Congratulations to Timothy Rose! You've won the Orienta fountain pen giveaway! Just contact me at djrathbun@gmail.com within the next 48 hrs with your address and I will send you your prize! Thanks to everyone who commented to enter the contest. More to come!
I got my first fountain pen ever today, and to my disbelief, my handwriting was instantly better. I never thought that would happen, but I've fallen down the rabbit hole into the world of fountain pens and I wish I had done so years ago.
@@InkquiringMinds It certainly is. I often heard about fountain pens being "smooth" but I had no idea what it was really like. I actually sat all evening writing with it, completely captivated. And what makes it better is that I got a beautiful discontinued Waterman Carène!
Wow...After spending a few weeks as a subscriber, I have to say that everything about your reviews are smooth. Smooth voice, smooth transitions, smooth data presentation, smooth music, Smooth look too! Your reviews are what I relax to as I wind down from the day over dinner. When I needed to find out about Penbbs, your channel was where I found out everything I needed to know about the pen-line...and the main reason I'm a fan to this day. All of my pens are PENBBS with the exception of my brass pen. I swore up and down I wouldn't become a collector, but I'm quickly finding that I greatly want to have a Penbbs collection...just because. Thank you for all that you do!
Thanks so much Detman! You go to the head of the class! *Puts a gold star sticker on your forehead* With Penbbs, the company has so many different models and finishes and are so relatively inexpensive, it is easy to get the collector bug. Lots more Penbbs videos to come!
I love the classic Pelikan look and I think the 800 and 1000 lines are stunning. What I don't love is their reputation for having problematic nibs out of the box. Maybe I'm old school but I think that's a real downer and prevents me from ever investing in one, especially considering their premium price tag. Honest and thorough review, Douglas, and thank you for sharing your experience with us.
This is a very easy fix for Sean which he can do himself. There's no need to return it to Pelikan. But your point is well taken. An M800 is on my grail list. I still can't get over how nice and bouncy that steel nib is given it is... steel.
I have the same Pelikan Classic M205 in my collection. While it is on the smaller side, I truly enjoy writing with it because of the line it puts down on paper as well as the “bouncy” nib. Plus, I have Pelikan listed on my Grail Pen list. I know this pen and the M800 are VERY different but I wanted to see if I’d like the brand. I did the same thing with Sailor FP’s. Continue to be well and looking forward to the next video and lucky winner!!! 😉
I have small hands and love light pens with a decent ink capacity, so this is right up my alley. Thanks for bringing the Orienta to my attention. Now I can start looking for one. Great review as always!
You are so welcome! There was a dump of a number of Orientas on eBay about four or five years ago. It looks like someone discovered an old stash of NOS (new old stock) in Germany and sold them off. It might have been an old store's stockroom clearout or something. They are much more rare today.
@@InkquiringMinds Maybe I need to put my wish out into the universe (and set up some sort of notification alert...) I have a few ideas where to start from. Until then I'm reading up on the M600 in red tortoiseshell that's going to hit the market in December. Pre-orders can already be placed...
Excellent review, Doug! And, timely for me! I recently purchased this pen, and have only performed my "pre-ink" cleaning .i.e., haven't written with it yet. It is a small pen, but I do love its length when posted. And, as you clearly stated here, I find myself wanted to grip it beyond the section, just above the threads. Of course, the "acid test" will be when I ink it up and put nib to paper!
Hi Doug - Another great review! Always had a soft spot for Pelikans, my first one was a M150. Can' t afford the newer ones so dabble in vintage ones. They just exude quality. and are wonderful writers. The heart is willing but the wallet is not.
Even though it is a light, plastic, steel nibbed pen, you can tell just holding it, that this pen is very well made. The quality of the build is excellent, and the bounce in the small steel nib, was surprising and very nice.
Had a pilot E95 for 2 years before I bought my first Pelikan FP (m600) last month and I'm really happy with it. I often use FPs to draw because of the less consistent line shading and the feel of the pens. That vintage Orienta is beautiful.
Your reviews are very elaborate and interesting. Pelikan inks are very good❤️. But, I haven't used a pelikan fountain pen so far. So I don't have an hands-on experience. But, I have seen many reviews by you and other enthusiastic reviewers. They have good reputation. Inks am using are pelikan
“Doesn’t come apart for cleaning” - so that’s why I have an M205 in pieces in a drawer! Couldn’t put it back together. Ah well, makes sense now. Superb video as ever. The way manage to include clips is just hilarious. (No need to include me in the prize drawer. The shipping alone is outrageously expensive).
@@InkquiringMinds That isn't really consumer friendly design. I think we are spoiled by more modern designs, which come apart for cleaning, and easily too.
The M200 were never designed to be disassembled by outsiders. I have two old style M200 lying around because I can't take them apart. In one case the piston threads are disaligned and in the other one the piston is leaking. The piston mechanic of most M200 models is either glued in or fixed by small plastic latches which have a nasty habit of breaking when you try to take the piston out. In some cases you can get it out with a rubber band but in most cases the only solution seems to be to send the pen to the Pelikan customer service which really seems to be helpful especially with older pens. Since I have two other working M200 the pressure to send them in is rather low.
Doug, what I enjoy about your reviews is the added insertion of humour. I looked at picking up a Pelikan ( pen that is) for some time but that little Orienta would make a nice addition to anyone’s collection and everyone likes free stuff.👍🇨🇦
Great review, Doug. As always. I have a Pelikan m205 in classic black & love the quality & the juicy smooth nib. But, I agree 100% that it's a bit small and overpriced for an injection molded plastic pen. You pay a premium for the Pelikan name. I also have an m600 Souverän, which is a lovely pen. I'd like an m800 or m1000, but cannot get myself to rationalize the expense...yet. Thanks again for your interesting & informative reviews!
Looks like a nice pen! I don't have a Pelikan pen, but I plan to get one eventually. Judging from your review, I wouldn't rule out getting an M205. Thanks for the review!
As a fan of your intro's and perfectly syncronized short movies inserts, and of corse of your content, i give it a try again.... Maybe, may be.... Cheers Doug!
Beautiful Pen. Don’t know the pen used in “As Time Goes By”, but it is one of my all time favorite shows. But even recently I’ve wondered the make of the pen. (I own the entire series and watch it regularly. ). Jean and Lionel are great together. I even belong to a Facebook Group called “The Hardcastle Affair”. Love your reviews. My Moonman M800 is due to arrive today. Can’t wait to unbox it.
Douglas Rathbun I went on the Facebook page I am a member of and asked if anyone knew the Brand of Fountain Pen used in the opening sequence of the show. Will let you know if I hear anything.
Thanks for the review. I have some old style M200s and I like them. Perfect workhorse pens without any blingbling. As I'm not that fond of those "demonstrator" pens I'm content with the blue marble and the grey cloud finishes of my older Pelikan M200s (the striated finishes of the M400+ are still classy and perfect anyway). Those M200 had their own distinctive caps and not some cheap plastic versions of the golden ones of their more expensive siblings like the modern M200s. I don't know if Pelikan changed the sections in 1997 but I can hold my 1985 M200s on the threads without any problems. Instead of making a cheaper version of the M400 model they made an more expensive version of the M200, the M250 by just replacing the steel nib with a 14k nib. Apparently they also changed nib widths with the 1997 redesign as the newer nibs appear to be wider. I have a modern M600 with a fine nib that writes like a medium nib from the older series. However none of those nibs can stand up to the nibs from the 50s/60s especially the oblique ones. Gladly you can screw a vintage nib set from the 400(NN) into a modern M400/M600 without problems. I think I'd always grab the Orienta instead of this M205.
Thanks, Stephan. Yes, the 1985 M200 that I reviewed and restored was different. It has a much more basic cap. And it was dead simple to replace the old, corroded nib with a modern one.
Liked all your videos i watched till now and waiting for more and more, and yes.. noticed that you read all the comments, thats good actually very good touch for keeping in touch with your subscribers. Regards
Appreciate the review. I've been partial to Pelikans for several decades now. My 'birds' stretch from a vintage 400nn up to an M800; the cost of the m1000 was a bridge too far! Most of mine are 400's but late in my collecting life, I picked up a clear 205 demonstrator and an M120 (both steel nibs). Both are terrific writers!
My Pelikan 120 (vintage 1955) has been my daily sketching and writing tool for more decades than I am willing to say. I am an artist, illustrator and cartoonist and having a quality fountain pen that never clogs with waterproof inks and is easy to clean and take apart is very important to me. I dont know what that "As Time Goes By" pen is, but holding the pen the way it is held in that film clip has always been my method for achieving legible handwriting. Maybe it's just me.
Thank you for the time and effort you put into these videos, one can tell they are made with passion. /ps. I am no expert in cutting videos but these short sketches must take forever to find and fit into the video... Cheers!
Pelikan is a brand that I've always been interested in but I'm always worried about buying into a new brand at that price when I've not been able to test the pen personally! Great video!
