MB 149 from the 80s

[ianyer]

I'm new to this forum so forgive me if this topic is already somewhere on the forum. I have a MB 149 that I got back in the early to mid 80s. I have rarely used it and mostly use roller ball pens as i have quite a few of those in my collection. I only have six fountain pens and seldom fill them to use them. I take good care of the fountain pens and never let them sit with ink or dry out. Anyway I was thinking of selling my MB 149 as it is never used, it is in excellent condition and I could use the funds to add to my collection. I was told by a friend who is a pen fanatic that he thinks the MB 149 is a knock off. I've checked the pen with other 149s on the net and all of the details are exact except for one point. The clip on the cap only says GERMANY on the top of the clip. My friend tells me that the 149 should have a serial number on the clip. 149s I've seen on the net (at least the more modern ones) all have serial numbers on the clips as well as the word GERMANY. I'm not sure if serial numbers were used back then or even if knock offs were made back in the 80s. I paid approximately $400 for the pen at the time and had no reason to suspect it might be a fake. I no longer have the box or receipt so I guess I'm a little worried that I might have been ripped off all those years ago. All the details of the nib and pen such as the writing around the base of the cap and the markings on the nib seem to match exactly the pens I have seen on the Internet.

 

Does anyone know if serial numbers were used that far back and how I might be able to tell if this is a real 149 or a copy? If it will help in authenticating the pen, I can add photos of the pen and nib.

 

I appreciate any advice you can give me. Thanks for your time and consideration.

[mandrakedar]

I'm new to this forum so forgive me if this topic is already somewhere on the forum. I have a MB 149 that I got back in the early to mid 80s. I have rarely used it and mostly use roller ball pens as i have quite a few of those in my collection. I only have six fountain pens and seldom fill them to use them. I take good care of the fountain pens and never let them sit with ink or dry out. Anyway I was thinking of selling my MB 149 as it is never used, it is in excellent condition and I could use the funds to add to my collection. I was told by a friend who is a pen fanatic that he thinks the MB 149 is a knock off. I've checked the pen with other 149s on the net and all of the details are exact except for one point. The clip on the cap only says GERMANY on the top of the clip. My friend tells me that the 149 should have a serial number on the clip. 149s I've seen on the net (at least the more modern ones) all have serial numbers on the clips as well as the word GERMANY. I'm not sure if serial numbers were used back then or even if knock offs were made back in the 80s. I paid approximately $400 for the pen at the time and had no reason to suspect it might be a fake. I no longer have the box or receipt so I guess I'm a little worried that I might have been ripped off all those years ago. All the details of the nib and pen such as the writing around the base of the cap and the markings on the nib seem to match exactly the pens I have seen on the Internet.

 

Does anyone know if serial numbers were used that far back and how I might be able to tell if this is a real 149 or a copy? If it will help in authenticating the pen, I can add photos of the pen and nib.

 

I appreciate any advice you can give me. Thanks for your time and consideration.

 

If the pen was made prior to circa 1990(I believe) and it is not a limited edition, it will not have a serial number. If the nib has 4810 and (should be) 18k/ an M and 750 on the nib you should be ok. I have seen recent knockoffs that are close to being 100% identical.(accent on recent)

 

*edit* I forgot to mention, prior to 1989(circa) the pen should be stamped W-GERMANY.(something to do with the Berlin wall) (reference please!)

Edited January 7, 2010 by mandrakedar

[meiers]

Why don't you post photos of your pen? (detailed and in focus)

We could look at it and give you some advice.

 

Serial numbers were only used starting in the nineties, I believe.

 

 

Matt

[mandrakedar]

Why don't you post photos of your pen? (detailed and in focus)

We could look at it and give you some advice.

 

Serial numbers were only used starting in the nineties, I believe.

 

 

Matt

 

Yes, that is a great idea. Specifically nib closeups.(why do I feel like a pervert all of a sudden)

Edited January 7, 2010 by mandrakedar

[niksch]

Serial numbers were introduced ca 1990-1, but are not a good way to determine authenticity of a MB pen. Pictures would help, but your explanation seems sufficient to me. And if your pen is from the early 80s as you believe, the original clip will not have a serial number. Clips are the least reliable way to determine production dates of MB pens. Many clips that are from before 1989 are stamped GERMANY and not engraved W GERMANY. If this is an early 1980s 149 as believed, the nib will have either an 18C or a 14C on it. Georges will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe we generally place the converson to "K" from "C" in the mid-80s. Also, check the piston threads, and I'll bet they are resin and not brass.

