Are We Becoming A Stagnant Forum?

[Opooh]

I have to say, when I first read this topic I though oh no, something weird again… then I started reading… it made sense, but secretly I thought: if only Pavoni upload some more reviews !!! so I am glad to hear from him again…

 

Just to keep this alive some images

 

# 6 ED, 14 k 6, (Medium) 12.7 cm.

# 8 Safety, Simplo 8 14 k (F). 13 cm.

# 25 Safety, 18 ct 25, 13 cm.

# 35 Safety, 4810 M, 13 cm.

# 45 Safety, 18 ct 45, 13 cm (I prefer them unpolished) …

# 12 Safety, Simplo 12 14 k, 15.3 cm.

 

Other # 12 I have seen have an imprint Montblac-Stöfhaas and in the line under it says Hamburg-Berlin-Leipzig.

This one has a print reading: Montblanc-Niederlage and the line under is Stöfhaas-Hamburg-Berlin.

Someone here could probably explain…

 

 

Hello Azinuga,

 

Absolutely stunning collection of safety fillers.

Stöffhaas was an independent reseller of Montblanc, kinda Montblanc Boutique avant la lettre. They had shops in major German cities.

Niederlage means branch office in German. Probably the 12 with only Berlin and Hamburg will be older than the one with also the Leipzig imprint.

I found a picture of one shop on penboard.de: http://www.penboard.de/shop/hlist/MB/EPHE/0 .

Edited January 4, 2015 by Opooh

[Michael R.]

Wonderful collection! Many thanks for sharing those pictures.

 

I'm also expecting another Safety in the mail; hopefully I can show next week

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[Michigan]

This forum is a little stagnant. More important, though, than what to remove is what we should be adding.

 

I start very few threads anywhere.

 

Some things that interest me:

 

14k nibs versus 18k on MBs;

Steel pens like the 146s;

Are there MBs without the star? I hate drawing attention;

Does anyone obtain flex from a nibmeister? Result?;

Does vermeil drive owners insane? I see tarnish bubbling up on every older pen for sale;

What strategies do others use to get a good deal?;

What percentage of owners buy used?;

What causes you to sell an MB?

[Azuniga]

Woww ! It seems uploading images have produced a good reaction, I can only be grateful to you.

And thanks for the information about Niederlage (I knew about Stöffhass from J. Roesler book). I will upload more images, there are still some MB here.

For those who asked, let’s say I started collecting, less passionately, in 1956-57. Common story, grandfather writing for hours every day promised me his two pens when he would not be there any more and when that happened I just could not find them… but I remembered them well (a Sheaffer’s lever filler and a Faber Castell 36). The first one was not difficult to find but the second one was another story… around 1960 I started going to flea markets and well you know how it is ! I wanted to focus but I only did that at the very beginning… I have only respected my very first rule no pen dated after 1956-57. Then I discovered Eyedroppers and Safeties… I could not resist that, I still cannot. To find the Odol bottle in the box… it was just there I never looked for it… But let’s see more images, we all enjoy those…

 

# 124S, # 126G, # 126S, # 126PL, # 128G Meisterstück, # 129 Meisterstück, # 134 Meisterstück (no ring and wartime nib), # 136 Meisterstück, # 138 Meisterstück (This one has a jeweler clip and ring and is possible I showed it here before),

# L 139G Meisterstück

 

And of course Michigan is right; “More important than what to remove is what to add”

I do not pay attention to the difference between 14 k and 18 k and I enjoy MB with the star design but without the star itself. I am among those who buy used and when I see a MB I would like to have I trade for one I have, sometimes I have to give two.

[jamesgibby]

Woww ! It seems uploading images have produced a good reaction, I can only be grateful to you.

And thanks for the information about Niederlage (I knew about Stöffhass from J. Roesler book). I will upload more images, there are still some MB here.

For those who asked, let’s say I started collecting, less passionately, in 1956-57. Common story, grandfather writing for hours every day promised me his two pens when he would not be there any more and when that happened I just could not find them… but I remembered them well (a Sheaffer’s lever filler and a Faber Castell 36). The first one was not difficult to find but the second one was another story… around 1960 I started going to flea markets and well you know how it is ! I wanted to focus but I only did that at the very beginning… I have only respected my very first rule no pen dated after 1956-57. Then I discovered Eyedroppers and Safeties… I could not resist that, I still cannot. To find the Odol bottle in the box… it was just there I never looked for it… But let’s see more images, we all enjoy those…

 

# 124S, # 126G, # 126S, # 126PL, # 128G Meisterstück, # 129 Meisterstück, # 134 Meisterstück (no ring and wartime nib), # 136 Meisterstück, # 138 Meisterstück (This one has a jeweler clip and ring and is possible I showed it here before),

# L 139G Meisterstück

 

And of course Michigan is right; “More important than what to remove is what to add”

I do not pay attention to the difference between 14 k and 18 k and I enjoy MB with the star design but without the star itself. I am among those who buy used and when I see a MB I would like to have I trade for one I have, sometimes I have to give two.

 

[Michael R.]

Love the PL, 129 (one of my grail pens) and the 138 with engraved cap bands!

 

What a high end collection! I love my modern edition Montblancs a lot but those are toys compared to the great vintage ones.

 

You should get your collection photographed with all the details. I just love all the little differences on the same models bur from different years.

 

Cheers and many thanks!

