The Heritage 1912 Pen

[efftee]

 

 

So the pen has been available for the past few months. At around USD13,000 for a pen without any precious stones or metal, I am quite surprised that they are selling out in some countries, albeit there are only 333 made.

 

With some luck, one is presently being offered to me at a discount; not modest enough for me to pass up but not considerable for me jump head-first on either. Having fondled the pen sufficiently at a MB boutique, I am quite impressed -- looks handsome, feels solid, operates extremely well -- there's a certain understatedness about it, the simplicity and industrial elegance of the design, makes it quite irresistible. So I am here to hear your views about the pen and though I know no pen is ever worth this type of dough, I'm hoping there's something in it that could half justify the price tag.

 

It's obviously not because of the precious or exotic metal. Titanium. There have been full gold limited edition pens from MB that cost less. Why use Titanium and charge such a high price?

 

It's not the rarity. 333 pieces. There are editions of 100, 88 and even 3! If I'm not wrong, the 100th Anniversary 100 pieces editions cost less than this.

 

I don't think it's the technology. Retractable and piston fill? I hear there are other makes with that combination, eg the Visconti Metropolis. Is there something to the Heritage 1912 that puts it heads and shoulders on top?

 

Is it the 'collect-ability'? It is no surprise that some (or most, actually) limited editions MB pens whose price falls (off the cliff sometimes), losing 60% or more easily in the secondary market years on. The POA Friedrich II 888, which was the 'prototype' Boheme in 1999, is sadly one such case. Such a nice pen; if only Iroshizuku ink were available in cartridges, I'd have bought that pen (and probably be cursing about its prices now haha!). Yet, there are less limited pens like the Lorenzo de Medici, Imperial Dragon, et al, which have appreciated in value. Where does the Heritage 1912 fit into this scheme of things?

 

In the end, I know it's a choice that I'll finally have to make but your views would be most appreciated.

 

[JLS1]

Here's my 2 cents (Canadian): if the pen doesn't move you, excite you or otherwise invoke any sort of emotions within you, take a pass on it and save your money for something that does. Like you, I do find it an understated and borderline elegant MB pen, but it otherwise leaves me feeling a bit cold. (My opinion, obviously - YMMV)

 

I think that MB pens are now seen by many as an investment vehicle or status symbol rather than a writing instrument, which isn't unusual or limited to MB per-se. (There have been several posts on FPN regarding this...) I guess if you can't afford the latest Ferrari but need to keep up appearances, an exclusive MB pen might be just the ticket.

 

If you like the pen enough to buy it now, go ahead - it sounds like you've got the funds. But if you're unsure, I'd wait to see if your opinion of the pen changes, as well as what happens on the secondary market: if you still like it and the pen turns out not to be a Hemingway or Christie, you'll be able to pick it up much cheaper in a year or so.

 

HTH!

[georges zaslavsky]

not my thing sorry

[efftee]

Here's my 2 cents (Canadian): if the pen doesn't move you, excite you or otherwise invoke any sort of emotions within you, take a pass on it and save your money for something that does. Like you, I do find it an understated and borderline elegant MB pen, but it otherwise leaves me feeling a bit cold. (My opinion, obviously - YMMV)

 

I think that MB pens are now seen by many as an investment vehicle or status symbol rather than a writing instrument, which isn't unusual or limited to MB per-se. (There have been several posts on FPN regarding this...) I guess if you can't afford the latest Ferrari but need to keep up appearances, an exclusive MB pen might be just the ticket.

 

If you like the pen enough to buy it now, go ahead - it sounds like you've got the funds. But if you're unsure, I'd wait to see if your opinion of the pen changes, as well as what happens on the secondary market: if you still like it and the pen turns out not to be a Hemingway or Christie, you'll be able to pick it up much cheaper in a year or so.

 

HTH!

 

Thanks for your comments. Though I don't know of anyone who flaunts fountain pens; I think they are just too obscure to turn heads, not to mention Montblanc, as a brand, is way down the pecking order of status symbols. My 2 cents. Nonetheless, your advice of waiting a year or so for a better price is very sound. Thanks again!

