In 1982, the old 400 was re-introduced in its typical black/green alternating stripe pattern under the name of Souverän ("sovereign") M400, which was the beginning of the renaissance of classic style fountain pens. M400 was the great success (Pelikan Schreibgeräte), which led to the sequential introduction from 1983 to 1985 of models M481, M150, M100, M200, M250, and Souverän M600. M600 was a higher line of M400, but in the same size as M400⁽¹⁾.

 

In 1987, Souverän M800 was presented for the first time in Frankfurt Spring Fair (Pelikan Schreibgeräte). Technologically and physically, M800 was a higher line of M600. M800 was not merely a larger version of M400 or M600. Worthy of the flagship model of Pelikan fountain pens, there were several changes/upgrades in M800. The model has been in production over 35 years, and various specification changes have been made until now. Basically, the earliest or early features of M800 are focused on here. For a transition table of each part thereafter, please see Pelikan M800 parts transition table (スティロ プリュム). The table has not been updated recently and there may be some corrections, but it is very helpful.

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• Dimension: The model was longer (with cap closed) than M600 (and M400) by 15 mm (Fig.1-1) and heavier by 15 g. The size was comparable to Montblanc 146 and Parker Duofold centennial (released in 1987).

• Nib unit: Initially, M800 had a bicolor rhodium-plated 14 carat gold nib (Fig.2-1) for the domestic market. A bicolor rhodium-plated 18 carat gold nib (Fig.2-3 right) was also available for the export market⁽²⁾. The inside of the nib was also rhodium-plated where it came in contact with ink, presumably for ink flow or ink affinity (万年筆評価の部屋) (Fig.2-2). The initial nibs had "tightened-up waist"(in my opinion), but later slightly changed (since 1997 when nibs went from in-house production to outsourcing to Bock) (Daniel Pi.com)(Fig.2-3 left). The feed was equipped with a large-capacity compensation chambers consisting of numerous fins (Fig.2-4). The air channel had a complex flow independent of the ink channel(Fig.2-5). The collar was reinforced with a metal ring and had two notches on the inside, one of which was deeper than the other (Fig.2-6). The two notches were for special pliers to tighten or remove the nib unit?⁽³⁾. On the other hand, there was a protrusion on the belly of the feed (Fig.2-7). By aligning this protrusion with the deeper notch when setting the feed into the collar, the feed was secured in a specific position (Fig.2-7). If you do not set the feed into the collar carefully, you may push the feed in too far and cause this protrusion to be detached. This protrusion was not present on M400 and M600. The collar has one additional notch for air channel (Fig.2-6, 2-8) (that's why the feed should be set at the correct position).

• Cap: The cap unit consists of four parts: a cap tube, an inner cap with a cap top, a clip, and a crown that holds those three parts in place. The cap tube was decorated with two metal rings as in the M600. The broad ring was engraved "PELIKAN W-GERMANY". In 1991 it was changed to "PELIKAN GERMANY"(Pelikan-collectibles). The cap top had an embedded metal plate, which was cut out in the shape of a pelican and two chicks. The "Pelikan logo" was probably cut by hand, so there were individual differences in shapes. In 1989, the plate was punched out in the shape of the Pelikan logo (the design of the logo was slightly changed) (Fig.3-1). Cap top metal plate was then discontinued in 1997 (Pelikan-collectibles). The clip resembles the head and beak of a pelican, as in its predecessors (Fig.3-2). It is necessary to know the construction of each part before assembling the cap. The end of the cap tube has protrusions inside, and the end of the inner cap has notches (Fig.3-3). When the inner cap is inserted into the cap tube from below, they engage to hold the inner cap in place (Fig.3-4). Also, there is a protrusion on the outside of the tip of the cap tube (Fig.3-3). When the clip is placed on the cap tube, the protrusion engages with the base of the clip (Fig.3-4), and the clip doesn't rotate around the cap tube. Basically, the inner cap is set so that the protrusion of the cap tube is at the 6 o'clock position of the Pelikan logo. Finally, the cap tube, inner cap, and clip are firmly secured by the crown⁽⁴⁾. As shown in Fig.3-1, the correct position for the clip is considered to just below the Pelikan logo.

