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149 Changes?


outsidephilly

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Hi All,

I was wondering about how the 149 piston has changed (if at all) since the 1970s. I've been using fountain pens off and on for years. Right now, my daily beater is a namiki (Pilot) Vanishing Point. However, I bought a 149 on ebay this morning and I'm very excited. The one that I bought it marked as "from the 1970s".

 

Was there a change between the piston designs of the 1970s and the 1980s? Are there any practical differences that are worth mentioning? It has a 14K medium nib and it appears to be in good condition.

 

Thanks in advance for your responses,

 

J

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There are lots of thread on changes in the 149 down through the years; just do a search and a little reading. Providing the pen you bought is in good condition and in working order, you're in for a treat. It should have a nice soft nib.

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The pinned thread in this sub-forum is where you need to start. There's a link to the most up-to-date dating chart later on in the thread.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/170282-dating-montblanc-149s

"Truth can never be told, so as to be understood, and not be believ'd." (Wiiliam Blake)

 

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Of the nib is 14K and not marked 14C, it is from the 1980s.

 

But yes, there have been multiple changes to the piston over the years. Some very subtle.

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Thanks for the thoughtful responses! Based on Zaddick and Soapytwist's responses, I now believe that the ad on ebay was wrong.. The nib is a bi-color 14K nib.. so, this is probably a late 1980s model?

 

I tend to write using small letters, but I have one hell of a big signature. With the right color blue, people stop to look! (I once had a exec assistant tell me that if I planned to use 1/4 of the page for my signatures in the future, she needed to know now so she can type her work out leaving me enough room for my "ridiculousness" LOL)

 

I've heard good things, I cant wait.

 

Thanks again,

 

J

Edited by outsidephilly
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Of the nib is 14K and not marked 14C, it is from the 1980s.

 

But yes, there have been multiple changes to the piston over the years. Some very subtle.

 

I'd argue that mechanically the 149 piston mechanism is the same as designed in the early 1960s pens. Sure, changes have been made to the piston mechanism, specifically the housing unit which is threaded into the barrel. But a turning knob/spindle from the 1960s will work in a most recent edition of the 149 and vice versa. Only recently did the piston seal change.

 

But again, the basic mechanics of the piston have not changed since the early 1960s version of the 149 was produced.

Hard times don't last, but hard people do.

 

Thank a Veteran.

 

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Does anyone know why Montblanc changed from solid ebonite to split ebonite feed? I have both with a broad nib and they perform as well as each other.

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I do not remember. I think it was discussed in a thread years ago, but I cannot remember if there was a reason for this change.

Hard times don't last, but hard people do.

 

Thank a Veteran.

 

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From what I recall, the split allows for a thinner layer of ebonite to be better set against the feed for ink flow improvement.

 

I think there is something to it, though I do not profess to know the details. The new WE deco band reissue and the hand made Astoria pens use this same split ebonite design in their pens. Given it is extra work to make one I would think that lends credence (though not proof) to the idea of enhanced ink flow.

 

I can't really tell the difference in use.

If you want less blah, blah, blah and more pictures, follow me on Instagram!

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