Montblanc 139

[mase001]

I guess I've just been buying pens too long, but I kind of feel like it should be caveat emptor. If the auction does not state a pen is in "perfect working order" I assume it has to be repaired before it will be. If the auction doesn't state "no cracks or tears" I assume there will be. If I don't see something in a pictures, I assume it isn't there. This allows me to not get my hopes up or be disappointed.

 

Now if there is a glaring issue, that the seller should have known about and reported, that is a big deal.

 

If they said it was perfect and was not that is a big deal. But I assume she takes pens back in this case? Am I wrong here?

 

Mason

[johnkim424]

I bought a MB 134 from her without any issues. Other than her woefully inadequate description of the pen I did not have any problems. Once I asked a question before bidding but she never replied so I did not bid. Her ebay rating is 100% with over eight thousand transactions. If you had any negative experience with erfobay please let me know. BTW, she did not mention that pen does not have "139" imprint which I think she should have mentioned.

[christof]

We all know there are reasons why Monica's pens go cheap :ninja:

 

Well, $2000 is a fair price for the shown pen, but not a gift, right? I didn't pay more for mine (...I paid less to be honest). We should keep in mind that 139 are sought after pens, but not rare ones. If you want one, you'll get one. ...and with a bit of patience even for a good price.

 

And for the missing number...I don't think that this a big problem. Could be a replacement part or could be original as well. These wartime pens are sometimes quite mixed up. Means: made of at that time available parts.

 

So, enjoy your pen!

[karmakoda]

A couple of things to consider. First, xianyen, examine the piston knob with a loupe under a lamp. The imprint(s) may be there, but worn or faint, not unexpected for a pen that is almost seventy years old. One of my palladium nibbed, wartime pens has a very subtle imprint, only visible with magnification.

Second, the ink window colour may not be that odd. A number of my thirties and forties Montblanc pens have a greenish/amber hue to the celluloid. Thanks to an ink that shall go nameless (Noodlers), I have a modern demonstrator that is quite green, perhaps permanently.

Then there is this 139, courtesty of Penboard.de, with a greenish ink window. Edit to note that the pen below is imprinted "L 139" with no nib size imprint, and the cap band imprint appears to be "Masterpiece", rather than "Meisterstuck".

 

http://penboard.de/shop/searchdb?srchvaluedb=03488&db_seller=0

 

All things considered, I would prefer your pen, xianyen, over any modern Montblanc available today, Writers and other Editions included. It appears to be in good, working condition, with a casein snowcap and simple, notched feed indicating this could be an early 139 indeed. Hope we get to see some clear photos of the ink window, when you can.

Cheers

Greg

Edited January 7, 2013 by karmakoda

[xianyen]

We all know there are reasons why Monica's pens go cheap :ninja:

 

Well, $2000 is a fair price for the shown pen, but not a gift, right? I didn't pay more for mine (...I paid less to be honest). We should keep in mind that 139 are sought after pens, but not rare ones. If you want one, you'll get one. ...and with a bit of patience even for a good price.

 

And for the missing number...I don't think that this a big problem. Could be a replacement part or could be original as well. These wartime pens are sometimes quite mixed up. Means: made of at that time available parts.

 

So, enjoy your pen!

Yes I wil enjoy the pen.I felt it was a fair price & I have seldom got a bargain & on many occasions have bought a pen only to see it considerably cheaper later but if the only thing I have done is pay too much then so be it.I feel very sorry for people who buy something in god faith only to find that the article is not genuine.

I have enough faith in Monica to believe that is not the case with this pen.

[christof]

Yes I wil enjoy the pen.I felt it was a fair price & I have seldom got a bargain & on many occasions have bought a pen only to see it considerably cheaper later but if the only thing I have done is pay too much then so be it.

 

I think this is a very good attitude. Congratulations to you!

 

(...but I didn't said you paid to much. I said it's a fair price.)

 

I also think your pen is genuine. Actually I think that faked Montblancs are primarly a problem of modern pens, not vintage ones. It is quite complicated to fake this vintage mechanism an shapes and the market is to small for mass production.

[xianyen]

Yes I wil enjoy the pen.I felt it was a fair price & I have seldom got a bargain & on many occasions have bought a pen only to see it considerably cheaper later but if the only thing I have done is pay too much then so be it.

 

I think this is a very good attitude. Congratulations to you!

 

(...but I didn't said you paid to much. I said it's a fair price.)

 

I also think your pen is genuine. Actually I think that faked Montblancs are primarly a problem of modern pens, not vintage ones. It is quite complicated to fake this vintage mechanism an shapes and the market is to small for mass production.

Thanks for your reassurance.As for paying too much I was referring to other pens purchased from time to time.

Best wishes for 2013.

[Maxpens]

Healthy new year 2013 to all !

 

It tooks time but at the end I found a 139 mechanism i my spare part stock without any imprints. This part was used only for repair. I do not know the reason why they did not make the imprint to these spare parts in the past. Maybe too much effort. The part is made from celluloid.

 

kind regards

 

Max

 

Edited January 10, 2013 by Maxpens

[xianyen]

Healthy new year 2013 to all !

 

It tooks time but at the end I found a 139 mechanism i my spare part stock without any imprints. This part was used only for repair. I do not know the reason why they did not make the imprint to these spare parts in the past. Maybe too much effort. The part is made from celluloid.

 

kind regards

 

Max

 

Hi Max,

Thank you for going to all the trouble of looking & then posting your findings?Can I assume from what you have said that the 139 pen I have has been repaired or is it possible some of the war models were made from any available parts which could have included parts without imprints.?

Do you think this devalues the pen to any extent assuming everything else is genuine?

Thanks again for your reply.

Richard

[mase001]

I would think it may have been repaired like Max said, but with vintage MB's anything is possible!

 

Enjoy the pen!

[xianyen]

I would think it may have been repaired like Max said, but with vintage MB's anything is possible!

 

Enjoy the pen!

I guess I will never know unless the experts can tell & then there would not be too many here down under so unless I need any repairs I will do as you say& just enjoy the pen.

[mase001]

Would it change how much you liked the pen if you found out that it had been repaired back in the 1940's versus if it came out of the factory like that?

 

Either way it is an AWESOME original MB!

[xianyen]

Would it change how much you liked the pen if you found out that it had been repaired back in the 1940's versus if it came out of the factory like that?

 

Either way it is an AWESOME original MB!

No not really.i was born during the war & was lucky to survive as the house next door was bombed so I am happy that this pen survived too & will be loved & looked after.Thanks for your encouragement.

[Maxpens]

Hi Max,

Thank you for going to all the trouble of looking & then posting your findings?Can I assume from what you have said that the 139 pen I have has been repaired or is it possible some of the war models were made from any available parts which could have included parts without imprints.?

Do you think this devalues the pen to any extent assuming everything else is genuine?

Thanks again for your reply.

Richard

 

Hi Richard,

 

I just checked the other pictures of the auction. Nice pen and a very good price for this 139. I would say that the mechanism, for any reason, was changed in the past with a spare part mechanism. As you wrote; normally there is a imprint. From this point of view a 139 without imprint in original design is rare. I have some 138 without imprint, but not one 139 ( only the mechanism )

But all this discussion about rare or not rare is a question of philosophy.

 

kind regards

 

Max

[specialk0449]

All 3 of my 139's have the imprint and two them have the nib size imprinted also. In my opinion you got a very deal on your pen. Enjoy it for many years to come.

[xianyen]

Thanks for replying.You are indeed fortunate to have 3 lovely 139 pens.