[Leica] And so it begins...

[jayanand at gmail.com (Jayanand Govindaraj)]

Gene,
You are extremely lucky, see the pen lists and boards for any amount of
horror stories. Compare the price of a 149 with its cheap plastic ('precious
resin' in their marketing terminology), to a Platinum Celluloid Koi with a
music nib, or a Sailor Ribbed Naginata Togi, or a Pelikan Souveran M800 (my
three pens on rotation at the current time) and it is no contest, the 149 is
more than double the price for half the quality. Try them out when you buy a
pen next time. In a recent survey of pen lovers/collectors at Fountain Pen
Network, only 5% said that they would use a Montblanc as their primary pen,
compared to 20% each for Pelikan, Sailor and Pilot/Namiki. Other famous
names fare as badly as Montblanc, namely Parker & Sheaffer, also reflecting
the fall in quality.
Cheers
Jayanand

On Sat, Jan 3, 2009 at 8:14 AM, <grduprey@mchsi.com> wrote:

>
>
> Jayanand,
>
>
> I have had 3 Montblanc fountain pens for years and not one has had a defect
> of any kind. All have been bought since 1990.  I have dropped 2 of them,
> closed thankfully, and no damage.
>
>
> Chers,
> Gene -------------- Original message from "Jayanand Govindaraj" <
> jayanand@gmail.com>: --------------
>
>
> > Wayne,
> > >From a pen collector - the present quality of Montblanc is rubbish - the
> > material used is so bad that it shatters on minor falls, and I have had
> one
> > (gifted to me) that developed a crack while lying unused (replaced by
> them
> > very grudgingly). I would not buy a Montblanc made after 1977, when
> Dunhill
> > took them over, and they decided that they were exiting the pen business,
> > and entering the luxury business. Sell the 149 and shift to:
> >
> > If you have the $$$ try Omas. But if you want best bang for the buck, try
> > Pelikan, especially the M800. If you want exotic nibs, try the Japanese
> > (they have a great history of calligraphy) - Pilot/Namiki, Sailor or
> > Platinum. All modern nibs are relatively stiff - if you want flexible
> nibs,
> > look for 1950s Montblanc and Pelikan. All fountain pens, of course. For
> > ballpoints or roller balls, it really does not matter, they all write the
> > same.
> > Cheers
> > Jayanand
> >
> >
> > On Sat, Jan 3, 2009 at 4:24 AM, Wayne Serrano wrote:
> >
> > > Hey Mark,
> > >
> > > Moleskin, yes! have I got the perfect fountain pen for you.  For many
> years
> > > I have used a Montblanc Traveler fountain pen along with Moleskins and
> other
> > > types of note books.  Less than a year ago I acquired a new Montblanc
> 149
> > > fountain pen because it felt so good to grasp but alas I can't part
> with my
> > > Traveler so my 149 has never been inked and I have never offered to let
> it
> > > go but.. if an interested party who remembers the joy of putting pen
> and ink
> > > to paper was to come forward I would seriously consider parting with
> it.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > Wayne
> > > ___________
> > > wayne@wayneserrano.com
> > > http://www.wayneserrano.com
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > >From: Mark Rabiner
> > > >Sent: Jan 2, 2009 2:25 PM
> > > >To: Leica Users Group
> > > >Subject: Re: [Leica] And so it begins...
> > > >
> > > >I just got a DAY AT A GLANCE soft cover flexible Moleskine.
> > > >3.4 x 5.5 inch.  (9 x 14 cm)
> > > >
> > > >Wishful thinking I know...
> > > >That my time would get so cramped that I'd need a day at a glance.
> > > >That didn't work when I as at my busiest 10 years ago.
> > > >For years in the 70's and 80's I used a week at a glace.
> > > > 3 5/8" x 6 3/16" size probably
> > > >http://www.dayrunner.com/
> > > >
> > > >I tried bigger ones and smaller ones but one just slightly bigger than
> my
> > > >wallet worked the best over the years.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >But Moleskine is taking over. I get them at the Barnes and Nobles.
> > > >http://www.moleskineus.com/moleskine-2009-date-books.html
> > > >They come in RED!
> > > >But I got black believe it or not!
> > > >
> > > >I plan on filling each day with writing. With a fountain pen.
> > > >And I wont have that really many appointments to crowd out the diary
> > > aspect
> > > >of it.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Moleskine 2009 Pocket Soft Cover Daily Planner (3.5 x 5.5 inches)
> > > >a new page for each day
> > > >
> > > >Daily Calendar
> > > >The Moleskine Pocket Soft Cover Daily Planner, the ideal place to keep
> > > >information and news for people on the move. A new page for each day
> for
> > > >notes and appointments makes this the ideal daily planner. This Soft
> Cover
> > > >planner for 2009 is the same popular inside daily format as in
> previous
> > > >years but with a nice soft pliable cover (please note the soft cover
> > > >planners do not include a removable address book).
> > > >Pages: 380 pages (190 sheets)
> > > >Size: 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Mark William Rabiner
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >> From: Alan Magayne-Roshak
> > > >> Reply-To: Leica Users Group
> > > >> Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 09:56:41 -0600 (CST)
> > > >> To: lug
> > > >> Subject: RE: [Leica] And so it begins...
> > > >>
> > > >> On Fri, 2 Jan 2009  "David Rodgers" wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >>>  Everyone wonders how I survive without having a Blackberry, yet
> > > somehow I
> > > >>> manage.
> > > >>
> > > >>> DaveR
> > > >>
> > >
> ==============================================================================
> > > >> So do I.  I carry a Month-At-A-Glance paper pocket calendar that I
> love.
> > >  No
> > > >> batteries to worry about,
> > > >> for one thing (as with my M3, M2 and IIIf).
> > > >>
> > > >> Alan
> > > >>
> > > >> Alan Magayne-Roshak, Senior Photographer
> > > >> UPAA POY 1978
> > > >> University Information Technology Services
> > > >> University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
> > > >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/
> > > >>
> > > >> _______________________________________________
> > > >> Leica Users Group.
> > > >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more
> information
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >_______________________________________________
> > > >Leica Users Group.
> > > >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Leica Users Group.
> > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> > >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Leica Users Group.
> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>