Search the Community

I bought this MontBlanc fountain pen a few weeks ago and it was all full of dried ink. I cleaned it and I think I forced the piston mechanism, as I could unscrew it and I took it apart. Now when I try to suck ink from the reservoir, the piston gets stuck at the bottom of the barrel. Any tips on how to fix this issue? Thank you very much.

It took me some time to finish this comparison but here it is. Not flawless, not pefect, but it has plenty of colors to see. To be honest I've never been violet fan. I always liked dark purples but disliked most of violets. It's hanged with time. At the moment I'm quite keen on these hues. I've included 60-63 inks here (the number differs on different papers, I didn't have enough samples of some inks, I've forgotten about one or two inks and haven't included them everywhere). There are some odd-looking inks here that aren't violet/purple like KWZI Blue L51 (I just had a small sample so I included it here). Kung Te-Cheng, Potassium, Purpillusion are more blue than purple. Alt-Bordeaux and Deepwater Obsession can be regarded as burgundy but as I'm not planning (yet) to compare burgunds / bordeaux I've included them here as well. I need to thank Cyber6 here for A LOT of samples. You trully are Ink Smuggler Extraordinaire Ink Splashes http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/674/D57Iib.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img911/9309/XMowa7.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img905/9462/Dzf3fY.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img537/121/srURhs.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img901/3985/xcEDod.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img537/4492/NtfODA.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img538/2685/q8cIq7.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img673/1967/EnAfQy.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img674/4319/WdEf3j.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img631/7922/1S4blW.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img673/9114/raVPLz.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img674/3466/vK8xaM.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img538/7629/ivb3lB.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img538/2456/dhwe19.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img745/7901/pw9g05.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img674/6609/m4k036.jpg GEMS (they were cut from photos taken on a sunny day, you may find the colors bizarre but I like to show them this way even though most of the times we're not writing in a direct sunlight) http://imageshack.com/a/img910/3417/UZX0cP.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img674/7610/4sDPbR.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img538/8730/osVcHA.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img912/9997/NAgsqc.jpg

I like red inks and I use them on every day basis. I'd like to present you short comparison of ten colors. Of course it would be great to compare more reds but then my samples of Oxblood and Monaco Red are empty. Next time. So the inks I've compared are (in alphabetical order): BRILLIANT RED - Diamine http://imageshack.com/a/img834/7010/tg6s.jpg BRILLIANT RED - Pelikan http://imageshack.com/a/img842/8815/x797.jpg BURGUNDY RED - Montblanc http://imageshack.com/a/img843/6245/qxoy.jpg CIEMNY CZERWONY (Dark Red) - Nicpoń* *Nicpoń is chemistry PhD Student that's active on Polish fountain pen network. He'c created limited line of nice, saturated inks in many colors. http://imageshack.com/a/img834/7862/c9n5.jpg GARNET RED - Graf von Faber-Castell http://imageshack.com/a/img834/7862/c9n5.jpg MATADOR - Diamine http://imageshack.com/a/img834/6818/pmh4.jpg MORINDA - Rohrer & Klingner http://imageshack.com/a/img835/3799/pvp4.jpg RED - Hero http://imageshack.com/a/img842/9356/rew0.jpg RED DRAGON - Diamine http://imageshack.com/a/img842/1002/kwg3.jpg RUBY - Diamine http://imageshack.com/a/img836/6886/yi84.jpg There was an accident. I was ready to make "splash painting" with Ruby. The sample was standing near the sink, I don't know why, but I've abruptly turned and my hand pushed the sample. The rest of the ink flow down the sink to some foreign lands. Ruby is a great color, so it's a pity I couldn't compare it this way. SWABS ON SCAN (Canon MP 250) http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/843/9jsta.jpg SWABS ON PHOTO http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/842/jpna.jpg FEW DROPS OF INK ON KITCHEN TOWEL http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1280x1024q90/835/bqr6.jpgTEXT WRITTEN WITH PILOT 78G, B NIB in Oxford notebook http://imageshack.com/a/img838/576/fra5.jpg TEXT WRITTEN WITH PILOT 78G, B NIB in notebook http://imageshack.com/a/img841/5115/eifu.jpg TEXT WRITTEN WITH PILOT 78G (B NIB) IN CALENDAR http://imageshack.com/a/img842/3936/qgzj.jpg TEXT WRITTEN ON CHEAP PAPER (inks are listed as above) http://imageshack.com/a/img845/3366/v4ws.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img835/7620/sqyd.jpg TEXT WRITTEN ON CHEAP COPY PAPER PRINTED WITH DOTS http://imageshack.com/a/img834/2382/c4e57.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img834/7564/p4hw.jpg http://imageshack.com/a/img843/7411/bud7.jpg SUMMARY RED DRAGON stomps. It's amazing deep color. I love it. Second and third place are taken by CIEMNY CZERWONY and MORINDA / MATADOR ex-aequo. There are also colors I dislike, namely: Pelikan's BRILLIANT RED (it sucks: I can't find anything interesting about this ink), GARNET RED (moderate flow, dull), BURGUNDY RED (dull, not interesting). What's your opinion? You can choose few inks from the poll.

