What's Your Montblanc Pen Collection ?

[sunnerd]

Spent some time to take photos of my MB pens, as well as putting in a little writeup of each one.

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8430/7715085820_b917249e4d_z.jpg

 

- Imperial Dragon (ID) B nib - the ID was only created for the Asian market because the snake of the Christie was considered as bad luck to Asians. The clip has a small spring in it to push the dragon head down to the cap.

- Christie B nib, BP and MP - quite difficult to find this pen in B nib, the ruby red eyes of the snake looks quite scary. The BP and MP are pretty thin to my liking, but nonetheless very beautiful.

- Dumas EF nib, BP - extremely beautiful fleur de lis size 9 nib, and the pearl like pattern on the barrel, just magnificant! Unfortunately my BP was a conversion from MP and the seller did not disclose it. That's the pitfall in buying pens in Ebay...

- Dostoevsky M nib, RB, BP, MP - This is one of the most understated MB WE pen. It's light but the engraved pattern is just beautiful.

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8433/7715095600_49d82ab3c5_z.jpg

 

- Proust both F nib, BP - Don't ask me why I got the 2nd Proust - it's just a elegantly made overlay pen. The BP is actually a better looking pen with much more overlay...

- Wilde F nib, MP and BP - I got the BP first and then the FP+MP set later. the FP and MP was originally tarnished but I polished them with a jeweller's cloth to return them to former glory. I don't do the polishing anymore now. Every time you apply the polish a little metal plating is lost...

- Dickens BP - It's real silver... lots of tarnish!

- Verne FP M nib, BP, MP - the Verne was my first WE pen and the blue is so deep and mesmerising. The pen is indeed very heavy and it does not stand up in the shirt pocket....

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8432/7715105686_24477fa3f3_z.jpg

 

- Schiller F nib, BP - I got the BP first. It was such a nice deep red colour that is pleasing to the eye. Also, the clip is reminiscent of the 3xx clips of the 30/40s.

- Cerventes BP - I bought this along with other BPs (Schiller, Dumas and Verne) all within a month. To be honest I don't like the pear shape of the pen but the brown pattern was what interested me.

- Mann B nib - Love this pen's clean lines, but it's a very heavy pen.

- Twain F nib - Like the engraved wave pattern and the knot pattern nib. Also, since the cap top is fully exposed for this pen, it rests totally on the shirt pocket rim, making substantial crease on the shirt.

- Collodi EF nib - Love the clip and the cap design - somehow when I write with it the screw grooves always catch my fingers making it uncomfortable to write with...

- Brahms EF nib - the tuning fork clip got my attention, as well as the dark blue ink window.

- 146 silver barley F nib - got this used but in very good condition. A very heavy pen but surprisingly comfortable to hold.

- Prince Regent M nib - love the bright blue and the golden underlay, as well as the tear drop nib. Too flashy to bring to work unfortunately.

- Morgan M nib - very much fond of the carbon fibre cap and the silver barrel. Got it with the Chinese lucky number. Still to ink it...

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7115/7715114042_2c14bba138_z.jpg

 

The 149 tray... At one time I tried to get my hands on all the different 149 nibs I could get... still haven't got them all...

- 50's 3-tone 14C F nib - got this from the bay and it's got a flexible F nib.

- 1970s 3-tone 18C BB nib - got this from a FPNer. It's a paint brush...

- 1964 3-tone 18C EF nib - got this from a FPN MB expert. 18K narrow shoulder semi flexible nib. One of my best writers.

- late 70s 2-tone 14K M nib - got this from another FPN MB expert.

- 75th anniv Special edition EF nib

- 75th anniv Limited edition M nib - the rose gold plated furniture, MOP cap top are the signature of this pen.

- 2006(?) 3-tone 18K F nib - came with the Andree Putman cases, honestly I'm more interested in the case than the pen...

- 2008 3-tone 18K OM nib - engraved with "Yes We Can!".

- 2010 3-tone 18K M nib - got this rhodium plated, and then stubbed, also one of my best writers.

- 2011 Masters of Meisterstuck - only recently got it, love the white Meissen porcelain, still to be inked.

 

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8434/7715132280_bd6457c493_z.jpg

 

The black tray... They ranged from the 30s up to the 70s.

