1975 Montblanc 149 not drawing ink

[MountBlank]

Hello!  I recently inherited my late-mom's MB 149, which was purchased new at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, July 1975, for...(brace yourselves)...$85.00

 

The ink reservoir is empty and the piston moves well.  There were signs of old ink on the nib, so I flushed the nib with warm water until clean.  The ink reservoir filled with water and emptied during the flushing. 

 

Following the cleaning, I tried filling the pen from a modern bottle of Montblanc "Midnight Blue" ink.  The pen would not draw any ink.  

 

Is it possible that the piston is sealed just well-enough to draw water, but not ink?  Alternatively, do 1975 MB 149s fill very differently from modern Montblanc piston pens?  I wonder if I'm not submerging the nib far enough (I'm hitting the bottom of the fill chamber in the MB ink bottle and the nib's breather hole is certainly submerged, tho not all the way to the section).  

 

Thoughts?  I'm hoping to avoid an expensive restoration, but perhaps that cannot be avoided with a pen that's been unused for well over 20 years.  If this likely only requires dismantling the piston and sealing it with some fresh grease - I'm willing to attempt that myself.  

 

 Incidentally, I wrote with it following the "dip" in the MB ink, and the nib writes beautifully.

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions. 

 

[rickap]

Hi MountBlank,

 

My condolences at the passing of your Mom.

 

You've got a great pen.

 

If it takes in water it should take in ink. You do need to get the ink up to the section though. I usually tip the bottle when it gets too low.

 

Enjoy your new pen!

 

   Rick

[MountBlank]

1 hour ago, rickap said:

You do need to get the ink up to the section though. I usually tip the bottle when it gets too low.

 

Thanks, Rick.  Yep - it was that simple!  I found a deeper ink bottle and got a great fill.  It's writing very well.  My mom would be pleased, as I am.