Meisterstuck 149: 14k 585, 18c 750 Question

[meiser]

Hello everyone,

 

I have a pair of Montblank Meisterstuck 149 fountain pens, one from the 80's & one a little older I think.

 

The first (older) nib is gold/silver/gold and marked 18C 750.

The second nib is just gold/silver and marked 14K 585.

 

I understand that these numbers represent the gold content in the nib,

but was just wandering which one is considered the most collectible/desirable out of the two?

- I'm presuming it is the 18C...

 

Apologies if the answer has already been cleared up on another thread.

With thanks in advance

 

[jar]

Almost certainly the one on the right, the 14K nib. I'd hazard a guess that it might even show considerable flex.

[hari317]

I guess the 18C one is more uncommon, probably for the French market.

[karmakoda]

I guess the 18C one is more uncommon, probably for the French market.

My choice, because I don't have one yet, would be the 18C nib, the "C" being one factor that determines age.

According to the Barry Gabay article at the top of this Forum index, the broad shouldered, tri-coloured, (gold/rhodium/gold) 18C nibs were produced for the European market (non-export) between 1952 and 1959. However, the feed, section, barrel construction, and filler mechanism need to be examined. The end of the section in the photo appears to be later than the 1950's and 1960's.

As Jar mentioned, and in the Barry Gabay article, 14K nibs may be preferred over 18K nibs because the alloy content may produce a more flexible nib. I think a pen with an 18"C" nib would be more interesting to certain collectors though.

Again, there is much more discussion and reading available in the Topics at the top of the Montblanc Forum.

 

More photos and information would definately help.

To Add: If you look at the Barry Gabay article, it is the second link in the Topic. The first link is to the original thread, with more great information.

Regards

Greg

Edited July 23, 2010 by karmakoda

[Barry Gabay]

Hey Guys, Nice photo of two great nibs. I agree with Hari that the 18C, because it is far rarer and older than the 14K, is the more desirable nib. The 14K was made from approximately 1984/5-92. It replaced the 14C and was itself replaced by the two-tone 18K. The three-tone 18C was made for the French market, but the dates in my article are incorrect. It was first manufactured in 1952, but lasted far longer than my research at the time indicated. It was still manufactured through the 60s and 70s. Georges Z has more knowledge about the three-tone 18C nib than I do. Meiser, Greg is correct. Your 18C nib is far older than the pen in which you show it. The section collar in that photo dates from 1983/4 at the earliest. Either the nib was a replacement in a newer pen, or an older pen with 3-tone 18C nib was sent to MB, and the barrel was replaced. Regardless, you have two very nice nibs.

Edited July 23, 2010 by Barry Gabay

[georges zaslavsky]

the 18c750 is more collectible because first it is a tapered shoulder nib and a french market one which is quite rare. The french market also had 18ct 750 from the mid 60's till the late 70's. The 18c 750 nibs are extremely valuable.

[teH_ReALDeadPoole]

Following on to the comments above, has anyone ever come across a 14K nib marked 686?

 

EDIT: Please disregard. The photo I was looking at was blurry and the nib does indeed state "585"

Edited May 12, 2021 by teH_ReALDeadPoole