Longest production run for FP model

[simar]

Which FP model has had the longest production run ?

Is it the Parker 51 or Lamy 2000 or another ? Also which would be in second or third place ?

 

simar .

[diplomat]

If we stick to a single model/name without significative changes, I'd say the L2K is the longest (43 years and counting). Second I'd place the Aurora Hastil (39). If we include major changes, the P51 (vac/aero/MkI/II/III) can be a contender, but more than this the 149 Meisterstuck (1950s) and the Pilot Capless (1963).

 

I am interested in other answers...

[MJSchuelke]

If we include major changes, the P51 (vac/aero/MkI/II/III) can be a contender, but more than this the 149 Meisterstuck (1950s) and the Pilot Capless (1963).

 

In that case, there's also the humble Pelikano (1960).

[FrankB]

I am going off the top of my head, but wasn't the MB 149 introduced in 1924? That would be 80-some years, with some changes. Pelikan introduced the 400, or M-400?, in 1950-something. 1952, '53, '54? There have been changes, but production has been continuous, hasn't it?

 

I also recall the Parker Jotter was introduced in 1954, but you asked about FP's.

[diplomat]

I am going off the top of my head, but wasn't the MB 149 introduced in 1924? That would be 80-some years, with some changes. Pelikan introduced the 400, or M-400?, in 1950-something. 1952, '53, '54? There have been changes, but production has been continuous, hasn't it?

 

I also recall the Parker Jotter was introduced in 1954, but you asked about FP's.

 

I can't help with MB but the Pelikan 400 (1951) was not produced between the 1965 and the 1982 (with the notable exception of the Mertz und Knell produced 1973 - 1978)

 

Cheers,

[yachtsilverswan]

I am going off the top of my head, but wasn't the MB 149 introduced in 1924? That would be 80-some years, with some changes...

 

The Meisterstuck line was indeed introduced in 1924 - hence the 75th Anniversary Pens in the MB Meisterstuck Series were sold in 1999. The MB 149 is the flagship of the Meisterstuck series.

 

[twdpens]

I'm no expert but isn't the Montblanc 149 a 1950s design? In any case, it still probably makes it the model in longest continuous production.

 

Second place has to go to the Parker 45, introduced in 1960.

 

Third place; I'm not sure. Maybe the Lamy 2000? Certainly not the Parker 51 as that model range didn't quite manage 40 years.

 

Martin

[bobocat]

The longest production run for a fountain pen at the moment is Montblanc 149, started in 1952. The second longest one I think should be Parker 45, started in 1960.

Edited September 4, 2009 by bobocat

[diplomat]

Is the P45 still in production?

[twdpens]

Is the P45 still in production?

 

Can't say for certain, but it was on an order form from last year. That makes at least 48 years.

 

Martin

[jar]

I am going off the top of my head, but wasn't the MB 149 introduced in 1924? That would be 80-some years, with some changes. Pelikan introduced the 400, or M-400?, in 1950-something. 1952, '53, '54? There have been changes, but production has been continuous, hasn't it?

 

I also recall the Parker Jotter was introduced in 1954, but you asked about FP's.

 

The 149 was introduced in the 1950s. The earlier model was the 139.

[Shinchan]

Meisterstuck series was introduced in 1924, but 149 only came into the scene in 1952 as a replacement for the 139 model.

[ismellarat]

Is the P45 still in production?

From what I can tell, P45 production ended in 2006.

[simp]

I am going off the top of my head, but wasn't the MB 149 introduced in 1924? That would be 80-some years, with some changes...

 

The Meisterstuck line was indeed introduced in 1924 - hence the 75th Anniversary Pens in the MB Meisterstuck Series were sold in 1999. The MB 149 is the flagship of the Meisterstuck series.

 

Meisterstuck is just a marketing name given times to times to the top models of each period, but each one of that had their own name, and they were totally different. In 1924 there was not a "Meisterstuck Series", there was just the models 25, 35 and 45 called Meisterstück because they were the top quality production. The 149 was introduced in 1952, before that time it did not existed at all, and other models were Meisterstuck (142, 144, 146 and 139) as before there were others.

