MB pen from U-505

[Esov]

I recently visited the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago where U-505 is on display. It is a German type IXC U-boat of the Kriegsmarine that was captured on 4 June 1944 by United States Navy Task Group 22.3. I took several pictures of a Montblanc pen taken from the captain's desk. The description reads, verbatim, as follows:

 

FOUNTAIN PEN AND CAP

This is a Mont Blanc Meisterstuck fountain pen. It was removed from the desk of U-505 Captain Harald Lange by Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Wayne M. Pickels, a member of the USS Pillsbury boarding party. Donated by Mr. Wayne Pickels

 

Notice that Montblanc is spelled as Mont Blanc. I wish that they would have had it uncapped to show the nib. The pictures are not good, but the pen is in a poorly illuminated glass case. However, the original pictures are larger and I have a few more which are not as clear. If anyone is interested in them, send me a PM with your email address.

 

I will appreciate it if anyone can identify which MB model this is.

 

Edit:

 

Well, I couldn't upload the pictures. Here are some links:

Pic 1

Pic 2

Pic 3

Pic 4

Edited October 28, 2009 by Esov

[HBlaine]

Very interesting! I find stuff like this fascinating. Thanks for sharing this.

[Darius]

138 or 136, celluloid cap and barrel and ebonite cap top and blind cap, maybe?

[PenFisher]

Fascinating ... thanks for the pictures. I was at that exhibit and somehow missed seeing the pen. There is an interesting article about this ship and it's crew here:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_submarine_U-505

[sumgaikid]

It has a long inkwindow,so it could be an early(i.e.,pre-war)136 or 138.

 

 

John

[niksch]

Looks like a 138 to me...based on the apparent girth.

[georges zaslavsky]

I agree with niksch looks like a 138 indeed.

[Esov]

Thanks to all who responded.

[ruud2904]

Interesting story about what happened to the sub and its crew. Nice to see the pen found in this sub. I wonder what the consequences were of the great depth (and thus high pressure) on the performance of this FP..... No ink getting out of the pen ???

 

Ruud

[Bearcat]

  On 10/29/2009 at 2:54 AM, niksch said:

Looks like a 138 to me...based on the apparent girth.

 

 

The MSI would probably appreciate having the model number and might even update the display placard if you sent it to them.....just a thought.

[niksch]

Should be right on the turning knob, along with the nib size and DRP number.

 

  On 10/29/2009 at 5:43 PM, Bearcat said:

  On 10/29/2009 at 2:54 AM, niksch said:

Looks like a 138 to me...based on the apparent girth.

 

 

The MSI would probably appreciate having the model number and might even update the display placard if you sent it to them.....just a thought.

[mr goldfink]

  On 10/28/2009 at 7:34 PM, Esov said:

I recently visited the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago where U-505 is on display. It is a German type IXC U-boat of the Kriegsmarine that was captured on 4 June 1944 by United States Navy Task Group 22.3. I took several pictures of a Montblanc pen taken from the captain's desk. The description reads, verbatim, as follows:

 

FOUNTAIN PEN AND CAP

This is a Mont Blanc Meisterstuck fountain pen. It was removed from the desk of U-505 Captain Harald Lange by Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Wayne M. Pickels, a member of the USS Pillsbury boarding party. Donated by Mr. Wayne Pickels

 

Notice that Montblanc is spelled as Mont Blanc. I wish that they would have had it uncapped to show the nib. The pictures are not good, but the pen is in a poorly illuminated glass case. However, the original pictures are larger and I have a few more which are not as clear. If anyone is interested in them, send me a PM with your email address.

 

I will appreciate it if anyone can identify which MB model this is.

 

Edit:

 

Well, I couldn't upload the pictures. Here are some links:

Pic 1

Pic 2

Pic 3

Pic 4

 

 

 

Thanks for the write up. Most interesting. The Captain certainly picked himself a top tier pen, and I agree with others that it is a Meisterstueck 136 or 138.

I rather fancy it is the latter because of its girth, a really top pen!

