Fake or real Montblanc 149? Dating doubt.

[zizu]

Hello everyone I just got my first Montblanc and I'd like to have someone else opinion about the authenticity and dating this 149. My doubts for dating it are the plastic piston treads, the 2 section barrel and also the box and papers.

PS: It has only Germany engraved on the ring and nothing engraved under the clip.

Edited December 14, 2020 by zizu

[bunnspecial]

I'm far from an expert, but there are two things. The first is that I understand these big piston fillers really aren't faked as they're too complex/difficult.

The second thing, though, is that I'm wondering if you have a bit of a parts bin pen. "Germany" on the cap looks laser engraved. The early 90s 149 I have sitting here is engraved the same and lacks "Pix" on the back of the clip.

 

The split ebonite feed was used for a while, and I seriously doubt anyone faking one would make that particular feed type. The plastic threads are a 70s feature, but the 18K two tone nib(not 18c) I believe didn't show up until the 1980s.

 

Aside from that, what is going on with the nib where it goes into the section? It looks like someone cut a horizontal slot cut in it.

[zizu]

31 minutes ago, bunnspecial said:

I'm far from an expert, but there are two things. The first is that I understand these big piston fillers really aren't faked as they're too complex/difficult.

The second thing, though, is that I'm wondering if you have a bit of a parts bin pen. "Germany" on the cap looks laser engraved. The early 90s 149 I have sitting here is engraved the same and lacks "Pix" on the back of the clip.

 

The split ebonite feed was used for a while, and I seriously doubt anyone faking one would make that particular feed type. The plastic threads are a 70s feature, but the 18K two tone nib(not 18c) I believe didn't show up until the 1980s.

 

Aside from that, what is going on with the nib where it goes into the section? It looks like someone cut a horizontal slot cut in it.

Thank you for your reply. Here's some more photos, the horizontal cut on the nib is a optic distortion due to shadow of the light. BTW I also think this may be a "Frankenstein" pen...

Edited December 14, 2020 by zizu

[Barry Gabay]

Hello Zizu, 

 

Very nice pen. Congratulations on getting your first 149. All of your components taken together, except for the nib, indicate a pen made between 1985 and 1990: two-piece barrel, split-ebonite feed, plastic threads. Your two-tone 18K nib was in production between 1992 and 1995. For whatever reason, I suspect the nib was replaced by a previous owner. There is nothing wrong with that. If all components fit securely and your 149 writes well, it a pen worth having.

 

Congratulations again. 

Best wishes,

Barry

[zizu]

Hello Barry thank you for the info! Yeah the pen is a joy to write with. I bought it used and on a auction here in Italy... That's the reason for all those questions. Right now I have a little "flaw":When I unscrew the cap, the nib (especialy close to the breath hole) get's "dirty" with ink, I mean there are drop of ink about twice the size of the breath hole. May it be a problem with the air pressure inside the cap?

[bunnspecial]

Just as an observation-

 

That box looks fairly new. In fact, the outerbox, the padded box, and the instruction booklet look just like a 145 I bought not too long ago that was bought by the original owner around ~2014.

 

My 149 went to Montblanc probably 15 years ago(before I owned it) and I have a fairly plain "service box" it came back in. Still, though, I wonder if this one went to MB and that's why it has the newer nib. With that said, though, even though I'm pretty sure my 149 should have an Ebonite feed, it's plastic with a "C" stamped on it(which I recall from somewhere indicates a service part) and I've assumed that the feed was probably fitted when it went in for service. I'd think if they were fitting a new nib, a new feed might come with it, but then I don't know.

 

Maybe it's bias on my part, but one of my attraction to older ones is that I'd much rather have an Ebonite feed than plastic. I know in practice both can be excellent or bad(just like steel vs. gold nibs) and that plastic is probably more likely to be "right", but I just have a preference for Ebonite. On those grounds alone, I'd enjoy having zizu's 149!

[Barry Gabay]

Hello Zizu, 

 

 Thanks for the additional information.  I don't  regard a drop of ink on the breather hole as a problem. It would not concern me if it were my 149. You are probably correct about air pressure inside the cap. Many early fountain pens had a hole or two holes in the cap to equalize air pressure and prevent "burping" ink from leaking while the pen was capped. That was an era when feeds were not nearly as efficient as current ones.  On a 149, any ink displacement from atmospheric pressure, temperature changes, humidity changes should be held in the feed. A tiny drop or two seeping through the breather hole is not a problem at all in my opinion. There are some people troubled by this and call it "nib creep" or some similar term. We are dealing with fountain pens and liquid ink. One must expect the ink to behave according to the laws of fluid dynamics. I must admit that when I occasionally experience an unexpected drop or two of ink on the nib's surface, I rather enjoy seeing it and just wipe it away after admiring it.  That drop reminds me that even a fountain pen is subject to the laws of Nature. This is a good lesson to remember.

 

Stay well and continue enjoying your wonderful new fountain pen.

Best wishes,

Barry

 

 

[bunnspecial]

FWIW-a couple of pens grabbed out of my case

 

On top-149 with Lamy Crystal Benitoite inked a few hours ago

 

Below-146 with TWSBI Blue-Black. This pen has been inked for a week or two, and is carried and used daily. 

 

Next-145 with an MB British Racing Green formula I mixed yesterday(all MB inks)

 

Last-Lamy Studio Palladium with a blue cartridge on it.

 

As you can see, all have some ink on the nib.

[zizu]

Thank You both for Your reply and explanations! I'm a novice to the fountain pen world and I may ask some dumb questions ahahaha...BTW I asked about these large (relatively speaking) ink drop that get on the nib (these "came out only when I screw and then unscrew the cap after some hours) even after I clean the residue after a refill of the 149 because this do not happens on my GvFC Classic, and AFAIK both the 149 and Classic doesn't have breath hole on their cap.