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Found 23 results

  1. I have just been given a Mont Blanc Meisterstuck Rollerball and it writes pretty poorly. I have purchased new ink in hopes it would solve the problem but no. Am i missing something or...? Would like to use my pen not just look at it. Any tips on maybe what i am doing or what the pen needs of me to write like i see them write in videos are appreciated.
  2. https://www.sintons.co.uk/sintons_commercial/the-pen-shop-bought-from-administration/ It is now down to 5 stores from 10. IIRC, they had 20 stores 3/4 years ago. OTOH, their shop in Trafford Centre (one of the largest malls in the UK) had only one MB LE ink in stock and 3/4 from the standard range. The website has had a revamp.
  3. ShakenNotStirred

    Identifying A Vintage Mb149 Nib

    Hi guys, I'm thinking of buying this pen, but the seller doesn't know what nib he has. It looks like an older 14c MB149 nib, but its a bit slanted it seems. Is this an oblique nib? If so, can you speculate which size it could be? Thanks!
  4. Hi, Wanted to share info I received Today from Monblanc Boutique in Mexico City. Launching of MB Marco Polo fountain pen, Only 69 pieces! http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o625/IncurableCollectors/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-09%20at%204.38.03%20PM.png http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o625/IncurableCollectors/Screen%20Shot%202017-02-09%20at%204.38.19%20PM.png
  5. sidthecat

    Over A Barrel

    So I've been helping my boss get his vintage 149 restored: it's got a beautifully flexy 18K nib and we thought it was a 70s pen. Trouble is, the barrel is cracked and can't be repaired; only replaced. We sent it to Mr. Minuskin, who said he had a replacement barrel, but when he actually had a look at the pen, he said, No, it's a 60s pen that uses a different barrel, and that he's not got. He suggested we have a look-round for one, and meanwhile, he'll keep an eye out. So, I'm not terribly familiar with the in's and outs of the precious-resin baseball bat that is this pen, but are they even resin, or was this model still made of celluloid? And am I looking for a one-piece or a two-piece barrel. I hope you can enlighten me.
  6. chromantic

    Montblanc Pink (Cartridge)

