Are All Le Grand's Piston Fillers?

[PandP]

I was in Selfridges today and noticed the MB corner so I thought to have a look. Tried some of the fountains and I was quite impressed by the Unicef Le Grand resin and solitaire:

 

http://www.montblanc.com/en-gb/collection/writing-instruments/meisterstueck/116083-meisterstueck-unicef-solitaire-le-grand-fountain-pen.html

 

They seem to be the perfect size for me whereas the 149 was rather large for me. The clasique was a bit too thin.

 

However I noticed that they were piston fillers which put me off a bit. From what I have read if something went wrong with a piston filler I would have to send it to MB for repair, which I imagine would be a costly affair. So I wanted to check if there are any Le Grand sizes which are not piston fillers and that can be used with a converter like this?

 

https://www.wheelersluxurygifts.com/product/montblanc/piston-converter-filling-system

[CS388]

No, they are all piston fillers with inbuilt pistons and cannot take converters.

There is a 147, exactly the same size, which takes cartridges only - but cannot accommodate a converter.

 

If you had to have the converter, you would have to go to the next size down, the Classique.

 

However, in all the time I've used the 146 sized pens (Le Grande) I have never had any problems with the pistons.

 

Good luck.

[Chrissy]

All of the Le Grand (146) sized fountain pens are piston fillers except for one of the Writers Editions, Franz Kafka, that has an inbuilt internal converter type thingy.

 

Piston fillers hold more ink that converters and aren't costly to repair as they don't go wrong if you look after your pen and don't let it dry out for years with ink inside it.

 

The current cost for a service level one which includes replacement of all piston parts, feeder case and some other bits and pieces is £70. Your pen comes back looking like new. I don't think you could call that expensive.

 

Be careful of falling down that rabbit hole though, because once you buy one, they can become addictive.

[PandP]

Thanks guys. I have never had a MB before so am only basing my judgement on what I have read so far. But it sounds like it's ikely that the internet is good for hyping down a product too. £70 for a service is not bad at all. The pen will be used regularly in the office so I doubt very much it will be left unused for periods longer than a few days.

[Driften]

Chrissy is right about one thing. I got my first 146 with a M nib less then two weeks ago and I have already bought its brother in B. They are nice pens. Also you can service them some if you really want. You can make or buy a tool to remove the piston for oiling if needed.

 

The one I just bought had just been sent in for the service and they replaced everything but the nib and the clip with new parts for the money. I am looking forward to getting it in the mail in a few days, but I have the M version as well so its not too bad waiting. A good pen is addictive. My 146 just feels so solid compared to other fountain pens I have. For example I also have a Sailor 1911 Large which is the same size and shape but with out the weight and build it feels cheep in comparison.

[PandP]

So do these pens require servicing evry so may years? Or is it only when something goes wrong?

[Ghost Plane]

So do these pens require servicing evry so may years? Or is it only when something goes wrong?

Rinse it out when you change ink brands, don't leave ink in it to dry out and clog it, and you'll be good for decades.

[Erik Dalton]

So do these pens require servicing evry so may years? Or is it only when something goes wrong?

They will pretty much write forever if you follow a good pen hygiene routine. Flush it out with water every three months or so, and you'll be passing your pen down to your kids. These pens are built like a tank. They love to write. The 146 is a great everyday writer.

[meiers]

Over the past ten years I have had two pistons break on me. Both of these break-downs occurred after I acquired a piston-removal tool as part of a make-work project to keep all my pistons nicely lubricated. It was a lot of fun but it also involved a bit of a learning curve. I removed and lubricated nine pistons with silicon grease. Two were damaged in the process and were replaced by MB Service.

 

I have learned that pistons rarely need servicing and lubricating, if one follows the advice given in previous posts.

[penparadise]

However I noticed that they were piston fillers which put me off a bit. From what I have read if something went wrong with a piston filler I would have to send it to MB for repair, which I imagine would be a costly affair. So I wanted to check if there are any Le Grand sizes which are not piston fillers ...

 

 

 

Oh yes, there is! The 147 (Traveller) is in the Le Grand size too. It is a cartridge filler fountain pen and has exactly the same size as the 146.

 

... and that can be used with a converter like this?

 

https://www.wheelersluxurygifts.com/product/montblanc/piston-converter-filling-system

 

Unfortunately no, one can't use a converter within the Le Grand 147 Traveller. It's a cartridge filler only.