Affordable Intro To Montblanc

[mercurius]

I am a great Pelikan fan but would like to know what would be a good (affordable) Montblanc to try that would be comparable to the quality of my beloved M215s. Any suggestions?

[Keyless Works]

What is your budget?

 

I would recommend a 146. You can get a nice one for about $250. If that is too much you could look at something with a hooded nib like a 24. Unless you like smaller pens I would avoid MB models ending in a 2.

[alexander_k]

For really good and affordable pens I'd go back to the 1960s and 1970s. Some of the pens they produced back then are among my absolute favourites, although a bit small for my taste (I favour huge pens).

[mercurius]

For really good and affordable pens I'd go back to the 1960s and 1970s. Some of the pens they produced back then are among my absolute favourites, although a bit small for my taste (I favour huge pens).

Any models you'd recommend?

[missuslovett]

Vintage pens are certainly the best value and some of the most beautiful to use. I'd recommend the 2xx series if your budget is as tight as mine. Piston fillers for preference.

[missuslovett]

Whoops... double post! Here's Monty!

 

 

Edited November 4, 2015 by missuslovett

[mercurius]

What's Monty's number? Also can you tell me its weight and how it feels on the hand?

[HermetiC]

It is difficult to compare with Pelikan M205; Montblanc does not made steel nibs anymore; only gold, and because of this, are more expensive.

 

I would suggest a Meisterstück 146 (used) or a vintage one.

[JLS1]

What's Monty's number? Also can you tell me its weight and how it feels on the hand?

 

That's a 252, I believe. (The number is stamped on the cap ring) I'd agree with missuslovett that these are fantastic vintage pens - I have a 252, 254 and 256 and they are uniformly amazing writers. The only downside to the 25X series is the cap is prone to getting hairline cracks (poor design); MB made a 262 and 264 with twist-on caps, although the nib is different in looks (not sure about feel).

 

It is difficult to compare with Pelikan M205; Montblanc does not made steel nibs anymore; only gold, and because of this, are more expensive.

 

I would suggest a Meisterstück 146 (used) or a vintage one.

 

+1 for HermetiC's comment. You can find some steel nibbed MBs from the 70s (my Carrera FP has a steel nib) and/or during WWII, but the former aren't much to write home about and latter are both quite rare and expensive. A used/user grade 146 is likely to be a both a very solid, reliable pen and an inexpensive introduction to what MB pens are about. That said, if you're buying used, make sure you buy it from a reliable seller to find out its history and avoid issues.

 

HTH!

[Highbinder]

In my humble opinion you get a lot of pen if you go for a '60s MB. They don't carry the same premium as older pens. IIRC my no.14 was around the $100 mark.

[missuslovett]

JLS1's right. Monty's a 252. The wing nib is very stylish and I found him a good size and weight - I have quite large hands. There is a problem with the caps, as others have said. It's a push on and hairline cracks can develop, although this one doesn't. I would also recommend a 264, which is a slightly longer pen with a screw cap. The one I have has a medium oblique semi flex 'regular' nib and I wouldn't part with it for anything! Here's the OTHER Monty!

 

 

 

 

[mercurius]

It is difficult to compare with Pelikan M205; Montblanc does not made steel nibs anymore; only gold, and because of this, are more expensive.

 

I would suggest a Meisterstück 146 (used) or a vintage one.

Thanks for the suggestion. It doesn't look too chunky (my hands are rather small). What's its weight? Does it have a bit of heft?

[jar]

Since you are a Pelikan fan, these images might help.

 

Montblanc 146 next to Pelikan M800

http://www.fototime.com/6B6FF17A1DEF814/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/D38EB63E4BC42C9/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/949C974B4583612/large.jpg

And also to get a feel for modern reincarnation of the Montblanc 146 compared to the vintage 146...

 

far right is a vintage MB 146 beside a modern reincarnation 146.

http://www.fototime.com/A55E4679982A838/large.jpg

The modern 146 weighs about the same as the Pelikan M800.

[mercurius]

Since you are a Pelikan fan, these images might help.

 

 

Montblanc 146 next to Pelikan M800

http://www.fototime.com/6B6FF17A1DEF814/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/D38EB63E4BC42C9/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/949C974B4583612/large.jpg

And also to get a feel for modern reincarnation of the Montblanc 146 compared to the vintage 146...