Montblanc Meisterstuck - Origins Coral - (Limited Edition) This ink review was part of a blind test on the Fpgeeks website. Many thanks @JungleJim for the sample. It is a limited edition of Montblanc, celebrating their 100th anniversary and my first Montblanc ink. According to their website, the ink is inspired by both the 1920s Montblanc writing instruments and the coral reefs. It writes sort of a reddish pink colour drying to a rusty orange. It’s subtly different depending which paper you use. Paradoxically, I enjoyed it most on copy paper, and Tomoe River 68 gsm. On copy paper, depending the wetness of pen/ nib width, pressure, you may or may not have woolly lines, ghosting, bleed through all together or not at all. There is some subtle shading, especially on Japanese paper. Chroma: Writing Samples: I think this would be quite fun to use on thick absorbent paper (like Peter Pauper) and on white Japanese Paper. Despite the massacre it looks on Hammermill 20 gr copy paper, it behaved more or less ok between European Ef up to B nibs. Photo: The blue line is Rohrer and Klingner Königsblau (Royal blue) Comparison: Water test: Left side 10 seconds under running water. Artwork: Fox and the grapes: a rebuttal to Aesop's fox and the grapes fable. - Paper is Talens mixed media Paper. Montlblanc Origins Coral Noodler's Lexington Gray/ Black Swan in English Roses Diamine x Niche Pens Alexandrite (non-shimmering) · Pens used: Kaweco (EF/F/M/B, BB), Pilot F3A (Ef, semi-flex) · What I liked: The colour. · What I did not like: The colour with wide nibs, lack of water resistance · What some might not like: Woolly lines on copy paper Price 😛 · Shading: Subtle · Ghosting: Depending nib/ pen/ pressure on cheap paper. · Bleed through: Same as above. · Flow Rate: Restrained. · Lubrication: Lower than average. · Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. · Start-up: Ok · Saturation: Pastel · Shading Potential: Depending paper, wetness of pen, nib size. · Sheen: Did not see. · Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Yes on copy paper, ironically with EF nibs (Japanese and Euro) · Nib Creep / “Crud”: Did not notice. · Staining (pen): No. · Clogging: Did not notice. · Cleaning: Easy · Water resistance: Non-existent. · Availability: 50 ml bottles. Please don't hesitate to share your experience, writing samples or any other comments. The more the merrier

Dear Forum, I hope this finds you well. I have bought a Montblanc 320P With a original Steel-Goldplated nib , wich I want to replace….but there is a problem… I can’t finde replacement nibs ? Or almost none ? So this makes me question, where can I buy replacement nibs ? (I live in Germany, so most us sellers don’t sell to me ) I have wondered , if I could use nibs from other pens , like the Montblanc Carrera or from another brand …but here I need your help. i know somebody here for sure knows something about this problem or can help me… ( I sorry , but sadly I am not a native speaker, if there are any questions, pls ask and I am going to answer them , I really need help )

It seems that in 2010 Montblanc changed the manufacturer of their ink as well as the design of the bottle. The company's issued a new, larger (60 ml vs 50 ml) bottle. To be honest I find Montblanc bottle not only nice but also practical, much better than Iroshizuku or Sailor. The new colours launched in 2010 include: Burgundy Red Irish Green Lavender Purple Mystery Black Midnight Blue Oyster Grey Royal Blue Toffee Brown Toffee Brown flows well, has no detectable odor, and no negative qualities that I discovered so far. The ink is not waterproof. At all. If you like brown inks but need them to be permanent take a look at Platinum Sepia. Toffee Brown dry times depend on the width of the nib you use and the paper you write on (as with all other inks), but it's rather wet ink that offers nice kind of shading. In older flex pens it can look very dark while in most regulat pens reddish components are quite visible. Personally I'm not crazy about the color but the facty is Toffee brown is very good ink. Drops of ink on kitchen towel Software ID Tomoe River, kaweco Classic Sport, B Leuchtturm 1917, Kaweco Classic Sport, B Oxford, Gama Airborne, F Oxford, Hero 5028, stub 1,9 Lyreco Budget 60 mgsm, vintage no - name flex Clairefontaine, Kaweco Classic Sport, B Clairefontaine, Gama Airborne, F Comparison

