Question About This L129

[ethernautrix]

 

On the other side of the endcap where the L129 is stamped is stamped an "O."

 

Does anyone know what it means? Does it mean oblique?

[MBFan]

I have no idea, but oblique would make sense if it has an oblique nib. More pictures would be nice either way

[CS388]

Odd?

 

Nah, I don't know. But I have seen other threads in the past which question various symbols on the turning knobs of older pens - and I think 'O' was one of the unresolved markings? (ie. no-one knew what it stood for.)

'O' for Oblique would usually be followed by the nib size, as I'm sure you're aware.

 

Meanwhile, Wow! You got a 129?

 

Enjoy!

[provis]

I'm pretty sure it's oblique, and the nib size should tend towards OF. I have two pens marked 'o' with similar nib widths.

[JonSzanto]

I'm guessing you stole it from POTUS, you devil!

[ethernautrix]

Ah, thanks. I thought it meant oblique, and it does write (dipped) with what I called a hint of italic, fine (a wonderful line!), but I was told that the mark should show OF, OM, OB, et cetera, and this one is only O. So thank you for the confirmation.

 

Here's the pen next to my Hemingway:

 

The pen is now being restored (there were a few minor issues), and it should be absolutely gorgeous once done. It's in very good, capable hands.

[pavoni]

Ummm, an MB L129

 

Thank you for the treat ethernautrix and hearty congratulations on acquiring a very special pen

 

It would be great to hear your thoughts about the pen when it is back from those capable hands. Really looking forward to seeing more pictures of this rare beauty (without that orange pretender thing of course )

 

Pavoni

[bmwboris]

Congratulations on a gorgeous pen!!!!!

 

I had read an article that stated there may be only 5-7 examples of this pen left- one of them being in the Montblanc Museum in Hamburg(?). They are very rare.

 

With the one I own, yours and Max's- that's 3 of them we know of. Would be great to know the whereabouts of others.

 

I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine

[Michael R.]

Absolute grail pen to me!

 

Congratulations amd enjoy in good health and take good care of it.

 

I was second highest bidder in an ebay auction in 2011 on a very nice and clean one which went for > 5000 Euros. The pen went into a collection replacing another 129 in less nice condition which was sold by the same ebay seller for much, much more a few weeks later.

 

Thanks for sharing <3

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[da vinci]

A 129 and a Hemmingway! I need to up my game on the collection front

[Sblakers]

Wow ethernautrix, that is quite a nice pen you have there. Those are pretty darn hard to come by (to put it mildly) I think Gary over at go pens had one for around. $8k. It was the first I have ever seen for sale. If you don't mind me asking how and where did you find it?

 

Oh yeah, and a very hearty congrats to you. I'm jealous!

[Pelikan Vera]

Congratulation ethernautrix that is a seriously nice pen. We want a writing sample!!!

[JLS1]

Lisa, the next time I'm down in SF I really (and I mean REALLY) want to see this at Pen Posse!

[orfew]

Wow, great pen. As for the 'O' I have a 3341/2 with just an 'O' marking.

[Calamus plasticus]

On vintage Pelikan pens "O"stands for "Manifold", I think, i. e. stiff nibs with no flex, able to write on carbon paper... I own one of those and that's true... But I don't know if that applies for MBs

 

A really nice and ultrarare pen, congrats!

Edited February 8, 2014 by Calamus plasticus

[ethernautrix]

Thanks, everyone.

 

Justin, you will have to come to Poland to see this pen.

 

Sblakers, the story of how I came to have this pen in my hands is being in the right place at the right time.

 

Truth is, I had my eye out casually for a 139, and I thought the "L" meant "long window," so when I saw this pen, I was a little confused. Now I know it means "Luxury." There isn't much information about this model, but I have a copy of the Montblanc 1936 price list catalogue, Preistliste nr. 36, and it says, "Self Filler (Push Filler) L 129. Montblanc Masterpiece, de Lux style. The fountain pen that will satisfy the most fastidious. Pen and ornamentations with platinum finish" [Hamburg, im Februar 1936, p. 8Ea].

 

I was surprised that it is a push-knob filler. I don't know why I was surprised, as I didn't know a lot about the 129. Also, I am becoming very aware of how rare this pen truly is. I'm kind of jealous of myself.

 

Calamus plasticus, I think you're right about "O," cos this nib is not cut as an oblique, although there is a hint of italic when writing, and the nib is stiff. Not as stiff as modern nibs, but certainly not flex or semi-flex.

 

I will post more photos in the next couple of days.

[sunnerd]

Congrats Lisa! That is indeed a beautiful find. The black hard rubber still look in pristine shape. Well done!

[fountainbel]

Now this is truly an exceptional find, my sincere congratulations Lisa !

Francis

[camoandconcrete]

Amazing pen! I can't wait to see more pictures of it.

[Maxpens]

The "O" means indeed Oblique, find some pictures of the first definition for the nib / tip size. In this case it is a oblique M nib size, but in the beginning without the M, this happens later ( I would say around one decade )

 

 

 

 

 

Later I will add another picture for the nib size definition. I own some samples of the master-nibs to teach the employees of the nib department

 

 

kind regards

 

Max