146 14K Reddish Blue Nib Discoloration

[grafx]

I just purchased a used 1980's Meisterstuck 146 pen. The 14k nib has a reddish-blue discoloration like what one sees from heating steel. Is this a stain or some damage to the nib? The pen is in very good condition. The other owner said he purchased it 25 years ago. I hope I can return the nib to the full gold color. Would this reduce the pen's value?

[Pen Nut]

I just purchased a used 1980's Meisterstuck 146 pen. The 14k nib has a reddish-blue discoloration like what one sees from heating steel. Is this a stain or some damage to the nib? The pen is in very good condition. The other owner said he purchased it 25 years ago. I hope I can return the nib to the full gold color. Would this reduce the pen's value?

 

Any pics? It cant be heat damage or the rest of the pen would have melted away surely? All the gold nibs I have had with stain damage have always cleaned up well.

[grafx]

I just purchased a used 1980's Meisterstuck 146 pen. The 14k nib has a reddish-blue discoloration like what one sees from heating steel. Is this a stain or some damage to the nib? The pen is in very good condition. The other owner said he purchased it 25 years ago. I hope I can return the nib to the full gold color. Would this reduce the pen's value?

 

Any pics? It cant be heat damage or the rest of the pen would have melted away surely? All the gold nibs I have had with stain damage have always cleaned up well.

 

Here are a couple of closeups.

[ryanshanabarger]

I just purchased a used 1980's Meisterstuck 146 pen. The 14k nib has a reddish-blue discoloration like what one sees from heating steel. Is this a stain or some damage to the nib? The pen is in very good condition. The other owner said he purchased it 25 years ago. I hope I can return the nib to the full gold color. Would this reduce the pen's value?

 

Any pics? It cant be heat damage or the rest of the pen would have melted away surely? All the gold nibs I have had with stain damage have always cleaned up well.

 

Here are a couple of closeups.

 

Oh my! Those do look like heat marks... Which isn't impossible if someone removed the nib and attempted a tweaking at home.... My suggestion would be to get a little Bar Keepers Friend (like $2 st Walmart). Make a paste using a little water, place on nib and leave alone for 5 min or so. Then rinse off with lukewarm water (without scrubbin). Polish with a soft cloth when most (but not all) paste is rinsed off. This should leave it perfect. This is what I use for my copper land too, which get those same colors after being heated. Just be more careful and use little pressure since it is an abrasive.

[Brian C]

I wouldn't touch that nib. Return it.

[ryanshanabarger]

I wouldn't touch that nib. Return it.

 

I would assume he knew about the discoloration before purchase....

 

How does it write? The nib looks spaces a bit...

[Brian C]

Good point.

[grafx]

Thanks for the suggestions and comments. I can not return a used nib from a garage sale seller. I got a good deal on it. I solved the problem by very carefully polishing it with Q-Tips with some dilute mild toothpaste slurry. Voila, it looks brand new and no scratches!!!

[hari317]

That is the normal patina that an unused monotone 14K nib develops. I have seen this often on 146 nibs, i leave the patina alone as isomehow like the color. It will easily polish off with a sunshine cloth.

[Michael R.]

That is the normal patina that an unused monotone 14K nib develops. I have seen this often on 146 nibs, i leave the patina alone as isomehow like the color. It will easily polish off with a sunshine cloth.

 

What he said

 

No need to worry at all! This is very common on c. 1970's MBs.

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[ryanshanabarger]

Interesting... Is it caused by ink residue??? Because I've seen many "unrestored, untouched" NOS 70's 146's with no such petina.... It has to have something to do with ink, or is limited to certain nibs with a particular makeup which probably varies a bit

[georges zaslavsky]

That is the normal patina that an unused monotone 14K nib develops. I have seen this often on 146 nibs, i leave the patina alone as isomehow like the color. It will easily polish off with a sunshine cloth.

 

What he said

 

No need to worry at all! This is very common on c. 1970's MBs.

 

Cheers

 

Michael

agreed