# Fountainpen Forum FAQ Knowledge base of the former fountainpen.de forum (anonymised). 2739 Q&A entries. ## Inhalt - Articles from the collector portal (187) - General questions on writing instruments (282) - Montblanc (1778) - Other (196) - Other manufacturers (296) ## Articles from the collector portal ### Articles **Question:** Which Montblanc fountain pen is used for entries in the Golden Book of the City of Dortmund? **Answer:** For entries in the Golden Book of the City of Dortmund a Montblanc Meisterstück No. 146 in the classic version is used. The fountain pen has a 14-carat gold nib with platinum inlay in nib width B and is fitted without engravings or decorations. It has been in official use since the 1980s together with a matching pen stand; the writing instruments used previously also came from Montblanc. The Golden Book itself was designed in 1899 on the occasion of the opening of the port of Dortmund by Kaiser Wilhelm II by Professor Mayer of Heidelberg together with Karl Eyth and financed by Heinrich Wencker, owner of the Dortmund Brewery zur Kronenburg; the matching golden inkwell with little tower-corners was donated by the owner of the Dortmunder Zeitung Gustav Krueger and designed by Paul Drescher in silver, gilded, partly polished and adorned with gemstones. The book cover itself consists of engraved silver, is partly gilded and decorated with ruby-backed rock crystals, coal spheres and pieces of translucent and opaque enamel; between the covers, now in the fourth edition, lie hand-made paper pages. Before each entry the book is given to a graphic studio that calligraphically inscribes the name, function and background. The fountain pen is checked for ink level and cleanliness and placed without cap into the pen stand for the ceremony; the set is supplemented by a blotter roller. Should the 146 fail, a second Montblanc writing instrument stands ready as a backup. After the ceremony, pen and book are kept under the supervision of the protocol chief in the safe, while the book cover, together with inkwell, official chain and parts of the council silver, is exhibited in an alarm-secured display case in the city hall foyer. --- **Question:** Which poets and writing instruments does the book 'Der Gänsekiel oder Womit schreiben?' cover? **Answer:** The book 'Der Gänsekiel oder Womit schreiben?', subtitled 'Dichter und ihre Schreibgeräte', appeared as a companion volume to the exhibition at the Schiller-Nationalmuseum in 1994 and comprises around 90 pages in 13.5 by 21 cm format. Four writers with their preferred writing instruments are presented. Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) wrote almost exclusively with the goose quill, although stylus and pencil were already available toward the end of the 18th century. Eduard Mörike (1804–1875) used both goose quill and frequently stylus and pencil. Hermann Hesse (1877–1962) wrote both by hand and on the typewriter; a piston pen Osmia Supra had proven itself for him, which he had repaired in the late 1930s and after return acknowledged by letter with the remark that the nib had become somewhat coarser, but he himself was no longer what he once was. Peter Härtling, born 1933, writes exclusively with typewriter and fountain pen, corrects with ink, rarely with pencil or ballpoint; already as an eleven-year-old he owned a Montblanc piston pen and remained loyal to the brand but today uses cartridge pens. Alongside, the volume covers paper, ink, sealing wax, writing furniture and travel accessories of the respective epoch and is richly illustrated. Bibliographically the work belongs as 'Vom Schreiben 2' to the Marbacher Magazin 69 of 1994, edited by Sabine Fischer. --- **Question:** Which fountain pens were on view in the small exhibition at the Dortmund Museum for Natural History? **Answer:** From 26 April 2005 to the end of May 2005, part of a private fountain-pen collection was exhibited in the information area of the Dortmund Museum for Natural History, Münsterstrasse 271 in 44145 Dortmund near the Klinikum Nord. Opening times were Tuesday to Sunday from 10 to 17:00; admission prices were between 75 cents and 3 euros; on Saturdays admission was free on Family Day. On an exhibition area of around 1.80 by 0.70 metres, 36 fountain pens with nearly all filling systems were presented, including transferable, Safety, push, lever, piston and cartridge pens; six fountain pens were exhibited disassembled in order to illustrate the filling technique. Well-known German brands like Geha, Montblanc, Lamy and Pelikan were deliberately omitted in order to give more attention to less known makers like Pichler & Mueller, Moewe, Santis, Transparit, Heiko, Rigoletto or Corrector. The presentation was supplemented by fountain-pen boxes, dip pens with nibs and small ink bottles. In parallel Ursula Stolte showed parts of her collections in encaustic painting and Günter Graban with minerals and gemstones. --- **Question:** What do the historical Pelikan advertising or seal stamps from 1984 have to do with brand advertising? **Answer:** Pelikan published in 1984, as a return to old values, a small booklet in 13.5 by 23.5 cm format with historical advertising stamps whose originals appeared around the turn of the 19th to 20th century. The booklet contains three sheets with twelve different seal stamps each in styles like Art Nouveau, Expressionism, Futurism and Art Deco; some are poster designs by graphic artists and painters of the time. Advertising stamps, occasionally also called seal stamps, had their heyday between the early 1890s and 1914 and were printed in millions in Germany. They were artistically designed pictorial marks given to customers for advertising purposes, usually in product reference; original advertising strategists expected the stamps to be glued onto letters and envelopes, contributing to brand spread. Already at their heyday they were a popular collecting object; after WWI cigarette cards largely displaced advertising stamps. --- **Question:** Which postage stamps commemorate Thomas De La Rue and his writing-instrument firm? **Answer:** Thomas De La Rue, born 1793 and died 1866, was founder of the English firm De La Rue, which in the late 19th and early 20th century also made fountain pens, including the well-known Onoto pen; in the late 1950s the company ceased fountain-pen production. De La Rue first made his fortune with the production of playing cards in London and later received the English monopoly for postage stamps and means of payment also outside England; in the 1880s the development of fountain pens began. The postal administration of the Channel Island Guernsey, his birthplace, honoured him twice with special stamps. A first set of four stamps appeared on 2 June 1971 with focus on stamp production and depictions of stamps from Hong Kong, Italy, USA and England. A second set of five stamps followed on 27 July 1993 for his 200th birthday in an edition of 113,000 pieces and shows banknote, fountain pen, printing press, postage stamp and playing card as the firm's full product range. In Germany on 12 October 2000 the first special stamp of the 'For the Postage Stamp' series appeared with a fountain pen, a writing pencil and an inscribed envelope with stamp. Background on the firm De La Rue and its writing instruments can be found, among others, in Andreas Lambrou's book 'Füllfederhalter' and in 'Füllfederhalter, Schreibkultur und Schreibdesign' by Giorgio Dragoni and Giuseppe Fichera. --- **Question:** Which surprising insight does the book 'Die merkwürdigen Füllhalter' by Piet Ruys bring? **Answer:** The book 'Die merkwürdigen Füllhalter' by Piet Ruys, despite its title, does not let one expect a collector volume on curious writing instruments. In fact, it is a Dutch crime novel from 1961 with 124 pages on industrial espionage. Records and chemical formulas are violently torn from a young inventor and smuggled in a gutted fountain pen; childhood friends of the inventor can later solve the theft and return the formulas to the rightful owner. With this title is a crime novel whose fountain-pen reference is purely literary. --- **Question:** What does the catalogue 'Werkzeuge des Pegasus' on the exhibition of the Stiftung Weimarer Klassik show? **Answer:** 'Werkzeuge des Pegasus' is the companion catalogue to the exhibition 'Historische Schreibzeuge' in the Goethe National Museum, on view from 9 November 2002 to 5 January 2003 in Goethe's residence in Weimar on the ground floor and presented by the Stiftung Weimarer Klassik. The volume presents writing implements in various forms and materials such as ceramics, wood, porcelain, stone and glass in word and image and additionally shows furniture, writing-implement folios, ink bottles, nibs, letter openers and further writing accessories, above all from the second half of the 18th and from the 19th century. Among the outstanding exhibits is the writing ball made in 1867 in Copenhagen on which Friedrich Nietzsche wrote. The catalogue is divided into preface, an essay on writing instruments and creative writing in the 18th and 19th century, a catalogue part with writing implements, writing instruments and writing utensils, a section with illustrated portraits, an excursus on writing recipes and iron-gall ink, and bibliography and picture credits. --- **Question:** Which book publications exist for the Montblanc Literature Prize from 1991 to 1994? **Answer:** For the Montblanc Literature Prize four book editions appeared between 1991 and 1994. The first prize of 1991 carried the theme Profit, the second of 1992 the theme Embraces, the third of 1993 the theme The Summit and the fourth of 1994 the theme The Appointment. Each edition contains, alongside the short story of the prize winner, between 14 and 16 further selected short stories of the participants. Editor of all four volumes is Joseph von Westphalen, who also chaired the jury and wrote the afterword in each volume. The first two books appeared from Piper Verlag, the following two from Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag. From 1995 to 2003 the prize was not awarded; only in 2004 was it given again with the theme 'There must be that much time'. --- **Question:** What is the advertising booklet 'Ein himmlisches Märchen' of the Tintenkuli Handels GmbH, and which product information about the inkpen does it contain? **Answer:** 'Ein himmlisches Märchen' is an advertising booklet of the Tintenkuli Handels GmbH Altona (Elbe), published in the early to mid-1930s. The booklet has a format of about 9 by 12 cm, comprises 16 pages including cover and additionally contains a four-page insert with thank-you letters. The humorous frame story describes how the office secretary Albert Lingenbring stands in his dream before Saint Peter, whose fountain pen blots while filling out the admission application, after which Lingenbring proudly shows his inkpen and explains its merits. Central product features are advertised: the writing tip consists of iridium and platinum; filling is done by dipping in the ink and pressing a filler button; the pen is then filled for weeks. The price was 6.50 marks, payable also in two monthly instalments, with one week's free trial period and three years' unrestricted warranty. The inkpen was distributed exclusively directly by the firm in Altona to exclude middlemen and imitations. On the enclosed order card the postage was 3 pfennigs if only the quantity was entered; with additional handwritten additions the postage rose to 6 pfennigs. --- **Question:** Which contents and basic data does the exhibition catalogue 'Pelikan – Ein Unternehmen schreibt Geschichte' for the 170-year company anniversary offer? **Answer:** From 20 February to 13 July 2008 the Historical Museum Hannover dedicated an exhibition to the Pelikan company for the 170-year anniversary. The accompanying exhibition catalogue 'Pelikan – Ein Unternehmen schreibt Geschichte' is a hardcover with about 136 pages in 21 by 25.5 cm format and appeared in the series 'Schriften des Historischen Museums Hannover' under ISBN 978-3-910073-31-9. Two of the three authors are employees of the museum; contributions on writing instruments were written by Jürgen Dittmer. The catalogue is divided, among others, into the prefaces of the museum director and the Pelikan vice-president, a section '1838–1905. In the service of art', contributions to the brand Pelikan and to the adhesive Pelikanol, the section '1906–1945. The Pelikan conquers the world' with texts on the district of List and on the new building, a presentation of the beginnings of Pelikan writing instruments, a section on art education, the period '1946–1977. Lifelong Pelikan' with contributions on the Pelikano and the local competitor Geha, and the section '1978–2008. Losses and changes' with contributions on office products, the renaissance of the classic fountain pen, literature notes, outlook and advertising art. The catalogue contains numerous illustrations of posters, billboards and products from cartridge pen to adhesive. --- **Question:** Which ten stylish fountain pens does the Welt Online Special present, and how is the list structured? **Answer:** The Welt Online offer 'Die Welt Besten' under besten.welt.de offers rankings from lifestyle and luxury, including hotels, restaurants, chill-out lounges, coffee houses, structures, TV series, dream streets and theatres, and contains under besten.welt.de/stilvolle+fuellfederhalter also a selection of ten stylish fountain pens. The listing is expressly not a ranking but an alphabetical sorting by maker, which addresses the question of a subjective order. Classics like Montblanc, Pelikan and Faber-Castell are represented, while makers highly valued by connoisseurs like Delta or Sheaffer are missing, who could have appealed to a broader public on this platform. --- **Question:** Which contents does the book 'Schriftstücke — Autographen aus sieben Jahrhunderten' offer for writing-instrument collectors? **Answer:** 'Schriftstücke — Autographen aus sieben Jahrhunderten' is a more than two-kilo volume from Gerstenberg Verlag of 2005 with about 290 pages in 25 by 32 cm format, ISBN 3-8067-2939-5, based on the collection of Pedro Correa do Lago. The book presents handwritten samples of famous personalities from seven centuries, from artistically designed scripts to the hastily scribbled note, supplemented by manuscripts, drawings and autograph cards as well as short biographies. Anecdotally illuminated are e.g. Goethe's wine order, Rubens as author of an espionage report to the Spanish king, George Sand's worry about Chopin or Wagner's begging letters. The English original texts are not translated; other languages are, however, supplied in the appendix. For collectors, especially Montblanc collectors, the facsimiles are particularly interesting, since many namesake personalities of the writing instruments are represented, including Peter the Great, Voltaire, the Marquise de Pompadour, Catherine II the Great, Frédéric Chopin, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Frederick II the Great, Oscar Wilde, Marcel Proust, Ernest Hemingway and Greta Garbo. The handwritten sources range from detailed letter and drawing through notes to the address on a letter in Kafka's case, a signed photo with Virginia Woolf and William Faulkner or a signature on a cheque with Charles Dickens. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Writers Edition Hemingway (1992): https://www.fountainpen.de/writer-hemingway-en.htm • Patron of Arts Marquise de Pompadour (2001): https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-pompadour-en.htm --- **Question:** What is the book 'Der Füllfederhalter des Grauens' about, and in which publisher did it appear? **Answer:** 'Der Füllfederhalter des Grauens', edited by Jörg Sprave, appeared from Dr. Ronald Henss Verlag under ISBN 978-3-939937-05-0 as a paperback with about 148 pages. The book arose from a project of writing-enthusiastic participants of a short-story forum and gathers 14 stories around the fountain pen. The thematic starting point is the thought that with a fountain pen not only entire books are written but also signatures are made with which wars are declared, judgements pronounced, wills written or weapon and drug-money transfers initiated, by which the pen becomes a tool of power. The short stories play in different times and plot situations and range stylistically from humour and black humour through tragedy to horror and chills. To be highlighted is the variety of writing styles and the different ideas with which the common motif of a fountain pen is varied. The publisher offers reading samples of the title on its website. --- **Question:** What does the illustrated volume "Im Schreiben zu Haus. Wie Schriftsteller zu Werke gehen" by Herlinde Koelbl offer in terms of content on writing habits and writing instruments? **Answer:** The large-format volume "Im Schreiben zu Haus. Wie Schriftsteller zu Werke gehen" by Herlinde Koelbl weighs over 1,600 grams and has a format of about 24.5 by 29.5 centimetres. The book appeared in 1998 from Knesebeck GmbH und Co. Verlags KG in Munich, comprises around 260 pages and bears ISBN 3-89660-041-9. The author documents in interviews with 42 writers their writing habits and places of work, whether study, atelier, train or café, and which tools — pencil, fountain pen, typewriter or computer and laptop — are used. The interviews were partly conducted shortly before the death of individual authors and give insights into the inner emotional life of the interviewees. The text is accompanied by numerous black-and-white photographs of writing samples, workplaces and writing instruments. Thus a picture shows Sarah Kirsch, who is holding her seven pens in both hands above a handwritten manuscript. The various working methods are also described: some workplaces are meticulously ordered, others, like that of Friederike Mayröcker, chaotic; individual authors let no one into their study or separate private apartment and work apartment. --- ### Auction tips **Question:** How can on eBay auctions additional photos be embedded free of charge by using the gallery function of one's own website? **Answer:** On eBay only the first photo is free of charge; further photos and larger picture displays are chargeable. These costs can be circumvented by storing photos on one's own server and embedding them in the auction. Via the gallery function in the user menu, for example with the zOOm Image Gallery, a new album can be created. For this, the item "Create / edit photo gallery" is selected, a gallery name and optionally a description entered, the publication option deactivated and "Create" clicked. Afterwards the photos can be uploaded, either as a ZIP archive with all pictures or as individual files whose number is fixed beforehand and then transferred to the server via "Browse" and "Upload". The photos stored this way can then be embedded in eBay auctions. Every author has 10 megabytes of free storage available; the maximum traffic is 250 megabytes per month, which is generally also sufficient for power sellers. --- **Question:** How can the risk of acquiring a counterfeit writing instrument at an online auction be reduced? **Answer:** The safest course is to buy from an authorised specialist dealer. Anyone who nevertheless buys at auction should bid only on listings in which the seller expressly warrants authenticity. A pointed enquiry before the end of the auction settles the matter quickly: in the case of a counterfeit, an answer usually fails to arrive. Personal contact also helps in forming a judgement of the seller. Feedback ratings are a further, if imperfect, criterion. A seller who suddenly offers several Montblanc writing instruments or other high-priced articles without any feedback history at all is suspect. It is worth looking at the purchases and sales made so far: if only very cheap articles have been traded up to now, particular caution is called for; if, on the other hand, the seller has sold exclusive writing instruments before, the risk is low. This is no guarantee, for counterfeits are offered by commercial high-volume sellers with good feedback as well. If doubts remain, one should request detailed photographs before placing a bid, or ask the specialist dealer. --- **Question:** What should buyers pay attention to when bidding on writing instruments in online auctions? **Answer:** Before the end of the auction a maximum price should be set and not raised thereafter. As most bids are placed only in the final minutes, it may be sensible to disclose one's own willingness to pay likewise only shortly before the close. Cause for scepticism is the frequently encountered wording that the seller has been unable to test the function of the fountain pen, ballpoint pen or pencil because he does not know how the instrument works. As a rule such writing instruments are defective, for example because the piston mechanism no longer works. Here only a specific enquiry to the seller helps, or it is better to pass over the offer. --- **Question:** What can a buyer do if a writing instrument acquired at auction turns out to be a fake? **Answer:** The first step is to attempt to return the writing instrument to the seller against full reimbursement of all costs. If the seller refuses to take it back, three routes remain: instructing a solicitor to enforce the claims for damages, involving the police, and informing the proprietor of the trade mark rights, that is, the manufacturer. Caution is called for here. Anyone who proceeds against a seller without being absolutely certain that the item is a fake risks an unjustified interference with that seller's business operations (Eingriff in den Gewerbebetrieb) and may become liable for damages himself. Before any further step, the question of authenticity should therefore be settled beyond doubt, in case of uncertainty by the authorised specialist trade. For the same reason, merely notifying the platform operator that a seller is offering a counterfeit rarely leads anywhere; it is usually followed by no reply at all, or only by an