Jinhao 159 Vs Mb 149

[tomgartin]

Here's a review I've been curious to see for a while. I'd love to hear some users weigh in if there's anything to add. Let me also direct you to this recent article on the Jinhao "18kgp" nib composition where Maer does a chemical test... http://www.fountainp...hao-18kgp-nibs/

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFsMZTD30Pw

 

Major thanks to Stephen for making this video

 

I guess my own thought is that I wish the 159 could be converted to eyedropper so its capacity could compete with the 149, but unfortunately it's all metal. I guess that's pretty good for durability, but if I was concerned with durability I'd use Big Roundstics (forget that!)

[mhosea]

I don't have any Montblanc pens, but I do have a Jinhao 159. I like a fairly large grip section, but I'm not a big fan of the tapered shape of the 159's. I actually replaced my Jinhao's nib with a Knox K35 Medium, which reins it in to a typical western medium, but after some cleanings the friction fittings of the grip section started to come apart on me. This was easily fixed, but some people might be confused and perturbed.

 

I do agree with him that the Jinhao 159 is an incredible bargain, and the comparison is fun enough, but it also seems irrelevant to me. If a Montblanc 149 is something you feel like you might buy, I rather doubt you would regard the 159 as any kind of alternative, rather as something you might buy in addition, on a lark. The 159 is, IMO, more important for folks who are only interested in something affordable, who wouldn't in any case buy a 149 but who nevertheless want a big pen.

[82Greg]

Great video and thanks for posting.

 

I have a Jinhao 159 (from Ebay <$10 delivered). I want to pick up a gently used 149 -- because I don't like the retail price. I can't help but think that price/performance point of view, that Jinhao clearly overwhelms the MB.

[georges zaslavsky]

you shoud look for a vintage 149 of the 60's-70's , you will like it

[watch_art]

I don't care how close in shape or size the 159 is to the 149, it in NO way compares. Yes they're both pens, they both write, but that's it. One has an awesome nib and the other one just has a... nib. One is lightweight and feels good in the hand and has a section grip proportionate to the rest of the pen - the Jinhao has this weird tapered thing that doesn't fit the pen at all in my opinion. The grip should be thicker towards the nib to make it very comfortable. My fingers just want to slide down onto the nib when holding one of these. Totally not comfortable at all. But that's just me.

[mhosea]

My fingers just want to slide down onto the nib when holding one of these. Totally not comfortable at all. But that's just me.

 

Not just you.

[razr]

I don't care how close in shape or size the 159 is to the 149, it in NO way compares. Yes they're both pens, they both write, but that's it.

 

I agree bro'

[lovemy51]

maybe just you two... oops just went up to three...

 

i own a J159 and only tried the MB149 and i do agree they don't compare. i do take a Jinhao over a 149. as other colleagues might say: it's just me.

Edited July 29, 2012 by lovemy51

[pienaar]

The other night we had a frozen pizza for dinner. I must say it really was not a bad taste, but it did not taste like a pizza. So I guess if you called it pizza it was really bad. If you called it by another name it was pretty good. Sort of how I see the Jinhao

[lovemy51]

that's co's u didn't have Digiorno's!

 

a pizza is a pizza. you might call it Domino', Little Ceasar's or Digiorno's, but it is still a Pizza. Jinhao is not a MB, but it is a nice pen to some.

[pienaar]

LOL Janhao is not a MB149 but it is not a bad entry level fountain pen.

 

For the record pizza is not just pizza LOL. I have had pizza on the Mediterranean from a traditional brick oven oh man that was good. The US chain pizzas dont come close. Also Lombardos pizza in New York with their traditional coal fired oven makes a great pizza too. The US chains should not be allowed to use the name pizza for what they make. :roflmho:

[lovemy51]

LOL Janhao is not a MB149 but it is not a bad entry level fountain pen.

 

For the record pizza is not just pizza LOL. I have had pizza on the Mediterranean from a traditional brick oven oh man that was good. The US chain pizzas dont come close. Also Lombardos pizza in New York with their traditional coal fired oven makes a great pizza too. The US chains should not be allowed to use the name pizza for what they make. :roflmho:

if ever in Pescadero Ca, try their brick oven pizza at the Country Store. then again, that's so out of this world to be called pizza.

 

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/15437274

 

thread taking a turn to the next pizzeria!

[mhosea]

maybe just you two... oops just went up to three...

 

i own a J159 and only tried the MB149 and i do agree they don't compare. i do take a Jinhao over a 149. as other colleagues might say: it's just me.

 

When it comes to the shape of a grip section, I certainly expect differences of opinion. Insofar as we're comparing the J159 to an M149, they're quite different in this respect, however one might wish to spin their similarities. My fingers don't slide on the J159, but I still dislike the tapered grip. I don't choose an M149 instead, however, as I don't want to pay so much for a 149 at this point (not feeling it), so it's the J159 in my possession as well.

Edited July 29, 2012 by mhosea

[lovemy51]

When it comes to the shape of a grip section, I certainly expect differences of opinion

 

 

i understand what you mean, for a person who loves P51's, tapered/thinner sections is my game -the 149's just seems like a monstrosity. as far as aesthetics, nib and section don't look right! now if one sees the MB 124 model, that's more for me (this comment is to show i'm not bashing MB. after purchasing the 124, i'm officially a convert!).

 

IMO, tho' the 159 is a monster in size, the section grip is better than the 149's.

 

 

 

PS. i was checking out the engravings on the 159's nib and it appears very well made.

[MarkSydney]

On 7/29/2012 at 7:17 AM, watch_art said:

I don't care how close in shape or size the 159 is to the 149, it in NO way compares. Yes they're both pens, they both write, but that's it. One has an awesome nib and the other one just has a... nib. One is lightweight and feels good in the hand and has a section grip proportionate to the rest of the pen - the Jinhao has this weird tapered thing that doesn't fit the pen at all in my opinion. The grip should be thicker towards the nib to make it very comfortable. My fingers just want to slide down onto the nib when holding one of these. Totally not comfortable at all. But that's just me.

Well, 1 mm difference in supposedly missing a lip in the design does not cover for the price gap