Mont Blanc

[Mapster]

I am down in Mexico for 5 weeks on a study abroad, so I haven't been able to make any pens and can only rarely access the IAP... I didn't know how difficult it would be being so removed from the addiction!

On a brighter note, the other day my classmates and I went to a large mall down here in Merida, a good sized city in the north of the Yucatan peninsula. At the mall was a Mont Blanc shop and I tell you what, they are pretty darn amazing to see in person! I have seen many of the expensive Mont Blanc's in magazines, but to see them in person was pretty spectacular!

How many of you have seen a Mont Blanc store? If so, what did you think about their products?

 

[JD Combs Sr]

Mont Blanc Resin

Haven't seen one their shops nor even a MB pen. However, I was looking at photos of them on Amazon the other day and did you know that some of the them are made from Black "precious" resin. Who would have thunk it. Oh and BTW there were quite a few negative reviews for some of them. Apparently the barrels crack fairly frequently. The resin might be precious but apparently it is not very strong.

 

[terryf]

I own a few and definitely over rated! Very pretty and some of the new series are really nice but alas, horribly over priced. Id take a jr statesman over a MB anyday

Ps. We have a good few MB stores here and they are known as botiques, not shops or stores lol

 

[Mapster]

Thanks for the info Terry. I saw a Mont Blanc boutique* Yeah, I wanted to see what others had to say, but in my opinion from seeing them... I asked if I could really "see" one and the guy showed it to me by holding it with a velvet glove (lol)... I didn't think the quality was there in many of the low end ones and the mid and high ends were priced way higher than they should have been. They were very visually appealing, and I will definitely use some of the designs they had, but overall they are not worth it. As you said Terry, I would also take a statesman with a cool blank over their pens. Just my opinion

 

[76winger]

I saw one that a co-worker had about a month ago (her husband is a VP). Pretty sweet looking pen, but as mentioned I would take one of our hand made pens over one. I haven't done a Statesman yet, but I sure like Majestics, Sceptres, Apollos, Emperors and Imperials...

 

[OKLAHOMAN]

I've taken a few of the low end #22's in trade on the Jr. sieries. IMHO they don't write as smooth as one of our totally unadjested stock nibs, a back plastic POC with a white bird dropping on top.

 

[Mapster]

Good to know about how they write, thanks Roy. It is just interesting because the classmates I was with asked me how my pens compare to them and I didn't really know how to answer, so now I have a clear answer for them. Thanks for the info.

All this begs another question, have you guys found a company that makes pens that are equal in quality to our pens?

 

[plano_harry]

Great idea Roy! Scroll a piece of white PR, cast in black, turn finial! :biggrin:
High class pen => more money!

Harry

I've taken a few of the low end #22's in trade on the Jr. sieries. IMHO they don't write as smooth as one of our totally unadjested stock nibs, a back plastic POC with a white bird dropping on top.

 

[TellicoTurning]

You know I have a collection of pens that I've received in PITH and swaps with members of the IAP, The Pen Shop and even the Australian Pen forums.... I don't think any MontBlanc would look any better than those in my collection. Truth be known, they use the same materials and probably some of the same mechanics as what we use.... I always refer back to this site as an example.... this is a shop in NYC that sells some pretty high end pens and back when I first got a copy of his catalog from my previous employer who knows the man, who once asked if he could actually sell a $3700 pen.... the man's answer was -- "Yes, or I wouldn't carry them".... they're not any better looking than those from the artisans we have working the IAP..

Art Brown International Pen Shop

 

[t001xa22]

I have had the opportunity to write with one of the MB pens. IMHO, the mechanism and the ink cartridge/nib do not function any better than the better-end components we all use with our kits. As for the body construction, I agree with many of the replies; we typically produce not only a better looking unit for the most part, but also a more rugged unit. Several folks I know have had to contact MB for repair/replacement of the upper or lower barrel assemblies. Just sayin'..........

 

[Robert111]

Yep, there are MB (not Mercedes Benz) detractors and fans. The fans are mostly owners of the higher end versions, especially vintage fountain pens. And these are folks who know their pens. In other words, can't write them off entirely (no pun intended).

I have a Meisterstuk ballpoint that I've had for 25 years--cost about $40 back then. I dropped it once and cracked the barrel. Had to send in the pen because they would not send me a barrel to repair it myself. I think the charge was $25.