 

Michael

[KAC]

Azuniga, that is a magnificent collection. Very nicely done, indeed! For me, displays like this one are sufficient reasons for visiting this forum but unfortunately they are few and very far between. I mention that point as it was the original topic of this thread.

 

When contrasted to the current MB line, the pens you show clearly demonstrate the advantages of simple, unadorned "form follows function" lines, even when artistically interpreted: beautiful then and beautiful now. Vintage MBs do not compare favorably with the ostentatious embellishments featured in many "Writer's Edition" and other sub-enterprises of the current MB line. I think the company should be energized by its past efforts and seriously consider re-introducing these to the modern market.

[pavoni]

Thank you Azuniga, Now THAT's what everyone has been waiting for . Your collection is truly magnificent and deserves to be shown time and time again. Sheer, timeless elegance.

 

Little wonder, with such superb examples of Montblanc's glorious past, you came away from that Montblanc Museum so disappointed. I bet you had a cheeky grin though

 

LOVE the decoration on that special MB 138. Thank you for being so generous (again) and for making my Sunday.

 

Pavoni

[Opooh]

Wow Azuniga, after the safeties, a stunning collection of pushknob and pistonfillers. Nearly sixty years of collecting extraordinary FPs, congrats.

[Bo Bo Olson]

I click on and find too much modern 146-149...too little vintage of them.

 

Too little other vintage MB....in I like the old thinner nibs with a tad or two of flex.

Not much on the 222 or 322 type pens.

Just 9 out of 10 posts....modern pens...and asking if a cartridge goes in a 146 or not.

 

Those guys chasing a cheap MB....should be told about German Ebay and the 2xx&3xx pens. No one seems to be pointing out very nice affordable MB pens from back when they had three tiers.

 

I've lucked into all I need. A 'Springy' modern, a nice springy regular flex semi-vintage '70-80's, three '50's; a couple of semi-flex and a 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex.

Well....do 'need' a wet noodle Safety Pen......Then I'd have all the MB flexes of their nibs.

I'd seen my first a couple months ago at a live auction where I picked up the '50-60's medium-large146.....

The wet noodle needed re-tipping...and it did go at the live auction for much more than my limit.

 

and that was some real fine Safety Pen pictures.

 

The pictures in this thread of the 12x-13x pens were very nice to me, in my First MB was an 'ugly' weird looking...234 1/2 Deluxe with that Meisterstuck clip.

Ignorance is universal...because also those in the know don't share right.

 

First the 234 1/2 Deluxe pen won the contest for #1 pen by me....and then I got a copy of Lambrau's book, and finally learned it was the sleek version of those top of the line '30's pens; for those who did not want a cigar shaped 146-9. That's when I found out what it was that I bought.

 

I really didn't want that price diving ugly MB in I was ignorant...that was also back when on the main forum all things MB were well hated....especially Racing Green.

All I knew is it was semi-flex. It was much later I found out MB used a Waverly tip to make that KOB nib.

 

 

I try and chase the nib, more than the model...and old used pens more than brand new. My Woolf's nib is ok (very my eye only nib bling), but like the older nibs with a bit more life to them....that is with most of my pens.

 

I really like my 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex '50-65 medium-large 146....in I like that size more than large pens like the 'newer' 146 springy regular flex ('70-80's).

There is a difference between a semi-vintage springy regular flex and a modern "Springy" nib.

I didn't chase the missing nibs, but was aware of the reputation and my lack. With luck I found the nibs I 'needed'. Very nice nibs...well worth having.

 

Nib talk seems lacking to me.

At least in this thread, older pens have their say.

Edited January 6, 2015 by Bo Bo Olson

[playtime]

astounding collection of MBs Azuniga, and thank you for sharing. Am especially taken by your first series of pens, the safeties with clips - very much like your Matador Turbos!

Edited January 7, 2015 by playtime

[dubhe]

Don't forget the new kids, I'm buying my second MB tomorrow (a Le Grand I found on eBay that happened to be in the same city as me) and am just getting into the habit.

 

I would love to see a catalogue of all MBs with forum members submitting their own photos, see if we could complete the set! I'd also like to know more history of pens. For example, the Le Grand I'm buying, how long has it been around? The Hemmingway I'd love to own, how many were made? Many of you know these answers but us newbies have a thirst for info!

 

I'm also posting after the comments of stagnation, thought I owed the forum some posts after the amount of reading I have been doing!

[jamesgibby]

Don't forget the new kids, I'm buying my second MB tomorrow (a Le Grand I found on eBay that happened to be in the same city as me) and am just getting into the habit.

 

I would love to see a catalogue of all MBs with forum members submitting their own photos, see if we could complete the set! I'd also like to know more history of pens. For example, the Le Grand I'm buying, how long has it been around? The Hemmingway I'd love to own, how many were made? Many of you know these answers but us newbies have a thirst for info!

 

I'm also posting after the comments of stagnation, thought I owed the forum some posts after the amount of reading I have been doing!

 

i think the Modern Catalogue would be worthwhile. Vintage has the inimitable Diary and CS but modern is something that would be interesting. i would especially like a bit more focus on Solitaires, 146 dating and the 149dating guides produced by the forum. i of course know that fountain pen.de have a large information repository already but we could add more detail

[RayOski1]

I agree somewhat. Candidly, I haven't signed on but visited as a guest. My password is difficult to remember.

 

I do read the forum 3-4 times a week. I simply ignore the "is this real" posters. I do most of the time.

 

Interest is waning for pens, I suspect with generational change and the economy.