Dating Montblanc 146 (Legrand)

[AcLondon]

21 minutes ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

Some times pens sit for years in a B&M before being sold.

My Woolf was issued in 2006 and I got it @ ten years later on sale at my B&M.

Of course, yes.  So all may be correct. A very early 90s 146 that didn't sell for a few years.

[Libreros]

Hello there.

I´m a newcomer to the forum.

Besides all the marks you have pointed out to date a MB146, I put to your consideration the double wording in the band engraving (note the spacing):

"MONTBLANC - MEISTERSTÜCK Nº 146" and

"MONTBLANC - MEISTERSTÜCKNº146"

It is not in the dating chart.

Does it matter? Is there any reason for it? Is it a factory ID?

Probably all of you know about it, but I don´t.

Should I take it into consideration for dating a MB146?

Best regards and happy new year.

[Fountainewbie]

Hello, 

I just bought a Montblanc pen, used, for 200€.
 

Pen has serial number and germany on top ring. On cap ring it has only “montblanc meisterstuck”: no pix neither n.° 146. 
 

I’ve read a lot here to guess if it is original and (in case it is) date it. As it does not have pix neither 146, i  think it is probably from 1995 To 1997. In this case, i also saw that it may have 14.6 mm closed. I think it have like 14.4mm.

I hope some of you guys can help me identify the year of this fountain pen (and if it is original). 
 

Thanks and happy new year!

[Fountainewbie]

@all

[Recursion]

On 1/1/2022 at 12:18 AM, Fountainewbie said:

@all

If, after all the advice and checks you can find on FPN to identify and authenticate your pen, you are still in doubt, you can always ask an authorised seller to check your serial number. 

[flodoc]

I have an 80s 146 that has an 18k broad or slightly stubbed nib in single color. I am not familiar with MB specialty nibs or the timing of their availability. Turning the nib over gives a fine line with some variation. Any thoughts? Photo below.

[myszy]

Hi all, I just bought my first MB pen - a vintage 146.

I tried dating my pen using the spreadsheet from the first post and it looks like it is from 90-91, and this is based on the following:

- monocolor yellow gold nib (14k)

- clear, striped ink window

- single piece barrel (I think)

- resin

- collar looks to me like the trumpet-style

- nib holes on left and right

- brass piston

- W. Germany engraving with no serial number and no engraving under the clip

- band engraving: Montblanc Meisterstuck No 146

- size 142mm closed

 

I’m not sure about the feed, as I said this is my first MB. 
Do you think it’s correct to say it’s from around 1991? That would be cool because it would then be my age.

Edited January 31, 2022 by myszy

[leicagirl]

Just bought a 146 from a friend who remembers buying it in the late 80s or maybe 1990. It has the trumpet collar, the gray ink window, split ebonite feed, Germany and Meisterstuck No 146 on the cap, a brass piston mechanism, but a bi-color nib with 14k on it. Could it still be from 1990, or would the bi-color nib indicate 1991? She used it once or twice and put it away, so it was never sent in for repair. Lovely pen, and it joins my transitional 146 and my 50s celluloid 146. Thanks for any comments. 

[redryder]

I found a 146 among my dad's stuff and I was wondering how old it was. I found this thread, but some of the descriptors don't match up.

 

The pen has a mono-color gold nib, W.Germany stamped on the clip and no serial number. The feed is not split, and smells like ebonite. Ink window has stripes. 

 

 

[mephits]

I recently picked up a 146 that appears to be from about 1979. It's got a stubby-broad monocolor 14C nib, split ebonite feed, bulged nib collar, straight section, gray ink window, "Germany" on the clip washer with no serial number, "Meisterstück No 146" on the cap band, 142mm capped length, and a black plastic piston mechanism. I do have a couple of questions, though.

 

First, the piston mechanism is all plastic, but there's a threaded brass collar that screws it into the barrel. Does anyone know dates on this style of piston? This brass collar has a little light surface corrosion, likely from ink getting behind the piston seal. Is this something common or worrying?

