My Vintage Mb Collection

[jchch1950]

Thank you for the information. Spanish Mont Blancs are rare and not well known.

[Toll]

It is Christmas morning and I was delighted to awaken to your latest installment with a strong cup of coffee in hand. You are gifted at both photography and the written word. This collection is a true labor of love and your instincts in carefully assembling it attest to that. Thanks again for sharing your insights.

[siamackz]

It is Christmas morning and I was delighted to awaken to your latest installment with a strong cup of coffee in hand. You are gifted at both photography and the written word. This collection is a true labor of love and your instincts in carefully assembling it attest to that. Thanks again for sharing your insights.

That is very kind and encouraging of you, Toll! I am glad you are enjoying these posts - its wonderful to have a community to share ones collection with.

[bass1193]

It is so great of you to take the time to document all of your hard work! Much appreciated!

[siamackz]

It is so great of you to take the time to document all of your hard work! Much appreciated!

Thank you bass!

[siamackz]

PART 4

 

Moving on to the next set of pens in my display, we have an assortment of MBs from the 1930s-50s. Lets look at them more closely.

 

Left to Right - 334 ½, 324, 432, 422

 

The 334½ was produced from before, during, and a little after WWII. This one in my collection is from 1947-52 since it has two gold rings on its cap and has a 14k gold nib inscribed with 4½ to denote that it is the correct size for this pen. I suspect that this pen replaced the button filling 324 which is really quite similar. One key difference from the 324 is that the 334½ is a piston filler. Its so interesting that MB felt the need to have a ½ size in the line up - to me this makes the pen rather special. There was a 333½ made as well.

The 324 button filler was made in around 1935-39. The pen material is ebonite. I quite like the feel of it - its warmer and softer than celluloid. Over the years this material starts to oxidise and turn to a chocolate brown, as seen on this pen. While the outlined star on the cap top, and the simple pen clip are rather plain in their appearance I actually appreciate the modesty of this design. The nib on this pen is different from the typical montblanc imprinted ones - the 32x series used warranted nib inscribed with a b or c depending on pen size. Mine is the b nib as would be expected of this mid sized #4 pen. It is quite flexible. This pen also has a Stoffhaas imprint on its cap which signifies that it was sold by the Montblanc-exclusive stationer Stoffhaas in the 1920s and 30s. Stoffhaas had boutiques in Germany, Spain, Paris, and London, and sold its own stationery and pens - some made by MB identical to the MB series of the time. From what I have noted, the 324 is more valuable than it successor the 33x - probably because its older and harder to find in good condition.

 

The 422 (rightmost in pic), produced between 1935-41, is a stylograph or ink pencil. These were quite common in the early 1900s, and started production in the late 1800s with with companies like Cross and McKinon (Im not sure if I got the name right) leading their design. The 422 is a long pen. Notice the lovely imprint on its barrel. The red dot on its cap represents the line width that it produces on paper - the bigger the dot the thicker the line. This pen is a push knob filler - similar to a button filler from the inside ie it has a sac and a pressure bar, but it has a push knob that allow for more comfortable action that the small metallic knobs on button fillers. Its more comfortable to use than a button filler, if you ask me - quite innovative, and the same mechanism used on the 12x series. The clip on this pen is known as papyrus for some reason, and is quite elegant. Inside the section you can see the mechanism that makes the pen work - a lead weight attached to a thin needle feed made of some kind of platinum-iridium alloy (if I remember correctly). When the need is pushed up into the nib tip due to pressure against paper, it allows ink to flow out. This one is quite a lovely writer - wonderfully wet and smooth as well. These stylographs were not expensive back in the day, but they are rare to find now - especially in working condition!

The 432 is a stylograph like the 422, except it is a piston filler. This one is considerably shorter than the 422, its more regular sized. The cap top and blind cap are in ebonite while the rest of the pen is in celluloid. Its doesnt have a clip, instead it has a black ring in the place of the clip. I dont know if this is original or not but it fits perfectly and looks great, so Ill just let it be. Considering the engraved cap bands, I date this pen to later in the WWII period, 1943-46. It seems that during the early years of the war the German economy was not fully focused on the war and this changed in 1942 once the new Armaments Minister came into power. Production policies thereafter changed to a single minded focus on wartime needs - factories and materials were used primarily for war time requirements, variations in design of products were limited, metals were used with great ration, etc.

 

One pen that I would like to add to my collection from this time period is the glass nib or MoG, and maybe one of those 3xx with the high cap top.

Edited December 27, 2018 by siamackz

[AlohaLani787]

A quiet early morning with coffee in hand, I looked forward to catching up with your Montblanc presentation and wasn't disappointed.

 

I especially loved the Spanish pens and the closeup photo of both. The striping technique reminds me of Hermes vibrato except in mono color.

[Tom Kellie]

~ siamackz:

 

Just as AlohaLani787 wrote, your Montblanc presentations exceed all expectations.

Your knack for bringing out the unique design features of your pens is remarkable.

I like the images you post, as they bring the viewer into the fine details of each pen.

Thank you so very much for your ongoing effort to prepare and post such a valuable series illustrating and explaining your collection.

With Much Appreciation,

Tom K.

[siamackz]

~ siamackz:

 

 

Just as AlohaLani787 wrote, your Montblanc presentations exceed all expectations.