Hey Doug; I've had an M205 in my collection for years. It has a broad nib. A few months back I was able to pick up another one whose piston didn't work. It was very inexpensive. The good thing was that it came with a "F" nib installed and an extra "M" nib. I have been having fun swapping the nibs back and forth to see how different inks and papers look under the various nibs. Great vid as always.
Pelikan M200 (M205 is a demonstrator variant of that) is one of my favorite fountain pens of all time. An old-style M200 in green marble with M steel nib has been almost constantly filled since I bought it four years ago. It's a fantastic writer, the nib is smooth, bouncy and very wet. Since I got my first Pelikan - and it was also an M200, new-style, F nib (also still in my very humble collection) I was intrigued by this brand. Their basic design (which is really 1950's Pelikan 400 - most modern Pelikan flagship lines, from M150 to M1000 are pretty much remakes and variants of that one) is IMO a perfect mix of being both understated and very distinctive at the same time. The one thing I dislike about Pelikan are their prices - most of them way over my fountain pen budget.
@@InkquiringMinds So do I. I know it for years that if I ever get crazy enough to spend this kind of money on a fountain pen it's definitely one of the Pelikan Souveran line. Obligatory in green stripes, because I'm a sucker for classics.
Olivine is my favorite green by far. You know, I have to dig up my first Pelikan F nib. I stopped using it because it was scratchy. I was too much a novice to check alignment. Great video!
Very well done review. Its a real shame that people are having issues with Pelikan pens as they have a Fantastic reputation of being wonderful writers in days gone by. My m800 stone garden finally arrived today. How sweet it is. Pen size is quite close to the moonman m800 or Leonardo momento zero, except the Pelikan is much heavier. The 18kt gold Fine nib is exceptionally smooth and fairly wet. Simply a beautiful pen and great writer. Hope the 805 you have coming is as wonderful and smooth as the m800 I got today. Looking forward to the unboxing and review. Thanks again for a great review and video. Richard
I'd be interested in your take on the similarities and differences between the M800 Pelikan and M800 Moonman - not so much in quality, but in size/shape/feel.
@@InkquiringMinds I was expecting the Pelikan to be a larger pen, but in fact they are nearly the same with the Pelikan being 6 grams heavier as expected due to the piston filling mechanism. Length uncapped and posted is within. 5 to 1 mm to my eye. The Pelikan barrel appears to be a little slimmer than the moonman. The cap of the moonman is a tad larger in diameter also. On to the important part, feel in hand. The moonman section into the cap threads transition feels smoother in my hand whereas with the Pelikan I notice the cap threads more, not sharp but a more tactile feel to them. A plus for the moonman. Then there is the shape of the sections, the Pelikan is much more traditional with a little flair out as the section approaches the nib, as well as a nice gold plated metal band right at the nib end of the section. To me this allows a more natural grip on the section and not allowing one to slip down onto the nib. A plus for the Pelikan. Writing with them not posted they are very close and I think with use I will soon not notice the difference between the threads. But currently the moonman has the upper hand. If posting the Pelikan is a touch more back weighted due to more metal used in the cap. Don't get me wrong, posted writing is certainly doable but the moonman posted feels more balanced. If you like a heavier pen in comparison to a lighter pen then the Pelikan wins. I was surprised that 6 grams made that much of a difference in feel. Let me know if you have any other questions. ( the nib is very smooth).
Thanks, Doug, for another great review. I used to have a Pelikan, but, having as you say only 3/4 of a turn to undo, the pen kept getting unscrewed from the cap in my jacket's inside pocket, & it would sit there quietly leachingthe ink into my jacket lining & onto my shirt. Lamy 2000 for me!
Hi enjoyed your video reminded me that I have to get my vintage Pelikan repaired that I purchased in a bundle which included a Lady Sheaffer 904 from a charity shop for £10. Unfortunately it needs most of it cap rebuilt and it's nib straightened. Thank you for an informative and enjoyable video.
Hmm, I wonder if your friend Sean got a dud! My own M205 Olivine (EF) is super smooth, even on those upstrokes. It is my favorite small pen, and I usually like large pens. The Olivine made me want more Pelikans! I paired it with Taccia Uguisu ink, and it is a very happy marriage.
Not at all. The pen needs a minor adjustment. I could have fixed in two minutes, but it is not my pen and I'm no expert. So, I'm not going to experiment on someone else's property.
I just watched your link to the Orienta. I went to a school that still had desks with an ink well in the top right corner. Those desks must have been used by 100s of children over the years!
"Me too", and in my case the slant of the desk taught me that I HAD to post the pen or it would soon roll to the floor, with a crash, and I would have to explain to my parents how I had ruined yet another pen. To this day, I always post.
I remember those desks too! When I tell the grand kids about them and having to walk 5 miles to school in the snow - they get that "glazed" look. I wonder why?🤷♂️
@@InkquiringMinds I remember those too. Our school replaced those when I was in 5th grade I think. Although ours had a little flat part above the hinge, with long groove for pens, pencils, and such. They were ancient by that point, and had seen better days. The whole school got new desks over a few pretty disruptive days as they dismantled the old desks with the connected flip up seats, and put in normal modern desks and chairs.
Thanks for an excellent review as always. Loved my Pelikans but often had nib problems. Would buy another tomorrow if I had the skills to sort the nib myself.
Douglas, as always enjoyed your review, I concur that at that price it should be close to perfect out of the box. More importantly to continue the movie theme, follow the gourd!
Nice review @Douglas Rathbun, I read my positive experience online about Pelikan M200/M205 series, I like the looks of the pen and do not mind it's a steel nib instead of gold, but I have not owned one due to it's super light weight. I like to feel a bit of the pen in the hand. I dig the vintage looks for the "Orienta Student" Fountain Pen :)
I knew the M200 series was small, but didn’t realize just how small until seeing your comparison. It’s nice to have at least a few pans out there that I don’t cover.
I have an M200 and an M205, both with ou-of-the-box glorious, juicy, broad nibs. They are my two favorite pens. The only thing that comes close is the (completely different-feeling) Platinum PTL 5000a in medium. I guess your friend was unlucky to get a misaligned nib... While the pelikan does not come apart, simply unscrewing the nib unit will provide just enough room to thoroughly clean the inside of the barrel. I actually find it one of the easiest pens to clean!
Yes, exactly. I just mentioned the "does not disassemble" to make sure folks know that you can't take the piston assembly apart. You have to leave that to Pelikan technicians. The nib will be an easy two-minute fix.
@@InkquiringMinds Not designed for an age where most places don't have a stationers, let alone pen service shop. Most new designed pens are much easier to service. But many vintage, or vintage derived designs decidedly less so. Made sense when the audience was everyone who wrote, but today it is fountain pen enthusiasts who expect to tinker.
Thanks Doug for another great review - that's one more pen I can add to the "don't need to buy" list (though I'd still be happy to win the Orienta!)...
Thanks for reviewing this Pelikan. I agree with you it's pricey for a plastic pen with a steel nib. For what you are paying you can get into a gold nib with some other brands. You can even get some vintage gold nib Pelikans. Also don't like that you are unable to take it apart for cleaning and maintenance.
You can get at the ink chamber by removing the nib assembly. It is the piston mechanism you cannot disassemble. So this is much like most, top brand, piston fillers like Montblanc and Visconti.
@@InkquiringMinds And early Montblancs used cork for the piston, so if left uninked that can dry out and shrink, and then won't work at all without major surgery. There are people that do those replacements, but not for faint-hearted to try that surgery on your own.
I always liked smaller pens because they’re smaller in diameter and tend to be lighter. However I don’t like the kaweco sport due to it being a little to thick in diameter for me. Though their are exceptions such as the noodlers ahab and Lamy safari that can be excellent in my hand. But if I were to present a thin pen and somewhat small pen then my choice would be the noodlers nib creaper. Or maybe I like pens with ebonite feeds 🤷♂️
Thanks, Doug, for a double dose of reviews--the M205 and the Orienta (I watched that video too). I agree that the M200/205 series is small, one reason I resisted buying one. I eventually got the M205 Aquamarine because I found a good deal (with a double broad nib, from the U.K.), and I suspected it would probably be the only time I could afford a Pelikan. I didn't appreciate the depths the pen habit can take one. I later found a sale for the M205 demonstrator. That was only available with a fine nib. Since I like broader nibs, I started looking. I discovered that steel Pelikan nibs for the 200 series are not expensive, thus buying Broad and Italic nibs. Not only do I enjoy swapping the nibs, when I discovered an M205 blue/gray barrel without nib on eBay, I pounced. Now I have three M200/205 Pelikans. Followed by an M605 all blue, and an M805 Blue Dunes--rabbit hole at work. I have average man size hands, but I do find the 200/205's comfortable to use when posted. I was not aware of the Orienta, but I find it appealing. I have a Reform pen, but the Orienta seems more substantial. If I don't win the giveaway, I may be on the lookout to buy one.😁
Thanks for another fine review. I don't think I'll buy one of these Pelikan 200/205 pens. Your review seems to point to the idea that the price is tied to the name and status of Pelikan. I did purchase a Pelikan Stola for $20 and I really enjoy the way that writes and feels. It's only available in Matt Silver, but the grip section is longer and there are no threads.