Preface: This article is to discuss the Montblanc 12/14/22/24/32/34 series, giving the reader detailed information on this series history background and structure. Also will discuss the pen's variations. I always enjoy this serie because these pens are very well made and the nibs are divine. There is not too much information for them available, I would like to make my contributions. And also if you are interested, I always have a couple of them available. Enjoy! Historical Background: First, I would like to quote from http://montblanc.parkerpens.org/montblanc.html. In 1959, the Montblanc line was redisigned, 142, 144 and 146 are retired, instead Montblanc was offering: Meisterstück: 12 (plastic, looked a bit like the Parker 45 and had a triangular capband) 14 (plastic, see above) 72 (with rolled gold cap) 74 (with rolled gold cap) 82 (with rolled gold cap and barrel) 84 (with rolled gold cap and barrel) 92 (in 14 carat solid gold cap and barrel) 94 (in 14 carat solid gold cap and barrel) Medium range: 22 (with 14 ct gold nib and two cap rings) 24 (with 14 ct gold nib and two cap rings) Economy: 32 (with 14 ct gold nib and one cap ring) 34 (with 14 ct gold nib and one cap ring) 31 (with steel nib) 32S (with steel nib, silver clip and cap ring) 34S (with steel nib, silver clip and cap ring) 31D (with "manifold" nib) 32P (cartridge filling system) 34P (cartridge filling system) As you can see, the 12/14/72/74/82/84 is Meisterstück range already, they are very well made, the plastic is very robust for Meisterstück range. The medium range (22/24) and economy range (31/32/34) is very well made, too. However, I did receive some reports saying that the 32's plastic developed cracks. I do have more than 10 economy range pens (32/34), they are all in NOS or near mint condition, no crack at all. I guess this really depends on the condition of the pen. The size: First I would like to show a picture of Montblanc 14/12/24/22/34/32 (from left to the right in Figure 1). The pens follow a 2 digit coding system, the second digit is most likely to be 2 or 4 --> 2 stands for regular size, 4 stands for large size. And for economy range, there are pens coded as 31, they are still regular size, the 1 just stands for regular size with steel nib (most of the economy range are equipped with 14k gold nibs). Figure 1. Montblanc 14/12/24/22/34/32 The 12/14 Series: It is very well summarized by "soapytwist" in a previous post (https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/132995-montblanc-12-22-and-32/), but there are some mistakes, I will just quote and make the correction. Please give the credit to him. The 12/14 series are equipped with: 1. 18k "butterfly" nib 2. Push on cap 3. Bishop's mitre cap band 4. Amber/brown, faceted ink window 5. Gold accent band on piston knob end Please check: Figure 2 to see the Montblanc 14/12 with cap off. Figure 3&4 to see the 18k "butterfly" nib on a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 5&6 to see the feed and feed housing on a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 7&8 to see the assembled feed and feed housing on a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 9 to see the assembled section of a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 10 to see the Gold accent band on piston knob end of a Montblanc 12/14/72/74 Figure 11 to see the cap top of a Montblanc 12/14 Figure 12 to see the Bishop's mitre cap band of a Montblanc 12/14 Figure 13&14 see the cap of a Montblanc 72/74 Figure 2. Montblanc 14/12 with cap off Figure 3. 18k "butterfly" nib on a Montblanc 17/74/84/94 Figure 4. 18k "butterfly" nib on a Montblanc 17/74/84/94 Figure 5. Feed and feed housing on a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 6. Feed and feed housing on a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 7. Assembled feed and feed housing on a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 8. Assembled feed and feed housing on a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 9. Assembled section of a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 10. Gold accent band on piston knob end of a Montblanc 12/14/72/74 Figure 11. Cap top of a Montblanc 12/14 Figure 12. Bishop's mitre cap band of a Montblanc 12/14 Figure 13. Cap of a Montblanc 72/74 Figure 14. Cap of a Montblanc 72/74

Somehow I did it again and managed to buy too many Royal Blue inks. It's far from my favourite blue hue but nevertheless useful in broad nibs. In any case, it gave me the opportunity to compare them. The first picture is of what I wrote on a scrap of Lalo 100g paper. It's not a great picture but you can probably see that there's not much difference between Montblanc, Pelikan 4001 and Faber-Castell Königsblau. Pilot Blue, which was added for comparison, is similar but yet slightly more blue (apologies for the tautology but I can't put it otherwise). Also note that the unlabelled cotton swab at the bottom is Pilot Blue. Then I folded the paper, so that only the right part remained visible and left it exposed to the spring sun for a month. The second photograph shows the deterioration of all inks but especially of Montblanc Royal Blue and, surprisingly, Pilot Blue. Pelikan and its presumed sibling Faber-Castell fared slightly better. Finally, I put a wet finger across the paper and then blotted it with a tissue. All inks but Pilot Blue were affected. Bottom line: everything as expected, although I thought that Pilot Blue was more UV resistant.

