Mont Blanc Fountain Pen

[Ric.ror]

My christmas treat to myself was going to be a mac air but I've changed my mind and am going for a nice pen but where oh where can I get one from spending as little as possible - I don't think I mind even a second hand one
Has anyone any experience of buying such an item or should I forget that idea and go for new?
Any advice gratefully received

[mallyh]

antique shop ?

[hc4361]

There is a lot on eBay but proceed with caution. Worth a look to get a good idea of prices, though

[tamborine]

Bangkok sell excellent copies for £5.

[sunny-dave]

Can't help with the pen, but if you decide to go back to the 'technology option' I'd always recommend the macbook pro over the macbook air.

Physically hardly any bigger, but much more robust and with better connectivity too.

[tamborine]

Free from Parky

http://youtu.be/YPck9d_Jn-M

[hc4361]

A Parker pen is hardly in the same class as a Mont Blanc

[tamborine]

Only difference between both is the designer logo. For the cost of a pukka MB you could buy a flight to Bangkok.

[SlackAlice]

Parkys free pen is a 'biro'! Yuk!

[jno]

Penshop do them, but not cheap

http://www.penshop.co.uk/category/pens/fountain-pen/montblanc.html

Amazon's seem a bit cheaper though why they insist on including Parkers in their search I don't know

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_kk_2?rh=i%3Aoffice-products%2Ck%3Amont+blanc+fountain+pen&keywords=mont+blanc+fountain+pen&ie=UTF8&qid=1416484904

If you're thinking of eBay, check out their warning

http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/FAKE-MONTBLANC-PENS-ON-EBAY-PLEASE-READ-BEFORE-BUYING-/10000000002750150/g.html

[janbee]

Amazon or Ebay. Good luck. I'd love a Mont Blanc pen. Lucky you.

[mikey4444]

I collect fountain pens and have about 120 ( really ! )

I have a Mont Blanc Meisterstuck, which was very expensive but it really isn't worth all that money. If you are going to treat yourself, than look on Ebay for a Parker 51 or 61. These are easily the best pens that Parker ever produced and it was a sad day when they finally stopped making them.

But the good news is that they made millions of them ! I have found this on ebay today for you ::

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-PARKER-51-FOUNTAIN-PEN-GREY-WITH-12CT-ROLLED-GOLD-CAP-MADE-IN-ENGLAND-/351224378688?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PensPencils_WritingEquipment_SM&hash=item51c69ab540

Another good place to try for modern pens is Cultpens. I cannot recommend this mail order company in Devon highly enough ::

http://www.cultpens.com/i/q/PK05039/pelikan-souveran-m400-fountain-pen-black---green

Another good make is Pilot. They make the Capless fountain pen, which is unique as it has a retractable nib. Pilot, Pelikan and others makes sold by cultpens are as good as any fountain pen can possibly be, and all are better than a Mont Blanc.

If you would like and more help or assistance to choose, please don't hesitate to ask. I wouldn't call myself an expert but I have picked up loads of info over the years ! By the way, I would still go for a Parker 51.

( just found this :::: the chalk marks were put on by Parker, so this has never been used ::::

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PARKER-51-BURGANDY-CHALK-MARKS-FOUNTAIN-PEN-/351219524500?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PensPencils_WritingEquipment_SM&hash=item51c650a394

Well worth the money for a new pen in all but name.

[DTCwordfan]

I love my MB Meister but unfortunately it needs repairing. I had to hit the brakes in the car, my briefcase went barrelling forward off the passenger seat and landed hard in the well and it snapped it. Haven't sent it off to MB yet and dreading the cost of the repair.....

[mikey4444]

hc4361...just seen your post of 11:31.

With respect, I have to fundamentally disagree. The Parker 51/61 is about as faultless a fountain pen that you can buy. When they were new, they were not terribly expensive, although they were not cheap by any means, and certainly were not a "fashion object" as Mont Blanc has become these days.

I have a Parker 51 that was left in the back of grandfathers London Cab on VE day in 1945. My mother collected it later that year from the lost property office, as it had not been claimed. My Mum gave it to me for passing my O Levels in 1969 and its the first pen I reach for out of my collection every day. I had it serviced by PenFriend in Bush House in 1989 and it is unlikely to need another in my lifetime.

As you can see, I take my fountain pens very seriously !

[mikey4444]

DTC...try Pen Friend in Bush House for your repair. I can't recommend them highly enough, but it won't be cheap !

http://www.penfriend.co.uk/repairs.html

[hc4361]

mikey, I was referring to the free Parker biro linked to by Tambo.

[BlackadderV]

I had a Schaeffer bought for me when I went to college. Brilliant pen but unfortunately lost it some years later.

[mikey4444]

Then I beg pardon hc4361...I had misread that !

[mikey4444]

By the way...forget about the Mac Air. Buy yourself a top-of-the-range non-Mac computer and have a holiday in the Bahamas with with the difference !

[Psybbo]

I really would love to own one!

[DTCwordfan]

mikey - thanks for that....