> Subject: Pelikan tragedy
 
> Well, okay, "tragedy" is a term that ought to be reserved for  
> occurrences producing a corpse or destroyed building or two, but I  
> discovered my beloved Pelikan 1000 snapped in two just below the  
> section (it was conveniently hidden in a pen cup among others). It  
> had been kept in a Pelikan pen stand specially fitted to it, so I  
> suspect a certain frisky one-year-old feline who is somewhat more  
> beloved than the pen.  The section and nib (a terrific flexy  EF) are  
> firmly lodged inside the cap, which had been securely screwed on.   
> Can the patient be saved, and do you suggest that Pelikan or one of  
> our ace repairpeople do the job?  Considering I paid $300 for the  
> pen, and it retails new for more than that, is a repair cost- 
> effective or should I just suck it up and buy a new one? No point in  
> buying now, as the Chi. Pen Show is coming up and I intend to spend  
> the weekend there (with a foray into Naperville Sat. night to play  
> Mamapalooza).  Will anyone have a green 1000 with EF nib for sale there?
> Sandy

This happened to me, too!  (A slightly smaller Pelikan model.)  First, I tried 
pushing the barrel part back into the cap, aligning it correctly with the 
section, and while applying pressure to the two parts, tried unscrewing.  It 
worked, and the section and nib came out very easily.  Then I used some sort of 
superglue to glue the two parts back together.

I decided I had probably screwed the barrel in too hard and tight and broken 
the pen, without realizing it.  The repaired pen works fine, but I now mentally 
remind myself, with my two Pelikans (all I intend to purchase!), to screw the 
pen together VERY GENTLY.  And from time to time I ask myself if I really need 
any pens other than my Sheaffer snorkels and Legacies.

Laurent Hodges