    Review of Montblanc Pink cartridge. MB Pink is a pretty bright pink that has good flow and offers nice shading - some on copy, more on good - along with oodles of gold sheen. The ink starts right up in both tested pens even after many days of just sitting. The color is darker and redder in the wetter, thicker line of the Pelikano due to more sheen being deposited; it was darker initially in the VFM, too, but once the ink that had sat in the feed gave way to fresh ink from the cart, the color brightened considerably. There were the merest hints of the sheen on the copy paper but the BnR showed a fair amount from the Sheaffer and copious amounts from the Pelikano (rather like the Lamy Coral in my P460). The color is similar to the Sailor Clear Candy Pink; the Sailor is brighter than the MB in the CC MF pen but slightly darker than then the MB in the Waterman JIF fine, again due to more sheen from the wetter JIF. Here's the scan of the review form: Here's a crop of the sheen from the P67 on the BnR (lol, just noticed I wrote P64 in the sample): And from the Sheaffer; the sheen is heavier on the first words as the pen had been sitting, the next lines are more representative. As well, the color in the photos, especially here from the Sheaffer is more accurate than the scan. Would I use this on a regular basis? Hmm. I find the Sailor a bit more 'happy' (especially in the lighter line of the very fine CC pen) and I'm curious to perhaps try the MB in a fine nib, like a JIF. For now, I'll leave it in the Sheaffer - this was the one I thought was going to be a sparkly bright red that turned out to be more of a dusty rose color, which actually complements the ink quite well. Serendipity at work.
  7. Fantasy pens, sometimes known as homage pens, can represent an opportunity to fill in a gap in a pen maker’s catalog. Or it can be a pen that is inspired by the design aesthetic of a brand, but one the company never would have made for various reasons. The pen I want to focus on in this review is a Brad Torelli creation that pays homage to various vintage elements from MB. I am a big fan of Brad’s work because his pens are well made using quality materials and they incorporate vintage hardware like nibs, clips and even filling systems. The pen I am reviewing today is inspired by MB pens from the 1930s to the 1960s. The pen is made out of a luxurious Italian Lucite in a pearlescent medium green. The material is not quite the same feeling as celluloid but still different that acrylic. Perhaps somewhere in between the two in terms of grip feel. I would say it has more surface friction than acrylic but lacks some of the warmth, and certainly the smell, of vintage celluloid. The pen material is translucent, so that even though there is not an ink window, just holding the pen up to a light source allows one to see the ink level. The pen design is faceted with 8 sides. This has the practical benefit of keeping the pen from rolling even when uncapped during a pause in writing. The facets are maintained along the length of the capped pen, even though the thickness varies from the piston cone to the cap derby. Once nice and subtle touch is how the facets gently curve in to create a thinner cap lip allowing for less of a step between the cap and the body of the pen. The pen is threaded so that the cap and body facets always line up. Visconti, please take a note on how this should be the standard for faceted pens! The grip section is inspired by other vintage pens like the celluloid MB 146, 136, and the like. There is a nice concave shape to it that makes it much more comfortable for me to hold for extended writing sessions. The threads are very well cut and smooth to the touch, so much so that I sometimes grip the pen half way up onto the threads. Other elements that are MB inspired are the custom tie shaped clip, the piston filler, the nib, the feed and the MB logo. The clip is made from a mold of a 139 tie clip, but it is solid 14K “springy” gold. The particular formulation Brad uses allows for more spring that a typical 14K clip ensuring the clip can perform its function well, yet never tarnish. The piston filler is a repurposed MB unit. Nothing exciting as it is not a two stage piston, but still a pleasure to use with smooth travel. The piston cone will allow you to overtighten a bit causing the facets to misalign slightly so I have to back it off just a touch to align the facets (because it should look as lovely as it writes). The nib is a tri-tone 14C that is a BB in my estimation. I love wide nibs so this gave me another excuse to buy the pen. The nib itself is smooth and has some flexibility to it, but not near a wet noodle. It works for me as it allows for some variation on demand. I do have to be a little careful as the pen will railroad if I want to get nutsy with the flexing. One of my favorite aspects of the pen is the custom feed made of the same Lucite as the pen. It is designed like the old flat slope feeds from the 1930s and 1940s. It provides a wet and consistent flow of ink, but again, not enough to allow me to flex the pen all the time. I am sure this could be adjusted. What made me jump on this pen when it came up for sale is the two handmade MB logo stars inset into the cap and the piston cone. Brad has always admired the simplicity and elegance of the MB logo so he used to use it on many of his custom pens. However, many years ago it was strongly suggested by some legal eagles that while senior folks at MB admired the quality and craftsmanship of his work, he would be better off if he no longer used their registered trademark. Brad got the message and will no longer make pens with the logo involved. So when I see one for sale I try to pick it up. This particular pen happens to have a logo on both the cap the piston cone, much like the slimmer pens that came out in the 1960s. This helps me justify the price I paid for the pen, at least that’s what I tell myself. All this is for naught if the pen is not a good writer, and I am happy to report that it is both well balanced and well weighted for my needs. This is a large pen, but the material keeps it to a manageable weight. The pen does post, though I am not a poster except on a few smaller pens. The grip section is the real winner for me. Anyone who is a fan of vintage MBs from the 1930s and 1940s can attest to the comfort level of the contoured grips. (I also like modern custom pen makers who embrace this little curve in their sections and encourage you to consider this for any custom pen you have made.) Cost is not relevant here as this pen was purchased second hand from a collector. Brad still makes plenty of great pens (minus the MB logo) so I encourage you to reach out to him for details and pricing. Many people are especially drawn to his 139 style pens as MB seems unwilling to reissue the pen themselves. Brad also offers a lifetime warranty (his lifetime), and this includes maintenance or other straightforward issues like a nib swap or piston maintenance. He is also a pleasure to speak with as his knowledge of pens is impressive. Whether you like this particular pen or not, I hope it has sparked your imagination as to the possibilities of having a custom pen made to your own liking. I like supporting the growing number of craftsmen/women and true pen artisans and encourage you to do the same. None of them is getting rich from their efforts, but they are living their passion.
  8. ProfessorB

    Real Or Fake?

