100th Anniversary editions

[nampad]

I have to vent my frustration a bit.
 

Waited over 3 months for my complimentary nib exchange on my Origin 149 because they didn’t had the OM nib available. I can understand that and this isn’t what is bugging me even though I wanted to use this pen for important private milestone contracts I was signing which happened when the pen was still in service.

 

Anyway, last week I finally got the mail that I could get my fountain pen back and it lined up perfectly with the signing of important work related documents.
 

So while testing my signature on Clairefontaine paper I directly noticed a lot of skipping/hard starts and some railroading, the nib just isn’t working well except when applying some pressure. Every time I write faster, the skipping returns unpredictably. Tried with two other paper types as well, Oxford and cheap Staples paper, and the issue persists.

 

Will go to my boutique tomorrow again and really hope they will take the issue seriously because I can’t predict when it happens to show them the issue. 
 

From the looks of it, the writing sample from the nib tester/quality assurance also showed a hard start and a minor skip but both were barely noticeable. 
 

I am suspect a baby bottom nib is the issue, checked it under a loupe and it looks a bit off but I am too inexperienced to tell.

 

edit: Using Montblanc Royal Blue by the way so I won’t accept blaming the ink not being a good fit.

[NoType]

5 hours ago, nampad said:

I have to vent my frustration a bit.
 

Waited over 3 months for my complimentary nib exchange on my Origin 149 because they didn’t had the OM nib available. I can understand that and this isn’t what is bugging me even though I wanted to use this pen for important private milestone contracts I was signing which happened when the pen was still in service.

 

Anyway, last week I finally got the mail that I could get my fountain pen back and it lined up perfectly with the signing of important work related documents.
 

So while testing my signature on Clairefontaine paper I directly noticed a lot of skipping/hard starts and some railroading, the nib just isn’t working well except when applying some pressure. Every time I write faster, the skipping returns unpredictably. Tried with two other paper types as well, Oxford and cheap Staples paper, and the issue persists.

 

Will go to my boutique tomorrow again and really hope they will take the issue seriously because I can’t predict when it happens to show them the issue. 
 

From the looks of it, the writing sample from the nib tester/quality assurance also showed a hard start and a minor skip but both were barely noticeable. 
 

I am suspect a baby bottom nib is the issue, checked it under a loupe and it looks a bit off but I am too inexperienced to tell.

 

edit: Using Montblanc Royal Blue by the way so I won’t accept blaming the ink not being a good fit.

@nampad I am very sorry to hear that your Meisterstück Origin 149 is exhibiting skips and hard starts with its newly exchanged OM nib.  I can imagine how annoying this must be, especially having had to wait several months for the nib exchange.  I must say that I have never experienced performance problems from a pen returned after a nib exchange, and I gather from others’ accounts that this a rare occurrence.  Be that as it may, that does not help you.

 

I, and other members here, have received some of Montblanc’s Flex nibs that initially skipped and hard started, but then performed wonderfully after two weeks of steady writing (2-5 pages per day).  Even Montblanc’s non-Flex nibs exhibit balky behaviour that disappears with use over time.  This quirk is irritating but usually temporary.  Perhaps that will prove true in your case, as well.

 

Thus, my suggestion is to continue to write with the pen for at least a fortnight; if the skips and hard starts continue, then if I were you I would definitely show it to the boutique.

 

Again, it is a shame that this is your experience, and do please keep us informed of how your boutique visit tomorrow proceeds.

[Lam1]

6 hours ago, nampad said:

I have to vent my frustration a bit.
 

Waited over 3 months for my complimentary nib exchange on my Origin 149 because they didn’t had the OM nib available. I can understand that and this isn’t what is bugging me even though I wanted to use this pen for important private milestone contracts I was signing which happened when the pen was still in service.

 

Anyway, last week I finally got the mail that I could get my fountain pen back and it lined up perfectly with the signing of important work related documents.
 

