Montblanc - Marc Newson

[Maxim]

The diameter still seems to be 6.8mm, rather than more like 6.5. It still looks like it should fit, but doesn't.

[thebroadnib27]

You can use the long Waterman or Pelikan cartridges with no problem. I am.

[Pravda]

I think this post is starting to get a bit too long.

 

How about we start new threads (as needed) with Marc Newson and specify: nib, converters, writing experience or craftsmanship etc?

[MCN]

You can use the long Waterman or Pelikan cartridges with no problem. I am.

 

If that's the case, there ought of be some sort of converter that will fit.

[Maxim]

Indeed. Maybe there's something obvious I've overlooked or some slight problem with the inside of mine, but I can't get anything to click in yet except for Montblanc cartridges. There certainly is a slight difference between those cartridges and other converters and cartridges as well.

 

I'm all ears if someone else with the pen has successfully used a converter though - in terms of just about every measurement a standard converter *should* just about fit... it's just none has for me thus far.

[akshaydashrath]

What about the Kaweco filler, if it fits in the Sport it should fit as far as the height is concerned, basically this one http://site.shopwritersbloc.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Kaweco-Squeeze-Converter-for-Sport-Series-Fountain-Pens.jpg

Edited October 6, 2015 by akshaydashrath

[jimmy8269]

Just received mine in M nib yesterday. Love the design, but I don't like the grip (a bit of uncomfortable feeling to my writing).

To refill the ink, I may have to depend on the syringe to do the job at the moment..

[Uncial]

I got to see one in a B & M store. I like its length.

That's about it really.

I picked it up and found it somewhat hard to hide the shock on my face at the weight towards the nib. I'm not sure I could write with it for any length of time. It does look better in the flesh than in online photographs, but I can't overlook the Lamy similarities. The good news is, they are selling - apparently. I hope that those who buy it become fountain pen users as I strongly suspect this pen has been designed and marketed as a hook rather than a practical and useable pen for those who already use fountain pens. The risk is, new users might get turned off fountain pens in using it due to its limitations and weight.

[gerardz]

For those of you waiting for a "fine" nib on the M series fountain pen, they are being shipped as of this week. Mine came in last Monday, so I finally was able to get some idea about the possibility of adding a cartridge converter. The M series fountain pen ships with a demonstration sample (empty) cartridge, and a black cartridge, back to back and that combo fits in the barrel, even with the indentation in it and all. So, length is not a problem. In the picture below, this back-to-back tandem is compared with a Montblanc converter. The converter seems even a hair shorter. The problem is the neck of the converter. It is too thick at point 'A' in the picture below and does not fit into the grip. The cartridge get shoved into the grip up until point 'B'.

 

I don't think I'm able to slim down the part of the converter that bears the text 'only' (from the sentence "Use Montblanc ink only" on the converter. The piston moves up and down in that part of the converter. It stops at point A. I could remove some material, provided I would be able to find someone with a lathe or broaching machine (like a penturning shop), or maybe hack it with a drill and some sandpaper, but I seriously doubt that one could remove enough material from the converter in that part to be able to fit into the grip. Darn, Fail!

 

[beboy]

Did someone tried a Cross converter yet?

[Eyedoc]

To my mind, Lamy do 'this', and have been doing it better for years. By, 'this' I mean innovative, utilitarian but attractive design focus - ever since the Lamy 2000. And with unquestionable value for money.

[Eyedoc]

By the way, did I mention that the Lamy 2000 is a piston filler?...

[Calabria]

I really love the look of this pen but the cartridge thing is killing it for me.

 

I feel that not having thought out the filling mechanism or a converter or something is a huge design oversight on a premium pen that also has the name of one of the most renowned designers on it. I was expecting more than a beautiful a skin around a cartridge.

 

edit: does anyone have any recommendations for a pen with similar minded minimal design but with a sensible and high-ish capacity filling system for bottled inks?

This is a typically aspirational design that completely ignores the word "fountain" in fountain pen. I'm disappointed - it's like getting a Tesla car with only AA battery capability.

 

For a much underrated contemporary take on the classic fountain pen, I think you could do much worse than the Aurora Talentum. It's minimal, sleek, handles well, and comes with a decent size converter. The shape is understated yet pleasing.

[Maxim]

Can't see how it ignores the word 'fountain' at all. There's an ink reservoir and a nib that is fed the normal way. It's just annoying that the connection to the feed is made to prevent anything but Montblanc cartridges, as far as I can see.

 

Lamy 2000 and Aurora Talentum look horrible to me. Hermes Nautilus (same designer) would be my best attempt to find a sleek Apple-era fountain pen that takes any ink, but I'll have to save up. Even Pilot retractables look a bit too fussy by comparison.

