Dating Montblanc 149s

[shah]

Is my 149 a frankenpen?

 

I purchased my 149 three to four years back from a reputed seller/user here on FPN, so the authenticity is not in question. However, I just noticed that I have a 14K nib with the plastic horizontal comb feed instead of the era appropriate ebonite. My piston threads are also brass.

 

 

 

Thoughts? I am just curious since I stumbled on this thread -- it writes fine, although lacks character, though I am spoiled by my 1912 though.

[zaddick]

Since that's not the first generation plastic feed I think you have a pen that was serviced post about 1996 with a mid-to-late 1980s nib.

Edited May 9, 2019 by zaddick

[shah]

Since that's not the first generation plastic feed I thin you have a pen that was serviced post about 1996 with a mod to late 1980s nib.

 

Thanks Zaddick, you are a guru!

[rebcabin]

Well, this is going to be risky............. but here goes anyway...................

 

When trying to get my mind around the various permutations, I constructed the chart below. The information is based on info from Barry Gabay's article and the posts of niksch and others, but of course, the errors are all mine. And I'm certain there are errors and inaccuracies. So let me know what they are and I'll adjust the chart accordingly.

 

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/MB149Dating.jpg

 

Well, this is going to be risky............. but here goes anyway...................

 

When trying to get my mind around the various permutations, I constructed the chart below. The information is based on info from Barry Gabay's article and the posts of niksch and others, but of course, the errors are all mine. And I'm certain there are errors and inaccuracies. So let me know what they are and I'll adjust the chart accordingly.

 

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/MB149Dating.jpg

 

Consistent with my 149, which my wife bought me in 1974 and I have used every day since then. Absolutely the very best of all my many fountain pens by a very long margin.

[RayCornett]

Does anyone have any information on experimental 149 feeds and if any have been released in general production pens released for sale? Even on the updated parts charts I see nothing like the one I have.

[zaddick]

Can you post a photo Ray?

[RayCornett]

Can you post a photo Ray?

I have previously when asking other questions and was told it was just a regular early 90s plastic feed. Everything is normal except for that hole in the feed with a horizontal slit inside of it. I thought it was just part of the molding but When I disassembled the pen for cleaning, reassembled the pen, and filled it I mde sure that hole was clean and dry after filling and I watched it fill again with a small bit of ink. The nib itself seems on the flexy side so the hole made me think it had something to do with helping improve flow to keep up with it being flexy.

[lsmith42]

I have never been able to date a 149... never been able to even get one to play with me for a half hour...

[mke]

> Consistent with my 149, which my wife bought me in 1974 and I have used every day since then. Absolutely the very best of all my many fountain pens by a very long margin.

 

Really? I like the nib but it lacks flexibility which my Pelikan M1000 pens abundantly have. If the M1000 would only be thinner. I tested Pelikans at an exhibition last year and found that the M1000 EF was just a tiny, tiny, tiny bit thinner than the F which I have. For me this thickness is really the limit. Back to the 149, this nib is also comparable to the Sailor KoP - all IMO.

What's the matter with your Namiki #50 nib? Where do you put it?

 

But, I have one problem with (one of) my MB149 nib(s) - it doesn't like Midori paper - but goes well with cheap paper. I have to test this with the second one. Example for the pen/ink/paper hell.

[Midstream]

I can't view the chart. Suggestions?

[jmccarty3]

I can't view the chart. Suggestions?

 

I can't either. Everything is out of focus and covered with a giant PhotoBucket logo.

[Tom Kellie]

I can't either. Everything is out of focus and covered with a giant PhotoBucket logo.

 

[jmccarty3]

Thanks, Tom!

[entertainment]

Unfortunately, that is not the most recent chart!

[zaddick]

Use the pdf found in this post:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/324519-updated-montblanc-149-trends-table/?p=3899156

[entertainment]

I found this more recent chart after some searching in my files. The resolution is not great.

[BillH]

THAT's the one I've been looking for... does anyone have a copy larger than this one (only 59kb)? This one isn't too readable when you try to scale it up.

[entertainment]

I hope someone has a better version, but that was the one that I downloaded from this thread and did not modify.

I think someone even asked the original poster for a higher resolution version, but it never appeared.

Hope I am wrong!

[blakecintenn]

Quick question. Someone has offered to sell a Montblanc they are calling a 149. It has silver trim and doesn’t say 149 or any other number on the cap. They say it is a 149 bc it is 5.7 inches long. Is the 149 the only 5.7 inch long Montblanc? And does it matter that it doesn’t say 149 on the cap and is in silver trim?

[idazle]

I`ve recovered this version of the chart from mi personal files (dated September 2013). I believe it's a higher resolution version.

Edited November 28, 2019 by idazle