Cheap Montblanc?

[HaydenM]

Hi All,

I'm new to the forum and am searching for my first Montblanc Fountain pen. I've a notable birthday coming up and thought I would commemorate it with a quality fountain pen as I have used fountain pens for a few years in my studies but only a collection of Lamys and Parkers as well as my great-grandmother's vintage Sheaffer and thought that I would like to get a quality pen. Unfortunately I cannot justify buying a Montblanc new and was wondering if anybody had any suggestions for a quality older Montblanc and what the going rate for such a pen would be in the current climate (I have checked out other threads on this board but they are about 6 years old and the market has drastically changed in that time). What is the entry level price point of Montblanc Fountain Pen ownership at the moment and what are your suggestions?

Thank-you in advance,

HaydenM

Edited April 21, 2016 by HaydenM

[Chrissy]

Hello and welcome to FPN.

[carlos.q]

Welcome to FPN!

I would recommend you head out to penboard.de to see some nice older MB pens at reasonable prices. Tom Westerich is a real gentleman and will surely help you out.

[ASL]

Hi Hayden

 

Welcome to FPN and MB Brand Focus !

 

As an entry level, I would recommend you one of the following Modern MB Fountain Pens;

1- montblanc meisterstuck classique

2- Montblanc 145 Or 144 ( almost similar).

 

 

In my personal opinion, these kind of pens are affordable, durable and still you get the quality of MB.

 

Price wise, you can go surf Ebay and check price range ..

 

Once you are aware of the price range and sure of what you will buy check " The Mall" & "Classified ads" sections in the PFN and I am sure you would get what you are looking for.

 

Good luck

[HaydenM]

Hello and welcome to FPN.

 

Thank-you very much. Good to be here.

Welcome to FPN!

I would recommend you head out to penboard.de to see some nice older MB pens at reasonable prices. Tom Westerich is a real gentleman and will surely help you out.

Thanks for the look. It looks well curated and quality but definitely with a bit of a premium for that.

 

Hi Hayden

 

Welcome to FPN and MB Brand Focus !

 

As an entry level, I would recommend you one of the following Modern MB Fountain Pens;

1- montblanc meisterstuck classique

2- Montblanc 145 Or 144 ( almost similar).

 

 

In my personal opinion, these kind of pens are affordable, durable and still you get the quality of MB.

 

Price wise, you can go surf Ebay and check price range ..

 

Once you are aware of the price range and sure of what you will buy check " The Mall" & "Classified ads" sections in the PFN and I am sure you would get what you are looking for.

 

Good luck

Thanks, I'm following ebay and in particular I'm very taken by the 144 (146 also looks quite nice but is more expensive). Was asking mainly to see if there were any pens I had overlooked in my searches.

[Matlock]

 

Thank-you very much. Good to be here.

Thanks for the look. It looks well curated and quality but definitely with a bit of a premium for that.

 

Thanks, I'm following ebay and in particular I'm very taken by the 144 (146 also looks quite nice but is more expensive). Was asking mainly to see if there were any pens I had overlooked in my searches.

 

The 144 is worth looking out for. Just be aware of the possible corrosion of the gold plated ring on the nib unit. Otherwise a very competent pen.

[ASL]

 

Thank-you very much. Good to be here.

Thanks for the look. It looks well curated and quality but definitely with a bit of a premium for that.

 

Thanks, I'm following ebay and in particular I'm very taken by the 144 (146 also looks quite nice but is more expensive). Was asking mainly to see if there were any pens I had overlooked in my searches.

 

You are doing great & good Luck... Amr

[jar]

There are often great pens available at a relatively lower cost if you look beyond the modern (post 1970s) pens. Montblanc made many economy and student level pens that generally will carry a first digit of 2 or 3 as well as other student/entry level pens that carried names like "Carrera" or "Caressa".

