Now to be very clear, Tempus Fugit is by no means a pen blog, nor would anyone mistake me for an authority on pens like Joshua E. Danley who is responsible for the truly excellent Pelikan's Perch site that is a must read not just for Pelikan fans, but for anyone interested in pens. But Pelikan has fascinated me ever since my father gave me a pen and pencil set during my third year at the University of Oregon, and Pelikan fountain pens followed later on.
While pretty much anyone out there could identify a Montblanc (or misidentify a Montblanc fake) from a hundred yards, Pelikan is something a little more special. One thing in particular is Pelikan's offering of different color codes for their main collection series. And that keeps not only collectors, but the general pen buying public intrigued, engaged and active.
Pelikan was kind enough to let me test-drive their M605 White Transparent with a medium nib. They were also kind enough not to scream and shout when the review went beyond the planned for time period.
One of the challenges for anyone making and marketing a fountain pen is how big or small should the pen be? In other words, what is the "Goldilocks" size (i.e. just right)?
I have heard some say that for some people, pen size is a bit of a self validation. And truthfully, far too many "statement" fountain pens are way too big. They look nice, and they lend a certain air of gravitas, but truthfully? Apart from signing the occasional personal Magna Carta, they tend to sit idle in your pen box, desk drawer or glove compartment.
So needless to say, size is important.
As a point of comparison, on the left you have a Montblanc Meisterstuck Classique (I believe) ball point. I think this is a useful example, because for many this is about as big as they want to go for a daily "writer".
More than anything else, your want your fountain pen to write smoothly, for the ink to flow, and to not have to dip it or bleed it (manually push ink towards the nib by adjusting the piston). And I have found few fountain pens that let you fill them and forget them, but the M605 has performed flawlessly! Easy to fill, large capacity for ink storage in the reservoir, and never a dry stroke until I had finally depleted the supply in the pen. The nib itself was smooth and satisfying. Extremely even ink flow, never scratchy or frustrating.
The barrel of the pen is semi-translucent with alternating stripes white stripes which provides a delightful inside view, not unlike the display back on a watch. This allows you to see fairly clearly just what your ink levels are. It is made of cellulose acetate, the piston (filling knob) and cap are crafted from white resin. And because the barrel is somewhat transparent, you get the contrast of your chosen ink on display.
The accent pieces and the clip are accented with a palladium finish.
And the feel of the M605 when you have it in your hand is something you have to experience to fully appreciate.
It is solid to be sure, but it is not a lead weight with a nib attached to it. It is responsive and nimble, a real joy to work with.
The nib is described as being rhodinized 14K gold. Visually it is a great match to the pen itself.
Ultimately, you could write with just about anything.
You don't need to use a fountain pen. And truth be told, too many fountain pens are poorly assembled in a half-assed manner, dressed up as a "special or limited" edition, and pumped out the door. I have quite a few fountain pens, but only two or three that have come close to the feel of the M605 both in the hand and on paper.
Yes, I am definitely a fan of this pen.
I would like to leave you with one final thought about a good pen, and communication -
Real manifestos are written, not tweeted. So put down your phone, grab a real pen, and get ready for greatness!
While pretty much anyone out there could identify a Montblanc (or misidentify a Montblanc fake) from a hundred yards, Pelikan is something a little more special. One thing in particular is Pelikan's offering of different color codes for their main collection series. And that keeps not only collectors, but the general pen buying public intrigued, engaged and active.
Pelikan was kind enough to let me test-drive their M605 White Transparent with a medium nib. They were also kind enough not to scream and shout when the review went beyond the planned for time period.
 |
| As you can tell by the ink on the nib, this was a REAL review ; ) |
I have heard some say that for some people, pen size is a bit of a self validation. And truthfully, far too many "statement" fountain pens are way too big. They look nice, and they lend a certain air of gravitas, but truthfully? Apart from signing the occasional personal Magna Carta, they tend to sit idle in your pen box, desk drawer or glove compartment.
More than anything else, your want your fountain pen to write smoothly, for the ink to flow, and to not have to dip it or bleed it (manually push ink towards the nib by adjusting the piston). And I have found few fountain pens that let you fill them and forget them, but the M605 has performed flawlessly! Easy to fill, large capacity for ink storage in the reservoir, and never a dry stroke until I had finally depleted the supply in the pen. The nib itself was smooth and satisfying. Extremely even ink flow, never scratchy or frustrating.
The barrel of the pen is semi-translucent with alternating stripes white stripes which provides a delightful inside view, not unlike the display back on a watch. This allows you to see fairly clearly just what your ink levels are. It is made of cellulose acetate, the piston (filling knob) and cap are crafted from white resin. And because the barrel is somewhat transparent, you get the contrast of your chosen ink on display.
The accent pieces and the clip are accented with a palladium finish.
And the feel of the M605 when you have it in your hand is something you have to experience to fully appreciate.
It is solid to be sure, but it is not a lead weight with a nib attached to it. It is responsive and nimble, a real joy to work with.
The nib is described as being rhodinized 14K gold. Visually it is a great match to the pen itself.
Ultimately, you could write with just about anything.
You don't need to use a fountain pen. And truth be told, too many fountain pens are poorly assembled in a half-assed manner, dressed up as a "special or limited" edition, and pumped out the door. I have quite a few fountain pens, but only two or three that have come close to the feel of the M605 both in the hand and on paper.
Yes, I am definitely a fan of this pen.
I would like to leave you with one final thought about a good pen, and communication -
Real manifestos are written, not tweeted. So put down your phone, grab a real pen, and get ready for greatness!
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