The 149 Is A Reliable Pen?

[Edo98]

Hello Edo.

 

I have a number of pens I love, but the 149 is the one I would keep if I could keep only one. It's special for a number of reasons. Like you, I was mightily impressed when I met someone with one back in the 70s. Just had to have one too. I love the feel, the look, the way it writes. I have received good service from the US service center in Fort Worth, Texas.

 

Happy Day.

 

I agree with you that the design of the 149 is beautiful, formal and elegant.

 

Hopefully I hope that some business that I have out there will turn out well to be able to buy it.

[Edo98]

I think Meiers has given you the most important reason to buy a 149. They are a world class pen that will last a lifetime and be around to pass on to your kids. Shop around, do your research first. Buy anything from the 1980’s to current day and I don’t think you will regret it. In fact you will eventually look for another, then you’ll want a 146 or two.

I have no good excuse. But over the years, I have aquired 4, 149’s and 14, 146’s. I love them all. Wait t’ll You get one. You’ll be hooked as well.

Good luck. Be sure to come back to us with pics when you get one.

Thank you for your participation in my forum and share your experience.

They are absolutely right is an extremely beautiful fountain pen.

And I believe and I want to have it in my hands, it is the pen that with its imposing design captivated my heart and introduced me to the world of fountain pens and I encourage my handwriting to improve.

And it shows that I'm not the only one who likes your design, you have a good collection of them.

 

When I get it I will upload the photos and a handwriting sample.

Edited September 13, 2018 by Edo98

[Barry Gabay]

Hello Edo98,

 

The 149 has been my favorite fountain pen since my girlfriend, who later became & still is my wife, gave me one in 1979. Since that time, I have owned many more. Some I have kept and others used and later sold to finance still more fountain purchases. Presently, I have 15 model 149s, dating from ca.1960s until about 1992-94.

 

All of them are remarkable fountain pens in terms of performance & reliability. Though I do not have large hands, I find the 149 to be extremely comfortable for long periods of writing. There is a slight weight difference between those made before 1990-91 and those produced later. However, the weight difference is not inhibiting in any way. There are those who dislike the plastic feeds on models from 1992 onward, but these conduct ink just as well as do earlier ebonite feeds. In fact, for people who like to switch nibs, the plastic feeds are far easier to remove and re-set than are ebonite feeds. I believe the term "precious resin" is purely a marketing device. I have owned badly battered and marred secondhand 149s. Their performance remained stellar. Well cared for, they will last many years with just a piston lubrication every decade or two.The 149 holds a considerable amount of ink. Whether filled or nearly empty, I have very rarely had one hesitate when first put to paper, and even for those, a simple nib adjustment of just a few minutes solved the problem. The 149 is a beautiful fountain pen. It is refined and subtle in its design. In an era of fountain pen glitz and bling, it is actually quite understated.

 

Now, may I offer you some old guy advice? I strongly encourage you to test drive a 149 before becoming involved with one. It is a large fountain pen and will feel quite different from your beloved Lamy. It may not be a comfortable pen in your hand, though because of your genuine enthusiasm, I hope it is. You seem happy with very wide nibs, so there's no problem with your continuing to use such a nib grade on a 149. Finally, buy a used one from a reputable seller for approximately 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of a new one.

 

Good luck, sir. I wish you success in your acquisition and use of this wonderful fountain pen.

Best wishes,

Barry

[Edo98]

Hello Edo98,

 

The 149 has been my favorite fountain pen since my girlfriend, who later became & still is my wife, gave me one in 1979. Since that time, I have owned many more. Some I have kept and others used and later sold to finance still more fountain purchases. Presently, I have 15 model 149s, dating from ca.1960s until about 1992-94.

 

All of them are remarkable fountain pens in terms of performance & reliability. Though I do not have large hands, I find the 149 to be extremely comfortable for long periods of writing. There is a slight weight difference between those made before 1990-91 and those produced later. However, the weight difference is not inhibiting in any way. There are those who dislike the plastic feeds on models from 1992 onward, but these conduct ink just as well as do earlier ebonite feeds. In fact, for people who like to switch nibs, the plastic feeds are far easier to remove and re-set than are ebonite feeds. I believe the term "precious resin" is purely a marketing device. I have owned badly battered and marred secondhand 149s. Their performance remained stellar. Well cared for, they will last many years with just a piston lubrication every decade or two.The 149 holds a considerable amount of ink. Whether filled or nearly empty, I have very rarely had one hesitate when first put to paper, and even for those, a simple nib adjustment of just a few minutes solved the problem. The 149 is a beautiful fountain pen. It is refined and subtle in its design. In an era of fountain pen glitz and bling, it is actually quite understated.

 

Now, may I offer you some old guy advice? I strongly encourage you to test drive a 149 before becoming involved with one. It is a large fountain pen and will feel quite different from your beloved Lamy. It may not be a comfortable pen in your hand, though because of your genuine enthusiasm, I hope it is. You seem happy with very wide nibs, so there's no problem with your continuing to use such a nib grade on a 149. Finally, buy a used one from a reputable seller for approximately 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of a new one.

 

Good luck, sir. I wish you success in your acquisition and use of this wonderful fountain pen.

Best wishes,

Barry

 

Thanks Barry for sharing your experience about this great fountain pen.

When I get the money from some business I will go to a Montblanc boutique to try it and buy it.

And later I will publish the photos of the 149.

 

I wish you a good day and keep increasing your collection of fountain pens.

[fpupulin]

I have a 149 with a luscious BB nib and, depending on your writing style, it could be a fantastic instrument or a quite unpractical nib for daily writing. I for one, I use it for daily writing and for calligraphy, but rarely on A5 or smaller size paper. If your preferred notebook is in the pocket size, a BB number 9 nib may result a bit broad for normal use.

