Manufacturers have developed many interesting and varied filling systems for fountain pens over the years. Some of these have been more successful and experienced greater longevity than others. My personal preference amongst pen filling mechanisms is predominantly for the self-contained piston filler. Perhaps that is why I gravitated towards Pelikan as they have implemented that type of mechanism as well as, if not better than, anyone else in the industry. Pelikan, like many other manufacturers, also have many pens available that are of the cartridge/converter type. This type of filling system has a broad appeal for many. Cartridges can be more readily carried than a flacon of ink and are easily exchanged when they run empty which can help ensure that you don’t run out of ink at a crucial moment. Converters allow for a nice compromise in that you have the option to use your own ink while giving you the flexibility to swap out for a cartridge if so desired. Certainly a converter can be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than cartridges but both ultimately provide an easy and quick means to fill a pen so that you can enjoy the writing experience without worrying about the filling process. Brands are divided in the implementation of this though with some companies utilizing proprietary sized cartridges and converters while others have elected to use a more standard size. Most European brands, including Pelikan, utilize a standard design, making cartridges available in either long international (73mm) or short international (38mm) standards. What then could the conundrum be that the title of this post eludes to? If you have ever tried to secure a cartridge or converter to a Pelikan pen, you may have found that the fit is rather loose and discomforting. As unsettling as this is, it appears that it is actually by design.
Pelikan P205 fountain pen with converter installed. The barrel secures the converter to the nipple on the back of the feed. Picture courtesy of VanRocket of FPN; http://goo.gl/4Zygak
P205 feed & nipple
For whatever reason (and I have to plead ignorant as to what it may be), Pelikan has gone in a different direction than most other manufacturers. Most pens that utilize a cartridge/converter have a nipple towards the back of the section onto which the cartridge/converter seats firmly. There is usually no play and the fit is secure and reassuring. That is not the case for many of Pelikan’s pens. I can only speak from my experience so I cannot say if it holds true for all of Pelikan’s cartridge pens but at a minimum it is true for the P200/205, Pelikano, Pelikano Jr, Script, Future, and Twist and I would suspect a great deal many more beyond that list. The nipple on Pelikan’s pens is smaller than many other brands and therefore does not give a tight seal. The way that Pelikan ensures a proper seal is with the back of the barrel. By replacing the barrel on the pen, contact is made with the back of the cartridge or converter such that , when the barrel is properly seated, the ink supply is secured to the nipple thereby preventing any leaks. To ensure this occurs as intended, the following combinations should be used;
- TWO short standard international cartridges placed back to back (using just one will not provide an adequate seal)
- ONE long standard international cartridge
- A converter
Standard international converters. Top: Pelikan C499. Bottom: Schmidt K5
The comparison below helps depict what I describe above. A converter is approximately the same size as two short cartridges back to back or one long cartridge. You will notice that the Edelstein cartridge is a bit shorter but also a bit wider at the back. All of these small design nuances serve to ensure a properly seated cartridge or converter when the barrel is secured to the section.
Picture courtesy of VanRocket of FPN; http://goo.gl/4Zygak
In order to avoid issues, you should not use refilled cartridges or converters that have been used with other pens accommodating the standard international size as the differences in nipple diameters may ultimately cause problems, specifically leakage. Personally, I prefer to have one dedicated converter per fountain pen. Converters from Pelikan (C499) and Schmidt (K5) seem to work the best in my experience (they are actually the same converter with different branding) but they aren’t the only options available. To recap, a loose-fitting cartridge or converter is not an issue to be alarmed about. It is by design as the back of the barrel will hold the cartridge or converter snugly in place and prevent any leakage of ink. I hope that the above explanation has been helpful to you and serves to put your mind at ease so that you can get on with enjoying your pen.
I agree with 100% on the Pelikan filling system which has stayed thru from inception. I am a Pelikan collector and that is part of the draw and many other features not to mention the ink view window.
The “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” mentality really rings true here.
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Great post. thanks for the elucidation. Just what I was looking for. Thank you
You’re most welcome. Glad to be of assistance.
Thanks for this extremely helpful post!
I picked up a P21 and P520 last week and was concerned that none of my generic converters or even Schneider international cartridges would fit snuggly around the nipple. The only one that fit well enough to not just fall off when I looked at it was the original cartridge that came with one of the pens. I thought maybe the converters used when these pens were made just had a smaller ending and was worried that I’d have to hunt down a vintage converter. This post was very relieving!
I’m glad to hear that my post was useful to you. The cartridge/converter issue is definitely disconcerting when you first encounter it. Enjoy your new pens!
hi! i have a question about pelican twist. does Pelikan (C499) convertor fit for pelican twist? can you explain with using simple words? english is not my mother language and hard to understand for me.
sorry to bother you and thank you.
Yes, Pelikan’s C499 converter fits the Twist. Should work without any issues. The fit might be loose but the torque applied when the body is screwed on should hold the converter in place. I know that I and others have used this setup without difficulty. Good luck and I hope that was clear enough for you.
thank you so much!
You’re most welcome!
