Frank About Montblanc

[jaime cazador]

I just joined your forum and I am intrigued enough to want a fountain pen even though my writing is an abomination. I'm about to push the buy button for a Bexley but I'm curious about Montblanc pens. They have a great deal of history, perhaps because of advertising but perhaps they are a great pen. I just don't know. So, what's the scoop with Montblancs? Are they timelessly stylish and great writers or are they an over priced hype or, none of the above?..Thanks, Jaime Cazador

[jar]

First, welcome home.

 

Montblanc are very good pens, but there are many such makes today, probably more such companies than at any time in history. Some folk love them, others do not.

 

Bexley is another newer but very good make.

 

Then there are Cartier, Edison, Conway Stewart, Aurora, OMAS, Montegrappa, Waterman, Parker, Sheaffer, Caran D'Ache, Yard-o-Led, Pelikan, Visconti, Graf von Faber Castell, Dunhill, ...

 

AbE:

 

And how could I forget to mention ST Dupont.

Edited July 29, 2011 by jar

[andybiotic]

I think they ARE a bit overpriced but at the same time, they ARE very good writers... I've only have one MB but it is one of my smoothest and highest quality writer. You are buying their great name as well as the pen itself, but sometime you can find second hand ones for a reasonable price here on fpn.

 

You may have sparked a war between the MB lovers and haters....

[torstar]

I think they ARE a bit overpriced but at the same time, they ARE very good writers... I've only have one MB but it is one of my smoothest and highest quality writer. You are buying their great name as well as the pen itself, but sometime you can find second hand ones for a reasonable price here on fpn.

 

You may have sparked a war between the MB lovers and haters....

 

 

 

So your emotions and feelings should dictate what MB pens cost?

[dds51968]

I once thought the very same thing of Mont Blanc's, however after owning several, I'm pleased to say they are truly well made pens and outstanding writers. As others have said, they are not the beginning nor the end in FP's, but they are excellent and well deserving of their reputation, at full retail they are grossly overpriced but, second hand you could find them at a very reasonable price point. It is important to note that second hand FP's are generally very well taken care of, thus you get a pen that is like new for a fraction of the price. I am also a huge fan of Pelikan's, they are also very well made, excellent writers, and even new they can be gotten at very reasonable prices.

 

Welcome aboard and good luck with your purchase !

 

David

Edited July 29, 2011 by dds51968

[tonybelding]

Are they timelessly stylish and great writers or are they an over priced hype or, none of the above?

 

Probably both. They're timelessly stylish and great writers, but also over-priced and over-hyped.

 

There are many other brands out there -- like Bexley -- that are also stylish and great writers but without that much pretentiousness.

[orfew]

I have several MBs and I love them. However, they are not for everyone. I have bought them new and used. The benefit of a new pen is that you ge to try out multiple nibs in the store to see what feels right to you. The benefit of a used oen is tha you can get a great pen for a great price. You can find some MBs in the classified section and they could be more than half off the full retail price. The nice thing is that new or used a montblanc will maintain value over the years. Some MB vintage collectors are quite ...ethusiastic over certain models. The value of some will in fact increase over the years. IMHO they are very smooth writers and may last a lifetime. The other factor is that the MB service shops are very good and the service charge, around 80.00, is charged for most repairs. In some cases most of the pen has been replaced for the same charge.

 

To sum up, they are good writers and reliable. It all depends on your tastes and preferences.

 

OOPS, one more thing watch out for mB fakes. Certain models are faked more than others. For more info check out the mB thread on this board.

Edited July 29, 2011 by orfew

[ershen]

I used to think I would never own a MB because I perceived them to be over-priced. When I finally broke down and decided to purchase my first MB FP I quickly determined their reputation for making quality writing instruments is well deserved and I instantly fell in love with them. Now I own several and believe value is more than price.

 

I can tell you that my MB 144 writes as well as both my 146 and all three equally write as well as my 149. So I would get whatever is in your price range but be forewarned - once you buy one it won't be your last MB purchase.

 

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29435008/PEN001.JPG

Edited July 29, 2011 by ershen

[rwilsonedn]

Welcome!

MBs have both happy owners and furious owners. They are decent pens, but not, in the opinion of many, so wonderful as to justify their prices. Others are happy to pay the prices for whatever reason. So there's no clear-cut answer.

However, I would suggest that if you are new to fountain pens, you not start out with an MB, for several reasons. First, that's a lot of money to spend on something that you may decide is no better than a good roller-ball for you. Second, MBs tend to be a bit fragile, so they might not be the best pens to start with if you are just getting used to a fountain pen. Third, there is a sort of mindset that seems to go with being a happy MB owner that is not conducive to appreciating the many other wonderful pens out there. It might be better to explore your new world first, and then decide if the price and implied prestige of a MB is really what you want.

It's a rather personal decision.

ron

[JonSzanto]

Rats. I saw the thread and thought Sinatra would be weighing in on overpriced pens.

 

Nonetheless, welcome to a gigantic bunch of pen enthusiasts joined across the aeither by electrons.

[jaime cazador]

Thanks for all of your thoughtful input..gonna get a Bexley and hold on the MB yil I learn how to write with a pen..many pages from now..Jaime

[ttakacs]

You could purchase a used MB here and write with it for several months and most likely resell it for what you paid.

[andybiotic]

So your emotions and feelings should dictate what MB pens cost?

 

The cost of any product should be based upon the market's demand and customers' emotions and feelings toward it reflect just that and I AM a customer, so in a sense, yes, but it is the emotions and feelings of the majority of the customers not just mine.

