Mb 145 - 'chopin'

[seoulseeker]

I am curious about the 145 'Chopin' - is it in any way different from a 146 or a 149 apart from size, and filler mechanism, or are there additional details that would make it be worthy of being called 'Chopin'? Limited run?

 

I would usually be poking my nose in at a 146 or 149, but most of my pens right now are of similar sizes, so I would like my next pen to be smaller.

 

So... what makes the Chopin worthy of the name?

Edited January 8, 2012 by seoulseeker

[Plano]

It come in a box with a CD. I just bought one off a member here last month and for the most part i like it well enough. Size is perfect for me but i find the ink flow to be lacking a bit. I will most likely send it to someone for a quick twiking

[pavoni]

Hi Seoulseeker,

 

The Chopin (MB 145) I have is a 'special edition' rather than limited edition. I bought it from new and it came in a presentation box with CD of Chopin.

 

It currently sits between the MB 147 and MB 114 Mozart, neither of which are piston-fillers. I have the MB 146 as well. Whilst the nib on the 145 is not my favourite writer, the pen's handy ability to hold a spare cartridge has saved me on many an occasion.

 

Pavoni.

[floydee1]

Mine came with the accompanying CD and special box. it's more a special edition rather than a limited edition.

 

The pen is a great writer and of the usual MB standard. The only negative in this pen is that it's always (unfairly)compared to its two oversize(?) brothers - MB149 and 146 and they happen to be piston fillers. The pen is actually a standard size. On its own it stands out like any other MB, but alongside its more blingy brothers, its seems an understatement.

 

I love mine.

[Jane-K]

+1 floydee1.

 

Mine are excellent, smooth and wet writers. I have XF, F, M, and B and love them all. For me, the size is a better fit than its larger brothers.

 

Jane

[hari317]

It is no longer sold as the Chopin AFAIK. It is called the Meisterstuck Classique fountain pen nowadays:

 

http://www.montblanc.com/en-us/shop/writing-instruments/meisterstck/black-resin-gold/classique-fountain-pen-106514.aspx

[Rowbo]

Not to be confused with the now discontinued 144 Classique that is 5mm shorter at 135mm, has a push fit (not screw-on) cap, and the lowest band was at the cap rim to match the other writing instruments in the Classique set. The first fountain pen I bought for longer than I care to remember and the one that got me into all this. The Chopin was to commemorate 200 years, so it was never going to be called that for long and the Classique name was going begging ...

 

(OK, 1950's 144 models were screw caps, but they weren't Classique's A.F.A.I.K.).

[kap]

My "Chopin" 145 came in a special commemorative box with CD, too The cap is screw on, and it is a "regular"-sized FP. Mine came with an "M" nib and changing it out with MB (here in the USA)for an "EF" and asking for a "wetter" line resulted in a superb wet writer. I use it daily at work, and need to fill the converter every other day with MB Royal Blue. Writes like a charm even on the first stroke Monday morning! I have been very pleased with mine, and MB gave fast and courteous service.

[max dog]

My "Chopin" 145 came in a special commemorative box with CD, too The cap is screw on, and it is a "regular"-sized FP. Mine came with an "M" nib and changing it out with MB (here in the USA)for an "EF" and asking for a "wetter" line resulted in a superb wet writer. I use it daily at work, and need to fill the converter every other day with MB Royal Blue. Writes like a charm even on the first stroke Monday morning! I have been very pleased with mine, and MB gave fast and courteous service.

I had the same experience with my 145. Came with a medium nib and got it exchanged for an extra fine and it is a superb writer. Smooth soft nib with nice feedback. Have a new respect for nibs with feedback.

 

But back to the point of the OP. If one is happy with the size of the 145 and the C/C ink system, what other reasons are there to go for the bigger siblings 146 or 149? Is there significant difference in writing quality, nib feel, etc that would justify getting the 146 over the 145 or 149 over the 145?

Edited January 9, 2012 by max dog

[hari317]

 

But back to the point of the OP. If one is happy with the size of the 145 and the C/C ink system, what other reasons are there to go for the bigger siblings 146 or 149?

 

If one is happy and satisfied with the 145, I see no reason to buy another other pen. If one wants a spare or a standby pen and wants to get another Mb for that role, maybe one can go one step down or up in size and try either the Mozart or the legrand.

[seoulseeker]

Am I understanding this right then, that the 145 'chopin' is now the classique? Same pen, no changes made?

Edited January 9, 2012 by seoulseeker

[hari317]

Same pen, no changes made?

yes.

[fountainpende]

From my perspective, the Chopin does not denote a Limited edition or special edition as it is/was simply the name for a specific size of a pen. It's exactly the same with the 114 Mozart pens.

 

To me, a special edition is limited in time (and thus somewhat in quantity). However, the 145 Chopin packaging was used for almost a decade. So there is little "special" about it.

 

By the way: the 145 was my first MB ... and still, it's one of my favor

ite pens. I have several 145s in my collection

[jslallar]

Addendum to the OP:

Were there any piston filler 144s or 145s ever?

I recall having seen one (I dont remember which size now) on the eBay.

[max dog]

 

But back to the point of the OP. If one is happy with the size of the 145 and the C/C ink system, what other reasons are there to go for the bigger siblings 146 or 149?

 

If one is happy and satisfied with the 145, I see no reason to buy another other pen. If one wants a spare or a standby pen and wants to get another Mb for that role, maybe one can go one step down or up in size and try either the Mozart or the legrand.

Good to know. Maybe my next MB will be a 145 Bordeaux (145R). I like the 145 size and the C/C works great so if there is no real upgrade per se by going to the bigger 146/149 in terms of writing quality, I will stay with the 145 as far as the Meisterstuck line goes.

[fountainpende]

Were there any piston filler 144s or 145s ever?

 

Only the 144s from the 50ties are piston fillers.

[raffaele from turin - italy]

Hi Seoulseeker,

 

The Chopin (MB 145) I have is a 'special edition' rather than limited edition. I bought it from new and it came in a presentation box with CD of Chopin.

 

It currently sits between the MB 147 and MB 114 Mozart, neither of which are piston-fillers. I have the MB 146 as well. Whilst the nib on the 145 is not my favourite writer, the pen's handy ability to hold a spare cartridge has saved me on many an occasion.

 

Pavoni.

 

 

sorry but the mozart is the smallest of the meisterstuck serie...there is the Classique (144) between the Chopin and the Mozart... the 147 ("the traveller") has the same dimension of 146.

[Mathew J]

its already been covered here, standard pen now called the classique, they had a bad run with the older classique as many complained of cracking, thus it is my thought they used the chopin name and special package for a while to a point when they could re-release the classique in its current form.

 

I have a chopin and don't use it much, last time I tried the writing wasn't that good, rather scratchy with a m nib.

 

Had another which I got for a song new but sold it as even then I thought it was expensive for a pen.

[Toolattack]

I have 2 of the MB Chopin SEs one in black with a broad nib and one in burgundy/bordeaux with a medium nib.

I use the black one everyday and the bordeaux regularly, not sure what happened to the Chopin CD's...