I'm thinking about buying a Pelikan Souveran 205

[Zed Homme]

Just as the thread title suggests, any thoughts? Does anybody own one of these?

There are so many inks I'd like to try and need another pen to use them. I've ordered a couple different types of ink and think this would be a good pen to test them with. These seem to be the cheapest pens that look quality and use a piston. I'm going to a pen shop tomorrow and am wondering if I should get one or two...

[2careless]

Get a demonstrator! I have a 205 demonstrator and my son has "borrowed" it for the past 3 months...
It's really fun to watch things naked!

[Zed Homme]

Originally Posted by 2careless

Get a demonstrator! I have a 205 demonstrator and my son has "borrowed" it for the past 3 months...
It's really fun to watch things naked!

I saw that pen for sale. You have experience with this line of pens? Are they worth my time?

[Noonan]

Pelikan makes excellent pens. I've used a M200 but not a M205. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with any of their models. The piston fill mechanism is top notch.

[2careless]

Originally Posted by Zed Homme

I saw that pen for sale. You have experience with this line of pens? Are they worth my time?

Pelikan makes nice, functional pens. For the 205 the nib is steel, and like any other modern nibs it is not flexible. However, they are smooth writers.
Good thing about Pelikans is that if you don't like one nib, you can easily replace it with another, just a screw-in job.

I think I paid US$80 ex shipping for my 205 demo from www.pengallery.com

[Noonan]

WorldLux has them for $85. A bit cheaper than FPH.

[Zed Homme]

Fph has them for 88 right now. There is a pen store a short walk from my apt whic has them for 95. I think I'll pay a little extra saving me a trip downtown...

[TattooedGQ]

I have a Peilkan 215. I believe it's the same nib as the 205. It took some work to get it to not skip on first strokes. I suggest that you make sure to prep the nib before you start using it. Mine required constant maintenance to keep the nib flowing, so.....I ended up trying to grind my first italic nib...luckily it worked and it's a lot better.

[Lion]

Pelikan, makes many fine fountain pens so you can't go wrong in buying one!!!

[Zed Homme]

Originally Posted by TattooedGQ

I have a Peilkan 215. I believe it's the same nib as the 205. It took some work to get it to not skip on first strokes. I suggest that you make sure to prep the nib before you start using it. Mine required constant maintenance to keep the nib flowing, so.....I ended up trying to grind my first italic nib...luckily it worked and it's a lot better.

Could you please elaborate on this? I'm still a newb when it comes to pens and don't know what "maintainence" entails....


Thanks for all the feedback. Not gonna make it to the store today, maybe tomorrow...

EDIT
holy cow, that's 2000 posts, thank you TRF! I love this board...

[JBat]

Originally Posted by TattooedGQ

I have a Peilkan 215. I believe it's the same nib as the 205. It took some work to get it to not skip on first strokes. I suggest that you make sure to prep the nib before you start using it. Mine required constant maintenance to keep the nib flowing, so.....I ended up trying to grind my first italic nib...luckily it worked and it's a lot better.

Originally Posted by Zed Homme

Could you please elaborate on this? I'm still a newb when it comes to pens and don't know what "maintainence" entails....


Thanks for all the feedback. Not gonna make it to the store today, maybe tomorrow...

EDIT
holy cow, that's 2000 posts, thank you TRF! I love this board...

One thing you could do is purchase that pen from Richard Binder. You will then be assured of a well-tuned pen and should have no issues with it. He sells a pretty complete line of Pelikan pens.

[TattooedGQ]

Originally Posted by Zed Homme

Could you please elaborate on this? I'm still a newb when it comes to pens and don't know what "maintainence" entails....


Thanks for all the feedback. Not gonna make it to the store today, maybe tomorrow...

EDIT
holy cow, that's 2000 posts, thank you TRF! I love this board...

Sure....From what I was advised you should run some cool water with a very little bit of dish soap through the nib a few times prior to your first fill. then I had to play with the tines to close them a bit since they were too wide to keep the ink going to the tip, and when it did write it was WAY too wet. so it was a constant fill, empty, wash with lightly soapy water, bend the tines etc. It was a pain in the neck, but whatever. now after my mods (with a little advice from the TRF pen members) it's not my 18k nibed Mont Blanc, but it's much much better.

[Zed Homme]

Originally Posted by TattooedGQ

Sure....From what I was advised you should run some cool water with a very little bit of dish soap through the nib a few times prior to your first fill. then I had to play with the tines to close them a bit since they were too wide to keep the ink going to the tip, and when it did write it was WAY too wet. so it was a constant fill, empty, wash with lightly soapy water, bend the tines etc. It was a pain in the neck, but whatever. now after my mods (with a little advice from the TRF pen members) it's not my 18k nibed Mont Blanc, but it's much much better.

Is this common? To me it sounds like a bad pen.... Never had to do any of that with my mb....