Jump to content

Replacement MB 149 Star in Mother of Pearl


yachtsilverswan

Recommended Posts

Would one of our master craftmeisters like to try creating a custom replacement for the cheap plastic white star atop my MB 149?

 

We had a discussion in the Montblanc forum about the advisability of Montblanc itself offering this aftermarket replacement.

 

I think this simple aftermarket upgrade would really improve the looks of this classic pen.

 

How much for a shimmering, high quality, polished and finished MOP MB star for my 149?

Ray

Atlanta, Georgia

 

Pilot Namiki Vanishing Point with Richard Binder ItaliFine 0.9mm/F Nib

Faber Castell's Porsche Design with Gold & Stainless Mesh in Binderized CI Broad nib

Visconti LE Divina Proporzione in Gold with Binderized CI nib

David Oscarson Valhalla in gray (Thor) with Broad Binderized CI nib

Michel Perchin LE Blue Serpent (reviewed) with Binderized CI nib

Montblanc 149 in Medium Binderized CI nib

Montblanc Pope Julius II 888 Edition (reviewed) in Bold Binderized CI nib

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 21
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • fountainbel

    4

  • yachtsilverswan

    4

  • tfwall

    2

  • mana

    2

Would one of our master craftmeisters like to try creating a custom replacement for the cheap plastic white star atop my MB 149?

 

We had a discussion in the Montblanc forum about the advisability of Montblanc itself offering this aftermarket replacement.

 

I think this simple aftermarket upgrade would really improve the looks of this classic pen.

 

How much for a shimmering, high quality, polished and finished MOP MB star for my 149?

 

 

That is a great idea!

 

I might be interested as well.

 

Michael

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If it were not for the fact that MOP is severely toxic when inhaled as a dust, I would love to give it a try.

 

This is most likely why most artists do not work with this material any more. There is only one person who I am aware of who does this work, Lynn Sorgatz. You might want to email him directly and ask for pricing.

 

Cheers,

Sean

PenRx is no longer in business.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Drawback on using a mother of pearl star is that the material is rather brittle & consquently will break/ crack easily when falling down on the cap top.

BTW, Is the actual plastic white star easily removed?

Are the star sizes identical on vintage & newer pens?

Francis

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

I'm still searching for someone to craft and install a white mother of pearl star logo in the macaroon cap top of a new standard MB 149. With computer aided design and lathing, I guess I had expected this might be a simple project. But in three years I've had no one interested.

 

I'd also like to try the same project with black mother of pearl - replacing the white resin star logo on a new MB 149 with a black mother of pearl duplicate.

 

Surely someone knows how to do this.

Ray

Atlanta, Georgia

 

Pilot Namiki Vanishing Point with Richard Binder ItaliFine 0.9mm/F Nib

Faber Castell's Porsche Design with Gold & Stainless Mesh in Binderized CI Broad nib

Visconti LE Divina Proporzione in Gold with Binderized CI nib

David Oscarson Valhalla in gray (Thor) with Broad Binderized CI nib

Michel Perchin LE Blue Serpent (reviewed) with Binderized CI nib

Montblanc 149 in Medium Binderized CI nib

Montblanc Pope Julius II 888 Edition (reviewed) in Bold Binderized CI nib

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't think this is a computer aided task (as a design engineer), however, it could be done by hand by a woodworker used to inlaying material (e.g. marquetry expert) or a jewellery maker. With my own woodworking experience I could do the inlay, it is the excavation of the original that would be difficult

 

You might want to ask in a jewellery forum or woodworking forum (look for a marquetry expert in the woodwork forum)

Please visit my new pen and ink/pen box site at www.boxesandpens.co.uk

Hand made boxes to store and display your favourite pens.

10% discount for FPN members

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How big are the diameters & heights of the stars in 146/149? I found an online knife craft store that carries MOP & abalone slabs and buttons (diameter 6-8mm), they seem to be thick enough to be suitable candidates for making a solid MOP star. Should not be that hard to find it seems and the material itself is not that pricey, two 22x66x2.7mm slabs go for ~20 euros.

 

The biggest hurdle would be the shaping of the material to the form and tolerances required. CAD/CAM is pretty much of no use as the material and the dimensions of the parts are what they are. Hand tools, patience and willingness to experiment and learn the material are the keys (if one is going at it without previous experience of shaping MOP).