Were any of the 220 pens made with gold plated nibs? I have what I think is a 220 and it appears the nib is plated as it looks like its flaking off a bit.

I believe Montblanc company doesn't need introduction here. Each year Montblanc offers few LE inks. Their evil-minded marketing team creates interesting colors that soon become unavailable. Not all of them are great but almost all of LE ink become sought after after they're gone and are sold for outrageous prices. Personally I have mixed feelings about idea of LE inks but I enjoy some of them a lot. Montblanc LE red inks were great (Winter Glow can easily concur with Maruzen Nihombashi Akane; it's not the same and but still amazing). 2016 LE inks were rather disappointing. I was interested in trying last one - Lucky Orange. After a week I would like to share few initial thoughts about it. The hue is nice, I rather enjoy it, especially for occasional writing. I use oranges on daily basis however my taste leans more toward more subdued one (like Iroshizuku Yu-yake). Lucky Orange is saturated but not as strongly as, for example, Diamine Orange or Pumpkin. So far I've tried it only in medium and broad nibs and I would say the flow is nice. The ink isn't overly wet but it definitely doesn't feel dry. In both Kaweco Classic and Faber-Castell Ambition broad nibs the lubrication was satisfying. I'm going to try it in dryish Platinum Plaisir 0.2 nib to see how it behaves in a "nail". Drawbacks? Well, it tends to dry out on the nib if you take a pause and leave the pen uncapped for 30-40 seconds. I've left some ink in Jinhao and put it in a drawer, after three days there's no nib creep or crud but I want to see what will happen after a week. Anyway I think it's nice addition to MB LE line. Personally I like this ink. It wouldn't make to my Top 5 of orange inks but it's a keeper. Bottle Ink splash Drops of ink on kitchen towel Software ID Color range Tomoe River, Kaweco Classic Sport, broad nib Leuchtturm 1917, Kaweco Classic Sport, broad nib Maruman, Kaweco Classic Sport, broad nib

It seems that in 2010 Montblanc changed the manufacturer of their ink as well as the design of the bottle. The company's issued a new, larger (60 ml vs 50 ml) bottle. To be honest I find Montblanc bottle not only nice but also practical, much better than Iroshizuku or Sailor. The new colours launched in 2010 include: Burgundy Red Irish Green Lavender Purple Mystery Black Midnight Blue Oyster Grey Royal Blue Toffee Brown Mont Blanc's Oyster Grey is a good ink, however it does’t stand out from the crowd. It' nice, well-behaved, quite nice. Drops of ink on kitchen towel Software ID Tomoe River, kaweco Classic Sport, B Tomoe River, Omas Emotica, M Leuchtturm 1917, Kaweco Classic Sport, B Comparison

