would you rather buy MB 149 or Parker Duofold & Pilot Custom 845?

[honu]

I have MB 149 and 145. 
146 is missing haha

If you had both of these pens, would you buy 146 or buy something else like Parker Duofold and Pilot Custom 845(both of these are almost same price as 146 alone)

 

TIA

 

[MarcoA63]

Can't help you here. The Duofold is the modern, discard, or vintage, buy, version? The Pilot I don't know, same for MB 146. Forever vintage for me anyway.

[rochester21]

Forget about Montblanc. 

 

Then again, some people appreciate form over matter, so the real question is "who are you?". 

 

To answer the question, i think a high-end Pilot and a Duofold both have a higher practical value than a modern Montblanc, although neither of these companies make my favorite modern FP, which is a Waterman Carene Deluxe with F nib. 

 

As far as FPs go it's built like a tank and has the best nib money can buy today, it's a looker too. 

 

The Duofold has class and a pedigree but honestly i never wrote with one(modern) so i can't say anything about the writing part, that's always crucial to me. 

 

Pilot makes fantastic pens but not all of their nibs are the same, i assume the 823 has a nicer one(if you pick medium or broad all Pilot nibs will be good, usually great). 

 

If you want the same thing but a bit more practical, you can always get a Pelikan M600, it's cheaper and most likely more reliable. 

 

Finally, if you already have a 149 i see no benefit in getting another almost identical pen. Unless it's an ego trip using fountain pens.

 

Hey, you wanna impress me, get a vintage MB in solid gold, then i'il be really really impressed(saw one recently at $1800 but it was user-grade, condition not so great). 

 

Recently bought an M400 from this place:

https://schreib.shop/produkt/vintage-montblanc-144-fueller-50er-585/

[Paul-in-SF]

It's hard to advise without knowing more. Are you looking to compare new pens? If so, I don't think you can get a new Parker Duofold Centennial ($550 and up) and a new Pilot Custom 845 ($850) for the cost of a run-of-the-mill new 146. If you possibly meant Pilot Custom 823 ($288) instead, that's much closer. 

 

If you're looking at used or vintage pens, that certainly changes the picture. Vintage Parker Duofolds can be great writers, and you can sometimes find bargains, especially if you're not too fussy about general condition. You can also find bargains on used 146s in excellent condition, and you get a little history too. 

[A Smug Dill]

@honu Welcome to FPN.

 

10 hours ago, honu said:

If you had both [MB 149 and 145],

 

But I don't and, if I have a say in the matter, won't.

 

10 hours ago, honu said:

would you buy 146 or buy something else like Parker Duofold

 

I (perhaps not sadly, but certainly not proudly or happily) have both of those.

 

I greatly dislike Montblanc for all that is associated with its brand image, fostered by the company's marketing. The Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand Calligraphy pen I have is overpriced, even with the non-trivial discount I was offered; but it's a competent writing instrument all the same, and its nib delivers on what was expected (which isn't what anyone would fancy in blind pursuit of “vintage flex”, or something to rival that).

 

On the other hand, even though I bought my Parker Duofold Centennial from Amazon.com for less than half the retail price, I have nothing but regret for having spent the money to give Parker another opportunity to redeem itself. I dislike so many things about Parker — the brand image (as department store grade “fine writing” instruments fit primarily for graduation and retirement presents when you don't know the recipients well enough, or care enough about, to shop properly), the failure to deliver a fit-for-purpose nib (even with the Nib Exchange Programme, which supposedly produces the requested replacement nibs by the company's specialists in France only on demand), lacklustre customer service, incompetent procedural handling; I can't name one good thing about Parker. As far as I'm concerned, friends don't let friends waste money on Parker pens.

 

So, if I absolutely must spend money on either Montblanc, or some combination that includes a Parker pen product, it's a no-brainer: Montblanc it is.

