what is a lifespan of a mont blanc meisterstuck ?

[penwala]

Just received this as a gift couple of months ago - and I was wondering - what is a lifespan of these pens?? I used a lot of fountain pens when I was child (in highschool) and almost every couple of months the nib would break or get bent or something ....

 

Is it okay if I just use this pen once in a while? I truly love the way this pen fits in my hand...absolutely love it....

 

How much does the nib cost?? - I mean - should it need replacement??

Thanks guys...

 

Please accept my apologies if my questions sound stupid as I am completely new at this.

[Benjamin McFerret]

It's not a stupid question at all. We all have to start somewhere. Your pen should last for several decades with a little bit of care. There are plenty of people who write with MB Meisterstucks from the 1950s.

 

I have no idea what a new nib will cost but it shouldn't need to be replaceed for a very long time unless you drop your pen.

 

Nice gift by the way.

 

Ben

Edited January 28, 2007 by Benjamin McFerret

[brh]

If you remember having to replace nibs every few months, there are only a few reasons I can think of for this...

 

1, they were cheap, untipped nibs that wore down quickly.. Not sure how long that would take to wear down, really, but the answer here is that the MB is a high-quality, iridium-tipped nib. Won't wear down for a looooooong time.

 

2, when you wrote you pressed down hard on them. Simple answer here is to make sure you write with a light touch, the weight of the pen itself should be all that's necessary to get ink out of the pen.

 

3, you dropped or otherwise abused your pens in high school. Not trying to call you foolish or anything like that, but I know I dropped my pens and put them through a lot of (bleep) in high school! So now you're not in high school anymore and you understand that the pen should be treated with care and respected.

 

There's really no reason not to use the pen all the time, except that if its something you really care about, the more you use it (especially in a busy hospital!) the more you increase the chance of some sort of accidental harm coming to it. But as far as writing with it, wearing it out, that should be no problem at all. Write away!

 

-brian

[superfly]

several decades, that's easy. Try several generations... If pen is well cared for, no reason why you shouldn't pass it to your children...

 

Nenad

[penwala]

thank you so much guys...I feel a lot better now

[kissing]

When appropriately used, they can last several lifetimes Seriously, feel free to use them as much as you want. A ballpoint pen is at its best when it's brand new, but for fountain pens, it's the other way round. They get better with use

[*david*]

Take good care of it, but use it. It's no good on the shelf. If you use it kindly, it will last a long long time.

[Delivered]

I had a 149 that I bought in 1974 and a 146 that I picked up in 1976. By the early 2000's both were starting to literally fall apart.

 

I repalced the nib on the 146 since I dropped it from 5ft, it landed on the nib. I never replaced or had the 149 replaced, repaired or tuned.

 

Both were dropped off at MB service which is a few miles from my home, upon their inevitable deterioration. They were restored and I sold both for more than I originally payed for them.

 

No complaints with MBs

[johnr55]

I've had my MB more than 20 years with no significant visible wear--I don't use it daily, though.

[Garageboy]

Is metal fatigue a factor?

[kissing]

Is metal fatigue a factor?

Writing with gentle pressure, and considering MBs are stiff nibs, I seriously doubt metal fatigue is a problem.

 

Never heard of a nib going bad due to metal fatigue, even in vintage pens...

[sleek_lover]

Be very careful of the "precious resin" as it has been know to spontaneously explode for no reason known to man..

 

Bill..just trying to be helpful...

[FrankB]

At my age, I make a joke about many of my "new" pens now being vintage. Seriously, I have several pens I bought new that are 30+ years old. I also have a number of vintage pens that are nearing 80-years old. A pen that is used reasonably and cared for should last, as a couple of people have already said, for generations.

[Rique]

I´ve got a Montblanc #12, made about 1962, which I bought two years ago. I use it regularly; don´t know about the previous owner. I looks almost new, and I suppose it will last longer than I will...

[Snorkel]

I regularly use vintage pens from the 1950's and even the "roaring" 1920's. They certainly don't make 'em like THAT any more. Sacks and seals can perish over time (decades - not months) but a knowledgeable person can replace them with a "service" (just like the filters and gaskets in your car).

 

So, with looking after, your pen should easily outlast you. And your car. /:)

 

Enjoy your rediscovery!