PRELUDE In the search of suitable replacements for a Meisterstuck Doue FP 145 My meticulously planned fountain pen hiatuses are occasionally disrupted by the well-meaning members of my family. Instead of appreciating my carefully timed fountain pen acquisitions, they enthusiastically offer advice on investments, the time value of money, and everything in between. To add a twist to the tale, they threw me a curveball last year by gifting a Meisterstück Doue FP 145 LE, even though I had only bought a total of three fountain pens in the last three years. If we exclude the Opus 88, then it's just two. The Doue 145 is undeniably a beautiful pen, but I found myself wondering if I could ever use it with its slim metal section and rather shortish nib. Determined to find a more suitable replacement, I revisited the local MB Boutique. While Montblanc's customer service remains top-notch for pens within the two-year warranty period, they seem to derive more delight from pens outside the warranty period than their customers do. Faced with the task of choosing two pens to match the value of the pricier Doue, I was drawn to a Naruto LeGrand 146. Then, the salesperson revealed his secret NOS drawer, housing various pens, including a Great Characters Walt Disney FP. Opting for the Montblanc M, not only because its 2018 price, combined with the Naruto, matched the total credit value for the Doue, but also because it simply looked nicer. And here goes the review.... If you like a pictorial blogger view, here is the link: A Review of the Montblanc M in Red PRESENTATION (6/6) Usual MB The usual MB single pen box. The standard Montblanc single pen box with no customisation, with the only variation being the red cardboard sleeve that encases the box. The RED collection boasts a charitable initiative, contributing less than 1% (€5) towards fighting HIV/AIDS programs. It's almost as if Montblanc is tackling HIV/AIDS single-handedly, making minuscule donations of €5 at a time, all while charging the end customer a whopping €540+. As Master Yoda famously said, “Do or do not. There is no try”. The pen securely nestles within a cushioned and somewhat snug slot inside the box, accompanied by a complimentary cartridge filled with black ink. However, it seems that most of the ink inside the cartridge had evaporated during its 5 years of shelf-living. DESIGN (6/6) From the likes of the Apple Watch The Montblanc M, available today in three finishes—Ultra Black, RED, and RED Signature—has been designed by Marc Newson, renowned for his work on the Apple Watch. Newson has successfully blended functionality with elegance, anchoring the design firmly outside the tradition for Montblanc. The shape of the pen is particularly appealing in modern pen terms. It boasts a perfect cylindrical shape with zero taper and rounded ends, except for the flat section, commonly referred to as the “plateau” at the end of the barrel. The platinized clip is a personal favourite; it avoids the cheap look of the Safari, perhaps because it's not oversized and doesn't unlawfully occupy a third of the cap's surface area. The glossy and bright red finish mirrors background lights and hues effectively. Upon uncapping, one notable feature is the novel use of magnets to secure the cap. The snap cap rotates itself to align its magnetic poles perfectly, ensuring the clip and plateau on the barrel are perfectly aligned on a plane. A soft snap securely seals the cap, earning full marks here. According to Red Dot Project award records, the snowflake emblem made of white resin is ultrasonically welded onto the plateau and then milled with a diamond tool to maintain flatness. The design reflects a harmonious flow and is truly eye-catching. The cap, adorned with the snowflake emblem on top like regular Montblanc pens, exhibits impeccable overall quality of work. In certain lighting conditions, the magnetic insert is faintly visible inside the cap. The knurled platinized metal section adds enough weight to balance an otherwise light barrel. Due to the flat plateau on the barrel, the cap cannot be posted. The section, embossed with the MONTBLANC brand name five times on the visible rear ring where the cap snaps on, is somewhat short and not ideal for longer writing sessions. More on that later. FILLING & CLEANING SYSTEMS (4/6) Cartridge & No Converter This is where, like many other fountain pen users, I express my concerns. It's worth noting that this pen only supports standard international short cartridges, and none of the available converters are compatible due to the featured plateau on the barrel. On the positive side, the pen accepts short international cartridges or proprietary MB cartridges, limiting its cartridge capacity to 0.5 ml. The form of the pen, while aesthetically pleasing, somewhat restricts its functionality as part of the design. Perhaps because the pen was conceived in this digital age, the designer didn't anticipate it being used extensively. Additionally, cleaning the section with running tap water is an easy process. NIB - ALL THAT MATTERS (6/6) The two toned rhodium ruthenium stunner The 14k nib is claimed to be handcrafted by Montblanc in a series of 30 steps. Rhodium-coated with a dark grey ruthenium-coated inlay, this nib is a stunner. I particularly love the shape of the nib, which comes in two widths - Fine and Medium, as far as I know. A dazzling cylindrical flow of silvery rhodium bounds the dark grey ruthenium inlay with well-defined contours. Just below the circular breather hole, the 'M' logo rests within an encircled star. The tail end specifies the composition 'Au585' of the gold-alloy, and the brand name 'MONTBLANC' rests just above the tail. Between those, a hallmark of 'StOD' inside a crossed ellipse adds a touch of elegance. As always, the nib itself doesn't mention the width explicitly, but a sticker at the piston end of the barrel provides all the necessary details. Once you turn the nib, you'll behold a somewhat unconventionally shaped black glossy feed that seamlessly matches the curvature of the pen. Apart from an air hole, there is nothing else in the feed, although the nib runs almost medium wet. PHYSICS OF IT (5/6) – RELATIVELY SPEAKING The Newtonian Laws The overall capped length is around 14 cm. As perhaps mandated by Mr. Newson, I have to use the pen un-posted. Although the section has a somewhat comfortable girth, the shortest length of the section of around 2 cm with a step from the barrel does make it less than ideal to use it as a workhorse. The metallic section balances the weight of 19g pretty well. Below are the pictures along with a Conid Minimalistica for a comparative reference. The Minimalistica is super comfortable for me, here are the dimensions for the Montblanc M. Uncapped Length ~ 12.5 cm Total Length ~ 14 cm Exposed Nib Leverage ~ 1.6 cm (A #6 nib has typically 2.4 cm) The weight of the pen is comforting even without the cap. Overall Max Weight ~ 27 g (with a cartridge, without cap ~18.75 g) ECONOMIC VALUE (0/0) FOC for me No comments. No rating, as I paid nothing WRITING & FINAL COMMENTS (5.4/6) Writes well The writing experience is quite pleasant, albeit with a relatively stiff nib. It does possess a hint of tooth and precisely the kind of control you'd expect from a well-tuned nib. There is a certain degree of softness in the nib, though minimal line variation occurs with pressure. Lines dry in 30 seconds with MB Toffee brown ink on Endless Regalia 80 GSM paper, and the line width is sufficient to display some shading. The nib skipped on the black cartridges (the salesman included a couple of cartridge packs), but it performs flawlessly on the brown ones, offering a steady ink flow with no drying issues. However, the length of the section, along with the step, leaves something to be desired in an otherwise excellently designed fountain pen. The nib leverage is minimal, so you inevitably touch the step from the barrel. With sweat, the knurling on the grip loses efficiency, unlike a Conid Kingsize with a titanium section. The weight, balance, and aesthetics of the Montblanc M surpass present standards. I believe Montblanc has successfully created a modern pen. Thank you for going through the review. You can find other pen and paraphernalia reviews here. REFERENCES Mark Newson - M Red Red Dot Project PS. I am posting a fountain pen review after 4 long years and my 2 year old keeps me totally occupied.