automatically generated standard response. In the case of commercial vendors of counterfeits, it is more effective to approach the trade mark proprietor directly. --- **Question:** What claims does a trade mark proprietor have against someone who sells counterfeit writing instruments? **Answer:** The trade mark proprietor can issue the seller with a formal warning under German law (Abmahnung) and demand that the conduct cease. If the seller does not act free from fault, claims for damages are added, which arise from Section 14(6) of the German Trade Mark Act (Markengesetz). In addition, the seller must disclose the origin of the counterfeit goods, and the copies can be destroyed under Section 18 of the German Trade Mark Act (Markengesetz). Three methods come into consideration for calculating the damages: compensation for the lost profit, surrender of the profit made from the trade mark infringement, or payment of an amount equivalent to the licence fee customarily charged. For private sellers this means that even the resale of a copy in good faith can lead to a formal warning (Abmahnung) and to the deletion of the listing. --- **Question:** Must an online auction house check its sellers' listings for trade mark infringements on its own initiative? **Answer:** No. In 2002 the watch manufacturer Rolex brought an action against Ebay in order to stop all trade in its brand on the platform and thus to prevent the sale of copies, but lost the case in the autumn of 2002. In March 2004 the decision of the German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) was available: the platform operator does not have to interfere in the listings, because it merely acts as an intermediary between seller and buyer. A different outcome would have had far-reaching consequences, since any kind of trade in Montblanc writing instruments could then have been prohibited as well. Trade mark proprietors, on the other hand, have far-reaching means of intervention. Through the programme for verified rights owners they can report unlawful auctions; the listings are then deleted and the seller receives a warning. The platform passes the seller's details on to the rights owner, so that further legal steps are possible. For Montblanc items it is Richemont International S.A. that acts as the rights owner. Many manufacturers of luxury goods now cooperate with the platforms, which is why copies are becoming rarer there; Montblanc likewise carries out random checks and takes action against sellers offering copies. --- **Question:** Why do comparable writing instruments achieve such different prices at online auctions? **Answer:** The cause is asymmetric information. Only the seller knows the condition a writing instrument is really in; the bidder can neither handle nor try it and has to estimate its value from indicators: photographs, the description, the seller's feedback ratings and further points of reference. The better these indicators reduce the uncertainty, the higher the willingness to pay. Where they are absent, bidders factor in a risk discount, and the piece goes for less than it is worth. That explains why auctions, for all their efficiency, do not produce uniform prices. The form of auction used on the large platforms corresponds to a variant of the Vickrey auction: the bidder gives the bidding agent his maximum bid, that is, his true willingness to pay, and the agent automatically raises the bid only as far as is necessary to outbid the others. Anyone who knows the mechanism therefore bids once, at the amount the piece is really worth to him. --- **Question:** On which day of the week and at what time of day should an auction of collectors' writing instruments end? **Answer:** The time at which an auction ends considerably influences the price that can be achieved, because most bids are placed in the final minutes. Anyone selling should therefore let the auction end when as many interested parties as possible are online. Analyses of the visits to a relevant writing instrument portal for February 2004 show that usage is markedly higher from Monday to Friday and regularly falls away at weekends. Within the day the main concentration lies between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. An auction ending on a working day within this period therefore reaches the greatest number of potential buyers. It is notable that this audience differs from the average internet user, whose main period of use lies between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.; depending on the product offered, a different time may therefore be sensible. Friday morning between 10 a.m. and 12 noon is to be avoided, because maintenance work on the platform may take place within this window. Usage behaviour is moreover not static but shifts with the season and with external influences, so that such analyses provide only points of reference after the event. --- **Question:** How should the title and description of an auction for a Montblanc writing instrument be structured? **Answer:** The title should carry the spelling Montblanc as one word. Listings are also to be found under Mont Blanc, but searches are overwhelmingly made using the correct company spelling, so that a title written as two words reaches considerably fewer interested parties. The description should contain the exact model number or designation, the nib width, the type of nib, that is, steel, 14 ct or 18 ct, as well as the colours of barrel, cap, rings and clip. For Solitaire writing instruments, the material should additionally be stated, for example steel, silver, vermeil or gold, and the surface finish, for example thread guilloché or grain guilloché. For limited editions, the number of pieces produced should be named, and also whether the packaging and the service guide are present. The condition is to be described as precisely and as honestly as possible; this saves disputes with the highest bidder later on. As precise as necessary, as short as possible: all important details should be immediately apparent. A clear layout with different type sizes and emphases helps more than pages of text. --- **Question:** How should a writing instrument be photographed so that it shows to good effect in an auction? **Answer:** Good photographs are a duty, because pictures convey the decisive information far more quickly than text; for this reason around eighty per cent of the area in print advertising consists of illustrations. For auctions, informative shots are more important than striking ones. Perspective distorts: from a suitable angle even a slender fountain pen such as the Mozart looks enormous. The writing instrument should therefore be photographed horizontally, so that no part appears distorted, and individual areas are better shown with additional close-up shots. The focus belongs on the nib, the heart of every fountain pen, and otherwise on the place a viewer looks at first. The background should be of a single colour and should not distract; embroidered tablecloths are unsuitable. Good contrast is important, so a black writing instrument should not be placed against a black ground. A white sheet of paper often gives the best results. The writing instrument is to be taken out of its packaging so that any defects become apparent; the packaging can be shown with an additional picture. Sufficient light is necessary, preferably daylight, which avoids colour distortion. On metal surfaces, direct light and flash lead to strong reflections, whereas indirect or diffuse light shows more detail. --- **Question:** What additional costs arise when buying a writing instrument at auction in the USA or when selling abroad? **Answer:** When buying in the United States in 2004, the favourable dollar exchange rate was accompanied by additional costs which quickly consumed the supposed bargain: express shipping came to around 40 euros, and to this were added import duties of about 30 per cent on the value of the goods plus the shipping costs. The exchange-rate advantage usually did not offset this burden. Conversely, where the highest bidder is abroad, a seller should clarify before dispatch who bears the costs of the payment transaction, for example in the case of transfers from outside Europe, of cheques or of payment through a payment service, who assumes the customs charges and who bears the higher shipping costs; in addition, the shipping method appropriate to the destination country must be chosen. These incidental costs can quickly exceed the value of a writing instrument, so that a sale abroad may in some circumstances not be worthwhile. --- **Question:** Is the operator of an online auction platform such as Ebay liable for the writing instruments offered there? **Answer:** No. The platform merely provides the marketplace and does not check the individual auctions; the contract of sale is concluded exclusively between seller and buyer. Intervention takes place only in the case of obvious breaches of the terms of use, or where a final court judgment exists, in which case the seller can be excluded from trading. In practice this happens rarely enough, for even clearly non-compliant listings, such as the sale of copies, are frequently not ended early. From this a structural imbalance arises: the seller is usually in the better position, because the buyer pays in advance without ever having seen the goods. Fraudsters can often no longer be traced after the event, proceedings are discontinued, and not every seller can be got at through bank details and user data either. For sums of around 300 euros, instructing a solicitor is as a rule not worthwhile for the buyer, which is why many of those affected let the matter rest. --- **Question:** What requirements does case law place on the item description when a fountain pen is bought at auction? **Answer:** The buyer is entitled to a complete and correct description; it must be as complete and unambiguous as is in any way possible. Whether the seller is an expert or a layman makes no difference: anyone who offers a writing instrument in good condition and delivers a fountain pen with a bent or cracked nib owes a refund of the purchase price; the excuse that, as a layman, one did not recognise the defect is immaterial. If defects are concealed – which includes the fact that parts are no longer original but were replaced at a later date – the item is defective within the meaning of §434 paragraph 1 sentence 1 of the German Civil Code (BGB). This expressly applies to second-hand items as well. The reasoning given for this is that the buyer cannot examine the goods before the hammer falls and must therefore be able to rely on the seller's statements; defects are to be named explicitly. The relevant decisions are the judgment of the local court of Bitburg (Amtsgericht Bitburg) of 12 February 2003 (case no. 6 C 276/02) and the order of the regional court of Trier (Landgericht Trier) of 22 April 2003 (case no. IS 21/03). In the case of fraudulent misrepresentation (arglistige Täuschung), for instance about a completely bent nib, the buyer may in addition rescind the contract of sale under §123 of the German Civil Code (BGB), provided that the seller must have been aware of the incompleteness of his statements and that the deception was causal for the conclusion of the contract. If the description and the photograph evidently differ from one another, open points are to be clarified by enquiry before the end of the auction. If the answers remain vague, restraint is called for; with high-value pieces it is advisable to have it expressly warranted that the item is an original and not a product counterfeit, and, in case of doubt, to insist on an escrow service. --- **Question:** What traps lie in wait in the auction text, the product photographs, the delivery time and the postage costs of writing instrument listings? **Answer:** An old but still effective trick is to auction nothing but the packaging. A heading such as "Montblanc Meisterstück 146 OVP" may mean that the highest bidder receives only the box or the service booklet; the decisive note is then hidden in the small print of particularly long descriptions. Anyone who falls for this may rescind the contract of sale (Anfechtung), and the seller is liable to prosecution for fraud under §263 of the German Criminal Code (Betrug, §263 StGB). Caution is also called for with listings illustrated by manufacturer photographs from brochures or from websites: in such images the writing instrument is shown in ideal form, and actual defects of the example being offered are not apparent. In case of doubt, one should ask whether the photograph really shows the piece on offer. A note that dispatch may take up to six weeks because of delivery times indicates that the seller does not possess the goods at all. Under the Ebay terms and conditions of 2004 (§8.4), only articles that were in the seller's possession at the time of the auction were permitted to be offered. Postage costs must in principle be stated; if the listing refers to the price list of a carrier, only those costs may be charged. --- **Question:** To what extent can a private seller effectively exclude liability in an auction of writing instruments? **Answer:** Unlike commercial vendors, private individuals may limit their liability or exclude it entirely – but not without limit. A complete exclusion is possible only for used writing instruments; a wording such as “I am selling this writing instrument with all liability excluded” suffices for that. For new goods, by contrast, liability cannot be excluded, and the statutory warranty period (Gewährleistungsfrist) is at least one year even in a private sale under German law (Privatverkauf). Just as little can the right to withdraw from the contract of sale in the case of defective quality after a failed repair, or the reimbursement of the costs of a complaint, simply be struck out. What is decisive is that warranted characteristics (zugesicherte Eigenschaften) are adhered to and that all defects are listed. An exclusion of liability holds only where the description contains no warranted characteristics at all. If the seller fraudulently conceals defects, the exclusion is ineffective under §444 of the German Civil Code (BGB). Not to be confused with this is the return of goods without giving reasons within fourteen days: a private seller can effectively exclude this right. --- **Question:** What rights does the buyer have when acquiring a writing instrument at auction from a commercial vendor? **Answer:** Anyone who sells new goods through an online auction as a trader within the meaning of §14 of the German Civil Code (BGB) is subject to the same rules as in ordinary mail-order trade: the buyer is entitled to a 24-month warranty period (Gewährleistung) and a fourteen-day right of return. Clauses in terms and conditions that exclude the return of goods bought at auction are void to that extent, for online auctions are not auctions in the narrower sense but count rather as offers of sale at the highest price; with buy-it-now listings there is obviously no auction in any case. If a commercial vendor sells used writing instruments, he may shorten the warranty period to one year, but may not exclude the fourteen-day right of return. Nor does the widespread notice that the goods are being sold 'on a customer's behalf' (im Kundenauftrag) alter the legal position: the buyer's contractual partner remains the commercial seller, who is then acting as a commission agent (Kommissionär). Handling fees charged on the reversal of the transaction are not permissible. --- **Question:** Which methods of payment are safe or risky when buying high-quality writing instruments through online auctions? **Answer:** An escrow service reduces the risk for both sides: the highest bidder transfers the purchase price to the escrow agent, the seller dispatches the goods only after the credit has been received, and the buyer releases the money once the goods have been inspected. The fees are usually borne by the buyer; in Germany, Ebay worked with iloxx Safetrade for this purpose in 2004. It is useful above all between private individuals, since commercial sellers are in any case subject to a fourteen-day right of return. Caution: fraudsters operate their own websites with bogus escrow services. The trick works in both directions – either the buyer transfers money to a sham company, or the seller receives a forged confirmation of receipt a few minutes after giving his agreement, sends the goods and never sees any money. Cash on delivery causes higher costs but offers no real security: the only thing guaranteed is that a parcel arrives, not what is inside it. It is likewise unfavourable for the seller, because if acceptance is refused he is left with the high shipping costs. Cash transfer services, which are popular for transactions abroad, are simple and inexpensive, but they allow the recipient to receive payments anonymously and are therefore readily demanded by fraudsters. As a seller, one dispatches the goods only after the amount has been credited to one's own account. Faxed transfer slips or screenshots of a supposed online transfer are frequently forged, and excuses such as a birthday coming up serve only to bring the dispatch forward. --- **Question:** How is the feedback profile of an auction seller read correctly, and what is permitted in feedback of one's own? **Answer:** The feedback profile is more informative than its reputation suggests, provided that one does not look merely at the number of positive ratings but works through the past auctions. It should arouse suspicion if a seller has so far sold nothing but cheap mass-produced goods such as CDs or videos, has even covered the shipping costs in doing so, and has never yet successfully sold a high-quality writing instrument. Because HTML code is permitted in the listing text, the genuine ratings can also be obscured by embedded program code; a click on the feedback profile usually exposes this. In doing so, the address bar of the browser must be checked to see whether one is still on the pages of the platform, since a redirection to an imitation page would otherwise go unnoticed. For feedback of one's own the rule is: remain factual. Insults and untrue assertions are not permissible, and neither are accusations that cannot be proved, such as the imputation that someone deliberately sold a defective writing instrument. Anyone who leaves feedback of that kind risks a criminal complaint for insult (Beleidigung) or malicious gossip (üble Nachrede); if the person rated suffers demonstrable financial loss as a result, a claim for damages is added. --- **Question:** What should be watched out for when a writing instrument is offered at an auction by a seller abroad? **Answer:** Foreign sellers also make offers on German auction platforms, which many buyers overlook. It should give pause for thought when the place and the country given do not match. If it emerges only after the purchase that the seller is not based in Munich but overseas, then, besides the higher risk in handling the transaction, high shipping and customs costs are to be expected: in 2004 the customs costs alone came to around 30 per cent of the value of the goods, which means that a supposed bargain usually no longer pays off. A further warning sign is a free webmail address, since the identity of the person registering is not verified in every country when such a service is signed up for. The seller thereby remains practically anonymous and is hardly to be traced in the event of a dispute. --- **Question:** How does one recognise fraudulent e-mails calling for the renewal of an Ebay account? **Answer:** Such messages typically begin without a personal salutation and claim that the account is about to expire and that the personal data must be renewed and confirmed. The link they contain leads to a replica page that is deceptively similar to the original and asks for the user name and the password. The platform itself sends no e-mails in which the entry of such data is demanded; access data obtained in this way is used to buy or sell articles at auction under another person's name. If there is a suspicion that third parties are misusing the account, the operator is to be informed immediately. Heightened caution applies to the use of other people's computers, for instance in internet cafés while on holiday, since it cannot be checked there whether entries are being recorded. In the event of a dispute the account holder may under some circumstances have to prove himself that it was not he but a third party who acted. --- **Question:** What options remain if an auction seller does not take back a defective writing instrument? **Answer:** Where the amount in dispute is around 200 euros, the enforcement of justified claims usually founders on the costs: to secure a solicitor for such a case is difficult and uneconomic, and disreputable sellers count on precisely that. Being in the right and obtaining one's right are therefore two different things in online auctions. The platform's buyer protection programme offers partial compensation: in 2004 purchases up to a goods value of 200 euros were covered, with an excess of 25 euros. In practice the dispute frequently ends with a negotiated reduction in price, which nevertheless costs the buyer money. If the seller is a commercial vendor, the free arbitration board (Schiedsstelle) of the federal association Die Verbraucher Initiative e.V. can additionally be called upon. Prevention is more effective: one bids by preference with sellers whom one already knows or who have demonstrably sold high-quality writing instruments successfully before. The safest course remains purchase from a specialist dealer. --- **Question:** What is the point of a seller bidding on his own auction under a second account? **Answer:** Practically nothing, and it can prove expensive into the bargain. Some sellers start at one euro and then attempt to bid the desired minimum price up using a second account. Since most bids are in any case only placed in the final minutes, vigorous bidding days