 

But because Montblanc could not celebrate just the introduction of a name they cleverly masked that talking about a "Meisterstuck Series" and presenting the 149 like it was 75 years old in 1999 (a blatant lie). They are not new to make some fakes (or more politely questionable interpretations of their history) on anniversaries, like celebrating thier 100 years in 2006, when they were founded in 1908...

 

Anyway probably the longest production run for a model is still for the 149, but it was for 57 year, not for 85.

 

Regards

Simone

 

[bobocat]

I cannot help but wonder whether the current eye-drop Namiki Emperor model should be the longest run production FP rather than the 149? The fact is this design has been used since the 1930’s and not much has changed.

 

This is a bit tricky. I have no doubt that Namiki continuingly has a lot of Maki-e pens made based on this particular fountain pen design during the last 80 years. Nevertheless, can we say all the different Maki-e pens, with different themes, based on this “design” and shape belong to one single “model/collection”? I do not know.

 

In terms of Parker 45, I am pretty sure that Parker 45's production in the UK closed in 2006/07, but I am not so sure whether Parker would move the 45 production to China.

 

My theory is: Parker in China is a very different story. The Parker pen company in Shanghai make and sell many products that do not exist in markets outside China. Parker produces Quink black ink with a different formula in China for the local market only. They also make Penman ink and low-end Sonnet in China [both only available in China] when Parker officials claims that all their products are made in either in England or France. It is just a guess, but I would not be surprised if they produce Parker 45 in China as it is a very popular model there.

 

[simp]

I cannot help but wonder whether the current eye-drop Namiki Emperor model should be the longest run production FP rather than the 149? The fact is this design has been used since the 1930’s and not much has changed.

 

This is a bit tricky. I have no doubt that Namiki continuingly has a lot of Maki-e pens made based on this particular fountain pen design during the last 80 years. Nevertheless, can we say all the different Maki-e pens, with different themes, based on this “design” and shape belong to one single “model/collection”? I do not know.

Yes, that's a good point!

I was wandering just the same thing yesterday, but as you said it's not easy to tell if these pens can belong to a single series. They can called Maki-e pens, but I don't know if they had some more specific brand name, so I hope that some Pilot expert could bring some more info about these...

 

Simone

[ruud2904]

And what about the Parker Duofold ? The 1920's model stopped at a certain point in time, the model changed and changed back again. The present models sure look like the vintage Duofolds and are still called Duofold. I don't think it has been longer in production than the 80 years just mentioned. But still an impressive period of time.....

 

Ruud

[OcalaFlGuy]

The longest production run for a fountain pen at the moment is Montblanc 149, started in 1952. The second longest one I think should be Parker 45, started in 1960.

 

 

 

From what I can tell, P45 production ended in 2006.

 

 

And what about the Parker Duofold ? The 1920's model stopped at a certain point in time, the model changed and changed back again. The present models sure look like the vintage Duofolds and are still called Duofold. I don't think it has been longer in production than the 80 years just mentioned. But still an impressive period of time.....

 

Ruud

 

Richard's site says a 46 year production run for the P-45 so it seems 1960-2006 is the span.

 

Ruud brings up a very good point.

 

I really don't know much about the MB 149 but I am curious as to how much it has changed since the 50's. The P-45 really only had very minor cosmetic changes along the way. Other than different finishes, I'm guessing tassel treatments were the main thing played around with. (And then there's that black domed atrocity... )

 

One thing about the P-45 that baffles me is the apparent shortage of replacement 14k nibs. It was touted for it's nib changeability. In a 46 year run there should be (like Esties) metric buttloads of P-45 nibs around but not so (at least in 14kt) that I can tell. You see the steel ones now and then and the final production UK gold plated ones but I don't see any sizeable amounts of the 14k nibs. :blink:

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

[jniforat]

though it's not the longest, the Vanishing Point has been around for sometime, hasn't it?

[welch]

I think the P45 was stopped in 2006 or 07. Certainly it's not in the "lineup" at Parker's web-site. If Parker has a factory in China brewing up Penman Sapphire, then Sanford/Newell is losing sales in the rest of the world. They could probably sell it at $35 a bottle, just like Pilot Iroshi.

 

(Of course I wish Parker still made the 45, and some version of the 51 or the c/c version of the '61 (with tougher plastic).

Edited July 16, 2010 by welch