Dating Montblanc 149s

[littlepen]

Thanks for such an informative chart I have just bought my 2nd 149 and from the chart appears to be 1985ish 2 tone nib plastic threads on the piston and split ebonite feed and 2 part barrel.If it was/is a transition pen is there any indication of numbers produced ?

[Bo Bo Olson]

a 742 is not a 149. Whoops.

Edited May 10, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson

[GTOZack]

GUys,

 

I won a bid for a MB149 with 18k, two tone, with original W.germany stamping AND sticker on barrel. i am curious when exactly did STOD stamp decline?

[soapytwist]

Why not read this thread, and then you can tell us what you have.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/170282-dating-montblanc-149s/

http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/408555_10152151787845241_1351951421_n.jpg

[zaddick]

Does anyone know when the 18c nibs stopped being used? I just bought a 149 with an 18c tri-tone, split ebonite feed, two piece barrel, Germany on the clip ring, black threads, and the two umlaut dots between the U. If not for the nib, the rest of the pen would say mid 1980s to me. I am guessing it had service and the body was replaced in the 1980s. Any thoughts?

Edited November 17, 2014 by zaddick

[idazle]

I have researched MB 149 ads appeared in The New Yorker between 1964 and 1980 and the last reference to a 18C nib came out in december 1975. In 1976 ads onwards all references are to 14C nibs.

[zaddick]

  On 11/17/2014 at 9:01 AM, idazle said:

I have researched MB 149 ads appeared in The New Yorker between 1964 and 1980 and the last reference to a 18C nib came out in december 1975. In 1976 ads onwards all references are to 14C nibs.

Thank you. That's helpful to me. After cleaning my pen all weekend to remove dried ink (looked like it was last cleaned in the 1980s) I'll ink it up later today.

[MLB51]

Hello,

 

How do I tell what size nib is in my 149? I can't see any markings on the nib itself to say whether it's M, B or whatever. I've searched FPN and I can't see anything that helps.

 

Can anyone point me to some info?

 

Thanks

 

Stephen

[zaddick]

  On 11/20/2014 at 5:12 PM, MLB51 said:

Hello,

 

How do I tell what size nib is in my 149? I can't see any markings on the nib itself to say whether it's M, B or whatever. I've searched FPN and I can't see anything that helps.

 

Can anyone point me to some info?

 

Thanks

 

Stephen

Nibs are not marked. There are stickers on a new pen. Once that is gone you have to look at the width of the line the nib makes on the paper. Post a picture of the nib and we can probably guess.

[jar]

  On 11/20/2014 at 5:12 PM, MLB51 said:

Hello,

 

How do I tell what size nib is in my 149? I can't see any markings on the nib itself to say whether it's M, B or whatever. I've searched FPN and I can't see anything that helps.

 

Can anyone point me to some info?

 

Thanks

 

Stephen

 

Experience may help in making guesses but since each nib is hand finished there are no standards.

[Pelikan_FP]

Many kudos to the OP for making this thread and updating the very informative chart. I love reading up on the history of fountain pens.

 

It has helped me narrow the age of my first and eagerly anticipated 149 to a transition piece between 1983-85.

 

Cheers!

[TLMG]

I think if you REALLY like a 149 you should just be confident and ask it out. Maybe take it to a nice restaurant? I dont suggest movies because then you can't talk.

Let us know how the date goes... you're gonna do great!

[CS388]

Could the latest version of the chart be 'stuck' onto the first post? (Is that even possible?)

 

I'll sometimes have a slow connection.

This is a useful thread, but at 11 pages long, it often takes me a while to find the latest chart.

 

Of course, it's always interesting - and often informative, to read of our individual pens and their dating quirks - but I'd imagine that many members come to this thread primarily for the chart.

 

Thanks again to DKbRS for creating this resource. Invaluable.

 

Enjoy

[talkinghead]

  On 12/28/2014 at 5:32 PM, CS388 said:

Could the latest version of the chart be 'stuck' onto the first post? (Is that even possible?)

 

 

It's a jpeg.....just drag the picture from the thread to your desktop and it's always there, at your Snowflakes fingertips!!

 

(works in OSX....not sure about the Dark Side)

 

Rick

[CS388]

  On 12/28/2014 at 11:04 PM, talkinghead said:

It's a jpeg.....just drag the picture from the thread to your desktop and it's always there, at your Snowflakes fingertips!!

 

(works in OSX....not sure about the Dark Side)

 

Rick

 

Thanks.

Yeah, I've done this. I just liked the idea of it being at my (snowflakes) fingertips on any computer, anywhere via the internet.

You never know when you'll come across that (seeming) bargain 149!

I once printed it out, so it could be in my pocket/bag/etc, whenever I needed it.

But it all got a bit too nerdy, so when I lost it, I never repeated the exercise...

[jamesgibby]

i think we need to remember also that some AD's can have some pens for upwards of a year or so. accordingly, your warranty may say 1980 but in fact the pen may have been manufactured earlier hence any discrepancy with the chart. also remember that if you serviced it at MB parts may have changed.

 

i have found the chart to be quite accurate

[dneal]

With the advent of parts pens on eBay and MB service, it's getting harder and harder to date MB's. You don't know who has done what to the specific example - particularly when it comes to the barrel/body of the pen. I have a bi-tone 14k 146 with grey window and split ebonite feed. It should be from the late 80's. If I sent it to MB and they replaced everything but the nib and clip, how would anyone date it? What if I bought a 14c monotone nib from martini and installed it?

 

These charts will eventually become useless for the resin pens. Probably better to enjoy the specific features (ebonite feeds or non-striped windows) than try to nail down the date.

Edited December 31, 2014 by dneal

[Pichon27]

This is a very illuminating and astonishing thread on the detailed complexities of 149's. Very well done for all you contributors! I have had one for many years but had not realised the minute potential variations. Despite poring over the thread with a wet towel round my head and a magnifying glass I am not sure I know what year it is, even now!!

 

But the thread has helped me identify the differing features and I would be grateful if the experts would help me date it! It has a 14c, two colour M nib, a split ebonite feed with no channels, the piston has resin threads, the clip is inscribed Germany, not a West Germany and has no serial number. The view to the ink chamber appears to be short ? 6mm? It is a single piece barrel.

 

Please advise if these are internally consistent features, and which year you think it would be from - I recognise the problem of how long it might have been in the retailers inventory.

 

It writes beautifully, albeit in a rather wet style which requires a blotter or patience!

 

Thank you,

[zchen]

question, is it an optical illusion or are the tines on the two tone 18k nib slightly shorter than the 14k examples?

 

thanks

Edited February 5, 2015 by zchen

[FredRydr]

Bump until it's stickied.