New Here (I Just Purchased A Vintage Mb 144 Celluloid)

[PerryJ]

Greetings all,

 

I have been around FPN for a couple of months now and purchased my first fountain pen (Pilot Metro) and some J. Herbin ECS. Love both of them! With Christmas coming up my mother-in-law wanted to buy me a new pen (since I'm loving fp's, I had a $100 limit and almost bought a Pelikan M205. Just before I did I was browsing MB classifieds everywhere I could find. (I bought a MB 164 ballpoint which I LOVED, so figured I would look a MB fountain pen since I loved my ballpoint.)

 

I came across this vintage 144 celluloid on the E-pay and I figured it was in my price range so I grabbed it for $120

 

Did I do ok?

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Montblanc-Meisterstuck-144-Vintage-Early-50s-1950-Celluloid-/151477413304?nma=true&si=lRgp2zK3cfyT9tySjK2%252Fq%252BGNaGM%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

(I know it has a cracked cap, (get to that in a moment)

 

Does it look like a nice pen? (The owner said it was in a desk that he bought when he purchased an older house.)

 

 

So my questions are......

 

Did I do ok?

 

Look like a good pen?

 

If I send it into MB for the overhaul service.......(I'm not that concerned with them replacing parts as I just want a pen to use daily that will serve me for many years, not planning on becoming a collector ;-)

 

I would like the cap replaced, (with it being a 1950's what will they replace it with???) Do they have NOS caps or will a modern 144-145 cap fit?

 

Also if I would like all plastic parts replaced, barrel etc.....do the have those from old pens or a new model parts fit ?

 

I'm not keen on carrying 65 year old celluloid barrel in my pocket as I hear they can be thin and brittle......?

 

As for as inks I love brights blues will the the J. Herbin saphir I have be ok with this older pen, and I'll also try the MB royal blue...would these be ok for the pen?

 

Anything else I should know about it ? Using? First inking it up?

 

 

Thanks all for you time, can't wait to join in the fun around here!!!

Edited November 24, 2014 by PerryJ

[JLS1]

Congratulations on the purchase - I have a 144 from the same era which is one of my favourite writers! FWIW, I think you did very well price-wise, especially for one that is in pretty good condition.

 

As for some of your questions:

- MB will NOT service a 144 from the 1950's but there you can find lots of people on FPN that will overhaul the telescopic piston, do recorking, etc. I've used Francis (AKA Fountainbel) and can vouch for his expertise (no affiliation, just a very satisfied customer)

- parts from a modern 144 will not fit your 1950's 144; they are very different pens. Max Schrage & Francis do have replacement parts, but the phrase 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' applies here.

- IMHO, the chip in the cap is pretty small and could be 'patched' if you can't find a replacement; what I would be more concerned about is the upper/lower cap rings since celluloid shrinks over time and these rings become loose.

- I've used Iroshizuku, J. Herbin & MB inks in my vintage MBs without any issues but I would avoid inks that are known to stain ink windows (Noodler's Bay State Blue is the one you'll hear most often)

- check whether the pen was filled/used recently (looks like it); if it's been a while, you may need to rehydrate the cork by flushing the pen w/water and waiting 12-24 hours before filling with ink. Otherwise, the pen may not fill completely and/or ink may run behind the cork (huge mess on your hands - literally!)

 

Let us know how the pen works out for you and welcome to the vintage MB club!

[jar]

MB will not overhaul the pen and you should not send it to them.

 

 

I would like the cap replaced, (with it being a 1950's what will they replace it with???) Do they have NOS caps or will a modern 144-145 cap fit?

 

 

No they will not have NOS caps and no new ones will fit.

 

 

Also if I would like all plastic parts replaced, barrel etc.....do the have those from old pens or a new model parts fit ?

 

 

No, they will have no parts for that pen and no parts from new pens will fit.

 

 

I'm not keen on carrying 65 year old celluloid barrel in my pocket as I hear they can be thin and brittle......?

 

 

Carry it is your shirt pocket. It is neither thin nor brittle.

 

As for as inks I love brights blues will the the J. Herbin saphir I have be ok with this older pen, and I'll also try the MB royal blue...would these be ok for the pen?

 

 

 

Most inks from major producers should be fine.

 

 

Anything else I should know about it ? Using? First inking it up?

