MontBlanc Lorenzo de Medici

[Rick Propas]

I have one of these on the way. For me it's long been a grail pen. Anyone have and/or use one?

[niksch]

Yes Rick. A while ago (10 yrs?) when I was stationed in Heidelberg, Germany I found an out of the way village in Baden-Wuerttemberg that had a nice, small pen shop. I was interested in MB writer's series pens, and the owner let me write with his Medici since it was a MB and he used it everyday. I was clueless at the time about it, even though it had been out for a few years. It was a nice writer, kinda heavy, but with the typical MB nib that I like that leaves a not too wet, but good moist line. I suppse the nib was a medium.

 

It seemed like a pen that would be very durable, but I'm not sure I'd carry it around much today given the popularity and market value.

 

Eric

[bluemax]

I wonder how many people would truly know it's value if you carried it around? assuming you don't work at the 'Very Rare & Expensive Pen Shop'

[Rick Propas]

Eric, thanks for the impressions. Like most of my high value pens, I would anticipate using it mostly at home and in very controlled situations--fancy social events (not that I do these so often), that sort of thing. But I do plan to use it. Though right now I am burning with anticipation.

 

Gotta, gotta, gotta have it!!

 

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/rickp/medici02.jpg

 

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/rickp/open.jpg

 

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/rickp/closed.jpg

Edited June 23, 2007 by Rick Propas

[Nikolaos]

Well done Rick! I hope you post some pics when you receive it along with a few comments about it.

It looks stunning! Is it based on the 149 or the 146? I think it is probably the 149 judging by the pictures.

Enjoy it!

Nikolaos

[RSVP]

A beautiful pen, although I imagine it would be a little heavy for my usage. I hope MB revitalises old designs again in the near future, it has been tooo long since we have seen celluloid or silver.

[Rick Propas]

rimmer, you are right, weight is a consideration, and since I held it once fifteen years ago, who knows. But I have found that, especially with "signature" pens that balance counts much more than weight. My Pelikan 75th Anniversary is very heavy, large, all the gold, but is a great writer because of balance.

[Rick Propas]

The Medici has landed, yesterday, a day late, thanks to FedEx.

 

It's very cool, but like so many of these modern MontBlancs, it amy be prettier to handle than to write with.

 

The issue isn't so much the weight, for it is properly balanced, but the totally bland nib. At Portland, I plan to get together with John Mottishaw on some other issues, but now I think that one of my priorities will be to get a vintage 146 nib to plug into it. I then expect it to write as well as it looks.

 

As far as the question about size, it is closer in size to a 149, despite the smaller nib. And don't get me wrong, it's a very cool pen, and will be much moreso once I get a vintage nib into it.

 

So the saga continues.

 

Just as a side note, I actually ended up with two of these. (It's just who I am ). So if anyone is looking for a near new pen, complete, give me a shout.

Edited June 30, 2007 by Rick Propas

[PAKMAN]

Very Pretty congradulations!!

[handlebar]

What a delightful MB!!

 

JD

[Michael R.]

but now I think that one of my priorities will be to get a vintage 146 nib to plug into it. I then expect it to write as well as it looks.

 

 

Great pen!

 

Please let us know if this worked out for you - I tried fixing a vintage 146 nib into a modern 146 and failed... I think the Medici is 146 based judging from looking at its nib/feed proportions.

 

I've noticed different signatures on the silver bindes on the pens I saw in real life as those acutally have been hand made by different silver-smiths at Bossart and Erhard (if I recall correctly) but never found a complete list of signatures used.

 

Cheers

 

Michael

Edited June 30, 2007 by Michael R.

[Rick Propas]

Interesting, Michael. I see no signatures other than a hallmark alongside the content. Is it that you are referring to or should I be looking somewhere else??

 

I assumed, partly from the look, that these were computer engraved, like the modern Pelikan Toledos and that specific craftsmen don't make that much difference, unlike the old Toledos, where I can see significant differences in the pens depending on who made them and when.

[Michael R.]

Interesting, Michael. I see no signatures other than a hallmark alongside the content. Is it that you are referring to or should I be looking somewhere else??

