144 snapped in half :(

[chromantic]

My dad's 144 fell off a high shelf onto a tile floor and snapped in half, just behind the section.  I'd often wondered if it was genuine as all the pictures I'd seen on-line showed metal threads whereas this one had plastic threads which probably accounts for it breaking like that.

 

The good news is Valentina had an identical looking one in her newsletter the last couple of weeks. I sent an inquiry and it was still available, so I didn't hesitate. Should be here in a week or so.

[Misfit]

If your Dad’s is genuine, I think there are people here who can work wonders with broken pens. I read about one, but it’s been awhile. It had a happy ending. I’ll look for it.

[Misfit]

I couldn’t find the topic. I looked all through content I posted in. Tried to search. Hopefully, someone else will see this topic, and know who the pen repair people are. 

[Ron Z]

The 144 is notoriously fragile, the material thin and easy to break.   I do a lot of plastic repair, but given the nature of the MB resin I would suggest looking for a replacement barrel.

[chromantic]

4 hours ago, Ron Z said:

The 144 is notoriously fragile, the material thin and easy to break.   I do a lot of plastic repair, but given the nature of the MB resin I would suggest looking for a replacement barrel.

 

Sorry if I wasn't clear. The threaded part of the section is what snapped off so there's nothing to screw a new barrel onto. As I mentioned, I have replacement 144 coming.

[stoen]

Is there a photo?

What year (or at least decade) is the 144?

[Llewellyn]

On 2/17/2026 at 1:16 PM, chromantic said:

 

Sorry if I wasn't clear. The threaded part of the section is what snapped off so there's nothing to screw a new barrel onto. As I mentioned, I have replacement 144 coming.

The same thing happened to a 144 that I inherited from my father. I haven't been able to find a replacement section. 

[stoen]

The barrel/section interface in 1950’s celluloid 14x is a weak spot, since it has threads from both sides, and is only 0.3 mm at the thinnest spot. 

It has to be unscrewed for re-corking, (except for 142).

 

If this is about a celluloid 144, it might still be possible to rescue the threaded part of the barrel from the section, solvent-weld it back to the barrel and replace the cork for a plastic piston and screw the section back in. However, this is an extremely tricky procedure which has to be done by an expert.

[hari317]

On 2/17/2026 at 4:22 AM, chromantic said:

whereas this one had plastic threads

The early C/C snap cap 144s had plastic section threads and an Ebonite feeder. Replacement sections might be available from European sources. 

[chromantic]

Thanks for all the replies.

The replacement 144 arrived and there is a distinct difference in the 2 pens.

1> The section has metal threads, similar to photos I saw when I first got it and was trying to determine what model it was

2> The nibs: both say 4810 above the circular symbol and 14k/Montblanc/585 under it, however

> Dad's - the 4810 is straight across whereas on the new one it is curved, following the 

circular symbol

> Dad's - the gold band along the edge of the nib meets the silver inner surface with just a thin    demarcation line, whereas the new one has a filigreed band around the silver part where it meets the outer gold band.

> Dad's - the clip band says "W. Germany, the new one has a serial number and W. Germany

I wish my camera would take close-ups to show these side by side.

 

Here's the description from the listing:

 

Montblanc Meisterstuck 144 Transitional - Precious black resin & Gold on Brass Accents - 14Kt Gold Bicolor Nib (I think size M) - W. Germany Production with Serial Number from start of 1989 - with box - Really Impossible to Find

This model is a really great rarity because it's a transitional from the first months of 1989, have some unusual details impossible to find in the normal production and very collectible and surely a great investment for the future.

1: The Bicolor Nib (The Bicolor nib for 144 model start the normal production in 1991)

2: signed W. Germany with the Serial Number (in the normal production the serial number appears in 1990 when the two Germany are reunited in fact there is "Germany", before that was signed W. Germany but never with the serial number)

[plus, the usual "This pen has been very gently used, PROBABLY NEVER USED"]

 

If it's not my Dad's actual pen, I will feel connected to the spirit of his pan when using it.

 

[hari317]

On 2/26/2026 at 8:32 PM, chromantic said:

serial number and W. Germany

W. Germany or just Germany?

[torstar]

some floors are surprisingly punishing.

 

i dropped a watch and fountain pen (over the years) a mere 2 feet onto the floor at work, with a decent carpet and they busted real bad.

 

Like what?

 

[torstar]

3 hours ago, hari317 said:

W. Germany or just Germany?

 

all my W. Germany stuff wore out or broke since... 

 

(assume all the E. Germany stuff didn't last more than 2 months after purchase...   )

 

 

 

[Opooh]

On 3/13/2026 at 3:24 PM, torstar said:

 

all my W. Germany stuff wore out or broke since... 

 

(assume all the E. Germany stuff didn't last more than 2 months after purchase...   )

 

 

 

East Germany made their own plastics from oid cotton and stuff, Duroplast. They even made cars of it, Tranznt.😉

[torstar]

9 hours ago, Opooh said:

East Germany made their own plastics from oid cotton and stuff, Duroplast. They even made cars of it, Tranznt.😉

 

Super Precious Resin For and By and Of THE PEOPLE in those MBs   

 

was grateful a few colleagues got out of there, they had waited a long time to do so.

 

My favourite other people's parents were arrivals in Canada with a patent that they built a good business from, or resurrected it a bit differently to make a few million to get through their next handful of years; Czechs, Swedes, Scots and newly unified Germans.