Any suggestions for someone to whip a vintage MB into shape? Do you need a specialist? I am interested in getting an old school MB to assuage my Hemingway fever. I want to have back up in case a vintage pen has issues.

Joel

Yes, you need a specialist...but, it really depend on what you need repaired/restored. What is the problem with your pen?

Eric

No problem yet. I am looking at a vintage MB or two on eBay. If the deal is good enough, it would be worth scoring the pen in mind and sending it to someone for a tune up.

Joel

I think it would be worth your while to call Fahrney's in D.C. and ask for Chuck Edwards. Chuck is a crackerjack MB meister who has establish a number of repair SOP's for MB world wide. I recall he also does restorations.

If you do get something to assuage your Hemingway fever, let us know what choose. I have some of that same disease myself and I am curious how you handle yours.

Thanks for the information on the restorer. The cure for Hemingway fever is a look at the price... I just can't pull the trigger on a pen that costs the same amount as a vacation. I bought 2 MBs that approach the Hemingway in design- The Faulkner and the Historical Pen. They are en route to Hamburg to get their nibs swapped to EF. I am thinking about buying a series 200 or 300 vintage pen, which also has the old school flat top design. They seem to be available for a reasonable price. I am going to behave myself and live with my two new MBs for a while before getting anything else.

Joel

I'm looking at replacing the section ring of a older MB 146. I cleaned the pen with a mild ammonia solution and warm (possibly too hot?) soapy water. Now it writes consistently, over multiple pages, for the first time since it was purchased about 30 years ago. But the section is slowly bleaching/clouding over.

1: Mont Blanc's website shows a service center in Bethlehem, PA, but only gives an address. How would I go about sending in a pen for repair?

2: Frank B. mentioned Chuck Edwards at Fahrney's. Since it is definitely not under warranty, are there other recommended places that sell parts and/or work on these pens?

I managed to do the same thing with my late-70's 149 a very long time ago. I wrote with a cloudy ink window for many years, but when the piston seal finally began leaking, I brought it into a boutique to be sent in for repair. Complete cost for repairs (they replaced the barrel, nib collar and piston seal) was $65 or so (this was the second service in the 29 years I've had it). If your 146 is from the time of the mid-1970's re-issue or later, I'd have MB do the repairs.

What about vintage MBs in need of a nothing more than a recork and nib adjustment? You shouldn't need a MB specialist for that, though you do need someone who can restore a piston filler. A lot of American restoration/repair folk haven't really done piston fillers, but there are certainly those who do have experience with recorking old Montblanc and Pelikan pens.