Authenticity or age of 149?

[Lloyd]

The attached photos are of a 149 that I just received. As it has no serial number, how can I judge its authenticity /age? https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190619/23c04322b6622524cd796dbb33b1b516.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190619/691ece8526229541286ba44a1518a6ec.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190619/e9dc1df657cafadabde7723d08d6f995.jpg

If there are any typos in this post, I blame Tapatalk!

[Barry B. Gabay]

Nice pen. The nib is older than the rest of the pen. Your nib was produced until the mid-1970s. Barrel was made from 1983 onwards. If barrel has plastic piston threads, it's from 1983-90. If it has brass threads, it is from 1990 until today. The feed is the second-generation plastic feed, which dates from 1995 onwards. The clip is approximately 20 years old, or older.

I once owned a 149 which had an older nib set into a newer pen. It wrote great. As we all know, "it's all about the nib." Hope you enjoy it.

[Lloyd]

It writes well but needs a bit of an adjustment. It's smooth but the tines aren't perfectly aligned. Since I can't pull the nib, I can't do the adjustment.

If there are any typos in this post, I blame Tapatalk!

[Lloyd]

Oops...I forgot to say "Thank You".

[Barry B. Gabay]

Hi Harold Lloyd,

With that feed & barrel, adjusting the nib is very easy. You can gently push the nib side to side with pressure from your thumbs. Just a tiny movement may align the tines properly. The nib can also be removed quite easily with that generation feed. Grabbing the nib & feed together at the nib shank (narrowest part nearest the section collar) & using a cotton rag as a cushion, simply pull the nib & feed as one unit straight out of the collar. It requires a bit of muscle, but that era feed is the easiest of all 149 feeds to remove. Once removed, you can align the nib & feed using magnification and then reverse the process by sliding the nib & feed as a single unit back into the section collar. When returning, grasp the nib on its face with your thumb and hold the feed with your index finger. Oh yes, I don't recommend your doing the above adjustment unless you are completely comfortable messing about with and disassembling your 149. It really isn't difficult, but right scary the first time you do it.

Good luck,
Barry

[Chrissy]

Authenticity isn't in doubt with a 149 that includes a Montblanc piston filler mechanism. My 149 originally had Made in W.Germany on it's cap band and no serial number. It also still has a tri-tone nib like yours, except it's BB. Since my cap was replaced as well as everything else apart from the nib, my pen is modern, but that type of nib was still current for the 149 when the Berlin wall came down and just before serial numbers started.
There is a detailed 149 dating chart over in the Mb section on the other place, so you could get more information there.

[Lloyd]

Thanks, Chrissy. I found the chart after reading Barry's replies.

If there are any typos in this post, I blame Tapatalk!