- 17 1/2 30s. I was advised by the seller that this was a 17 1/2 with a 5 nib, and it's got a longer cap top but it's very short. Seriously I don't know what it is but it's got a good nib.

- #30 F nib - Very nice Meisterstuck imprint and quite flexible nib. The ball clip was used only between 1930-1932 and got replaced quickely because they were too similar to the Parker's (as per the Roesler Guide). I was told it's a German made pen by the seller, which is quite possible as Danish production didn't start until 1935 (as per the Roesler Guide).

- #30 F nib - another lovely #30 that has the best flexible nib I've got, it's quite possible this pen was a Danish production.

- #25 F nib - I believe the cap top is celluloid. The clip is a nice tear drop and the nib has a heart shaped breather hole. Probably early 30s German production.

- Monte Rosa 042 - one EF and one F. At one stage I was thinking of using the Monte Rosa as a user pen...

- 214 EF nib - I believe this is a Danish production push button in the late 40-early 50s. It's got a nice flexible 4 nib.

- 256 M nib - a 50's production wing nib that is different to what we usually see.

- 34 M nib - a relatively modern pen. Very affordable.

- 220 F nib - this pen has a matte black texture and piston filled. early 70s. Very affordable too.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7256/7715141130_bf6431f5f1_z.jpg

 

A mix tray -

- 100th historical - 2x F nib, RB and FP. One of the FPs were made italic by Greg Minuskin.

- 70s 146 F nib - the special about this 146 is that instead of a 6 pointed snowcap, it's got a 5 star snowcap.

- 2010 Unicef M nib

- early 2000s Burgundy M nib

- Le Grand ballpen and pencil.

- Signum Doue ballpen - similar to the Dostoevky, I like the engraved barrel.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7261/7715150796_7a7a1c7735_z.jpg

 

The pattern tray -

- 146 Green striated F nib - not much to say about this pen - a flexible F nib, a little ambered barrel.

- 144 Grey striated F nib - also a little ambered :-(

- 72G PL pencil

- 234 1/2 PL - a lovely PL pen except that the ink window is a bit ambered. For the PL pens, the 12x would be the grail.

- 244 green marbled F nib - a very nice example with minimum amber.

- 246 green marbled M nib - a bit ambered but still ok.

- #30 M FP and MP set - Danish production.

- #25 and #20 both F nib - Danish production. The #25 had a cap lip crack and I had to get it repaired. The replacement lip came from a coral red rod and was originally the same colour but once you machine / polish it, the outer layer was rubbed away and a brighter colour appears... :-(

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7252/7715168238_4624c4f92f_z.jpg

 

The tie-pin tray -

 

- 139 Pd F nib - short ink window with Palladium nib. BHR cap top.

- 139 M nib - long ink window with celluloid cap top. not flexible.

- 138 Pd B nib - long ink window

- 136 F nib - alloy nib very flexible

- 136 M nib war time - 1946-48 production 136 with steel nib - crispy line

- 136 demo - 1950 prototype

- 134 M nib - long ink window

- 132 Pd M nib - short ink window

- 2x 234 1/2G - one F, one M nib.

 

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7255/7715914624_1eb7bff383_z.jpg

 

My blue tray -

 

- Parker 75 M nib

- Faber Castell 884 M nib - nice green striated pen. I got two of these.

- Soennecken 110 F nib candy stripe

- Osmia Normal EF nib Blue marbled.

- Parker Duofold Senior F nib blue marbled Canadian made.

- Soennecken 305 M nib blue marbled - I was told by the seller that this is a French made one with no cap ring.

- Soennecken 305 M nib blue marbled - different to the previous one with cap band and different clip design.

- Montblanc #322 Azure blue M nib - steel nib push button

- MB classic RB and BP - wedding gift from my other half :-)

Edited August 7, 2012 by sunnerd

[KJY]

Spent some time to take photos of my MB pens, as well as putting in a little writeup of each one.

 

Wow! I really believe you spent some time to show us your collection!

Like your comments very much. It adds a little background info of the user.

 

Very very very nice! Thanks

[H. Herdick]

To see all this beautiful pens, I'm getting jalous.