I think there is value in the brand and the M205 is certainly well built and has an interesting nib. I won't deter me at all from still trying to pursue an M800.
I just ordered my first Pelikan, an old M150. I’m excited to get it, up until now all my pens have been around $60 or less and I just started spending a little more to check out the quality differences. So far the Lamy 2000 in oblique broad is my favorite.
@@InkquiringMinds So they do. But this one works even when not held correctly. However when held as obliques are mentioned to be held it gives wonderful line variation that is very different from a stub, and somewhat, but not entirely similar to architect nib. I have Noodler's Habanero in it, and the results are gorgeous.
@@InkquiringMinds i think i hold my hand in a weird position when i write so the OB feels very natural for me. It has a liiiiiiitle bit of a sweet spot, and that’s it. I love it. The Pelikan i just ordered has an oblique medium nib, I’m excited to try that one out.
I think what you meant when you said 'this pen can't be taken apart' is that the section doesn't unscrew. But you can take off the nib and feed by hand, and with a small wrench you can also take off the whole piston mechanism. Or is that only for the 400 and above?
Some of the aesthetics seem out of place on a pen of this price range. This just doesn’t look like it should be anywhere near that price. PLENTY of other lower priced pens that have better quality and aesthetics. Thanks for this review and all of the vital info on this pen.
That's expensive for a molded plastic pen. Maybe the build quality provides enough magic to make it feel worth a three digit price? Or it is one of those things that is better in person. I watched your Orienta review. Your description of the writing experience had me thinking it might have been a mild form of torture for a grade school kid learning to write but triggers nostalgia years later. I would like to throw my ticket into the hat. Thank you for the work, Doug ☺️
Love pens! Love pens! Love pens! I have an M205 in white and it is one of my best writers. To be an M point, it writes like an F. I bought it to celebrate a milestone a year and a half ago.
I love my Peliksn M205...it was my first "expensive" pen....lol. It's a perfect size for my hand. Thanks for the giveaway! The Orienta looks interesting!
Very nice pens and review. I never knew the m205 was that small. Aint gonna lie, i had google help me out with that pen in "As time goes by" clip. Found people saying its a Sheaffer Targa and one person leaning towards a Parker UK Duofold Demi. Im leaning towards the Parker.
I can confirm it is NOT a Targa. First of all, the Targa only came into being in 1976 and this letter is dated in the 50's. I don't believe BBC and the director/art director would be that incompetent to put a modern pen into a vintage scene. Secondly, the Targa is thinner and has an inlaid nib - no visible feed. I'd go with the Parker too.
Great video as always sorry about not checking the nib, Again. I agree that it’s on the small side, I think you’re on to something with a larger barrel and nib
Not at all, Sean! I'm delighted to try it out. I've been very curious about this model for some time. And that misaligned nib is an easy peezy fix for you. Plus, you have a three year warranty. I assume this is a relatively new pen even though it is a 2018 model?
what an interesting pen I often find pens that are piston fillers to be difficult to empty especially if there is no way to get to the chamber but I love my moonman m2 this seems like that kinda and its brilliant
@@InkquiringMinds That is the key. Letting it dry out us the cardinal sin. Luckily that takes a while. So remember to ink your pens regularly. They won't crust up. And as a bonus you can write with them
As always a nice honest review. I would not get this one at all - way too many unpleasantness: - Size - Material -Tine alignment - Holding comfort - Cleaning - The feed protruding? That's just down right unacceptable. This is Pelikan putting their brand on a el cheapo pen to get people to buy a "Pelikan" that can really afford the M600 or M800 series pens. Sort of like when Cadillac put out their Cimoarron.
I have seen your ORIENTA Student Fountain Pen Review video. Enjoyed it, I like vintage pens. The comparisons with this Pelikan Classic M205 pen with the ORIENTA were very interesting too. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Look forward to winning the giveaway! 9
At a pen club meeting I was able to try out someone's M205 in Olivine. For whatever reason some of the nibs on the Olivine are softer and bouncier than other steel nibs. I was able to buy one of these.
The m200 was my first "real" Fountain pen I bought... It's too small for me but it's very well and the Piston works like heaven. I will buy the m1000 one day and living in Germany give me a vantage for the price I'm going to pay. Great review by the way and don't worry too much about the nibs of Pelikan.. obviously there are nibs out there that do not work properly.. but Pelikan sells A LOT of pens and most of them write beautifully .. so the probability isn't so high
The German prices for Pelican pens are much better than what the distributors set the prices to in the US, so they have a much smaller market share here.
This pen would look so good with sailor jentle epinard. I’ve always loved green inks. But it’s just too much for a steel nib, injection molded pen. Plus I really like thin Japanese nibs and pelikan is known for their wider than normal nibs. I was surprised when you said this nib was finer than expected, maybe because it’s steel and not their gold nib? Thanks for a chance to win the orienta pen!
I was actually more excited about the prospect of an Orienta, honestly. Pelikans have a handsome form factor, but I found the M205 to be a joyless experience - nib like a nail.
That's interesting about it being injection moulded. Many years ago, I worked in an injection moulding facility and almost everything we made was single use like bottles and jars. If the owner had gone into making reusable items, he might not have gone out of business. (IMHO). I'm sure the plastics industry has undergone incredible changes since I was there. I do remember just before he went belly up, there was some talk of doing doll parts. (Bodies, legs arms, heads, etc.). That idea was cheaper done in Cina, even with the cost of shipping.
There is injection moulding and then there is injection moulding. Just like there is plastic and then there is plastic. Pelikan and TWSBI do injection moulding with high grade plastics and techniques that leave minimal traces of the processes (seams, gates, etc). Plastic is a catch-all for a huge range of materials. And you are right, the modern plastics industry is eons ahead of where we were even 10 years ago. Thanks, Helen!
It reminds me of my Prera in size and appearance, but the Prera is not piston-filled, and the cap snaps on, so no worrisome cap threads. When I first received it I was disappointed in the size, as I was accustomed to larger full-size pens, but I have come to love it and use it everyday. I am considering ordering this one. I also love "As Time Goes By", but can’t identify the pen in the intro.
Douglas Rathbun I don’t have a caliper... it doesn’t seem thick, but the section is not curved and is longer. I found a comparison review on the Fountain Pen Network, with photos, of another Pelikan model and the Prera (including link... feel free to delete ) www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/29759-pilot-prera/ "Conclusion, If you like the 200 section size but the threads bother you, the Prera should suit your grip just fine. And at the same time, it would allow you to grip a bit higher comfortably if you prefer a wider grip." From that statement, I gather the general feel of the two pens is similar, but for the grip section?
The m205 is a great intro pen to the awesome and way more pricey piston pens from Pelikan. I believe the pen in the As Time Goes By clip is some variant of a Waterman based on the slanted finial. However, I am more than likely talking out of my butt as it is really hard to tell in that video lol. Great review as always, have a great week.
@@InkquiringMinds it's possible but the tapered section and weird finial don't match the Duofold. I know Waterman was big in England. May also have been a Conway Stewart or another European brand.
Hi Doug, now what can I comment on haha :) ..............well, I shall talk of "As Time Goes By" with Dame Judi Dench. As a Brit myself, I always enjoy a good old fashioned British sitcom. This is where I am going to introduce and persuade you to watch "Only Fools and Horses" staring Sir David Jason and Lindhurst. OFAH is my all-time favourite sitcom. John Sullivan is a brilliant comedy scriptwriter, he penned another one of my favourites "Citizen Smith", but more on that later :)
Very nice pens and I really enjoy using my M200 but frankly I wouldn't spend $120 for a demonstrator pen, that's what the $20 pen is for. In the case of having to lubricate the piston of an M200, put a little bit of silicone grease on the tip of a cotton swab and, being careful not to touch the interior of the section, it is inserted into the body to the bottom touching the piston, it is apply a little bit of grease on the body wall and then, once the cotton swab is removed, the piston is operated several times to lubricate it. The danger is in applying grease to the interior of the section and that this clogs the feeding and breathing channel of the feeder. Saludos desde Argentina
Saludos, Lucho! Thanks for this. Yes, that is the way to maintain the piston of a pen where the section isn't removable. Silicone blocks liquid flow anywhere it is, so getting it near a feed is dangerous.
