Found One Of The Rarest Of The Rare

[NoType]

19 minutes ago, KAC said:

No Type:  

I don't recall all the details since I bought it decades ago. I recall seeing advertisements for it in various magazines but inertia prevailed. Several months later, I was in SF and (perhaps it was at the no longer existing Golden Gate Pen Shop), I saw a couple of these in the display case. The owner said they weren't selling to his customers but I couldn't pass it up, not only because it was relatively inexpensive, but because the tasteful coral/brown coloring on the classic L-139 design really did and does appeal to me. I can't recall what I paid, but it was less than the original MB asking price. 

 

As for the nib exchange, there was a paper notice in the box from MB offering a "nib exchange." I sent the pen to MB shortly after asking the company about a medium oblique nib and it was made/exchanged after I was told it was "no cost."

 

Because I intended to keep the pen "forever", MB engraved my name in cursive script on the cap. Of course, that reduces the sale value, but I'm not planning to sell it, so I proceeded with the inscription. That was free, as well.

 

 

@KAC Many thanks for sharing your decades-old reminiscences regarding the purchase of and complimentary nib exchange for your lovely WE Hemingway.  

 

I was curious as to whether Montblanc’s Complimentary Nib Exchange Program was substantially different in the past in terms of deadline eligibility.  

 

Also, because the WE Hemingway’s serial number does not reflect the conventional production numbers with which subsequent Writers Editions were signed, I thought perhaps the Hemingway might be a rare example of a non-numbered limited edition.  As such, I wondered if the deadline for a complimentary nib exchange for this pen was six weeks from purchase, one year from purchase, or something else.  

 

It seems that you likely requested the nib exchange for your icon within the same year of purchase, and perhaps even within six weeks of purchase, so these remain open questions.  Nevertheless, your recounting is fascinating, and I am much obliged.

[Michael R.]

Original list price was 950 DM in Germany.
 

I bought mine for 900 DM in 1995 - Montblanc products were not supposed to sell lower than the suggested retail price already back then - because I went to school with the daughter of the small jewelers store‘s owner. In my home town it did not sell for a three years because of the unusual shape and color. It really looked bulky and eccentric compared to the other regular lines of pens available in your typical stationary store. 
 

I did have it sent for a nib exchange to get an OB nib right away. The pen wrote terrible after the nib exchange and had to go back three times before Montblanc got it right! This and my limited funds during university times made me stay away from Montblanc for many years. 
 

…and now I‘m here … 😉 

 

And the Hemingway remains one of my all time favorite pens. Despite or maybe because of this adventure?!

 

Enjoy yours in good health!

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[NoType]

5 minutes ago, Michael R. said:

Original list price was 950 DM in Germany.
 

I bought mine for 900 DM in 1995 - Montblanc products were not supposed to sell lower than the suggested retail price already back then - because I went to school with the daughter of the small jewelers store‘s owner. In my home town it did not sell for a three years because of the unusual shape and color. It really looked bulky and eccentric compared to the other regular lines of pens available in your typical stationary store. 
 

I did have it sent for a nib exchange to get an OB nib right away. The pen wrote terrible after the nib exchange and had to go back three times before Montblanc got it right! This and my limited funds during university times made me stay away from Montblanc for many years. 
 

…and now I‘m here … 😉 

 

And the Hemingway remains one of my all time favorite pens. Despite or maybe because of this adventure?!

 

Enjoy yours in good health!

 

Cheers

 

Michael

@Michael R. As always, your contribution is most interesting.  I wonder what 950 DM equated to in USD back in 1992?  It seems to me my memory of $600 or $650 might be faulty, for that appears too great a price disparity from 950 DM.  But I have no knowledge of historical DM to USD exchange rates.

[Michael R.]

Thank you @NoType!

 

You are spot on. 1 USD was roughly worth 1,6 DM in 1992.

 

PS: and just for interest: the Medici sold for 2500 DM in the same year.

[NoType]

32 minutes ago, Michael R. said:

Thank you @NoType!

 

You are spot on. 1 USD was roughly worth 1,6 DM in 1992.

 

PS: and just for interest: the Medici sold for 2500 DM in the same year.

@Michael R. Oh!  That is surprising.  My memory is almost as poor as my eye-hand coordination.  Thank you kindly for outlining the exchange rate!