before the end of the auction fizzles out to no effect. If the seller ends up buying his own item, he must additionally bear the platform's selling fees, which quickly becomes expensive. A variant serves to spy out other bidders' maximum bids: the seller keeps bidding under a second account until he has outbid the previous highest bidder, and thereby knows that bidder's maximum bid. He then cancels his own bid and places a new one exactly one euro below it. This approach, too, usually comes to nothing, because the decisive bids only arrive shortly before the end of the auction. --- **Question:** What was the demand for old and for new writing instruments at the Hamburg pen fair in 2004? **Answer:** The Hamburg pen fair took place on 3 October 2004 in a hall next to the Museum der Arbeit (Museum of Work); a flea market was running in front of the hall at the same time. Trading began early; by about half past eight most of the tables had been set up and the first transactions concluded. Towards ten o'clock the hall filled up additionally with visitors from the flea market. Almost exclusively old writing instruments were in demand. Newer models from the preceding years, by contrast, sold sluggishly or not at all, although the prices asked corresponded to the level then current on Ebay or were even below it. The reason lay in the structure of the buyers: the collectors were looking above all for older pieces, whereas the flea market visitors were happy to try out new fountain pens but bought none. Anyone offering newer series-production goods at a fair must therefore expect low turnover even with prices in line with the market. --- **Question:** How did prices and the state of preservation at the Cologne collectors' meeting in 2004 compare with Ebay? **Answer:** At the Cologne collectors' meeting in March 2004 the prices for more recent writing instruments were at the usual market level and corresponded roughly to the Ebay prices of the time. Outright bargains were hardly to be found; anyone buying there thus paid no less for current models than in the online trade. A well-filled purse is therefore part of the equipment. The decisive difference lies in the choice and the condition. The range on offer at a large collectors' meeting is considerably broader than that of the online auctions, and the older writing instruments were in exceptionally good condition, which was not to be compared with the average Ebay offering. For collectors of old writing instruments a visit is therefore worthwhile even when there is nothing to be gained on price: they get to see and to handle pieces that can otherwise hardly ever be examined at close quarters. --- **Question:** Which writing instruments are actually bought at collectors' meetings, and how do the prices compare with Ebay? **Answer:** At collectors' meetings it is above all older writing instruments that change hands. During the morning of the Cologne meeting in March 2005, pieces from the period before 1945 in particular were traded; in the afternoon writing instruments from the 1960s and 1970s came to the fore. New goods play a markedly smaller part. Haggling goes without saying, and the first interested parties are often standing at the table before the goods have been fully unpacked. The price level in 2005 was fair and frequently lay even below the Ebay prices of the time. The real advantage over the online auction, however, consists in the fact that the writing instruments can be examined closely before the purchase instead of having to rely on photographs and descriptions. Even those who sell little themselves gain something from a visit, because the exchange of experience with other collectors arises in such concentration only there. --- ### Books / Literature **Question:** Why is Jens Rösler's "Montblanc Diary & Collector's Guide", according to Penparadise, considered the "bible" for Montblanc collectors? **Answer:** Jens Rösler, son of the last private owner of Montblanc, Dr. Jürgen Rösler (12 March 1930 – 9 September 2003), describes in his "Montblanc Diary & Collector's Guide" the company's history from the founding of the Simplo Filler Pen Company in 1908 through to the Second World War. Substantial parts draw on the recollections of his grandmother Annemarie Rösler, née Voss. The book is illustrated with numerous images of rare writing instruments and period documents and offers detailed descriptions in the appendix of nearly all models produced in this period. For Montblanc collectors it is currently the only comprehensive reference of its kind and rightly counts as the indispensable bible of pre-war Montblancs. The work is now only available on the collector market and is worth every cent even at prices beyond 250 euros. --- **Question:** What is the book "Das Bleistiftschloss" edited by Jürgen Franzke, and what topics does it cover? **Answer:** "Das Bleistiftschloss" is the companion volume — published in 1986 by Heinrich Hugendubel Verlag, Munich — to the exhibition of the same name at Schloss Faber-Castell, on view from 9 July to 19 October 1986. The book was edited by Jürgen Franzke and runs to about 160 pages (ISBN 3-88034-307-1). It covers various aspects of the more than 225-year history of the family company, including the generation contract, Schloss Faber-Castell in Stein, company history, the "village of pencil-makers", the relationship of order, good work and pay, and the castle as backdrop. Despite many illustrations only few writing instruments are shown; for interested collectors the volume is nevertheless worth reading. --- **Question:** Which book by Jens Rösler and Stefan Wallrafen covers Montblanc writing instruments between 1946 and 1979? **Answer:** 'Collectible Stars' by Jens Rösler and Stefan Wallrafen presents Montblanc writing instruments from 1946 to 1979 and is therefore the ideal complement to Rösler's earlier volume on the pre-war period. The work is aimed primarily at collectors and offers a comprehensive overview of the fountain pens, ballpoints and pencils produced in this epoch. It additionally contains guideline prices for mint-condition pens and thus also serves as a valuation aid. --- **Question:** What history of the pencil is told in Henry Petroski's standard work 'The Pencil'? **Answer:** Henry Petroski's 'The Pencil — The History of an Everyday Object' appeared in German translation in 1995 from Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel, as a hardcover with about 408 pages and numerous illustrations (ISBN 3-7643-5047-4). Originally packed, shrink-wrapped copies additionally contain a Faber-Castell 9000 pencil. Petroski competently tells the history of the pencil starting in the time before its invention, describes the rise of new technologies, closely guarded trade secrets, improvements and well-known pencil families of the old and new world, and depicts a 'pencil world war' between entire industries. The to this day unfinished search for technical perfection is also a topic. Cultural, technical and economic aspects interlock here. Drawing on old company records, Petroski quotes discussions of an Atlanta firm in the early 1920s on how wage structures were to be designed for the mass production of mechanical pencils — in a language that mirrors the social image of that time in an oppressive way. In the appendix is a contribution by Norbert Franzke and Peter Schafhauser on the pencil dynasty Faber-Castell. --- **Question:** What does Miroslav Tischler's book document about Eduard Slavoljub Penkala and the Penkala works? **Answer:** In his elaborately researched book Miroslav Tischler has documented the life and work of Eduard Slavoljub Penkala (1871–1922) as well as the history of the firm Edmund Mostar & Co. — the later Penkala works. Penkala was not only an important designer and inventor in the writing-instrument field but also the constructor and pilot of the first aircraft built in Croatia. Presumably it was he who invented the piston filler; in 1927 the Penkala works sold the patent of a fountain pen with differential piston to Günther Wagner, from which the well-known Pelikan fountain pens later emerged. Penkala also held patents for mechanical pencils, further writing instruments and improvements to the gramophone or to the material of gramophone records. The large-format volume (about 24 x 33 cm) comprises around 152 pages with excellent photos of writing instruments, documents, ads and advertising. Content-wise it is divided into preface, history of Penkala and the Penkala works, writing instruments (filling pencil, mechanical twist pencil, fountain pen, safety pen, lever filler, push filler, bumper pen, eyedropper system, piston filler), factory in Lepoglava, other products of the Penkala factory, clips, nibs, art of advertising as well as chapters on other Croatian stationery makers — including Günther Wagner K.D. Pelikan factories in Zagreb — and other international makers. From the last chapter previously unknown piston fillers such as Juwel (Deutsche Füllhalterwerke GmbH, formerly Angloamer) or OWA (Peter Jungmann, Heidelberg/Dossenheim) can also be unambiguously assigned. In 1909 Penkala incidentally founded a Berlin branch in which writing instruments were also produced. --- **Question:** What did the annually published special edition 'Scriptum — The Most Beautiful Writing Instruments' offer, and when did it appear? **Answer:** 'Scriptum — The Most Beautiful Writing Instruments' appeared annually, initially in 1996 as a special edition of the magazine 'Chronos' and from 1997 to 2000 as a special edition of the magazine 'Scriptum, the magazine for writing culture'; the series no longer exists today. Each issue presented the new releases of nearly all renowned writing-instrument makers, including Montblanc, Pelikan, Faber-Castell, Parker and Waterman. Material, nib, mechanism, variants, special features, edition sizes and prices were described, supplemented by contributions on history, design, manufacture and inks. Readers could also vote for the 'Fountain Pen of the Year' by postcard and win attractive prizes. The volumes appeared from Ebner Verlag in roughly 23 x 30.5 cm format with 130 to 160 pages as hardcover editions. They are no longer available in bookshops but can be found in online antiquarian shops and at auctions. --- **Question:** Which collector's book by Jens Rösler documents the history of Montblanc writing instruments from 1908 to 1947? **Answer:** Jens Rösler's book 'The Montblanc Diary & Collectors Guide' is dedicated to the history of the Montblanc company and its writing instruments from 1908 to 1947. It provides an extensive overview of the fountain pens produced in this period and describes in detail the development of the firm. For every Montblanc collector the work is regarded as an indispensable standard reference; it is, however, out of print and only very rarely to be found second-hand. The book itself has thus achieved the status of a collector's object. --- **Question:** Which standard work documents Pelikan writing instruments from 1929 to 2004, and what does it cover? **Answer:** The book 'Pelikan Schreibgeräte / Writing Instruments 1929 — 2004', available from 4 October 2004, represents the long-awaited counterpart to the Rösler volume on Montblanc and is regarded as one of the most comprehensive works on the history of a single writing-instrument maker. It covers all Pelikan writing instruments over 75 years and comprises around 175 pages. Contributors such as the Pelikan expert Tom Westerich ensure that it should quickly become the standard work for Pelikan collectors. Content-wise the book is divided into a first chapter on Pelikan history and a second on Vintage Pens from 1929 to 1980, supplemented by a special section on Pelikano writing instruments from 1959 to 2004. All new limited editions are also included; photos and tables provide a comprehensive overview. The book can be ordered directly from Tom Westerich. Since works of this kind — as the example Rösler shows — typically sell out quickly, an early pre-order is worthwhile. --- **Question:** What overview of makers and history of the fountain pen does Andreas Lambrou's German edition 'Füllfederhalter' offer? **Answer:** The German edition of Andreas Lambrou's 'Füllfederhalter' — original 'Fountain Pens, Vintage and Modern' — appeared in 1992 from Wilhelm Heyne Verlag Munich in the translation by Stefan Wallrafen, partly with different photos than the English edition. Lambrou offers an overview of the development history of the fountain pen and presents the most important international makers; a chapter on care and troubleshooting also belongs to it. Richly illustrated, the volume is a standard work for fountain pen collectors. The table of contents covers the development of writing and writing instruments up to 1883, three US chapters on the phases 1883–1920 (birth and early development), 1921–1940 (the golden age) and 1940s to 1980s (modern design), followed by country chapters on England, Germany, France, Italy and Japan. Sections on modern fountain pens and limited editions, on handling fountain pens, plus appendix, bibliography, club lists, picture credits and index are added. In the German part the makers Soennecken, Kaweco, Osmia, Faber-Castell, Tropen, Rotring, Pelikan, Lamy and Montblanc-Simplo are presented in short biographies. --- **Question:** Which topics does the second Lamy Edition 'Die Lust am Schreiben' by Hans Heger cover? **Answer:** Hans Heger's 'Die Lust am Schreiben' is the second issue of the Lamy Editions and appeared in 1999 from Verlag Umschau Brauss in Heidelberg (ISBN 3-8295-6905-X). It is neither a large-format pictorial volume nor a classic writing-instrument or script history but reading and picture book at the same time, presenting the world of writing in self-contained, generously illustrated chapters. Heger combines, in feuilletonistic manner, topics such as children's writing, calligraphy and other aspects of handwriting and illuminates the art of letter writing, the ritual of the signature and famous handwritings of cultural history. --- **Question:** Which target group does Regina Martini's book 'Füllfederhalter' address, and what should buyers look out for? **Answer:** Regina Martini's book 'Füllfederhalter' is aimed primarily at beginning collectors and conveys first important hints on building a collection. Writing instruments of various brands are presented, but only partly with photos in colour or black-and-white. The guideline prices listed in the book were valuable orientation at the time of publication but are completely outdated today and show how strongly collector prices have meanwhile risen. Important to know: the book has appeared with absolutely identical content also in an edition with red cover, so a double purchase merely because of the cover is not worthwhile. --- **Question:** What is special about the Rotring commemorative volume 'A Red Ring Rolls Around the World' for the company's 25th anniversary? **Answer:** The commemorative volume 'Ein Roter Ring rollt um die Welt', self-published in 1953 by the firm Rotring/Riepe-Werk, is an unusual form of company anniversary publication for the 25th anniversary, focused on the Rotring inkpen. It tells the probably fictional story of a Hamburg journalist named Wiek who is sent on a world trip by his newspaper and on his stops in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and America repeatedly encounters the inkpen — be it in Manaus in cinema advertising, in the port of Singapore during the unloading of Riepe crates or in Spain at the contract signing of a torero. After his return to Hamburg, Wiek is sent on a report to the Riepe works; there readers learn about the founding in 1928 with the Stylo-Pen, predecessor of the inkpen, the war years, the rebuilding and the company development of the early 1950s. The bound volume has about 60 pages and contains travel photos, shots from inkpen production and pictures of the founder and important employees. Today the book is to be found in antiquarian shops or with collectors. --- **Question:** Which technical topics around the fountain pen does Hans Heger's Lamy Edition 'Füllhalter für Kenner' cover? **Answer:** Hans Heger's book 'Füllhalter für Kenner' was supplied in the writing-instrument box of the Lamy Lady: buyers could send in an enclosed request card and receive the volume free from Lamy. With high technical background knowledge Heger vividly explains the construction and function of a fountain pen, illustrated throughout with the Lamy product range. The central idea is that a fountain pen is more than a writing instrument — it reacts to individual handwriting and combines highly developed technology with traditional craftsmanship. The book is divided into chapters on the history of the fountain pen, design, materials, the nib and its manufacture, filling systems, the feed, the writing test, the grip section, the clip, fountain-pen ink, and care and maintenance; a bibliography concludes the work. Numerous photos and schematic illustrations supplement the text. --- **Question:** Which topics does Dietmar Geyer's collector book 'Schreibgeräte sammeln' cover? **Answer:** Dietmar Geyer's book 'Schreibgeräte sammeln — Vom Faustkeil zum Griffel, vom Federhalter zum Füllfederhalter und Faserschreiber' traces the history of writing and its tools from the hand axe to the modern fibre-tip pen. Geyer covers, among others, so-called agent pens — James Bond, played by Roger Moore, is said to have used a solid-gold Montblanc as a life-saving weapon in 'Octopussy' — as well as fountain-pen materials such as hard rubber, galalith and bakelite. The book recalls historically vanished and still existing fountain-pen makers along with their famous brands and describes, in a short industry report with numerous colour photos, how a fountain pen comes into being. Separate chapters are devoted to ballpoints, quill pens, pencils, steel nibs, inks and fibre tips; shaping, idiosyncrasies, design, decoration, accessories and two collector stories supplement the volume. It is illustrated with carefully selected photos and pictures from old original advertising. The book appeared in 1989 from Verlag Laterna Magica (ISBN 3-87467-391-X). --- **Question:** Which cultural history of writing and drawing tools did Wilhelm Eule write in 1955 in 'Mit Stift und Feder'? **Answer:** Wilhelm Eule's volume 'Mit Stift und Feder — Kleine Kulturgeschichte der Schreib- und Zeichenwerkzeuge' appeared in 1955 from Fachbuchverlag Leipzig and comprises 164 pages with 113 illustrations. The book vividly explains the history of writing and describes the filling techniques of fountain pens current at the time of publication as well as the then almost new ballpoint. The pencil and its manufacture are also extensively covered. Eule explains the writing tools of history from the chisel through the scriber, spatula, stylus, reed pen, brush and goose quill to the pencil, steel nib and the fountain pen of the 1950s. He also covers writing surfaces such as stone, wood, papyrus and parchment and devotes separate articles to chalk, ink and Indian ink, the compass, the ruling pen and — over four pages — the writing of the blind. Today the book is only available second-hand. --- **Question:** Which topics does Eric Le Collen's book 'Feder, Tinte und Papier' cover? **Answer:** Eric Le Collen's book 'Feder, Tinte und Papier' covers not only writing instruments and their makers but also tells the history of writing from antiquity through the Middle Ages to the present, including associated writing models and accessories. It is divided into the sections Writing Companions, A Thousand Years of the Goose Quill, Of Ink and Paper, The Steel Nib, The School of Writing, The Fountain Pen as American Dream, The Ballpoint Generation and Useful and Worth Knowing. In the last section numerous addresses of collectors, museums, clubs, auction houses, repair and restoration workshops and writing-instrument shops from Germany, France, Great Britain, Switzerland and Austria are listed. The richly illustrated book appeared in 1999 from Gerstenberg Verlag, Hildesheim (ISBN 3-8067-2860-7). --- **Question:** Which writing instruments does the 1997 Bonhams auction catalogue gather, and which highlights does it contain? **Answer:** The auction catalogue 'Bonhams Knightsbridge — Fine and Rare Vintage Fountain Pens and Lighters' from 1997 documents a writing-instrument auction of the English auction house Bonhams Knightsbridge. Numerous older fountain pens from all over the world were auctioned, supplemented by some lighters, ink bottles and stands, each accompanied by estimated prices. Besides internationally known and unknown brands, many German makers like Montblanc, Pelikan, Kaweco and Faber-Castell are also represented. The cover image shows the aviation pioneer Amy Johnson with 'Amy Johnson's Gold Presentation Pen from F. D. Waterman', a memento of her solo flight from England to Australia between 5 and 24 May 1930; the auction house estimated it at 3,000 to 5,000 pounds. Comparatively cheap, by contrast, is a black Montblanc pen set number 136 from the late 1930s with an estimate of 250 to 350 pounds. From the 1990s at least three further Bonhams writing-instrument catalogues exist. --- **Question:** What does the unusually formatted book 'Collectible Fountain Pens' by Juan Manuel Clark offer? **Answer:** Juan Manuel Clark's 'Collectible Fountain Pens' appeared in 2001 from Flammarion in Paris (English edition 2002) and stands out through its square format of about 14 x 14 cm at a thickness of around 2.7 cm. Unlike many collector books, the writing instruments are not treated maker by maker; for each fountain pen depicted, the author instead tells small stories — e.g. about the Ink-Controlled Fountain Pen of the firm Klio of Hennef/Sieg, originally only obtainable by sending a form with a 50-cent piece to the Spencerian Pen Co. in New York. Other pieces are described with date of production, material and design notes. Represented are, among others, the German brands Faber-Castell, Klio, Montblanc, Pelikan, Rotring and Soennecken. Content-wise the book is divided into Introduction, Vintage, Precious, Thematic, Unusual, Index and Addresses & Acknowledgments. A short overview of the emergence of writing and writing instruments and a section on advertising items round off the work. Even if the texts can be challenging for readers without English skills, the pictures compensate. --- **Question:** What does the commemorative volume 'schwarz auf weiß. 50 Jahre Geha' report on the history of the Hannover stationery maker? **Answer:** The commemorative volume 'schwarz auf weiß. 50 Jahre Geha' appeared on the 50th anniversary of the Geha company (1918–1968) and was distributed to specialist trade customers, friends and long-serving employees. It begins with the founding in 1918 by the brothers Heinrich and Conrad Hartmann in Hannover; from the initial letters of 'Gebrüder Hartmann' the founders derived the company name 'Geha'. Also described are the important inventions, the build-up of manufacture and the variety of products — from fountain pens and inks via duplicators, stencils and ribbons to carbon paper — each illustrated with numerous black-and-white and colour photos. Particularly impressive are the shots from the production halls in which still many employees can be seen at the machines, e.g. in the assembly and inspection of fountain pens, ballpoints and mechanical pencils — a picture that makes clear the change to today's strongly automated production. --- **Question:** What content does the Montblanc brochure 'Collectables — Creations of Passion 2004' have? **Answer:** 'Montblanc Collectables — Creations of Passion 2004' is the new edition of a brochure first published in 2003 covering all Montblanc writing instruments with an edition from 333 pieces. Presented are, alongside the Writers Editions and the Patron of the Arts editions, also special limited editions like the Lalique desk set and the Skeleton Star Edition. A criticism is that the associated watches — e.g. for the Skeleton Star Edition, which is only complete as a set — are not included in pictures and that the Limited Anniversary Edition is missing. Overall the brochure nevertheless provides a good overview of the collector's pieces from 1991 onwards and can be obtained free of charge from Montblanc. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Patron of Arts Lalique (1991): https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-lalique-en.htm --- **Question:** Which two books deal with the Faber-Castell dynasty, and where do they place their focus? **Answer:** Juliane Nitzke-Dürr's work 'Lothar Freiherr von Faber' is dedicated to the history of the Faber-Castell dynasty, with the focus on Lothar von Faber (1817–1896) — the first great entrepreneur of the family and founder of the worldwide reputation of the Faber name. The book is divided, among other things, into chapters on company history, the first three generations, expansion and marketing, the patriarch's social responsibility and corporate development to the present. It appeared from Ullstein Verlag, comprises around 158 pages with numerous black-and-white illustrations (ISBN 3-548-35872-1) and is only available second-hand. In addition there is the novelistic biography 'Eine Zierde in ihrem Hause. Die Geschichte der Ottilie von Faber-Castell' by Asta Scheib. It tells the life of Ottilie, who in 1893 at sixteen became sole heiress of the pencil factory A.W. Faber, and her marriage to Count Alexander zu Castell-Rüdenhausen, embedded in the lust for life and end-of-the-world mood of the fin de siècle. It appeared as a Rowohlt paperback with 494 pages (ISBN 3-499-26399-8), likewise only second-hand. --- **Question:** What cultural history of writing instruments does the book 'Griffel — Feder — Bildschirmstift' by Jürg-Peter Huber offer? **Answer:** Jürg-Peter Huber's book 'Griffel — Feder — Bildschirmstift', published in 1985, is — as its subtitle 'Eine Kulturgeschichte der Schreibgeräte' (A cultural history of writing instruments) reveals — an overview of the history and emergence of the various writing tools from antiquity to the then-present. With numerous photos and illustrations the author conveys a vivid insight into the epochs of writing and its environment, including computer technology of the early 1980s. The content overview includes introduction, ancient writing, a thousand years of quill, paper, the office a hundred years ago, the pencil, the development from steel nib to fountain pen, ink, writing in school, the ballpoint ('Rolling on'), felt-tip, fibre-tip and a look into the future, writing instruments and graphology, from typewriter to text system, exotic writing types of other countries, a scribbler's glossary with tips for collectors, writers and readers, and an index. --- **Question:** What characterises the picture book 'In einer Zeit rasender Geschwindigkeit' by Montblanc? **Answer:** The volume 'In einer Zeit rasender Geschwindigkeit brauchen wir Dinge, die uns innehalten lassen', published by Montblanc, is a deliberately quiet book. Factual knowledge is sought in vain there; rather, it invites the reader to pause and understands itself as a contemplative work. As is usual for Montblanc, the edition is very aesthetic and lovingly designed. --- **Question:** What does the Brause commemorative volume 'Vom Werden unserer Schrift' for the company's 100th anniversary contain? **Answer:** The commemorative volume 'Vom Werden unserer Schrift' was published by the firm Brause & Co. on its 100th anniversary and presented to friends and supporters of the house. On around 50 pages the history of writing from antiquity to the then-present of 1950 is described in detail, supplemented by numerous writing epochs and writing styles. A short company history and a report on the emergence and production of the fountain pen are no less missing than a self-critical look at contemporary technology: the board muses that the mechanics and handling of the models of that time already seem old-fashioned and that the fountain pens of 1950 might in a few years be regarded similarly disparagingly — without foreseeing the long-term collector value of these pieces. --- **Question:** Which makers and models does the picture book 'Füllfederhalter' by Giorgio Dragoni and Giuseppe Fichera present? **Answer:** The volume 'Füllfederhalter' edited by Giorgio Dragoni and Giuseppe Fichera portrays a multitude of writing-instrument makers, including prominently Montblanc. The first chapters are devoted to the cultural significance of writing and the development history of the fountain pen. In the second part a selection of striking models is presented, e.g. the Rouge et Noir, several Astoria pens, the Montblanc 139, as well as modern pieces like the Lorenzo de Medici. A famous passage on page 173 honours the Meisterstück series as the line that breaks all records regarding size, beauty, durability and robustness. The work is partly still available in the regular book trade. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Astoria — brand overview (fountainpen.de): https://www.fountainpen.de/astoria-en.htm • Patron of Arts Lorenzo de Medici (1992): https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-lorenzo-en.htm --- **Question:** Which collector book on fountain pens did Jonathan Steinberg write, and what focus does it set? **Answer:** Jonathan Steinberg's book 'Füllfederhalter' concentrates on writing instruments from 1900 to 1945. A single maker is not particularly highlighted; Montblanc pieces are represented but, from a Montblanc collector's perspective, rather underrepresented. Nevertheless it is an appealing volume with numerous illustrations of old fountain pens and many explanations and notes, providing a good overview of this epoch. --- **Question:** Why is Andreas Lambrou's 'Fountain Pens of the World' regarded as the standard work for collectors of high-quality writing instruments? **Answer:** Andreas Lambrou's 'Fountain Pens of the World' has established itself as the standard work among collectors of high-quality writing instruments. In the volume all major brands are represented, including of course Montblanc. Convincing above all are the numerous professional photographs that show some of the rarest and most beautiful writing instruments ever produced. Together with the books by Jens Rösler and Rösler & Wallrafen, the volume counts among the indispensable reference works for collectors of old fountain pens. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc Limited Editions does the work 'Creations of Passion' present, and what target group is it intended for? **Answer:** The volume 'Creations of Passion', published by Montblanc itself, presents all limited writing instruments of the house from 1991 to 2003, provided their edition comprises at least 333 pieces. The truly rare editions with smaller editions thus regrettably remain unconsidered, which can disappoint the ambitious collector. The book addresses primarily beginners and new collectors who have just discovered their passion for Montblanc writing instruments and want a quick overview. --- **Question:** On the occasion of which event did Kurt Grobecker's 'A History of the Firm Montblanc' appear, and where does the focus lie? **Answer:** Kurt Grobecker's volume 'A History of the Firm Montblanc' was published for the inauguration of the new Montblanc building. Alongside the writing instruments, the book pushes into the foreground the people who shaped the company. Drawing on numerous historical advertising brochures, Grobecker traces both the successes and the more difficult phases of the company's history. The conclusion is a picture gallery of celebrities who own a Montblanc fountain pen. --- **Question:** What overview of limited writing instruments up to 1999 is given in Bernard Bernolet's book 'The List'? **Answer:** Bernard Bernolet's book 'The List', with texts by Marc Van der Stricht, was published in 1999 in Belgium in 21 x 29.7 cm format as a softcover with about 140 pages and claims to cover all limited writing instruments published up to 1999. Most of the editions presented date from the 1990s; the oldest is a Parker '75 Spanish Treasure Fleet' of 1965, made of silver salvaged from the Spanish treasure fleet sunk off Florida. Per page five Limiteds are presented with photo and short description, with year of production, edition size, issue list price, possibly current collector price, material and history given for each. The writing instruments depicted come from Belgium, China, Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Taiwan and the USA. Critically to be remarked is that the nibs are treated as stepchildren — material is barely named, and on the often somewhat unsharp or print-limited photos the nib markings are mostly not recognisable, which does not suit collectors who see the nib as the heart of the fountain pen. Notes on contributors, their collections, relevant clubs, magazines and books round off the volume. Overall 'The List' is a useful reference work for an overview of the variety of special editions produced. --- **Question:** Which topics does the reference work 'Werkzeuge des Geistes' by Friedrich E. Linscheid cover? **Answer:** Friedrich E. Linscheid's richly illustrated reference work 'Werkzeuge des Geistes' is dedicated to writing implements and accessories through the change of style epochs and addresses interested laypeople as well as long-standing collectors. It appeared from Universitätsverlag Carinthia, Klagenfurt, with about 180 pages (ISBN 3-85378-409-7). It is divided into two main areas: one on writing with chapters on the original sources and evolution, schools and writers, scripts and printing; and one on writing implements with sections on development, writing surfaces, inks and colours. In the second main part writing implements are presented in the style epochs Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Classicism, Historicism, Art Nouveau and Art Deco up to the 1920s and 1950s; further chapters cover Asian writing implements, travel writing implements, utensils, desks and lecterns, writing sets, pen holders, metal nibs, slate pencils and slates, the pencil, fountain pen and ballpoint, seal stamps and letter openers, typewriters and telegraphs, and collectors and museums. Appendix, bibliography and picture credits round off the work. --- **Question:** What characterises the Montblanc picture book 'Die Seelenmacher — Acht Porträts'? **Answer:** 'Die Seelenmacher — Acht Porträts' places not the writing instruments but the employees of Montblanc as the actual stars at the centre. The volume impresses above all through its photography, with which the products — writing instruments, bags and watches — are emotionally charged. The message is that a Montblanc bag is more than a utility item: it embodies life experience, patience and precision. This achieves a particularly emotional form of corporate communication. --- **Question:** In what editions did the “Montblanc Diary & Collectors Guide” by Jens Rösler appear, and what did it cost? **Answer:** The standard work by Jens Rösler was published with an English text throughout. Copies of the first edition, which was distributed in Germany, came with an insert giving a German version of the text; with the second edition such inserts were dropped. There is also a reprint produced in Spain around 1999 which still gives 1993 as the year inside the book. Both English-language copies printed in Spain and a wholly Spanish-language edition matching the English one in pagination and structure are known; who commissioned it has never been established. Original and Spanish reprint can be told apart by the materials: the binding and slipcase of the reprint feel rougher, almost rubbery, whereas the original edition has a smooth, papier-mâché-like surface. As no new copies were coming onto the market, prices rose: in 2007 a copy of the second edition in as-new condition with slipcase was being asked for at 250 euros including postage, while a Spanish copy changed hands for just under 150 euros. --- **Question:** How do you tell the first edition of the Montblanc Diary by Jens Rösler from the later reprint? **Answer:** Jens Rösler's Montblanc Diary first appeared in 1993. Around the end of the 1990s Montblanc had a reprint produced with the author's consent, which was sold exclusively through the house itself and, according to collectors, was manufactured in Spain. In content the two are identical, no corrections or additions were made, and the reprint likewise bears the year 1993. The two printings can be told apart by the material of the binding and the slipcase: the first edition has a smooth, papier-mâché-like surface, the reprint a rougher one that feels almost rubbery to the touch. The reprint also lacks the insert with the German translation. In 2004 around 125 euros was being asked for a first-edition copy with age-related wear to the slipcase. --- **Question:** What is the difference between the Montblanc Diarium and the book The Montblanc Diary & Collector's Guide? **Answer:** The two terms are frequently confused. The Montblanc Diarium is an appointment book in A5 format that was supplied with page inserts; Montblanc offered plain but expensive leather covers for it, which served as a protective jacket and into which each new year's insert was fitted. The same principle applied to the firm's range of notebooks. The Montblanc Diary & Collector's Guide by Jens Rösler, by contrast, is a reference work for collectors; it measures about 22.5 by 32 centimetres and is thus larger than A4. Both are sought after and fetch high prices second-hand: 425 euros was asked for a Diarium in as-new condition in 2009, an amount collectors considered distinctly excessive. --- **Question:** What reference work on Montblanc is there, and what did the Montblanc Diary and Collector's Guide cost in 2007? **Answer:** The standard reference work for Montblanc collectors is the “Montblanc Diary and Collector's Guide” published by Rösler, which appeared in English with a German appendix. Even in 2007 it was hardly to be had in the shops any more and was passed on from collector to collector: 199 euros including postage was considered reasonable for an unused copy at the time, while an internet auction realised just under 129 euros. Not to be confused with it is the little book “Creations of Passion”, which Montblanc gave away free in its boutiques. It records the Limited Editions from a run of 300 pieces upwards; it is a survey of the special editions and is no substitute for a reference work on models, dating and prices. --- **Question:** What is The Montblanc Diary and Collector's Guide, and what did the book cost second-hand in 2008? **Answer:** The Montblanc Diary and Collector's Guide is regarded among collectors as the most important reference work on historical Montblanc writing instruments. The book is written in English and was supplied in a slipcase together with a German-language booklet. An as-new copy was offered in a private sale in 2008 for around 220 euros including postage. Experienced collectors advised against selling it even then: the work is of more use in identifying and valuing old pens than a fountain pen of the same price, and at that price it is hard to replace later. --- ### Care & repair **Question:** How can a Montblanc Boheme be cleaned thoroughly outside the boutique? **Answer:** According to the service guide, water must enter the body of a Boheme neither from the front nor from the rear; only rinsing the nib is officially allowed. A thorough cleaning is however needed especially when black ink is used (which clogs quickly) or when the ink colour is to be changed. In boutiques Montblanc uses a special glass tube with a rubber bulb, fitted in place of the cartridge; this tool is not sold openly and is comparatively expensive at around 30 euros. A pragmatic solution is to open an old Montblanc cartridge at the rear with a knife (without shortening it too much), clean it, and attach a Montblanc piston converter; the new converters with a front thread sit particularly firmly. The empty cartridge is fitted into the Boheme, the converter attached, and the nib turned out, which retracts the converter together with it. By dipping the nib into water and operating the converter, water is drawn through the feed until the ink lightens visibly. Note that the cartridge must not be cut too short, otherwise the metal ring of the converter does not fit into the body; in an emergency a second empty cartridge can serve as an extension. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Bohème — model overview: https://www.fountainpen.de/boheme-en.htm --- **Question:** How can a stuck piston mechanism caused by dried ink be loosened again? **Answer:** When ink in a piston pen has dried out and the piston no longer moves, a simple water bath helps. Place the pen without cap with the nib pointing down into a glass and add lukewarm water (about 40 °C) so that the knob ends just under one centimetre above the water level. The pen should stand for at least three days, since the capillary forces of the feed slowly draw the water into the reservoir; turning the pen over once a day so the water also reaches the piston is sensible. This method works reliably but requires patience. A faster alternative is to unscrew the cone from the barrel with a special wrench and clean the barrel directly, which takes about an hour. --- **Question:** How can cartridge pens like the Boheme be cleaned with severely dried ink? **Answer:** When a cartridge pen has been left uncleaned for a long time, ink residues can dry and impede flow; a simple piston converter is then often not enough. A proven method uses a Pelikan large-capacity cartridge and a so-called ear syringe from a pharmacy, e.g. size M for around 3.45 euros. Cut the rear of the cartridge open and clean it, then attach the ear syringe to the cartridge and fit the assembly into the pen as a normal cartridge would. To clean, hold the nib in water and squeeze the rubber ball; this loosens even stuck ink residue from the feed. The method is not limited to Boheme or Montblanc but is suitable for any cartridge pen. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Bohème — model overview: https://www.fountainpen.de/boheme-en.htm --- **Question:** Should fountain pens be filled with ink or water before long-term storage, or left empty? **Answer:** The right answer depends mainly on the piston material. Pens with plastic pistons, typically models from the 1960s onwards, can be stored empty without problems after a thorough cleaning. With cork pistons one must distinguish whether the cork has been freshly renewed; a freshly fitted cork soaked in wax stays tight for years even without being filled with water. Older, already used cork should likewise be stored dry, since even distilled water can promote bacteria over time, which in extreme cases leads to mould on cork or celluloid. If the pen is to be used again later, it is enough to fill it with water a few days before use so the cork can swell again. Ink is regarded as the most harmful thing that can be put in a fountain pen; therefore it is advisable to fully disassemble pens before storage, fit a new cork seal or a new ink sac, soak the parts for at least a week in water, and use only distilled water for filling. To test nib operation it is enough to dip the nib briefly in ink; the feed will draw enough for a writing sample. Pens with polyethylene seals, used by Montblanc from the model 252 onward, i.e. from the 1960s, do not need any moisture for storage. --- **Question:** How should fountain pens made of celluloid and hard rubber be stored correctly? **Answer:** Older celluloid fountain pens should be filled with water roughly every three months during longer storage; some of the water visibly disappears, partly given off through condensation and partly absorbed by the celluloid, which prolongs the service life. Writing instruments made of celluloid and hard rubber must in general be protected from light, especially sunlight, since the material otherwise ages; celluloid was the first industrial plastic and tends to self-decompose, as is also known from old film reels. Hard rubber was historically only limitedly dyeable, which is why almost all pre-celluloid pens are black, while celluloid made strong, colourful tones possible. Pens of newer construction, particularly from around 1960 onward, can be stored empty but should first be flushed with water so that dried ink does not damage the piston seal lip in later use. Celluloid and hard-rubber pens must on no account be placed in an ultrasonic bath, as the colour can dissolve; polishes are also to be avoided because many products soften the surface. Hard rubber can be cared for by rubbing it with olive oil or gun oil such as Ballistol, which restores a darker surface. For material identification, celluloid is mostly very colourful and brightly dyed, while hard rubber shows muted tones such as black, dark red or rarely orange and can discolour to grey-brown or fawn under light influence; safe identification is only possible via a burn test, which, however, is not an option on a whole pen, since celluloid is extremely flammable. --- **Question:** How can the Montblanc 147 Traveller be cleaned in practice? **Answer:** Montblanc recommends cleaning fountain pens at least once a month with clear water; with black ink more often. Simply holding the 147 under water is, however, problematic because the inner metal parts can oxidise; only by long drying before renewed use can this danger be reduced, although ink residues can hardly be removed completely this way. An ultrasonic bath is another possibility, but rarely available in practice; in addition, a simple ink change is hardly possible with it. The most practical approach is to fit a standard Montblanc piston converter, which fits well and protrudes far enough out of the barrel to be operated comfortably; with it, cleaning the 147 becomes an easy routine. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 147 Traveller: https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-147-en.htm --- **Question:** How do you correctly maintain the metal mechanism of older fountain pens? **Answer:** At least once a year the metal mechanism of older fountain pens should be treated with silicone spray to keep it operating smoothly. Mechanisms made of metal are mainly found in writing instruments up to the 1950s as well as in Skeleton Editions and pens of other makers such as the Doerrbecker Quintessenz. Current regular Montblanc writing instruments no longer have metal mechanisms and therefore do not need this kind of additional care. --- **Question:** Why should old fountain pens only be filled with water-soluble ink? **Answer:** Older writing instruments should be filled exclusively with water-soluble ink, because only this allows cleaning to be carried out simply and gently. Whether an ink is water-soluble is normally indicated on the packaging; alternatively it can simply be checked whether the ink can be erased with an ink eraser, which is taken as an indication of water-solubility. Typical examples of water-soluble inks are Pelikan 4001 royal blue and Lamy royal blue. --- **Question:** What does the Montblanc leather care set offer, and what is it suitable for? **Answer:** Montblanc offers its own leather care set specially attuned to the range. It is suitable for cleaning and care of all leather articles offered by Montblanc, including the sensitive ostrich-leather variant, and thus represents a manufacturer's own alternative to universal care products. --- **Question:** How do you clean fountain pens that were filled with waterproof ink? **Answer:** Fountain pens running waterproof ink should be cleaned every eight to fourteen days unless they are in daily use. If the ink has nevertheless dried, cleaning begins with a water bath of about six days, possibly with mild soap solution, in which the first ink pieces dissolve. Then the pen, or at least the nib unit, can be cleaned further in an ultrasonic bath; for cartridge pens, additionally tape-head spray from audio retailers, sprayed through the unit, helps to dissolve waterproof ink residues. Writing instruments of celluloid, ebonite or hard rubber must on no account go into ultrasonic, while materials from Pelikan and Montblanc are relatively insensitive there; gold plating already attacked on clip or nib can, however, dissolve further in the ultrasonic bath. Soiled gold nibs can also be cleaned with a damp silver-cleaning cloth, with the cloth being damp so it does not scratch. If nothing helps, the pen should be handed over to a repairer for disassembly. --- **Question:** How do you correctly care for writing-instrument accessories made of ostrich or alligator leather? **Answer:** Exotic leather types such as ostrich or alligator leather need special care. According to Montblanc, care wax is the only correct agent; moist or watery care solutions may rather damage the leather, since these leather types must have returned to them, by the wax, those natural oils and a high beeswax content that they lose over time. The wax should be applied very thinly and well massaged in, otherwise a whitish residue remains on the surface that, while not harmful, is unsightly. On crocodile leather such residues can, thanks to the smoother surface, be polished away again well with a microfibre cloth. --- **Question:** Should you store a button-filler pen with or without an ink sac? **Answer:** Storage with the ink sac fitted is unproblematic, provided the sac is not filled with ink; nothing is more unsuitable for old writing instruments than ink. After every writing test the pen should be flushed with water. However, plasticisers from the rubber tube can lead to discolouration, which is why those who play it safe completely remove the tube. The subsequent fitting of an ink sac is usually unproblematic; more important is that the nib clamp is in flawless condition, since strongly oxidised nib clamps can discolour the celluloid. When buying without a fitted ink sac, the grip section should not be re-glued to the barrel, so that the future fitting of a sac remains possible. --- **Question:** Which writing instruments should on no account be polished, and why? **Answer:** Polishes for Perspex such as Displex, Xerapol or PolyWatch must not be used on writing instruments made of celluloid or ebonite; this concerns older models above all. Old writing instruments should generally not be polished, because doing so can remove the upper, black layer and the fountain pen is unintentionally turned into a translucent demonstrator. With more recent pieces, too, there are areas that are off limits: engravings such as those carried by the Writers Editions, and engraved limitation numbers, can suffer when polished. It is better not to polish such writing instruments at all. As a matter of principle, every polish removes material and can permanently damage a prized piece; anyone who nevertheless polishes works with light pressure and a short application time, and practises beforehand on inexpensive instruments. --- **Question:** Which polishes are suitable for Meisterstück pens made of precious resin, and what did they cost in 2004? **Answer:** Wenol has proved itself, an all-purpose polish that the manufacturer recommends above all for cleaning silver and that has been used by collectors on writing instruments for many years. It removes minor scratches very well; however, it has an unpleasant smell of silver polish and is therefore of only limited use in living rooms. In 2004 it was obtainable exclusively through online shops, at a price of 6.13 euros for 100 grams plus shipping costs. Alongside this there are three polishes made specifically for Plexiglas. Displex is sold as a polish for mobile telephone displays and PDAs, in part under the Hama label, and in 2004 cost 5.99 euros for 5 grams according to the manufacturer's recommendation, in the shops sometimes 4.99 euros and, as remaindered stock, even 2.99 euros. Xerapol, advertised by the manufacturer for motorcycles, caravans, boats, aircraft, furniture and trim strips, was priced at 9.95 euros for 50 grams. PolyWatch, actually intended for plastic watch glasses, cost 4.60 euros for 5 grams. For high-quality writing instruments Wenol is to be recommended, because it is the only one of these products that has been tried and tested over many years and can be applied by beginners as well without major problems. A further variant is Auto Wenol, whose abrasive particles are said to be finer still and which is therefore said to permit gentler polishing. --- **Question:** What matters when polishing writing instruments with a multi-purpose tool such as a Dremel or a Proxxon? **Answer:** Two things are decisive: a low rotational speed and the right polishing attachment. Working too fast or pressing too hard causes the surface to begin melting; unsightly dents are the result, and in extreme cases so much material is removed that holes remain. A continuously variable speed control is therefore essential, and the suitable speed should first be tried out on an inexpensive writing instrument. For polishing plastic, only a cotton attachment is suitable; attachments of leather, felt or rubber are unsuitable. The cotton attachments wear out quickly and have to be replaced regularly, which causes running costs: a set of three cost 4.99 euros in 2004, and the cotton attachment was not available singly. The tools themselves are comparatively expensive. In 2004 a Dremel cost about 80 euros and was available in almost every DIY store, while a Proxxon MICROMOT 50/E with continuously variable speed control cost around 40 euros including the power supply unit. For occasional use the purchase is hardly worthwhile; anyone who owns such a tool in any case should first practise on cheap flea-market fountain pens. Machine polishing remains a procedure for the experienced. --- **Question:** How do Displex, Xerapol and PolyWatch differ when polishing precious resin, and what risk is involved? **Answer:** Practically not at all. The three polishes evidently come from the same manufacturer, their contents appear to be identical, and in a direct comparison no differences whatsoever in effect could be established. All three remove small scratches quickly and thoroughly and, at first sight, perform best. The reason for the good effect is at the same time the risk: the agents are quite aggressive and slightly dissolve the surface, so that deeper scratches too are filled with dissolved material from the pen itself. What long-term consequences this has for the precious resin is unresolved; experts warn of unforeseeable late effects. On a Meisterstück 145 polished about three quarters of a year earlier, no changes to the surface were discernible in 2004 – an observation period that is too short to give the all-clear. How strongly these agents remove material is shown by an experience from the mobile telephone trade: Displex was taken out of the range by several chains after customers had inadvertently removed the brand logo from their telephone while polishing; PDA displays polished right through are likewise known from discussion forums. One should therefore polish only with light pressure and not for too long. --- ### Fountain-pen nibs **Question:** What did the Montblanc Nib Selection Box contain, and what did the sales aid of the 1930s look like? **Answer:** The Nib Selection Box served in the specialist trade to demonstrate the available nib widths to the customer. It contained eight Meisterstück 146 LeGrand fountain pens with nib widths from EF to OBB, as well as a 145 with nib width S. In this way the appropriate nib could be determined easily and quickly on the dealer's premises. A similarly conceived sales aid already existed in the 1930s. That box, however, did not hold complete fountain pens but greatly enlarged nib models, each about 18 centimetres long and 8 centimetres wide. They were used for training purposes and for explaining nib shapes to customers. --- **Question:** Were there Montblanc nibs broader than BB, and for which market were they built? **Answer:** Besides the broad nibs B and BB that are customary today, Montblanc formerly also offered 6B nibs, that is to say a width corresponding to six B. They were made in the early 1960s especially for the Japanese market. These nibs were fitted to the models 14 and 24. There they took over the succession of the music nib, production of which was discontinued at that time. The number produced accordingly remained small, and fountain pens with such a nib are among the outright rarities in the Montblanc nib range. --- **Question:** What are ball nibs and manifold nibs at Montblanc, and how are they recognised? **Answer:** Ball nibs (Kugelfedern) carry a prefixed K in their abbreviation, for example KM for a ball nib in width M, or KEF for a particularly fine version. They are not an invention of the 1990s: ball nibs existed in the most varied sizes as early as the 1950s and on into the 1970s, and a KEF nib is documented, among other places, in old Meisterstück 146 LeGrand fountain pens. Manifold nibs are recognised by the position of the breather hole: it sits considerably closer to the writing tip than on a normal nib. This makes the nib less flexible, but it gains in stability and withstands the greater pressure needed when filling in carbon-copy forms. One such manifold nib in width KM is documented in a Montblanc 262. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the Montblanc nib width "S" (Spezial), and in which model was it fitted? **Answer:** The S nib width is regarded as the rarest nib width of the Montblanc writing instruments of the 1990s, because it existed only for a short time and only on the Meisterstück 145 Chopin. It writes broadly and at the same time absolutely evenly, without any skipping whatsoever, and was intended for writers who rotate the pen while writing; with a normal B or BB nib this inevitably leads to skipping. For the same reason it is also well suited to left-handed writers. The disadvantage lies in the appearance of the script, which seems somewhat characterless; production was therefore discontinued again. Particularly rare is the version in 18 carat gold: according to rumour, only around 200 S nibs of 750 gold were made. Chopin fountain pens with an S nib are correspondingly hard to find. --- **Question:** How does Montblanc mark left-handed nibs and how does their grind differ? **Answer:** Montblanc marks left-handed nibs with a small L at the tail end of the nib. The character looks like a figure one rotated by 90 degrees and mirrored. The usual nib widths were also sold in a left-handed version, the designation changing accordingly: F becomes FL, M becomes ML, OM becomes MOL and OB becomes BOL. The grind differs as well. On the ML nib the upper part of the iridium tip, that is, the left-hand side when writing, is flattened. On the obliquely ground variants the grind runs the other way round compared with normal nibs: whereas normal oblique nibs are shorter on the left than on the right, on the nibs ending in OL the left limb is longer. Such nibs are documented, among others, in a Montblanc 149 with an ML nib and a Montblanc 146 with an MOL nib from the 1950s. Today only very few manufacturers still offer left-handed nibs of their own, whereas formerly almost all the larger brands had them in their range. --- **Question:** How can a music nib (Noten-Feder) be recognised, and how does a fountain pen fitted with one write? **Answer:** Music nibs were developed in the 1930s. Characteristic is a broad but flatly ground nib with which thin and broad lines, and thus calligraphic effects, can be achieved. The most conspicuous feature is the doubly slitted nib with two breather holes, or heart holes; the double slitting carries approximately twice the quantity of ink forward to the tip of the nib. These nibs are designed for writing with very light pressure or none at all, which is why skipping scarcely occurs. If greater pressure is applied, the ink flow rises noticeably and the written image appears considerably livelier than with normal nibs. Too much pressure should nevertheless be avoided: the double slit does make the nib more flexible, but it also bends out of shape more quickly. Because of the sharp grind it also tilts easily, so that such pens are not suitable for writers who already have difficulty with OM nibs. Music nibs were only rarely fitted in Montblanc fountain pens; a Montblanc 344 N from about 1957 to 1960 is among the documented examples. --- **Question:** What are the Montblanc nibs reworked in Japan for Asian characters? **Answer:** For the drawing of Japanese and Chinese characters, nibs are reworked in Japan as bespoke items. The starting point is an EF nib whose tip is reshaped so that the stroke forms required for these characters can be produced. At first glance the nibs appear bent, but they are not; they follow a deliberate modification. The reworking does, however, have its price: because no tipping material remains, the bare gold wears down comparatively quickly, so the service life of such nibs is limited. They are attributed to a nib specialist well known in the Japanese collectors' community, who by his own account worked for Montblanc for many years. --- **Question:** How does a solid gold strip become a finished nib for a fountain pen at Montblanc? **Answer:** The starting material is a solid gold strip, which is first rolled. In the process the material is rolled thinner towards the tip than at the rear end, so that the nib acquires the desired flexibility. In the second operation the chasing is embossed and the breather hole punched at the same time. The blank then receives its final domed shape in what is known as a die. After electroplating, the iridium tip is applied, which protects the point against wearing down. The nib slit is then cut with hair-thin cutting discs as far as the breather hole. Finally, an employee checks every single nib by hand, realigns it where necessary and thus ensures that it glides smoothly over the paper. This last step cannot be automated; it rests on years of experience and a delicate touch. Quality is moreover checked again at every work station. --- **Question:** Why does every gold nib carry an iridium tip, and what purpose do the nib slit and the breather hole serve? **Answer:** Gold is too soft to be able to write with directly. Were the hard tipping absent, a gold nib would wear down comparatively quickly. For this reason the iridium tip is applied to the point of the nib after electroplating. It forms the surface that actually runs over the paper and protects the soft nib blade from wear. The nib slit is cut only afterwards, and indeed with cutting discs as thin as a hair, which carry the slit as far as the breather hole. The slit is decisive for the ink flow, since it is by way of the slit that the ink passes from the feed to the tip. The breather hole is punched earlier, together with the stamping of the chased decoration, and forms the end of the slit. --- **Question:** How are Montblanc nibs rhodium-plated, and which further parts pass through the electroplating shop? **Answer:** The nibs of the StarWalker fountain pens are made of 14-carat gold and are rhodium-plated, that is, coated with rhodium, in a separate operation. Rhodium is one of the platinum metals and gives the nib its light surface. The rhodium plating takes place in the electroplating plant of the Hamburg works. Clips, rings and further metal parts are also platinum-plated or gold-plated there. Electroplating is one of the few steps in the manufacture of writing instruments that run largely automatically; this automation expressly serves quality assurance here. Only after the electroplating does the nib receive its iridium tip and its nib slit. --- **Question:** What is special about the nib of the Philarmonica from the Music Nib Project? **Answer:** The Philarmonica came into being in 2004 as the project of a collector and restorer and was shown in almost finished condition at the Hamburg pen show on 3 October 2004; the pen could also already be pre-ordered there. The barrel is made of black-brown celluloid. The nib is what is special: it has two breather holes instead of the single breather hole that is otherwise customary. A generous ink flow is thereby assured at all times. The project which gave the pen its byname was expressly laid out with such a music nib in view. --- ### GDR (East-German) writing instruments **Question:** Why is the Heiko Primus regarded as the 'Mercedes' among GDR fountain pens, and where was it used? **Answer:** The Heiko Primus refutes the prejudice that there were no luxury writing instruments in the GDR: it is a particularly beautiful fountain pen which was somewhat more expensive but worth its price. It was popular not only in the GDR and the Comecon area but also in the West, where it was readily used as a promotional gift — accordingly it is often found with Western advertising imprints. East German firms also handed it out at trade fairs to particularly good customers, e.g. with imprints such as 'Greetings from Jena' from Zeiss. The Heiko Primus existed in various colours, including red. --- **Question:** Which GDR writing instruments are collector-worthy, and which Heiko models are among the best-known? **Answer:** Writing instruments from the former GDR enjoy an ambivalent reputation among collectors: some hold them to be cheap mass-produced goods, others appreciate them as decidedly cult. On closer inspection GDR fountain pens impress with an independent design language, good writing behaviour and almost indestructible everyday usability. The most important models of the Heiko brand include the Heiko Junior, a classic school fountain pen with a convincing steel nib, and the Heiko Sprint, also a school fountain pen; both were produced until German reunification and can still be found relatively often today. The Heiko Primus is regarded as the 'Mercedes' among GDR fountain pens and impresses with a timeless shape such as Western makers also preferred in the 1980s. The