A Montblanc 139 Restoration Super Project

[penboard.de]

Hello out there...

 

here is a pen, that just arrived for restoration.

a short list of what to do...

 

Barrel is distorted, obviously too much heat applied when unscrewing the piston for change of corks.

Some cracks have formed as well during this operation.

This will require a heavy restoration - will have to shave off the black part of the barrel and give it a new celluloid sleeve.

 

 

inkwindow shows scratches . ok thats a tiny job.

 

NIB ? is dented and needs some heavy straightening and after that a new rhodium masking.

 

and then - the CAP - see this thin long line running all along the cap tube?

its not a scratch, its a badly glued CRACK.

I will have to take off the three rings and rebuild a cap tube from scratch.

 

Clip - ok, tiny job - plating is gone a 100% - it will get a new one.

 

Now, have a look:

 

http://www.penboard.de/shop/pb/4/MB139rotta.jpg

 

 

did you enjoy the look at it?

 

Now guess how the pen was described when up for sale....

 

its been declared to be in perfect and according to the buyer, a full price changed hands.

 

AHHHHHHHHHH....

 

I will put in a lot of work to bring back the pen back from "parts value" to an excellent working condition.

Will show the result later... but bear with me, it will take some time.

 

Best regards

Tom

[osnofian]

That seems to be the kind of job that makes it all worth it.

Will expectantly be waiting for the "after" photos!

[hari317]

We will be looking forward to updates, thanks for sharing here Tom.

 

Thanks!

Hari

[Paul Raposo]

Agreeing with osnofian and Hari--looking forward to seeing the completed pen and the stages involved.

[Chrissy]

Hi Tom

I would really just love to be able to sit a while, watch it all happen and then see the after photos.

 

I don't suppose you could video the whole operation for us could you? :hmm1:

[johnkim424]

This is my favorite kind of post, entertaining while educational. I can't wait to see the after restoration pictures. I always wondered what can and can not be repaired or restored. Thanks for the post.

[leod]

"declared to be in perfect", that's a very bad description

[georges zaslavsky]

Eagerly waiting to see the restoration results

Edited June 6, 2012 by georges zaslavsky

[rockspyder]

Well, that pen is in very good hands

I'm also looking forward to the final result!

[Wael El-Dasher]

I want to follow this thread. I'm sure in Tom's hands, this pen will look like new when its restored.

 

cheers

 

Wael

[FredRydr]

Now guess how the pen was described when up for sale.... its been declared to be in perfect and according to the buyer, a full price changed hands.

Tom,

 

I enjoy stories about finding items and restoring them. I look forward to seeing more about this pen.

 

Is this a regular dealer of pens, i.e., we should be aware?

 

Fred

[yus2001fr]

Is this a regular dealer of pens, i.e., we should be aware?

 

+ 1 Same question !

 

And waiting for the result of this hard work restoration !

 

Regards

[PBW]

I, like the rest, will be following this with interest.

 

I would also be interested in the dealer name, just to be cautious when buying.

[penboard.de]

I, like the rest, will be following this with interest.

 

I would also be interested in the dealer name, just to be cautious when buying.

 

Well, I won´t like to reveal the dealer´s name here in Public....

but whoever wants to know - get to me back channel.

 

Best regards

Tom

[jslallar]

We all agree that the pen could havebeen worse of

 

but it couldn't be in better hands now

 

sure would like to now the result

 

that video suggestion has got me reeeeaaaal interested.

[penboard.de]

http://www.penboard.de/shop/pb/MB139NewCap.jpg

 

OK, took a while,

(I am slow, especially with frightening projects like these... )

 

a first result - the main result - the cap -

I remade the cap tube from scratch and transplanted the central ring from the original cap.

Silver rings on the original cap were too thin to be transplanted so I had to cut new pure silver rings and shrink fit them in the original manner.

 

Barrel is now getting a "soldering of the cracks" with liquid celluloid, and a polish of the deep scratches in the area of the ink window. The one deeper scratch in the black area - cannot be taken out, as the black is just a thin layer - once you start to polish, you will create a "demonstrator" pen.

 

Best regards

Tom

[jakelogan]

Take your time with babies like this. I'm very interested in how you are going to fix it up. I hope a video will be put up!

Shameless seller descriptions... they should be illegal!

Looks like it will turn out to be a beautiful pen, especially now that it is in your possession and restoration. Just seeing the cap get fixed up is already quite magical to me and my (complete lack of) repair skills.

[Josele]

Hi Tom. It's a superb restoration project. I've ask you a question: what's the reason you didn't use black celluloid to repair the deeper scratch in the black area?

 

Thank you

[meiers]

Nice! I am following this story.

[pavoni]

Excellent work Tom and typically generous of you to share your project with us. :clap1:

Glad to hear that even an expert like you finds the thought of such projects... "frightening"!

Wish I had your nerve (and skill)

 

Pavoni.