Montblanc 139 Value Appraisal Help Needed

[AlexStefanut]

Dear All,

My name is Alex, and I want to ask for your help. I recently inherited some items from a relative, and among them is a Montblanc 139 type.

I intend to sell it, because I am not a collector of fountain pens, and it seems this is a very rare model. I will submit fotos soon, in order for you to appraise it.

Based on these pictures, I kindly ask the forum members to give me a reasonable price for this piece.

Many thanks in advance for all your help,

Alex

 

You can write here, in the topic, or via e-mail at:

 

alexandru.stefanut@gmail.com

Edited September 23, 2013 by AlexStefanut

[JLS1]

Hi Alex,

 

First of all,

 

Congratulations (and I mean CONGRATULATIONS!) on your inheritance. The 139 is one of the rarer MBs and is a "grail pen" for many MB fans here. As far as finding a fair price for it, it depends on the following:
- where you are planning on selling it (eBay, FPN Classifieds, private vendor)

- the condition the pen is in when you list it. (by condition, I mean a combination of appearance, marks/scratches/engravings, and whether the internal piston system works)

 

Obviously, a 139 in good condition will go for a lot more than a 139 in poor condition. Your photos will help us a lot in giving you advice here; I'd also include any details about the pen's owner, usage and storage (e.g., was it given to your relative as a gift and sat in his/her desk for the last 70-80 years?).

 

Outside of that, I'd look at the following resources to give you a sense of what current prices are like for these pens:

- eBay (use the Advanced Search and check 'completed listings' to see what pens have sold (or not sold) for in earlier auctions)

- penboard.de (search for "Montblanc 139" in the shop part of the website to find these pens)

- other auction sites (Bonhams has a regular pen auction)

 

HTH!

 

PS: What other pens did you receive?

[Penne Stilografiche]

I've seen them go for $2500-$5000+ in good to mint condition. Congratulations, you are a very lucky man.

 

Regards,

Vincenzo

[AlexStefanut]

Hello All,

 

Many thanks for your replies. My relative used this pen during his life. Here are the pictures, I have made lots of them, for your appraisal.

[Penne Stilografiche]

Hi,

I honestly would think that pen is worth around $2000 as it does not seem to be in that good of shape. I would recommend you send it out to get restored to increase the value, the member "fountainbel" specializes in restoring pens like this.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/user/753-fountainbel/

[camoandconcrete]

Congrats on inheriting such a fine pen. Overall, it doesn't seem to need to much other than polishing the silver rings, cleaning nib/feed, straightening nib and restoring the telescopic piston. Funny thing is, it could go anywhere between 900 USD to upwards of 2500 USD. I've seen some very good condition 139s go for under a 1000 USD but its rare and I'm sure the buyer was elated.

[Penne Stilografiche]

Congrats on inheriting such a fine pen. Overall, it doesn't seem to need to much other than polishing the silver rings, cleaning nib/feed, straightening nib and restoring the telescopic piston. Funny thing is, it could go anywhere between 900 USD to upwards of 2500 USD. I've seen some very good condition 139s go for under a 1000 USD but its rare and I'm sure the buyer was elated.

Where have you seen a Montblanc 139 in great shape sell for under $1000? Where was I for that sale/ auction? Also, how long ago was this?

 

Thanks,

Vincenzo

[camoandconcrete]

Where have you seen a Montblanc 139 in great shape sell for under $1000? Where was I for that sale/ auction? Also, how long ago was this?

 

Thanks,

Vincenzo

I wouldn't say "great" shape but good to very good condition. In the past six months I've seen one for under 1000 USD and then one under 1500 USD.

[Opooh]

I wouldn't be in a hurry to sell the pen, the only way is up. Excellent examples fetch the 5000 $.

[camoandconcrete]

I wouldn't be in a hurry to sell the pen, the only way is up. Excellent examples fetch the 5000 $.

I agree on the waiting part. But, sometimes I feel we the collectors have created a bubble for this MB and similar old MBs. Some rare old Parkers and Pelikans like the Golden Web and the light tortoises don't go for nearly as much as the 139 at the high end of the price range. I wonder if it'll ever change...