So while testing my signature on Clairefontaine paper I directly noticed a lot of skipping/hard starts and some railroading, the nib just isn’t working well except when applying some pressure. Every time I write faster, the skipping returns unpredictably. Tried with two other paper types as well, Oxford and cheap Staples paper, and the issue persists.

 

Will go to my boutique tomorrow again and really hope they will take the issue seriously because I can’t predict when it happens to show them the issue. 
 

From the looks of it, the writing sample from the nib tester/quality assurance also showed a hard start and a minor skip but both were barely noticeable. 
 

I am suspect a baby bottom nib is the issue, checked it under a loupe and it looks a bit off but I am too inexperienced to tell.

 

edit: Using Montblanc Royal Blue by the way so I won’t accept blaming the ink not being a good fit.

 

 

I'm sorry to hear about your 149 Origin.

This is really sad, particularly considering the cost of the pen.

 

Trust me, I know it very well. Bellow is a pick of sample writings of some of my MBs that I took for a friend . 

The Origin 149 BB skips a bit, as you can see. The orient Express 149 OBB, skips even more.

The 149 Curved nib was terribly scratchy in reverse and I had to grind it to fix it. 

The 146 in the picture also did not write well at first, although that one "cured" itself after about one year of use.

 

Sometimes one wonders...

[nampad]

7 hours ago, NoType said:

@nampad I am very sorry to hear that your Meisterstück Origin 149 is exhibiting skips and hard starts with its newly exchanged OM nib.  I can imagine how annoying this must be, especially having had to wait several months for the nib exchange.  I must say that I have never experienced performance problems from a pen returned after a nib exchange, and I gather from others’ accounts that this a rare occurrence.  Be that as it may, that does not help you.

 

I, and other members here, have received some of Montblanc’s Flex nibs that initially skipped and hard started, but then performed wonderfully after two weeks of steady writing (2-5 pages per day).  Even Montblanc’s non-Flex nibs exhibit balky behaviour that disappears with use over time.  This quirk is irritating but usually temporary.  Perhaps that will prove true in your case, as well.

 

Thus, my suggestion is to continue to write with the pen for at least a fortnight; if the skips and hard starts continue, then if I were you I would definitely show it to the boutique.

 

Again, it is a shame that this is your experience, and do please keep us informed of how your boutique visit tomorrow proceeds.

 

Thank you for your advise.

 

I still went to the boutique today because I had an appointment nearby and will also move next week so that I will be farther away and everything would probably be more of an hassle with my stuff packed away neatly and stuff to deal with at my new home etc. I also wanted to complain early before they would say that my complaint is too late or I would accidentally do some damage to the nib.

 

My experience at the boutique today was again not good. The sales representative directly told me at the start that I have to know that it is an oblique nib and that I have to hold it at a certain angle. I ensured her that I am well aware of this and own at least 6 other oblique nibs (to be honest probably more, I lost count) and never had any issues with those pens. I mean I explicitly tested it out and wanted to have it as an OM nib, the tester wrote wonderful and you can read how I praised that nib in November in this very thread.

I have to say I kind of expected this already and dreaded being condescended in that regards.

 

She continued to test the nib by slowly making some waves and at first it worked out well but she also got one skip. I also tested the pen in front of her and got directly some railroading, I think I use less pressure to write compared to her and that I write much faster.

 

Overall, she blamed it on the feeder and wants to send it in to widen it so that the ink flow will be better. This is also what she printed for me as a repair receipt. I told her that I have checked the nib under a loupe and that it looks off and don't think that it is (just) a feeder issue. She told me that she will make an internal note, but refused to print me out another repair receipt that confirms that they will also check the nib.

 

Have to say for a pen which costs € 1.250 I am really disappointed with the service as this isn't the first time I am not satisfied with the service at the boutique. I am really reconsidering buying anything new from Montblanc again even though the 145 The Origin is pretty high on my next purchases list.

I hope the repair goes well and I don't have to worry anymore.

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Lam1 said:

 

 

I'm sorry to hear about your 149 Origin.