[CS388]

This is a typically aspirational design that completely ignores the word "fountain" in fountain pen. I'm disappointed

 

I, also, feel that this is a design oversight. Newson didn't have to 'design' the filling mechanism. A propriety Montblanc piston system could have been fitted into the pen and the flat section would have made a very functional turning knob.

 

This wasn't the deal breaker for me, though. (I do have a couple of cartridge pens - and am interested in a 147) It was the fact that it couldn't be posted which put me off. I know many people don't post - but that is their choice. This is mandatory.

The fact that the cap has a magnetic feature could have been incorporated into an interesting posting mechanism, imho.

 

Shame, really. It felt nice in the hand. Beautifully finished, too. Shop assistant informed me that it is not a special edition and will be permanently available as part of the Montblanc range. He assured me that a B nib would be available via the nib exchange scheme.

Edited October 11, 2015 by CS388

[max dog]

For those of you waiting for a "fine" nib on the M series fountain pen, they are being shipped as of this week. Mine came in last Monday, so I finally was able to get some idea about the possibility of adding a cartridge converter. The M series fountain pen ships with a demonstration sample (empty) cartridge, and a black cartridge, back to back and that combo fits in the barrel, even with the indentation in it and all. So, length is not a problem. In the picture below, this back-to-back tandem is compared with a Montblanc converter. The converter seems even a hair shorter. The problem is the neck of the converter. It is too thick at point 'A' in the picture below and does not fit into the grip. The cartridge get shoved into the grip up until point 'B'.

 

I don't think I'm able to slim down the part of the converter that bears the text 'only' (from the sentence "Use Montblanc ink only" on the converter. The piston moves up and down in that part of the converter. It stops at point A. I could remove some material, provided I would be able to find someone with a lathe or broaching machine (like a penturning shop), or maybe hack it with a drill and some sandpaper, but I seriously doubt that one could remove enough material from the converter in that part to be able to fit into the grip. Darn, Fail!

 

cartrdige2.jpg

Seems MB have gone out of their way to prevent this pen from accepting a converter. Would have been pretty easy to enable it to accept the standard MB converter used in the 144/145 if they wanted it to. If Marc Newson was a fountain pen user/aficionado himself, the pen would have been designed slightly differently to accomodate posting and insisted it accept a converter.

 

The clear sample cartridge provided I assume is intended to be used to flush the nib for cleaning purposes like a bulb syringe. Can it be squeezed to suck up and hold any ink like a sac?

Edited October 11, 2015 by max dog

[gerardz]

Regarding the previous post: the clear sample cartridge can hardly be squezed, and it does not make sense. Unplug the cartridge and use a real bulb syringe for flushing the nib.

 

However, the queste has ended: the Cross 8751 converter is a perfect match. It is the converter that is specifically developed for the Cross Townsend and Aventura pen and will fit into the Montblanc M series grip. And (obviously) the whole pen can be screwed together as well. So, thank you Cross, those way too slim fountainpains at least provided a converter I really really like The 8751 converter package claims it is made in Germany, so I think we're able to keep this Montfrankenstein running with parts from the same country. The converter is available in both 'orrible orange and gruesome green. It's a good thing the M is not a clear demonstrator...

 

[max dog]

Cross comes to the rescue!

Then what is the purpose of the empty clear cartridge?

 

ps: You may want to go with the green Cross converter which is a push fit type whereas the orange converter is a threaded screw in type which I presume might not work as well in the M.

Edited October 11, 2015 by max dog

[gerardz]

Then what is the purpose of the empty clear cartridge?

As with most fountain pens: if you add two cartridges back to back into the barrel and screw it onto the grip, the upper (or lower, depending on your look at things) cartridge is pushed into the grip, the plastic ball is pushed into the cartridge and it is effectively put to work. So, if a vendor wants to ship a full cartridge with a pen, the trick is to include one empty sample cartridge so the pen arrives 'dry' or 'empty' at the first customer.

 

Lamy takes a different approach: they put a cardboard ring between the barrel and the grip before shipping, to prevent this exact same thing from happening. They also ship two cartridges with their pens and don't insist on marble flooring at their points of sale.

 

As for the orange Cross converter, to be honest I did not check an orange one. I thought the 8751 came in two colors and I had a green one. I do know the 8756 is a screw in type and I only saw those in 'orable orange. I did not try that one either. The 8751 works. Apparently one has to go green. Makes sense.

Edited October 11, 2015 by gerardz

[max dog]

That now makes sense about the clear cart.

 

You may have helped montblanc sell more of these pens here with your discovery of the cross converter