 

You are not, in this moment, in the condition to anticipate your preferences about the nibs of different generations 149s. As a very general guide, they were more flexible in the past, more stiff recently. Mostly flexible or almost flexible in the pens from the 50s and 60', more stiff in the 70s and 80s, and fairly stiff in the more rent production, including those mounted today on new pens.

 

For this reason, I also second the suggestion by several members here: have a look at some well cared, second-hand pens as you first 149. You may probably find one like new at a fraction of the price for a new pen, and if you made a mistake choosing your nib (you never known until you will have it on the paper), you can always sell it again without a loss.

 

If you really want a NEW 149, do not worry too much about your first. Rarely we, on this forum, only own just one 149...

[RayOski1]

Yes. I own 4. They range from 40 to 10years old. All quite solid and reliable. My experience with Montblanc service has been excellent as well. I haven’t done any service myself. This is my weekday workhouse pen. I use a Visconti Homo Sapiens when I travel and Kaweco brass sports for the weekends. Worth the money for me. Used is usually fine from reliable buyer.

[AL01]

I remember seeing a 149 at a Pawn shop.

 

It has seen a lot, (the filler threads were even corroded), but the thing was holding on well.

 

I think you may have to be careful about plated surfaces, but anywise, the 149 may be just as reliable of a pen as a Parker 51.

 

(The o ring piston seal on that 30 - 40 year old pen was just fine.)

[Wolverine1]

Edo- I have owned 11 MB 149 pens over the past few years. I had 2 from the 1960s and the rest were from the early 1990s, and one was from the 2001 or 2002. All are wonderful pens, and I had no troubles with the pens at all. I have culled the number of MB 149s I own to 4 pens. I have sold the rest of the 7 MB 149 pens to friends locally, because I cant use all 11 of them. You should look at the FPN Classifieds, because you can buy used MB 149 fps at good prices, and to tell you the truth, a well cared pen is as good as a brand-new MB pen bought from a MB Boutique. Plus it will cost you a lot less. I have spent $425.00 (US) on a MB 149, whereas you will end up paying a lot more for a new pen at a MB Boutique

[fpupulin]

This is just to help you visualize the work of a 149 BB nib in real life:

 

 

[Edo98]

This is just to help you visualize the work of a 149 BB nib in real life:

 

 

 

It looks amazing the fact that handwriting gives the nib BB that's why I love the BB gives a beautiful line variation. I like your handwriting looks great.

The flexible nibs I have no idea how they are used and for the videos that I have seen they have to write slow to give line variation.

 

For that reason I use Stub nibs they give me line variation and I write fast.

[Edo98]

I still do not know how to upload the photos so well, but here I'll leave you a scan of low quality in on my handwriting.

Lamy 2000 BB

ink: Lamy Blue

Paper: Rhodia

Edited September 17, 2018 by Edo98

[Edo98]

[meiers]

Lamy makes excellent pens.

Edited September 18, 2018 by meiers

[Edo98]

Lamy makes excellent pens.

 

that's true I love them

[hari317]

 

3.-Others say that the current ones are of very poor quality and that they do not compare to the vintage, there is another thing that I have read and that is that the old models had a one-piece barrel and the current two, that affects something ? and equal to the ebonite feed.(I am interested in a 149 BB modern)

 

they say the same about the youth as well. don't listen to them.

 

The modern 149 is a very reliable pen and MB service is excellent.

[Zdenek]

There are many reliable pens all over the world, and MB 149 is one of them.

Edited September 18, 2018 by Zdenek

[888007888]

I have read your post, however, I have not yet read all the other members replies thus far. In regards to your original query, the 149 is by far the most reliable pen I have. My pen collecting started about 5 years ago. Most of my pens are higher priced Montblanc, limited GvFCs, Visconti and other manufacturers. It was not until February 2016 that I first purchased a 149, and I must say that I wish I picked one up sooner. The girth of the grip, paired with the size of the nib and the lightweight resin make this pen a true joy to use. My M nib is preferred over my F nib, though each writer has a separate perspective. The M is just liquid smooth, in contrast the F is just a bit toothy and the line is finer than I usually prefer. It's a comfortable pen. A classic design. Understated yet grand simultaneously. I wish you the best in your MB voyage and highly recommed the 149.

[Edo98]

I have read your post, however, I have not yet read all the other members replies thus far. In regards to your original query, the 149 is by far the most reliable pen I have. My pen collecting started about 5 years ago. Most of my pens are higher priced Montblanc, limited GvFCs, Visconti and other manufacturers. It was not until February 2016 that I first purchased a 149, and I must say that I wish I picked one up sooner. The girth of the grip, paired with the size of the nib and the lightweight resin make this pen a true joy to use. My M nib is preferred over my F nib, though each writer has a separate perspective. The M is just liquid smooth, in contrast the F is just a bit toothy and the line is finer than I usually prefer. It's a comfortable pen. A classic design. Understated yet grand simultaneously. I wish you the best in your MB voyage and highly recommed the 149.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience

[Gilberto Castaneda]

¿Estás en CDMX?

Save yourself a few clams and buy used.

If in Mexico City, I can suggest a place to buy and a place for service, by a formar MB employee.

Both in CDMX center, within a few streets.

 

Please comment.

[Edo98]

¿Estás en CDMX?

Save yourself a few clams and buy used.

If in Mexico City, I can suggest a place to buy and a place for service, by a formar MB employee.

Both in CDMX center, within a few streets.

 

Please comment.

 

Hola.

Estoy en la ciudad de Veracruz y solo hay una boutique Montblanc en Plaza las Américas en Boca del Río.