 

Would love to try it myself one of these days (just need to get a suitable Montblanc pen and a spare crown for experiments first. Oh, MOP slabs and some tools too).

 

What I have read of MOP indicates that the material - and the dust itself - should not be poisonous. Urushi dust is and I think some people might have confused the two. This said the dust should not be inhaled as any kind of organic or inorganic microparticles do not belong to the lungs as they can act as potential sources of irritation, lung diseases and cancer. Also, I think people allergic to seafood/fish might get a more immediate adverse reaction from MOP dust...

 

Anyway, I had actually been thinking of this myself before, the MOP star is the feature that drew me to the LE 75th Anniversary Meisterstucks. Such an adornment would look stunning in either the pinstripe sterling silver 146 or in the first gen stainless steel one... Or in a regular 146/149 too. It would add just the right kind of a finishing touch to an otherwise marvelous pen. Especially nice for those special occasions/nights.

Edited by mana
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've made a MOP snow cap emblem on a vintage 144 lately

Main problem being one needs a white MOP thickness of minium 2.5mm - or even 3.0mm- and I can find only 2.0mm

Francis

See:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/201142-vintage-144-mother-of-pearl-snow-cap/page__view__findpost__p__2056230__hl__%2Bmother+%2Bof+%2Bpearl+%2Bemblem__fromsearch__1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've made a MOP snow cap emblem on a vintage 144 lately

Main problem being one needs a white MOP thickness of minium 2.5mm - or even 3.0mm- and I can find only 2.0mm

Francis

See:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/201142-vintage-144-mother-of-pearl-snow-cap/page__view__findpost__p__2056230__hl__%2Bmother+%2Bof+%2Bpearl+%2Bemblem__fromsearch__1

What about not drilled MOP coins that are used on jewelry kind of like these

 

http://www.stonesandfindings.com/showpicture.php?PictureName=http://www.stonesandfindings.com/images/items/12/Shell-Dyed-Green-Shell-Coin-121001323030.jpg&TitleName=Shell-Dyed-Green-Coin-30x30-mm

Edited by APPLEMAN

Appleman Pens

Orangeville, Ontario, Canada

 

Photo's Of Past Pens

My Blog

 

Phone 912-376-7165

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

Just wondering if it might not be ppssiable to use a laser to cut the MOP and the basic shape in the cap. Tricky part would be keeping the MOP cool enough to not shatter. Just misc ramblings of an old man.

Edited by pricejh61

John Price

www.pensnbowls.com

GNT00001_c.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've made a MOP snow cap emblem on a vintage 144 lately

Main problem being one needs a white MOP thickness of minium 2.5mm - or even 3.0mm- and I can find only 2.0mm

Francis

 

Found these > White MOP slabs 1/8" x 1" x 2 3/4"

 

1/8" or 3.175mm should be sufficient?

 

$38.00 per pair + s/h... A bit pricey but then again not that bad considering how many stars one could manufacture from those.

 

This is another place that sells MOP > http://www.knifehand...mother-of-pearl

 

That one is more pricey but has a better selection.... Hmmm...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've made a MOP snow cap emblem on a vintage 144 lately

Main problem being one needs a white MOP thickness of minium 2.5mm - or even 3.0mm- and I can find only 2.0mm

Francis

See:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/201142-vintage-144-mother-of-pearl-snow-cap/page__view__findpost__p__2056230__hl__%2Bmother+%2Bof+%2Bpearl+%2Bemblem__fromsearch__1

 

That's very nice.

 

How did you disassemble / dislodge the original white plastic star? Was it glued in and needed to be punched out from inside? Was it screwed in from inside? How tight was the fit?

 

Progress! I love it!

Ray

Atlanta, Georgia

 

Pilot Namiki Vanishing Point with Richard Binder ItaliFine 0.9mm/F Nib

Faber Castell's Porsche Design with Gold & Stainless Mesh in Binderized CI Broad nib

Visconti LE Divina Proporzione in Gold with Binderized CI nib

David Oscarson Valhalla in gray (Thor) with Broad Binderized CI nib

Michel Perchin LE Blue Serpent (reviewed) with Binderized CI nib

Montblanc 149 in Medium Binderized CI nib

Montblanc Pope Julius II 888 Edition (reviewed) in Bold Binderized CI nib

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've made a MOP snow cap emblem on a vintage 144 lately

Main problem being one needs a white MOP thickness of minium 2.5mm - or even 3.0mm- and I can find only 2.0mm

Francis

 

Found these > White MOP slabs 1/8" x 1" x 2 3/4"

 

1/8" or 3.175mm should be sufficient?