 

Start with water. It has a two stage piston so you will feel a detente as the second stage engages.

 

It will likely need to be overhauls but Montblanc is not the place to consider. If we know where you are we can probably make suggestions of where to send it.

 

 

 

[PerryJ]

Great thanks !

 

 

Here was part of the description, I don't know if you could still see the original listing,

 

 

The pen writes beautifully and doesn´t

leak ink. I think the nib must be M.
It is in good used condition with small
scratches here and there which are hard
to see. No brassing at all. Piston mechanism
works perfectly. Great addition to any collection.

 

 

I definitely would like to keep it as "vintage" as possible, I really like older things and just think of the stories this pen has living the first 60+ plus of it's life in rural West Germany.

 

I'm located in Alabama so what's my best choice for getting the cap repaired/replaced? and how much would something like that cost? Also what about a cork replacement? cost?

 

Or what would a complete service cost on something like this from one of the mentioned people? I can't spend hundreds of dollars on it ;-)

 

 

 

Also how will I know if if needs anything replaced? new cork?? (might be a dumb question haha)

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the replies so far!

Edited November 24, 2014 by PerryJ

[SkylarKnight]

May I only ask, why did you buy a pen when you want it's body replaced? A better bet for you would be to purchase a MB nib unit, find a pen body that would fit well, and assemble it. I suppose that would be much cheaper and more suitable for you. Eitherways, congrats on the purchase.

[PerryJ]

May I only ask, why did you buy a pen when you want it's body replaced? A better bet for you would be to purchase a MB nib unit, find a pen body that would fit well, and assemble it. I suppose that would be much cheaper and more suitable for you. Eitherways, congrats on the purchase.

 

 

I don't want anything replaced, only if anything HAS to be, only thing is at some point I would like the cap repaired ;-) I'm hoping NOTHING needs done.

Edited November 24, 2014 by PerryJ

[JLS1]

Here's what I'd do to check the cork - the experts will chime in if I'm wrong:

 

You'll know if it needs a new cork by filling the pen with water (first) and seeing whether it pulls up anything? If it does fill, see how much water got pulled into the pen - just a couple of drops or more? (You might have to flush & refill a few times over a 24 hour period if the cork is dehydrated...)

 

If the pen fills with water (and it sounds like it should from the description), I would try leaving the pen body sitting w/nib pointed upwards in a cup with a paper towel for 24 hours to see if the cork manages to keeps the water in the pen. If the paper towel is dry after a few hours the cork is probably OK and you can fill the pen with ink. OTOH, if the paper towel is soaked with water (likely colored with some residual ink), you might need to have your pen re-corked since the cork didn't hold the water and it seeped out the back via the piston.

 

Does this help?

[PerryJ]

Here's what I'd do to check the cork - the experts will chime in if I'm wrong:

 

You'll know if it needs a new cork by filling the pen with water (first) and seeing whether it pulls up anything? If it does fill, see how much water got pulled into the pen - just a couple of drops or more? (You might have to flush & refill a few times over a 24 hour period if the cork is dehydrated...)

 

If the pen fills with water (and it sounds like it should from the description), I would try leaving the pen body sitting w/nib pointed upwards in a cup with a paper towel for 24 hours to see if the cork manages to keeps the water in the pen. If the paper towel is dry after a few hours the cork is probably OK and you can fill the pen with ink. OTOH, if the paper towel is soaked with water (likely colored with some residual ink), you might need to have your pen re-corked since the cork didn't hold the water and it seeped out the back via the piston.

 

Does this help?

Yes thanks sooo much. As soon as it arrives I'll take better pics and let you know what I find ;-)

Thanks !

Edited November 24, 2014 by PerryJ

[Michael R.]

You did well regarding the price.

 

From what I can tell the pen might need a good flush, maybe a new cork seal for the piston mechanism and a cap lip repair.

 

I don't know where you are located but in Germany this can be done by a professional Montblanc expert and you would still stay below the price of any modern MB fountain pen :-)

 

MB from this period usually are great writers and of very solid construction and can be used in daily life without worrying too much.

 

Hope you'll enjoy your new pen.

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[PerryJ]

I'm in the southern USA (Alabama)

[CS388]

Yeah, saw that one. You did well, it's a great price for a celluloid 144.

 

From the description, I'd imagine it should write and that you won't have to do anything with it - except fill it and write with it.