[ianyer]

Thanks for all the information. I'm feeling more confident now. I will take some pictures over the weekend and post them for clarification. Thanks again.

[jimk]

I bought a 149 of ebay a few years ago. It had some paperwork recording a purchase date of January 1982, from Fahrney's. The nib is marked 14C. The cap is engraved "GERMANY".

[georges zaslavsky]

Serial numbers were introduced ca 1990-1, but are not a good way to determine authenticity of a MB pen. Pictures would help, but your explanation seems sufficient to me. And if your pen is from the early 80s as you believe, the original clip will not have a serial number. Clips are the least reliable way to determine production dates of MB pens. Many clips that are from before 1989 are stamped GERMANY and not engraved W GERMANY. If this is an early 1980s 149 as believed, the nib will have either an 18C or a 14C on it. Georges will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe we generally place the converson to "K" from "C" in the mid-80s. Also, check the piston threads, and I'll bet they are resin and not brass.

correct Niksch, the conversation from the letter k to c on the nib engraving appeared in late 1986-early 1987 and the nibs were not of the same shape as they used to be.

Edited January 8, 2010 by georges zaslavsky

[ianyer]

Thanks for all the responses. I have some updated information and some photos. My wife reminded me that I acquired this pen after I had changed jobs in the late 80s. Most likely this pen was purchased in 1988 although it could be anywhere between late 87 and the end of 1989.

 

Here's a photo of the pen:

 

 

Here's a close up of the nib:

 

 

Here is a close up of the feeder:

 

 

Here's a picture of the cap:

 

 

The band at the top of the cap says "GERMANY". It was hard to get a good shot of it but here is the best I could do:

 

 

Here is the band at the bottom of the cap where it states "No 149":

 

 

Here's a picture of the resin threads on the filler:

 

 

One last pictures showing the reservoir window:

 

 

 

I couldn't quite figure out how to imbed the pictures into the message so I hope this works. Any information you can give to confirm or deny the authenticity of this pen is appreciated.

[jar]

Everything I see in the pictures points to a pen from after the mid to late 80s.

[georges zaslavsky]

Everything I see in the pictures points to a pen from after the mid to late 80s.

Same for me

[Barry Gabay]

I agree with the observations above. Great photos by the way. The 14K (not C) nib with ebonite feed and resin threads was sold in North America from 1985/86 through 1990/91 when threads switched to brass and feed was switched to plastic. Very pretty pen!

[meiers]

This pen is a genuine 149.

How does it write?

 

Matt

 

 

[ianyer]

Thanks for all the information and authenticating the pen for me. I haven’t written with it for a number of years so I’m not sure how it writes. Since I am thinking of selling it, I’m not sure I want to ink it. However, I was thinking of dipping the pen just to get a writing sample to use for the sale. Would inking or dipping the pen (since it has been inked three or four times over the years) have an effect on the value of the pen? Also, in the close up pictures the pen appears to have some micro-scratches which are not evident to the naked eye. Is there something I could use to clean up and polish the pen that will not harm the finish? Lastly, given the history and condition of the pen (as shown in the photos) would anyone have a fair estimate of what the value might be?

 

I appreciate all of the help from this forum. You guys have been great and it is admirable that you are willing to share your expertise with a novice like me. Thanks again.

[Barry Gabay]

Yes, by all means; ink it. Filling will totally diminish it's value. Send that beauty to me right now. I'll give you a few bucks for it, and we'll both be happy. Just kidding. Dipping will determine smoothness of the nib. Filling will give a true test of flow properties. No one buying a 25 yr old pen should object to it's being filled and used a bit more before purchasing. In fact, you are doing a favor for all potential buyers who will want to know about its smoothness and flow, as well as seeing a writing sample. It's a beauty. Good luck with your sale.

[meiers]

Yes, by all means; ink it. Filling will totally diminish it's value. Send that beauty to me right now. I'll give you a few bucks for it, and we'll both be happy. Just kidding. Dipping will determine smoothness of the nib. Filling will give a true test of flow properties. No one buying a 25 yr old pen should object to it's being filled and used a bit more before purchasing. In fact, you are doing a favor for all potential buyers who will want to know about its smoothness and flow, as well as seeing a writing sample. It's a beauty. Good luck with your sale.

 

Good point! Pens are meant to be used.

 

Barry... thank you for the amazing article you wrote and shared with us here at FPN. What a labour of love !!!