 

Isn't that why there is a customer's feedback department of some sorts and the marketing team in all major companies? So they can learn what is our emotion and how we feel about their products and that dictates the quality, design and cost?

Edited July 29, 2011 by andybiotic

[AtomicLeo]

I just joined your forum and I am intrigued enough to want a fountain pen even though my writing is an abomination. I'm about to push the buy button for a Bexley but I'm curious about Montblanc pens. They have a great deal of history, perhaps because of advertising but perhaps they are a great pen. I just don't know. So, what's the scoop with Montblancs? Are they timelessly stylish and great writers or are they an over priced hype or, none of the above?..Thanks, Jaime Cazador

 

 

I caught the fountain pen bug 3 years ago and I could not imagine paying *that* much for pen. But last year, a conversation with a dealer who specializes in vintage pens made me re-think my stance. He pointed out that one of my favorite pens, a full size Sailor 1911, is actually a homage to a MB 146 and the 146 was a piston fill.

 

Last month I won a used 146 on Ebay. It is a wonderful pen. It's the perfect weight and size. Now I would not pay retail price for a new one, but there are plenty of used MB 146 (and 149!) to be found at $250-350. In that price range, the pen is certainly worth the extra money. IMO, if you are looking to spend $300 or more, a used MB should be on your short list.

[Yaniel]

I think they ARE a bit overpriced but at the same time, they ARE very good writers... I've only have one MB but it is one of my smoothest and highest quality writer. You are buying their great name as well as the pen itself, but sometime you can find second hand ones for a reasonable price here on fpn.

 

You may have sparked a war between the MB lovers and haters....

 

 

 

So your emotions and feelings should dictate what MB pens cost?

 

Yes, thats how the market works.

[HT in NYC]

MB are excellent pens, they are well made and usually trouble free. But, having a Mercedes is not a cheap pleasure.

Edited July 29, 2011 by lbcyclist

[Martius]

As far as brand new MB's go, you can get a pen of equal quality for half the price if you investigate Pelikan or the major Japanese manufacturers - not to mention Bexley, which produces very high-quality pens. I don't consider MB Meisterstuecks to be particularly beautiful, but I do own a 1970's 149 and enjoy using it. It is one of the thickest pens out there, so if you enjoy large pens, the 149 is something to consider. However, Bexley makes a very fine pen, and in my opinion offers a much more interesting variety of design than MB. Bexleys write and function *at least* as well as MB's and are cheaper between comparable models, so my money's on Bexley.

[piembi]

There are many good pens out there and MBs belong to the good ones.

 

I was dreaming of a MB Meisterstück for many years until I got my first one pre owned. It's a good pen but I had to realize that I love my MB 14 more than the 146. I simply prefer 1950s/1960s fountainpens and got some more vintage ones.

 

My advice: look for a used pen. You can find a very good deal. By now I have all the pens I had dreamed of in the 1980s, all of them used (e.g. MB 146, Pelikan M800, Parker Duofold, Waterman MAN, Lamy Persona). Some of them did meet my expectations, others did not. That's ok with the prices I have paid for the pens.

[olivier78860]

I own several Montblanc pens.

- The pencil I have (Meisterstück) is ok, no more, no less.

- The ballpoint (same) is ok. Refills are very good writing, but same can be said about S.T. Dupont, and much, much better than Waterman or Parker. But then again, it's more the refill that I praise, so it's not completely about the pen.

- I used to have a Noblesse Oblige ballpoint, it was nice. Lost it 20 years ago, I'm still quite sad about it. It was very funny to put it to pieces and completely reconstruct it when I was bored at school.

- The LeGrand Meisterstück roller and the LeGrand ballpoint are a disgrace. The trims are completely oxydized after 10 years, and refills tend to lose ink, ink which takes far too long to dry once on paper (roller). The regular Meisterstück pencil and ballpoint are far older but not degraded to that level.

The LeGrand ballpoint smells of bad metal rotting, literally.

- The first fountain pen I got is an old 254 from the 50's, I inherited from my grandfather. It's an ok pen, the nib is flexible and smooth.

- The second pen fountain pen is a pre 1995 Montblanc 149, I bought new in 1995. The nib is EF, and is a pleasure to write with; a bit flexible, very smooth, it helped improving my writing. Fragile pen (I had problems with the cap), but very nice overall. Wouldn't trade it.

- The last (and I think, in all meanings) MB pen I got is an Edgar Allan Poe limited edition, with a M nib. Not very satisfying, the ink flow is kind of random, the nib is not very comfortable.

 

I'm pretty sure most vintage MBs are good.

 

Now my opinion about new MB pens : some bling, lots of marketing, more bling, and a ridiculous amount of more bling.

 

Now I am more interested by Pelikan pens (I wouldn't trade my M1000 for a dozen Starwalkers), Dupont FPs, or Waterman Edson or Man100. And as I want a true masterpiece, I'll get a custom Nakaya pen next year.

 

I'll leave new MBs to fanboys and fashion victims.

Edited July 29, 2011 by olivier78860

[mongrelnomad]

They are exceptional pens - definitely as good as, but probably no better, than other top-tier companies.

 

The difference is that with the huge marketing machine behind them, they are one of the few companies with any kudos outside our little esoteric community.

 

For other top-end companies, from experience I'd advise Pelikan, Conway Stewart, Pilot, Sailor and Omas (as well as Montblanc). I'd advise you to try and handle each - they their own distinct feel, and chances are you'll click with one more than the others. At least to start

 

Truth is, though, you can never go wrong with a 146...

Edited July 29, 2011 by mongrelnomad