This is really sad, particularly considering the cost of the pen.

 

Trust me, I know it very well. Bellow is a pick of sample writings of some of my MBs that I took for a friend . 

The Origin 149 BB skips a bit, as you can see. The orient Express 149 OBB, skips even more.

The 149 Curved nib was terribly scratchy in reverse and I had to grind it to fix it. 

The 146 in the picture also did not write well at first, although that one "cured" itself after about one year of use.

 

Sometimes one wonders...

 

Wow, I didn't expect their quality control to be that bad, especially as those nibs are grounded and tested by hand. Though from their writing sample of my nib exchange I could see that they are just writing a short message so issues probably don't show often and may be overlooked.  

[Arcadian]

I had a 149 The Origin nib swapped to an EF. It did not write well, and I am sure it was something to do with the grind of the nib. It skipped sometimes, but also made strange line variations that I can only think can be caused by the grind. So I have sent it in for repair, and will probably receive it back in a month or two. 

 

My previous experiences with nib exchanges have mostly been good. Once I wanted an M nib changed to an F, and they sent it back with a new M nib.... But mostly, the swapped nibs have performed better than the off-the-rack nibs. 

 

Maybe Montblanc are training new nib grinders this past year or so. 

 

 

 - P.  

[NoType]

4 hours ago, nampad said:

My experience at the boutique today was again not good. The sales representative directly told me at the start that I have to know that it is an oblique nib and that I have to hold it at a certain angle. I ensured her that I am well aware of this and own at least 6 other oblique nibs (to be honest probably more, I lost count) and never had any issues with those pens. I mean I explicitly tested it out and wanted to have it as an OM nib, the tester wrote wonderful and you can read how I praised that nib in November in this very thread.

I have to say I kind of expected this already and dreaded being condescended in that regards.

 

She continued to test the nib by slowly making some waves and at first it worked out well but she also got one skip. I also tested the pen in front of her and got directly some railroading, I think I use less pressure to write compared to her and that I write much faster.

 

Overall, she blamed it on the feeder and wants to send it in to widen it so that the ink flow will be better. This is also what she printed for me as a repair receipt. I told her that I have checked the nib under a loupe and that it looks off and don't think that it is (just) a feeder issue. She told me that she will make an internal note, but refused to print me out another repair receipt that confirms that they will also check the nib.

 

Have to say for a pen which costs € 1.250 I am really disappointed with the service as this isn't the first time I am not satisfied with the service at the boutique. 

@nampad Thank you for providing this detailed account of your boutique visit, and which experience, I must say, leaves quite a great deal to be desired.  At the very least, the associate with whom you interacted should have shown more respect and less peremptoriness.  The refusal to print out a new service request for checking the nib is singularly difficult to understand.  

It is a very unfortunate that you have been provided unsatisfactory customer service from this boutique more than once.  This is something that should not occur, and that the boutique manager should take steps to address. Have you considered reaching out to the manager?  The boutique manager answers to a regional manager of boutiques, so that person could also be informed.  The boutique manager can provide you the email address of the regional manager of boutiques, should you choose to communicate with them as well.

 

It is always disheartening to read of such substandard service at a boutique, but particularly for a luxury good such as a fountain pen priced in four figures.  And most especially at a Montblanc boutique.  

 

I share your hope that the service takes all your findings into consideration and returns the nib to you performing well, without skips and hard starts.  It is possible that even after you receive the serviced nib, that a “break-in period,” as to which @digitorum- Leonardo_W alludes above, might be necessary, wherein writing for as much as 2-3 full ink reloads may provide dividends.

 

Thank you again for letting us know how your boutique visit proceeded, and please do keep us informed of any new developments in your pen’s service.  All of us here wish for a satisfactory outcome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[fpupulin]

A pen that doesn't write well from the start is a real pain, but I suspect all of us who frequent this forum have had a similar experience at one time or another. I have always found the fault to be more common with broad nibs, but I see from the comments above that the same problem occurs with extra-fine nibs as well.