 

far right is a vintage MB 146 beside a modern reincarnation 146.

http://www.fototime.com/A55E4679982A838/large.jpg

The modern 146 weighs about the same as the Pelikan M800.

Jar, very helpful, thanks very much. I know what the M800 is like, so I can tell that the 146 would definitely be too big for my small mitt!

 

Are there smaller Montblancs, similar in size to the Pelikan m400 or m 215, that would be more suitable for my grip?

[jar]

Jar, very helpful, thanks very much. I know what the M800 is like, so I can tell that the 146 would definitely be too big for my small mitt!

 

Are there smaller Montblancs, similar in size to the Pelikan m400 or m 215, that would be more suitable for my grip?

Absolutely and among my very favorites.

 

http://www.fototime.com/03A653AD3848455/xlarge.jpg

For this we need to go back a ways to the period before and just after WWII.

 

The pens of that period were fantastic. Above you can see two examples of 234½s, then a 144 and a M400. But wait, there's more. There was also the 254 and 264.

 

http://www.fototime.com/ECFA82AA8F830AE/large.jpg

Then, in the 70s and 80s Montblanc introduced the two and three digit slim flat end pens.

 

http://www.fototime.com/4CF515866A3FB32/xlarge.jpg

 

They are very much in the size and style of the Parker "51", 61 and 75.

 

http://www.fototime.com/AB9077AC7F2AE8F/large.jpg

Finally, in modern pens there is the tiny 114 and the slightly larger 144 and 145.

[coolguy684]

I would recommend the 14, 24, or 34, or any of the 25x series. Also, the smaller 12, 22, and 32 are just as good.

 

These are really nice pens with a good ink capacity and nibs that are equal or better than almost anything on the market today, including nibs on pens in the 1000+ range.

 

Also, if you don't mind a small pen, the 342 or 242 is a wonderful pen, often with nice semi-flex nibs.

 

 

Edited November 5, 2015 by ChrisChen

[Bops]

I would recommend the 14, 24, or 34, or any of the 25x series. Also, the smaller 12, 22, and 32 are just as good.

 

These are really nice pens with a good ink capacity and nibs that are equal or better than almost anything on the market today, including nibs on pens in the 1000+ range.

 

Also, if you don't mind a small pen, the 342 or 242 is a wonderful pen, often with nice semi-flex nibs.

 

 

I like this guys videos but can't understand a word he says.

[mercurius]

Absolutely and among my very favorites.

 

 

http://www.fototime.com/03A653AD3848455/xlarge.jpg

For this we need to go back a ways to the period before and just after WWII.

 

The pens of that period were fantastic. Above you can see two examples of 234½s, then a 144 and a M400. But wait, there's more. There was also the 254 and 264.

 

http://www.fototime.com/ECFA82AA8F830AE/large.jpg

Then, in the 70s and 80s Montblanc introduced the two and three digit slim flat end pens.

 

http://www.fototime.com/4CF515866A3FB32/xlarge.jpg

They are very much in the size and style of the Parker "51", 61 and 75.

 

http://www.fototime.com/AB9077AC7F2AE8F/large.jpg

Finally, in modern pens there is the tiny 114 alnd the slightly larger 144 and 145.

Jar many thanks for taking the trouble to provide the photographic comparisons between MB and Pelikan. Plenty of scope for further investigation.

[mercurius]

I would recommend the 14, 24, or 34, or any of the 25x series. Also, the smaller 12, 22, and 32 are just as good.

 

These are really nice pens with a good ink capacity and nibs that are equal or better than almost anything on the market today, including nibs on pens in the 1000+ range.

 

Also, if you don't mind a small pen, the 342 or 242 is a wonderful pen, often with nice semi-flex nibs.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYh9ubRMFDc

Thank you for your kind suggestions. I'm looking forward to investigating these options.

[SirVival]

I have a 344G that I got in pristine condition off the Bay for 70 and it is an amazing writer, on par with my 400nn obliques as a Pelikan comparison.

If you see the "ski slope" feed style on a MB you can be reasonably sure that that vintage nib will be of the softer varity.