 

The way I see it, Sailor, Platinum, and Pilot kicks Parker's, Cross's, Sheaffer's, and Waterman's collective butts any day, when it comes to the writing instruments today; and I don't even dislike the Waterman and Sheaffer fountain pens I bought (some 20 to 25 years ago), and I'm not myself of Japanese origin but I grew up under the influence of a father who intensely disliked Japan (having lived through WWII and suffered under Japanese occupation). Yet even the inclusion of a Pilot Custom 845, which I'll assume is a great writing instrument and quite possibly better than the dozens of Pilot pens I have, would still not be able to redeem a Parker Duofold in a package deal to me.

 

[gerigo]

I have all 3 pens. They all perform admirably and have unique enough qualities that I would venture if you're a true pen aficionado that you'd probably end up with all 3. For me, nib performance is of paramount importance.

 

I have purchased the 149 primarily because it comes in nib sizes that isn't readily available elsewhere; like the OBBB, the calligraphy nib and also the flex nib. I am really not a fan of the body design as I find the proportions awkward at best. I am also not a fan of the way the grip is shaped. But the flex nib! Truly the best modern version there is. If you know how to handle a flex nib. You have to get the pen. Not to aggravate others, but I completely don't understand the bit about marketing. Who cares?! Are you so obsessed about how others perceive you that you forgo the opportunity to try/ own a great writing pen??? What is this about??? If you're truly concerned, just use the pen at home, which I almost always do, or just say it's a $10 fake.

 

The same with the Parker. I chanced upon a stash of more unusual nib sizes that I promptly snapped up. Those regular nibs write wet and broad and the pen body is very comfortable to hold for very long writing sessions. I think again because of Parker's long and illustrious history coupled with the lack of marketing today, the pen is often overlooked.

I personally use the 845 the most out of all these pens. I just like everything about the pen. The design, the way it settles in my hand and the lovely Pilot nibs. Funnily enough, the 845 is the one pen that has the most boring option, that is if you don't switch the nib out with a 743 nib.

[A Smug Dill]

26 minutes ago, gerigo said:

You have to get the pen. Not to aggravate others, but I completely don't understand the bit about marketing. Who cares?! Are you so obsessed about how others perceive you that you forgo the opportunity to try/ own a great writing pen?

 

I'm afraid you're conflating giving a crud about what others' think, and personal dislike. Like I said, I (i.e. personally) dislike Montblanc's brand image; and that makes me not want to buy into it, and not want to give the company any money, especially when I don't consider their offerings competitive with, say, Pilot's. Like I said, my Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand Calligraphy pen (with a flexible nib) is a competent writing instrument; I didn't say it's great, and I don't care if anyone else thinks it is great.

 

26 minutes ago, gerigo said:

I think again because of Parker's long and illustrious history coupled with the lack of marketing today, the pen is often overlooked.

 

I asked Parker to exchange the nib on my Duofold Centennial with a fit-for-purpose Extra Extra Fine (or ‘needlepoint’) nib. It completely messed that up; the nib that came back put down broader lines than the original F nib on it. I sent it back a second time, and told them it they can't deliver on an EEF, then at give me a Fine Italic. When it finally came back months later, the ‘italic’ nib on it was anything but fine; and it wasn't as if I didn't send them writing samples of Fine italic nibs I have, to clarify what I expect.

 

So, as far as I'm concerned, Parker's pens are a lost cause if you care about getting precisely the sort of nib or writing experience you want, because the company's customer service is incompetent and they aren't really listening or taking due care.

 

[TSherbs]

5 hours ago, A Smug Dill said:

 

I'm afraid you're conflating giving a crud about what others' think, and personal dislike. Like I said, I (i.e. personally) dislike Montblanc's brand image; and that makes me not want to buy into it, and not want to give the company any money, especially when I don't consider their offerings competitive with, say, Pilot's. Like I said, my Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand Calligraphy pen (with a flexible nib) is a competent writing instrument; I didn't say it's great, and I don't care if anyone else thinks it is great.

 

 

I asked Parker to exchange the nib on my Duofold Centennial with a fit-for-purpose Extra Extra Fine (or ‘needlepoint’) nib. It completely messed that up; the nib that came back put down broader lines than the original F nib on it. I sent it back a second time, and told them it they can't deliver on an EEF, then at give me a Fine Italic. When it finally came back months later, the ‘italic’ nib on it was anything but fine; and it wasn't as if I didn't send them writing samples of Fine italic nibs I have, to clarify what I expect.

