138 Vs 139, Rarest One?

[Francisco Pena]

 

From what I've seen it looks like the 138 model is more difficult to find and the prices are not so different . It seems that the 138 model is more rare, also being from what I've seen hard to find one in good condition. I could be wrong ... but one of these days the 138 will cost more than the 139 .

[kawuska]

138 rarity surprises considering that it's size is much more comfortable to use than 139.

[fountainbel]

The 138 was only produced as from 1939 till 1942, while the 139 was produced as from 1939 till 1949.

Consequently there are much more 139 available compared to the 138 version.

Francis

[zaddick]

I have a 138 that I think was produced post war, maybe in the 1950s. The body is all celluloid and it has a short ink window.

[slippery when wet]

I have a 138 that I think was produced post war, maybe in the 1950s. The body is all celluloid and it has a short ink window.

Would be great to see a picture

 

While I don't have a 138, I do have a 136 fitted with a 138 nib, probably the best pen/nib I have ever written with.

Edited August 29, 2015 by slippery when wet

[kawuska]

Classic, long ink window.Perfect size.

 

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q732/Kawuska/138_zpsy78tc6eu.jpg

[Michael R.]

Very nice early pen and good photography.

 

Is that the original nib?

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[kawuska]

Very nice early pen and good photography.

 

Is that the original nib?

 

Cheers

 

Michael

Don't know Michael, but with this nib it looks even better

[HermetiC]

I think 135 is rarer than 138 and 139

[farmdogfan]

Classic, long ink window.Perfect size.

 

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q732/Kawuska/138_zpsy78tc6eu.jpg

Beautiful pen!

[fountainbel]

I have a 138 that I think was produced post war, maybe in the 1950s. The body is all celluloid and it has a short ink window.

Could be, in the economical problematic years after the war MB used occasionally old stock parts.

Probably they even assembled complete pens which were normally obsolete if they had the old parts still available.

Francis

[christof]

Here's a picture of mine, which has been professionally restored by Francis. I think it's a pre/wartime pen.

 

 

The fact that these are harder to find than the 139 made my decision to let the 139 go and to keep this. I did never regret.

 

C.

Edited September 2, 2015 by christof

[Opooh]

Here's a picture of mine, which has been professionally restored by Francis. I think it's a pre/wartime pen.

 

 

The fact that these are harder to find than the 139 made my decision to let the 139 go and to keep this. I did never regret.

 

C.

A very nice pen, but I can't indentify the nib, is it gold or steel? Edited September 2, 2015 by Opooh

[christof]

Steel nib.

 

...and what a nib!

 

 

... and the prices are not so different ...

sidenote: I did try to sell both, my MB 138 and my MB 139. The MB 139 sold for $3800. The MB 138 didn't sell for $1750. So I think that prices are quite different. Rare does not mean expensive in any case.

 

c.

Edited September 3, 2015 by christof

[Opooh]

Steel nib.

 

...and what a nib!

 

 

c.

Those steel nibs are indeed great writers. BTW what ink are you using here?