A little over a year ago I posted all that I knew about the Pelikan M481, a little understood model released in the early 1980s. Based on the pen’s design, it was clearly the predecessor to the M200 that followed in 1985. The M481 appears to have been largely relegated to the export market. It is the same size as the M200 but with different furniture. To briefly recount, the M481 has a single cap band, no trim ring on the barrel or piston knob, and lacks the Pelikan logo on the cap top (perhaps its most distinguishing feature). I encourage you to read my previous article linked above if you’re interested in more of this model’s details. Up until now I have assumed that the M481 was limited to a release of just three colors; black, green-black, and burgundy. I now think that there was a fourth model, not quite designated an M481 in name, with enough of the tell-tale attributes to allow one to make a reasonable inference that it was intended as part of that lineage. The variant that I’m referring to is what I now feel to be the previously misclassified M200 clear demonstrator, single cap band variant.
Tag Archives: Pelikan
Review: M1000 Green Striped (1997-Present)
A supreme ruler or monarch is known as a sovereign or Souverän in the German language. This moniker was given to Pelikan’s higher end pen lines when the M400 was introduced in 1982 and it persist to this day. In a kingdom there can be only one ruler. In the kingdom of Pelikan fountain pens, that ruler is indisputably the M1000. Pelikan’s M1000 was first introduced in 1997 making it senior to only the M3xx line launched the following year. It is the largest of Pelikan’s fountain pens. It was likely designed to take on the similarly sized Montblanc Meisterstück 149. At launch, the all black and green striped models were available as well as an M1050 which is characterized by a cap done in the vermeil style. We have seen a few other variants over time but aside from several special editions built off of this chassis, the M1xxx platform has seen the fewest releases of any model in the line. Perhaps that owes to the premium price this pen commands or the limited market for such a large pen. Whatever the reason, what it lacks in variety, it makes up for in elegance. While larger than its siblings, the traditional and unmistakable green striped barrel stands out as an understated reminder of who manufactured this pen. The soul of the M1000, however, lies in the nib. This nib, perhaps by virtue of its sheer size, has more character than any of Pelikan’s other modern offerings and makes for a very enjoyable writing experience. I had the good fortune to be provided one of these pens by Pelikan for the purpose of this review. The pen was provided on loan and will be returned, albeit rather reluctantly. As per usual, this article was not subject to any corporate censorship. I always strive to remain impartial and objective but I leave it to you to draw your own conclusions. The M1000 is a treat to use and should be a serious consideration for anyone who favors large pens and/or soft and expressive nibs.
Rumor: What to Expect in 2016
Pelikan’s 2015 product releases to date
This has been a great year for new releases from Pelikan. To recap, we’ve seen the M200 Café Crème, M805 Stresemann, M805 Demonstrator, M600 Pink, M205 Amethyst, and M800 Burnt Orange along with the two Maki-e releases, Autumn Flowers and Koi. In addition to new pens, we saw the Edelstein Ink of the Year 2015, Amethyst, released to the community. Finally, we are still expecting to see the re-release of the M200 Green Marbled fountain pen prior to year’s end. This has been one of the most robust and varied years for new products out of Hannover that I can recall for some time. With so many great pens to explore, one hardly has time to contemplate about what next year might bring. While there have been no definitive announcements from Pelikan, rumors have quietly been circulating about what we can expect in terms of new releases for next year. Details are minimal at this point but I thought that I would briefly touch on some of the upcoming products that I’ve heard whispered about. Keep in mind, the following products are just rumored at this point and may not materialize though I’m confident we’ll see a few if not all of these come to pass.
Announcement: The P2xx Now in The Aviary
The Pelikan’s Perch started as a lark and quickly became a labor of love. With one year now behind me, I’m happy to be able to continue to grow the site. A new section has been added to the database which now includes the P200 and P205 cartridge/converter fountain pens. This update follows on the heels of my recent review of the P200 Black. The addition of the P2xx family of pens to the database will hopefully continue to expand upon and enrich the information contained within The Aviary. I hope that this addition will provide useful information on this recent release, the only cartridge pen of the Classic series. The Aviary now includes a page detailing all of the variations of the P2xx family available at the time of this post. You will find write-ups detailing the features of these pens as well as photos of the currently available variations to aid in identification/reference. If you weren’t previously aware of the database, please have a look around as many other great models are detailed there.
