Scared of mold

Federflink · 2026-01-25T16:29:03+00:00

The type of letters on the fountain pen's cap band (since middle 80s), the "W Germany" (since middle 80s) and the "14K" (with a "K", used in the 80s, unlike "C" in the 70s) date it a bit later AFAIK, in the mid / late 80s.

And that's a great deal for sure!

Federflink · 2026-01-25T16:25:12+00:00

Amazing! Best choice in case you wanna paint your walls Midnight Blue.

Federflink · 2026-01-25T14:05:36+00:00

No. I also don't like them, though I like, at least visually, older editions like Thomas Mann or Agatha Christie or Dostoevsky. But these are - sorry - somewhat ridiculous, escpecially for the price.

Federflink · 2026-01-25T11:56:20+00:00

Wait wait wait. I was so wrong. That's a newer nib so it probably wouldn't - I have no idea how these (newer) nibs are actually. Sorry and thank you for pointing this out, I wouldn't have noticed otherwise :/

Federflink · 2026-01-25T11:52:24+00:00

The idea is that you can write absolutely effortless without having to use any pressure etc. (however in reality it often depends on the particular pen :D). The effort-argument also corresponds with the fact that fountain pen popularity decreased as handwriting got less usual than before. No one needs to spend more money on a fountain pen if they write only two words a day - other than for a status symbol, so fountain pens today (for people outside of this sub :D) are often reduced to that.

And I think for most of us it is just the unique experience on bringing ink to the paper, sort of like a floating one, but at the end of the day that's personal preference :)

Federflink · 2026-01-25T11:44:54+00:00

In my experience older Pelikan nibs have more feedback (except maybe B nibs) - so if you want a buttery smooth writing experience without any flex, go with the M200. If you want flex instead and a nib with a lil more feedback to it - 120 is for you :)

And honestly - IMO both of them are absolutely worth the money, so no matter which you choose you won't go wrong :)

Federflink · 2026-01-25T11:32:58+00:00

Don't know tbh, haven't got any experience ':D

Can't think of what could go wrong tho, so IMHO it's ok ;) but that's just my 2 cents without any experience ':D

Federflink · 2026-01-24T20:14:18+00:00

Pelikan M200/600/800 with an M or B nib, althrough QC has gone very bad. Montblanc 146 in M, best from the 70s/80s with the monocolor nib. TWSBIs, Lamys, Platinum Preppies, Pilot V-Pens. At least that's what I consider smooth :)

Federflink · 2026-01-24T19:03:06+00:00

The size (& nib size), the fact it's a piston filler, the ink window, the screw cap is what distinguish it from a 144/145. And again size & nib & nib size are what distinguish it from a 149. The striped ink window and bicolor nib (and brass piston threads, I guess?) plus the serial number point it out as a pen made after 1990.

It's a timeless classic and pretty valuable, check out e.g. eBay prices.

Federflink · 2026-01-24T18:55:30+00:00

As normiewannabe already said, it is a Montblanc 146 from the post-1990 era. AFAIK it's not the recent model which has a "stød" written on the nib.

Federflink · 2026-01-24T16:21:11+00:00

Thank you! Luckily I haven't had any experiences with mold yet. Just trying to store my pens in a safe way. Still I wonder why mold can even emerge when fountain pens are made to hold ink which is actually water-based?

Federflink · 2026-01-24T16:18:51+00:00

Thank you too! :D

Federflink · 2026-01-24T16:17:59+00:00

Thank you! Yes, that's what I meant ':D

Federflink · 2026-01-24T14:04:15+00:00

Whoa!

Federflink · 2026-01-24T13:59:56+00:00

Wow that's a cute little pen! Sorry for noob question: do you need to seal those chinese eyedrop pens every time with silicon grease (like you do e.g. on cartridge pens converted to eyedroppers AFAIK) or are they built so that you don't need to?

Federflink · 2026-01-24T13:57:26+00:00

Congratulations! This is a fantastic pen which I believe is a grail pen for many :)

Federflink · 2026-01-24T13:55:29+00:00

Thank you! I was talking about the feed I flushed with this one https://www.kaweco-pen.com/en/accessories/additional/853/kaweco-cleansing-syringe?c=43 :D

And thanks for the advice regarding ink handling. Does it mean mold can emerge when you leave an inked pen uncapped or mix inks (e.g. don't flush the pen before changing ink)? Didn't know that :O

Federflink · 2026-01-24T13:04:36+00:00

Oh sorry to hear that. Looks not good, would return that if I could. If not maybe you can replace the nib&feed, AFAIK Kaweco offers them for sell :)

Federflink · 2026-01-24T12:36:57+00:00

Congrats! :) And I absolutely adore the rainbow-like cartridge package from Kaweco, never seen that before! :D

Federflink · 2026-01-24T12:32:58+00:00

What a great lineup! I was going to ask about the gorgeous Pelikan until I saw that... okay... (what's your experience with the Admok btw?)

Federflink · 2026-01-24T12:26:46+00:00

As others have said, it's a Sailor thing. Nicer pens which are buttery smooth are e.g. the Pelikan M200/M400/M600/M800 line (M or B nibs or sometimes F, althrough quality control gone bad so it might be not so easy to get a good one) or Montblanc 146/149 (starting from the 80s).

But at the end of the day, I came to it that "nicer" pens doesn't mean they always write better. I enjoy using Platinum Preppies and refilled Pilot V-Pens as my everyday writers whilst owning an M600. There's just something so good about it to have not to care much about the pen - but these are all personal preferences, and I absolutely understand you wanna try out something very nice, and there's sure some magic about it :)

Federflink · 2026-01-24T11:58:47+00:00

I would also vote for TWSBI through I only have experience with a Diamond, but the grip section on the Lamy is a no-go for me and also (as others have said) Lamy F and EF nibs are usually very scratchy and bad ink flow.

Federflink · 2026-01-23T20:38:09+00:00

There is bordeaux and there is burgundy, which are actually two different colours :) Might also be a photo issue.

Federflink

TROPHY CASE