    Hello MB collectors, I am not very well versed in Monblanc pens. I own a 146 and two 144's, but I have a question about another pen I was about to buy...but it smells funny (not literally. I mean I have an uneducated hunch.) For starters, I have never seen a Starwalker in red, but as I said, I know little about MB's. Is this a real Montblanc? Is it so obviously Fraudulent that you can tell from these pictures? Would love to hear anything anyone can tell me. Many Thanks,Professor B
  9. walter_lam

    Montblanc M Refill

    Hello all, I am new to this group and I have a question that need some help. I brought the Montblanc M rollerball pen for my wife but she said the line is too bold for this pen, Then I go to the store and brought the only compatible refill - Art fineliner and this time she said it is not smooth . After I took her to MB store and try out the pens, she said she like the ballpoint. My local store do not accept return or exchange and therefore I am hoping anyone could advise me which MB ballpoint refill that I could buy to fit it this Montblanc M rollerball, I know the rollerball refill is different and I do not mind to do some DIY in order to make it work. Thanks. I have took some photos of the refill and attached,. Thanks again. Regards, Walter
  10. Anthony95

    In Search Of A Purple

    I have a large collection of ink, but only one purple must be remedied! . The purple I have is waterman, can anyone recommend something with a touch more red? Has anyone used diamine imperial or MB violet? If so do you think these might fit the bill. Any suggestions welcome I'm in the UK so noodlers and PR are harder to procure. Thank ye all
  11. This review includes a short history / timeline of the 34x series and the review itself. 1. The Montblanc humble 34x The Montblanc 34x series was introduced on the market at the beginning of the fifties; the starting year being 1951 or 1952, even if some pre-series are presumably from 1950. The first type was produced until 1953; the second, after some restyling, from 1954 up to 1960. The 34x series was intended as a third thier following the flag models 14x and the middle priced 24x / 25x / 26x. 344 / 342 stand for: 3 (third thier); 4 (piston filling system); and 4 or 2 (the nib size) Tech Specifications Technically speaking these fountain pens are of ordinary level, as expected from an “jeden erschwinglich” economy range (so to speak… the original price in 1952-53 was 20 DM, with a contemporary exchange rate of 11.70 DM for a UK pound, this translates in 34 shillings and two pence, when a Conway Stewart 58 – the top of the CS line during those years – was priced 31 shillings and six pence). Models 34x do not show smart technical innovations, but the quality is nevertheless high. Clip is retained by a domed stud, with white Montblanc signet inlaid to the top. The clip is the ring-type and screw mounted. The cap itself screws on the body of the pen. The model 342 is 125 mm long when closed, its diameter is 13 mm and the weight is 15.8 gr. The model 344 is 134 mm long when closed, its diameter is 13.5 mm and the weight is 17.5 gr. Variations do exist among the series. Materials The very initial production run consisted in celluloid models with an amber ink window. Thereafter both 344 and 342 were produced in molded injection plastic with a pale blue ink window. The cap ring (only one) was gold filled as well as the clip. Apart the very first models which had a wartime – like steel nib, the nib was gold 14 carat (across the web, rare late samples sometimes appear with a gold plated steel nib). The feed was made in ebonite. Filling System On these fountain pens we found a classic piston filling system, already employed by Montblanc in its whole production at the time. A pre-series seems to exist, with the pre-war piston model, with a shorter knob. The first series has the cork seal piston, while the second has a plastic seal piston. Versions The 34x fountain pens were made in two sizes, related to the nib class: the smaller 342 (with a size 2 nib) and the medium 344 (with a size 4 nib). The letter “G” was added to the model number of the former samples (Goldfeder) when a gold nib was employed; no letter when the nib was steel. The first type (1951-53) has a single gold band near the cap’s lip. On the cap there is the iconic prewar engraving MONT- BLANC with the mountain inbetween. The ink window on the initial celluloid models is amber. The section is curved in the former version. The piston knob has a larger size than the newer version. It is engraved with the model #, the “G”, when appropriate, and the tip size . The feed in ebonite is flat (“sky slope”) with long grooves and the domed stud on the cap is engraved with the outline of the Montblanc star, like the old 33x series. The second version (1953-54 up to 1960) is made in injection molded plastic. The cap ring is substituted with a gold band which covered the cap’s lip and is engraved with “MONTBLANC” and “ * 344 * ” or “ * 342 * ”. The iconic prewar engraving on the cap was withdrawn (even if there are very scarce transitional samples with both engravings). The ink window becomes pale blue and the section is straight. On the domed stud a solid white Montblanc star appears as on the 14x series. The piston knob is a short one and the feed is now rounded with full length grooves. Colours These pens were initially produced in glossy black. Then plastic models followed where the colour was petrol blue, mahogany red, olive green, and pearl grey, with a clear ink window. Some colour models do not have the ink window. Manifold nib versione exist in black with a blue domed stud. Nibs These pens were produced with two