Doug, My Pelikan M205 also exhibited the same misalignment of the nib. I was able to correct it. Sean’s pen seems to be wetter than mine however. I think I’ll order some brass shims from Goulet. BTW, I’m expecting a Sailor pro Gear Slim in Midnight Sky this week. I ordered the music nib. You can also get a full fill with the Pelikan M205, as well as vac fillers and other piston fillers, by using the Pineider Pen Filler. I think I mentioned this a while ago and said I may do a video. I may do that after my wife’s surgery which should be within the next 2 weeks. Regards from Philadelphia, Bill
I just got a Pineider Ink Well yesterday. I want to confirm a FB post that says you can use a 30ml bottle of Diamine ink instead of the 10ml bottle supplied with the Pineider. It works!
I suggest getting the steel feeler gauge per chrisrap52, as you have a way of working up with many thicknesses, and they are between five and ten bucks on Amazon.
Douglas Rathbun Thanks! I’ll have to try that. I recently inked my Pelikan M205 Blue Marble with Diamond Autumn Oak. I could have saved a step by using your new discovery instead of transferring ink from bottle to the Pineider ink well.
Aloha Doug! A timely (or maybe not so timely?) review as I just ordered a M205 in white with a fine nib. Of course after seeing your review, I have some added apprehension! I say added as I have seen other reviews showcasing similar nib issues. I was more surprised by the nib width during your writing sample. Do you think the nib alignment issue is the cause for the finer writing? I did buy it from a supposedly USA retailer, although not sure if the products they sell are through a USA distributor, but in the past I have had great communications with the seller so if I notice any issues I am not too concerned. The small size was also a concern, but the other models were quite a bit most costly (gold nib too!) and not outrageously larger in regards to the grip section. Thanks again for a thorough review and wish me luck on my Pelikan! Mahalo from Kauai, Hawaii. Thomas
Cool! I've seen the white one. They are so beautiful. Just too small for me. I don't think the nib alignment affected anything but the scratch on the upstrokes - naturally. It is an easy two minute fix that Sean can do himself. It will still write on the fine side of medium. Interesting hmm?
Thanks for yet another review, Doug! Have the Moonman M800 (galaxy) already on the way with some Bobby medium nibs in case of nib failure. Using a Jinhao nib in my M600S (amber) atm but may need some tuning. Would like to throw my name into the hat for this giveaway. Greetings from the GTA!
I’ve been looking at the Pelikan M1005 as a grail pen lately. I have large hands and have been looking at bigger pens that hopefully will be more comfortable for longer writing sessions.
@@InkquiringMinds Thank you for your advice, but the nib writes buttery smooth and I'm in love with it. The piston is the issue because the blind cap won't let you turn more than a rotation, so the piston will not move and pull in ink.
Great video! Guess I have no smart remarks or dumb ones either. You are doing a great job. I find it hard to spend over $100 on a pen when there are so many cheaper pens that write so well. OK I am just a cheap guy.
I agree with the Evil one. I can get a stunning fountain pen like a Penbbs 456 for less than $50 and that doesn't make me cheap or even frugal. It makes me an informed and quality conscious consumer.
@@InkquiringMinds "informed and quality conscious consumer", think I will use that terminology nest time, with your permission of course. Your first sentence "I agree with the Evil one." I was like "HUH?, Wha..." then.. yeah ok... "nevermind..."
Again it is apples to oranges, but where you are into close to apples to apples - steel vs steel, I've found pens that are $30 just as excellent as those that are $250.
The scratchy sounds in the intro make me really uncomforable with these new headphones. :'c Reminds me when my first fountain pen had a missalignment in the nib and scratched the paper like a cat going in reverse.
I'm going to venture a guess as to the pen in the intro clip from As Time Goes By (a show that my late wife I enjoyed so much that we made the song for which it is named, our song) is it a Montblanc 159? If not is it a Sailor? If not is it... lol Okay, I'm crossing all my fingers and toes for this Orienta! You know I love vintage pens, and I'm sucker for weird nibs. I'm off now to go and watch your review of that pen! I wish everyone luck in the giveaway, but only slightly less luck than myself... LoL! Keep up the awesome work, and keep rockin' on!
It isn't a Montblanc. They have a distinctive cap finial. The best guesses so far are Parker Duofold (of some type) or a Waterman. Someone else just mentioned Conway Stewart and that might be close to the mark.
I've always wondered how you could get your writing samples to look so wet where you can see the ink drying on the page as you write, that is something I always like in my pens. It is very much a function of the paper used, I found rhodia does not exhibit it as much and the Claire Fontaine you use does. I assumed rhodia and Claire Fontaine were the same make and properties but I've found I much prefer Claire Fontaine and I believe I'm in the minority that doesn't very much like rhodia. Rhodia does remain as a standby because it is easy to get and relatively inexpensive.
I was a Rhodia user until I discovered Clairefontaine. It is the paper I use for my journal as well. And you are right about the properties of the paper allowing the ink to dry a little more slowly which also makes the sheen and shading happen a little more. Tomoe River is an exquisite paper and one I reserve for ink/nib sampling and testing.
Congratulations to Timothy Rose! You've won the Orienta fountain pen giveaway! Just contact me at djrathbun@gmail.com within the next 48 hrs with your address and I will send you your prize! Thanks to everyone who commented to enter the contest. More to come!
Wow! So excited, thank you very much Doug!
I got my first fountain pen ever today, and to my disbelief, my handwriting was instantly better. I never thought that would happen, but I've fallen down the rabbit hole into the world of fountain pens and I wish I had done so years ago.
It is a really interesting experience isn't it Max?
@@InkquiringMinds It certainly is. I often heard about fountain pens being "smooth" but I had no idea what it was really like. I actually sat all evening writing with it, completely captivated. And what makes it better is that I got a beautiful discontinued Waterman Carène!
@@BobHoskins905 The Carène is a sublime writing experience both physically and visually.
Wow...After spending a few weeks as a subscriber, I have to say that everything about your reviews are smooth.
Smooth voice, smooth transitions, smooth data presentation, smooth music, Smooth look too!
Your reviews are what I relax to as I wind down from the day over dinner.
When I needed to find out about Penbbs, your channel was where I found out everything I needed to know about the pen-line...and the main reason I'm a fan to this day. All of my pens are PENBBS with the exception of my brass pen. I swore up and down I wouldn't become a collector, but I'm quickly finding that I greatly want to have a Penbbs collection...just because.
Thank you for all that you do!
Thanks so much Detman! You go to the head of the class! *Puts a gold star sticker on your forehead* With Penbbs, the company has so many different models and finishes and are so relatively inexpensive, it is easy to get the collector bug. Lots more Penbbs videos to come!
@@InkquiringMinds Sweet! I wait to see your videos before I buy my pens. WOO+ I've got a gold star!!! =D
I love the classic Pelikan look and I think the 800 and 1000 lines are stunning. What I don't love is their reputation for having problematic nibs out of the box. Maybe I'm old school but I think that's a real downer and prevents me from ever investing in one, especially considering their premium price tag. Honest and thorough review, Douglas, and thank you for sharing your experience with us.
This is a very easy fix for Sean which he can do himself. There's no need to return it to Pelikan. But your point is well taken. An M800 is on my grail list. I still can't get over how nice and bouncy that steel nib is given it is... steel.
Btw I would not rule out purchasing a pre owned or even a vintage Pelikan should the right opportunity present itself.
I have the same Pelikan Classic M205 in my collection. While it is on the smaller side, I truly enjoy writing with it because of the line it puts down on paper as well as the “bouncy” nib. Plus, I have Pelikan listed on my Grail Pen list. I know this pen and the M800 are VERY different but I wanted to see if I’d like the brand. I did the same thing with Sailor FP’s. Continue to be well and looking forward to the next video and lucky winner!!! 😉
I was surprised by the bouncy nib. I would not expect a #5 steel nib to have that much bounce.
Hey, some Flamenco as well!!!!. Muy interesante. Never saw that ad before. Great review as always.
Cool, thanks!
I just got my first (vintage) m200 from ebay, and you already made me want one in olivine. Thanks for the review.
Hope you enjoy it!
I have small hands and love light pens with a decent ink capacity, so this is right up my alley. Thanks for bringing the Orienta to my attention. Now I can start looking for one. Great review as always!
You are so welcome! There was a dump of a number of Orientas on eBay about four or five years ago. It looks like someone discovered an old stash of NOS (new old stock) in Germany and sold them off. It might have been an old store's stockroom clearout or something. They are much more rare today.
@@InkquiringMinds Maybe I need to put my wish out into the universe (and set up some sort of notification alert...) I have a few ideas where to start from. Until then I'm reading up on the M600 in red tortoiseshell that's going to hit the market in December. Pre-orders can already be placed...
Oh my goodness thats a beautiful pen, i just love pens that have history and a story to them!!
Thank you, Ada Chateu!
I enjoyed your tasteful little intro even more now that I know the story behind your beautiful guitar.
Thank you kindly!
Excellent review, Doug! And, timely for me! I recently purchased this pen, and have only performed my "pre-ink" cleaning .i.e., haven't written with it yet. It is a small pen, but I do love its length when posted. And, as you clearly stated here, I find myself wanted to grip it beyond the section, just above the threads. Of course, the "acid test" will be when I ink it up and put nib to paper!