[efftee]

not my thing sorry

 

Nothing at all? A homage to Safety pens, ingenious mechanism that retracts the nib and operates a PISTON filler, all housed in humble titanium, no stones, no skin, no superfluous embellishment, just an elegantly simple... functionally industrial... fountain pen limited to 333 examples. Though there are striking similarities with the Otto Bismarck, I've not seen a more refreshing interpretation of the fountain pen from MB.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

I always thought it was a neat pen. If I had the money, and it was a lot cheaper, I think I would be more interested though. For me, I think it is one of the few modern pens MB has made that really stands out, and I think it is a very nice, clean design. I also think it is clever that they made it retracting like a safety pen but a piston-filler at the same time. I already have a good safety pen though, and I think that it would have been nice if they made an actual safety pen as a homage instead of one that has a piston-filler inside. My feeling is that the technology is nice, but it's a lot of complexity, that complexity wastes space that could be used for ink, but at the same time, with the piston-filler, one can open the pen without fear of dumping a barrel-full of ink on their lap. The only modern retractable safety pen that was made lately as far as I know is the Aurora Umberto Nobile, and it was not only made in hard rubber, it came with an eyedropper for filling and worked like any vintage safety pen which I think was really neat.

 

Dillon

[jar]

 

Nothing at all? A homage to Safety pens, ingenious mechanism that retracts the nib and operates a PISTON filler, all housed in humble titanium, no stones, no skin, no superfluous embellishment, just an elegantly simple... functionally industrial... fountain pen limited to 333 examples. Though there are striking similarities with the Otto Bismarck, I've not seen a more refreshing interpretation of the fountain pen from MB.

 

 

Yup, definitely not my thing.

 

No desire for a titanium pen.

 

No desire for an homage to a bad idea like safety pens.

 

No idea why a retractable nib when the cap is that long.

 

No interest even if it were free.

[humsin]

What's wrong with safety pens?

 

 

 

Yup, definitely not my thing.

 

No desire for a titanium pen.

 

No desire for an homage to a bad idea like safety pens.

 

No idea why a retractable nib when the cap is that long.

 

No interest even if it were free.

[hari317]

No desire for an homage to a bad idea like safety pens.

why are safety pens a bad idea? I think they are very practical.

[jar]

why are safety pens a bad idea? I think they are very practical.

 

We have progressed in technology since the age of safety pens and eye droppers. I just have no interest in either safety pens or eyedroppers (I know that this pen is not an eyedropper which makes the concept of a safety pen even sillier IMHO).

[hari317]

 

We have progressed in technology since the age of safety pens and eye droppers. I just have no interest in either safety pens or eyedroppers (I know that this pen is not an eyedropper which makes the concept of a safety pen even sillier IMHO).

A safety pen accomplishes:

 

Guarantee that the pen will not leak under any circumstance if the pen is intact(not crushed or broken)

The nib is always wet in the ink reservoir, ready to write, no mater the period of storage.

 

None of the progressed modern pens can guarantee this.

 

Therefore a safety pen is a good idea barring personal preferences.

[jar]

A safety pen accomplishes:

 

Guarantee that the pen will not leak under any circumstance if the pen is intact(not crushed or broken)

The nib is always wet in the ink reservoir, ready to write, no mater the period of storage.

 

None of the progressed modern pens can guarantee this.

 

Therefore a safety pen is a good idea barring personal preferences.

 

A safety pen accomplishes that providing all the seals are in good shape and there is no debris blocking the seal and that the adjustment is correct and that the user remembers to fully close the seal.

[isaacrn]

Was this pen not suppose to come in a black resin as well? I remember seeing a picture of that somewhere.

[efftee]

Hi,

 

I always thought it was a neat pen. If I had the money, and it was a lot cheaper, I think I would be more interested though. For me, I think it is one of the few modern pens MB has made that really stands out, and I think it is a very nice, clean design. I also think it is clever that they made it retracting like a safety pen but a piston-filler at the same time. I already have a good safety pen though, and I think that it would have been nice if they made an actual safety pen as a homage instead of one that has a piston-filler inside. My feeling is that the technology is nice, but it's a lot of complexity, that complexity wastes space that could be used for ink, but at the same time, with the piston-filler, one can open the pen without fear of dumping a barrel-full of ink on their lap. The only modern retractable safety pen that was made lately as far as I know is the Aurora Umberto Nobile, and it was not only made in hard rubber, it came with an eyedropper for filling and worked like any vintage safety pen which I think was really neat.

 

Dillon

 

I think if they made it a true safety pen, there would be nothing interesting or unique about it. It'll just be another safety pen, what's so special about it? The piston-filler and the retracting/filler-activating mechanism does it for me. And as I don't think buyers of this pen to be using it to write an epic novel, the size of the ink reservoir is also not as important. For me, the price and the degree of exclusivity is the issue. In titanium, its retail price is exorbitant for a 333 edition, I feel. If they made only 100 or less, perhaps a tad more justifiable. Only thing left to do, wait for a nice discount on the secondary market!