Mont Blanc Test Pens

[pugsmanias2]

I'm seeing "Test" pens lately stamped as such along with the nib size. Are these regular production pens from the production line, to be used as testers of nib sizes?

[Michael R.]

Yes, provided to stores and boutiques to offer the chance to try different nib sizes.

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[pwsuba]

There are tester sets, I've only seen them as a set of 149's with each of the 'standard' nibs F-M-B-BB-OM-OB-OBB. They allow clients to 'try' the different nib sizes.

 

This of course is only a test as they are used by many different people, some of whom either aren't familiar with FP's or simply write with enough pressure to effect the times.

I generally only use the tester sets on offer to get a rough estimate of the line a particular nib puts down and how the line acts on certain paper

 

I.e. I brought my general use notebook paper to see how well an obb would write, since on cheap paper it bled and feathered.

[penparadise]

I have got two of the tester sets in a nice black lacquered wooden box. But they are LeGrand size (146) and the nibs start with EF.

[Michael R.]

...and „S“ („special“ round nib) on a 145 in some sets ;-)

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[Pen Nut]

A test set I owned some years ago. All 146 size apart from the 'S' Special nib which is 145 sized

 

 

 

[pwsuba]

I'm beginning to think I may not be able to tell a 146 from 149 unless they are side by side!

[NicolausPiscator]

I'm beginning to think I may not be able to tell a 146 from 149 unless they are side by side!

 

Well, yes, you certainly will! I'm pretty sure! The 149 is a really big fountain pen - for my taste too big -, so it is bigger than the 146.

[PAKMAN]

The 146 and 149 are indeed almost identical in shape and styling, but are not hard to tell apart. Once you have held/used a 149 (beast pen) a 146 is easy to pick out.

[zaddick]

The nibs designs are very different. Even with the cap closed and nothing for scale, the cap top is a very different shape. The 149 is "plumper" than the 146 cap top.

[PAKMAN]

True that.

[jmccarty3]

At my boutique the tester set is quite neglected. The pens aren't cleaned, filled, or aligned regularly. The staff don't want to be hassled with doing nib exchanges, so they discourage the use of the set. And, of course, the paper they have available isn't fountain pen friendly at all. If I were a customer naïve to fountain pens, I wouldn't be likely to purchase a Montblanc after trying any of the tester pens. No telling how much business MB is losing by neglecting to train their staff to encourage customers to consider a fountain pen and to demonstrate pens properly.

[Chrissy]

I've never seen them as 149 sized pens. In fact I've heard of complaints that people can never test 149 sized pens, even when they want to buy one. The best I've seen have been 146 sized pens. And I've seen several for sale on eBay.

[zaddick]

149 size testers did exist, but not for a long while, or maybe only in certain locations. I have not seen a set for sale, but a few individual pens. I saw one for sale not too long ago that had engraving that was something like "muster" and the nib size. Google tells me that translates to template which seems feasible.

[Ghost Plane]

I owned a 149 engraved MUSTER OBB that had a 14kt nib. I sold it very reluctantly to help fund my Skeletons, but they did exist. Mine was acquired used from another FPN member, so I have no idea where and when they originated. Awesome writer and only my Blue Hour could pry it from my hands.

[zaddick]

I owned a 149 engraved MUSTER OBB that had a 14kt nib. I sold it very reluctantly to help fund my Skeletons, but they did exist. Mine was acquired used from another FPN member, so I have no idea where and when they originated. Awesome writer and only my Blue Hour could pry it from my hands.

That is likely the one I saw on Bry's site. Maybe there are fewer pens in the universe than we all thought and they circulate.

[Ghost Plane]

Bry certainly specializes in the interesting nibs and is a major pusher, so that well could be mine surfacing. If it is, someone is going to nab an awesome pen. It hurt turning loose. Nothing short of skeletons managed the feat.

[Pen Nut]

Bry certainly specializes in the interesting nibs and is a major pusher, so that well could be mine surfacing. If it is, someone is going to nab an awesome pen. It hurt turning loose. Nothing short of skeletons managed the feat.

 

Been there 'turning loose' as you aptly put it and sometimes do wonder where my previous 'grail pens' settled or indeed are they still out there circulaing the globe making others happy if only for short periods.........or are they just pens and I am babbling my usual, well, babble !

[Ghost Plane]

Here’s to babbling if it leads to so much writing pleasure.

[niksch]

Let's talks babbling brook(s). I was snowshoeing today in the shadow of Hoosier Pass (actually Mount Helen) on Spruce Creek Trail. We crossed the creek several times and each time we could sit down to hear the babbling of the water under the ice and snow. Mayflower Lake was completely frozen on top, but Spruce Creek continues to flow. Despite the wind today, it was quite pleasant to sit down at the creek and watch the flowing water play with the ice and snow.

Edited January 15, 2018 by niksch