nib sizes: #2 and #4, such as the final number of the model (either 342 and 344). There were two types: a gold plated steel nib (342 and 344 of the first series) and a solid 14 ct. gold (342 G / 344 G on the former series and 342 / 344 on the latter). #2 nib is 23 mm long, while #4 nib is 28 mm long. Tip size ranged from EF to BB and even oblique varieties were offered Timeline Year Facts 1951-52 The Company introduces the Montblanc 34x 1952 The Company introduces the cheap model Monterosa 1953-54 34x restyling 1955 34x second restyling 1956 The prewar MONTBLANC cap engraving is definitely eliminated 1958 The Company produces the 34x with a clear window and blue, red, grey or green body 1959 The Company closes its Danish production site 1960 End of Montblanc 34x production I followed, adapted, changed and added to a nice article from www.fountainpen.it Please, feel free to amend and add everything may be appropriate. 2. Description and Review of my sample: a late 344. As you can see from the following pictures, this is an MB 344 II type (1955-1960). The Nib is EF in yellow gold 14 k size 4. Ebonite is the material of the feed which is rounded, with full length grooves. The capped length is 13.4 cm (5 ¼ inches). The cap is 6.2 cm long and the body 12.0 cm. The cap diameter is 13.5 mm and the weight is 17.6 gr. (average of three measurements on lab equipment). The simple clip and the band on the cap’s lip are gold plated (from micro scratches I can see only with incident light by a 7x loupe, my opinion is that gold plating is quite thick). The domed stud shows a quite little solid white star recalling the proportions of the white star on the 149’s cap. On the cap band the words “MONTBLANC” and “* 344 *”are engraved. The nib has an EF tip. The following words are engraved on the nib: “MONT” and “BLANC” in two rows, 14C in a third row, “MONTBLANC” in a fourth row, “585” in a fifth and (I suppose) “344” in the last row, hidden under the straight section. The ink window is pale blue and shows the plastic seal of the piston (when turned downward). The body does not show engravings while the turning knob is engraved with the simple tip size “EF”. The pen is quite light, has good proportions in my hands (I have hands of average size) and managed smooth and light even in long writing session. The cap screws firmly to the body. Under the cap … a marvelous size #4 gold nib, the big gun of this fountain pen (not size related, because it is 28 mm long…). The writing experience is absolutely smooth on every type of paper where I wrote: from common xerox paper, to my favourite Fabria paper (100 gr. / m2 with felt marked finish). For me a wonderful surprise: this is the first time I appreciate this smoothness of an EF nib, since generally i find them a bit scratchy. Up to now I employed only one ink, the Pelikan Edelstein Sapphire. When I charged for the first time I doubted the piston worked, because of the very, very light resistance I felt. Piston worked well and charged a good amount of ink, able to perform longer than my other piston-fillers. I bought the pen from the site of Tom Westerich, which all you know. Tom is a very friendly person, with a huge knowledge in the writing instrument field, experience and craftsmanship in pen restoration. He described this pen as near mint, but he was wrong: the pen is better, because I can see only storage wrinkles and only with my 7x loupe or at high enlargement in my pictures. The feed was immaculate and so the nib and the ink window. No posting rings were present, no scratches, no hairlines (so common in pens from the fifties…), no dents, nothing ! Actually a little dot of old ink was identified by my loupe on the bottom of the knob. A simple wet microfibre cloth was not able to solve the problem, but a single pass by hand (only by a finger) with my trusty pen polish from Tryphon site solved brightly the question and now the knob is sparkling new… The pen was not cheap at 295 euros (then I had some discount…), but I can see that average prices in completed listings on eBay are in the range 72 – 311 US $ in these last two months (I cannot comment on the quality of the pens, but these do not seem to me of a great level). Moreover, today (Dec the 8th) I see sellers on eBay which set high prices for average condition MB 344s such as from 225 to 369 US $. So I am grateful to Tom… Up to now I can’t see any space to sell my pen in the future (what a nightmare this idea !) This pen sits in my “The magnificent three” group with my Conway Stewart 58 and my Soennecken 100 (all from the end of fifties… was that a real gold age for FPs ?) Greetings from Italy !
  12. Hello My Dear Fellows, Im going to get my first Montblanc Meisterstück coming friday, I've been safing my money for about 3 months now, and now finally the time has come. I heard many people saying "oh no you have to get it pre-owned" I don't think so. I want to be the first owner of the pen, even if this means I have to pay a lot more. Doing the first stroke, the first filling, that's what it is all about to me, when Im getting a new pen. Also I got an old pre-owned Montblanc 121, which is an big dissapointment, because its just damaged. So yeah, I will test out the two pens 149 and 146 and then decide which one will be the best fit for me. I'll keep you guys updated, how I got served at the boutique and how the writing and overall the pen feels within the days of usage. I also know there are many posts about this pen out there, but I wanted to do an in depth one, without any opinion untill I got the pen stay tuned! Vossi
  13. http://sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/2014-Inklings/2014-Ink_2192.jpg
  14. Tasmith