Hi I recently bought a used montblanc limited edition (4810 pieces) 149 by andree putman, which is basically a classic 149 with a special case, I sent it to get serviced. I contacted My Jewlery Repair (montblanc's authorized repair) if i can swap the nib of a regular 149 to the calligraphy flex nib & they said they could. My question is, since its a limited edition set will I totally ruin the pen's value if i would eventually sell it or it will upgrade the pen/set? I've attached stock images of the set, Thank You

Being a bit of a Montblanc fan, wanting to add a blue or blue/grey variant, and wanting to add more to the MB herd, I found a few potential candidates. Glacier La Petit Prince Skywalker Cool Blue Guilloche Starwalker Space Blue I have other LeGrand/146 pens and have never owned or experienced any of the Skywalkers. I believe one of the 146 sized pens has a fine nib, others are medium and a broad 146. I have fines, mediums and broads from MB already also. Getting the Glacier or Prince would be more or less for aesthetic purposes over having a new writing experience. Getting one of the Skywalkers would give me a different writing experience to add to the other 9 MB pens I have. In the end, I like how all of my Montblanc pens write and enjoy having a variety depending on my mood or whim. What I would ultimately like, however, would be to get BBB nibs and have a nibmeister grind them to my specifications. But finding BBB nibs are rare. In the meantime I can enjoy having a set of fun pens. Of the four, the most eye catching, to me, is the Cool Blue Guilloche. That said, I also like the blue/grey color of the others. Each one have an appeal. I do not want all four. I'd rather pick one and move on to a completely new version to bring into the family. Possibly a Patron of Art sometime down the road? Who knows? Montblanc has a vast catalogue to choose from. Plus I'm still awaiting the 100th Anniversary of the Meisterstuck to be announced. Exclusion of price, which of the four would you choose?

I've got a Meisterstuck 642 with a broken cork seal on my restoration table. I saw somewhere that people have replaced these seals with silicone o-rings. Any idea what size seals to use for this or where one can find appropriate cork replacement seals? For reference the diameter of the piston looks like its about 5mm and the nut that holds it is about 8.5 mm so I would expect the seal to be about 9mm. All advice is welcomed.

Hi there! There’s a local pen show happening in a few days and I want to hear some thoughts. I have been wanting the Sailor KOP Ebonite for two years now and I wonder if it’s worth getting. Will the ebonite body last for a long time (with proper care of course)? I’m afraid that the ebonite might easily discolor or lose its shine (one of the main reasons why I like it) after a year or so and that it might be too fragile. Or perhaps I should go for an acrylic version? On the other hand, my ultimate grail is the Montblanc Great Characters Enzo Ferrari. But it’s a bit far from my budget right now so I need to wait for a few months if that’s the better buy. As much as I want both, I will only be settling for one pen in the near future as I want to focusing on other things. So KOP or MB Great Characters? Let me know your thoughts!