I hope it is a good one, Dave!
I do like the Pelican aesthetics, and this pen does a nice job as an entry level pen for the brand. Thanks, Doug!
Thank you, Annie!
I am 65 years old and a 'Pelikan-Fan' since my early school days. Then they (or Gehas) were given out to the students in Switzerland.
Hence, why I suspect these Orientas were Pelikan copies for school kids in mid-'50's Germany.
@@InkquiringMinds How are those compared to the M120s, or similar sized Pelikan school pens from the old days?
@@martinlebl631 I don't know. I only have experience of a 1985 M200.
@@InkquiringMinds I would assume that one is pretty similar to the current production.
Hi Doug - Another great review! Always had a soft spot for Pelikans, my first one was a M150. Can' t afford the newer ones so dabble in vintage ones. They just exude quality. and are wonderful writers. The heart is willing but the wallet is not.
Even though it is a light, plastic, steel nibbed pen, you can tell just holding it, that this pen is very well made. The quality of the build is excellent, and the bounce in the small steel nib, was surprising and very nice.
Had a pilot E95 for 2 years before I bought my first Pelikan FP (m600) last month and I'm really happy with it. I often use FPs to draw because of the less consistent line shading and the feel of the pens. That vintage Orienta is beautiful.
Thank you, a a!
Your reviews are very elaborate and interesting. Pelikan inks are very good❤️. But, I haven't used a pelikan fountain pen so far. So I don't have an hands-on experience. But, I have seen many reviews by you and other enthusiastic reviewers. They have good reputation. Inks am using are pelikan
Thanks for sharing!
“Doesn’t come apart for cleaning” - so that’s why I have an M205 in pieces in a drawer! Couldn’t put it back together. Ah well, makes sense now. Superb video as ever. The way manage to include clips is just hilarious. (No need to include me in the prize drawer. The shipping alone is outrageously expensive).
Exactly! It DOES come apart, but only by Pelikan's technicians.
@@InkquiringMinds That isn't really consumer friendly design. I think we are spoiled by more modern designs, which come apart for cleaning, and easily too.
you can put it back together !
th-cam.com/video/DBy9LQSFCgI/w-d-xo.html
Nikhil Seenivas T K thanks!
The M200 were never designed to be disassembled by outsiders. I have two old style M200 lying around because I can't take them apart. In one case the piston threads are disaligned and in the other one the piston is leaking.
The piston mechanic of most M200 models is either glued in or fixed by small plastic latches which have a nasty habit of breaking when you try to take the piston out. In some cases you can get it out with a rubber band but in most cases the only solution seems to be to send the pen to the Pelikan customer service which really seems to be helpful especially with older pens. Since I have two other working M200 the pressure to send them in is rather low.
Recently got my first fountain pen and I am hooked. I started following you to learn all about my new hobby.
That's cool, James! Thanks!
Doug, what I enjoy about your reviews is the added insertion of humour. I looked at picking up a Pelikan ( pen that is) for some time but that little Orienta would make a nice addition to anyone’s collection and everyone likes free stuff.👍🇨🇦
Glad you like them!
Free and unique is even better, as I vet most of us don't have an Orienta kicking around.
Great review, Doug. As always. I have a Pelikan m205 in classic black & love the quality & the juicy smooth nib. But, I agree 100% that it's a bit small and overpriced for an injection molded plastic pen. You pay a premium for the Pelikan name. I also have an m600 Souverän, which is a lovely pen. I'd like an m800 or m1000, but cannot get myself to rationalize the expense...yet. Thanks again for your interesting & informative reviews!
Thanks, Jeff!
Looks like a nice pen! I don't have a Pelikan pen, but I plan to get one eventually. Judging from your review, I wouldn't rule out getting an M205. Thanks for the review!
Thanks for sharing!
As a fan of your intro's and perfectly syncronized short movies inserts, and of corse of your content, i give it a try again.... Maybe, may be.... Cheers Doug!
Much appreciated!
Beautiful Pen. Don’t know the pen used in “As Time Goes By”, but it is one of my all time favorite shows. But even recently I’ve wondered the make of the pen. (I own the entire series and watch it regularly. ). Jean and Lionel are great together. I even belong to a Facebook Group called “The Hardcastle Affair”. Love your reviews. My Moonman M800 is due to arrive today. Can’t wait to unbox it.
I've always assumed it is some kind of Duofold. It would be period appropriate since the letter is dated in the early 1950's.
Douglas Rathbun I went on the Facebook page I am a member of and asked if anyone knew the Brand of Fountain Pen used in the opening sequence of the show. Will let you know if I hear anything.
@@monopolylife Cool! I'd be fascinated to know!
I have had rather olivine for awhile and love it! Thanks for a chance to win.🌻
Thank you, Cindy!
Thanks for the review. I have some old style M200s and I like them. Perfect workhorse pens without any blingbling.
As I'm not that fond of those "demonstrator" pens I'm content with the blue marble and the grey cloud finishes of my older Pelikan M200s (the striated finishes of the M400+ are still classy and perfect anyway). Those M200 had their own distinctive caps and not some cheap plastic versions of the golden ones of their more expensive siblings like the modern M200s.
I don't know if Pelikan changed the sections in 1997 but I can hold my 1985 M200s on the threads without any problems.
Instead of making a cheaper version of the M400 model they made an more expensive version of the M200, the M250 by just replacing the steel nib with a 14k nib. Apparently they also changed nib widths with the 1997 redesign as the newer nibs appear to be wider. I have a modern M600 with a fine nib that writes like a medium nib from the older series.
However none of those nibs can stand up to the nibs from the 50s/60s especially the oblique ones. Gladly you can screw a vintage nib set from the 400(NN) into a modern M400/M600 without problems.
I think I'd always grab the Orienta instead of this M205.
Thanks, Stephan. Yes, the 1985 M200 that I reviewed and restored was different. It has a much more basic cap. And it was dead simple to replace the old, corroded nib with a modern one.
Great video as always. I love my M205 and glad to see others give them some love 🙂
Thanks 👍
OMG I remember as a child being fascinated with the BIC commercial. Ha Ha loved the review Thank You.
Glad you enjoyed it! :)
Liked all your videos i watched till now and waiting for more and more, and yes.. noticed that you read all the comments, thats good actually very good touch for keeping in touch with your subscribers. Regards
I do! And thanks for noticing.
Appreciate the review. I've been partial to Pelikans for several decades now. My 'birds' stretch from a vintage 400nn up to an M800; the cost of the m1000 was a bridge too far! Most of mine are 400's but late in my collecting life, I picked up a clear 205 demonstrator and an M120 (both steel nibs). Both are terrific writers!
Thanks for sharing!
My Pelikan 120 (vintage 1955) has been my daily sketching and writing tool for more decades than I am willing to say. I am an artist, illustrator and cartoonist and having a quality fountain pen that never clogs with waterproof inks and is easy to clean and take apart is very important to me. I dont know what that "As Time Goes By" pen is, but holding the pen the way it is held in that film clip has always been my method for achieving legible handwriting. Maybe it's just me.
I think it is a "classic" pen grip that fell out of favour with ballpoints and rollerballs.
Thank you for the time and effort you put into these videos, one can tell they are made with passion. /ps. I am no expert in cutting videos but these short sketches must take forever to find and fit into the video... Cheers!
Glad you like them! And that is lovely of you to say KD ~sniff~
Great review Doug, I just got a vintage Reform 4328 and now I really love vintage German pens.
That is awesome!
Another lovely pen review and demonstration...Pelicans are great pens. Love the olivine color too.
They are!
Pelikan is a brand that I've always been interested in but I'm always worried about buying into a new brand at that price when I've not been able to test the pen personally! Great video!
Great point!
Hey Doug; I've had an M205 in my collection for years. It has a broad nib. A few months back I was able to pick up another one whose piston didn't work. It was very inexpensive. The good thing was that it came with a "F" nib installed and an extra "M" nib. I have been having fun swapping the nibs back and forth to see how different inks and papers look under the various nibs. Great vid as always.
Thanks for sharing, F! There is a letter in the snail mail for you. :)
Pelikan M200 (M205 is a demonstrator variant of that) is one of my favorite fountain pens of all time. An old-style M200 in green marble with M steel nib has been almost constantly filled since I bought it four years ago. It's a fantastic writer, the nib is smooth, bouncy and very wet.
Since I got my first Pelikan - and it was also an M200, new-style, F nib (also still in my very humble collection) I was intrigued by this brand. Their basic design (which is really 1950's Pelikan 400 - most modern Pelikan flagship lines, from M150 to M1000 are pretty much remakes and variants of that one) is IMO a perfect mix of being both understated and very distinctive at the same time.
The one thing I dislike about Pelikan are their prices - most of them way over my fountain pen budget.