I too was concerned about the loose fit so thank you for the explanation. However, although it seems that leakage during writing should not occur due to the design, the loose fit does make for a somewhat concerning and risky process of filling the converter from a bottle of ink. I find myself having to try to push down on the converter whilst at the same time twisting it to draw up the ink. I appreciate pelikan have been at this many more years than I, but I do wish I felt a little less at risk whilst in the refilling process!
I share your concerns and would have loved a screw on type of converter that locks securely. It’s been this way for a long time though so I doubt any design changes are in the works.
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Thanks for this post! The Pelikan converter I found for my new Benu Briolette has been loose and leaky, and now I think my mistake was repurposing a converter that had been used in another pen. I know the manufacturer sells Schmidt converters for the pen, so my hope is that a new Pelikan/Schmidt will be just tight enough to stop sliding off.
Hope it works out for you. I do try to keep 1 converter to a pen and not swap around. I don’t know if that has any bearing on anything but it makes me feel better and I’ve never had any issues doing that.
I think the p205 nipple cracked a bit , because of all those different converters . Do pelikan send replacement sections ?
They do not send replacements generally. Depending on your location, you could send it in for service where they would essentially swap out the section. That would be Chartpak in the USA and Pelikan if outside of North America. Depending on your warranty status, there might be a fee incurred which may not make it worthwhile but you’d have to research to find out for sure.
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I purchased a German ONLINE converter (Art. Nr. 40066) for my pelican pelicano. This converter was recommended to me by the salsesperson of an office supply shop in my neighbourhood in Switzerland. I was told that they could not order from Pelican. Unfortunately the converter is only 70mm long and thus 3mm shorter than the long cartridge. To make shure it does not come loose in the pen I stuffed a small amount of paper tissue in the back of the barrel. Not an elegant solution.
Do you know anything about this converter?
I do not know about that specific converter. The two that I would endorse use of are the Pelikan C499 or the Schmidt K5. Other models are more generic and less likely to be suitable to the purpose. These are readily available online if you’re able to purchase that way. I’m surprised to hear that an office supply shop cannot special order an item like this even if it’s something they don’t carry regularly.
I have what I think is a 4001, slim metal fountain pen purchased in Germany in the early 1980’s. the converter twist turns but does not move the piston so I can’t get ink int the chamber. “International” cartridges don’t seem to fit quite right. Should I order a new converter and if so what do I ask for? I am new to all this and would appreciate your help.
Hello William. I’m not sure about the model which you cite. Can you send me some pics of the pen and the converter that you’re currently using/struggling with. Also, please detail in what way the cartridges doesn’t fit “quite right.” You can email me at thepelikansperch@gmail.com. Look forward to trying to help you out. Thanks!
Hi,
this article helped me a lot! I have a vintage Pelikan P60 with a modern converter. It has always leaked a lot! The nipple inside the front part of the barrel looks alright though.
I now compared two small standard Pelikan cartridges and the converter, and found there are just a few millimeters missing on the converter! But I assume that with this small bit not pushing against the barrel, a tight seal against the joint is not ensured, and hence the leaking.
I will try stuffing a bit of tissue into the barrel the next time I ink this pen, I really hope that helps!
Kind regards
Gilles
Hello. I’m glad my post helped you out. Sorry to hear about your leakage issues. Hopefully your trick will straighten it all out.
Hello Joshua,
I used a Pelikan converter in a 1980’s Pelikano and it appears that this literally broke the barrel into two halves. I notice that the converter is slightly longer than a long Pelikan cartridge and when placed in the barrel it reaches literally to the end. Have you ever heard of this happening? I’ve glued the barrel back together and will try to use the Schmidt K5 which appears to be clearly shorter than the Pelikan converter. Thanks
Norman
There may be some variations in tolerances but this is unusual behavior that I have not heard/seen before. I’m sorry that you had a bad experience and that your pen broke. It may be some subtle changes in production of the converter over time led to that. I hope that you are able to return the pen to a usable condition.
Hi Josh and happy 2022! Quick question… I have a Ductus and have always used a cartridge. Do you know if either the 499 or K5 will fit this pen?
The converter should fit but it won’t be functional while in the pen tray. You can’t actuate the mechanism with the converter in the tray. You can fill the converter first and then insert it in the tray at which point it should work as expected. That’s the best work around if you wish to use a converter with that model.
Thanks Josh… I suspected you were going to say that… I think I’ll stick with factory or syringe refilled cartridges. I always ending up needing to dip the pen to start the flow from a new cart and was trying to explore other options. Thanks again.
Wow! That’s helpful for many, but for me, the only pelikan I have is the M400. So I am an amateur and was sent this pen maybe as a promotion? Very Odd… my question is, can I remove the barrel from the top section to access the piston mechanism? Mine does not want to screw off. If this cannot be done, my next question, how do I switch ink when it’s filled with a different ink?
If your pen is truly an M400, you cannot remove the piston mechanism. It is not designed to be disassembled in that way. To switch ink, you simply rotate the piston knob at the back of the barrel to expel the ink already in there. Next, flush it out until it runs clear with water by working the piston up and down. Then you can fill it with any ink you like by placing the nib in a bottle of ink and working the piston back up to draw ink into the reservoir. Take a towel to wipe the nib and you’re good to go.