[Opooh]

I agree on the waiting part. But, sometimes I feel we the collectors have created a bubble for this MB and similar old MBs. Some rare old Parkers and Pelikans like the Golden Web and the light tortoises don't go for nearly as much as the 139 at the high end of the price range. I wonder if it'll ever change...

Probably the reason is the fact that MB are still in the FP high end, which can not be said of Parker. As for Pelikan, the 1000 series is to recently started and they are not as renowned as a MB.

[bmwboris]

Alex,

 

Considering you are not in to collecting fountain pens, mate- you did a great job in pulling that pen to pieces. A novice surely wouldn't have known how to strip that down!!!!! It's always a risk with these older pens especially considering how brittle the material is

[Chopper88]

Alex,

 

Considering you are not in to collecting fountain pens, mate- you did a great job in pulling that pen to pieces. A novice surely wouldn't have known how to strip that down!!!!! It's always a risk with these older pens especially considering how brittle the material is

 

Thats exactly what I was planning on posting! Way to go to disassemble it just like that without breaking anything

Did you have any idea yourself on the price point of the pen?

 

If I were you, I'd get an estimate on getting this restored. You'll probably get more money for it that way.

[AlexStefanut]

Hello all,

 

Many thanks for all your positive replies. I will be very brief, and I will try to respond to all your inquiries.

 

1. I really appreciate this piece very much.

2. I will not perform any alterations/reparations on it, simply because there are no such specialised people here in Romania. The pen has been used by my former relative, and therefore it is in such shape.

3. As per my dissasembling skills, I tried to be as carefully as possible, and I went step by step with the pen, in order not to damage it whatsoever.

 

Thank you very much all for your kind feedback,

 

Alex

Edited September 24, 2013 by dcpritch
Removed improper sales attempt

[dallasjarrell]

It would be a good kind of gamble.

Your 139 looks like in need of lots of work for perfect restoration.

 

Perfectly restored 139 would be sold like ice cream in hot summer, for more than 4000 USD.

The 139 located in Penboard de is being reserved now for 4100 Euro!!!! ( = 5300 USD )

 

Most 139s have very fragile neck threads due to its age-tired celluloid stuff.

When heat is applied on there trying to turn the section apart out of barrel and inkwindow, it would often get some dull crack around and be broken..

If some chemical glue applied for fixing them aound, the value of the 139 would I guess diminish dramatically.

Instead of gluing, as there are also specialists of specialits who could make new parts with black ebonite, you surely are able to have 100% restored 139 with new parts.

I assume it costs more.

 

Putting the 139 on Ebay USA with no alteration/restoration, I assume, you get 1500-2500 USD depending on its chemistry.

People around here getting excited would jet for it.

It is your choice.

 

My humble opinion.

Good luck, my young friend.

[Opooh]

On Tilburgs pen show yesterday a scruffy 139 with lots of work cosmetically sold for 1200 euro.

[dallasjarrell]

Boy!

1200 is pretty good price for the "scruffy" 139 as worn to almost collapsed form.

Vintage should be in a sense beautifu, aesthetically attractive.

 

I wonder who purchased that pen. wall street investor?

[Opooh]

Boy!

1200 is pretty good price for the "scruffy" 139 as worn to almost collapsed form.

Vintage should be in a sense beautifu, aesthetically attractive.

 

I wonder who purchased that pen. wall street investor?

You could be suprised of what wizzards like Fountainbel, Maxpens or Tom Westerich could achieve with these pens.

[dallasjarrell]

You could be suprised of what wizzards like Fountainbel, Maxpens or Tom Westerich could achieve with these pens.

 

Oh yea, you are right. They possibly could.

I saw somewhere Mr.Fountainbel worked out new threads on 149 of 50s.

quite mathematical super work

 

Neck threads look distorted with wave. cf. photos above

Due presumably to heat applied multiple times in the past.

Others look relatively easy to go.

 

I know one company near me that makes new 139&149 parts with black ebonite.

I know one nib specialist who does everything including welding. :D

Should this pen be inexpensive enough, I wish I would try fixing whole by myself.

[sumgaikid]

From what I can tell,the 139 looks like it's missing the

two sterling silver caprings.

 

 

John