I have my hopes of getting a Pelikan M800 some day.
@@InkquiringMinds So do I. I know it for years that if I ever get crazy enough to spend this kind of money on a fountain pen it's definitely one of the Pelikan Souveran line. Obligatory in green stripes, because I'm a sucker for classics.
Olivine is my favorite green by far. You know, I have to dig up my first Pelikan F nib. I stopped using it because it was scratchy. I was too much a novice to check alignment. Great video!
Thanks for sharing!
Very well done review. Its a real shame that people are having issues with Pelikan pens as they have a Fantastic reputation of being wonderful writers in days gone by. My m800 stone garden finally arrived today. How sweet it is. Pen size is quite close to the moonman m800 or Leonardo momento zero, except the Pelikan is much heavier. The 18kt gold Fine nib is exceptionally smooth and fairly wet. Simply a beautiful pen and great writer. Hope the 805 you have coming is as wonderful and smooth as the m800 I got today. Looking forward to the unboxing and review.
Thanks again for a great review and video.
Richard
I'd be interested in your take on the similarities and differences between the M800 Pelikan and M800 Moonman - not so much in quality, but in size/shape/feel.
@@InkquiringMinds I was expecting the Pelikan to be a larger pen, but in fact they are nearly the same with the Pelikan being 6 grams heavier as expected due to the piston filling mechanism. Length uncapped and posted is within. 5 to 1 mm to my eye. The Pelikan barrel appears to be a little slimmer than the moonman. The cap of the moonman is a tad larger in diameter also. On to the important part, feel in hand. The moonman section into the cap threads transition feels smoother in my hand whereas with the Pelikan I notice the cap threads more, not sharp but a more tactile feel to them. A plus for the moonman. Then there is the shape of the sections, the Pelikan is much more traditional with a little flair out as the section approaches the nib, as well as a nice gold plated metal band right at the nib end of the section. To me this allows a more natural grip on the section and not allowing one to slip down onto the nib. A plus for the Pelikan.
Writing with them not posted they are very close and I think with use I will soon not notice the difference between the threads. But currently the moonman has the upper hand. If posting the Pelikan is a touch more back weighted due to more metal used in the cap. Don't get me wrong, posted writing is certainly doable but the moonman posted feels more balanced. If you like a heavier pen in comparison to a lighter pen then the Pelikan wins. I was surprised that 6 grams made that much of a difference in feel.
Let me know if you have any other questions. ( the nib is very smooth).
Thanks, Doug, for another great review. I used to have a Pelikan, but, having as you say only 3/4 of a turn to undo, the pen kept getting unscrewed from the cap in my jacket's inside pocket, & it would sit there quietly leachingthe ink into my jacket lining & onto my shirt. Lamy 2000 for me!
Wow! Now there is a point I hadn't thought of. Thanks for mentioning it, Bill!
Great pens. Best thing about M200-M205, that you can upgrade the nib with the gold one, but the steel one writes beautifully too :)
Totally agree! This is very true.
Thanks for such entertaining reviews
Thanks for watching!
Hi enjoyed your video reminded me that I have to get my vintage Pelikan repaired that I purchased in a bundle which included a Lady Sheaffer 904 from a charity shop for £10. Unfortunately it needs most of it cap rebuilt and it's nib straightened. Thank you for an informative and enjoyable video.
Wonderful! Thank you, Motorhawk2!
I’ve always wanted a Pelikan, but I’ve never gotten anything from their line before. Thanks for the video! More pens buy/hide from my wife!
Pens are easier to smuggle into the house than guitars.
Douglas Rathbun another thing for which experience speaks.
Hmm, I wonder if your friend Sean got a dud! My own M205 Olivine (EF) is super smooth, even on those upstrokes. It is my favorite small pen, and I usually like large pens. The Olivine made me want more Pelikans! I paired it with Taccia Uguisu ink, and it is a very happy marriage.
Not at all. The pen needs a minor adjustment. I could have fixed in two minutes, but it is not my pen and I'm no expert. So, I'm not going to experiment on someone else's property.
I just watched your link to the Orienta. I went to a school that still had desks with an ink well in the top right corner. Those desks must have been used by 100s of children over the years!
"Me too", and in my case the slant of the desk taught me that I HAD to post the pen or it would soon roll to the floor, with a crash, and I would have to explain to my parents how I had ruined yet another pen. To this day, I always post.
That isn't something I'd thought of, but you are right. All of our desks were slanted with the flip lid and the ink well hole.
I remember those desks too! When I tell the grand kids about them and having to walk 5 miles to school in the snow - they get that "glazed" look. I wonder why?🤷♂️
@@InkquiringMinds I remember those too. Our school replaced those when I was in 5th grade I think. Although ours had a little flat part above the hinge, with long groove for pens, pencils, and such. They were ancient by that point, and had seen better days. The whole school got new desks over a few pretty disruptive days as they dismantled the old desks with the connected flip up seats, and put in normal modern desks and chairs.
Thanks for an excellent review as always. Loved my Pelikans but often had nib problems. Would buy another tomorrow if I had the skills to sort the nib myself.
Thank you, Steve!
Douglas, as always enjoyed your review, I concur that at that price it should be close to perfect out of the box. More importantly to continue the movie theme, follow the gourd!
The sandal!!!
Nice review
@Douglas Rathbun, I read my positive experience online about Pelikan M200/M205 series, I like the looks of the pen and do not mind it's a steel nib instead of gold, but I have not owned one due to it's super light weight. I like to feel a bit of the pen in the hand. I dig the vintage looks for the "Orienta Student" Fountain Pen :)
Thank you, Yang Yu!
I knew the M200 series was small, but didn’t realize just how small until seeing your comparison. It’s nice to have at least a few pans out there that I don’t cover.
Covet.
Thank you, Karl!
I have an M200 and an M205, both with ou-of-the-box glorious, juicy, broad nibs. They are my two favorite pens. The only thing that comes close is the (completely different-feeling) Platinum PTL 5000a in medium. I guess your friend was unlucky to get a misaligned nib...
While the pelikan does not come apart, simply unscrewing the nib unit will provide just enough room to thoroughly clean the inside of the barrel. I actually find it one of the easiest pens to clean!
Yes, exactly. I just mentioned the "does not disassemble" to make sure folks know that you can't take the piston assembly apart. You have to leave that to Pelikan technicians. The nib will be an easy two-minute fix.
@@InkquiringMinds Not designed for an age where most places don't have a stationers, let alone pen service shop. Most new designed pens are much easier to service. But many vintage, or vintage derived designs decidedly less so. Made sense when the audience was everyone who wrote, but today it is fountain pen enthusiasts who expect to tinker.
Hey Sir Doug! I still have the Orienta.....Very cool pen....and unique!
Very cool! I'll be down to two after this giveaway.
Great reviews. Thanks Doug!
My pleasure!
I have this Olivine in F. I like it a lot, and the ink is very pretty.
It is a terrific match!
Thanks Doug for another great review - that's one more pen I can add to the "don't need to buy" list (though I'd still be happy to win the Orienta!)...
Thank you, Jamerelbe!
Great review dough as always saludos.
Thank you kindly, Jose!
Thanks for reviewing this Pelikan. I agree with you it's pricey for a plastic pen with a steel nib. For what you are paying you can get into a gold nib with some other brands. You can even get some vintage gold nib Pelikans. Also don't like that you are unable to take it apart for cleaning and maintenance.
You can get at the ink chamber by removing the nib assembly. It is the piston mechanism you cannot disassemble. So this is much like most, top brand, piston fillers like Montblanc and Visconti.
@@InkquiringMinds And early Montblancs used cork for the piston, so if left uninked that can dry out and shrink, and then won't work at all without major surgery. There are people that do those replacements, but not for faint-hearted to try that surgery on your own.
I always liked smaller pens because they’re smaller in diameter and tend to be lighter. However I don’t like the kaweco sport due to it being a little to thick in diameter for me. Though their are exceptions such as the noodlers ahab and Lamy safari that can be excellent in my hand. But if I were to present a thin pen and somewhat small pen then my choice would be the noodlers nib creaper. Or maybe I like pens with ebonite feeds 🤷♂️
Thank you, EarthNormal702 Real!
Thanks, Doug, for a double dose of reviews--the M205 and the Orienta (I watched that video too).
I agree that the M200/205 series is small, one reason I resisted buying one. I eventually got the M205 Aquamarine because I found a good deal (with a double broad nib, from the U.K.), and I suspected it would probably be the only time I could afford a Pelikan. I didn't appreciate the depths the pen habit can take one. I later found a sale for the M205 demonstrator. That was only available with a fine nib. Since I like broader nibs, I started looking. I discovered that steel Pelikan nibs for the 200 series are not expensive, thus buying Broad and Italic nibs. Not only do I enjoy swapping the nibs, when I discovered an M205 blue/gray barrel without nib on eBay, I pounced. Now I have three M200/205 Pelikans. Followed by an M605 all blue, and an M805 Blue Dunes--rabbit hole at work. I have average man size hands, but I do find the 200/205's comfortable to use when posted.