• Body:The body consists of two parts: the section and the barrel. The barrel further consists of an inner transparent tube (made of acrylic resin) and a outer translucent green stripe layer (made of cellulose acetate)(Pelikan’s Perch, Collectors Weekly)(Fig.4-1, 4-2)⁽⁵⁾. You can see in the video how the outer green stripe layer is made (YouTube, YouTube). The sections were threaded to hold the caps in place, and the tip was decorated with a metal ring (Fig.1-2). The ring would be useful to reinforce the section, which is under great pressure from the nib unit. Sometimes, however, I hear that the metal rings have been corroded by ink.

• Filling system: The spindle and turning knob are not fixed, but are separate parts (Fig.5-1), which may contribute to serviceability and productivity. Such a method has been adopted since the introduction of M400. The most significant difference is the method of fixing the filling mechanism to the barrel, which is now a screw-in method (by using a special pliers, the mechanism are fixed or removed. The piston guide has a flat part to which the pliers are applied) (Fig.5-4, 5-7, YouTube). In M400 and M600, the filling mechanism was still fixed with a friction fit. The piston seal was initially white transparent nylon (Fig.5-6), but was changed to black one in 1999. The piston guide was stamped with a three-digit number (my pen has "802") indicating the year and month it was made. We can tell that this M800 was manufactured around February 1988 (Fig.5-4) (currently, alphabets are used to indicate the month) (スティロ プリュム). The turning knob had an embedded metal plate (Fig.1-3). In 1998, the embedded metal plate was abolished. The turning knob also had two metal ring decorations near the barrel (Fig.1-3). Surprisingly, despite the larger body of M800, the ink capacity was 1.35 ml, which was a bit smaller than the 1.4 ml of M400 and M600 (Pelikan-collectibles). Ink capacity may have been reduced to ensure stable ink flow and to prevent blotting (M1000 also has an ink capacity of 1.35 ml) (Pelikan-collectibles).

 

As mentioned above, this model has been in production for over 35 years. However, no essential changes have been made to the specifications, and no successor to M800 has been produced to this day. It is clear how M800 has been perfected as the piston filling fountain pen and how much support it has received from users.

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M800 not only served as the flagship model, but was also the basis for various limited editions. Today, M1000 has replaced M800 as the largest fountain pen in the Souverän series (it would be fair to say that it is the flagship of the series), but many people still think of M800 (or M400) when they think of Souverän series.

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Note;⁽¹⁾In 1997, M600 was enlarged to a size between M400 and M800 (Fig.1-1).

⁽²⁾According to 万年筆評価の部屋, "The Pen 1988" (Japan Import Writing Instruments Catalog) shows that the price of M800 with a bicolor 14 carat gold nib was 40,000 yen and the price of M800 with a bicolor 18 carat gold nib was 45,000 yen. This indicates that M800 with 18 carat gold nib was available as early as 1988 at least for the export market such as Japan. At the same time, the nib of M600 for the domestic market was "downgraded" in 1988 (the model had was equipped with a monochrome 18 carat gold nib until 1987 and from 1988, a bicolor rhodium-plated 14 carat gold nib (Pelikan-collectibles)). 18 carat gold nib was introduced for the domestic market around 1990 (Pelikan-collectibles). By the way, when Parker Duofold was reintroduced in 1987, the customers had a choice between 14 carat or 18 carat nib, but the 14 carat nibs were discontinued in March of 1989 (Parkerpens. net).

⁽³⁾M400 and M600 collars did not have these notches.

⁽⁴⁾M400 and M600 caps had a similar mechanism, but it was more complete in the M800.

⁽⁵⁾Please see Pelikan’s Perch or Fountain Pen Network for recent M800 barrel "translucent to opaque" issues.