Vintage Montblanc 149 "full Demonstrator" Replica

[fountainbel]

Hi all,

After seeing the nice modern MB 149 demonstrator replica my friend & pupil PENRob made, I decided it was time to make me a vintage MB149 “full demonstrator" replica.

Personally the 149 does not appeal to me as much as my favorite Montblanc pen, the139.

I’ve made already several MB 139 replicas , few demonstrators and 4 celluloid versions.

So now I can show my first 149 replica .

Note this pen is not equipped with the Montblanc GP central cap ring and neither with the MB cap top star .

Instead the central cap ring is a solid silver ring with GF engravings all around surrounded by 2 gold plated side rings

The cap top features a convex shaped silver insert with my “GF" logo

Although the clip on this pen is a Montblanc clip , I aim to replace it with a home made GP solid silver clip.

The telescopic filler is originating from a vintage MB149.

As always your comments and critique are most welcome !

Best regards,

Francis

PS : Sorry for the poor quality of the pictures, I'm a poor photographer ….

[Nurmister]

Mr Fountainbel, I've always had a question about your amazing work: do you permanently destroy the original pen to make these demonstrators? Or do you make demonstrators out of pens with parts beyond practical repair? Or can these old MBs be safely disassembled?

[Michael R.]

This specific pen is very pretty and has a distinctive look!

 

Great work.

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[fountainbel]

Mr Fountainbel, I've always had a question about your amazing work: do you permanently destroy the original pen to make these demonstrators? Or do you make demonstrators out of pens with parts beyond practical repair? Or can these old MBs be safely disassembled?

 

Hi Nurmister,

The only original parts Ive used are the clip, the nib, the feed and the telescopic filler.

Except for the telescopic filler all these parts can be bought separately on the net.

The telescopic filler can also be found occasionally coming from broken pens.

Best,

Francis

[Soot]

That silver ring is a nice touch! Great craftsmanship as always!

[zaddick]

Very very handsome pen Francis. I appreciate the subtle differences. You have created a worthy hommage pen.

 

And you are to hard on yourself with regards to photography. Some of your pictures have been too enticing to resist.

[Nurmister]

 

Hi Nurmister,

The only original parts Ive used are the clip, the nib, the feed and the telescopic filler.

Except for the telescopic filler all these parts can be bought separately on the net.

The telescopic filler can also be found occasionally coming from broken pens.

Best,

Francis

 

In that case, you're upcycling! That's amazing -- thank you for showing your work on this forum.

 

And for me, too, my favorite MB is the 139 (with the long window). I hope MB releases something inspired by it in 2024, when the celebrate 100 years of Meisterstuck.

[markiv]

Absolute beauty!!

[aurore]

Fantastic!

[Karmachanic]

I am, at best, ambivalent about MB pens, but that GF is a corker!!

[Barry Gabay]

Beautiful! You are a remarkable artist, craftsman, technician. Thank you, Francis, for once again sharing one of your creations. Enjoy your weekend.

[camoandconcrete]

Better than the original! Truly impressive skills, and I really enjoy the GF cap band and cap top logo. Has a Greek key look to it.

[siamackz]

As always, your work is an inspiration. Also, there is an integrity to your homage where you avoid using the original star, cap rings, etc. and instead very clearly allow the pen to reflect that it is a masterpiece replica of the original masterpiece.

[Azuniga]

Great work Francis, congratulations !

 

I like your logo (replacing the star here) ... I am not at all into MB 149 and I prefer MB L 139 although its weakness is the telescopic filler.

I guess you could do something to ameliorate that and keeping the cork, isn't it ?

[fountainbel]

Hi all !

Thanks a lot for your friendly comments !

I’ve had second thoughts on the cap top design.

The cap top was 2mm longer as the original MB, and the convex logo pastille is difficult to make.

My friend PENRob was visiting me and brought up the idea of installing the silver logo pastille internally in the cap top, thanks Rob !

I surely liked the idea, but the only possible drawback is that the the silver pastille could start to oxidize….

Never the less I decided to make such a version.

I've made an alternative cap top in which the flat cylindrical silver logo pastille is mounted with a light press fit internally deeper in the cap top.

The cap top length is now fully identical to the original Montblanc version.

The silver pastille is enclosed with a convex acrylic pastille also installed with a light press fit.

The convex surface functions as a loupe so the logo show up bigger as it normally is.

Which cap top version would you prefer?

I could make my initial cap top version with the convex silver logo on top also 2mm shorter.

Thanks in advance for your feedback !

Francis

[Michael R.]

Love the change!

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[zaddick]

I prefer option 2. Maybe stainless steel instead of silver to avoid tarnishing?

[siamackz]

I prefer option 2. Maybe stainless steel instead of silver to avoid tarnishing?

But that lovely patina

[markiv]

Man I missed the fine details on the cell phone screen.

Checking it out on the laptop and man it is such a treat!

Love your FG logo and oh how beautifully is it incorporated into the greek key design.

I prefer the internal logo placement although I would prefer it to be a tad smaller.

 

[Soot]

I'd take the original version.