I was not aware of the Orienta, but I find it appealing. I have a Reform pen, but the Orienta seems more substantial. If I don't win the giveaway, I may be on the lookout to buy one.😁
Thank you, mikes10663!
Thanks for another fine review. I don't think I'll buy one of these Pelikan 200/205 pens. Your review seems to point to the idea that the price is tied to the name and status of Pelikan. I did purchase a Pelikan Stola for $20 and I really enjoy the way that writes and feels. It's only available in Matt Silver, but the grip section is longer and there are no threads.
I think there is value in the brand and the M205 is certainly well built and has an interesting nib. I won't deter me at all from still trying to pursue an M800.
I just ordered my first Pelikan, an old M150. I’m excited to get it, up until now all my pens have been around $60 or less and I just started spending a little more to check out the quality differences. So far the Lamy 2000 in oblique broad is my favorite.
I have the obligue double broad version, and it is very pleasing. No experience with the Lamy 2000 with a more mainstream nib.
OB's take a bit of getting use to how you hold the pen and present the nib to paper don't they?
@@InkquiringMinds So they do. But this one works even when not held correctly. However when held as obliques are mentioned to be held it gives wonderful line variation that is very different from a stub, and somewhat, but not entirely similar to architect nib. I have Noodler's Habanero in it, and the results are gorgeous.
@@InkquiringMinds i think i hold my hand in a weird position when i write so the OB feels very natural for me. It has a liiiiiiitle bit of a sweet spot, and that’s it. I love it. The Pelikan i just ordered has an oblique medium nib, I’m excited to try that one out.
I think what you meant when you said 'this pen can't be taken apart' is that the section doesn't unscrew. But you can take off the nib and feed by hand, and with a small wrench you can also take off the whole piston mechanism. Or is that only for the 400 and above?
Perhaps I should have said Pelikan doesn't WANT you to take it apart!
Some of the aesthetics seem out of place on a pen of this price range. This just doesn’t look like it should be anywhere near that price. PLENTY of other lower priced pens that have better quality and aesthetics. Thanks for this review and all of the vital info on this pen.
Thanks for sharing, Andy.
Great review. I've had success using the "unscrew the nib" technique to clean my Pelikans.
Excellent! And thanks again for the Orientas, Joel. I'll only have two left. I'll have to keep at least one of them they are so cool.
Did that too with a used 400 I bought recently. Works great now.
That's expensive for a molded plastic pen. Maybe the build quality provides enough magic to make it feel worth a three digit price? Or it is one of those things that is better in person.
I watched your Orienta review. Your description of the writing experience had me thinking it might have been a mild form of torture for a grade school kid learning to write but triggers nostalgia years later. I would like to throw my ticket into the hat. Thank you for the work, Doug ☺️
I think you have hit the nail on the head about the Orienta, Amy! That's exactly how it feels.
Love pens! Love pens! Love pens! I have an M205 in white and it is one of my best writers. To be an M point, it writes like an F. I bought it to celebrate a milestone a year and a half ago.
Thanks for sharing!
I love my Peliksn M205...it was my first "expensive" pen....lol. It's a perfect size for my hand. Thanks for the giveaway! The Orienta looks interesting!
Good luck, Anita!
Very nice pens and review. I never knew the m205 was that small. Aint gonna lie, i had google help me out with that pen in "As time goes by" clip. Found people saying its a Sheaffer Targa and one person leaning towards a Parker UK Duofold Demi. Im leaning towards the Parker.
I can confirm it is NOT a Targa. First of all, the Targa only came into being in 1976 and this letter is dated in the 50's. I don't believe BBC and the director/art director would be that incompetent to put a modern pen into a vintage scene. Secondly, the Targa is thinner and has an inlaid nib - no visible feed. I'd go with the Parker too.
Very fair review. I do like Pelikan pen looks, but they are too expensive for me.
Fair enough!
Thanks for the video. I agree that such Pelikans are pricey, but like that the nibs can be swapped at lower cost than the gold nibbed versions.
Great point!
Great video as always sorry about not checking the nib, Again. I agree that it’s on the small side, I think you’re on to something with a larger barrel and nib
Not at all, Sean! I'm delighted to try it out. I've been very curious about this model for some time. And that misaligned nib is an easy peezy fix for you. Plus, you have a three year warranty. I assume this is a relatively new pen even though it is a 2018 model?
what an interesting pen I often find pens that are piston fillers to be difficult to empty especially if there is no way to get to the chamber but I love my moonman m2 this seems like that kinda and its brilliant
I find if you keep your piston filler inked and in use regularly, they rarely need maintenance.
@@InkquiringMinds That is the key. Letting it dry out us the cardinal sin. Luckily that takes a while. So remember to ink your pens regularly. They won't crust up. And as a bonus you can write with them
I like Pelikan fountain pens, but I agree with you and wish Pelikan made some of the M200 models available in the larger sizes like M600 & M800.
I know, right?
As always a nice honest review.
I would not get this one at all - way too many unpleasantness:
- Size
- Material
-Tine alignment
- Holding comfort
- Cleaning
- The feed protruding? That's just down right unacceptable.
This is Pelikan putting their brand on a el cheapo pen to get people to buy a "Pelikan" that can really afford the M600 or M800 series pens. Sort of like when Cadillac put out their Cimoarron.
I think this is one of Pelikan's best selling models.
Very pretty pen!!
I think so too!
I have seen your ORIENTA Student Fountain Pen Review video. Enjoyed it, I like vintage pens. The comparisons with this Pelikan Classic M205 pen with the ORIENTA were very interesting too. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Look forward to winning the giveaway! 9
Cool, thanks! Good luck!
At a pen club meeting I was able to try out someone's M205 in Olivine. For whatever reason some of the nibs on the Olivine are softer and bouncier than other steel nibs. I was able to buy one of these.
Excellent!
The m200 was my first "real" Fountain pen I bought... It's too small for me but it's very well and the Piston works like heaven. I will buy the m1000 one day and living in Germany give me a vantage for the price I'm going to pay. Great review by the way and don't worry too much about the nibs of Pelikan.. obviously there are nibs out there that do not work properly.. but Pelikan sells A LOT of pens and most of them write beautifully .. so the probability isn't so high
Thanks for sharing! Pelikan has made their own nibs in-house since 2000. And flocks (yes I said that) of fans have praised their quality.
The German prices for Pelican pens are much better than what the distributors set the prices to in the US, so they have a much smaller market share here.
This pen would look so good with sailor jentle epinard. I’ve always loved green inks. But it’s just too much for a steel nib, injection molded pen. Plus I really like thin Japanese nibs and pelikan is known for their wider than normal nibs. I was surprised when you said this nib was finer than expected, maybe because it’s steel and not their gold nib? Thanks for a chance to win the orienta pen!
I was surprised at the bounce and the thinner than medium line as well.
I was actually more excited about the prospect of an Orienta, honestly. Pelikans have a handsome form factor, but I found the M205 to be a joyless experience - nib like a nail.
This one was surprising, John! Not at nail at all! Very bouncy.
I’m glad that you are not giving away Pelikan, as I already have M200.
Sean is glad too!
That's interesting about it being injection moulded. Many years ago, I worked in an injection moulding facility and almost everything we made was single use like bottles and jars. If the owner had gone into making reusable items, he might not have gone out of business. (IMHO). I'm sure the plastics industry has undergone incredible changes since I was there. I do remember just before he went belly up, there was some talk of doing doll parts. (Bodies, legs arms, heads, etc.). That idea was cheaper done in Cina, even with the cost of shipping.
There is injection moulding and then there is injection moulding. Just like there is plastic and then there is plastic. Pelikan and TWSBI do injection moulding with high grade plastics and techniques that leave minimal traces of the processes (seams, gates, etc). Plastic is a catch-all for a huge range of materials. And you are right, the modern plastics industry is eons ahead of where we were even 10 years ago. Thanks, Helen!
It reminds me of my Prera in size and appearance, but the Prera is not piston-filled, and the cap snaps on, so no worrisome cap threads. When I first received it I was disappointed in the size, as I was accustomed to larger full-size pens, but I have come to love it and use it everyday. I am considering ordering this one. I also love "As Time Goes By", but can’t identify the pen in the intro.
Is the Prera a thicker pen though Cait?
Douglas Rathbun I don’t have a caliper... it doesn’t seem thick, but the section is not curved and is longer. I found a comparison review on the Fountain Pen Network, with photos, of another Pelikan model and the Prera (including link... feel free to delete ) www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/29759-pilot-prera/ "Conclusion, If you like the 200 section size but the threads bother you, the Prera should suit your grip just fine. And at the same time, it would allow you to grip a bit higher comfortably if you prefer a wider grip." From that statement, I gather the general feel of the two pens is similar, but for the grip section?
