Montblanc 149 GT

[James-B]

Hello guys I'm ready to finally take the plunge and buy a brand new Montblanc 149 gold trim. I am thinking about a F Nib since I want to use it as a daily writer. I would be interested in hearing from you guys where is the best place to purchase one. The pen boutique is an authorized retailer and offers $50 off the first time purchase if you guys have any ideas of other retailers I should consider please let me know. 

[James-B]

3 minutes ago, James-B said:

Hello guys I'm ready to finally take the plunge and buy a brand new Montblanc 149 gold trim. I am thinking about a F Nib since I want to use it as a daily writer. I would be interested in hearing from you guys where is the best place to purchase one. The pen boutique is an authorized retailer and offers $50 off the first time purchase if you guys have any ideas of other retailers I should consider please let me know. 

I think I have become addicted. I hear there is no cure. Lol 

[zaddick]

If you want to buy new, int he US Fountain Pen Hospital will give you $95 off the pen's list price. If yu can wait and buy from Europe (assuming you are in the US) you can wait for a 20% off coupon and skip the VAT and save enve more.

 

I would say you are even better off buying used from a known dealer in the $500 range. You get pretty much the same pen for about 50% off and a good used pen dealer will stand behind the pen.

[James-B]

31 minutes ago, zaddick said:

If you want to buy new, int he US Fountain Pen Hospital will give you $95 off the pen's list price. If yu can wait and buy from Europe (assuming you are in the US) you can wait for a 20% off coupon and skip the VAT and save enve more.

 

I would say you are even better off buying used from a known dealer in the $500 range. You get pretty much the same pen for about 50% off and a good used pen dealer will stand behind the pen.

Thanks so much. I bought a Pelikan 845 from Japan and a bunch of Pelikans from Cult pens in the UK. Love Cult pens. I am in New York. Is the 20 percent off offered by Appelboom in the UK?  Thanks for your reply. I will also keep an eye out here. I saw a few and almost pulled the trigger but I wanted a 2 tone nib and a Fine Nib. Thanks for your reply. 

[zaddick]

Fountain Pen Hospital is in Manhattan and worth a trip. They also often have used 149s.

 

Appelboom is in the Netherlands and is great. They have a 10% coupon almost always but 20% is less common. 

 

La Couronne du Comte usually has a 20% off coupon but stock can be limited. 

 

You are better from a cost perspective to order from Europe with a coupon, unless the exchange rate gets a lot worse.

[Glenn Atkins]

https://www.iguanasell.com/

 

No affiliation.

[Barry Gabay]

I second zaddick's recommendation of Fountain Pen Hospital for any new fountain pen. I haven't bought many new 149s in recent years, preferring older ones I find at pen shows. However, the new ones I have purchased came from Fountain Pen Hospital. Great service, huge selection, and very & knowledgable & friendly staff.  At the store, (though not possible now during Covid) customers are still allowed to dip and test write fountain pens. Sadly, many retailers no longer allow this essential practice. 

 

It is my understanding that FPH is the world's largest brick & mortar retailer of writing instruments. With the possible exception of Itoya in Tokyo, which some people say is an outlet for Sailor, so maybe that's a different category of pen retailer. In any event, I have bought new fountain pens from FPH online, over the phone, and in person for decades. Have never been disappointed. Good luck with your new F nib 149. Hope you enjoy it. 

[FredRydr]

11 hours ago, James-B said:

I think I have become addicted. I hear there is no cure....

You could try weaning yourself off of pens and onto wristwatches.

[James-B]

So far FPH has the best price at 840. I have never seen a 149 and they say it is huge. I have a Pelikan M1000 and I love it so I don't think size is an issue. I hear the new 149s have plastic feeds instead of ebonite like the older ones. I also hear the new ones are stiff. Perhaps you guys are right and I should wait and but a used one. FPH is closed to the public bit the Montblanc store in manhattan is open so I should probably go there and try it and see if I really like it. So far my favorite pen is the pilot 845 red in urushi lacquer it is so smooth and writes like a dream. I bought it directly from Japan for about $550. I know 149s are grail pens but I do struggle with the price of a new one. They are overpriced and if I do but a new one it will be my most expensive purchase so far for a fountain pen. Thanks to everyone I love this forum. 