 

So, as far as I'm concerned, Parker's pens are a lost cause if you care about getting precisely the sort of nib or writing experience you want, because the company's customer service is incompetent and they aren't really listening or taking due care.

 

Does Parker claim that they will make custom spec nibs on request? Just curious.

[A Smug Dill]

41 minutes ago, TSherbs said:

Does Parker claim that they will make custom spec nibs on request? Just curious.

 

To the best of my recollection, without digging through my archived email correspondence:

 

When I asked Newell Brands in Australia, prior to my ordering the Parker Duofold Centennial, whether Amazon was considered an authorised retailer from whom Parker pen purchases are eligible for the Nib Exchange Programme, I was told yes, but that replacement nibs outside of the normally offered width grades of Fine and Medium are produced by a specialised team in France, who must have the pen in their hands, and only when a customer requests them. Thus they would not be simply swapping in an ready-made Extra Extra Fine or Fine Italic nib on hand for me, and the exchange process would take many weeks.

 

When the first exchange to an EEF nib ended up with something that put down broader lines than the F nib originally fitted on my pen from Amazon, which I had test, that was unquestionable an outright failure on the part of Parker. So, when I sent the pen back to Newell Brands a second time (and costing me in postage a second time) to rectify their failure — along with paperwork they accidentally sent me that compromised other Parker customers' privacy — I also attached a sheet of writing samples produced with my other pens, to clarify what I expect. What followed was radio silence over a couple of months, and in spite of my expressly asking them to advise me prior to shipping the nib back from France (which they did not do the first time), my pen showed up abruptly the day before Christmas — fitted with a nib that didn't write nearly as fine as the original F nib, let alone what I showed them in the writing samples — along with the same sheets of privacy-compromising paperwork that they shouldn't have sent me the first time around, then asked me to return.

 

So Parker had all the time and opportunity to get things right the second time around, or at least tell me they are unable (or unwilling) to meet my expectations of a Fine Italic nib, before failing a second time to nobody's benefit.

[dragondazd]

Sounds like 845 alone is the winner, maybe with a vintage duofold. *Shrug* if you want to collect all the montblancs, that's a personal endeavor I can't advise on either way. Fortunately for my wallet, having two pens of one brand doesn't compel me to get one of everything else.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I'd have to go with the Montblanc 149.  Just because.

[TSherbs]

3 hours ago, A Smug Dill said:

 

To the best of my recollection, without digging through my archived email correspondence:

 

When I asked Newell Brands in Australia, prior to my ordering the Parker Duofold Centennial, whether Amazon was considered an authorised retailer from whom Parker pen purchases are eligible for the Nib Exchange Programme, I was told yes, but that replacement nibs outside of the normally offered width grades of Fine and Medium are produced by a specialised team in France, who must have the pen in their hands, and only when a customer requests them. Thus they would not be simply swapping in an ready-made Extra Extra Fine or Fine Italic nib on hand for me, and the exchange process would take many weeks.

 

When the first exchange to an EEF nib ended up with something that put down broader lines than the F nib originally fitted on my pen from Amazon, which I had test, that was unquestionable an outright failure on the part of Parker. So, when I sent the pen back to Newell Brands a second time (and costing me in postage a second time) to rectify their failure — along with paperwork they accidentally sent me that compromised other Parker customers' privacy — I also attached a sheet of writing samples produced with my other pens, to clarify what I expect. What followed was radio silence over a couple of months, and in spite of my expressly asking them to advise me prior to shipping the nib back from France (which they did not do the first time), my pen showed up abruptly the day before Christmas — fitted with a nib that didn't write nearly as fine as the original F nib, let alone what I showed them in the writing samples — along with the same sheets of privacy-compromising paperwork that they shouldn't have sent me the first time around, then asked me to return.

