Fellow FPN friends....
I need your help.

I just bought my first MB pen.....Starwalker Cool Blue Fountain pen (fine nib)

I was wondering if my MB can take other manf cartridages.
Does anyone have a info?

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,
Mr Classics.......

For the most part, yes.

The MB cartridges have ALMOST the same profile as the "standard international cartridges"/ "short international cartridges".

Those cartridges should fit.

In many cases, yes.

The real question is why you would want to use off-brand cartridges. MB has spent years and millions of dollars producing the perfect ink for their unique feed channel sizes, comb porosity and nib grind. MB also makes a rainbow of colours and specialty inks in scented and holiday varietals. Use of off-brand inks may void your MB warranty.

You'd be best served by using MB refills. After all if it is good enough for the world's premier fountain pens (not to mention Cartier and Montegrappa FPs), why would you go anywhere else?

You can also use an international-sized "mini" converter in the Starwalker, although it obviously doesn't have a very large capacity. Monteverde makes one that can be found here http://pendemonium.com/ink_monteverde.htm. I bought it from Pendemonium for $2.50 and had a good experience (no affiliation).

MB needs to get on the ball and come out with a Starwalker in a piston-fill.

Well, for one, the "rainbow" lacks a lot of hues that other companies have. Also, some of the MB inks are thin-looking compared to other brands. MB Black, for example, leaves a lot to be desired. Often I want a more saturated ink.

I don't buy that the MB ink is a product of special research that matches their pens. For one thing, their feed channels and combs vary from pen to pen and especially over the years. This is not one specially crafted ink made perferectly to accompany MB pens. In fact, as I remember, MB ink is the same ink bottled under another brand....I think Lamy, but I'm not sure.

Now, that's not to say I don't like and use MB ink. In fact, Racing Green is one of my most favorite inks, and one of my 149s is filled with MB Royal Blue right now. However, there's nothing magical about their inks.

I'd like a green I can stand.

Touché, darling!

Even if this were true, I don't see how it is germane. The majority of nibs made today are produced by one company, yet there is a huge variation in nibs because that company builds to the design of the contract. If Lamy makes or even sells MB ink under their own label, that doesn't mean it is less specialized for MB pens.

Look at Noodler's Inks. Nathan makes his ink for ebonite feeds and slits "you can see daylight through" and as a result you hear people grumbling that it is too saturated for their pens or clogs up the works. You think that the premeir fountain pen company in the world would be oblivious to the idea of designing an ink for their particular pen? The MB line has a distinctive comb (which is one way to tell the authentic from the frauds) and distinctive two-tone nibs. It follows that there is an "ideal" ink for this type of construction and that the pen brand would have a vested interest in selling such an ink. If for no other reason than to keep customer complaints low.

You can't really go wrong if you use the recommended branded ink for your pen. Preserve your warranty and save yourself the headache of buying inks that don't flow properly or clog your MB.

I could see if MB only put out a black and a blue ink, but you've got the full spectrum and some nice specialty inks to boot! MB's cartridge line easily competes with any other line of cartridges for variety.

Why go out for hamburgers when you've got steak at home?

Darth Skywalker is here.

Thank you everyone for your great ideas and suggestions.

I love the pen. I believe it should be like a expensive car.
You have a great looking car that can be filled up any brand fuel/oil or any brand fluid.


I am using the correct MB inks right now. There is sooo much variety out in the ink world. I wanted to see what others are using in there starwalker pens.

Thank you,


Sincerely,
Mr.Classics