[James-B]

6 minutes ago, FredRydr said:

You could try weaning yourself off of pens and onto wristwatches.

No thanks that is only for crazy people. Remember Jacob and Co is hear in New York LOL 😂

[zaddick]

A 149 was more oversized relative to vintage pens, but today it is hardly an outlier. If you can handle an M1000, the 149 will not be an issue. I find the 149 to be better balanced than the M1000. If you can go to the MB boutique then they should let you hold a 149 and pretend to write with it if not ink it. 

 

I only buy a new 149 if I have to have a specific model (like the calligraphy nib or another special nib) or I need an OBBB nib as they are hard to find used. 

 

Be careful buying off eBay as it is quite easy to get a broken pen that looks nice. It is possible to get a deal, but for someone who doesn't want the risk, there are plenty of very nice use pen dealers who can help you fins one. Chatterly Luxuries is a good source of used pens at pretty low prices. I also like Peyton Street Pens, Indy-Pen-Dance, the classifies here and on FPGeeks. Reddit is also an option if you can handle the tone over there.

 

You can be very happy with a used 149. Most of mine were bought used. 

[James-B]

5 hours ago, zaddick said:

A 149 was more oversized relative to vintage pens, but today it is hardly an outlier. If you can handle an M1000, the 149 will not be an issue. I find the 149 to be better balanced than the M1000. If you can go to the MB boutique then they should let you hold a 149 and pretend to write with it if not ink it. 

 

I only buy a new 149 if I have to have a specific model (like the calligraphy nib or another special nib) or I need an OBBB nib as they are hard to find used. 

 

Be careful buying off eBay as it is quite easy to get a broken pen that looks nice. It is possible to get a deal, but for someone who doesn't want the risk, there are plenty of very nice use pen dealers who can help you fins one. Chatterly Luxuries is a good source of used pens at pretty low prices. I also like Peyton Street Pens, Indy-Pen-Dance, the classifies here and on FPGeeks. Reddit is also an option if you can handle the tone over there.

 

You can be very happy with a used 149. Most of mine were bought used. 

Thanks so much. 

[James-B]

Wow I just looked at FP Geeks and now my head is spinning. I know I want a 149 with a Fine Nib and a 2 or 3 tone Nib. I also know that ebonite feeds are supposed to be better than plastic and they also made a split ebonite feed in the past and also made some out of Celluloid

 

Today they are plastic feeds and the nibs are not as flexible (so I have been told). I love this forum I know now that it pays to buy a used one. Any suggestions on what year or version would best meet my needs based on your opinions. Thanks again all for your help. 

[meiers]

I too am a huge fan of the fountain pen hospital. Great service and selection online. They look after their customers.  

[meiers]

8 hours ago, James-B said:

Wow I just looked at FP Geeks and now my head is spinning. I know I want a 149 with a Fine Nib and a 2 or 3 tone Nib. I also know that ebonite feeds are supposed to be better than plastic and they also made a split ebonite feed in the past and also made some out of Celluloid

 

Today they are plastic feeds and the nibs are not as flexible (so I have been told). I love this forum I know now that it pays to buy a used one. Any suggestions on what year or version would best meet my needs based on your opinions. Thanks again all for your help. 

I prefer the modern 149 because nib flexibility is not a trait I am looking for. I am just an ordinary mortal fountain pen user who happens to like Montblanc pens. 
Each and every well-maintained 149 is a stellar fountain pen. Vintage 149s have their charm. I think they are different but not better. Maybe I will get to own one in the future. 
Barry Gabay wrote a very informative and engaging article on the history of the 149 a while ago. 

[zaddick]

I suggest you look for a 1970s to early 1980s 149. They have traits I personally like including:

 

One piece barrel

thinner lip at the end of the section

often have longer tines on the 14C marked nibs that are mostly rhodium plated (two-tone)

split ebonite feed

more durable gold plating (in my experience) than later used pens

Can often be found almost new as the 1980s is when they became a status symbol and were bought as gifts and left unused (more than in say the 1960s)

 

 

I personally prefer the early 1960s pens with a slightly higher ink capacity and a less heave piston mechanism. I can really tell the difference in balance vs a new 149. But those are harder to service and often come  well used and with a higher price as they get a bit more scarce.

[James-B]

Thanks again all for the input.