Edited October 31, 2009 by mr goldfink

[DJJM19951998]

  On 10/29/2009 at 5:26 PM, ruud2904 said:

Interesting story about what happened to the sub and its crew. Nice to see the pen found in this sub. I wonder what the consequences were of the great depth (and thus high pressure) on the performance of this FP..... No ink getting out of the pen ???

 

Ruud

From what I understand of pressure and lack of it, I think the high pressure would cause air to be forced into the pen, not ink being sucked out like in low pressure. Now this fact I do know, WW2 subs did not go that deep under-water. They were not sophisticated enough to go deep without hull damage. The pressure change probably was not that great, I feel.

[CCMphysician]

  On 10/31/2009 at 4:01 PM, DJJM19951998 said:

  On 10/29/2009 at 5:26 PM, ruud2904 said:

Interesting story about what happened to the sub and its crew. Nice to see the pen found in this sub. I wonder what the consequences were of the great depth (and thus high pressure) on the performance of this FP..... No ink getting out of the pen ???

 

Ruud

From what I understand of pressure and lack of it, I think the high pressure would cause air to be forced into the pen, not ink being sucked out like in low pressure. Now this fact I do know, WW2 subs did not go that deep under-water. They were not sophisticated enough to go deep without hull damage. The pressure change probably was not that great, I feel.

 

You would be correct, but that is because the interior hull of the Unterseeboot can be assumed to be (relatively) isovolumetric and closed (not the most accurate assumption, but the fact that it did not crack and kill everyone onboard makes it close enough). Since the interior hull is isovolumetric and closed (it doesn't exchange air with its surroundings) no matter what depth it was at, the pressure would have remained relatively constant and at least fairly close to atmospheric pressure.

[karmakoda]

That's my "dream pen", MB 138 with long ink window. They are available and I think I had better get one before they all disappear. Thank you for the pictures: if the pen had been turned slightly we could have seen imprints on the blind cap, but the "Meisterstuck" below Montblanc, single cap band, and the long ink window, make the identity fairly certain, although I am a new vintage Montblanc follower. The pens made in this era are my absolute favorites, Montblanc and Pelikan.

For a good comparison shot of MB 139, 136 and 134, the second picture, by Tom Westerich, featured on this site.

 

http://www.estilograficas.net/montblanc-meisterstuck-149/

 

This is the pen: MB 138

 

http://www.artofpen.com/uploads/4/3/6/6/436651/7374052_orig.jpg

http://www.artofpen.com/uploads/4/3/6/6/436651/6539261_orig.jpg

 

The 138 has the single cap band and the heavier girth as described by others in this forum. This is another version of the 138.

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Szk6EPLH_o8/SbBWxqPT12I/AAAAAAAAADc/aUY7bvMKWZY/s1600-h/mB+138+pl.jpg

 

Thanks for the introduction to this story.

Regards

Greg

[Yurigia]

  On 11/25/2009 at 7:28 PM, karmakoda said:

 

 

The 138 has the single cap band and the heavier girth as described by others in this forum. This is another version of the 138.

 

http://4.bp.blogspot...h/mB+138+pl.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Really amazing this 138 PL with short top cap...!!

 

I never see it... in pen's world everyday is a good day to know something new...

[karmakoda]

  On 11/26/2009 at 10:50 AM, Yurigia said:

  On 11/25/2009 at 7:28 PM, karmakoda said:

 

 

The 138 has the single cap band and the heavier girth as described by others in this forum. This is another version of the 138.

 

http://4.bp.blogspot...h/mB+138+pl.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Really amazing this 138 PL with short top cap...!!

 

I never see it... in pen's world everyday is a good day to know something new...

 

Its rare and beautiful. Drool..., and if you want more information, go to the original link below:

 

 

http://mrgoldfink.blogspot.com/2009/03/stunning-montblanc-138-pl.html

 

This guy reminds me that I am just a beginner.

I am very grateful for this U-505 story. See ya!

[rustynib]

Great story and great pen

 

Pen and story of it's owner would have been a good add to it.

 

Clip's missing... I wonder if it had a clip and if so why it disapear.

 

138 clips of that era probably had sometimes 30/40's very specific politic "characteristics"...