Heiko Trend aimed at an older, more upmarket target group than Sprint and Junior, but stayed below the level of the Primus. The Heiko Filius is the oldest of the models presented here, regarded as rare and came onto the market among others in purple-marbled and green-marbled variants. Beyond that, the Heiko 444, the Heiko P401 and an unidentifiable model from the 1960s are known from the Heiko programme. --- **Question:** What characterises the GDR school fountain pen Heiko Junior in design, writing behaviour and robustness? **Answer:** The Heiko Junior was a widespread school fountain pen from the GDR in the late 1980s, inexpensive, extremely robust and visually appealing. Its design follows the principle of adding nothing and leaving nothing out: trouble-prone details such as a clip were deliberately omitted, since these would quickly break off on a school pen anyway. The Junior was available among others in a subdued turquoise as well as in orange. The plain steel nib offers the stability required for a school fountain pen but does not write hard like a 'nail'. Ink flow, however, is not equally good on all examples — some pens write very juicily, others rather sparingly. As a workhorse for daily use the Junior also satisfies today's demands. Travel, by contrast, it likes less: larger pressure differences, e.g. on aircraft, and stronger shocks it acknowledges with blots. Today the Heiko Junior can still often be found cheaply on the collector market. --- **Question:** What characterises the Heiko Filius, and which nib variants existed? **Answer:** The Heiko Filius came onto the market in the 1960s and is the oldest of today's known Heiko models. It was available in various colour variants, e.g. green-marbled. As nib, optionally a steel nib or a glass nib was used. Today fully intact specimens can only rarely be found, since the cap often shows cracks. --- **Question:** Why is the Markant M 7720 regarded as one of the most refined writing instruments of GDR production? **Answer:** The Markant M 7720 was produced in the late 1980s and is regarded as the high point of East German fountain-pen manufacture. With a retail price of 36 marks it belonged to the more expensive writing instruments of the GDR; for comparison, a Heiko Junior cost only 3.20 marks. Equipment and finish set the model clearly apart from the simple school pens of the same time. --- **Question:** Which characteristics and colour variants does the GDR fountain pen Heiko Sprint have? **Answer:** The Heiko Sprint stands out from the more subdued Heiko Junior by its striking appearance — the often bright orange barrel can be recognised from afar. In writing behaviour both models are practically identical. The Sprint was produced in several colour variants, including green — also in an army green — blue, orange, red and a more subdued turquoise. --- **Question:** Of which materials does the Markant Unis P consist, and what impression does it create? **Answer:** The Markant Unis P was made in the late 1980s and combines particularly light, brushed aluminium with black plastic. This material pairing creates a harmonious colour combination and gives the writing instrument a high-quality impression that stands out from the rest of the GDR range. --- **Question:** What characterises the Heiko 444 from the 1970s technically? **Answer:** The Heiko 444 from the 1970s was one of the first fountain pens of GDR production with a hooded nib and is thus a technical special model within the Heiko line. --- **Question:** Which additional colour variant of the Markant Pionier 2 is known? **Answer:** Besides the well-known versions, the Markant Pionier 2 was also produced in a white colour variant. This expands the spectrum of known colour shades of the model and shows the versatility of GDR writing-instrument production in the 1960s. --- **Question:** Which features characterise the Markant Pionier 2 in the pink variant from the 1960s? **Answer:** The Markant Pionier 2 dates from the 1960s and impresses with a design that was modern and trendy for its time. The model has a permanently fitted piston for filling with ink and is therefore not a cartridge pen. The pink version is one of the more striking colour variants and underscores the fashionable character of the line. --- **Question:** What was the Heiko flush cartridge of the VEB Füllhalterwerk Wernigerode used for? **Answer:** The flush cartridge of VEB Füllhalterwerk Wernigerode was a cleaning device for cartridge pens. It consists of a small bellows connected to a roughly 25 mm short plastic cartridge. The associated packaging measures around 7 cm in height with a base of about 3 by 3 cm and bears on three sides a pictorial instruction. Although the plastic cartridge has no tip like a conventional ink cartridge, cleaning works reliably on usual cartridge pens. --- **Question:** What does the Markant Trend Set with the model designations P 804 and K 804 comprise? **Answer:** The Markant Trend Set consists of a fountain pen with the designation P 804 and a matching ballpoint K 804. Both writing instruments are kept in a uniform design and form a coordinated set from GDR production. --- **Question:** For which target group was the Heiko Trend intended, and what characterises it? **Answer:** The Heiko Trend was intended for writers who had outgrown the school pen but could not yet afford a Heiko Primus. It impresses with its clear shaping and an ergonomically formed grip section that makes it a pleasant everyday companion. --- **Question:** Why can a green-marbled Heiko fountain pen without imprint not be unambiguously named? **Answer:** Not all Heiko writing instruments bear an imprint with the model name, and original sales brochures from GDR production are barely findable. A clear model designation is therefore not possible on some pieces. That the green-marbled example is an upmarket model, however, can be inferred from the comparatively elaborately designed clip, which is above the level of a simple Heiko Filius. --- **Question:** What is known about the unidentified Heiko model from the 1960s? **Answer:** From the 1960s a Heiko fountain pen exists whose exact model designation is so far unknown. Among collectors it is treated as an independent, early Heiko model, documented by surviving examples. --- **Question:** What characterises the GDR fountain pen Markant Merkur in the red-marbled version? **Answer:** The Markant Merkur existed in several colour variants, including red, blue and green, and in two different sizes. A peculiarity of this model is the marbling, not worked into the material but applied as a foil. From this follows the disadvantage that this foil can come off if the pen is, for example, left in water too long. Well-preserved examples show the typical red-marbled look of the GDR writing instrument in full beauty. --- **Question:** What does the green Heiko 3-piece set contain, and what peculiarity does it have? **Answer:** The green Heiko 3-piece set consists of a fountain pen, a twist pencil with 0.9 mm lead and a click ballpoint fitted with an original Markant Vollstrich refill. The three writing instruments are stored in a case of synthetic leather. The instruments are about 12 cm long. A peculiarity of this set is that neither on the instruments themselves nor on the case is a type designation applied, which makes precise model assignment difficult. --- ### Identifying fakes **Question:** How can a fake of the Montblanc Star Walker Resin fountain pen be told apart from the genuine pen? **Answer:** When capped, a fake of the Montblanc Star Walker Resin fountain pen is barely distinguishable from the original. With the pen open, the clearest difference is at the nib. The original carries a 14-karat white-gold nib in a stand-alone, modern shape; the breather hole area is enclosed so that no slits are visible under the nib. The fake by contrast uses a bicolour-painted steel nib in white and gold, and slits are visible underneath. A typical marker on counterfeit nibs is the inscription "Iridium Point Germany" or "Iridium Point Paris". Another indicator is the use of piston converters which do not fit the original — Montblanc piston converters cannot be used in the original Star Walker. A weight comparison shows that the fake is heavier than the original. While the rollerball fake is hard to distinguish from the original, the fake fountain pen is easily identified by its typical counterfeit nib. --- **Question:** How can a fake of the Montblanc Bohème Solitaire "Je t'aime" Sterling Silver be identified? **Answer:** On a fake Montblanc Bohème Solitaire "Je t'aime" Sterling Silver the typical counterfeit nib stamped "Iridium Point Germany" or "Iridium Point Paris" is immediately visible when opened. In a size comparison the fake is larger than the original. The clip stone on this model should be heart-shaped, but the fake carries a stone resembling the regular Bohème pens. The breather hole also differs: on the original Je t'aime Sterling Silver it is heart-shaped rather than round. The spaces between the rings are flat on the original, while the fake shows ugly notches. At the front of the section the fake has a deep notch that is shallower on the original. The thread at the rear part is plastic on the fake, metal on the original. Under the clip the original carries a "Pix" engraving missing on the fake; the clip itself on the counterfeit is simply bent and looks cheap. Initial identification points are therefore the nib, the clip and the typical notches. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Bohème — model overview: https://www.fountainpen.de/boheme-en.htm --- **Question:** How can a fake of the Montblanc Limited Anniversary Edition — for instance one offered as "Solitaire Platinum" — be identified? **Answer:** Montblanc never produced the Anniversary Edition in a Platinum variant with platinum-coated fittings; a pen offered as "Limited Anniversary Solitaire Platinum" must therefore be a fake. On the original, clip and rings are red-gold-plated, on the fake they are silver-coloured. On the three cap rings, between the rings of the counterfeit there are two black notches missing on the original; there the material between the rings matches the cap material — in this case 925 sterling silver. The nib of the fake often carries the imprint "Iridium Point Germany" or "Iridium Point Paris". On the cap top with the Anniversary ring and the diamond, the engraving on the fake is shallower; the serial number is stamped, while on the original it is laser-engraved. The Montblanc star on the fake also looks slightly jagged compared with the original. Overall this is a relatively easy fake to spot. --- **Question:** Which colour variants exist of counterfeit Montblanc StarWalker rollerballs? **Answer:** Several counterfeits of the Montblanc StarWalker edition exist in differing quality. A red rollerball plagiarism is a relatively well-made counterfeit with an engraved serial number on the cap and a grip section that comes close to the original. The clearest distinguishing feature is the colour of the barrel. Original StarWalker rollerballs are currently offered in only two variants: as Resin in black precious resin and as Rubber Line with a rubberised surface and laser engraving. Counterfeits of both exist. Beyond that, additional colour variants are known among the fakes: red, blue, green, black, white and a rubberised gold version. --- **Question:** Which variants of original Montblanc Fineliner refills exist and are they mutually compatible? **Answer:** Even though the Montblanc Meisterstück Fineliner was introduced as something of a small revolution, Finelliners from Montblanc existed before. Today two variants of the original Fineliner refills are in circulation: the older variant and the current version. Both fit the older as well as the new writing instruments. In addition there was another variant from roughly 1972 to 1990, namely the older version without thread, intended for the Montblanc Quickpen and similar models. --- **Question:** Which features distinguish counterfeits of the Montblanc Kafka edition and how can they be recognised? **Answer:** Of the Montblanc Kafka edition counterfeits have meanwhile turned up as ballpoints and as rollerballs, although the Kafka never existed as an original rollerball. The fakes look comparatively high-quality compared with earlier plagiarisms; the cap top comes quite close to the original and the rollerball also looks well finished at first glance. The engraving of the serial number, on the other hand, is comparatively sloppy: on all known Kafka counterfeits the same serial number 04581/16500 always appears. Two easily checkable distinguishing features are particularly important: on the original parts of the cap and barrel are reddish-translucent, while the fake is not transparent at these points; on the ballpoint this is the only immediately visible criterion. In addition, fundamentally there has never been an original Kafka rollerball. The increasingly better quality of the plagiarisms makes purchase from a specialist dealer the only safe source. --- **Question:** Which variants of counterfeit Montblanc piston converters are documented and how can they be recognised? **Answer:** Piston converters for Montblanc writing instruments are now also being counterfeited, with three main variants known. Counterfeit 1 comes very close to the older variant of the Montblanc piston converter; the differences from the original are barely perceptible, only on the rear grip section is a small deviation visible. Counterfeit 2 and Counterfeit 3 by contrast are very quickly recognisable as plagiarisms because quality and finish are clearly poor and show hardly any commonalities with the original. In a corresponding overview, two originals are set against three counterfeits, where above all material, finish and constructive details of the grip section deliver the essential distinguishing features. --- **Question:** How can current counterfeits of Montblanc rollerball refills be distinguished from the original? **Answer:** Earlier counterfeits of Montblanc rollerball refills were easy to recognise because original refills did not fit the counterfeit writing instruments. Current counterfeits of the rollerball refills barely differ from the original. The only reliable distinguishing feature is a number on the back of the refill, present on the original and missing on the counterfeit. When turning the rollerball refill, hardly any differences can be seen; the Pix logo may appear somewhat larger on the fake, which, however, is only noticeable in direct comparison. Current counterfeits fit without problems into original Montblanc writing instruments and, conversely, original refills also fit current counterfeit rollerballs. --- **Question:** How can counterfeits of the Montblanc Menuhin Special Edition — in particular the non-existent rollerball — be recognised? **Answer:** Of the Montblanc Menuhin Special Edition there was officially only a fountain pen and a matching ballpoint, but never a rollerball. If a Menuhin rollerball is offered, it is therefore necessarily a counterfeit. The differences from the original are considerable: clip and fittings are gold-plated on the original, but made of steel on the counterfeit. The fake is clearly slimmer and rather rounder in shape, while the original is more powerfully designed. On the rear ring the original reads 'Philharmony of the Nations', while the counterfeit reads 'Philharmon / of the Nations'. The cap ring's open area differs: on the original it is patterned, on the counterfeit smooth. The clip shape is similar, but the front part of the violin ends earlier on the original; in addition, original clips are stamped, while counterfeits are mostly only simply bent. Under the clip the original bears the imprint 'Pix', missing on the counterfeit. Problematic is that the original Montblanc rollerball refills fit into current counterfeits, which is why owners of such a fake often only notice the fraud late. --- **Question:** How can a counterfeit of a Montblanc Scott Fitzgerald rollerball be recognised? **Answer:** There is no Montblanc Scott Fitzgerald rollerball in the Writers Edition; the edition comprises exclusively fountain pens, ballpoints and pencils. If a Scott Fitzgerald rollerball is offered, it is therefore necessarily a counterfeit. The packaging is barely distinguishable on the plagiarism from the original; at most the fake one looks somewhat darker. On the writing instrument itself two main features are decisive: the Scott Fitzgerald exists only in white, every black, blue, green or red variant is a fake; however, white counterfeits also exist. The shape also differs: the counterfeit is clearly slimmer, the original looks more pot-bellied. On closer inspection the grip section of the counterfeit comes from a Bohème counterfeit; on it the imprint 'Bohème' is even recognisable. Montblanc does not reuse parts from other editions in the Writers Editions, which is also regarded as a typical counterfeit feature. The included rollerball refill is also counterfeit and barely distinguishable from the original. In the case described, the pen was acquired for 150 euros in a Milanese designer shop and broke after only a short time. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Bohème — model overview: https://www.fountainpen.de/boheme-en.htm --- **Question:** How does a counterfeit Bohème leather case differ from an original? **Answer:** Already shortly after the introduction of the Bohème leather cases counterfeits appeared that are of inferior quality and clearly differ tactilely from the original. A first difference shows up on the leather itself: the original leather has a clear texture, while the counterfeit leather is smooth. The Montblanc star also deviates; on the counterfeit it appears rather jagged and is surrounded only by a thin metal ring, while the original carries the usual Montblanc star with a clearly broader metal ring. When opened, poorly executed seams can be seen inside the counterfeit. The inside logo is also poorly defined on the counterfeit; the star is hardly recognisable as such there. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Bohème — model overview: https://www.fountainpen.de/boheme-en.htm --- **Question:** What option do specialist dealers have to borrow Montblanc plagiarisms for training purposes? **Answer:** Specialist dealers are offered the option of borrowing various Montblanc counterfeits free of charge for one week to train their staff. Only shipping costs of 6.70 euros for a corresponding parcel apply; after one week the writing instruments are to be sent back insured. Available as demonstration pieces are a Bohème Solitaire Silver fountain pen, a StarWalker fountain pen, a Menuhin rollerball, an Anniversary Platinum fountain pen, a Sienna case, a Bohème case, a rollerball refill and various piston converters. Dates can be agreed in advance, since plagiarisms are already on loan until early September. --- **Question:** Which features mark counterfeits of the Montblanc Scott Fitzgerald as a blue rollerball? **Answer:** Counterfeit limited editions from Montblanc are increasingly turning up, including Scott Fitzgerald, Octavian and Imperial Dragon. A typical example of a Scott Fitzgerald plagiarism is a version as a blue rollerball. The essential counterfeit features are: the Scott Fitzgerald never existed as a rollerball, but exclusively as a fountain pen, ballpoint and pencil. The original colour is white; all colour variations such as red, green, black and blue exist only on the plagiarisms. The barrel of the original is clearly thicker than on the counterfeit. On closer examination it is noticeable that on the grip section 'Bohème' is engraved, indicating the reuse of Bohème counterfeit parts; Montblanc itself does not reuse parts from other limited editions. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Patron of Arts Octavian (1993): https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-octavian-en.htm • Montblanc Imperial Dragon (1993): https://www.fountainpen.de/asia-imperial-dragon-1993-en.htm --- **Question:** How can counterfeits of writing instruments from the 1930s and 1940s be recognised? **Answer:** Alongside counterfeits of current Montblanc products such as Meisterstück, Bohème or Scott Fitzgerald, counterfeits of older writing instruments from the 1930s and 1940s have increasingly been offered in recent years. Typical of these counterfeits are very well-executed imprints that correspond to the original writing instruments to nearly one hundred per cent. The base bodies used are often worthless older writing instruments fitted with the imitated imprints. The differences from the original are usually immediately obvious if one has at least a rough idea of what kind of writing instruments were produced at the time. Original comparisons show typical deviations in shape, material and finish. Anyone wishing to consult historical original writing instruments for comparison can orient themselves to documented collections. --- **Question:** How can fakes of the Montblanc StarWalker Resin be identified, and how much does an enclosed service booklet prove? **Answer:** Fakes of the StarWalker Resin have been in circulation since the mid-2000s, and with this model in particular the photographs in a listing take you no further: original and copy usually cannot be told apart from the usual sale images. One pointer that can often be made out lies not on the pen itself but on the packaging — on fakes the Montblanc star on the box is frequently black rather than white. More important still is a warning that applies to every Montblanc model: service booklets are forged as well. An enclosed service booklet, certificate or guarantee card therefore proves nothing about a pen's authenticity on its own. The assessment has to be made from the pen itself — nib, workmanship, fittings and the feel of the material — and, in case of doubt, by having it checked at a Montblanc boutique or by a reputable specialist dealer. --- **Question:** How do you recognise a fake of the Montblanc Writers Edition F. Scott Fitzgerald? **Answer:** The Fitzgerald is one of the most frequently copied Writers Editions, and the fake can be disproved beyond doubt in several places — but only once you have the pen in your hands. The decisive feature is the filling system: the genuine F. Scott Fitzgerald is a piston filler. If unscrewing the pen reveals a cartridge or converter system, the case is closed. With the pen open you will also notice that you can see straight through the barrel; the original is made of black precious resin inside. On many copies the threaded ring carries the name “Bohème” into the bargain — a part from an entirely different range. The nib gives the copy away as well. Montblanc always stamps the nibs of the Writers Editions with 4810, the mark 18 KT and the year of the edition. Stampings such as “IRIDIUM POINT” or “PARIS” come from counterfeiters alone and turn up on copies of various Montblanc models. The copy's nib is not platinum-plated either. Further features: the section is reminiscent of a Bohème. The cap is almost straight rather than full-bellied, and it cannot be posted so that it holds on the barrel; black from the conical part stays visible when you try. The cap rings of the original are made of silver, those of the copy look chrome-coloured. The clip is made from bent sheet metal, as a glance underneath it shows at once. And on these copies the limitation number is always 04602/16500 — a figure that never existed, because 14,000 fountain pens and 4,500 sets were produced. Two further features concern the barrel itself: on many copies it is dark-marbled rather than light as on the original — though light-coloured fakes with a nearly correct shade are also known. More noticeable is the girth: the copies are appreciably slimmer than the original. The packaging, by contrast, is no help at all: it now resembles the genuine box so closely that virtually no differences can be made out. Fitzgerald fakes in blue, black and red are now in circulation as well; those are more obvious still. When buying through auction sites, a seller who shows the nib and the limitation number openly has something in his favour. Blurred pictures, or photographs supplied only on request, are a warning sign. --- **Question:** How do you tell an original Montblanc StarWalker Resin from a copy? **Answer:** The StarWalker Resin is one of the most difficult cases: seen from the outside, original and copy are practically impossible to tell apart, either as a whole or with the cap unscrewed. In the photographs of an internet auction the fake cannot be spotted at all. Only in a direct comparison with a guaranteed original do the differences emerge. The floating star in the cap is the first dependable feature. On the original it cannot be brought into direct focus — it sits beneath the plastic dome and therefore appears optically offset. On the copy it focuses sharply, and it does not have the typical Montblanc shape but looks more like a dented circle. The second most important feature is the clip. The underside of the original clip carries the lettering “GERMANY metal Pix”; on the copy it is missing. The original clip is stamped, while the copy's clip is bent from a single piece of sheet metal — which is also why it lacks the internal stamping. Where the clip runs into the clip ball, the copy shows a distinct edge, whereas the original is smooth. Third, the clip serial number: on the original it sits to the right of the clip and is burned in with a laser, which is why it looks grey. On the copy it sits on the clip itself, is barely visible and appears pressed in. As a rule of thumb: any marking that looks pressed in rather than burned in belongs to a fake. Further pointers: the surface of the barrel feels distinctly duller on the copy. The section of the original is darker and its stamping crisper. When changing the refill you notice that the metal part of the copy is longer — Montblanc only fitted that long version in the early days. On the examples examined, the refill and the gift packaging turned out to be copies as well; the star on the box did not look like a star at all. --- **Question:** Which features give away a fake Montblanc Solitaire with guilloché decoration? **Answer:** With the Solitaire copies some of the discrepancies are so crude that they can be spotted even in mediocre seller photographs. That sets this case apart from many other fakes. Look first at the cap rings: on the copy they are broken up by black rings, and the guilloché pattern is spaced noticeably more tightly than on the original. The cap star of the copy is pointed rather than round at the corners and looks less white. The clip is angular on the copy and rounded on the original. One further feature that is not always shown: on copies the cap top is often entirely black, as on a precious resin pen — Solitaire models always have a different treatment there. The clip serial number is decisive. On the original it is burned in with a laser and therefore appears grey; on the copy it is stamped, in other words pressed in. Any marking that looks pressed in belongs to a fake. Seen from the side, the most serious difference lies in what is known as the clip ball: on the original it is a separate part, soldered on. On the copy, clip and ball are bent from a single piece of sheet metal, so that there is hardly any ball shape to speak of. --- **Question:** How do you recognise a copy of a black Montblanc Meisterstück rollerball? **Answer:** At first glance the original and the copy of a black Meisterstück rollerball look very much alike. Three details separate them reliably. The cap ring: on the original the black rings are made of precious resin and finish flush with the surface of the cap ring. On the copy they are milled grooves that have been filled with black, so the transition is not flush. The cap ring of the copy also has a different shade of gold. The shape of the clip: the lower end of the original clip is round. Montblanc's clip shape has remained essentially unchanged since the 1940s. On the copy the end is distinctly more angular. The way the clip is made: a look from the side shows that the clip of the copy is bent from sheet metal — a feature found on a great many Montblanc fakes. If any one of these features applies to a pen, it is a copy. --- **Question:** How do you spot a fake Montblanc Bohème ballpoint? **Answer:** The Bohème copy is well made; a layman will hardly notice the difference, and the decisive features are not visible in a seller's auction photographs. Placed alongside an original, however, the fake can be identified with certainty. Taking the pen apart, the first thing you notice is that the copy has a coil spring on the refill, which the original does not. The cap star has rounded points on the original and angular ones on the copy. On the original the logo finishes cleanly against the metal part, while on the copy it clearly overhangs. On the ring bearing the Bohème lettering, the lettering of the copy is hatched, and the middle ring is noticeably wider in relation to the two outer ones. The most conspicuous feature is the gemstone: on the original it has a rounded cut, on the copy a straight, plain, flat one. In side profile the difference is impossible to miss. And as with most Montblanc fakes, the clip of the copy is made from bent sheet metal. Anyone who still wants to buy a Bohème at auction should ask for close-up photographs of precisely these points — a trustworthy seller posts such pictures anyway. --- **Question:** How do you recognise a copy of a Montblanc Sienna leather case for two pens? **Answer:** Montblanc leather goods are copied too. On the two-pen Sienna case, three features separate original and fake. The leather itself: the copy is very heavily grained, whereas the surface of the original is finely textured. The closing flap is distinctly shorter on the fake. The star on the front: on the fake the corners are not properly round but rather pointed. The surrounding ring has no genuine gilding and looks a dirty brass colour instead. The embossing on the back is the clearest feature of all. On the original it is far crisper: the entire panel bearing the MONTBLANC lettering is recessed. On the copy the embossing is only hinted at and the star is barely visible. --- ### Ink **Question:** What colours are in the Jansen / De Atramentis ink range? **Answer:** Jansen inks have been popular among collectors for years. The colour range covers a broad selection of typical hues: in the yellow band lemon-yellow, golden-yellow, ochre-yellow and yellow-orange. In the red and pink spectrum: red-orange, poppy-red, antique-rose, carmine, coral, ruby, magenta, fuchsia, red-brown, Bordeaux and oriental red. In the brown range: copper-brown, terra di Sienna and sepia. The greens include May green, moss green, olive, bamboo green, fir green, patina green, emerald, turquoise and mint. In the blues and purples: light blue, sky blue, royal blue, steel blue, sapphire, Atlantic blue, indigo, lavender, dark blue, heather purple, deep purple and aubergine. Greys and blacks include fog grey, silver grey, cement grey, ebony, black, graphite black and night black, plus a document ink and Sahara grey. The colours shown are only a first reference, since the actual colour depends on the ink flow and nib width of the pen used; correct colour reproduction also requires a calibrated monitor and a colour-managed scanner. --- **Question:** Which special and scented inks does Montblanc offer? **Answer:** Montblanc's special-ink range includes, among others, the Montblanc LoveLetter Ink and the Montblanc Season's Greetings ink. Both belong to the special inks that extend the line-up beyond the regular standard inks. --- **Question:** Which wine inks does the Jansen ink manufactory offer, and how were they tested? **Answer:** The Jansen ink manufactory offers a variety of wine inks, of which the following were tested: Bordeaux, Barolo, Blauer Portugieser, Lemberger and Dornfelder. As expected, each of these inks has a typical scent corresponding to the respective wine; above all the clear colour differences are remarkable, since each ink has its own character. The writing test was carried out with a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 with an OBB nib and a Montblanc Meisterstück with an OM nib on normal copy paper. Since copy paper usually does not have particularly high quality, fraying at the edges can occur with more flowing inks. On higher-quality papers this effect does not appear. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 146 (Le Grand): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-146-en.htm --- **Question:** What experiences arise when writing with the De Atramentis scented ink 'pour homme, Davidoff Cool Water'? **Answer:** The De Atramentis scented ink 'pour homme, Davidoff Cool Water' clearly smells in the bottle of the corresponding men's perfume, but in the filled fountain pen the scent is less directly perceptible. The ink was first tested in a Waterman Charleston as well as in two to three further pens with converter and piston filling; no abnormalities were to be observed. Neither deposits on refilling nor problems on switching to another ink occurred. On good paper the folded written text retains its scent for a few more days; on simple copy paper the scent dissipates quickly. The ink shows a rich Atlantic blue. The flacon contents are 20 ml, the weight about 230 g, the dimensions are roughly 4.8 x 4.8 x 6.8 cm including the lid. --- **Question:** What are the scented inks from De Atramentis, and which varieties are there? **Answer:** Alongside its conventional writing inks, the De Atramentis ink manufactory run by Jansen produces a range of perfumed inks whose scent matches the name and colour of each variety. The fragrance is strongest when the bottle is opened and remains perceptible as a discreet smell in the room while writing. The inks have been popular as gifts for collectors since they appeared around 2007. Among the more unusual varieties in an early test batch are: the car or Dream Car ink, available in several versions from small car to luxury car, which in dark blue smells of fine leather and wood; the black steam-locomotive ink, a mixture of smoke and oil; the sky-blue aeroplane ink, which smells of kerosene and is therefore not to everyone's taste; the football ink, with a note of leather, grass and stadium atmosphere; the golf ink in a rich British Racing Green, which smells of freshly mown grass; the wood ink with a pine note that spreads a discreet forest scent while writing; and the deep black liquorice ink, whose scent recalls the strong Nordic liquorice varieties. The intensity of the scent is naturally highest when the bottle is first opened. Anyone unsure whether a particular note will appeal should try a single variety before buying several bottles. --- ### Limited Editions **Question:** Which Montblanc models were honoured by the readers of Pen World 2003? **Answer:** Pen World is the leading US American magazine for high-quality writing instruments and bestows annual awards determined by the readership. In 2003 both essential titles went to Montblanc. The StarWalker was named Fountain Pen of the Year 2003, standing out through innovative design and convincing writing behaviour. The Jules Verne was named Limited Edition of the Year 2003, attracting attention especially through its novel surface. --- **Question:** What are Authograph Sets and picture frames of the Montblanc Writers Edition, and which official variants exist? **Answer:** The Authograph Sets of the Writers Edition are special packagings about twice as large as the standard version and contain additional material on the author. Included are an image of the author with a recreated but handwritten signature as well as reproduced handwritten texts. The picture frames likewise contain, alongside the writing instrument, a sheet with the author's portrait and a reproduced handwritten text. Official Authograph Sets include Oscar Wilde Pencil with Ident no. 09051, Voltaire Pencil with 09052, Dumas N Fountain Pen with 09053, Dumas N Pencil with 09054, the Dumas N 3-piece set with 09055, the Dostoevski Fountain Pen with the numbers 09104 in M and 09105 in B, and the Schiller Fountain Pen with 09108 in M and 09109 in B. Picture frames with an inset writing instrument do not count as part of the official product range; many of these frames were made for promotional purposes and were never sold regularly, which is why on the market additionally self-assembled pieces circulate. The edition sizes of the Authograph Sets and the picture frames are not known; they were produced primarily to sell off remaining stocks. --- **Question:** What was the Music Nib Project by Tom Westerich around the Omas Philharmony Edition? **Answer:** The Music Nib Project by Tom Westerich publicly accompanied the conception and development of the Omas Limited Philharmony Edition. On the project's website photos of the prototypes were presented and the step-by-step improvement of individual details documented, so that interested collectors could follow the entire emergence process of the limited edition. Alongside this, the option of pre-ordering the fountain pen directly was available. --- **Question:** What characterises the Montblanc Limited Edition Golden Dragon 2000? **Answer:** The Golden Dragon 2000 is a limited edition produced by Montblanc for the Asian market and is regarded as one of the most beautiful editions of the brand. Its design builds on model 139 and conveys a classically timeless appearance. Particularly striking is the clip in the form of a dragon, made of pure gold. Like all limited editions, this fountain pen also has an 18-carat gold nib and joins a tradition of Asian editions that, since the Imperial Dragon, has been a fixture at Montblanc. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Imperial Dragon (1993): https://www.fountainpen.de/asia-imperial-dragon-1993-en.htm • Asia Edition Year of the Golden Dragon: https://www.fountainpen.de/asia-golden-dragon-888-en.htm --- **Question:** Which Asia editions has Montblanc produced since 1993, and which numbers are known? **Answer:** Since 1993 Montblanc has repeatedly issued writing instruments specifically for the Asian market. The start in 1993 was made by the Imperial Dragon, of which 5,000 fountain pens and 3,500 ballpoints with silver dragon clip were made, of which 1,500 as sets with fountain pen, ballpoint and pencil; in parallel 888 pieces with gold dragon clip appeared. In 2000 followed the Year of the Golden Dragon with 2,000 pieces and a gold dragon clip, as well as the Precious Dragon in 88 examples with a gold, diamond-set clip; in the Royal Collection 8 sets of four fountain pens each with diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds were additionally made. In the same year a Year of the Golden Dragon variant in 888 pieces emerged, whose cap and barrel consisted of Meissen porcelain. In 2002 the Qing Dynasty appeared in 2,002 pieces with a jade cap, a variant with 88 diamond-set examples and an eight-piece edition Qing Dynasty 8. Also in 2002 the SAKURA 333 came in 333 examples of Meissen porcelain with red-gold clip and rings, plus the Sakura Precious 88 with red-gold barrel and cap and floral motifs as well as the Sakura Precious Brilliant 8. In 2003 followed the Han Wu Ti 88 in an edition of 88 watches and 88 fountain pens, of which 44 were offered as sets, supplemented by the Han Wu Ti 8. For the Year of the Golden Dragon 2000 the master goldsmith Sabine Bach additionally made 8 bracelets with dragons of gold and diamonds, estimated at around 20,000 DM, as well as 66 rings with diamond-set dragon, estimated at about 10,000 DM, sold exclusively in the Asian boutiques. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Imperial Dragon (1993): https://www.fountainpen.de/asia-imperial-dragon-1993-en.htm • Asia Edition Year of the Golden Dragon: https://www.fountainpen.de/asia-golden-dragon-888-en.htm • Asia Edition Sakura: https://www.fountainpen.de/asia-sakura-333-en.htm --- **Question:** What role did the jewellery designer André Ribeiro play for Montblanc, and which editions did he design? **Answer:** Montblanc limited editions captivate many collectors because they unmistakably reflect the character of their namesake and the corresponding cultural epoch while also having to address the contemporary zeitgeist. It is precisely these writing instruments that touch collectors emotionally and bind them to the Montblanc brand. In addition to design and craftsmanship perfection, such editions place particular demands on their designers. This article is dedicated to André Ribeiro — and through him to the other creators as well. Already his first project at Montblanc (from 1990), the Meisterstück Royal, is extraordinary: one of the most valuable fountain pens in the world, set with around 4,200 diamonds. In parallel, Ribeiro worked on the development and technical execution of the Meisterstück Platinum. Both projects required exceptional technical know-how, since their goal was, among other things, to position Montblanc as the most exclusive and most craftsmanship-perfect writing instrument manufacturer. The Platinum and Royal editions (market launch 1993) prove this impressively. Ribeiro is also responsible for several Patron of Arts editions. His first in this series is a good example: with two designs he was able to convince the management at an early stage, so that in 1997 both variants — Catherine the Great and Peter the Great — were brought to market. That was a novelty; before and after that there was only one writing instrument per year. Next followed the Marquise de Pompadour edition (project started in 1998, market launch in 2001) — also impressive through its particular combination of gold and porcelain. A material mix that was later taken up in further limited editions (Year of the Golden Dragon 888, Sakura 333, Ludwig van Beethoven, Leonard Bernstein) and in the Annual Editions. In 2005, with Pope Julius II, another Patron of Arts edition from Ribeiro's hand appeared. According to his own statement he is currently not working on any further editions for Montblanc but is concentrating on his own projects. As a jewellery designer he continues to create very special pieces. He has remained true to his style: an independent material mix and strong contrasts. Today Ribeiro is regarded as THE expert when it comes to working rubber into jewellery — no one else currently succeeds in combining rubber, gold and diamonds with comparable craftsmanship perfection. For his creations he has already received numerous prizes, including the 'Red Dot' of the Design Centre Essen, an award for exceptionally high design quality. His pieces of jewellery can be admired in various museums such as the Cooper-Hewitt Museum (New York), the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris) and the Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim. Further information about Mr Ribeiro's jewellery is available at any well-stocked jeweller as well as online at http://www.andre-ribeiro.de/. