Dating Montblanc cases

[JCC123]

Wow, thanks to everyone contributing to this thread as we're getting some great information on what cases are correct for the period our pens were produced.

 

I wonder where the paper boxes come into the picture? Is it for the lower priced pens?

[JCC123]

5 hours ago, joss said:

 

The case that is shown above has the 'new' logo so it is later than 1970.

 

Various models of the dark red-brownish boxes with a bakelite-like appearance were still used in the 1960s, for example for the all-metal Masterpieces (#94 and #92), but can also be found mated with lower line pens such as #32 and #34, although it is difficult to prove that a particular pen is original to a particular box. I do not know if the 1950s-1960s MB 149 came with a luxury box as standard, or if these boxes were sold separately, as an extra accessory that you could have with any MB pen you bought.

Do you think there might also have been a difference between the U.S. boxes vs European?

[joss]

17 hours ago, Seney724 said:

I have never seen or heard of that "luxury" box accompanying any MB pen except for the celluloid 149.  You?

 

I had to look it up, and this 1955 Montblanc catalog available in the PCA library mentions that luxury boxes came free with some of the MB high-end pens (i.e. Meisterstuck 744, 742, 644 and 642).

 

I believe that the dark red plastic box with bakelite-like appearance that you showed in your March 9 post (paired with the black MB 149) is shown in this 1954 Montblanc catalog (page 32 of the catalog) paired with the 744 Meisterstuck. The text of this Dutch catalog states that the pens are "individually packed in deluxe box" and on several pages it is mentioned that the box is supplied free of charge for several pens. So it seems that not only the 149 but all of the higher end MB pens came with a free pen box.

[joss]

The picture on the left is from a past internet auction and shows the 'square' metal box with the 1970s MB logo paired with what appears to be an MB 92/4 or 82/4 Meisterstuck and accompanying ballpoint pen. As mentioned earlier, you can never be sure if the pens are really original to a particular pen box, but in this case the pens are period correct for the box.

The image on the right is the back of a 1975 Montblanc USA catalogue, which I believe shows the same 'square' metal clamshell box.

 

[joss]

13 hours ago, JCC123 said:

I wonder where the paper boxes come into the picture? Is it for the lower priced pens?

 

I believe that the yellow cardboard boxes are from the mid to late 1950s, and ebay auctions show that these are typically found with the entry-level Montblanc pens from the 1950s (such as the 25x and 34x models). This does not exclude though that also a 146 came in such box too, referring to the picture in one of your previous posts. Even though some of the 1950s catalogs mention that luxury boxes came free with the top-of-the-range pens, it is still possible that these 'free gifts' may have been limited to certain times of the year, such as graduation gifts in June or Christmas gifts in December.

[Seney724]

2 hours ago, joss said:

 

I had to look it up, and this 1955 Montblanc catalog available in the PCA library mentions that luxury boxes came free with some of the MB high-end pens (i.e. Meisterstuck 744, 742, 644 and 642).

 

I believe that the dark red plastic box with bakelite-like appearance that you showed in your March 9 post (paired with the black MB 149) is shown in this 1954 Montblanc catalog (page 32 of the catalog) paired with the 744 Meisterstuck. The text of this Dutch catalog states that the pens are "individually packed in deluxe box" and on several pages it is mentioned that the box is supplied free of charge for several pens. So it seems that not only the 149 but all of the higher end MB pens came with a free pen box.

Great information!  Thanks for your efforts to thoroughly research it.

Most important is to never forget your caveat that "you can never be sure if the pens are really original to a particular pen box."

[JCC123]

That PCA Library is such a great source. I found another source on vintage Montblanc catalogs. Haven't gone through them to see the cases yet.

https://goldfinkberlin.wordpress.com/2021/02/15/downloads-of-pen-documents/

[josepllcs]

Hi,

 

Here you have a Montblanc 644 grey-silver set (circa 1954-1956) with its original box. Although a little bit deteriorated, still shows reminiscences of deluxe finish.

 

 

[OCArt]

9 hours ago, josepllcs said:

Here you have a Montblanc 644 grey-silver set (circa 1954-1956) with its original box. Although a little bit deteriorated, still shows reminiscences of deluxe finish.

Fabulous!!!!!  In our local pen club when we admire a colleague's pen we often say "leave me that one in your will." I'm calling "dibs" now!

[JCC123]

11 hours ago, josepllcs said:

Hi,

 

Here you have a Montblanc 644 grey-silver set (circa 1954-1956) with its original box. Although a little bit deteriorated, still shows reminiscences of deluxe finish.

 

 

What does the cover look like?

[josepllcs]

11 hours ago, OCArt said:

Fabulous!!!!!  In our local pen club when we admire a colleague's pen we often say "leave me that one in your will." I'm calling "dibs" now!

Hahaha… I also use that expression, thinking of a friend widow/er that will try to sell all fountain pens at the “declared” value…

[josepllcs]

10 hours ago, JCC123 said:

What does the cover look like?

Here you have additional pictures; you can see that the box is not in perfect condition, but given its age, it looks good. 

 

 

[Seney724]

Great, thanks for posting these photos.

I do not think I have seen this one before....I wonder if it was unique to this specific series of pens?

[JCC123]

Thanks for the photos. Is that leather or paper made to look like leather?

[josepllcs]

On 4/16/2025 at 11:48 PM, JCC123 said:

Thanks for the photos. Is that leather or paper made to look like leather?

Hi! It’s paper simulating leather.

[josepllcs]

On 4/16/2025 at 2:53 PM, Seney724 said:

Great, thanks for posting these photos.

I do not think I have seen this one before....I wonder if it was unique to this specific series of pens?

According to the 1955 Montblanc catalog that is mentioned above by @joss, see pages 30 and 31, it seems that this box was meant for the 6xx and 7xx series. At least is was I can see from the picture in that catalog. 

[Seney724]

38 minutes ago, josepllcs said:

According to the 1955 Montblanc catalog that is mentioned above by @joss, see pages 30 and 31, it seems that this box was meant for the 6xx and 7xx series. At least is was I can see from the picture in that catalog. 

Great information!

Thanks

[JCC123]

4 hours ago, josepllcs said:

Hi! It’s paper simulating leather.

Thanks!