 

[TellicoTurning]

Yep, there are MB (not Mercedes Benz) detractors and fans. The fans are mostly owners of the higher end versions, especially vintage fountain pens. And these are folks who know their pens. In other words, can't write them off entirely (no pun intended).

I have a Meisterstuk ballpoint that I've had for 25 years--cost about $40 back then. I dropped it once and cracked the barrel. Had to send in the pen because they would not send me a barrel to repair it myself. I think the charge was $25.

I'm not detracting from the MontBlanc's... can't as I've never held one or written with one, but using the Mercedes Benz(which I have owned) analogy, once I arrived at a destination, if you didn't see me arrive, you had no idea how I got there.... If I write you a note, and you don't see me writing it, you don't know if I wrote with a MontBlanc, Cross, Bic or one of Roy's beautiful pens.... my main point was that mostly you're buying the name...and if I have to have a name pen, I would as soon have a Bellismo as a MontBlanc...

 

[terryf]

Our nib vs their nib

MB Generation RB
MB Classic 144 FP
Dayacom nib from a Jr Statesman

The MB and Rolex was from a theme shoot titled "Timeless Classics"

I used the 144 for about a week, cleaned it and tossed it back in the box!
The wife has a burgundy Mozart MB - same story, three weeks and back in the box; she now uses a Jr Statesman FP I made her.

The only one I use is the Generation with a 5888 refill :biggrin:

 

[terryf]

By the same token Chuck, did you enjoy the drive or is it just a method of transport.

I want to write with something I enjoy writing with; it shouldn't be an unpleasant experience, much the same as driving, if you don't enjoy it, you wont look forward to it and therefore will try and avoid it

Yep, there are MB (not Mercedes Benz) detractors and fans. The fans are mostly owners of the higher end versions, especially vintage fountain pens. And these are folks who know their pens. In other words, can't write them off entirely (no pun intended).

I have a Meisterstuk ballpoint that I've had for 25 years--cost about $40 back then. I dropped it once and cracked the barrel. Had to send in the pen because they would not send me a barrel to repair it myself. I think the charge was $25.

I'm not detracting from the MontBlanc's... can't as I've never held one or written with one, but using the Mercedes Benz(which I have owned) analogy, once I arrived at a destination, if you didn't see me arrive, you had no idea how I got there.... If I write you a note, and you don't see me writing it, you don't know if I wrote with a MontBlanc, Cross, Bic or one of Roy's beautiful pens.... my main point was that mostly you're buying the name...and if I have to have a name pen, I would as soon have a Bellismo as a MontBlanc...

 

[TellicoTurning]

By the same token Chuck, did you enjoy the drive or is it just a method of transport.

I want to write with something I enjoy writing with; it shouldn't be an unpleasant experience, much the same as driving, if you don't enjoy it, you wont look forward to it and therefore will try and avoid it

Yep, there are MB (not Mercedes Benz) detractors and fans. The fans are mostly owners of the higher end versions, especially vintage fountain pens. And these are folks who know their pens. In other words, can't write them off entirely (no pun intended).

I have a Meisterstuk ballpoint that I've had for 25 years--cost about $40 back then. I dropped it once and cracked the barrel. Had to send in the pen because they would not send me a barrel to repair it myself. I think the charge was $25.

I'm not detracting from the MontBlanc's... can't as I've never held one or written with one, but using the Mercedes Benz(which I have owned) analogy, once I arrived at a destination, if you didn't see me arrive, you had no idea how I got there.... If I write you a note, and you don't see me writing it, you don't know if I wrote with a MontBlanc, Cross, Bic or one of Roy's beautiful pens.... my main point was that mostly you're buying the name...and if I have to have a name pen, I would as soon have a Bellismo as a MontBlanc...

Honestly, it was mostly a means of transportation for me... at one time I had a 1972 250 Town Car and and 1967 Sedan..don't remember the model, but do remember it was a 4 cylinder, very basic auto, with rubber mats, plastic upholstery, stick shift on the floor with a hydraulic clutch... ran great, got great gas mileage - it was my commute car for about a year.... the '72 was my wife's car and was also pretty basic, but a bit more luxury... in the end, the ride was no more comfortable than the 280Z, Corvette, Volkswagen or Ford Cortina that I also owned during the time I was married to my first wife..... My favorite was the Corvette(my bachelor car) or the Alfa Romeo Alfetta I had after my divorce... I drove the Alfetta 13 years.

 

[chriselle]

They have beautiful displays and savvy marketing. The pens....like them or not they are iconic.