Extremely Happy With My New Limited Edition Montblanc Francoise I But...

[Bigmacmagicmac]

Hello Bill,

Thanks for your feedback. Yes it has been quite an ordeal to be honest. I am still really mad about it all. Just the injustice, the way I was treated and spoken to. You should have seen it, it really is a disgrace. I hate people doing this. At the same time I hate it that an international renewed brand as Montblanc is being slandered by people like this. I am absolutely sure that headquarters in Germany will be shocked to read this but then again maybe they don't care at all. Like MB Spain.

 

No one nowadays sticks their neck out and stands up for their customers and/or brand. Just because MB Spain has been working with this store for more than 50 years, they will continue to do so is my guess. No matter what. At the same time MB has also their own stores in which they sell their products exclusively so they have a fantastic alternative in my opinion. Sadly I think that their fountain pens and all writing instruments for that matter have become their least important products. Maybe not least but realizing how many other products they sell nowadays, they don't rely on writing instruments anymore. I guess that dedicating more effort and investment to this product gamma would not be profitable enough.

 

Not sure. I still think it is sad. Extremely unnecessary and fatal that customers are treated like this. Anyway I am still not sure if and how to contact them but I will think about it some more. Maybe I´ll give it a rest to be honest. It is just too much energy (bad) and not worth it I think.

 

I am enjoying my pen now and try to write with it as much as possible. I am still impressed by its beauty and it is a real joy to have it and use it. Thanks again for your feedback. Who knows if this story will continue or now. We will see.

[Flippy]

Nice Duofold. I'm a bit jealous now... XD

[Bigmacmagicmac]

Meanwhile happily writing exclusively with my Francoise I. Not as much as I would like to, in fact the writing is pretty much constraint to taking notes. This is unfortunately due to too much work. The behavior of the pen is still good although a bit schizophrenic or erratic. I noticed that according the paper or angle, the writing is better or worse. Nothing serious people so please don't´be scared that I send the pen again back to my friends (or better through my "friends"). Nothing like that, it just feels I need more writing time with my new pen. At times it is as good as my Duofold so this gives me sufficient hope. It is a matter of persistence and writing a lot I guess.

 

On the other hand it remains an interesting experience to see how the writing experience will evolve. Let´s not forget that both pens are totally different. In terms of five, weight, etc. so it should not come as a surprise that they will never write the same. Which makes it again interesting to see which will come out as "winner". I do think it is just an interesting process this fountain pen writing. Still love the weight and beauty of it each day and only hope for more time to enjoy writing it more.

[fromthecrowd]

Always interesting to read your posts! Thank you for the sequel.

 

The behavior of the pen is still good although a bit schizophrenic or erratic. I noticed that according the paper or angle, the writing is better or worse.

 

Distantly similar to my new Montblanc 149 broad. Initially only Royal Blue ink was used. At first the pen refused to write without pressure. It took about four days of periodic writing for the flow to reach satisfactory level. For a month schizophrenic behavior continued. Then the piston stuck and I had to return it to Montblanc for service.

 

The pen was returned from service filled with Mystery Black. And its behavior was perfectly normal. I now continue to use the black ink and all is fine.

 

Was your pen returned empty or full of ink?

 

May it is worth changing the ink in your pen?

 

Wish you success in your writing!

[Bigmacmagicmac]

Interesting post also, the piston got stuck while the 149 was new. Is that possible or common. By stuck do you know how it got stuck? I suppose that when it got stuck, the flow of ink stopped or just became less?

 

The Mystery Black is also interesting to read since I always thought it would flow less. That is what I had read in several places that due to the composition of the ink (the chemical composition) the flow would be a bit less than blue. I suppose that these differences would be very small?

 

Important is that the 149 again writes well.