 

Oh, that is a fascinating post script.  Much obliged!

[Opooh]

2 hours ago, Michael R. said:

Original list price was 950 DM in Germany.
 

I bought mine for 900 DM in 1995 - Montblanc products were not supposed to sell lower than the suggested retail price already back then - because I went to school with the daughter of the small jewelers store‘s owner. In my home town it did not sell for a three years because of the unusual shape and color. It really looked bulky and eccentric compared to the other regular lines of pens available in your typical stationary store. 
 

I did have it sent for a nib exchange to get an OB nib right away. The pen wrote terrible after the nib exchange and had to go back three times before Montblanc got it right! This and my limited funds during university times made me stay away from Montblanc for many years. 
 

…and now I‘m here … 😉 

 

And the Hemingway remains one of my all time favorite pens. Despite or maybe because of this adventure?!

 

Enjoy yours in good health!

 

Cheers

 

Michael

My story with Hemingway is simular to yours. In those days brick and mortar stores where the only way to Montblanc. I had already bought some 149ers with different nib sizes. Than Agatha Christie was Launchpad and I bought the silver and vermeille version of it. 
The lady talies about a Medici, I immediately ordered it. Weeks went by and it was always same story in the store, no Medici. After a few months she Saïd there was something else, the Hemingway. She admitted it was already in store before the Agathas but they had lost package, so the pen wasn’t put for sale. Meanwhile they found the package again. At first I wasn’t interested, found it a woerd color combination. Lady said most people didn’t like the pen. Normale I got a 10% discount on the pens I bought, but on this one a got an offer I couldn’t refuse.  Normal 19000 bef ( around same price as your DM ) but I could have it with 25% discount.

took it home and inked it, disappointment. It was a skipping (bleep), it wasput back in its package. Long time afterwards, she asjes about it and I told her. So it went 2 times to MB but result wasn’t super. I lost interest in it.

years later, internet and 139-138 artiving, also learned about nibtuning. But now piston was broek. Went again 2 times to Montblanc, but it was only when Fountainbel took care of it that it became a wonderful writer.

due to its status it doesn’t come out many times for a joy ride. It has company of its Dumas sister. But I must admit I prefer the black ones for daily use or the king size bulkfiller Conids.

[NoType]

4 hours ago, Michael R. said:

In my home town it did not sell for a three years because of the unusual shape and color. It really looked bulky and eccentric compared to the other regular lines of pens available in your typical stationary store. 
 

I did have it sent for a nib exchange to get an OB nib right away. The pen wrote terrible after the nib exchange and had to go back three times before Montblanc got it right!

 

1 hour ago, Opooh said:

My story with Hemingway is simular to yours. In those days brick and mortar stores where the only way to Montblanc. I had already bought some 149ers with different nib sizes. Than Agatha Christie was Launchpad and I bought the silver and vermeille version of it. 
The lady talies about a Medici, I immediately ordered it. Weeks went by and it was always same story in the store, no Medici. After a few months she Saïd there was something else, the Hemingway. She admitted it was already in store before the Agathas but they had lost package, so the pen wasn’t put for sale. Meanwhile they found the package again. At first I wasn’t interested, found it a woerd color combination. Lady said most people didn’t like the pen. Normale I got a 10% discount on the pens I bought, but on this one a got an offer I couldn’t refuse.  Normal 19000 bef ( around same price as your DM ) but I could have it with 25% discount.

took it home and inked it, disappointment. It was a skipping (bleep), it wasput back in its package. Long time afterwards, she asjes about it and I told her. So it went 2 times to MB but result wasn’t super. I lost interest in it.

years later, internet and 139-138 artiving, also learned about nibtuning. But now piston was broek. Went again 2 times to Montblanc, but it was only when Fountainbel took care of it that it became a wonderful writer.

due to its status it doesn’t come out many times for a joy ride. It has company of its Dumas sister. But I must admit I prefer the black ones for daily use or the king size bulkfiller Conids.

@Michael R.

@Opooh

I really cannot thank you both enough for these compelling and informative narratives of market reactions and user|service experiences regarding the WE Hemingway more than three decades ago.  They make for most intriguing and diverting reading, indeed!