 

$38.00 per pair + s/h... A bit pricey but then again not that bad considering how many stars one could manufacture from those.

 

This is another place that sells MOP > http://www.knifehand...mother-of-pearl

 

That one is more pricey but has a better selection.... Hmmm...

 

Some of the best quality samples on that second website are really stunning - great depth and glow. The blacklip MOP is similarly outstanding.

 

Of course, the price of the MOP is completely irrelevant compared to the price of the "canvas" (a new MB 149). MB does not sell parts, and MB would likely be unwilling to service this pen after it was modified. So if we plan on a new "practice" 149 to experiment with, plus a second new 149 in which to install the finished perfected star - well we're talking $1300 - $1700 just for the two "canvases." The two pens would both have to be new to assure there were no small differences in tolerances between the practice pen and the finished destination pen. If we're lucky, both pens can be fitted with MOP stars - one white MOP - one blacklip MOP - but likely the practice pen might be damaged in the process.

 

So the the cost of materials pales in comparison. If we can figure out how to do this, we will want the very best white MOP and the very best blacklip MOP we can find.

 

I'm planning to have one of these pens' furniture rhodium or platinum plated (the pen with the white MOP star); and to have a second pen's furniture ruthenium or black nickel plated (the pen with the blacklip MOP star). Of course, this project is not to re-sell, but for my own private use.

Edited by yachtsilverswan

Ray

Atlanta, Georgia

 

Pilot Namiki Vanishing Point with Richard Binder ItaliFine 0.9mm/F Nib

Faber Castell's Porsche Design with Gold & Stainless Mesh in Binderized CI Broad nib

Visconti LE Divina Proporzione in Gold with Binderized CI nib

David Oscarson Valhalla in gray (Thor) with Broad Binderized CI nib

Michel Perchin LE Blue Serpent (reviewed) with Binderized CI nib

Montblanc 149 in Medium Binderized CI nib

Montblanc Pope Julius II 888 Edition (reviewed) in Bold Binderized CI nib

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been half-heartedly pursuing this for a few years as well. I'd be very interested in seeing this come together both for 149's and 146's.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Someone should use your American Art Plastic ivory celluloid for a replacement star. It'd look equally good cut across the grain or with end grain, IMO.

 

http://www.americanartplastics.com/pics/celluloid/Edison_ivory_pen.jpg

 

Skip

 

 

I've always preferred the old ivory-colored stars. They were made from casein, but celluloid would be a better bet for the long term.

Skip Williams

www.skipwilliams.com/blog

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've made a MOP snow cap emblem on a vintage 144 lately

Main problem being one needs a white MOP thickness of minium 2.5mm - or even 3.0mm- and I can find only 2.0mm

Francis

See:

http://www.fountainp...__fromsearch__1

 

That's very nice.

 

How did you disassemble / dislodge the original white plastic star? Was it glued in and needed to be punched out from inside? Was it screwed in from inside? How tight was the fit?

 

Progress! I love it!

 

Removal of the standard plastic snow cap impleis drilling a small central hole through the threaded side of the cap

enclosure, just not drilling in the snow cap insert. The snow cap emblem can then be pressed out.

 

Francis

Link to comment
Share on other sites

An AAP celluloid snowcap surely would be nice;

However I've experienced the material is hygroscopic, specially in the top grain.

Not sure, but I expect it would absorb sweat and skingrease and become yellowish after a while

 

Francis

 

 

 

 

 

Someone should use your American Art Plastic ivory celluloid for a replacement star. It'd look equally good cut across the grain or with end grain, IMO.

 

http://www.americanartplastics.com/pics/celluloid/Edison_ivory_pen.jpg

 

Skip

 

 

I've always preferred the old ivory-colored stars. They were made from casein, but celluloid would be a better bet for the long term.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

The only person I know, who has had the experience, is a dentist friend who used his high speed drill on a cracked 149's snow cap for perfect removal. He did the replacement like a tooth crown under microscopy....it was perfect & so cool. He will not do another cap....ever. Too labor intensive...too bad...too.

Edited by SnowLeopard
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33494
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26627
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...