My Vintage Mb Collection

[siamackz]

Beautiful!!! What a nice Sunday morning treat!

Which pen is your favourite writer?

thank you! The 146G, I love the factory obliques from the 1950s

[Pointyscratchy]

Correction to my earlier post, the writer is of course Lawrence Block not Robert .I was muddling him I think the Phyco author- Bloch.

 

Again interesting collection, especially in how its focus has evolved.

[jmccarty3]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful collection with us.

[AlohaLani787]

Reading your post was a wonderful start to my morning.

 

From your detailed presentation and photographs it feels like a museum tour is beginning! I'm looking forward to your subsequent posts.

[TheDutchGuy]

Awesome! A joy to look at.

 

I'm a slow starter on MB, but gradually my two vintage MB's wormed their way up the food chain and I love them dearly.

[Pointyscratchy]

This collection, or Siamackz journey to it ( he explained that he had migrated to MB's over a period of time), and thinking of examples in literature of collectors made me realise we are essentially orphans because we don't even have a name for what we do.To check I looked on the net and there is no word for pen collector.Someone suggested penophile and another stylolector. Another chap had this to say;

 

While the mandorla of the Venn Diagram is quite large we come in two basic varieties...

• Collectors--who will search out a specific sort of pen maker and/or a specific model of pen and attempt to become both expert on and holder of as many examples of that particular pen. I know of a person who is renowned for his collection of Parker Vacu-matics. Probably the world's expert.
• Accumulators--folks who enjoy using pens and really aren't into the single-minded pursuit of one kind. Some of us have several pens of the same model because we like them--the feel or the look or the way they right. Generally, we just like pens and spend too much of our budget on the darn things...

It gets worse;

Raymond Chandler wrote a book Called the high window concerning some missing Brasher doubloons which did wonders for numismatists , and I've already mentioned the philatelist hit man Keller, but who do we have?

There is no word to describe us and we have no tale that defines us, unless you count James Bond who may have had a pen that fired a bullet.W draw the short end of the straw on all counts.

[Cyrille81]

In French we have the word 'calamophile' related to a person collecting everything related to a nib, inkwell, etc.

[Pointyscratchy]

I would say Vintage that calamophile must be it.It said collector of plumes and of porte plumes.I looked up porte and means door, and then porte plumes and that means penholders.

 

I do have a few pen cases if that counts as pen holders.I'm surprised that no one has pinned down a word for us.Word usage is a funny thing.The audience for a radio were called listeners and it seemed obvious, but when tv was invented no one had a word for the watchers.A magazine invited people to write in with suggestions, the word Viewers won.

 

I'm happy to go with calamophile.Stamps and coins also have their own catalogues and we don't have those either.Money and postal services have been quite important for mens development but surely pens have too.The other really important thing about pens is that as we more and more go to keyboards and machines the pen links us to our humanity.In the future people will have to make a very special effort to write because they won't need too.We Calamophiles are a dying breed and quite a special one- but at least we now have a name!

[KAC]

At last! A vintage MB collection and a very fine one, too! Good work and I'm eager to see individual pictures and descriptions!

[siamackz]

PART 1 - 13x Series

 

Ok, now that I have introduced you to my entire collection in the previous post, let’s start looking at specific sets of pens.

 

At the top left of my display are the early Meisterstuck series from the late 1930s and early ‘40s.

 

 

And here’s a catalogue showing the 13x series in around 1939:

 

 

To the left of my display is a war-time 134. I love those cap imprints found on MBs designed a few years into WWII. Some metals were declared critical resources at that time and so they were avoided as cap rings on pens. I also really appreciate the tear drop clip that was introduced in the early 30s. From what I understand, these clips were produced in the early ‘30s, but I have heard of other FPN members saying that it is a common clip on wartime 134 pens. Maybe, surplus stock from early production of the clips caused the company to use it till later into the ‘40s (?). Anyway, this 134 has a steel nib, as war time pens often had since gold was declared a critical resource during the war. I love that long ink window! The filler is the famous telescopic piston introduced in about 1936 and only found on higher tiered celluloid pens till the late 1950s. I date my pen between 1942-43, because in about 1942 MB introduced the etched cap bands (?) and in around 1943 they phased out the long ink window (?). Collectible Stars dates it around the same time too. Pics of the 134 below:

 

 

To the right of the 134 we have the legendary L139. The “L” stands for ‘luxus' or luxury. This has been my grail pen since the day I read about it. I love the “tie” clip, it is ever so elegant. Also, notice the cap and cap crown have no imprints as is expected from this model. The three cap bands - two thin silver rings and one fat gold band with MB imprints in the centre are exclusive to the vintage 129, 139 and 149 models. The cap top crown and blind cap are made of ebonite while the rest of the pen is celluloid. The nib on my pen is made of palladium - inscribed with a fancy “P” on it and tri-coloured with gold plating. The 139 was the biggest pen in the line and is large by any standard. The cap and blind cap are made of ebonite while the rest of the pen is celluloid. I would date this pen to c.1939 because it is speculated that is when MB transitioned from gold to palladium nibs for a short period (?) before switching to steel due to restrictions on the use of certain metals and materials during the war. Pics of the 139 below:

 

 

For me, between the 134 and 139 I have covered satisfactory variation in size and design to check off the 13x series box (though I really would like to add an alloy nib to my collection and we find them often on the 13x series). Also, future additions to this section of my display could be (1) 12xPL - this will add a unique colour to my collection (2) 129 (since I am dreaming…)

 

My next post will be about the 14x series...

[prashant.tikekar]

Awesome first installment. Salute to your dedication. It takes a lot of efforts to build a collection like this.

[siamackz]

Awesome first installment. Salute to your dedication. It takes a lot of efforts to build a collection like this.

thank you!

[Pen Nut]

What an amazing 'themed' collection you have going on there ! Admire your 'pen discipline' (which I lack) regarding what it is you aim to restrict the collection to.

 

Look forward to the updates as I know others will on here.

[CS388]

Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic.

 

Congratulations on your very specific collection. I'm sure many of us are drooling over it!

I'm already enjoying the close-up posts and look forward to more.

 

Thanks for sharing this with us. It's a real joy and, as AlohaLani787 says, a great start to the day!

[siamackz]

Thanks for the encouragement my friends! I will probably break up the next post about the 14x series into a few mini posts because theres quite a lot of content for the page. Coming soon!

[thygreyt]

Wow. Thanks for sharing! Amazing pens, even greater story teller!

[Pointyscratchy]

Can I ask a question about the model numbers?

 

I have read several times that Montblanc pens have three digits, the first being the tier or quality, a one being the best quality, although apparently there was a second and a third tier.{This might not be correct I am repeating what I have read)

 

The second number is the filling system.The number four donating a piston filler. (But the often mentioned contradiction to this is a 147 which is cartridge only)

 

And the third number which is Monblanc's own propreity nib size. (Pretty much everyone seems to agree with that bit).

 

So what's the truth?How does this numbering system really work or is there no system at all, just numbers used in different ways at different times?

 

 

Also are there any personal stories attached to the 139, such as famous users?

 

When you think of a pens financial value (sorry to bring the tone of the topic down) signed first editions of books can go for up to a million.What price a pen that F S Fitzgerald used to write Gatsby, or Hemingway the old man and the sea? I mean if the pen in question wasn't just any old pen but say a 139.

Edited December 19, 2018 by Pointyscratchy

[siamackz]

Can I ask a question about the model numbers?

 

I have read several times that Montblanc pens have three digits, the first being the tier or quality, a one being the best quality, although apparently there was a second and a third tier.{This might not be correct I am repeating what I have read). You are correct.

 

The second number is the filling system.The number four donating a piston filler. (But the often mentioned contradiction to this is a 147 which is cartridge only). yes there are some contradictions but in general the second digit was supposed to describe the filler

 

And the third number which is Monblanc's own propreity nib size. (Pretty much everyone seems to agree with that bit). Yup

 

So what's the truth?How does this numbering system really work or is there no system at all, just numbers used in different ways at different times? Answered above, the system is pretty legit, with some exceptions (that will be presented in my collection ahead too).

 

Also are there any personal stories attached to the 139, such as famous users? Never heard of any. I'd be curious too.

 

When you think of a pens financial value (sorry to bring the tone of the topic down) signed first editions of books can go for up to a million.What price a pen that F S Fitzgerald used to write Gatsby, or Hemingway the old man and the sea? I mean if the pen in question wasn't just any old pen but say a 139. Interesting question, but I haven't the faintest idea

[AlohaLani787]

The first installment of your Montblanc history series was very interesting reading. I look forward to subsequent posts. Thank you for the serious time and effort you put into your presentations.

[siamackz]

Part 2A - 14x Celluloids

 

Hello again! This is the third instalment of my series (the first was an introduction and second was about the 13x). Now, moving on in time period, lets look at my 14x collection.


In todays post, lets focus specifically on the vintage celluloid 14x collection.These pens replaced the 13x series in the mid/later 1940s, though a little overlap in their production did take place. In the pic below, we see the 139 and its successor - the 149 silver rings:


The iconic and classic torpedo shape of the 14x has earned it a permanent spot in the modern Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. This classic design has not changed much in about 70 years, which says a lot about its timelessness. The vintage 14x series were all in celluloid material, and three colours were available for the 142, 144, and 146 - black, grey striated, and green striated. The 149 was only available in black. All the pens in this series had telescopic pistons which were a USP considering how they innovatively allowed for a larger ink fill.

Lets look at the 14x celluloids in my collection a little more closely. From left to right in the pic below we have the 142, 144, 146G, and 149:


The 142 is the smallest in the series. Its small but I can write without posting the cap quite comfortably. This one has an oblique medium nib - wet and expressive, with some flex. I date this pen between 1957 to 1959 because (1) the feed on my pen is the version after the ski slope feed which is still shown as the feed for this model in the 1956 MB parts manual (2) the 14x series was replaced by the two digit series post 1959. Pics below:


The green striated 144 is a special pen. I find the material and design stunning! My pen has a KEF nib. The Kstands for Kugel which essentially means the nib tip is shaped like a ball for easy angles while writing. Its an interesting nib tip design, and not so common, but I have to say its a bit boring to write with as it doesnt have character like the early MB nibs do. I tuned mine to be a wet writer, but its not flexible. Considering it has the ski slope feed, I believe this pen was made in the early 1950s. My 144 was an export version - probably to an English speaking country like the UK. Thats why it has the imprint of Made in Germany on the barrel, and also why its cap band says masterpiece instead of the German word for it - meisterstuck. These are difficult to find with the colour still vibrant, and I think my pen is a decent example. Pics below:


I purchased the 146G as a bit of a risk because the piston was stated as not working and I was still a rookie restorer. It was a wonderful roller coaster of a restoration journey with a happy ending, and is documented on FPN! If I had to choose one pen in my whole collection and give everything else away, then the 146G would be that one pen! What a wonderfully expressive OB nib it has! The G in the model may signify glatt or glossy finish (?). The medium length ink window allowing you to see the ink level even with the cap on is beautiful! This longer-than-typical ink window, the G imprint, and the ski slope feed all indicate that this pen is one the earliest productions in around 1949. My pen has the past owners name imprinted on it Wolf Langer. Pretty cool name! I actually like pens with personalisation as they make me feel like I own a piece of history. Pics below:


Finally, the 149 is arguably the most definitive model MB ever made! It has experienced uninterrupted production since its introduction in 1952. Even the 146 took a break in production during the 1960s, but not the 149! This celluloid version is known by collectors as silver rings as the pens cap has two thin silver rings with a gold band in between, just like the 139 which it replaced. Mine has an 18c nib, unlike the more common 14c nib. Look at the lovely extra long tines on the nib, allowing for some softness while writing!. It makes you feel like you are writing with a precision instrument of some kind. I would date this pen to the mid-50s considering it has the short ink window (not the earlier medium sized ink windows) but still has the earlier ski slope feed and cork seal for piston (not plastic). Pics below:


My 14x celluloid collection is only one pen away from being complete for me - its missing an example of the beautiful grey striated colour. I hope to find one in the future, though these are rare and expensive and hard to find in good colour.

In the next article, I will make comparisons between the celluloid and modern 14x series pens

Edited December 20, 2018 by siamackz