 

I have:

 

Meisterstück 146

Meisterstück 147 (traveller) in bordeaux

Bohème Silverstripe - silver 925, with a 18K penpoint (France edition)

Meisterstück 149 75th anniversaire SE

 

They are all very good writers.

[pavoni]

My goodness....... Sunnerd, I knew you had a collection to lust after but those trays of yours are truly magnificent. :clap1: and that tray 8 don't you think they would look better with my lot

 

What a superb and stunning collection. Superbly photographed and made even better by the notes on each. Absolutely fabulous. Thank you very much for taking the time to share.

 

Pavoni.

Edited August 7, 2012 by pavoni

[tenney]

sunnerd -- oh my! Wow!

 

That post should somehow be pinned as a primary MB reference!

[Sidestreaker]

Sweet! Sunnerd, I was waiting for you to post your collection! Wonderful collection there! Just love those striated 14x and your red coral collection. Brilliant!

[pavoni]

Just a minute, I saw that Coral pencil first :ph34r: Mind you, that 172G PL is a stunner Ummm, I'm going to need another of Geoff's cases!

 

Pavoni.

[sunnerd]

Thanks guys! I've made some corrections in terms of the numbers. Obviously there were typos everywhere. The 172G PL is actually a 72G PL, and the 114 is actually a 214... Also the coral red pencil is a #53.

 

After taking stock of all these, I do have an issue... :roflmho:

Edited August 8, 2012 by sunnerd

[tenney]

If you ever want some help with your issue, feel free to give any of those pens a new home with me :-)

[Redbarchettayyz]

Now that my last pens I was waiting on have arrived, I can post my meagre, beginner MB collection.

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8307/7743420000_c37dfcf6e0.jpg

 

From top to bottom:

 

Montblanc 34, OB nib. This one produces some very interesting writing, but the OB takes a bit of getting used to

 

Montblanc 24, OM nib. This was the pen that started my MB obsession a few weeks ago, one of my daily carries and an all-around great writer

 

Montblanc 14, M nib. This is just a plain excellent writer and beautiful pen, perfect for any use

 

Montblanc 234 1/2 G, flexible 14c M nib. This is my first pen with any flex, and it is a great deal of fun to write with.

 

 

I know it's not much compared to some of the collections posted, but I love these pens. They are all by far my favourites of the pens I own, and I look to add to this MB family once I've restocked my pen fund. I'm thinking a 70s 149 will be my next target, but that is a ways away.

[pavoni]

Pleased to hear of the arrival of your latest Montblanc pens Redbarchettayyz and that they seem to have met your expectations. Sourcing them, using them and showing them is all part of the joy of owning vintage MBs. Yours look really good together and you have an interesting selection of nibs. Addictive isn't it

 

Thanks for taking the time to share your latest collection and findings with us.

 

Pavoni.

[peterpen53]

Now that my last pens I was waiting on have arrived, I can post my meagre, beginner MB collection.

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8307/7743420000_c37dfcf6e0.jpg

 

From top to bottom:

 

Montblanc 34, OB nib. This one produces some very interesting writing, but the OB takes a bit of getting used to

 

Montblanc 24, OM nib. This was the pen that started my MB obsession a few weeks ago, one of my daily carries and an all-around great writer

 

Montblanc 14, M nib. This is just a plain excellent writer and beautiful pen, perfect for any use

 

Montblanc 234 1/2 G, flexible 14c M nib. This is my first pen with any flex, and it is a great deal of fun to write with.

 

 

I know it's not much compared to some of the collections posted, but I love these pens. They are all by far my favourites of the pens I own, and I look to add to this MB family once I've restocked my pen fund. I'm thinking a 70s 149 will be my next target, but that is a ways away.

 

Very nice set, congratulations! As to the OB nib, don't be too scientific about it. Just turn it slightly counterclockwise from what you're used to and it will find its sweet spot all by itself. It works with my 121 all the time.

 

 

Cheers,

Peter

[Gary1952]

MB 149 Medium Nib fountain pen

MB 146 Medium Nib fountain pen

MB WE Kafka Medium Nib fountain pen

MB John Lennon Medium Nib fountain pen

 

 

 

MB Le Grande Ball point

MB Classique Ball Point

MB Classique Roller Ball

[Redbarchettayyz]

Thanks for the kind words pavoni and Peter! Peter, I took your suggestion and I think I've got that OB nib tamed now. It really is a far different beast than the OM!

