Yellow Montblanc Stars Or "50 Shades Of Yellow"...

[4810_]

Hello there,

 

Recently, I do a lot of pen maintenance mostly on vintage Montblancs. With this I realize the different colorations of some of the Montblanc stars on these pens which range from snow white over somewhat yellow to banana yellow. Here is a picture of a 344, a 252 and a 342 - all in different shades of yellow...

 

These pens are otherwise in excellent condition; however, the discolorations are a bummer. A micro mesh treatment and an intensive polish have not shown any results.

 

Does anyone of you have a suggestion on how to "revive" the original white of the stars?

 

Best Greetings!

4810

[Chrissy]

Whatever it was originally made from has turned yellow with age, and as they are vintage pens this is quite normal. There's no safe way to get it back to bright white, and it might not have started off as bright white anyway. It's best to just look on it as a characteristic of ageing.

[Tom Kellie]

Whatever it was originally made from has turned yellow with age, and as they are vintage pens this is quite normal. There's no safe way to get it back to bright white, and it might not have started off as bright white anyway. It's best to just look on it as a characteristic of ageing.

 

~ Chrissy:

 

Most of the Montblanc pens on my writing desk are recent models.

There are a few older pens.

After reading your helpful post above I placed the older pens in order of age plus several newer pens.

What you've mentioned above was clear, as there was a shift in snow star brightness with age.

It's 5 am here so insufficient light for a natural light photograph.

I may work on an image showing the aging. It will be anecdotal evidence from a non-representative sample, but perhaps useful for comparison purposes.

Thank you for your helpful comment.

Tom K.

[CS388]

 

Does anyone of you have a suggestion on how to "revive" the original white of the stars?

 

I don't think it can be done. As far as I understand it, it's not the surface which has yellowed, it's the whole thing?

I'm sure I saw a thread in this forum once, in which the caesin snowcap of a cap was replaced with a newly made one, so that's a possibility.

 

It's a personal choice, of course. I like the aged/yellowed look of the snowcaps on the vintage pens.

 

Good luck

Edited July 12, 2018 by CS388

[CS388]

Double post! Apologies.

Edited July 12, 2018 by CS388

[Uncial]

I confess I like the yellowing, especially when it goes to a deep ivory colour.

[penparadise]

Whatever it was originally made from has turned yellow with age, and as they are vintage pens this is quite normal. There's no safe way to get it back to bright white, and it might not have started off as bright white anyway. It's best to just look on it as a characteristic of ageing.

 

+ 1

I used to have black hair, now it's silver. Do I dye my hair? No, why should I.

[Azuniga]

Reading this post I wondered; Why Ivory or Casein, materials originally used by Montblanc should look as white as the material (what ever it is) used by Montblanc today ?

[SpecTP]

Reading this post I wondered; Why Ivory or Casein, materials originally used by Montblanc should look as white as the material (what ever it is) used by Montblanc today ?

polymers (plastic, resins, etc..) are susceptible to UV exposure and will yellow over time.

[Tom Kellie]

Snow Stars in Shades of White

~ The approximate age of the pen caps shown above, from left to right is:

1. Late 1950s

2. Mid-1940s

3. 1967

4. 1970

5. 2000

6. 2001

7. 2015

8. 2016

Tom K.

[KJY]

Isn't this called patina?

Like with vintage watches this is the premium where people pays for?

I think it gives great character to the pen.

 

Like some writers editions where the star isn't bright white but a bit off white that MB did on purpose.

[KJY]

Here is a pic of some writers and vintage pens. I think it is just wonderful to have various white in my penholder.

 

[Tom Kellie]

Here is a pic of some writers and vintage pens. I think it is just wonderful to have various white in my penholder.

 

 

~ KJY:

 

Yes, the variety of colors is a delight to see.

I like the photo you posted as the pens show character.

May I please ask what is the small pen at the very bottom, between two diamonds?

Tom K.

[KJY]

 

~ KJY:

 

Yes, the variety of colors is a delight to see.

I like the photo you posted as the pens show character.

May I please ask what is the small pen at the very bottom, between two diamonds?

Tom K.

 

Hi Tom,

 

Thank you for your comment.

I dont remember it now. It could be a 234 1/2 or 134.

[Rosetta59]

"Does anyone of you have a suggestion on how to "revive" the original white of the stars?"

Please, dont' do this ! Please !!

Retain the old patina, retain it !

This is the pleasure to have vintage objects...

 

[4810_]

"Does anyone of you have a suggestion on how to "revive" the original white of the stars?"

Please, dont' do this ! Please !!

Retain the old patina, retain it !

This is the pleasure to have vintage objects...

 

 

Ok, I see, there are some vintage purists here ! Well, I find pleasure in getting life back into dirty, filthy, sticky, dried out, scratched and otherwise neglected Montblancs. Thus, I work with the objective of getting the product back to "as new" or at least "real good".

 

Maybe you are right, maybe I should allow the stars to age...doesn't seem to that we find an easy solution anyway ...

 

Thanks to all for your replies!

Edited July 13, 2018 by 4810_

[1nkulus]

I confess I like the yellowing, especially when it goes to a deep ivory colour.

 

It's best to just look on it as a characteristic of ageing.

+1

 

The beauty of aging.

[Tom Kellie]

Maybe you are right, maybe I should allow the stars to age...doesn't seem to that we find an easy solution anyway ...

 

~ 4810_:

 

This is what Hollywood film studio executives have said to each other for decades.

Tom K.

[Ghost Plane]

Consider it a sign of value. Users like me immediately gravitate to the aged stars knowing they’re often indicia of fabulous nibs. I’d grab a discolored star first just to see what nib it had.

[1nkulus]

I’d grab a discolored star first just to see what nib it had.

 

Not if I can get my grubby paws in first.