

[Bo Bo Olson]

 

Run it past me for little things like this...leider hat die Kappe einen Riss, ... unfortunatly the cap has a crack.

 

The springy regular flex...82-97 has when well mashed a 3X a light down stroke. One can not write with that nib maxed.

Semi-flex and Maxi-semi-flex are also in the 3 x tine spread set, at half and half again less pressure needed to reach 3 X.

""Pelikan 400NN with 14k gold flex nib [F-BBB] """" =PURE NIB ABUSE. A semi-flex or maxi-semi-flex is a flair nib, not a calligraphy nib. That showing 5X, is or has the nib been sprung for your convenience....or will it spring on the first load of ink, when one thinks that 5 X is normal. Just because an abused semi-flex nib can reach 5X.

In today's age of dirt chap superflex nibs, there is no reason to do that outside of ignorance and pure greed, to do that to a nice lively nib.

 

Up in the right corner is Erweitert, -advanced, put the Pelikan tortoise 400nn in the top, then click 'finden'-find, end of auction button will go on at the same time.

 

I don't care about other items, but do care about the buying of grand used German fountain pens for too much.

To tell the truth, I'd be selling German semi-flex pens for US prices aimed at the US market, if I were to sell at all.

Your constant high inflation over the last couple of decades has been hidden from you. 15 years ago I could get good used German pens in the US for near what I paid winning auction on Ebay....pre-buy now.

I was shocked 15 years ago to find out American food was much more expensive, than the 7% taxed German foods. Same with the pens.

 

 

I have been banned by saying my opinion of rich folks who buy now, a little too hard worded, instead of having the fun of Hunting and having money to buy good to better paper and a happy handful of inks. ... What do you often call state side/also in Germany of $285 Buy Now, vs €100-120 in the auction section, or today example.

One German dealer, as most do, who inserts his goods from Germany in US Ebay, got lucky, getting $229,!!!!

A tortoise 400nn missing the final top €89. Not hard to find final of a cap, in a 400's would do just as well. 

A couple of the green stripes semi-flex nibs, OM's €69 and €100.

And someone didn't know what he had, selling a gold capped 400nn, instead of selling a 500nn, for only €165.

I only looked down a page or so.

 

There were enough 400's, some vintage, some semi-vintage. Which are also good, having a nice clean writing springy teardrop nib. Though I'd recommend an older 200 as cheaper with the same goodness in the steel/gold-plated nib as the 400's gold. = have both. In the 200 is lots cheaper.

[dms525]

On 9/25/2025 at 12:57 PM, lamarax said:

Look what came in today!

 

 

Before I took it in my hands, judging from the promotional images, I had the intention of inking it up with Sailor Yodaki. But then I decided J. Herbin Éclat de Saphir is much more in-character :3

 

Congratulations! I am impatiently awaiting mine.

 

David

[carola]

21 hours ago, lamarax said:

I'm thinking they've tried to imitate the 'Spirit of Gaudi', without catching its uh, spirit. But it's a start with the new ownership, and I applaud the fact that they don't seem to have abandoned the 'fine writing' division of the Pelikan brand.

 

 

I am entirely with you there.

 

And as for the "Spirit of Gaudi without the spirit", this might truly be what bugs me. I have the Spirit of Gaudi and I absolutely love the design, also the black with silver trim, so this new pen definitely scratches an itch, and yet, on second glance, said spirit seems to be lacking.

[Manalto]

 

One of the perks of senility is discovering that you already have that thing you were hoping to get. I was looking for something else in my pen cabinet and lo and behold… a vintage Pelikan. I don’t know the model or year, but it sure is pretty.

[Mercian]

16 minutes ago, Manalto said:

I was looking for something else in my pen cabinet and lo and behold… a vintage Pelikan. I don’t know the model or year,

 

That is a Pelikan 400 in the 'Brown Tortiseshell' finish.

Given that it has a 'script' nib, as opposed to a 'logo' nib, it dates from the period 1950-1954.

 

https://www.pelikan-collectibles.com/en/Pelikan/Models/Revised-Piston-Fillers/400-Basis/index.html

 

 

16 minutes ago, Manalto said:

...but it sure is pretty.

 

Oh, sir!
You are - very clearly - merely attempting to assuage your burning Buyer's Remorse at the purchase of such an undersized and ugly little pen! Your remorse is perfectly understandable, and it is entirely reasonable.
As a personal favour to you, I hereby offer to relieve you of the burden of its ownership, and also gift you a 'very generous' €50 to compensate you for the sheer horror of ever having owned it 

 

Foolishness aside, what nib does it have on it? And does it give any flex?

[Manalto]

1 hour ago, Mercian said:

 

That is a Pelikan 400 in the 'Brown Tortiseshell' finish.

 

 

Oh, sir!
You are - very clearly - merely attempting to assuage your burning Buyer's Remorse at the purchase of such an undersized and ugly little pen! Your remorse is perfectly understandable, and it is entirely reasonable.
As a personal favour to you, I hereby offer to relieve you of the burden of its ownership, and also gift you a 'very generous' €50 to compensate you for the sheer horror of ever having owned it 

 

Foolishness aside, what nib does it have on it? And does it give any flex?

Thank you for the link and the kind offer, but I couldn’t accept your charity with clear conscience, aware that I’d only be shifting the burden to you. It’s now clear to me that the only option remaining is to hurl the offending object into the roiling sea.

 

But first, to quench your curiosity, here’s the nib:

 

It screws in. There’s a wee bit of pleasant springiness, but “flex” would be an exaggeration.

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Mercian said:

 

l

[inkstainedruth]

On 9/22/2025 at 9:30 PM, Chouffleur said:

I'm guessing that they didn't stock the "Pennsylvania has Blue Ball" t-shirt. Apparently that's where you wind up if you miss the Intercourse exit.

Oh, I suspect that the place did....  I just didn't happened to see one that time.  But have of course heard the joke....

Of course, there's another place in PA that is called "Eighty-Four" (that one apparently got the name from a coal mine near there) -- it's about 25 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, and a few miles east of the city of Washington, PA, which is, IIRC, the county seat for Washington County, PA....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth