100th Anniversary editions

[Seney724]

  On 7/18/2024 at 6:05 PM, Centurion said:

That’s puzzling to me … the 146 has more choices than the 149? I suppose there are more  146 sold than the 149, but the 149 is supposed to be their flagship. 
 

 

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I am sorry if I miscommunicated the point I was trying to make. 

No, I think it is the opposite, the 149 has more choices than the 146.

The 149 has all the choices that @Karmachanic mentions (EF, F, M, OM, B, BB OB, and OBB) plus the OBBB. 

The 146 has only the EF, F, M, OM, B, BB OB, and OBB

 

 

[a student]

@Arcadian @Centurion @NoType

Thank you indeed for your kind words.

 

Variety in nibs and ease of availability of that variety would be helpful for those of us who may have an interest in writing. I also appreciate the effort that Fritz-Shimpf makes in developing some MB nibs that may be quite attractive for writers though the price point goes up considerably and these versions are available for a limited time only as quantities tend to be limited.

 

Apologies for what might have been an issue only tangentially bearing upon the subject of 100 Anniversry Editions

[fpupulin]

Incomplete post...

[fpupulin]

Handwriting is not going away, or at least not any time soon. Each of the world’s cultures is deeply rooted in its own writing traditions. Everywhere in the world, people learn to read and, at exactly the same time, to write by hand. Even today, it is almost unimaginable for an educated person to be unable to handwrite their name, write a postcard or simply a short note at the moment.

 

Montblanc has its core in Western writing culture. Every other product in the Montblanc portfolio today draws its aura from the world-renowned writing instruments historically produced by the house. Montblanc leather is not in the same league as, for example, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Bottega Veneta or Hermés, which have their core in the finest leather goods. You buy a Montblanc bag, or a belt or a wallet, not primarily for the quality of the leather, but because of the brand, whose reputation is in turn intimately linked to writing. This bond has a strong emotional and cultural component, and certainly represents a powerful brand asset for Montblanc, given the "nobility" of the act of writing in general (something that Gucci or Vuitton or Hermés cannot flaunt as one of their core values).

 

Montblanc is certainly aware of the value of this founding aspect of its identity, and its "Art of Writing" and "Montblanc de la Culture" campaigns, the recent (2023) "The Library Spirit" campaign, which took place at the London Library, (renowned for its legacy as a leading literary institution) or the beautiful book "Inspire Writing", testify to the interest that the brand maintains in the inspirational meaning of writing.

 

I found the short film directed by Wes Anderson with which Montblanc celebrates 100 years of Meisterstück (its most iconic writing instrument) very interesting, because even in this case, although leather goods and watches are presented, the emphasis is on writing. In the "writing room", on the second floor of the imaginary Montblanc Observatory, it seems completely natural to see Anderson himself and his two fellow actors intent, each with a different purpose, on one of the activities - if not anymore normal - certainly to be promoted socially, at least at home and among friends: writing.

 

In a world where, it seems, no one writes by hand anymore, Montblanc continues to insist on the expressive component of the individual character that handwriting represents, and to do so it maintains a varied catalog of nibs that few other houses - if any - can offer their customers to emphasize their writing personality. Yes, it is certainly a shame that the triple broad nib is no longer available as a standard option, but as customers of the brand I think we can consider ourselves more than pampered by the possibility of choosing - at no additional cost - between nine different nib grades.

 

This strong emphasis of the Hamburg maison on writing, even if writing instruments today perhaps represent a minor item in the company budget, is one of the values that I appreciate most about Montblanc and that makes me happy to participate in the Meisterstück's 100th Anniversary.

 

"Let's Write".

[NoType]

  On 7/18/2024 at 8:03 PM, fpupulin said:

Handwriting is not going away, or at least not any time soon. Each of the world’s cultures is deeply rooted in its own writing traditions. Everywhere in the world, people learn to read and, at exactly the same time, to write by hand. Even today, it is almost unimaginable for an educated person to be unable to handwrite their name, write a postcard or simply a short note at the moment.

