Mb 145 Vs 146, Or 149

[Pitagora]

hi,

like i said in my previous post, i am going tuesday to buy a chopin 145, but i also found this pen, and please help me and tell me if this is a size 146 or 149?

and between 145 and 146 what would you choose( i know that there many threads on these subject), but in small-medium hands which will fit better for long sessions of writing?

also i know the 145 accepts ink cartridges, but is the ink system in 146 more performant then in 145? which is a newer model?

 

here's some photos

[yamaha_no_46]

It is a 146. Now you have 161 Le Grand Ballpoint in your hands, I would recommend the 146. They are the same size and perfect match.

 

This is my daily pair, I find them perfect for medium to large size hands.

 

My experience with a piston filler was limited to a TWSBI 540 and a Pelikan M150 for a short time. I always used cartridge or converter fillers before. But 146 has a very good ink capacity which should be fine for most users. You will need to refill weekly or 2 times a month depending on how much you use it. Personally, I don't find any difference in a piston or converter filler, it is a matter of preference, not a rule.

 

 

Pair them and enjoy!

Edited April 4, 2014 by yamaha_no_46

[Pitagora]

the only problem with this pen is that the booklet is in blank.. i can't be sure of it's authenticity. but regarding the filling system which one is better in all terms?

[Fabienne]

Better is a relative term. The Chopin takes a cartridge. The 146 is a piston filler which you have to do out of a bottle of ink. The Chopin would be more convenient (as long as you carry spare cartridges with you) if you are traveling. The piston filler is a swankier pen (higher in the hierarchy of Pen Snobs). Your choice. Why is the booklet blank? Are you considering buying the 146 from a private person or from a store? Can you have it authenticated before you buy it? You might want to bone up on the hallmarks of a real MB on this forum and go armed with that knowledge and a loupe before you plunk down your money for the pen, bring along a friend who knows MBs, or ask to take it to an expert who could tell you. Good luck. You will also need to try out the pen before you buy it, which should not be a problem if the pen has been used and you are buying 2nd hand. Write a whole sheet of paper to make sure you are not buying a skipping or blopping (technical term) pen. Good luck! I hope you get the pen of your dreams! The 146 is a great size of pen for small hands and I do the the Chopin is a great choice, too.

[Pitagora]

yes, i am planing to buy this sh. i don't know why the booklet is blank, but the seller assure me the pen is original and he is willing to come with me to mb romania to see if is authentic.

what about the filling system, i didn't get how the chopin will work? how i will fuel it, i thought it has a piston too?

[orfew]

yes, i am planing to buy this sh. i don't know why the booklet is blank, but the seller assure me the pen is original and he is willing to come with me to mb romania to see if is authentic.

what about the filling system, i didn't get how the chopin will work? how i will fuel it, i thought it has a piston too?

The 145 (Chopin) takes cartridges or a converter.

[Pitagora]

what's a converter? sorry for my newbie question.

[yamaha_no_46]

the only problem with this pen is that the booklet is in blank.. i can't be sure of it's authenticity. but regarding the filling system which one is better in all terms?

 

I have a 164 ballpoint bought from MB Istanbul boutique. And I used to have a Starwalker from the same boutigue. Their papers were blank, too. I don't know why but the guys just did not fill them.

 

Assuming that your 161 ballpoint is genuine ( and to me it is), take it with you, compare with the 146. A fake would never feel the same. Check the hallmarks, check the nib. Fake nibs are engraved with crisp lines, genuine ones are pressed. Also take a small fridge magnet with you to test the nib to see if it is plated steel. If you and the seller have access to the MB boutigue, it is a bonus to have it authenticated.

 

You could search the forum for cartridge, converters and piston fillers. There is enourmous amount of information here.

[Pitagora]

i also found this thread https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/38847-piston-fill-vs-cartridgeconverter/ and i saw that many prefer piston fill over converters. If we take it historically the first pens used piston fills, right?

Edited April 4, 2014 by Pitagora

[orfew]

what's a converter? sorry for my newbie question.

See this link. http://www.jetpens.com/blog/how-to-use-a-fountain-pen-piston-converter/pt/479

[Pitagora]

wow, that was very helpful, thanks a lot or few, do you have a tutorial for mb 146 filling piston too?

[Pitagora]

for me the convertor appears cheap..

[orfew]

wow, that was very helpful, thanks a lot or few, do you have a tutorial for mb 146 filling piston too?

This is for a 149, but the process is the same for a 146.

[Pitagora]

I have a 164 ballpoint bought from MB Istanbul boutique. And I used to have a Starwalker from the same boutigue. Their papers were blank, too. I don't know why but the guys just did not fill them.

 

Assuming that your 161 ballpoint is genuine ( and to me it is), take it with you, compare with the 146. A fake would never feel the same. Check the hallmarks, check the nib. Fake nibs are engraved with crisp lines, genuine ones are pressed. Also take a small fridge magnet with you to test the nib to see if it is plated steel. If you and the seller have access to the MB boutigue, it is a bonus to have it authenticated.

 

You could search the forum for cartridge, converters and piston fillers. There is enourmous amount of information here.

 

Yamaha can you please post here the serial found on your my 146? The 146 which I want to buy( from the photos) has this serial BR1959046, and I wonder if it is real?

Can you also post some photos with your nib? Or the nib is the same as the Chopin 145?

 

Now regarding the piston fill, if it gets broken over time, is expensive to be changed? The 146 can't be teard down like 145, right?

[Pitagora]

Here's some photos with the nib

Edited April 5, 2014 by Pitagora

[yamaha_no_46]

Serial number is not a strong evidence itself to prove authentication. Many of other members also said that even Montblanc would not keep track of the serial numbers. So, the serial of my pen would not help you in any case.

 

This thread has great nib pictures. Mine is no different from them. 146 nib is larger than the 145 nib in size.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/215943-montblanc-nib-pictures/

 

To my experience, a converter filler ( such as 145 ) maybe restored just flushing and cleaning the front section and just putting in a new converter. A piston filler will need an expert work to be repaired.

 

I strongly think that if someone takes good care of a piston filler it should serve a lifetime. Be gentle with it, do not force the piston in both ends (full retracted or retrieved). When you don't plan to use your pen for a long time, just flush it with water, let it dry and store. If you let your pen inked and sit idle for a long time, it is most likely that the piston may get stiff and the feeder may suffer from dried ink. Regular and careful use of a piston filler should lenghten its life. Again, not expert but an average user recommendation.

Edited April 5, 2014 by yamaha_no_46

[Pitagora]

I also saw some difference between the 145 nib and the 146. The 145 nib has on the downside after "MONTBLANC" stamped 585, and the 146 nib on my photos doesn't have this number, does it mean is fake??

[Pitagora]

I also saw some difference between the 145 nib and the 146. The 145 nib has on the downside after "MONTBLANC" stamped 585, and the 146 nib on my photos doesn't have this number, does it mean is fake??

[yamaha_no_46]

585 is under the MONTBLANC engraving. It is hardly seen due to the edge of the section. Is this the nib of the pen that you intend to buy?

 

 

If it is, it does not look good to me. Either it is too dirty, or some plating is now about to peel off ( a bad alert ) or the owner made slight damage to the tines. See the gap line between two tines, looks like it has been tweaked and done in a bad way. I can't comment on the authenticity, some more experienced user must chime in. If I were you, I would just pass it on. I understand you are picky ( no offense meant here, I am too ) and it is better to look for another rather than carrying the bad feeling inside.

Edited April 5, 2014 by yamaha_no_46

[Pitagora]

Here's more photos with the 146 if they can help