In my case I guess that the pen still is "new", or at least needs to be written with a lot more. I don't mind really as much as before since I have noticed that it writes well or good but there is more, huh more margin then with the Duofold. It is just much less forgiving than the Duofold. It is interesting to see how this will evolve. The length of the pen is also quite different than the Duofold and I tend to experiment a little with that also, taking the pen differently. In short, experimenting, trying, noticing and reporting about it. Being more patient now so we will see how this will evolve. Then again it just shows you how extremely personal a fountain pen can be.

 

The pen was empty when I got it which makes a stronger case for suspecting they got me an entirely new pen instead of the old one repaired.

 

Have not yet changed ink but this is in the planning further down the road for sure, just because I am curious and to be honest I personally prefer black over blue. Find it much more elegant.

 

Continue to write every day so this is the most important!

[fromthecrowd]

Interesting post also, the piston got stuck while the 149 was new. Is that possible or common. By stuck do you know how it got stuck? I suppose that when it got stuck, the flow of ink stopped or just became less?

 

The Mystery Black is also interesting to read since I always thought it would flow less. That is what I had read in several places that due to the composition of the ink (the chemical composition) the flow would be a bit less than blue. I suppose that these differences would be very small?

 

It was a new pen. Don't think it is common. By stuck I mean that the piston knob could be turned only with force. I wanted to flush the pen. It was emptied with ease. But when trying to fill it I felt a strong resistance. That's how I learned something was wrong. Took it to Montblanc boutique, and they told the piston was stuck.

 

I too considered the blue ink to be better flowing. It is said to contain less pigment than other colors. Still the fact remains. If you want, you can read my two topics in the Montblanc section where these matters are discussed in more detail.

[Bigmacmagicmac]

Cant´tell you how happy I am with your profound explanation about the piston.

 

I mentioned before that one of the reason I suspect them to have replaced my pen with a new one is because if just feels different entirely. Including the piston knob. Totally different. At first smooth, much smoother than before but the last two weeks much more difficult to turn. Emptying indeed smooth, easy but tightening the knob much harder. Hence my interest in your comment about the piston (knob). I will pay attention to this issue and read some more about it. Before going to MB hahahahaha, I will reconsider a few times before bringing my pen in somewhere to be honest. I definitely have had enough for the moment but still I can´t ignore the remote possibility that maybe the piston should be looked at.

 

I wonder if they would easily recognize this while turning the knob? Then I would definitely try it. First I´ll dig into your mentioned posts. Thanks again.

[fromthecrowd]

You need not go back to the store with your piston problem. There are Montblanc boutiques in Barcelona. Bring your pen and warranty to the boutique and they will fix everything in a week or so.

[Bigmacmagicmac]

Good advice, I will never ever go back to my old store, that is certain. I did find another store which looks promising. I was hoping to have a chance to visit them next week. Otherwise indeed the MB store, no problem at all. I will keep you posted on this possible issue for sure.

[Bigmacmagicmac]

In the mean time I keep writing with my beautiful pen with mixed results. I get the impression that the pen is difficult to master, at least for me. Maybe it has something to do with my handwriting, maybe it has something to do with the nib and its sweetspot, maybe there are even more variables to consider also. I do feel that the pen is functioning as it should. Why? Since at times it writes perfectly. Great inkflow, beautiful strokes, smooth writing, nothing wrong. Except at other times just not.

 

I need more time to get used to it, get accustomed to it and handle it the way it writes best. I think. I am not sure but time will tell. I do still enjoy the process. True at times when it doesn´t write well it bothers me but the entire process in itself, discovering the pen over and over again is now a nice experiment for me. Maybe one year further down the road I have to conclude it just isn´t my most favorable pen in the world. Maybe my perfect fountain pen is my old beloved Duofold which is patiently awaiting my return? Could be but even that is comforting to me.

 

I still haven´t given up though so I continue to write, clean the nib, change paper, change writing position, change writing angle, toggle the nib while writing and lots of more stuff (except saying a prayer before picking up the pen) in order to get where I want. I hope one day to conclude this post once and for all when I can truly say it is as good or even better as my Duofold was. Let´s hope so.