 

Montblanc has its core in Western writing culture. Every other product in the Montblanc portfolio today draws its aura from the world-renowned writing instruments historically produced by the house. Montblanc leather is not in the same league as, for example, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Bottega Veneta or Hermés, which have their core in the finest leather goods. You buy a Montblanc bag, or a belt or a wallet, not primarily for the quality of the leather, but because of the brand, whose reputation is in turn intimately linked to writing. This bond has a strong emotional and cultural component, and certainly represents a powerful brand asset for Montblanc, given the "nobility" of the act of writing in general (something that Gucci or Vuitton or Hermés cannot flaunt as one of their core values).

 

Montblanc is certainly aware of the value of this founding aspect of its identity, and its "Art of Writing" and "Montblanc de la Culture" campaigns, the recent (2023) "The Library Spirit" campaign, which took place at the London Library, (renowned for its legacy as a leading literary institution) or the beautiful book "Inspire Writing", testify to the interest that the brand maintains in the inspirational meaning of writing.

 

I found the short film directed by Wes Anderson with which Montblanc celebrates 100 years of Meisterstück (its most iconic writing instrument) very interesting, because even in this case, although leather goods and watches are presented, the emphasis is on writing. In the "writing room", on the second floor of the imaginary Montblanc Observatory, it seems completely natural to see Anderson himself and his two fellow actors intent, each with a different purpose, on one of the activities - if not anymore normal - certainly to be promoted socially, at least at home and among friends: writing.

 

In a world where, it seems, no one writes by hand anymore, Montblanc continues to insist on the expressive component of the individual character that handwriting represents, and to do so it maintains a varied catalog of nibs that few other houses - if any - can offer their customers to emphasize their writing personality. Yes, it is certainly a shame that the triple broad nib is no longer available as a standard option, but as customers of the brand I think we can consider ourselves more than pampered by the possibility of choosing - at no additional cost - between nine different nib grades.

 

This strong emphasis of the Hamburg maison on writing, even if writing instruments today perhaps represent a minor item in the company budget, is one of the values that I appreciate most about Montblanc and that makes me happy to participate in the Meisterstück's 100th Anniversary.

 

"Let's Write".

Expand  

@fpupulin Thank you for this well reasoned, eloquent, and passionate contention of Montblanc vis-à-vis writing by hand.  It was a pleasure to peruse.

[Karmachanic]

  On 7/18/2024 at 8:03 PM, fpupulin said:

In a world where, it seems, no one writes by hand anymore

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That would explain why: 

 

Fountain Pen Market Size was valued at USD 955.94 Millionin 2023 and is expected to reach USD 1107.77 Million by the end of 2030 with a CAGR of 2.51% During the Forecast Period 2023-2030.

 

 

My inability to restrain myself to purchasing no more  that one pen a year is, no doubt, a contributing factor.

[digitorum- Leonardo_W]

  On 7/19/2024 at 3:41 PM, Karmachanic said:

 

That would explain why: 

 

Fountain Pen Market Size was valued at USD 955.94 Millionin 2023 and is expected to reach USD 1107.77 Million by the end of 2030 with a CAGR of 2.51% During the Forecast Period 2023-2030.

 

 

My inability to restrain myself to purchasing no more  that one pen a year is, no doubt, a contributing factor.

Expand  

 

Thanks for that FP market info @Karmachanic

 

An extract from the article where this graph comes from is full of hope for the future of fountain pens as a big part of the new adopters are the Millennials, but also younger generations from what I personaly see on Reddit : 

 

Fountain Pen Market Trends 

Growing appreciation for writing as an art form and a desire for a more tactile, customized writing experience are driving the fountain pen market's comeback. Manufacturers are responding to a discriminating consumer base by releasing limited-edition products and innovative designs with a shift towards premium and sustainable materials. Furthermore, the incorporation of contemporary technology, such as customizable nibs and intelligent features, reflects a well-balanced mix of innovation and tradition in the modern fountain pen market.

Growing popularity of fountain pens among millennials

The majority of today's workforce is made up of millennials, who are also propelling the market for fountain pens to expand. Fountain pens are popular among millennials for a number of reasons, such as their sustainability, robustness, and visual appeal. Many millennials also view fountain pens as status symbols.

