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Preface: This article is to discuss the Montblanc 12/14/22/24/32/34 series, giving the reader detailed information on this series history background and structure. Also will discuss the pen's variations. I always enjoy this serie because these pens are very well made and the nibs are divine. There is not too much information for them available, I would like to make my contributions. And also if you are interested, I always have a couple of them available. Enjoy! Historical Background: First, I would like to quote from http://montblanc.parkerpens.org/montblanc.html. In 1959, the Montblanc line was redisigned, 142, 144 and 146 are retired, instead Montblanc was offering: Meisterstück: 12 (plastic, looked a bit like the Parker 45 and had a triangular capband) 14 (plastic, see above) 72 (with rolled gold cap) 74 (with rolled gold cap) 82 (with rolled gold cap and barrel) 84 (with rolled gold cap and barrel) 92 (in 14 carat solid gold cap and barrel) 94 (in 14 carat solid gold cap and barrel) Medium range: 22 (with 14 ct gold nib and two cap rings) 24 (with 14 ct gold nib and two cap rings) Economy: 32 (with 14 ct gold nib and one cap ring) 34 (with 14 ct gold nib and one cap ring) 31 (with steel nib) 32S (with steel nib, silver clip and cap ring) 34S (with steel nib, silver clip and cap ring) 31D (with "manifold" nib) 32P (cartridge filling system) 34P (cartridge filling system) As you can see, the 12/14/72/74/82/84 is Meisterstück range already, they are very well made, the plastic is very robust for Meisterstück range. The medium range (22/24) and economy range (31/32/34) is very well made, too. However, I did receive some reports saying that the 32's plastic developed cracks. I do have more than 10 economy range pens (32/34), they are all in NOS or near mint condition, no crack at all. I guess this really depends on the condition of the pen. The size: First I would like to show a picture of Montblanc 14/12/24/22/34/32 (from left to the right in Figure 1). The pens follow a 2 digit coding system, the second digit is most likely to be 2 or 4 --> 2 stands for regular size, 4 stands for large size. And for economy range, there are pens coded as 31, they are still regular size, the 1 just stands for regular size with steel nib (most of the economy range are equipped with 14k gold nibs). Figure 1. Montblanc 14/12/24/22/34/32 The 12/14 Series: It is very well summarized by "soapytwist" in a previous post (https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/132995-montblanc-12-22-and-32/), but there are some mistakes, I will just quote and make the correction. Please give the credit to him. The 12/14 series are equipped with: 1. 18k "butterfly" nib 2. Push on cap 3. Bishop's mitre cap band 4. Amber/brown, faceted ink window 5. Gold accent band on piston knob end Please check: Figure 2 to see the Montblanc 14/12 with cap off. Figure 3&4 to see the 18k "butterfly" nib on a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 5&6 to see the feed and feed housing on a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 7&8 to see the assembled feed and feed housing on a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 9 to see the assembled section of a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 10 to see the Gold accent band on piston knob end of a Montblanc 12/14/72/74 Figure 11 to see the cap top of a Montblanc 12/14 Figure 12 to see the Bishop's mitre cap band of a Montblanc 12/14 Figure 13&14 see the cap of a Montblanc 72/74 Figure 2. Montblanc 14/12 with cap off Figure 3. 18k "butterfly" nib on a Montblanc 17/74/84/94 Figure 4. 18k "butterfly" nib on a Montblanc 17/74/84/94 Figure 5. Feed and feed housing on a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 6. Feed and feed housing on a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 7. Assembled feed and feed housing on a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 8. Assembled feed and feed housing on a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 9. Assembled section of a Montblanc 14/74/84/94 Figure 10. Gold accent band on piston knob end of a Montblanc 12/14/72/74 Figure 11. Cap top of a Montblanc 12/14 Figure 12. Bishop's mitre cap band of a Montblanc 12/14 Figure 13. Cap of a Montblanc 72/74 Figure 14. Cap of a Montblanc 72/74

In 1959, the Montblanc line was redisigned, 142, 144 and 146 are retired, instead Montblanc was offering: Meisterstück: 12 (plastic, looked a bit like the Parker 45 and had a triangular capband) 14 (plastic, see above) 72 (with rolled gold cap) 74 (with rolled gold cap) 82 (with rolled gold cap and barrel) 84 (with rolled gold cap and barrel) 92 (in 14 carat solid gold cap and barrel) 94 (in 14 carat solid gold cap and barrel) Medium range: 22 (with 14 ct gold nib and two cap rings) 24 (with 14 ct gold nib and two cap rings) Economy: 32 (with 14 ct gold nib and one cap ring) 34 (with 14 ct gold nib and one cap ring) 31 (with steel nib) 32S (with steel nib, silver clip and cap ring) 34S (with steel nib, silver clip and cap ring) 31D (with "manifold" nib) 32P (cartridge filling system) 34P (cartridge filling system) The Montblanc '34', first '3' stand for Economy Range, and the second '4' stand for large size, while '2' stand for standard size. Here is how to disassemble the piston and nib for this series (12/14/22/24/32/34): 1. First step, unscrew the hood: 2. Front and back shot of the nib&hood: 3. Now disassemble the nib&hood, also the piston: 4. The section actually are made from 2 parts 5. This is how the hood looks like: 6. Notice that the ink window can be disassembled, too: 7. Here is how the piston looks like, you need to heat the back end of the pen to pull it off: 8. This is a look at the beatiful14K Gold "Intarsia" : 9. Finally, you can find the 34/32/24/22/14/12 on the cap trim:

I think it's time for my first Montblanc fountain pen, and I've begun the search. But my budget is very limited now. Like $200 limited. I like wettish writers that are a joy to use. I don't mind a smaller pen, in fact I'd probably prefer it, and I don't mind a cartridge-filler, though I've heard they are easier to fake. I do read some of the pinned topics but I am far from confident in my knowledge. Don't know what to look for. Black is preferred but will consider other colors. Is fleabay the place to go? What do you think of the 32? The Boheme? I have a lot of questions, true, but I need a lot of help! Thanks.