Don't worry about the cracked/chipped cap. This will never be a pristine collector's pen, but it could be your everyday user and could easily become your favourite pen, very quickly.

My celluloid 144 has had a cracked cap for years. It's one of my favourite pens and probably has my best nib.

 

Let us know how you get on, once it arrives.

 

Enjoy

[PerryJ]

 

From the description, I'd imagine it should write and that you won't have to do anything with it - except fill it and write with it.

 

 

Yes I'm hoping I think it's awesome, and it's many years older than me already. I have a 7 year old daughter who is very artistic and already loves to write with my other fountain pen and has even requested her own for Christmas this year. So it'll be really nice if I can give this to her one day and then she keeps it for many years and passes it to her kids.

 

 

 

 

Carry it is your shirt pocket. It is neither thin nor brittle.

 

 

 

I don't generally wear shirts with pockets except to church, I'm in grad school so most of my shirts are polos in the summer and fleeces in the winter haha

 

would it be ok in a pants pocket or is that a no no, as I said I'm totally new to fountain pens?

Edited November 24, 2014 by PerryJ

[PerryJ]

Oh and one last question, I'll have to put it away under the tree until christmas (per the wifey haha, should I fill it with ink? water? or dry? for the next 4 weeks while it's wrapped up and pack away (assuming it all checks out ok and is tight) ?

[jar]

 

Yes I'm hoping I think it's awesome, and it's many years older than me already. I have a 7 year old daughter who is very artistic and already loves to write with my other fountain pen and has even requested her own for Christmas this year. So it'll be really nice if I can give this to her one day and then she keeps it for many years and passes it to her kids.

 

 

 

I don't generally wear shirts with pockets except to church, I'm in grad school so most of my shirts are polos in the summer and fleeces in the winter haha

 

would it be ok in a pants pocket or is that a no no, as I said I'm totally new to fountain pens?

 

No fountain pen belongs in a pants pocket.

[PerryJ]

 

I guess I'll be buying shirts with pockets more often ;-)

Edited November 25, 2014 by PerryJ

[CS388]

 

No fountain pen belongs in a pants pocket.

 

I find it a good way to snap pens in half.

 

Oh and one last question, I'll have to put it away under the tree until christmas (per the wifey haha, should I fill it with ink? water? or dry? for the next 4 weeks while it's wrapped up and pack away (assuming it all checks out ok and is tight) ?

 

"Assuming it all checks out ok "etc. - put it away as it comes, which I'd expect to be dry.

Or ink it up and use it, instead. You can still wrap it up on christmas day - and you'll get a month of fun/grief into the bargain...

 

Enjoy.

[PerryJ]

I asked him if it had been dry or stored and this is what he replied,

 

"It was dry when i found it, and i rinced it with destilled water before filling with ink.

I have used it occasionally for a few years.

Best wishes,"

[provis]

Good purchase.

 

The cork might need replacing.

 

The crack in the cap is the least of your worries. If the rings are loose you can get Francis Goossens to swag it tight.

 

Celluloid can be brittle and microscopic cracks could happen. I've had a 146 gray striated snap into half when I was filling it with ink because the telescopic piston exerts a lot of torque on the barrel walls going down. So this is the price of getting a vintage pen but you will love it.

 

Invest in a hard pen box or a stiff leather case like the Pilot Somes to carry your pen around.

 

The safest bet is to send it to Francis or Max for a look over just to make sure everything is in perfect order.

 

It shouldn't cost more than 60 euro

[Omnias]

If you are worried about damaging the pen when in transit, try carrying it around in one of these aluminum pen cases by Fedon. Finding a distributor to ship to the US may not be easy, I had a seller ship them along with my order since they were from Europe. The aluminum core is very durable.

 

https://www.fedon.com/en/classica-case-9169.html

Edited November 30, 2014 by Omnias

[Wolverine1]

I would recommend that you do not carry this MB pen, or for that matter, any fountain pen in the pockets of your pants. This might OK for ballpoints, but not fountain pen, especially an older, celluloid pen like you newly purchased MB pen. Ge yourself one of those pen cases made by Franklin-Christof( they are located in North Carolina) or a case by Nock Co. ( they are somewhere in the suburbs around Atlanta, GA.) In fact, the folks who are the principles in Nock Co., are FPN members.