[peterpen53]

Thanks for the kind words pavoni and Peter! Peter, I took your suggestion and I think I've got that OB nib tamed now. It really is a far different beast than the OM!

 

This should work for the OM as well. However, it will be less noticeable because the OM, while oblique, is still round, while Montblanc gives its B nibs, whether oblique or not, a straight, stub-like grind. Hence their more pronounced line variation. The oblique slant shifts this variation a bit so to speak, giving thicker cross-strokes and thinner downstrokes. I think these nibs are great fun. Should be more so with an OBB or O3B.

 

Cheers,

Peter

 

[Postscript]

A single new MB 146. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about after being here. It is a very nice pen and a great writer for me but nothing special beyond that. Perhaps in the future I will add another, thanks,

 

Post Script

Edited August 10, 2012 by Postscript

[Redbarchettayyz]

Thanks for the kind words pavoni and Peter! Peter, I took your suggestion and I think I've got that OB nib tamed now. It really is a far different beast than the OM!

 

This should work for the OM as well. However, it will be less noticeable because the OM, while oblique, is still round, while Montblanc gives its B nibs, whether oblique or not, a straight, stub-like grind. Hence their more pronounced line variation. The oblique slant shifts this variation a bit so to speak, giving thicker cross-strokes and thinner downstrokes. I think these nibs are great fun. Should be more so with an OBB or O3B.

 

Cheers,

Peter

Definitely, I found the OM wrote at most angles, but still best at the proper oblique one. The OB demands to be used the correct way, or not at all, but the writing it produces is absolutely beautiful and speaks for itself. I'd love an OBB or O3B, they seem like they would be incredibly interesting to write with.

[peterpen53]

Thanks for the kind words pavoni and Peter! Peter, I took your suggestion and I think I've got that OB nib tamed now. It really is a far different beast than the OM!

 

This should work for the OM as well. However, it will be less noticeable because the OM, while oblique, is still round, while Montblanc gives its B nibs, whether oblique or not, a straight, stub-like grind. Hence their more pronounced line variation. The oblique slant shifts this variation a bit so to speak, giving thicker cross-strokes and thinner downstrokes. I think these nibs are great fun. Should be more so with an OBB or O3B.

 

Cheers,

Peter

Definitely, I found the OM wrote at most angles, but still best at the proper oblique one. The OB demands to be used the correct way, or not at all, but the writing it produces is absolutely beautiful and speaks for itself. I'd love an OBB or O3B, they seem like they would be incredibly interesting to write with.

 

Have you ever had a look at Darius' writing samples in this pinned thread? Admittedly written with modern pens but they should give you an idea.

[Redbarchettayyz]

Thanks for the kind words pavoni and Peter! Peter, I took your suggestion and I think I've got that OB nib tamed now. It really is a far different beast than the OM!

 

This should work for the OM as well. However, it will be less noticeable because the OM, while oblique, is still round, while Montblanc gives its B nibs, whether oblique or not, a straight, stub-like grind. Hence their more pronounced line variation. The oblique slant shifts this variation a bit so to speak, giving thicker cross-strokes and thinner downstrokes. I think these nibs are great fun. Should be more so with an OBB or O3B.

 

Cheers,

Peter

Definitely, I found the OM wrote at most angles, but still best at the proper oblique one. The OB demands to be used the correct way, or not at all, but the writing it produces is absolutely beautiful and speaks for itself. I'd love an OBB or O3B, they seem like they would be incredibly interesting to write with.

 

Have you ever had a look at Darius' writing samples in this pinned thread? Admittedly written with modern pens but they should give you an idea.

 

I took a look, mine looks closer to the OBB from those. I wish MB labeled the nib sizes from this era, would make life easier.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8304/7756984598_d99493a243_n.jpg

[olivier78860]

I've got a 149 with 18ct EF flexible nib (up to B ) from the early 90s, a 254, a 344G, and a Poe. And the meisterstück ballpoint and pencil, and a le grand ballpoint.

Maybe I'll add an imperial dragon someday, that's the only one I could miss.

Edited August 11, 2012 by olivier78860