Mclaren Carbon Fiber: History?

[Teabag2010]

I have a McLaren Carbon Fiber fountain pen, one of the most interesting pens I've had a chance to personally inspect. I have never written with it unfortunately (selling it for a friend of mine, and it has never been used), but I find myself curious as to its history. I searched the forum and found the only post about this pen. It mentioned it was made for a car racing company, but by whom? It's lovely and a bit intriguing, with the metal and "rubber" combination (the O shaped rings on the nib side of the pen). I don't have any pictures of the one I have, but here's a picture of the exact pen I'm referring to:

 

McLaren Carbon Fiber Fountian Pen

 

If it's possible, I'd like to find out who made it for the company. Also, if any of you have owned, do own, or have written with one of these interesting fountain pens, what was the experience like? The flow of the ink? Maybe anything else you'd like to add.

 

Thanks.

 

~J

[jar]

Well, McLaren would be the car company. Just seems wrong somehow to be connected to McLaren and not in their International Orange Can-Am colors.

 

No idea who made them or if it was just the name was licensed.

[Carrie]

Wish I could remember what season they were produced. I've a feeling I might have some magazines with adverts for that pen, but the magazines are back at my parent's house in Lancashire so won't be able to check them .

A little mention of the pen here https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/48377-mclaren-carbon-fiber-roller-ball/page__view__findpost__p__495268 but doesn't name the actual company who made them.

[Teabag2010]

Well, McLaren would be the car company. Just seems wrong somehow to be connected to McLaren and not in their International Orange Can-Am colors.

 

No idea who made them or if it was just the name was licensed.

That's what I thought. I can't seem to find any information on this pen, other than what I can obviously see with my eyes. My friend keeps it in a Parker box, oddly enough. I have no idea where the original box is, or what it even looks like. How much would one of these pens go for, anyways? I've heard anywhere from $400-$1400. Why would someone purchase a pen they know nothing about? I like the pen, and wouldn't mind owning it. I just would like to "get to know it" before I make a commitment.

 

Gosh, this sounds like a marriage.

[Teabag2010]

Wish I could remember what season they were produced. I've a feeling I might have some magazines with adverts for that pen, but the magazines are back at my parent's house in Lancashire so won't be able to check them .

A little mention of the pen here https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/48377-mclaren-carbon-fiber-roller-ball/page__view__findpost__p__495268 but doesn't name the actual company who made them.

I did read that thread, thank you for posting it though. It's the only thing I can seem to find with any details of the pen. You would think that the company would be proud enough of the pen to make the information available, or at least accessible (IF it exists! I am having my doubts).

[bugmd]

I have one with the titanium body and carbon fiber cap. They also make an all titanium version. I do not know who made the pen although I think the nibs are Bock. The pens were the 700, 800, 850 and the 900 IIRC. They were limited runs and really do not see them very often. I hankered for one when they first came out but did not manage to score one until last year.

 

Airline International did have some images of these pens but they are no longer up.

 

As far as prices go, really hard to tell. This is clipped from a sales board post back in 2009.

 

1. MFP-900 Carbon Fibre Fountain pen- Pressure molded carbon-fibre cap, barrel, precision engineered titanium nib section with the McLaren trademark “O” ring grip, 18 carat gold bi-color nib, Medium nib. Retail $1250.00

2. MFP-850 Titanium Fountain Pen. Designed to look like an engine piece with the grooved “air-cooled” look from pure Titanium, excellent balance, trademark “O” ring grip and a bi-color 18carat gold nib, Broad Nib. Retail: $1150.00

3. MFP-800 Fountain Pen - Pure Titanium cap, barrel and nib section with a striking “Ti-Nitride” coating giving it dramatic looks, trademark “O” ring grip and color with a Rhodinated solid 18 carat gold nib, Medium Nib. Retail $1050.00

4. MRB-600 Roller Ball- Precision solid Titanium body and cap with the trademark “O” ring grip. Excellent balance uses easy to find standard roller refills. Retail $650.00

5. MBR-500 Ball Point- Precision solid titanium body and cap, trademark “O” ring grip, uses standard refill. Retail: $450.00

 

There was also one listed on the British 'bay recently, the version that I have.

Item # 170602575689

 

BTW, think I paid about 350 USD for mine, used with boxes and papers.

Edited March 2, 2011 by bugmd

[Freddy]

I have McLaren catalog that Steve Light gave me...10/12 years ago(??)..on the back "Manufactured exclusively

 

under licence from McLaren International Limited by TML, PO Box 408, Norwich NR13 3HR, England."

 

Found TML at My link..perhaps they made the pens..

 

Edited to correct link.

Edited March 2, 2011 by Freddy

[twdpens]

When McLaren pulled the plug the remaining parts, materials and tooling were put up for sale on the Zoss list. I know this because I considered buying it. Must have been around 2005-6. A search of the Zoss archives (if they go back that far) might pull up some info.

 

HTH,

 

Martin

[milkb0at]

It's a nice looking pen and I live very near to the McLaren Technology Centre so I'm probably a fan by default. It's handy for me that (a) they were expensive and ( they are no longer made, as otherwise I'd try to hunt one down.

[magnet]

When they first came out I was interested but they are very expensive. I have McLaren's Racing Line magazine going back several years and I think they did a small article about those pens when they were first introduced. If it had some kind of carbon fiber layup with some more McLaren branding, I might have been tempted to spend the money. McLaren used to have more branded merchandise like those pens - pens, paper, notepads, etc. They concentrate mostly on clothing items now, wearable items for McLaren fans. At least the carbon fiber is real - which is often not the case with items called "carbon fiber".

[rviaene]

Dear All,

 

Can anybody please inform me where I can buy the refill rollerball for my pen in attachment? I'm a Mclaren fan and I got this pen as a gift. Can anybody inform about the type, value, history?

 

 

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Ruben

[rabernathy]

Ruben,

 

These will hold a standard Schmidt rollerball refill but my personal favorite is to trim a G2 refill just a little and it fits perfectly.

[FlighterGuy]

A McLaren MFP-900 Carbon Fibre Fountain Pen has just surfaced. Mint, uninked, tube and paperwork. I put it up on the Michigan Pen Club website (www.michpens.com)