Dear MB network I am a new member on the FPN and am about to make one of those posts/requests that no seasoned collector or expert wants to read let alone entertain but I have very few options from my current country of residence. I have been collecting MB pens for a few years now and although I am completely in love with them I am at a point in life where I need to let go of the majority of my collection. I know very little of how to value these wonderful items and I always bought what I loved rather than what was hype or hip at the time. The issue I am having is finding reliable sources for pricing information so I do not get shafted by valuations here and there. In my other collecting fields such as Comics or Nihonto there are documented, certified, price guides and tutorials that help but when trying to gauge the market on pens...minefield. I know that as with everything condition is paramount and if pens are still sealed even better, but how to realistically gauge the valuation, no clue. So, I am sorry to ask for the obvious, but can anyone help guide me here? I am attaching the pictures as they are. The pens in these pictures have never been used and all have their box and papers with them. The ones I have used I am keeping with me here goes:

Hi all- Sorry if this has been discussed before but I could not find a good answer. I am helping my 80 year old father with many things but the latest issue is taking his MontBlanc collection out of a ziploc bag (yes, they are stored together in one big bag with no protection between them) and finding a suitable storage solution. I think he would prefer a leather case but would also consider something, such as a box, to be on his desk at home. Nothing cheap from Amazon or AliExpress but nothing over a few hundred dollars either. The issue is I cannot find anything that will actually fit the LeGrand and/or 146/149 pens. Here is his collection: Classique pencil Classique ballpoint x2 Classique rollerball (metal, not silver cap) Le Grand rollerball LeGrand highlighter 146 (or maybe a 149) fountain pen x2 They are all classic black/gold (except for the metal cap one) Thank you for any help, information, or links to product pages.

Got this antique Montblanc pen as a gift a few days ago, was wondering exactly which model or series it is. The nib says Iridium point Germany on it, it was bought in an antique store in Istanbul. Thank you in advance, if any extra info is needed I can provide!

Hello y'all, I've gone and done it. I cracked the section on my 221P. It's cracked in multiple places and unless I try to fix it with super glue and the entire grit of micro mesh, it seems unrepairable. The plastic seems somewhat brittle. Now I'm looking for parts. I looked on eBay to no avail. Does anyone know where I can find a section for the 221P? Any help will be appreciated. Happy New Year, Ross

I’ve noticed some oxidation on the cap & section of the ruthenium coating, also noticed this on the piston end section, not sure if this is brassing or oxidation. It looks cool tho & I haven’t polished it off as I’m concerned that the ruthenium coating would rub off. Any thoughts?