Increasing demand for high-end fountain pens

The market for high-end fountain pens is expanding along with the fountain pen industry. Sales of high-end fountain pen brands like Pilot, Pelikan, and Montblanc are rising significantly. This is because an increasing number of people are prepared to spend money on a fountain pen that is of excellent quality and will endure for many years.

Growing popularity of fountain pens for journaling and calligraphy

Journaling and calligraphy are two popular hobbies that are also contributing to the growth of the fountain pen market. Fountain pens are ideal for journaling because they offer a smooth and consistent writing experience. Fountain pens are also popular among calligraphers because they allow for a great deal of control over the line width and ink flow.

[JCC123]

This report is hilarious. Those who have been into fountain pens for more than a few decades have seen this market completely collapse. Some of the names listed in the report are gone. Omas, Parker (Rubbermaid? Seriously?), Pelikan is basically done as well. Montblanc, the grand dame of the business raised prices by 3X in order to keep their revenues propped up. Soon, only the wealthiest people will be able to afford their pens, just like the few who can buy a Leica M. The writing is on the wall. This is a dying relic from the past century. Kind of like the horse and buggy. Sure, there are still ones around but think about who actually owns one or can afford it?

 

Most of the forum members here are older, like myself. The young ones are not buying expensive pens like Montblanc. They probably stick to the cheap Chinese brands or Lamy. Think of how many they need to buy to equal one Montblanc sale? Will their price points be a sustainable business without more volume? Trust me when I say this, the market will continue to shrink until only a few companies remain and sell very few pens. Again, think of the horse and buggy market.

[JCC123]

  On 7/18/2024 at 8:03 PM, fpupulin said:

Handwriting is not going away, or at least not any time soon. Each of the world’s cultures is deeply rooted in its own writing traditions. Everywhere in the world, people learn to read and, at exactly the same time, to write by hand. Even today, it is almost unimaginable for an educated person to be unable to handwrite their name, write a postcard or simply a short note at the moment.

 

Montblanc has its core in Western writing culture. Every other product in the Montblanc portfolio today draws its aura from the world-renowned writing instruments historically produced by the house. Montblanc leather is not in the same league as, for example, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Bottega Veneta or Hermés, which have their core in the finest leather goods. You buy a Montblanc bag, or a belt or a wallet, not primarily for the quality of the leather, but because of the brand, whose reputation is in turn intimately linked to writing. This bond has a strong emotional and cultural component, and certainly represents a powerful brand asset for Montblanc, given the "nobility" of the act of writing in general (something that Gucci or Vuitton or Hermés cannot flaunt as one of their core values).

 

Montblanc is certainly aware of the value of this founding aspect of its identity, and its "Art of Writing" and "Montblanc de la Culture" campaigns, the recent (2023) "The Library Spirit" campaign, which took place at the London Library, (renowned for its legacy as a leading literary institution) or the beautiful book "Inspire Writing", testify to the interest that the brand maintains in the inspirational meaning of writing.

 

I found the short film directed by Wes Anderson with which Montblanc celebrates 100 years of Meisterstück (its most iconic writing instrument) very interesting, because even in this case, although leather goods and watches are presented, the emphasis is on writing. In the "writing room", on the second floor of the imaginary Montblanc Observatory, it seems completely natural to see Anderson himself and his two fellow actors intent, each with a different purpose, on one of the activities - if not anymore normal - certainly to be promoted socially, at least at home and among friends: writing.

 

In a world where, it seems, no one writes by hand anymore, Montblanc continues to insist on the expressive component of the individual character that handwriting represents, and to do so it maintains a varied catalog of nibs that few other houses - if any - can offer their customers to emphasize their writing personality. Yes, it is certainly a shame that the triple broad nib is no longer available as a standard option, but as customers of the brand I think we can consider ourselves more than pampered by the possibility of choosing - at no additional cost - between nine different nib grades.

 

This strong emphasis of the Hamburg maison on writing, even if writing instruments today perhaps represent a minor item in the company budget, is one of the values that I appreciate most about Montblanc and that makes me happy to participate in the Meisterstück's 100th Anniversary.

 

"Let's Write".