    Montblanc 146

    My MB 146:
  15. I recently bought a vintage MB pen online but am slightly confused as to which model it is. I'm told it's from the 50s and made in Germany and the nib says monte rosa on it but the rest of the pen doesn't seem to match the monte rosa descriptions I've seen online. It doesn't have the scalloped band on the cap, which is also engraved with Montblanc, not monterosa and has the white star (not an engraving). There's no model number on it, but it has STB on the piston pump knob. Is the pen a real montblanc? If so, what model is ist, a monte rosa or another model with another nib? Thanks for any help you can give me! I've attched a couple of photos to help.
  16. http://sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/2014-Inklings/slides/2014-Ink_1639.jpg
  17. stephanos

    Mb Noblesse Oblige: Cap Not Closing

    Hello. We have recently inherited a couple of Mont Blanc pens, one of which is a Nobless Oblige. It was in a filthy state, but I've cleaned it up and it now writes beautifully. But... The cap does not close. I've looked down the inside of the cap, and there doesn't seem to be anything out of place or jammed in there. I suppose it's possible that the Nobless Oblige cap is not original to the pen and that the barrel and nib are another model. In fact, if I were seeing this 'in the wild' that would be my assumption, as the gold rim at the back of the section seems to be slightly too wide. But knowing the former owner, I think that is unlikely. So I'm stumped. Any ideas? I'm including some pictures below. The first is a close-up of the 'most closed' position - note the gap. The final picture shows the pen as a whole. The top of the cap has a slightly rounded MB white star; the bottom of the pen is flat black. Sorry, no photos of the inside of the cap - I don't have the equipment for a picture like that. Thanks in advance for your help.
  18. perth