 

Finally, how many turns should I expect for capping and uncapping? The cap wants to kind of bind a little bit sometimes when I first start capping the pen, and it only turns about half a turn before stopping. I was curious if this was a sign of a mis-matched cap and barrel or if this is normal. Note that I haven't had any trouble with it drying out or hard-starting. The pen writes beautifully. 

 

Thanks for any info y'all can provide!

[JCC123]

On 5/26/2021 at 5:48 PM, RBullCZ said:

I have literally the same 146, matching yours point by point (Germany, Meisterstuck 146, plastic piston, two part barrel with grey window, trumpet collar on the section, same ebonite feed and uni color F nib 14K). Purchased from EBay seller in Italy as "never inked" in original vintage box. The holes for nib un-screwing key are on 12-6 position (under and above the nib).

 

On 5/28/2021 at 5:45 PM, sansenri said:

precisely the same, unscrewing key holes under and above the nib. Does this bring in another dating mark?

The two contrasting aspects here are that the Germany engraved clip should mean before 80 while the trumpet collar after 85...

one of the two is obviously incorrect as a rigid date mark, but there are so many evidences that Montblanc used what they had in stock that I'm just happy to know the pen is probably from the early 80s

Count me in as the third owner of such a pen. Just bought it from eBay and it has the exact same characteristics, except mine is an EF nib.

[Bulldozer]

Is this a straight or a trumpet collar?

 

[JCC123]

2 hours ago, Bulldozer said:

Is this a straight or a trumpet collar?

Straight 

[Bulldozer]

1 hour ago, JCC123 said:

Straight 

 

Oh, interesting. But, the edge slopes in (towards the nib)? What do you look for to identify a trumpet collar?

[JCC123]

5 hours ago, Bulldozer said:

 

Oh, interesting. But, the edge slopes in (towards the nib)? What do you look for to identify a trumpet collar?

Look at the earlier photos on this page. The trumpet shape is from looking at it from the outside when you hold the pen vertically with the nib pointing to the sky and the collar at eye level. The collar should be wider at the top than the bottom.

[Bulldozer]

6 hours ago, JCC123 said:

Look at the earlier photos on this page. The trumpet shape is from looking at it from the outside when you hold the pen vertically with the nib pointing to the sky and the collar at eye level. The collar should be wider at the top than the bottom.

 

Ah, I see. So, a slope on the outside of the rim collar (not the section) rather than on the inside. So, the collars in page 9 of this thread posted by Fountainewbie and myszy are both trumpet collars?

[JCC123]

12 hours ago, Bulldozer said:

 

Ah, I see. So, a slope on the outside of the rim collar (not the section) rather than on the inside. So, the collars in page 9 of this thread posted by Fountainewbie and myszy are both trumpet collars?

Yes

[Bulldozer]

Is this a grey or a light blue ink window? Also, is it a one-piece or a two-piece barrel? Where are you looking for the "line" (because I see two)?

 

[Jimin]

Hi guys, I got a pen from my best friend and I checked the chart on the 1st page. However there are some things that does contradict each other that I dont understand. 

- monocolor yellow gold nib (14k)

- clear, striped ink window

- resin

- collar looks to me like the trumpet-style*

- nib holes on left and right

- plastic piston

- Says onlye "Germany" on clip engraving with no serial number and no engraving under the clip

- band engraving: Montblanc Meisterstuck No 146

So my understanding is that it should be from between 80-90 but those things that contradicts in my head is plastic piston and clear, stripes ink window.

What do you guys think?

[AcLondon]

I think (though it's a long while since I was invested in this question) that it could just about be all correct for 1989/90.  Before serial numbers.  On border of monotone/dual tone. 14K rather than 14C nib puts it in later 80s. 'Germany' rather than 'W. Germany' on clip I think is right for 1990. I'm no expert on plastic feeds but that looks like the very earliest iteration.