Expand  

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/10/gen-z-handwriting-teaching-cursive-history/671246/

[Surlyprof]

  On 7/20/2024 at 3:05 AM, JCC123 said:

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/10/gen-z-handwriting-teaching-cursive-history/671246/

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This is very true.  I had to start giving my feedback notes to students either printed or typed.  Very annoying once you get hooked on fountain pens!

[Karmachanic]

  On 7/20/2024 at 2:55 AM, JCC123 said:

Soon, only the wealthiest people will be able to afford their pens

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The majority of pen buyers will never purchase a MB.  In part due to the cost, even taking into consideration the used segment of the market..  Those looking to purchase the 100th Aniversary pens are not the majority of MB owners.  This does not mean that the FP market is not growing.

[a student]

  On 7/20/2024 at 8:14 AM, Karmachanic said:

 

The majority of pen buyers will never purchase a MB.  In part due to the cost, even taking into consideration the used segment of the market..  Those looking to purchase the 100th Aniversary pens are not the majority of MB owners.  This does not mean that the FP market is not growing.

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Part of the problem to my mind are constraints imposed by MB itself. Take for example the calligraphy nib 149. Production stopped on that one, though there are willing buyers for the pen. Fortunately for me, I got one when they were fairly commonplace in shops

 

Now the calligraphy nib 149 was never announced as a limited edition, and attracts only those who are actually interested in writing. Alas, it is not available any longer!

Edited July 20, 2024 by a student
typo

[kazoolaw]

 

“This report is hilarious. Those who have been into fountain pens for more than a few decades have seen this market completely collapse.”

 

Though I agree with the first sentence, I don’t agree with the reasoning cited to support the second.

 

The straight line graph of steadily increasing sales is unlikely, if not impossible.  Only a cynic would suggest comparing that graph to the graphs in other “sample” reports.  Or including Omas, which I think dissolved before the base period of the report.

 

I can only comment on my small part of the world, and from about 1975 on, which is when I began using FPs daily.  Obviously this is after the drop in FP use following the introduction of ballpoints.

 

I couldn’t find a FP on a retail shelf beyond the cheapest Sheaffer cart fillers, and only an occasional bottle of ink.  No FP selection in the second largest city in the state, or really in the half of the state where I lived. It was the era of paper catalogs:  Joon, Fountain Pen Hospital, and some others long gone.

 

Jump ahead to the internet putting FPs from around the world in my home.  There is a flood of pens from manufacturers in Asia.  And a substantial group of small independent pen makers.  No nib gurus accessible to me back then.

 

Here in the Midwest USA my ink choices used to be blue, blue-black, and black from Parker, Schaffer, and Waterman.  Today I can get ink from Korea and Poland delivered to my doorstep.

 

Will FPs ever rule the world?  Don’t think so.  But the view from my tiny window on the world is that FPs are a solid niche market and still growing.

[JCC123]

  On 7/21/2024 at 12:47 PM, kazoolaw said:

 

 

“This report is hilarious. Those who have been into fountain pens for more than a few decades have seen this market completely collapse.”

 

Though I agree with the first sentence, I don’t agree with the reasoning cited to support the second.

 

The straight line graph of steadily increasing sales is unlikely, if not impossible.  Only a cynic would suggest comparing that graph to the graphs in other “sample” reports.  Or including Omas, which I think dissolved before the base period of the report.

 

I can only comment on my small part of the world, and from about 1975 on, which is when I began using FPs daily.  Obviously this is after the drop in FP use following the introduction of ballpoints.

 

I couldn’t find a FP on a retail shelf beyond the cheapest Sheaffer cart fillers, and only an occasional bottle of ink.  No FP selection in the second largest city in the state, or really in the half of the state where I lived. It was the era of paper catalogs:  Joon, Fountain Pen Hospital, and some others long gone.

 

Jump ahead to the internet putting FPs from around the world in my home.  There is a flood of pens from manufacturers in Asia.  And a substantial group of small independent pen makers.  No nib gurus accessible to me back then.

 

Here in the Midwest USA my ink choices used to be blue, blue-black, and black from Parker, Schaffer, and Waterman.  Today I can get ink from Korea and Poland delivered to my doorstep.

 

Will FPs ever rule the world?  Don’t think so.  But the view from my tiny window on the world is that FPs are a solid niche market and still growing.