Cait Thanks. That’s what I had thought and I really like the looks of the Prera.
I got a Penbbs 456 and it’s a dream
I have three, soon to be four 456s. They are close to the perfect pen.
The m205 is a great intro pen to the awesome and way more pricey piston pens from Pelikan. I believe the pen in the As Time Goes By clip is some variant of a Waterman based on the slanted finial. However, I am more than likely talking out of my butt as it is really hard to tell in that video lol. Great review as always, have a great week.
Thanks, Eric. I've always assumed it was some kind of Duofold but it is so blurry and dark it is hard to tell.
@@InkquiringMinds it's possible but the tapered section and weird finial don't match the Duofold. I know Waterman was big in England. May also have been a Conway Stewart or another European brand.
I agree, for what you get the price seems a bit high. I had a M205 briefly, but found the section too small for comfort.
I agree, Sam.
Way too blurry to identify the pen. As always great, honest review. I’m going to look at your Orientation review “right now”.
LOL Thanks, Toby!
Hi Doug, now what can I comment on haha :) ..............well, I shall talk of "As Time Goes By" with Dame Judi Dench. As a Brit myself, I always enjoy a good old fashioned British sitcom. This is where I am going to introduce and persuade you to watch "Only Fools and Horses" staring Sir David Jason and Lindhurst. OFAH is my all-time favourite sitcom. John Sullivan is a brilliant comedy scriptwriter, he penned another one of my favourites "Citizen Smith", but more on that later :)
As Rocky says in ATGB "Rock on!" LOL
Very nice pens and I really enjoy using my M200 but frankly I wouldn't spend $120 for a demonstrator pen, that's what the $20 pen is for.
In the case of having to lubricate the piston of an M200, put a little bit of silicone grease on the tip of a cotton swab and, being careful not to touch the interior of the section, it is inserted into the body to the bottom touching the piston, it is apply a little bit of grease on the body wall and then, once the cotton swab is removed, the piston is operated several times to lubricate it. The danger is in applying grease to the interior of the section and that this clogs the feeding and breathing channel of the feeder.
Saludos desde Argentina
Saludos, Lucho! Thanks for this. Yes, that is the way to maintain the piston of a pen where the section isn't removable. Silicone blocks liquid flow anywhere it is, so getting it near a feed is dangerous.
Doug,
My Pelikan M205 also exhibited the same misalignment of the nib. I was able to correct it. Sean’s pen seems to be wetter than mine however. I think I’ll order some brass shims from Goulet. BTW, I’m expecting a Sailor pro Gear Slim in Midnight Sky this week. I ordered the music nib. You can also get a full fill with the Pelikan M205, as well as vac fillers and other piston fillers, by using the Pineider Pen Filler. I think I mentioned this a while ago and said I may do a video. I may do that after my wife’s surgery which should be within the next 2 weeks. Regards from Philadelphia, Bill
I just got a Pineider Ink Well yesterday. I want to confirm a FB post that says you can use a 30ml bottle of Diamine ink instead of the 10ml bottle supplied with the Pineider. It works!
I suggest getting the steel feeler gauge per chrisrap52, as you have a way of working up with many thicknesses, and they are between five and ten bucks on Amazon.
Douglas Rathbun Thanks! I’ll have to try that. I recently inked my Pelikan M205 Blue Marble with Diamond Autumn Oak. I could have saved a step by using your new discovery instead of transferring ink from bottle to the Pineider ink well.
Aloha Doug! A timely (or maybe not so timely?) review as I just ordered a M205 in white with a fine nib. Of course after seeing your review, I have some added apprehension! I say added as I have seen other reviews showcasing similar nib issues. I was more surprised by the nib width during your writing sample. Do you think the nib alignment issue is the cause for the finer writing? I did buy it from a supposedly USA retailer, although not sure if the products they sell are through a USA distributor, but in the past I have had great communications with the seller so if I notice any issues I am not too concerned. The small size was also a concern, but the other models were quite a bit most costly (gold nib too!) and not outrageously larger in regards to the grip section. Thanks again for a thorough review and wish me luck on my Pelikan! Mahalo from Kauai, Hawaii. Thomas
Cool! I've seen the white one. They are so beautiful. Just too small for me. I don't think the nib alignment affected anything but the scratch on the upstrokes - naturally. It is an easy two minute fix that Sean can do himself. It will still write on the fine side of medium. Interesting hmm?
Beautiful Pelikan pen! But I love the Orienta pen! I've been interested in vintage fountain pens lately.
Cool, Melissa! Good luck!
Thanks for yet another review, Doug! Have the Moonman M800 (galaxy) already on the way with some Bobby medium nibs in case of nib failure. Using a Jinhao nib in my M600S (amber) atm but may need some tuning.
Would like to throw my name into the hat for this giveaway. Greetings from the GTA!
Hey you there in the centre of the universe! Good luck with the M800 - one of my top five pens.
Douglas Rathbun Hiya there! What are your other top 4 pens at this time?
@@READComment1 Umm... Momento Zero (custom AI nib), Waterman Carène, Pilot e95s and Moonman M800 Galaxy with a Penbbs nib.
I’ve been looking at the Pelikan M1005 as a grail pen lately. I have large hands and have been looking at bigger pens that hopefully will be more comfortable for longer writing sessions.
I'm going to try a M800 first before even thinking of putting an M1000 on my grail list.
@@InkquiringMinds There is a few M800 series colors that are delicious.
I am looking to fix my mother's old Pelikan M200, and that is why I am here.
A nib replacement is an easy, inexpensive fix for the M200. I did it for my friend's Dad's 1985 M200.
@@InkquiringMinds Thank you for your advice, but the nib writes buttery smooth and I'm in love with it. The piston is the issue because the blind cap won't let you turn more than a rotation, so the piston will not move and pull in ink.
Yeah that would be a Pelikan issue.
Great video! Guess I have no smart remarks or dumb ones either. You are doing a great job. I find it hard to spend over $100 on a pen when there are so many cheaper pens that write so well. OK I am just a cheap guy.
I agree with the Evil one. I can get a stunning fountain pen like a Penbbs 456 for less than $50 and that doesn't make me cheap or even frugal. It makes me an informed and quality conscious consumer.
@Hekat the Evil B-tch Yes I have done the same, but I have ended up with 2 or 3 pens and a bottle of ink. Who needs a stinking budget.
@@InkquiringMinds "informed and quality conscious consumer", think I will use that terminology nest time, with your permission of course. Your first sentence "I agree with the Evil one." I was like "HUH?, Wha..." then.. yeah ok... "nevermind..."
@@raypra2 LOL... yeah Evil B-tch. Her words. LOL
Great review as usual. I’m not in that price range btw, and I want to know: are expensive pens better than tenish dollars pens?
Again it is apples to oranges, but where you are into close to apples to apples - steel vs steel, I've found pens that are $30 just as excellent as those that are $250.
The scratchy sounds in the intro make me really uncomforable with these new headphones. :'c Reminds me when my first fountain pen had a missalignment in the nib and scratched the paper like a cat going in reverse.
LOL! That's a sound effect! NOT the sound of that Leonardo nib! :)
I'm going to venture a guess as to the pen in the intro clip from As Time Goes By (a show that my late wife I enjoyed so much that we made the song for which it is named, our song) is it a Montblanc 159? If not is it a Sailor? If not is it... lol
Okay, I'm crossing all my fingers and toes for this Orienta! You know I love vintage pens, and I'm sucker for weird nibs. I'm off now to go and watch your review of that pen! I wish everyone luck in the giveaway, but only slightly less luck than myself... LoL!
Keep up the awesome work, and keep rockin' on!
It isn't a Montblanc. They have a distinctive cap finial. The best guesses so far are Parker Duofold (of some type) or a Waterman. Someone else just mentioned Conway Stewart and that might be close to the mark.
I was thinking the cap finial might not be visible due to the angle. It seems to have the same shape and cap ring as a Sailor...
Can you tell me, where I can get the white object at the right top of the video, please? ("Two magnetic bubblegums")
Thanks, Evil B-tch! I didn't know what he was talking about! LOL Yes, they are very inexpensive and available on Etsy.
I've always wondered how you could get your writing samples to look so wet where you can see the ink drying on the page as you write, that is something I always like in my pens. It is very much a function of the paper used, I found rhodia does not exhibit it as much and the Claire Fontaine you use does. I assumed rhodia and Claire Fontaine were the same make and properties but I've found I much prefer Claire Fontaine and I believe I'm in the minority that doesn't very much like rhodia. Rhodia does remain as a standby because it is easy to get and relatively inexpensive.
I was a Rhodia user until I discovered Clairefontaine. It is the paper I use for my journal as well. And you are right about the properties of the paper allowing the ink to dry a little more slowly which also makes the sheen and shading happen a little more. Tomoe River is an exquisite paper and one I reserve for ink/nib sampling and testing.