1950S 144 Nib Size Question

[shumanfu]

I recently picked up a 144, i think from the 50s.

It's marked on the blind cap with "F-".

 

I assume F is for Fine; but what is up with the "-" ...?

 

 

[zaddick]

As far as I know it is just a mark. I have also seen an arrow pointing to the letter. I'd be curious if someone else has a more definitive answer.

[kaushla]

I had once had an MB 146 with an F nib and "ski-slope" feed and a mark beside the nib size engraving resembling an arrowhead cut in half.

The marks beside the nib size engraving on the piston knob in the 1950s Montblancs have been discussed sporadically in internet pen forums over several years. No satisfactory conclusion has been drawn though some have surmised that there might be a connnection to the temper of the nib and its flexibility. I had posted the discussion pertaining to my fountain pen on FPN a couple of years ago but cannot find it now.

[Bo Bo Olson]

There are marks on Pelikan nibs also. I think they are Quality Control marks.

[jmnav]

What about the obvious? These nibs were finished by hand, so my first thought would be that the minus sign means exactly that and the same for the arrows so, M-, a medium to fine, M<-, a left-footed OM, etc.

[CS388]

I don't think a concensus of opinion has ever been reached (in this forum) as to what these marks represent?

 

I recall an old thread suggesting that we gather as many examples as we can find (dots, lines, half-arrows, >, < etc) into a picture thread, but I don't know if it ever happened.

 

Congratulations on your 1950's 144. Excellent pens - and only slightly smaller than the 146 of the same period.