Authentic 149?

[zaddick]

While I agree with your comment, you would be surprised how cheap it would be to create and age a fake. Even if the cost was high like $10 to $20, if you can sell it for $300 there is a lot of profit. Also it would be much less suspicious, as you note. Think of all the fake "recently excavated antiques" you can buy for a reasonable price in a small, dusty village where maybe it could be the real thing a farmer found.

 

I have heard of counterfeit items in China that were unbelievable. I am talking about fake eggs and the like, forget LV purses and Omega watches.

 

Now I am not saying that has happened, or will, but there is still reason to believe it is possible and folks who worry are not unreasonable.

[Chrissy]

This u is also fine. I have seen this on some pens. No concerns for me regarding authenticity.

 

I have to admit I've never seen a U with one dot like that. I don't have concerns re authenticity though.

[Chrissy]

While I agree with your comment, you would be surprised how cheap it would be to create and age a fake. Even if the cost was high like $10 to $20, if you can sell it for $300 there is a lot of profit. Also it would be much less suspicious, as you note. Think of all the fake "recently excavated antiques" you can buy for a reasonable price in a small, dusty village where maybe it could be the real thing a farmer found.

 

I have heard of counterfeit items in China that were unbelievable. I am talking about fake eggs and the like, forget LV purses and Omega watches.

 

Now I am not saying that has happened, or will, but there is still reason to believe it is possible and folks who worry are not unreasonable.

 

There are all sorts of ways that items can be aged now. Tea is used on the base of pots, as is earth, for some of these 'recently excavated antiques'

[zaddick]

Here is another shot of one of my 149s that has the dot between the U. It is actually 2 tick marks, not one. The older pens looks more hand engraved onteh cap bands than the more modern pens.

 

[Chrissy]

That makes more sense than an umlaut consisting of one dot.

[Tom Kellie]

Here is another shot of one of my 149s that has the dot between the U. It is actually 2 tick marks, not one. The older pens looks more hand engraved onteh cap bands than the more modern pens.

 

~ zaddick:

 

The image below shows a detail from the cap band of an early 1980s 149 M nib, which was my first Montblanc fountain pen.

It's an outstanding writer to this day, which directly inspired me to acquire more Montblanc fountain pens.

Tom K.

[zaddick]

Thanks for sharing Tom. There are lots of variations. It's sometimes another clue to the age of the pen.

 

Another fun one is that the underline of the o in "No 149" on the cap band was not always there. If you look closely at my photo above, you will see it is not there.

Edited March 4, 2017 by zaddick

[Tom Kellie]

Thanks for sharing Tom. There are lots of variations. It's sometimes another clue to the age of the pen.

 

Another fun one is that the period after the o in "No. 149" on the cap band was not always there. If you look closely at my photo above, you will see it is not there.

 

 

~ zaddick:

 

The two images below show detail from the cap band of a yellow gold 149 BB nib purchased two years ago.

Two out of eight of my 149s have ‘Pix’ stamped on the cap band, both of which are yellow gold.

Tom K.

[zaddick]

I was typing in a haze earlier. I said . But meant _ under the o in No 149. Tom's cap band shows the underline used for most of the lifespan of the 149.

[Croma]

Hello:

Goods pictures Tom Kellie.

Thanks.

[Sleebus]

Not only are you guys making me buy pens, but now I'm gonna have to buy a 100mm macro to boot!

[Tom Kellie]

Hello:

Goods pictures Tom Kellie.

Thanks.

 

 

~ Croma:

 

I'm glad that you liked them.

The process of preparing the images caused me to look more closely at several of my cap bands.

Doing so was as much fun as seeing the final result.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

Not only are you guys making me buy pens, but now I'm gonna have to buy a 100mm macro to boot!

 

~ Sleebus:

 

Without my EF 100mm f/2.8L IS macro lens, I'd have few images to post.

For those who enjoy close views of Montblanc nib artistry, such a macro lens is a boon.

Seeing may not only be believing, but may also be an effective fountain pen sales tool.

Tom K.