Expand  

This is what people in the markets like to refer to as the dead cat bounce. We've seen it in other industries as well. Records and Cassettes are making a comeback. Film cameras seem to be gaining some interest. But compare it to its heyday it's night and day. The FP days are over and it's only getting more and more difficult for the existing premium brands to stay in business. Sure, you may have a lot of folks servicing pens but that's because previous generations like ours still have a lot of pens and we're willing to spend the $$$ to get it done. What happens when we die? The newer generation will mostly stick to the cheap ones that they can just throw away. Sure, some may even graduate to the premiums but their numbers are a fraction of ours that need to be replaced just to maintain the status quo. Each generation brings fewer and fewer users. The evidence is right in front of you. All of those great retailers like Joon and Fountain Pen Hospital are no longer in business. That tells me that the industry is dying - a slow death. We're basically in the long tail end of the industry's life cycle curve.

[NoType]

  On 7/21/2024 at 9:55 PM, JCC123 said:

All of those great retailers like Joon and Fountain Pen Hospital are no longer in business

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@JCC123 Although your point is well taken, Fountain Pen Hospital is under new ownership (https://members2.boardhost.com/pentrace/msg/1704506553.html#:~:text=Fountain Pen Hospital has been,fact%2C they began as teenagers.)

but still in business despite having lost its authorised retailer status with Montblanc.

[JCC123]

  On 7/22/2024 at 1:56 AM, NoType said:

@JCC123 Although your point is well taken, Fountain Pen Hospital is under new ownership (https://members2.boardhost.com/pentrace/msg/1704506553.html#:~:text=Fountain Pen Hospital has been,fact%2C they began as teenagers.)

but still in business despite having lost its authorised retailer status with Montblanc.

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Thanks, let's see how long they will last under new ownership...

[yubaprof]

  On 7/21/2024 at 9:55 PM, JCC123 said:

 What happens when we die? 

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We're gonna die? What? Well, I guess I'd better ramp up my pen buying before it's too late!

[Seney724]

  On 7/22/2024 at 2:33 AM, JCC123 said:

Thanks, let's see how long they will last under new ownership...

Expand  

This is a very legitimate concern.

[arcfide]

I'm not convinced that FP's are doomed. I think there is a lot of evidence that they are seeing a revival, but the as a niche, specialist interest, albeit a pretty broadly applicable one. In such niche's, it's simply not viable for big box or retail outlets to service this market in the age of global logistics. The market is too demanding, too fickle, and too responsive to make it easy for small pen stores to easily make a business outside of a solid online presence. 

 

This doesn't mean the market is going to disappear, but it does mean that the "old way" of marketing and selling likely doesn't serve the new clientele. The newer customers don't want to go to a standard retail store to pick up their pens if it means they don't get access to the wide range of possibilities that they care about. All that means is that only metropolises that can support a high amount of traffic around niche interests will be able to maintain such stores going forward. 

 

If anything, the issue I see with retailers is that there is too *much* product being made, not too little. Most retailers can't keep up logistically with the huge range of products that keep coming out and the range of customizations that people want, which is the whole reason you get into fountain pens right now, anyways. For myself, I've purchased a fair number of pens, but I'm coming to not be able to purchase at a lot of my traditional online outlets because they no longer have the products that I want, and I need to go to increasingly limited stores, because the things that I want are niche. That doesn't mean there is no market for them, just that the traditional distribution channels have a hard time meeting my market segment. 

 

 

[Toll]

Well, I have followed this dialogue with some measure of interest and amusement. Against this backdrop of speculation I offer one observation and one hope. For the observation, I have regularly attended the DC Pen Show, and that of Baltimore, for over a decade. Each year I am impressed by the number of vendors and the number of attendees—really quite overwhelming on Saturday morning—and I offer there is a large interest in our passion for writing and writing instruments that bodes well for the future. Indeed, I have observed an increase in the diversity of attendees including women, young people, and people of color. I come away from each show with a great measure of hope. 
 

Regarding the hope, I trust we all wish the Fountain Pen Hospital much success under new ownership. A visit is always a highlight of my trips to NYC.