 

I assumed, partly from the look, that these were computer engraved, like the modern Pelikan Toledos and that specific craftsmen don't make that much difference, unlike the old Toledos, where I can see significant differences in the pens depending on who made them and when.

 

 

The Medici catalogue states that the silver bindes are hand engraved and also each piece is engraved with an individual "stamp" - the catalogue shows an engravin which looks like some arabic characters. Also I've seen "Bo" and some other I don't recall.

 

I remember seeng the small stamp/signature on the end (towards the filling knob) of one side of the barrel binde. I'll try to find a picture to point out this little detail.

 

Actually the pictures shown above feature the "HP" signature (upside down) which is the one I've seen the most.

 

 

If you compare a Medici to the Proust it the difference between "hand"- and machine engraving becomes more obvious :-)

 

 

Happy searching :-)

 

Michael

 

 

 

[Rick Propas]

Heresy!! Apostasy!!! Alchemy? (Warning to the faithful: do not read)

 

Well after using the pen with the standard nib and becoming convinced that I just did not like it, and vainly seeking a vintage MB nib last weekend at the Portland Pen Show, which was otherwise wonderful, I came home and on Tuesday attempted the impossible, unthinkable.

 

Whilst working on a client's Pelikan M800, it occurred to me that the M800 nib is the same size as the 146. Hmmm!!

 

It also occurred to me that I have more custom 800 nibs that I really like than I regularly use. Double hmmmm!

 

After some bending to the nib and heating of the feed, presto, an oblique fine 14 K Pelikan M800 nib resides in my Mont Blanc Lorenzo de Medici. I have combined matter and antimatter successfully.

 

The pen writes wonderfully after I sorted out some fit and flow issues. But the question is will I burn for eternity in pen hell for this?? :hmm1:

Edited July 22, 2007 by Rick Propas

[Ed44]

Heresy!! Apostasy!!! Alchemy? (Warning to the faithful: do not read)

 

Well after using the pen with the standard nib and becoming convinced that I just did not like it, and vainly seeking a vintage MB nib last weekend at the Portland Pen Show, which was otherwise wonderful, I came home and on Tuesday attempted the impossible, unthinkable.

 

Whilst working on a client's Pelikan M800, it occurred to me that the M800 nib is the same size as the 146. Hmmm!!

 

It also occurred to me that I have more custom 800 nibs that I really like than I regularly use. Double hmmmm!

 

After some bending to the nib and heating of the feed, presto, an oblique fine 14 K Pelikan M800 nib resides in my Mont Blanc Lorenzo de Medici. I have combined matter and antimatter successfully.

 

The pen writes wonderfully after I sorted out some fit and flow issues. But the question is will I burn for eternity in pen hell for this?? :hmm1:

 

Hi Rick,

 

An interesting post about an even more interesting pen. You can safely say that you have the world's most unique Medici. As for putting a Pelikan nib in it, well, have you noticed any black sedans with darkened windows following you around town recently?

 

Ed

[gene]

Heresy!! Apostasy!!! Alchemy? (Warning to the faithful: do not read)

 

Well after using the pen with the standard nib and becoming convinced that I just did not like it, and vainly seeking a vintage MB nib last weekend at the Portland Pen Show, which was otherwise wonderful, I came home and on Tuesday attempted the impossible, unthinkable.

 

Whilst working on a client's Pelikan M800, it occurred to me that the M800 nib is the same size as the 146. Hmmm!!

 

It also occurred to me that I have more custom 800 nibs that I really like than I regularly use. Double hmmmm!

 

After some bending to the nib and heating of the feed, presto, an oblique fine 14 K Pelikan M800 nib resides in my Mont Blanc Lorenzo de Medici. I have combined matter and antimatter successfully.

 

The pen writes wonderfully after I sorted out some fit and flow issues. But the question is will I burn for eternity in pen hell for this?? :hmm1:

 

 

That is so cool, Rick. well done.

 

You got to post some pictures.

 

just like a car with BMW's front, and Benz's back.

[RedRob]

I am reactivating this topic only to mention that I have written a review on the Montblanc Lorenzo de Medici on FPN at the following link.

 

And I have to agree with Rick that the stock nib on the Medici is beyond boring.