 

So Parker had all the time and opportunity to get things right the second time around, or at least tell me they are unable (or unwilling) to meet my expectations of a Fine Italic nib, before failing a second time to nobody's benefit.

So, yes, they say they will custom grind nibs on request? 

[A Smug Dill]

20 minutes ago, TSherbs said:

3 hours ago, A Smug Dill said:

Expand  

So, yes, they say they will custom grind nibs on request? 

 

Not the way a customer would engage and instruct a nibmeister, no. But, as far as I was told, Parker in France will produce nibs in the umpteen listed types outside of F and M for the Nib Exchange Programme only when such nibs are requested; and it's up to Parker to deliver something that is fit for purpose for the requested/stated nib type and width grade.

 

12 hours ago, A Smug Dill said:

the failure to deliver a fit-for-purpose nib (even with the Nib Exchange Programme, which supposedly produces the requested replacement nibs by the company's specialists in France only on demand),

 

If what you're getting at is that Parker did produce on demand and provide its idea of an EEF nib to me, which wrote broader that its own standard F nib against my unreasonable expectations, it just goes to show the company is not one I can trust or should 'let' my friends trust to understand nibs. 

[nibtip]

I have one of each and all are fantastic writers.

Got the Parker on amazon for under 300 (honestly, I would not pay more than say 400 for it). 

Montblanc good for my hand size.

Parker for the nib (yes, maybe I was lucky).

Pilot for overall quality.

Go for all three. One at a time, of course.

[TSherbs]

48 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

 

Not the way a customer would engage and instruct a nibmeister, no. But, as far as I was told, Parker in France will produce nibs in the umpteen listed types outside of F and M for the Nib Exchange Programme only when such nibs are requested; and it's up to Parker to deliver something that is fit for purpose for the requested/stated nib type and width grade.

 

 

If what you're getting at is that Parker did produce on demand and provide its idea of an EEF nib to me, which wrote broader that its own standard F nib against my unreasonable expectations, it just goes to show the company is not one I can trust or should 'let' my friends trust to understand nibs. 

No. I am just wondering if you have asked them to do something that they are not equipped or even expecting (offering) to do. Who "told" you they could do an EEF grind? Did you speak to someone there, in France, who said, "Yes, we can grind an EEF for you"? Have you since sent it to a proper nibmeister to get what you want? 

[A Smug Dill]

5 minutes ago, TSherbs said:

Who "told" you they could do an EEF grind?

 

The Nib Exchange Programme page on Parker's website. I also confirmed my selection of a replacement nib type with Newell Brands' Australian office.

[I-am-not-really-here]

On 10/6/2022 at 10:23 AM, honu said:

I have MB 149 and 145. 
146 is missing haha

If you had both of these pens, would you buy 146 or buy something else like Parker Duofold and Pilot Custom 845(both of these are almost same price as 146 alone)

 

TIA

 

I would sell the 145. And buy either a second 149 or, if you have some fervent need to try another brand, a Sailor KOP.

[TSherbs]

1 hour ago, A Smug Dill said:

 

The Nib Exchange Programme page on Parker's website. I also confirmed my selection of a replacement nib type with Newell Brands' Australian office.

Thanks, i see now. 

[sandy101]

I'd go for the MontBlanc myself. 

 

Parker doesn't repair their pens anymore, and the 845 is a lovely writer, but have been known to crack on occassion and comes with a 1 year guarantee.

 

MB offers a repair and service option - which means you can keep your pen in tip top condition. 

 

You could save yourself a lot of money by going for a vintage duofold or a 2nd hand 149 from a reputable dealer. 

 

If you are in London, the London Pen show is on. You could handle each one and buy one. 

 

 

[markofp]

The Pilot 845 is the best writing pen, hands down. It's a little understated and maybe even a little boring, but the best writer.

 

A vintage Parker Duofold will write brilliantly as well. Think mid 90s, around the time of the Mark ll series. I can't vouch for more recent models (within the last 20 years or so). Montblancs do not cross my door. 

 

If you are dropping this kind of dosh, why not save a little and get a Pelikan M800, a fine pen equal to the three you've named.