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Review: P200 Black (2014)
When I think of Pelikan, the first thought that comes to mind is their long revered piston filling mechanism. To me, this is the epitome of the perfect filling system and it has long withstood the test of time. It is one of Pelikan’s core features and one that helped to forge me into such a die-hard enthusiast. Given that the piston mechanism is such a part of the company’s identity, you can imagine my surprise when, in 2014, they released a cartridge/converter model based off of the Classic series’ M200 and M205. Pelikan contends that there has long been demand for such a filling system in a pen of classic design, particularly for those who travel and prefer the convenience of a quick cartridge swap. This demand has given rise to the black P200 and P205. I have never held much love for such pens myself. My first ever fountain pen was a cartridge pen (not a Pelikan) and I had no idea what I was doing. I could scarcely get it to work and it’s this bad experience which put me off to fountain pens all together. It would be three years before I’d return and become the devotee that I am today. Perhaps that bad experience has tainted me or maybe I am wiser today and can see past my early fumbling. Pelikan provided me a P200 on loan for the purpose of this review. The pen was freely leant and there has been no censorship of any kind to the content of this article. I’d like to think that I’ve been able to remain objective but will allow you to draw your own conclusions. I’m not sure that the P200 has taken anything away from my love of piston fillers but it may have helped alleviate some of my prior disdain for the cartridge pen in general.
News: Pelikan Nib Developments
It has been said that the heart of a good fountain pen is the nib. Indeed, it is the nib which gives our writing character and flourish. During the height of Pelikan’s vintage pen manufacturing there was a plethora of nib varieties available for purchase. A vintage advertisement lists 23 different nib sizes available at one point. Over time, these options have slowly been reduced based on various manufacturing and market influences. In modern times, we still had double and triple broads available to us as well as obliques. Sadly, these too were discontinued in late 2012 leaving us with just EF, F, M, and B as the standard nibs available across most of Pelikan’s lines. This unadventurous selection is at least dependable if not inspired. There have been flashes of inspiration seen with the introduction of the italic broad nib for the M8xx line in 2010 as well as the italic nib option which was more of an italic medium that has graced several of the M2xx releases. Many, myself included, lament the lack of variety in Pelikan’s nibs today. If you’re looking for a little diversity, a few limited options have recently come to light.
Pelikan Hubs 2015 – Philadelphia: A Recap
September 25th has passed and in its wake the Pelikan Hubs event has come and gone. The second annual Pelikan Hubs occurred in 72 cities divided amongst 29 countries. I had the privilege of being the Hub master for the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA location. This year, Philadelphia faced a unique challenge owing to the traffic restrictions put into place with the Pope’s arrival into town. With that in mind, the venue had to be carefully selected. Ultimately, I decided to host the event at Goat Hollow in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia. Goat Hollow is an American brassiere with a great selection of hand crafted beers and a menu that has plenty to offer provided in heaping portions. It’s a nice neighborhood location with a wonderful private room upstairs that served to host our group. For a reasonable fee, we were provided our own server, Collin, who did an excellent job fulfilling our orders. Food and drink were enjoyed by all and while I can’t speak for the whole menu, the poutine was exceptional.
News: Stola III (P16)
The Perch’s focus is not just Souveräns and piston fillers. There is no doubt that a large segment of the fountain pen market is frequented by those who prefer the patronen-füllhalter also known as a cartridge/converter pen. If that is your preference, Pelikan will soon be serving up something new with the introduction of its upcoming Stola III (P16). Goldspot Pens first brought the Stola to my attention when they gave us a glimpse on their instagram feed earlier this week. Dein-Pen.de has also helped to supplement the available information with some fantastic product shots. The pen demonstrates contemporary styling and will reportedly be offered at the affordable price of $45. The fountain pen will accept a cartridge or converter, most likely in the standard international format. Information is conflicting as to the make up of the barrel. It will either feature a plastic barrel or one made from painted aluminum. We will have to await further details from Pelikan in order to confirm. There is no word yet on what nib sizes will be available but I expect that we will see nibs offered in the standard sizes of EF, F, M, and B.