Questions from an ignorant

[Lokoto]

Dear Friends, I've been using a MB for 10 years. However I consider my self as a true ignorant.

I have a few questions that maybe you could help me answer.

 

1) Is it common to have leaks on a MB fountain pen?

I have a morning ritual of cleaning the "night leaks", but I am getting tired. I took the Pen to the MB service in Mexico City, which by the way is done by Cartier (is this common?) and the pen work well for 2 months, then I returned for my morning ritual again.

By leaks I mean, taking a piece of cloth and clean the pen, and remains that stay in the cap.

I've been using MB ink since day 1.....

2) Attached the pictures of my pen's "rim", looks destroyed, is this piece replaceable?

3) Are fountain pen's safe to travel on planes, or does the preassure could lead to leaks?

 

Thanks in advance

 

[meanwhile]

You might get a leak from an fp on a plane, but you shouldn't be able to damage it this way.

 

Looking at that that trim makes me wonder - what ink are you using? Is it MB Blue-Black? This stuff is notoriously nasty (it's an iron gall ink) and should only be used with special precautions.

 

My suggestions -

 

* Start rinising the pen out every two weeks (fill with water the empty several times, then leave it upright with its nib on a wad of absorbent paper towel over night)

 

* Start using a fountain pen friendly ink. Watermans Florida and Aurora Black are especially good choices. Or if you need a very high level of permance for legal documents then use a Noodler's Eternal ink.

 

* Bother the people who repaired your pen and tell them they haven't done it properly! A repair should last longer than two months. Make them do it again.

 

[Allan]

Dear Friends, I've been using a MB for 10 years. However I consider my self as a true ignorant.

I have a few questions that maybe you could help me answer.

 

1) Is it common to have leaks on a MB fountain pen?

 

No it is not common, however a well used pen 10 years old from any manufacturer could indeed develop a leak.

 

I have a morning ritual of cleaning the "night leaks", but I am getting tired. I took the Pen to the MB service in Mexico City, which by the way is done by Cartier (is this common?) and the pen work well for 2 months, then I returned for my morning ritual again.

By leaks I mean, taking a piece of cloth and clean the pen, and remains that stay in the cap.

 

Looking at your pictures I would say that Montblanc did not do the repairs. MB is extremely good at replacing not only parts that no longer work correctly, but anything with a scratch, dent, ding, or scuff. As a matter of fact some times they can be a little over zealous. I would take it to an actual MB boutique, not just a dealer.

 

I've been using MB ink since day 1.....

2) Attached the pictures of my pen's "rim", looks destroyed, is this piece replaceable?

 

Yes, it is. That looks like a 144 which had a horrible problem with the plating, but then again, it is the cheapest in the series. If you have MB service the pen they will undoubtedly replace the ring as well.

 

3) Are fountain pen's safe to travel on planes, or does the preassure could lead to leaks?

 

Yes, as a rule. I would advise that you place the pen in a plastic bag just in case. Some have said it is better to have the pen completely full, or completely empty.

 

Allan

[pankaj]

Dear Friends, I've been using a MB for 10 years. However I consider my self as a true ignorant.

I have a few questions that maybe you could help me answer.

 

1) Is it common to have leaks on a MB fountain pen?

 

No it is not common, however a well used pen 10 years old from any manufacturer could indeed develop a leak.

 

I have a morning ritual of cleaning the "night leaks", but I am getting tired. I took the Pen to the MB service in Mexico City, which by the way is done by Cartier (is this common?) and the pen work well for 2 months, then I returned for my morning ritual again.

By leaks I mean, taking a piece of cloth and clean the pen, and remains that stay in the cap.

 

Looking at your pictures I would say that Montblanc did not do the repairs. MB is extremely good at replacing not only parts that no longer work correctly, but anything with a scratch, dent, ding, or scuff. As a matter of fact some times they can be a little over zealous. I would take it to an actual MB boutique, not just a dealer.

 

I've been using MB ink since day 1.....

2) Attached the pictures of my pen's "rim", looks destroyed, is this piece replaceable?

 

Yes, it is. That looks like a 144 which had a horrible problem with the plating, but then again, it is the cheapest in the series. If you have MB service the pen they will undoubtedly replace the ring as well.

 

3) Are fountain pen's safe to travel on planes, or does the preassure could lead to leaks?

 

Yes, as a rule. I would advise that you place the pen in a plastic bag just in case. Some have said it is better to have the pen completely full, or completely empty.

 

Allan

 

I always carry mb fp in flight, don't experience any leak.

 

But overflow is a prob with one vintage 144 golden cap, one 146 resin that I own. Guess, sometimes its a feeder prob, or may be, as Allan says, 10 year old well used pen. That way, the oldies leak

[Guest ictop]

I took the Pen to the MB service in Mexico City, which by the way is done by Cartier (is this common?)

 

Yes, this is common.

 

FYI, MB. Cartier, Dunhill, these are just brand names that belong to the same Group.

The Group own all these brands and some others.

Just like all 50 states (brands) to form the USA (Group), but there is only one President (Group CEO) to manage them all.

Under this system, the Group control all raw material purchasing, manufacturing, distribution channels, and most importantly, their Prices.

 

If I keep telling more, I might get killed. But you got the idea.

 

[Kalessin]

While the brand names may all belong to the Richemont group, I've never seen any indication that service for all three brands is done by the same service outfit. Also, each brand in the group has its own president; as far as I know, they're not all run as the same company with different trim applied at the same factory.

Edited June 25, 2007 by Kalessin

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

It is not common to have leaks on MB fountain pens or any other fountain pen brand.

 

The rim, that is MB's mistake, and it is common to find well-used 144s with that problem. To correct this, MB made the 145 which has no trim ring, a good move on MB's part.

 

Airplane pressure is fine for fountain pens.

 

Dillon

[tiecoon]

I took the Pen to the MB service in Mexico City, which by the way is done by Cartier (is this common?)

 

Yes, this is common.

 

FYI, MB. Cartier, Dunhill, these are just brand names that belong to the same Group.

The Group own all these brands and some others.

Just like all 50 states (brands) to form the USA (Group), but there is only one President (Group CEO) to manage them all.

Under this system, the Group control all raw material purchasing, manufacturing, distribution channels, and most importantly, their Prices.

 

If I keep telling more, I might get killed. But you got the idea.

You are correct on the hierarchy, but not entirely. Yes, the group runs the brands, but in the US Cartier repairs Cartier and MontBlanc repairs MB. Maybe not in Mexico, but in the states it is certain. Distribution is singly handled, manufacturing and repair are not.