Montblanc - The Beatles - What Do You Think?

[desidude02]

Back to topic as there is no point on arguing about where the topic is going.

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The only thing i do not like about the pen is the mustache clip, but the otherwise colorful and smooth barrel/cap I find to be quite enjoyable to look at. It brightens the mood of the enviroment where the pen is found.

In the realm of colors made by MB, theres only a few far in between that stick out.

 

Beatles

James dean

Prince regent

Peter the great

Catherine the great

Homer LE

Joseph II

Leonardo

JFK Burgundy

Disney LE(soon to be)

 

Im surely missing others but beatles colors are one a kind.

 

I think the value of the pen will rise in the coming years. I presume.

 

One more thing I love about the pen is the when its hanging out of the shirt, a rainbow of colors stands above the clip which is striking.

Edited June 25, 2019 by desidude02

[thygreyt]

^^^

I love many of the mentioned precisely for the colors!

 

Joseph is on my wish list, as is 888 POA 2013 Sforza, Homer LE, and a few others.

[osnofian]

I know that this thread has been dead for years, but just wanted to add that the ruthenium problem seems to be reasonably common as it also happened to my SE. In my case it was the piston knob that flaked off one day out of the blue. Still well under warranty so MB replaced it without issues. Quite sad really as it is a very nice writing 'happy/silly' pen.

[Remedial penmanship]

The Tribute to Montblanc fountain pen is a Beatles white album tribute and kindly omits the facial hair. I prefer the Moon Pearl for colorful stripes.

[jskywalker]

I wanted to buy this pen... till I saw the nib... it's in bad shape... does Mont Blanc still replaces them ? How much ?

[meiers]

The Montblanc boutique in Toronto on Bloor street can sell you a brand new one.

 

[jskywalker]

Thanks. What's the price for a new nib ?

 

Is there a way to prevent it from happening?

[Nurmister]

3 hours ago, jskywalker said:

Thanks. What's the price for a new nib ?

 

Is there a way to prevent it from happening?

 

My local boutique says in the ballpark of 400-something USD+ for replacement of a special edition nib, but I suppose that depends on stock as well. Note I read this number some months ago, and I've never had them quote me for a specific limited/special pen, so I'd suggest you inquire with your local boutique too.

 

As for prevention, plating on nibs should be durable. Perhaps the ink or cleaner used with the pen was overly harsh and removed it. Usually platings are fuss-free.

[jskywalker]

Thanks. Decided to pass on this pen.

 

It seems that the plating loss is a common issue with this pen.

[Uncial]

This type of plating seems to be a problem no matter who makes it. I thought if anyone might overcome the issue it would probably be Montblanc, but it seems not. Presumably the same issues arise in the James Dean, which I think has the same plating?

[CS388]

1 hour ago, Uncial said:

This type of plating seems to be a problem no matter who makes it. I thought if anyone might overcome the issue it would probably be Montblanc, but it seems not. Presumably the same issues arise in the James Dean, which I think has the same plating?

 

Well, that's very disappointing. Makes me wonder if these pens are being produced as cabinet pieces, or investment pieces, rather than writing instruments to be used.

 

Not good enough, for a company with Montblanc's excellent heritage and history.

 

I would like to think. in an ideal world,  that they have technicians in Hamburg working on these problems, as we speak - and when they come up with a solution, they will recall all the defective models and fit them with the improved parts. Or maybe that's a fantasy world?

 

Enjoy.

[Nurmister]

2 hours ago, Uncial said:

This type of plating seems to be a problem no matter who makes it. I thought if anyone might overcome the issue it would probably be Montblanc, but it seems not. Presumably the same issues arise in the James Dean, which I think has the same plating?

 

I'm no expert on plating methods, but perhaps Montblanc is using PVD instead of DLC plating, resulting in the issues? I wonder if electroplating with ruthenium would work better. Can anyone familiar with these things chime in?

[jskywalker]

Does the MB Ultra Black suffer from the same fate ?

 

I have the Visconti Homo Sapiens Tuff, seems to be similar plating, but so far so good....

[The Mustard]

On 4/29/2021 at 3:09 AM, Nurmister said:

 

My local boutique says in the ballpark of 400-something USD+ for replacement of a special edition nib, but I suppose that depends on stock as well. Note I read this number some months ago, and I've never had them quote me for a specific limited/special pen, so I'd suggest you inquire with your local boutique too.

 

As for prevention, plating on nibs should be durable. Perhaps the ink or cleaner used with the pen was overly harsh and removed it. Usually platings are fuss-free.

Spot on, I have sent my Peggy Guggenheim back to Hamburg for a new nib, I bought it used but the nib had been altered to an EF from a medium and not at all well. The price is approx £330 but it is a 6-8 week wait. Since Brexit you can’t send pens directly to Hamburg any more from the UK, it has to be routed via an MB dealer. 

 

No problems with any of my plated nibs that I have noticed, maybe the problem is avoided by flushing properly those not in the current rotation?

 

Personally not a fan of the Beatles pens, the early ‘Character’ pens were some of the best LE’s that MB have made but for me the quality has deteriorated in the LE’s, probably at the point that they started to issue SE’s as well. The JFK and James Dean LE’s are exceptions though, both great pens.., Disney, Elvis, Miles Davis, Warhol etc. not in the same league at Gandhi, Hitchcock, Einstein and Da Vinci.

[Navidn]

Hi

what is the best reasonable price to pay for MB Einstein FP? 
Do you know anyone selling?

[AL01]

On 4/29/2021 at 5:15 AM, Nurmister said:

 

I'm no expert on plating methods, but perhaps Montblanc is using PVD instead of DLC plating, resulting in the issues? I wonder if electroplating with ruthenium would work better. Can anyone familiar with these things chime in?

 

 Not familiar with the matter but I know that MainStreetPens, (repairman located in the U.S.) does great work with this type of thing. (Not affiliated, etc.)

 

 I know he said something about his plating method somewhere on the forums, (all I remember is 'rhodium'?)

 

 I hope that's of use to you. From what I have seen, the plating on the 149s seem (slightly) more durable, (seen an '80s 149 that had some very old ink in it and the plating was fine) than the picture shown above. Pilot pens also have a nice plating on them (I have one from 1980 and it looks great), though some of their older pieces, use white gold for their nibs. Should not be happening unless the person who owned/ owns the pen used some really crazy ink...

 

 But this should not happen with most inks.

[sansenri]

On 4/29/2021 at 12:15 PM, Nurmister said:

 

I'm no expert on plating methods, but perhaps Montblanc is using PVD instead of DLC plating, resulting in the issues? I wonder if electroplating with ruthenium would work better. Can anyone familiar with these things chime in?

 

I don't trust any pen with colour plated nib, my Sailor Pro Gear Matt Black had the same issue and I only used ink in it, no other type of cleaner

(I cannot trace back which ink did this, however probably it was a Diamine ink in the blue range)

 

[Uncial]

I'm not sure it's the ink. I don't think I've seen a single Imperial nib that hasn't at least started the process of 'peeling'. Mine has it right at the very edge, so fortunately not so noticeable yet

[jskywalker]

Will stay away from all these plated nibs... their beauty is short-lived.... so short....

[como]

14 hours ago, sansenri said:

 

I don't trust any pen with colour plated nib...

I try to avoid plated nibs too. It's just one more risk factor. A two-tone vintage nib (from Onoto, MB for example), when aged and lost some plating, still looks charming. The modern nibs with plating flaking off just look so much worse.