    Mb 149

    The origin of this pen is still a mystery to me. My mum found a MB box amongst her old clothes, and gave it to me. She doesn’t recall exactly where she got it, but assumed that it was some of the things left behind by my grandmother after she passed away. Nobody’s sure where it came from, but regardless it performs very well and I’m glad my mum decided to throw out some old clothes! Note: When there are 2 rating, the top is for my satisfaction, while the lower is for how much it could do, for that particular category. For example, I might be extremely satisfied with a stiff nib (5/5) but the lower rating would be (1/5) since it couldn’t flex at all. The ratings are not included in the final score. Initial Impressions Box and Instructions (7/10) The box is a plastic clamshell type, and opens and closes with a firm snap. The lining is quite light, with a flexible fabric covering a plastic piece to keep the pen in place. It does not feel very solid, and although it hasn’t broke yet, it does not feel very high quality. I am assuming the pen and packaging was near mint, since there was no sign of regular usage. I loved how thick the instruction booklet was. Unsurprisingly, quite a lot of the content was irrelevant, although fun to read. There were separate instructions for the piston filling pens, as well as the C/C pens that they also offered. Aesthetics (18/20) The pen is extremely authoritative due to its impressive girth. I would usually be quite disappointed by a shiny black and gold colour scheme, but considering that MB kind of created that stereotype, you can’t really fault the pen. It’s a classic design that looks timeless, especially with the knowledge that this is the real thing and not an “homage” or “inspired by-“ pen. The nib is 18K and two-toned, which dates this to the early 90s. As it’s a #9 nib, the size is definitely appropriate for the rest of the pen. Detailing on the nib is nothing too gaudy, and contains the signature “4810” surrounded by subtle patterns. Towards the end of the grip “section” there is an ink window. I appreciate how the black is broken up by lengthwise lines of transparent material that shows the ink level clearly, yet does not distract or subtract away from the main feature, which is the shiny plastic of the pen. All of the plating is top-notch, and the white star is an unmistakable touch. Initial Feel (10/10) The pen screamed of high quality the first time I lay my hands on it. The plastic was impeccably polished, and the whole thing fit perfectly into my hands. I knew that writing with this would never cause a cramp, or be of any discomfort. Holding and writing with the pen was a dream. The threads, which I thought would be annoying, couldn’t detract from the fact that the entire pen was so comfortable to grip and use. It’s size alone would have done that, but moreover the balance was just perfect unposted. Posted (when it actually posts) the balance was just as great, but made the pen comically oversized. Filling (9/10) This pen is a piston filler. The operation is smooth and the pen can hold a lot of ink which has proven useful for longer writing sessions. An ink window helps the user judge the level of ink inside the pen and is subtly concealed by its striped nature. Performance Smoothness (3/10) Satisfaction (6/10) Rating The pen is by no means scratchy, but more tooth was encountered that one would expect. I suspect this may have to do with the fact that it sat unused, in a drawer, for at least 10 years, but even after servicing it couldn’t really compare with a lot of other pens which had a much smoother nib. This was disappointing, since it seemed as if the general consensus was that MBs are one of the best pens available, irrespective of their price. I brought it in to get a diagnosis due to its initial flow issues, and assumed that the technician would do something about the nib. Alas, that didn’t happen, and I had to cautiously make a few figure-eights on a 1000-grit abrasive paper which was the finest grade I could find. The nib was much smoother after, but still with a lot of feedback. Flexibility (4/5) Satisfaction (3/5) Rating Whilst the nib wasn’t “soft”, per se, it can do a decent bit of line variation. The nib is stiff, but can spread a little to make a wider line. The flow keeps up (although it isn’t THAT demanding) and it performs well when adding a little flourish to my regular handwriting. Flow (8/10) Satisfaction (8/10) Rating The nib and feed on the 149 is wet and has a healthy flow. Initially, the pen skipped and could barely start due to the fact that the old feed had to be replaced, since it was apparently broken or blocked. After this, the pen works flawlessly and can keep up with fast writing for long periods of time. General reliability (19/20) Apart from the old age issues, this pen is amongst the best for daily use. Its capacity is huge, and the pen will empty this without issue. This was among the pens I chose to bring into exams with me, and it accounted for my sanity at the end of a 2-and-a-half hour history writing exam with essay style questions. When I got home, I realised that I had barely made a dent in the ink reservoir even after writing over 10 pages. Construction and Ergonomics Fit (9/10) The pen’s components fit together flawlessly. The nib and feed are perfectly aligned, as is the piston knob that closes definitely and opens