Your knack for bringing out the unique design features of your pens is remarkable.

I like the images you post, as they bring the viewer into the fine details of each pen.

Thank you so very much for your ongoing effort to prepare and post such a valuable series illustrating and explaining your collection.

With Much Appreciation,

Tom K.

A quiet early morning with coffee in hand, I looked forward to catching up with your Montblanc presentation and wasn't disappointed.

 

I especially loved the Spanish pens and the closeup photo of both. The striping technique reminds me of Hermes vibrato except in mono color.

Thanks Aloha and Tom, it is such a pleasure to share this modest collection with you. Next up are some of my favourite pens

[Ghost Plane]

Oh yum! Love seeing the older nibs and what they came attached to.

[siamackz]

Oh yum! Love seeing the older nibs and what they came attached to.

I have an OB 1950s coming up for your viewing pleasure stay tuned

[Ghost Plane]

I have an OB 1950s coming up for your viewing pleasure stay tuned

OB?! *settles in to wait *

[Tom Kellie]

I have an OB 1950s coming up for your viewing pleasure stay tuned

 

~ siamackz:

 

Your audience includes those who love both broad and oblique nibs.

We're tuned in, feeling fortunate that you're so generous with excellent images of your outstanding pens.

Tom K.

[specialk0449]

Siamackz thank you for sharing your beautiful pen collection. You have done an outstanding job putting together your MB collection. Your photos are excellent. I look forward to reading your new post each day.

[siamackz]

Siamackz thank you for sharing your beautiful pen collection. You have done an outstanding job putting together your MB collection. Your photos are excellent. I look forward to reading your new post each day.

Thanks for tuning in Specialk, and I hope you enjoy the remaining few posts too!

[siamackz]

PART 5

 

Here are three pens that I adore - each one has its own very distinct design and belong to different series.

 

 

To the left we have a Meisterstuck 72 from the 1960s, with a rolled gold cap and a winged nib that is slightly hooded or covered. The rolled gold means it has more gold deposited than a simple gold plate, and hence it holds better over time. The two digit series in the 1960s replaced the three digit series, except for the 149 whose production was uninterrupted. I quite like the flat top and streamlined design of this pen. The body is in resin and the piston filler has a plastic seal which is very reliable. Normally, I am not a fan of the resin pens because the injection moulding makes it so perfect and flawless in finish that I feel the absence of any human element in its crafting. But, the two digit series is an exception for me - I find the pens to be exquisite designs. The size of the pen is great for me - I like the length and how slender it is even though its the smallest in the two digit series . This one is also a great writer, with a beautiful OBB nib! I should have paired the 72 with my other two-digit series pens, but I feel like the Meisterstuck pens deserve their own spotlight Pics below:

 

Next, in the middle, is the celluloid 644 with its beautiful rolled gold cap. This is part of the Meisterstuck series, and it has the telescopic piston system. Its design is very distinct. Another two series - the 7xx and 27x (Danish) look similar. There is also an N version which I believe has the winged nib like the 25x series. The 64x also comes also in a striated green and grey colour, which is beautiful. My pen has a wonderful OB nib, and I date it to 1954-56. This pen has been on quite a journey with me. It had many issues except the nib was OB and original to the pen, and the cap was pristine (which is so important with metal cap pens because a dent here and there and youre practically stuck with it in that condition for life). I believed in Brad Torelli And, what a genius he is! But, it took two trips around the world and 6 months of patient waiting before I could have it back. I have had this pen with me less time than it has been away. But it was worth the wait! Pics below:

 

Finally, to the right, we have this lovely 244 "Tiger Eye colour from the mid-1950s. Apparently, it was super popular in Germany and the MB agreed not to release it in the Danish market in order to protect sales of the local design. This one has a wonderfully flexible and expressive nib! It is a piston filler, not the telescopic kind but rather similar to the kind found in my Danish collection and found on the 3xx series and even later production 2xx series. This is probably one of the most beautiful pens in my collection, and in minty condition. I find the spade shaped clip quite distinguishing when compared to other MB models. And, I do like the 4 size pens best for my hand, so this one is a favourite writer of mine! I would see this pen for sale every now and then and saw pics of it on the rare ones topic in our montblanc forum. But I never thought I would own one. It happened by chance. I met a dealer from the UK who was visiting my city. He took out a bag of pens and this was in there. My eyes lit up! Seeing it in person, I just had to buy it. I traded my entire vintage Waterman collection for it. That trade started me down the path of collecting exclusively MBs. Pics below:

 

Only two posts to go

[CS388]

Excellent stuff, siamackz. Thanks.

 

I'm particularly fond of the 334½. I have a steel nib version and it has replaced many MB's from my daily carry - indeed it has become my most used pen. I have it beside me, now, always ready to write!

 

Great thread. Great collection. Thanks again.

[AlohaLani787]

I've come to appreciate the ivory stars over the crisper white stars of current pens.

 

And that Meisterstuck script writing on the 244 Tiger's Eye cap is simply beautiful!

[Toll]

The Tiger Eye 244 is very beautiful. Hard to believe it was simply in a bag of pens; as opposed to being in nice case!

[spacecoastpenny]

Awsome collection and great display