[fromthecrowd]

It's always exciting to read about your pen adventures. Thank you!

 

Please let me give you two pieces of advice.

 

Don't ignore the Montblanc service. Visit their boutique and have a talk with personnel about your concerns. They are very friendly. Ask for the test pen set and try it. Probably they will show you other pens, so you can compare.

 

I most strongly advise you to visit pen show in Madrid on November 18-20, 2016. Some nib specialists could be found there with high probability. Show them your pen and discuss your problems with them.

 

Please keep up your writing and wishing you success!

[Bigmacmagicmac]

Hello,

 

Thank you so much for your advice. Yes indeed you are right, a visit to Barcelona city is still in the planning. Unfortunately I am extremely busy these days but for sure I will go there and show them my pen. I also wanted to visit the new shop I found in the city. This looks from the web really good (except not having any pen in stock) so I definitely wanted to check them out also. If only I had more time.

 

The Madrid show is a truly a fantastic advice. Never occurred to me but maybe we have a chance to go there, if I have the time again.....

 

And if not there is always next year also. Thanks again, happy writing!

[Bigmacmagicmac]

Dear whoever might be interested,

 

I finally have some good news. Since about a week I get the impression that the Montblanc really starts to "shine". I am not sure why I can only guess that it took this long to get accustomed to the pen. I did nothing else but write with it. I do have to admit that I changed to some different paper but I already did this two months ago. For the first time I really start to notice that the ink flow improved. Wetter writing, no more hiccups, no more stuttering and fluent writing all along. Smoother also, no sound and no resistance whatsoever.

 

Unbelievable but true. You can imagine how extremely happy I am. Maybe this weekend I will switch back to my "old" paper again to see if the results stay the same but if not I´m a happy camper with this paper also. What counts is the writing experience, the pleasure of smooth, effortless, wet writing. Like painting almost. I love it, truly love it.

 

I will of course keep posting until I am more than 100% sure but things are truly looking up. Again this story has been the crazy doctrines of a spoiled and obsessed fountain pen lover. No importance whatsoever on the scale of things, I fully realize this so good to stress this again but nevertheless I am happy to be so happy with my beautiful fountain pen. Funny how the first part of the title of this post finally becomes true....again.

[fromthecrowd]

So nice to read the good news! I understand what you mean very well! My 149 with broad nib was bought new in June. At first it was unsatisfactory. In two months it became very good indeed. Soon it outperformed all of my other pens. Now it is brilliant beyond all possible limits. If I ever buy another pen, it will be Montblanc with OB nib.

 

Most probably this is not just a matter of human adaptation. In the long run the nib definitely changes its properties with use.

 

Happy writing!

[Noihvo]

 

 

[Bigmacmagicmac]

Thanks for the heart warming responses. So happy to hear similar experiences. It is almost unbelievable that it just might be true that you need to give a fountain pen at least 6 months before writing well? Unbelievable but it just might be the case for some. I don´t know, I do know that I am very happy. I also feel that the store I bought the pen treated me as dirt and this is unforgivable. Thanks MB for taking me serious and for taking and fixing the pen in Germany. As lesson I do have to admit and stress that in any other occasion I´ll ever by a new pen, I will not do anything within the first 6 to 9 months. Promise.

 

Novio, thanks for the beautiful response and handwritten note. Beautiful strokes of ink and a beautiful piece of art your pen is. Congratulations!!

[Noihvo]

[Bigmacmagicmac]

Hello to all of you,

 

Happy, extremely happy writing with my MB Francoise I. I got a birthday present and it was Moleskine note book. Beautiful paper, beautiful piece of art and a perfect match for me beloved pen. Only taking notes still no time to properly write but still enjoying it every second.

 

Happy writing to all of you!

Mark

[fromthecrowd]

Happy Birthday, Mark!

And many many pages of smooth writing!

[Noihvo]