when needed. The cap, when closed, has a little bit of wiggle room, although it hasn’t unscrewed on its own for me yet. Overall, a very well made pen, which of course is expected from something that costs this much, Clip (9/10) The clip works well. It supports the pen’s own weight, but isn’t over-stiff. From far away, the design seems classic, and frankly, boring. But up close, you can see the ridges on the side, as well as the subtle curvature of the clip. These small design features are what gives the clip substance and complements the pen, as opposed to detracting from the rest of the design. Posting (2/10) This pen does not post very well. The cap goes on, but falls off at the slightest provocation. Not to mention, I was scolded by a clerk (oops) when I brought it in to replace the old, broken feed, who said that their “precious resin” would be scratched. Miscellaneous (Extra thoughts) Value for money (5/10) Although this is a great pen since I got it for free, I would not be too impressed with it given the retail price. I can think of another hundred ways to spend the money, and still end up with more satisfaction than I have had with this one pen. For a second-hand price of about $400, this pen is a great addition to any collection and would be worth the price. Innovation (5/5) It’s hard to comment on a 90-year old design, but seeing as it’s still being made to this day, something was done right. The piston filler feels almost like an “innovation” amongst all these proprietary C/C designs nowadays. Image and Advertising (5/5) This is probably the most recognised pen around. I knew of it even before I got into fountain pens at all. Montblanc’s marketing department did a spectacular job, and it’s the most commented-upon pen when people do see me using it. Buying experience (4/5) Although I didn’t buy this, I went to the boutique in order to get it looked at. The staff was very professional and helpful, and didn’t try to sell me anything once I told them my purpose. They knew exactly what was wrong with the pen after filling and trying it, and I only needed to wait a short amount of time for the technician to replace the parts at a reasonable cost. Total (117/150)=78% The 149 is an iconic pen which, despite my cynicism about the brand, performed well above expectations. The story behind this pen is one that makes me feel very lucky, and I have no regrets trying it out. Naturally, I would have been more cynical if I paid the full retail price for it, but I never expected to be this impressed by a brand I thought had become a commercialised business (to be fair, it has, but at least it can still make a decent pen). I am fully satisfied with the pen’s performance and design, even if the nib isn’t as flawless as I’d have liked it to. Despite its issues, of which I’m nit-picking, the entire experience is extremely pleasant, not in the least due to how I came around to acquiring the pen in the first place.
  19. Hi, I am looking got get a big FP with a very big springy nib for every day use from general writing to signature use. I prefer brand new, even though there are great deals to be had in the used pen market because I feel the used market is risky. Also, I like the idea I was the only person who used the pen. I've reconciled with the idea of carrying a $1000 pen outside of my house. Thus, I am considering getting either a regular 149 or the 90th anniversary 149. I know most of the positive reasons to get a 149. What are reasons NOT to get the MB 149? I'll start the list: * The 149 resin is not durable to be carried outside of the house and would easily shatter when dropped
  20. Could you convert a MB Meistertuck 166 highlighter to a rollerball, ballpoint, or even a fountain pen? I've had my MB highlighter sitting in its harness for nearly two years and I've only used it a hand full of times since. But I use my RB every day.... Is it possible to convert?
  21. penswordnoassemblyrequired

    Mb Slimline

    Some years back, I treated myself to a MB Slimline to cheer myself up after losing a job. Now I would like to get a different fountain pen to use as a rembrance for this current, better time. What's the best way to sell the Mont Blanc so I can afford a Newton pen? Check ebay and see what others are going for? Any suggestions will be appreciated. I'm new to all this so bear with me while I get up to some speed.
  22. Forgive me if this has been covered before and steer me to the threads if so. I now have a few vintage Parker 51s, both Aerometrics and Vac Fillers ... Are there any modern inks that can be recommended as favorable to use in these vintage stars? Are there any that should be avoided? I like to err on the side of caution for instance, and use only MB inks (which I find superior to a great many for lots of reasons) in my Meisterstuck for instance. I would not expect to have problems using most Noodler's inks in my Ahabs and Konrads, for instance. But what about vintage Parkers? I have recently used some Sheaffer Black Scrip in a Parker 51 Special with good results and no issues. Ideas? Thanks ....
  23. Hi all, I was wondering if there was any difference in charicteristics provided by the modern production plastic feeds and the previous ebonite feeds fitted to the MB 146 and 149 range? Is the difference in flow etc. noticeable? Many thanks, Badger





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