The nib on my 149 The Origin doesn't write well, and often hesitates on vertical lines and absolutely cannot start a slanted line from top right to bottom left unless I first point the nib a little on the paper to force it to release a little ink.

I have to say, however, that I am very patient with my pens and I feel that, over time, there is a mutual rapprochement. I learn to use my hand so that the nib behaves in the most convenient way, and the nib seems, little by little, to get used to the inconveniences of my hand.

Sure, a "perfect marriage" is ideal for writing pleasure, but even a less than linear relationship can, over time, offer joy and satisfaction.

[fpupulin]

There is no doubt that one of the advantages of Latin, nowadays, is that it sounds exotic enough to add a little salt to anything written or spoken in this "dead language".

 

I found a saying that reiterates this concept and says it in Latin, confirming the fact that, "said in Latin", the thought seems higher and nobler. "Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur", anything written in Latin, sound profound. It is actually a brilliant and playful little phrase, poking fun at itself. I have not found a clear origin for this saying, but it must certainly be something born after Latin had ceased not only to be a living language, but also to be used frequently in administration and religion. A recent saying, then.

 

I wrote it with my three favorite Meisterstück: Calligraphy, The Origin and Hemingway.

 

 

It seemed to me, with the same irony, that the concept could be applied to calligraphy. I think that, like me, you have also noticed how any oration, if written in a graceful hand, magically takes on a greater "depth".

 

In the upper left part of the photograph you can see my attempts to express, in Latin, this concept of calligraphy, their progressive approach to the correct expression.

 

This latter has become the subject of another calligraphic sheet, which does not fit in this thread because the 149 The Origin does not appear there. I have placed it where it belongs, in the very long celebration of the149 Calligraphy. Anyone who would like to see the calligraphic result of an ironic reflection in Latin on calligraphy can find it here: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/354196-the-meisterstück-149-calligraphy-appreciation-thread/page/63/#comments

[NoType]

17 minutes ago, fpupulin said:

over time, there is a mutual rapprochement. I learn to use my hand so that the nib behaves in the most convenient way, and the nib seems, little by little, to get used to the inconveniences of my hand.

Sure, a "perfect marriage" is ideal for writing pleasure, but even a less than linear relationship can, over time, offer joy and satisfaction.

@fpupulin Thank you very much for your perspective.  Yes, patience seems to be the order of the day.

[NoType]

2 minutes ago, fpupulin said:

There is no doubt that one of the advantages of Latin, nowadays, is that it sounds exotic enough to add a little salt to anything written or spoken in this "dead language".

 

I found a saying that reiterates this concept and says it in Latin, confirming the fact that, "said in Latin", the thought seems higher and nobler. "Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur", anything written in Latin, sound profound. It is actually a brilliant and playful little phrase, poking fun at itself. I have not found a clear origin for this saying, but it must certainly be something born after Latin had ceased not only to be a living language, but also to be used frequently in administration and religion. A recent saying, then.

 

I wrote it with my three favorite Meisterstück: Calligraphy, The Origin and Hemingway.

 

 

It seemed to me, with the same irony, that the concept could be applied to calligraphy. I think that, like me, you have also noticed how any oration, if written in a graceful hand, magically takes on a greater "depth".

 

In the upper left part of the photograph you can see my attempts to express, in Latin, this concept of calligraphy, their progressive approach to the correct expression.

 

This latter has become the subject of another calligraphic sheet, which does not fit in this thread because the 149 The Origin does not appear there. I have placed it where it belongs, in the very long celebration of the149 Calligraphy. Anyone who would like to see the calligraphic result of an ironic reflection in Latin on calligraphy can find it here: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/354196-the-meisterstück-149-calligraphy-appreciation-thread/page/63/#comments

@fpupulin As always, we are indebted to your lovely and well crafted post, this time peppered with wit as well as salted with Latin.  From your beauteous scripts, one would never have guessed that you employ patience with your Meisterstück Origin 149, as the results of your hand are unfailingly spectacular.  Many, many thanks!

