149 Question?

[ianmedium]

As some may know this pen was a gift and my client purchased it from a local to us ebay seller, he has a 100% feedback and this was the only pen he has had for sale and purchased it, used it twice and then put it in it's boxes and there it stayed in the safe until he decided to sell it.

 

I took the precaution of taking it to my local, long established Mont Blanc AD, a true pen shop, it sells nothing else and they have many many years experience in selling Mont Blanc. I asked if they could check to make sure it was a real one (I did not want my client paying for something not real and the seller offers a no questions asked refund) The person at the store verified it is the real thing which was a relief, it certainly feels the same sort of quality as my old Chopin, in fact a bit more substantial.

 

Anyway I thought I would see if I could find out how old it is so sent off the details of the serial number to Mont Blanc today, they quickly got back to me saying they do not have my serial number on record but that this does not mean it is not real and when I told them who examined it they seemed confident of their judgement!

 

Anyway, I thought I would show a few detailed pictures here to the experts and see if all is well. The resin has that lovely ruby glow when seen through a flashlight, the piston is brass and all feels like the real deal, hopefully these pictures will help!

 

Also I noticed an ovoid at the bottom of the nib under the 750 that has not been mentioned before, or that I have seen mention of so I have included a picture of that as well.

 

The pen works wonderfully, the piston feels solid and smooth in action, the nib is a pure joy to write with, so smooth yet very communicative.

 

Thanks for your help in advance!

 

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/mb22.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/mb55.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/mb44.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/mb11.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/mb33.jpg

[Pen Nut]

100% genuine that one my friend. I have seen the 'sod' oval on a few of the MB's I have owned and I am sure someone on here will tell you want it means.

[hari317]

Congratulations, It is genuine, rest assured. The ovoid mark is the STOD mark, put on all modern 18K 149 nibs. Your 149 has the latest iteration of the plastic feeder and is of post Hemingway era (Tritone 18K nib)

 

Best,

hari

[jigesh]

Congratulations on a modern MB 149 with medium-looking tri-tone nib (and modern, plastic feeder; and metallic piston threads)!

[Pen Nut]

Congratulations, It is genuine, rest assured. The ovoid mark is the STOD mark, put on all modern 18K 149 nibs. Your 149 has the latest iteration of the plastic feeder and is of post Hemingway era (Tritone 18K nib)

 

Best,

hari

 

 

What does STOD stand for or denote?

[ianmedium]

Gentlemen.. And you most assuredly are Gentlemen, Thank you!

 

You have put my mind at ease and I am very grateful for your insight and wisdom!

 

I can now fully enjoy this wonderful fountain pen (As I have been since getting it last week) to an even greater degree. I have some lovely (to me) pens but I have to say there is something about Mont Blanc that unless you own one is hard to put into words.

 

Very much like a fine Swiss watch, the quality is much more than skin deep and the feeling in using one goes beyond the materials.

 

Thank you once again!

[hari317]

What does STOD stand for or denote?

 

Quoting Barry Gabay, link to original post

 

"SToD" engraved in an oval on the lower portion of the nib is a jeweler's hallmark. A hallmark (so named because particular guilds met in their own guild halls) is a symbol which dates from the Middle Ages and which jewelers still use to identify their work. It is a mark either stamped or engraved into metal to identify the manufacturer, much as a trademark is printed on paper or plastic. Don't know the origins of this particular hallmark, but it's been found on Montblanc nibs since about 1992. I first saw it on 18K #146 Solitaire nibs. A bit later the "SToD" began appearing on 149 nibs when the shift was made from 14K to 18K nibs. The big question I believe Eric is pursuing with this thread is when to date two-tone 18K nibs with and without the SToD hallmark. Were they made simultaneously or did one follow the other?

 

Some other threads:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/142921-id-help-please/

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/162161-stoed-mark-on-mb-precious-metal-pens/

 

Best,

hari

[ianmedium]

What does STOD stand for or denote?

 

Quoting Barry Gabay, link to original post

 

"SToD" engraved in an oval on the lower portion of the nib is a jeweler's hallmark. A hallmark (so named because particular guilds met in their own guild halls) is a symbol which dates from the Middle Ages and which jewelers still use to identify their work. It is a mark either stamped or engraved into metal to identify the manufacturer, much as a trademark is printed on paper or plastic. Don't know the origins of this particular hallmark, but it's been found on Montblanc nibs since about 1992. I first saw it on 18K #146 Solitaire nibs. A bit later the "SToD" began appearing on 149 nibs when the shift was made from 14K to 18K nibs. The big question I believe Eric is pursuing with this thread is when to date two-tone 18K nibs with and without the SToD hallmark. Were they made simultaneously or did one follow the other?

 

Some other threads:

 

http://www.fountainp...id-help-please/

 

http://www.fountainp...ous-metal-pens/

 

Best,

hari

 

 

Thank you Hari for posting this and thank you Barry for the information. This forum should be a first stop for anyone considering purchasing a Mont Blanc I feel.

[jniforat]

a very beautiful 149 your pen is

[sunnerd]

I have inspected my newer 149's with a 10x loupe and to my surprise the StoD mark actually reads something like SteoD. So have they changed the mark over the years too?

 

P.S. Ian your last photo clearly shows the e in STeOD.

Edited August 11, 2010 by sunnerd

[ianmedium]

I have inspected my newer 149's with a 10x loupe and to my surprise the StoD mark actually reads something like SteoD. So have they changed the mark over the years too?

 

P.S. Ian your last photo clearly shows the e in STeOD.

 

Thanks so much Kai, I really appreciate your help. I am loving writing with this pen, the new Irish Green ink is stunning from this nib!

[raulfragoso]

I just took a 1.5x macro photo from my mid-90's MB 149 and it seems to be written "SᵉØD", with the S having some sort of acute, an uplift small e, the crossed O and the D. It's been clarified that this is a hallmark, but I'm very curious to know its meaning

 

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_MCvBWiEoWE4/TGNJfJLS2zI/AAAAAAAAAsE/EMQ0a92dZwg/s800/IMG_2916.jpg

[ianmedium]

I just took a 1.5x macro photo from my mid-90's MB 149 and it seems to be written "SᵉØD", with the S having some sort of acute, an uplift small e, the crossed O and the D. It's been clarified that this is a hallmark, but I'm very curious to know its meaning

 

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_MCvBWiEoWE4/TGNJfJLS2zI/AAAAAAAAAsE/EMQ0a92dZwg/s800/IMG_2916.jpg

 

That's a much better image than mine! Mine is identical to yours I think!

Thanks so much for this!

[ianmedium]

Just an update to all of this. As well as posting here I managed to contact the seller of the pen. He was given it as a Birthday present in September 1999 which is spot on as to dating the pen I feel.

 

This discovery has made me even more excited about this pen for a very personal reason. You see In September 1999 I decided to make some huge changes in my life, one of which was moving to another country!

 

This pen coming from that time period has huge relevance to me at this moment as just this past month I have completed some things that were started back then and I felt a new begining had commenced. This pen completes that circle for me. I had a dream and risked it all to follow it. What better token than Mont Blanc's 149 to signify the importance of that occasion (to me anyway!)

 

149's have witnessed and been a part of many important changes in history with signing of documents, whilst my changes may not be historically memorable to anyone but me, they are in my life.. I am pleased as punch.. Talk about serendipity!

 

Thank you all again for the help, what a great forum!

Edited August 12, 2010 by ianmedium