[HaydenM]

There are often great pens available at a relatively lower cost if you look beyond the modern (post 1970s) pens. Montblanc made many economy and student level pens that generally will carry a first digit of 2 or 3 as well as other student/entry level pens that carried names like "Carrera" or "Caressa".

Are those pens worth it? How is the quality and where does it fit relative to a modern pen?

[Gudi]

Welcome to the FPN.

 

I recently decided to buy my first Montblanc fountain pen and ended up buying the 121 (from the 70's). I'm very happy with it. Maybe you can find one for a decent price.

 

Edit: you may want to check the 221 too, which is an economic version of the 121.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Gudi

[dadbar]

I recently picked up one of the Montblanc Noblesse (type 1) fountain pens on Ebay for about $100. It writes like a dream. Not quite as flashy as the Meisterstucks (mine is skinny and a bit understated in its stainless steel trim) but it has the Montblanc logos and writes about as well as my Meisterstuck 147.

[jar]

Are those pens worth it? How is the quality and where does it fit relative to a modern pen?

Are those pens worth it? That's really subjective and a matter of personal preference.

 

The quality is generally as high or higher than with modern pens but the Caché will depend on the knowledge of the one judging. I once had a salesperson selling MBs tell me the ones I was carrying that day were fakes. Ignorance of the older models is not uncommon.

 

Modern MB is limited to the luxury level while in the past MB offered a full range of fountain pens.

 

I can say that from my small accumulation of Montblancs those from the 40's through late sixties get far more pocket time than the more modern ones. These days if I carry an MB (and that doesn't happen too often) it is far more likely to be one of my 234½s than a 149.

[Cyber6]

I am sucker for vintage... my first (inexpensive) Montblanc was a 31 with a gorgeous OBB nib...

 

 

Like this.. (not my pen)... I paid around $60.. a few years ago. Looking in eBay, prices are much higher... but I am sure you can still find them in the secondary market at a much affordable level.

 

 

 

http://www.penantique.com/Penantique/Pen/Montblanc/Vintage_Montblanc_Pens_2/Montblanc_Mont_Blanc_31_Vintage_Fountain_Pen/Montblanc_Mont_Blanc_31_Vintage_Fountain_Pen_6.JPG

[HaydenM]

Are those pens worth it? That's really subjective and a matter of personal preference.

 

The quality is generally as high or higher than with modern pens but the Caché will depend on the knowledge of the one judging. I once had a salesperson selling MBs tell me the ones I was carrying that day were fakes. Ignorance of the older models is not uncommon.

 

Modern MB is limited to the luxury level while in the past MB offered a full range of fountain pens.

 

I can say that from my small accumulation of Montblancs those from the 40's through late sixties get far more pocket time than the more modern ones. These days if I carry an MB (and that doesn't happen too often) it is far more likely to be one of my 234½s than a 149.

Yeah, sorry my question was a little bit vague. Was simply wondering how the build quality would stack up against a modern fountain pen.

 

I unfortunately last minute lost out to a 144 earlier today but I'll stay on the prowl on ebay to see what comes up but any suggestions by others are still wanted and welcome

[orfew]

IMHO the build quality of earlier MBs is excellent. I have owned a couple of dozen older MBs and was always impressed by the fit and finish. I have used 70+ year old MBs as daily writers with no problems.

[FredRydr]

NIB Montblanc Monte Rosas still go for $100.

 

Fred

[FredRydr]

.

Edited April 22, 2016 by FredRydr

[HaydenM]

Okay I have ended up ordering a 144 (a maroon one) so now just the horrible game of waiting (which may take a while from Europe to Australia). So I have my key piece but there are still some great pens in my watch list, some still very low priced but we'll see how that goes.

[Matlock]

Okay I have ended up ordering a 144 (a maroon one) so now just the horrible game of waiting (which may take a while from Europe to Australia). So I have my key piece but there are still some great pens in my watch list, some still very low priced but we'll see how that goes.

 

I think you will find it worth the wait.

[HaydenM]

 

I think you will find it worth the wait.

Here's hoping