I’m not really Montblanc fan. I’ve never dreamed about owning MB 149 / 146 one day and most of their pens simply have no appeal to me. Not enough to consider spending crazy amount of money on them anyway. While some people may regard MB as grail pen, for me white star doesn’t hold a promise of special writing experience. Sure, I’m not deaf and when I hear and read about other people’s experiences with Montblanc I can’t help but become curious and eager to try them myself. Happily I try to participate in fountain pen aficionados meetings and I had a chance to see and try quite a few MB pens. Almost always after few minutes of toying with them I put them back and focus my attention on Viscontis and other pens. When we speak about pens from this price segment my design and materials preferences resonate better with St. Dupont or Caran d’Ache. As most of you know Montblanc 146 and 149 are classics well known and cherished by most fountain pen enthusiasts. Also they’re the pens often bought by successful managers and business mans and womans. Not all of them look for great writing instrument, some of them look for a status symbol. I work a recruiter and, sadly, I rarely meet fountain pen users. On the other hand some time ago I had a chance to meet marketing professional who, in the beginning of our interview, put a pen case on the desk, opened it and directed two white stars to me. I thought that she would use them to write at some moment of our conversation but that wasn’t the case. When she started to make notes, she used cheap, wooden pencil (still better than BIC rollerball in my opinion. I have a problem with people ready to pay 1000 $ for a suit, 500 $ for shoes, 3000 - 5000$ for a watch and then, they write with cheapest BIC pen. I feel some discrepancy here). The pens were supposed, I guess, to build professional image. And sadly this illustrates a problem I have with Montblanc. May people here enjoy and use their MB pens, but some just need a white star logo to prove something. I guess it’s not fair that I look at the brand through part of the target group but I just can’t help it. To make long story short – for long time I wasn’t interested in Montblanc. But then, suddenly, few months ago I felt some strange impulse. Imperative one at that. It made my neurons fire and move hand toward computer mouse and treacherous ebay. As we all know ebay is full of temptations, and when the impulse comes from the stars you have no choice but to click it. And so I have There’s not a lot of information about Montblanc Genertion. I don’t know when it was introduced on the market nor what was it’s target group nor the year when it was discontinued. It seems it was kind of entry level Montblanc but I’m not sure. I would appreciate any insight from more knowledgeable users. The pen is medium – sized and made of plastic. It definitely feels different and less precious compared to Meisterstuck pens. The Generation has clean lines and looks sleek. It can appear smaller than other fountain pens by the same maker. Cap and barrel are smooth and uncluttered, with nothing except simple gold cap bands. The pocket clip is slim and functional. The top of the cap has the black disc and trademark white star inside a gold band. The very top of the barrel has a thin gold ring, adding the final touch of trim. All in all it’s elegant design. The pen was made from plastic, threads from metal. The closing mechanism of the cap is quite well thought - three springy "tabs" seal the cap securely. In case of my pen only two of three tabs were really springy while the third one didn’t work. As a result the cap seated securely but not as tightly as I would like it to be. Happily it was corrected by Pen Doctor and now everything works fine. The pen is light and comfortable in the hand, and it shouldn’t tire the hand of those of us who write a lot. While I consider Pelikan M200/205/400/405 too small for me, Montblanc Generation that has similar dimensions feels much better in hand. Most often it comes in black or burgundy, but I saw also this model in green (you see it now too), yellow, orange, blue and gold. The pen was made from plastic, threads from metal. The closing mechanism of the cap is quite well thought - three springy "tabs" seal the cap securely. In case of my pen only two of three tabs were really springy while the third one didn’t work. As a result the cap seated securely but not as tightly as I would like it to be. Happily it was corrected by Pen Doctor and now everything works fine. Nib I won’t lie to you – this nib was the main reason I wanted to get this pen. I have a soft spot for inset / inlaid nibs. Every time I see one I check my account balance to see if I can allow myself some folly. Inset nibs look valiant and the ones I’ve tried so far were great writers. 14ct medium nib on this one is a great performer. The line it gives is wet and smooth, it doesn’t give a lot of feedback and is more on “buttery feeling” side of things. Additionally the line is rather broader than most European medium nibs and for me it’s an asset. Filling system Yawn. Cartridge / converter. There’s nothing wrong with it, actualli it’s quite comfortable, easy to clean and cheap in case you need to change converter. In the same time though it’s simply boring. Dimensions Closed: 139 mm Open: 128 mm Summary After some time of using the pen I have to admit that Montblanc Generation is a nice pen, definitely not cheap one but I don’t feel the money I’ve paid for it were wasted. It can be still found for around 90-200 $ depending on the color and condition. I’ve paid 135 euros for mine and that makes this pen one of more expensive ones in my possession. I wouldn’t say it’s worth this kind of money but if you can afford it or you collect Montblancs this one doesn’t disappoint. Also, it’s green and green is cool.

I know many of y'all have stayed up at night thinking "I wonder what a Montblanc looks like when x-rayed". Well, I am here today to finally answer this age old question, lol. As I am the Chief (and the Indian) of Radiology where I work I said lets do it. Actually, several times during the week I fire a test shot of the x-ray equipment after its been restarted or calibrated in the morning in order to confirm that its ready to shot during the day. Usually I shot my Iphone or keys. Today I had my 147 Traveller that had not been inked up yet and thought lets tested on that. Well, here are the results: Montblanc 147 Traveller Posted Nib Hope y'all enjoyed that. As I bring in other pens I will xrays them as well. Cheer, Ozzy

Hello, Everybody, To me it is a bit of sad and sentimental story, yet life goes on. Perhaps it’s worth sharing, please pardon me if not so… My one and only “friction fit mechanism” 149, with 18C architect grind nib started failing after 45+ years of continuos use. It started developing hairline cracks in the section. I have treated the pen neither badly, nor like a piece of jewelry. Being a valuable part of my every day reality it has traveled with me all around the world for 40+ years. Material fatigue, perhaps… As I know nothing about “precious resin” solvent welding (any shared experience would be more than appreciated), my only option was getting a replacement 1963 type barrel. Those who had it tried to charge for it almost as much as for a new pen, without mint condition warranty, so it was not a secure and afforfable option. Luckily, a friend had an entire 1967 type (screw-in “threaded” mechanism) spare body, which cost me just a fraction of what I’d have paid for a 1963 barrel only. I knew my 149 would become a sturdier, heavier pen, with less ink storage capacity than the one I got used to. It made me feel a little reluctant, but I eventually decided to go for it. So, I just “transplanted” the nib unit and cap to the newer body. It is still a great pen, almost as much a marvel of engineering as the old one, just feeling somewhat more robust, with weight distribution slightly reminding of the 50s celluloid ones. Yet, my trusty “friction-fit” is gone for good, or at least until I arrange a barrel I can afford, or hopefully learn solvent-welding MB “precious resin”. 🙂