Mb Piston Vs Piston Converter

[sailor_d]

First of all, maybe this question is asked a million times, sorry about it.

Long story short, I am about to buy my first finer fountain pen. Decided to get a MB.

I tried a few fountain pens in the store, wanted a 149 in the first place but when I started to complain about the price, the seller took out two alternatives. One is Le Grand 112670 and other is 106522 with a F nib with almost half price of 149. I liked it and about to buy it, but just saw the main difference, 149 and LeGrand are "Piston Fountain Pen" and this 106522 is "Fountain Pen with piston converter" and decided to postpone my decision for a while.

I believe I know how both systems work (my current ordinary pen, I turn the top of the pen, immerse its nib into the ink and turn the top again, pen sucks the ink inside, I believe this is piston. The piston converter, I checked it and learnt how that filling mechanism work) but honestly I have no idea which mechanism is better and more reliable.

Bottomline, will I regret getting a piston converter fp instead of a fp with a traditional piston in the future? (I'm not a collector so I don't plan to invest another finer pen in the near future, it will be my only writing instrument for a certain while) Let me know your opinions, Thanks.

[hari317]

You should go for the pen that you find the most comfortable to write with.

 

The Piston is a more traditional way to fill ink, the piston converter on the other hand is a relatively modern system from the 1970s. The latter allows you to use cartridges which may be more convenient. I have both types of Montblanc pens and I like both types, one is not of lesser quality than other.

 

HTH

Hari

[Cordovian]

Like Hari said, it's really more about how the pen feels to YOU when you're writing.

 

I have both the Legrand and Chopin you mention and I don't find one to be more reliable than the other for everyday office use. However, I do find converter pens to be slightly easier to clean and refill but not by much. Once again, it's really a matter of personal preference.

[jar]

Of my modern Montblancs, my 147 (cartridge only) which is the same size as the Legrand gets used most often. The Montblanc 106522 is the 145 which is smaller than the Legrand.

[Brufen6OO]

If you are buying this pen for long term, I think I would prefer the 146 LeGrand.

 

However, my personal preference for everyday use is the 145 Chopin with the piston converter. In terms of maintenance, for me, it has the advantage.

[zaddick]

A "Piston Converter" is more commonly just called a converter. It pushes onto a little tube that sends ink to the feed. The top of the converter is a plunger on a screw what you use to suck ink through the feed into the converter chamber. It is easier to clean and if something breaks, it is easy enough to get a new converter and a lot less expensive. As mentioned, you could also use a cartridge instead of a converter. You can also unattach a converter and fill it directly which keeps the pen cleaner.

 

A piston pen is the same idea except it is integrated into the pen body. The walls of the ink chamber are the pen instead of the tube. The pen should hold more ink than the converter. It also requires special tools to service the MB piston pens, although many people do service the pens themselves.

 

The importance advice here is to find the pen that best fits your hand and not just focus on the cost. A pen that costs less money to purchase will end up being more expensive if you have to buy the pen you really wanted later.

[meiers]

I agree. Pick the one you like.

Cartridge converter or piston fill is a matter of personal preference.

All my fountain pens are piston-fillers. However, I do like the convenience of using cartridges and might start to look for a a 147.

[meiers]

MB Piston-fillers have a greater ink capacity than cartridge-converter pens. Am I right?

[jar]

MB Piston-fillers have a greater ink capacity than cartridge-converter pens. Am I right?

Not according to what has been posted as measured.

 

Some time ago a member (I have forgotten which or would gladly credit the individual) posted this list:

 

---

I had a pen cleaning session, and while flushing some of them, I decided to measure the volume of water I could expel from each. This therefore does not include any residual volume in the nib/feed assembly, which I estimate at around 0.17 to 0.2 cc depending on size. There were some surprises, as you will see!

In order of ascending volume:

MB Kafka: 0.88

MB Hemingway: 1.26

MB Dumas: 1.26

MB Twain: 1.35

MB Lennon: 1.39

MB Shaw: 1.48

MB 149: 1.60

 

I also looked at the volumes of some cartridges, not the sold ink volume, but an empty cartridge filled with water and aspirated:

Standard converter: 0.75

International short: 0.87

Sheaffer slim: 1.20

Parker: 1.47

Sheaffer standard: 1.50

International long: 1.66

 

I used a 1.00 cc insulin syringe, calibrated in 0.01cc, and compensated for the needle volume. I repeated the measurements twice on each, and they were consistent.

 

We often make assumptions about ink capacity based on appearance of the pen, or the cartridge/converter for that matter, so I found this very interesting indeed!

---

 

The 146 and 149 hold identical amounts (as do Pelikan 1000 & 800) and the 149/146 hold just slightly less than the two International standard cartridges in the 147 or one long Waterman/International standard cartridge.

 

AbE:

 

Found the original thread and the author is Rockspyder.

[meiers]

THANK YOU FOR THIS.

Edited December 11, 2015 by meiers

[jkingrph]

Most of the common converters are actually detachable piston units, so a cartridge can also be used. The advantage being you can carry a spare cartridge or a few to have refills on hand without the mess of bottled ink. The MB 147 traveler usually comes with a fitted leather case that has clips that hold several cartridges. This pen will not use a converter, the way it is made a converter simply will not fit.

 

There are some converters that have a squeeze mechanism like the Parker Aeromatic system. As for writing I cannot tell the difference in my 146 Legrand piston filler, the 147 Traveler cartridge fill, or the 144 Classique cartridge/converter fill pens. The only difference is in the size and weight of the pens.

[markcotter]

The only drawback to a piston or converter over a cartridge is that I have a smaller range of colours in cartridges.

 

It doesn't bother me what filling mechanism I'm using. In fact, if I know I'm going away for a few days, I'll usually take at least one MB with cartridges (Starwalker or the new M) along with whatever other pen has taken my fancy.

[jar]

The only drawback to a piston or converter over a cartridge is that I have a smaller range of colours in cartridges.

 

It doesn't bother me what filling mechanism I'm using. In fact, if I know I'm going away for a few days, I'll usually take at least one MB with cartridges (Starwalker or the new M) along with whatever other pen has taken my fancy.

Today there is a wide range of colors available in cartridges and of course you can also refill a cartridge as easily as refilling a converter or other filling system.

[sailor_d]

Decided to go with 146 and very happy with it. Thanks for your help.

[Sebvelez]

Congrats on the 146! To me the ritual of dipping the pen in the ink bottle and actuating the piston to refill is part of the whole fountain pen experience. Enjoy the pen, I think you chose wisely!

[sailor_d]

 

The importance advice here is to find the pen that best fits your hand and not just focus on the cost. A pen that costs less money to purchase will end up being more expensive if you have to buy the pen you really wanted later.

 

 

After that, this is a valuable advice. Precisely. Although I'm content with 146, I couldn't forget 149. There's some magic in it. Long story short, gave 146 to my mother who really liked it when she saw it in the first time, got a 149 with a Medium nib. Couldn't be happier Thanks again for all your opinions and advices.

 

http://i.imgur.com/hz9XD1P.jpg

[meiers]

The 149 holds a very special place in my heart.

[zaddick]

Congrats Sailor_d. I love the 149 and can't seem to stop buying them.

 

Enjoy yours in good health. It will be easy to resell if you change your tastes too!