[NoType]

On 1/27/2025 at 8:06 AM, NoType said:

@Seney724 Unfortunately, none of the three boutique managers with whom I have been speaking over the phone has received word from HQ regarding whether Montblanc will continue to produce The Origin Collection in 2025.  I placed my second call to each of them over the past four days and no one has any new and meaningful information to impart.  

 

Each boutique manager voiced the same theory, however; namely, that the majority — if not the entirety — of Montblanc’s production has shifted to models slated for release in 2025 and beyond.  The implication being that, as you correctly hypothesised, models of The Origin Collection might only be available until current stock is depleted.  

 

I will continue to reach out to the boutique managers to see if any of them has received definite word from Montblanc.  My apologies for the long delay in getting answers.

 

Perhaps another member already has been given concrete information.  If that is the case, one hopes they will contribute to this discussion.

@Seney724 Unfortunately, there is not much in the way of news on this subject.  Evidently the boutique managers are reluctant to provide me with concrete information, preferring instead to imply that your speculation that pieces of  Meisterstück The Origin Collection will only be available in 2025 as current inventory allows, and that new production has ceased.  Perhaps others enjoying a close relationship with Montblanc might be able to shed more light, but, alack, I am unable to oblige further.  Apologies for the long wait for additional information, which it turns out I am unable to furnish.

[NoType]

On 1/23/2025 at 5:11 PM, NoType said:

Unfortunately, all my efforts to protect the Meisterstück Traveller 1924 before turning it in for its complimentary nib exchange to O3B came to naught when the cap inexplicably escaped my fingers while I was showing the nib to a neighbour in the parking garage, skittered in front of the tire of a work truck, and then was pushed by its clip across a short expanse of the garage’s rough concrete floor when the truck moved away, eventually being crushed as the truck’s tire finally rolled over it.  We had been fruitlessly searching for the errant cap behind parked vehicles nearby and were just approaching the truck when its operator drove away.  Immediately after, a sickening crunch could be heard and then we both knew that the cap had met a cruel fate.  

 

I retrieved the remains, photographed the ruined cap next to the intact pen body and nib, 

and then sealed the cap in a small plastic ziplock bag to take both it and the rest of the pen to the boutique for what turned out to be slightly more than a complimentary nib exchange:

 

Such was the shock of the boutique associate and my own discombobulation that neither of us noticed the minor errors on the printout above (“LE1906,” “BB,” “3OB,” absent limitation number) during the visit.

 

Also, a cost estimate for replacement of cap, derby, and clip was not available at that time.  Unfortunately, it will undoubtedly prove to be a significant amount.  I had originally intended to wait until I received notice of the estimate before creating this post, but as a week has now already passed, I thought it best to create a follow-up post when the amount is determined by Montblanc Service.

 

Obviously, to say that I regret removing the pen from its factory seal before taking it to the boutique for its complimentary nib exchange would be a gross understatement.  As would be any remark to the effect that I have surprised myself by demonstrating this level of clumsiness.  

A cost estimate was finally furnished from Montblanc HQ, and, as feared, it is eye-wateringly dear:

 

I have approved the repairs, and now await word from the sales ambassador with whom I usually interact to learn the lead time for completion.  I will update as more information is made available.  

[Cyrille81]

29 minutes ago, NoType said:

 

 

 

A cost estimate was finally furnished from Montblanc HQ, and, as feared, it is eye-wateringly dear:

[...]

 

I have approved the repairs, and now await word from the sales ambassador with whom I usually interact to learn the lead time for completion.  I will update as more information is made available.  

