Have I Bought A Fake?

[alless75]

Dear Members and Experts,

 

I recently bought a vintage MB 121 (hopefully genuine).

 

Here is some info about the pen I got (I still didn't take decent pictures to attach):

1) The cap is inscribed with a number 121 and MONTBLANC in capital letters (no "Germany" or "Meisterstuck" to be found).

It is 63 mm long.

The inscription seem very convincing especially as the horizontal line of the letter "A" in montblanc looks like an arrow pointing downwards. It has a flush white star on the flat top.

2) The nib has only the number 750 punched in it (I assume for 18K gold). It's not magnetic.

3) The filling system is with cartridge. The present empty cartridge is branded Pelikan.

4) The barrel is one piece only (differently from all but one of the pictures I could find online of MB 121s).

It is 69 mm long and it has the white star inside an orange circle (same orange material of the ring between section and barrel), but the star does't seem flush with the plastic (concerning??).

5) The whole pen is 132 mm long when capped. The plastic seems slightly transparent when shone with light.

6) I can't find any serial numbers anywhere.

7) It came with a box made of brown hard plastic (looks like celluloid). Box is inscribed MONTBLANC on the top.

Also it's written red inside the white lining but no six pointed star to be seen (one of my concerns).

---

As an excuse for a possibly reckless purchase, when I acquired it I had little time to look at all the details, it looked quite convincing so I had a go at it - unfortunately I'm not expert of pens so couldn't be 100% sure.

Afterwards I started looking at pictures of MB 121s and could find only one example that was cartridge filled and with a barrel that didn't split into two parts (see link below).

http://www.todocolec...502#descripcion

What I discovered looking up for pictures etc is that the barrel looks more like from a MB 221 while the cap says 121. So might it be a "marriage" between two different pens? Also, I found similar looking boxes on the web but all have the star above the red writing Mont Blanc (one word on top of the other) in the inside lining which mine doesn't.

I'll try to get and attach pictures ASAP so it would help better than my explanations..

Many thanks to anyone who will try to help a beginner..

Alless

[jar]

Looks like a 121P which was the cartridge version.

[alless75]

Looks like a 121P which was the cartridge version.

 

Hi Jar,

 

Thanks for quick response to my post!

Does any of my info sound fishy to you?

 

Cheers

Alless

[CS388]

...snip...

 

Does any of my info sound fishy to you?

 

Only this bit:

 

 

Dear Members and Experts,

 

 

Ha. Only joking.

 

Your descriptions are concise and clear, but post a picture if you can. It will help specific identification, enormousy.

 

Enjoy.

Edited February 25, 2016 by CS388

[alless75]

Definitely more Expert than myself !

 

Finally managed to get some pics...

 

Hope I didn't get a fake cause I like the pen!!!

 

 

Edited February 25, 2016 by alless75

[jar]

Okay.

 

Nice pen but only the cap is 121. There is not a lot of difference though between the different models so don't get too upset. The body on a 121 or 121P should also have a gold ring at the bottom of the body. It was a trim feature on the high end pens. In the picture below you can see a 121 third from the right.

 

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

the section and nib seem correct, the body though is likely a 221P.

[alless75]

Dear Jar,

 

Thanks for your help.

 

So as I understand it, it is half a 121 (cap and section) and half a 221P (barrel)?

But besides being a marriage, the parts look genuine, right?

 

What do you think about the box? Does it look genuine to you?

The writing inside is missing the star and the inside lining doesn't look perfect but again somebody might have attempted a relining or repair at some point of the pen's life..

 

 

[jar]

Yeah, the box is genuine and from about that period IIRC.

[alless75]

Thanks a lot for your comments and your help.

 

It seemed convincing when I bought it but then I wasn't sure anymore.

 

If besides being a marriage between two similar models the parts are original It's really a relief:)!

Money wise it didn't cost me a fortune (around $90) so I guess I'm happy with my purchase...

Many thanks

Alless

[jmccarty3]

Alless, assuming the pen works well, I think you got a bargain. I'm an admirer of that model. Don't worry about the pen being a marriage. I have a similar sterling silver MB that I know is a marriage only because of the model number on the cap ring. Otherwise, no one would ever know, and the nib is one of the best MBs I've ever seen. Enjoy!

[alless75]

Hi Jmccarty3,

 

Thanks for your comment!

I'm looking forward to put a cartridge and give the pen a go!

 

BTW, any advise how to clean it without necessarily taking it apart (I'm not expert so I wouldn't want to end up breaking it)..

[jar]

Hi Jmccarty3,

 

Thanks for your comment!

I'm looking forward to put a cartridge and give the pen a go!

 

BTW, any advise how to clean it without necessarily taking it apart (I'm not expert so I wouldn't want to end up breaking it)..

I'd use one of those ear bulbs to force water through. Also an international standard push type piston converter should fit and work in it.

[alless75]

Can I ask you another question?

 

I saw on Ebay a MB 221 cap with no clip, do you recon the clip is interchangeable with the 121 cap that I have?

In which case I can complete the 221..

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MONTBLANC-221-FOUNTAIN-PEN-PART-REPLACEMET-BLACK-CAP-ONLY-R152-/191804470965?hash=item2ca86ff6b5:g:430AAOSw5VFWHaFh

[jar]

Probably.

[alless75]

Hi Jar,

 

In the picture you posted, the 3rd to last is the 121, is any of those a 221?

 

If so, could you show me a picture of it without cap please?

[jar]

The 221 is next to the 121, but I'm not sure if I have a picture of it uncapped and there were also several different section shapes at the time. I'll check for pictures but they are all stored away in the safe. Not sure when I can get a picture.

[alless75]

No worries, I just wanted to have a look at an original 221 section and nib.

I was still trying to figure out whether the section and nib of my pen are likely to be of a 121 or a 221.

 

In the images of 221s I found on the web they usually have a 14K nib with a montblanc star engraved on it and mine is a 18K with no star..

[jar]

No worries, I just wanted to have a look at an original 221 section and nib.

I was still trying to figure out whether the section and nib of my pen are likely to be of a 121 or a 221.

 

In the images of 221s I found on the web they usually have a 14K nib with a montblanc star engraved on it and mine is a 18K with no star..

Yes, the 18k nibs were part of the premium package BUT there were also places that required anything called "Gold" to be at least 18K so even the lower tier pens sold in those markets got the 18K nib.