Monte Rosa

[penman88]

I am looking at a 50s montblanc monterosa pen, the asking price is appt 140$ does anyone have any info or advice on this potential purchase?

[penman88]

Is this not a legitimate model? It has monte Rosa ingrates in the cap I will get a photo

[penman88]

Here it is, any info would be helpful year, nib etc... thanks guys

[OCArt]

My guess is that you have a model 042. Google-ing for Monte Rosa gets this

 

[flash=]

[Jerome Tarshis]

Yes, the pen is a MonteRosa 042. I own one. Mine is quite pleasant to look at and hold in my hand and write with. Another pen that looks very much like it, the Montblanc 342, has a more thrilling nib (for me) and is just that much better. Both pens are reminiscent of the 1950s and what one could expect a pen to be. Even a relatively inexpensive pen.

[BlueJ]

Regardless of what EvilBay sellers are asking, I would consider $140 a bit steep for, effectively, a "fourth-tier Montblanc." $100 might be reasonable for the pen shown at the top of the thread.

[VersoFolio]

I'm new to the community and I'm learning my way around. Am I posting in the correct place?

Reading the comments above I began to wonder where my MonteRosa 041 fits in. It's definitely a student pen l but I don't know much more about it. Does anyone else have this model?

[Kalessin]

You're in the right place!  Welcome!

 

Monte Rosa was an affordable sub-brand of Montblanc, and were pretty well-made considering the original student pen pricing.  

 

While I don't own one, the nibs and writing experience are reportedly very good.

[JulieParadise]

Yep, they are good.

 

I own several Monte Rosa 042 and Montblanc 342 (size is the perfect sweet spot for me), those are "unbranded twins" of the Montblanc 342 model to the point where caps, nibs & feeds between the 042 and the 342 are interchangeable. Great pens with great #2-nibs (in Montblanc's system), some even with gold nibs, then a little "g" is added to the name.

[Tom Kellie]

~ JulieParadise:

 

Thank you for educating me about the “g“!

 

There are four superb Montblanc 342s on my writing desk.

 

Two of them have the “g”.

 

Thanks to you, I now understand why.

 

They're right up at the top in writing quality.

 

Outstanding nibs which are typically an excellent value.

 

Tom K.

[Toll]

I have a 342 G — purchased at the Baltimore Pen Show a few years ago — not sure I knew that the Monte Rosa and the 342 were “twins.”  That being said, my 342 G is a wonderful writer and I am glad for it! 

[VersoFolio]

Thank you Kalessin, Julie P. My 041 is very basic but well made. I can't see most of the hooded nib which is possibly hiding a couple of details. (probably not a little g). It has a nice blue ink window, screw cap and has plunger filling system. I've seen it suggested that these were made for 'export' but can't yet figure out what that means! As a low tier fountain pen it has some really strong features.

I've included pics because I know how much I love looking at other peoples pens and am excited to contribute but also to see how well my little camera performs.

Nice to meet you all.

Edited December 10, 2020 by Gaudi95
Spelling error. Sorry

[JulieParadise]

Back in November I had the opportunity to compare some pens I have here for pen spa & tuning right now, the big ones are not mine (Montblanc 146 --> M, got a stub nib, Pilot Custom 823 --> B, got a stub as well, Pilot Custom 74 --> music nib was misaligned). I like to include the comparison pics, too, because the MB 142 has the same size as the Monte Rosa 042, so you might see how these pens fit into the size scale next to the others.

 

 

 

 

Edited to add that the Montblanc Masterpiece and the Meisterstück are the same, except that the Masterpiece was made for export and features a different cap band with "Masterpiece" instead of "Meisterstück" on it.

 

And, ooopsie, it is indeed a Montblanc 146, not a 149. Sorry.

[VersoFolio]

Wonderful sharing Julie! Thank you. Great to see and absorb all these amazing pen details. It's almost capillary action. What shall we call a group of Montblancs? A Pride? A Parade? I just received email that my Meisterstuck Classique 145 Olive leaf/Blue Sapphire Unicef has arrived at New Zealand Montblanc Service Agent this evening. There will be good news and bad I expect. It will probably be sent to Sydney Australia! I've never been to Sydney Australia. How come my pen has more fun than me? Seeing that little one next to my 149 "Monsterstuck" is quite a comparison. Adore both of them though.

I've been writing with a Stub nib all day long and also with Robert Oster Motor Oil. Been a fabulous day here for that reason alone.

[JulieParadise]

Yeah, your pen sure has fun now! 

 

I would call my pens my treasure. It really is a lot of joy these bring me when I use them multiple times each days. (I work from home and thus are always surrounded by all my pens. ;D )

[Toll]

Nice photos, Julie. Interesting to see the GvFC orange ink.  I recently ordered some; it sits in an unopened box that arrived two days ago, awaiting my inspection! I put my 342-G into rotation yesterday with Tolstoy Blue. 

[txomsy]

Yeah, this has been most interesting and illustrating. Thanks.

[VersoFolio]

Thanks for your comments.

I have another question for you Julie. What do you think would happen if our 'sub-brand', Monte Rosa pens arrived at Montblanc for service or repair? Would they reject them?

I think I can guess the answer but ask if other forum readers have ever experienced this.

 

[JulieParadise]

Well, knowing how Montblanc handles old pens I would not send them anything that is older than 5-10 years. Montblanc is not only taking fees of the worth of a Sailor Pro Gear Slim for mere maintenance, they also ruthlessly change feeds (even vintage ebonite feeds!) and even nibs. Nope, nope.

 

I am lucky enough to know Tom Westerich who lives in Berlin (at least part-time) and would always recommend that, wherever you are, always send your vintage pens to renowned pen expert you can trust in that area. 

[VersoFolio]

Very strong feelings Julie. I respect that. Born from experience no doubt. I am learning the truth about 'brand management' at Montblanc and I have no desire to send vintage pens. As far as their modern pens I have only 2 and I have sent each one to MB for certain reasons.

Forgive me if this would be better discussed over in the MB forum Julie, but both pens have intrinsic value. My challenge was my sense of attachment. I love the pens, I sent them away, they returned and I continued loving them. Neither pen arrived home the same as it once was but in my case I didn't need to be concerned for stolen vintage parts like ebonite feeds etc. There were none. They are interchangeable.

The old man's proud boast, "I've had the same axe for 50 years! But it's had 5 new heads and 10 new handles"!🤔