Indeed price is really high unfortunately. Sad for you. And we can see on the cost estimate document, Montblanc is even not able to write the correct name of the pen, it is not LE1906 but 1924

[NoType]

20 minutes ago, Cyrille81 said:

Indeed price is really high unfortunately. Sad for you. And we can see on the cost estimate document, Montblanc is even not able to write the correct name of the pen, it is not LE1906 but 1924

@Cyrille81 Yes, the cost is higher than @Michael R. and others anticipated (€400-€600), unfortunately.  It has proven to be an expensive lesson, both emotionally as well as financially. 

 

As for the misnaming of the pen, I believe that that was the sales ambassador’s original error when creating the service request, and I was informed that once created, it cannot be modified.

[ak47]

1 hour ago, NoType said:

@Cyrille81 Yes, the cost is higher than @Michael R. and others anticipated (€400-€600), unfortunately.  It has proven to be an expensive lesson, both emotionally as well as financially. 

 

As for the misnaming of the pen, I believe that that was the sales ambassador’s original error when creating the service request, and I was informed that once created, it cannot be modified.

So the ambassador does not know the name of the pens that he sells. How down is gone mb.

[a student]

2 hours ago, NoType said:

A cost estimate was finally furnished from Montblanc HQ, and, as feared, it is eye-wateringly dear:

 

I have approved the repairs, and now await word from the sales ambassador with whom I usually interact to learn the lead time for completion.  I will update as more information is made available.  

 

Setting the entirely unreasonable cost aside for a moment, the text of the letter itself seems authoritarian and threatening to me, lacking all courtesy ... very sad and strange coming from a brand that apparently also embodies "culture"

 

Coming to the entirely inordinate cost, who on earth finds any credibility in this fairy tale about "time and careful preparation" undertaken by some odd character tagged as "master craftsman" just for the machine to reproduce a standard 149 cap in resin and in a colour that is a repeat

 

I do hope that the attitude reflects only an exalted sense of self-importance, and not that clients are just "muppets" to be bossed around and fleeced

[NoType]

1 hour ago, ak47 said:

So the ambassador does not know the name of the pens that he sells. How down is gone mb.

@ak47 Well, it is also possible that because the model had only been on the market for ta few months that the service request template may not yet have been created for this particular pen.  However, the ambassador did refer to the pen by its correct name, so it is safe to say that the mislabelled service request is not due to ignorance on their part.

[NoType]

1 hour ago, a student said:

 

Setting the entirely unreasonable cost aside for a moment, the text of the letter itself seems authoritarian and threatening to me, lacking all courtesy ... very sad and strange coming from a brand that apparently also embodies "culture"

 

Coming to the entirely inordinate cost, who on earth finds any credibility in this fairy tale about "time and careful preparation" undertaken by some odd character tagged as "master craftsman" just for the machine to reproduce a standard 149 cap in resin and in a colour that is a repeat

 

I do hope that the attitude reflects only an exalted sense of self-importance, and not that clients are just "muppets" to be bossed around and fleeced

@a student Apologies for not including the introductory page to the estimate, wherein the tone is more gracious:

(Though I requested an O3B nib, the service request was erroneously written as a BB nib request, which was corrected to O3B in an internal note.)

 

The second page (the page I included up-thread) is more business-like and matter-of-fact regarding terms and conditions.

 

(The third page is devoted to signature approval, where it is reiterated that the estimated lead time is eleven weeks, subject to parts availability.  I await word for confirmation of that estimated lead time.)

[Seney724]

8 hours ago, NoType said:

@Seney724 Unfortunately, there is not much in the way of news on this subject.  Evidently the boutique managers are reluctant to provide me with concrete information, preferring instead to imply that your speculation that pieces of  Meisterstück The Origin Collection will only be available in 2025 as current inventory allows, and that new production has ceased.  Perhaps others enjoying a close relationship with Montblanc might be able to shed more light, but, alack, I am unable to oblige further.  Apologies for the long wait for additional information, which it turns out I am unable to furnish.

Many thanks for remembering & providing this very insightful update @NoType.  Your ever present, gracious thoughtfulness is always appreciated.

[lamarax]

10 hours ago, NoType said:

 

 

 

 

...is that USD?? 😨