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Meisterstück Royal (set with ~4,200 diamonds): https://www.fountainpen.de/solitaire-royal-en.htm • Patron of Arts 'Catherine the Great': https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-catherine-888-en.htm • Patron of Arts 'Peter the Great': https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-peter-888-en.htm • Patron of Arts 'Marquise de Pompadour': https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-pompadour-en.htm • Patron of Arts 'Pope Julius II': https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-pope-julius2-en.htm • Asia edition 'Year of the Golden Dragon 888': https://www.fountainpen.de/asia-golden-dragon-888-en.htm • Asia edition 'Sakura 333': https://www.fountainpen.de/asia-sakura-333-en.htm • Overview of all Patron of Arts editions: https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-en.htm --- **Question:** What is the story behind the Montblanc Jean Todt 146 — one of the first fully customised Montblanc editions? **Answer:** Around the year 2000 (possibly even slightly earlier), a very special Montblanc 146 appeared in an auction on eBay.com — quite unlike anything seen before: completely gold-plated, with a dark-red cap and an engraving on the barrel that was supposed to represent tyre tracks. It was not particularly pretty — but very, very special. A modest bid was placed, but the pen was not won: the final price was about five times as high as the own bid, around 2,600 USD as best recalled. A few months after the auction, a newspaper article revealed that Jean Todt (at the time responsible for the Ferrari Formula 1 team) is an ambitious collector of Montblanc and Montegrappa writing instruments. He had even managed to persuade Montblanc to build him his own fountain pen — with a red cap and a gold-plated body. Todt apparently lost it later or it was stolen from him. That made it clear: the piece from the auction was almost certainly exactly this Todt pen. The remarkable point: up to then it was not generally known that Montblanc also accommodates fully individual customer wishes. The Jean Todt 146 therefore counts among the very first fully customised Montblanc writing instruments and marks a milestone in the brand's history — the beginning of what was later professionalised as the bespoke service via the Artisan Studio. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 146 (Le Grand): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-146-en.htm • Skeleton Edition Ferrari Jean Todt: https://www.fountainpen.de/skeleton-ferrari-jean-todt-en.htm • Overview Skeleton Editions: https://www.fountainpen.de/skeleton-en.htm • Overview Artisan Editions (Bespoke): https://www.fountainpen.de/artisan-en.htm --- **Question:** What are fully customised writing instruments, and which manufacturers offer such bespoke editions? **Answer:** Beyond the sale of regular limited and special editions, several established high-end writing instrument manufacturers also produce fully customised one-off pieces to the customer's specification — known in English as bespoke pieces. On commission, materials, engravings, precious metals and gemstone settings are produced according to personal preference and — in many cases — the family or company symbolism of the commissioning customer. Pioneers in this discipline are Montblanc with the Artisan Studio in Hamburg and Montegrappa, both well known for their made-to-measure pieces. Caran d'Ache, Visconti, Krone, Stipula as well as specialised manufacturers such as Yard-O-Led, Conway Stewart, Bexley and individual boutique pen makers also offer bespoke services. Frequently used design elements include solid gold barrels with hand-engraved motifs, enamel work, gemstone settings and the use of historical or symbolically charged materials (e.g. meteorite iron, mammoth ivory or precious woods). Early publicly known examples are the Montblanc Jean Todt 146 mentioned earlier as well as various one-off pieces from the Montblanc Artisan Studio. An overview of spectacular ultra-high-end editions and individual commissions from the international luxury writing-instrument scene is offered, among others, by an article in Robb Report: https://robbreport.com/shelter/art-collectibles/21-ultimate-gifts-writ-large-234857/ — there pieces are shown whose prices quickly reach five- to six-figure amounts and which, in choice of materials, engraving and gemstone setting, leave the boundaries of classic writing instruments far behind. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Artisan Editions (Bespoke): https://www.fountainpen.de/artisan-en.htm • Limited Artisan Editions: https://www.fountainpen.de/limited-artisan-en.htm • Patron of Arts (edition series): https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-en.htm • Skeleton editions: https://www.fountainpen.de/skeleton-en.htm --- **Question:** What is special about the Montblanc Copernicus edition (4810 and 888), and which production error occurred? **Answer:** In 2003 the Montblanc Copernicus was released as a Patron of Arts edition in two variants (4810 and 888). Even the first photos convinced many collectors: the barrel (though the thick silver rings were not to everyone's taste), the mother-of-pearl star – still something special at the time – and above all the nib with its engraved yellow sun made the piece a highlight. More than one collector even sold off other writing instruments to be able to afford the Copernicus 4810 and pre-ordered it immediately. On opening the packaging, however, many were in for a surprise: in all photos online, on the Montblanc homepage, in the brochures and even in the service booklet, the sun on the nib engraving was rendered in yellow (gold-plated); what was actually delivered, however, was a nib whose sun was platinum-plated and only the outer rim gold-plated – exactly the other way round. A silver sun looked not only counter-intuitive but also visually much less appealing. An enquiry with the Montblanc hotline yielded the response that on all nibs of this edition the sun was platinum-plated and the rim gold-plated. Asked why brochures, service guide and homepage showed exactly the opposite, the answer was that this design change had been made at short notice once the brochures had already been printed; a reason for the reversal of the gold-plating, however, was not given. Only later did the trade reveal what had really happened: a Montblanc employee allegedly had not read the design specifications correctly, so that all nibs were plated incorrectly. This was reportedly only noticed once the entire production was already faulty – too late for a correction. Astonishingly, the deviation apparently went unnoticed by anyone during production. Two to three years after release, a Copernicus prototype with the originally intended (correct) nib – sun in yellow, rim in platinum – was auctioned on eBay France. The price achieved was significantly above the regular edition level. Montblanc, incidentally, took several years to bring the photos on its own website in line with the nib variant actually delivered. Further information and pictures of both variants can be found on the overview pages of fountainpen.de: • https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-copernicus.htm (Copernicus 4810) • https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-copernicus888.htm (Copernicus 888) Further related pages: • Patron of Arts 'Marquise de Pompadour' (Ribeiro's previous edition): https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-pompadour-en.htm • Overview of all Patron of Arts editions: https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-en.htm --- **Question:** Which two surface variants exist on the Montblanc Hemingway, and how was this first Writers Edition received by the market? **Answer:** In 1992 the Hemingway was released as the first edition of the Writers Edition series. Today it counts among the most sought-after pieces of the series and would be a most welcome addition to many a collector's collection. What is often forgotten: in the first years after release the Hemingway was not really in demand – or to put it differently, it lay in many shop windows like lead. The colour combination with its striking orange in particular did not initially appeal to many buyers. As late as 1997, five years after market launch, the Hemingway was still available in many boutiques and at specialist dealers without any waiting time. On opening two then still factory-sealed Hemingway ballpoint pens, a peculiarity emerged that is not yet widely known: the first ballpoint pen corresponded to the familiar variant with a slightly rough surface – the barrel skin looks as if it had been sandblasted (exactly how this rougher finish is achieved is not known). With the second ballpoint pen, however, the surprise was complete: this Hemingway was entirely smooth – neither clip nor barrel showed the typical rough surface. An enquiry through the dealer, who in turn contacted Montblanc, revealed: at least for the ballpoint pens, two surface variants do indeed exist – a rough one and a smooth one. Why these two finishes exist has not been conclusively clarified to this day; possible explanations include an early pre-series run, a special production batch or a later adjustment to the manufacturing process. For the Hemingway fountain pens, on the other hand, only the variant with the rough surface is so far known. For collectors it is therefore worthwhile, when acquiring a Hemingway ballpoint pen, to take a close look at clip and barrel – the smooth variant is likely to be considerably rarer. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Writers Edition 'Hemingway' (1992): https://www.fountainpen.de/writer-hemingway-en.htm • Overview of all Writers Editions: https://www.fountainpen.de/writer-en.htm --- **Question:** What is the story behind the Montblanc Skeleton "I love NY" edition, and why of all places was it not available in New York? **Answer:** After the Skeleton Star edition 333 (see https://www.fountainpen.de/skeleton-star.htm) sold out within a very short time, Montblanc brought a whole series of further Skeleton variants to the market. An overview can be found at https://www.fountainpen.de/skeleton.htm in the Limited Flag Pens section. Among the country-specific Skeleton editions there was also the "I love NY" variant, produced in just 50 pieces. This edition counts among the most sought-after and rarest Skeleton pieces of all. However, a curious trademark mishap occurred: Montblanc had apparently failed to properly secure the rights to the well-known "I love NY" logo (designed by Milton Glaser, protected by the New York State Department of Economic Development). The consequence: while the edition could be sold regularly in Asia or, for example, in the Paris boutique, it was of all places not available in New York – precisely at the very location to which the edition was dedicated. A remarkable example of how important the correct clarification of licensing and trademark rights is, especially for strongly regionally focused limited editions. Direct model page: https://www.fountainpen.de/skeleton-i-love-ny-en.htm --- **Question:** What distinguishes the Montblanc Imperial Dragon from the Agatha Christie, and which official pins existed for it? **Answer:** When Montblanc launched the Writers Edition Agatha Christie in 1993, a country-specific variant was sold in parallel in Japan under the name Imperial Dragon. The background: snakes – like the characteristic clip on the Agatha Christie – do not have a particularly good image in Japanese culture, whereas dragons are traditionally regarded as bringers of good luck and as symbols of power, prosperity and protection. A country-specific adaptation therefore made perfect cultural sense. What many collectors are not yet aware of: (1) The Imperial Dragon is slightly larger than the Agatha Christie because the ring in the cap is wider on the Imperial Dragon. At first glance both models appear almost identical; a direct size comparison, however, reveals the difference in the cap area. (2) For the Imperial Dragon, Montblanc also officially offered matching pins in two variants: one in silver and one gold-plated. The exact production limit is not known. Even at the time of release, these pins were quite expensive and extremely rare – and in the years that followed, they hardly ever surfaced again, even on eBay they were offered only very occasionally. For collectors, these official Imperial Dragon pins therefore represent a particular rarity today, complementing the main piece. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Imperial Dragon (1993 Japan edition, 4810 pieces): https://www.fountainpen.de/asia-imperial-dragon-1993-en.htm • Montblanc Imperial Dragon 888 (limited variant): https://www.fountainpen.de/asia-imperial-dragon-1993-888-en.htm • Writers Edition 'Agatha Christie' (1993, snake clip): https://www.fountainpen.de/writer-christie-en.htm • Overview of all Writers Editions: https://www.fountainpen.de/writer-en.htm --- **Question:** What was the original price of the Montblanc Black Diamond and what resale value do these diamond writing instruments achieve today? **Answer:** The Montblanc Black Diamond is among the most spectacular writing instruments in the brand's history: the fountain pen is set with 4,810 diamonds – the number references the height of Mont Blanc in metres and is also the code of the Montblanc gold nibs. It thus joins the small group of ultra-high-end editions with which Montblanc underlines its position as the most exclusive writing instrument manufacturer. The retail price of the Diamond writing instruments was around 100,000 to 125,000 euros per piece. Anyone who buys such a piece does so primarily out of collector or status interest – as an investment the edition cannot be recommended, since the gap between list price and actual resale value is considerable. Concrete examples show this clearly: one Black Diamond changed hands second-hand for around 16,000 euros; another piece achieved approximately 20,000 euros. At Christie's, "A Royal Black Diamond Fountain Pen" came under the hammer with a result in the same range – that is, at less than one-fifth of the original retail price. Comparable auction results can be researched via Christie's lot database (e.g. christies.com/lotfinder, search term "Royal Black Diamond Fountain Pen"). For collectors this means: such diamond editions are undeniably luxurious and impressive from a craftsmanship point of view, but they are not suitable as a store of value. Anyone looking for value stability is generally significantly better served by classic limited editions or selected vintage pieces. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück Royal (diamond edition, comparable piece with ~4,200 diamonds): https://www.fountainpen.de/solitaire-royal-en.htm • Overview of all Skeleton editions: https://www.fountainpen.de/skeleton-en.htm • Overview of Annual Editions: https://www.fountainpen.de/annual-editions-en.htm --- **Question:** What is the story behind the Montblanc Gift Collection 2004, and what connection does it have to the Jungle Eyes edition? **Answer:** What does a manufacturer do when its sales forecasts have been overly optimistic and products need to be moved? Today, writing instrument manufacturers use classic distribution channels such as Vente Privée (e.g. Pelikan, Faber-Castell, Montegrappa, Tibaldi) or Amazon VIP (Montblanc) to clear residual stock. The situation, however, is different when it is not complete writing instruments but only individual components – caps, barrels and the like – that remain from editions that have already been discontinued. Such parts are too valuable simply to be thrown away. It was exactly this consideration that the decision-makers at Montblanc are likely to have made in 2004. At that time, the Jungle Eyes edition (Artisan series) was taken off the market, but individual components were still available. From these arose the Montblanc Gift Collection 2004: writing instruments in which components of the discontinued Jungle Eyes were reused, though in some models with quite independent design features – and for which, in every case, additional components were specifically produced. The Gift Collection 2004 is exceptionally rare today. Rumours suggest the production run at the time was in the very low three-digit range, which makes the pieces particularly interesting for Montblanc collectors. A dealer remarked at the time, half-jokingly, that in ten years hardly anyone would remember this edition and many would even consider it fakes because of the unusual design – a prediction regularly confirmed when the Gift Collection surfaces on the auction market. Sample photos of the Gift Collection 2004 based on the Jungle Eyes edition can be found on the overview pages of fountainpen.de: • https://www.fountainpen.de/artisan-jungle-eyes-mop.htm • https://www.fountainpen.de/artisan-jungle-solitaire-mop.htm • https://www.fountainpen.de/artisan-solitaire-platinum-doue.htm Overview of all Artisan and Jungle Eyes variants: https://www.fountainpen.de/artisan-en.htm --- ### Marketing facts **Question:** What effect can cultural sponsorship, as practised by Montblanc, have on customer loyalty? **Answer:** Montblanc has been strongly engaged in cultural sponsorship for over ten years, e.g. with the Patronage Awards and the Donation Pens. A study by Manfred Schwaiger and Anastasia Steiner-Kogrina at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich examined the effect of this engagement using the example of Sparda-Bank and provides hints transferable analogously to other industries. Sponsorship and especially cultural sponsorship are often underweighted in the marketing mix, since hardly any direct measurement variables for their effect exist; acceptance on the customer side, however, is very high compared with TV or print advertising. The investigation shows that cultural sponsorship can increase customer loyalty, operationalised via trust, satisfaction and emotional closeness, provided the target group knows the activities. Higher customer loyalty is accompanied by loyalty, repeat purchase and positive word of mouth, which also has economic effects. Cultural sponsorship can thus serve both customer loyalty and employee motivation. The study was published as Schwaiger and Steiner-Kogrina, 'Kultur stärkt Kundenbindung', Marketing Journal, 37th year, no. 3, 2004, pages 34 to 36. --- **Question:** What effect does the cultural sponsorship in which Montblanc has been engaged since the 1990s have? **Answer:** Montblanc has been engaged in cultural sponsorship for more than a decade; the Patronage Awards and the Donation Pens are only two examples of this. Within the communications mix, sponsorship is usually underweighted in comparison with conventional advertising, chiefly because there are hardly any direct measures of its effect. On the other hand, acceptance on the customer side is considerably higher than for television commercials or press advertisements. An empirical study conducted in 2004 at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich – carried out using a bank as its example, but transferable in its results to other sectors – shows that cultural sponsorship increases customer retention, operationalised through the constructs of trust, satisfaction and emotional closeness. The basic precondition is that the target group is aware of the sponsorship activities at all. Stronger customer retention goes hand in hand with loyalty, repeat purchase and a greater willingness to recommend, which is reflected directly in economic figures. A connection with employee satisfaction was also demonstrated, so that cultural sponsorship serves staff motivation as well. The results were published in 2004 in Marketing Journal, volume 37, issue 3, pages 34 to 36. --- **Question:** What is the Rouge-et-Noir leather case from Montblanc, and how did one obtain this promotional item? **Answer:** The Rouge-et-Noir leather case is one of those promotional items which in workmanship and appearance come close to a regular Montblanc product. It was never sold on the open market: the specialist dealer presented it to particularly good customers on the purchase of a new writing instrument, usually a Meisterstück 146 LeGrand. Besides the case, the package included specially designed Rouge-et-Noir packaging and a special service guide devoted to the company's history and to the Rouge-et-Noir safety pens that were popular in earlier years. The case itself is made of soft cowhide and bears a red stripe on the side, which takes up the colouring of the historical Rouge-et-Noir line. Because of the restricted issue it is only very rarely to be found today and is regarded among collectors as an insider's tip. --- **Question:** How is the Montblanc wall clock from the 1950s recognised, and what was it worth in 2005? **Answer:** The wall clock with the Montblanc lettering was presumably issued to specialist retailers as a promotional item in the middle of the 1950s, and exclusively to particularly good customers of the company. The case is made of sheet brass. Technically it is a purely mains-operated device: the clock runs only on 220 to 240 volts and has neither battery operation nor a quartz movement. These features distinguish it from later reproductions and from modern promotional clocks. Among the Montblanc promotional items it is regarded as the most sought-after piece of all; its market value in 2005 was around 1,000 euros. --- **Question:** What were the Montblanc "Art to Go" shopping bags of 2002, and how large was their edition size? **Answer:** To mark the opening of the new flagship store on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, in 2002 Montblanc had six internationally recognised artists design shopping bags. Those involved were Sylvie Fleury with "Kustom Bag Kommando", Gary Hume with "Love Letters in your Pyjamas", Anne and Patrick Poirier with "Demain le Soleil rouge se levera aussi sur le Mont Blanc", Jean-Marc Bustamante with "Untitled", Sam Taylor-Wood with "Kyoto Girls" and David LaChapelle with "All American". An accompanying promotional brochure introduced the artists, and in addition a writing instrument edition appeared that could be bought only in this store. The designs were realised, on the one hand, as oversized aluminium displays which, measuring 3 x 2.2 x 0.9 metres, were erected in front of the Paris store. On the other hand, the six motifs were available as bags in normal size, each motif limited to 4810 pieces. Individual examples also reached German boutiques, but are practically no longer to be had. --- **Question:** What are the Montblanc Christmas tins ("Santa Claus Box") and to whom were they distributed? **Answer:** The Christmas tins, officially called the "Santa Claus Box", are a classic Montblanc promotional item. Every year in December, employees, sales staff, specialist dealers and loyal customers receive a tin filled with chocolates or truffles. The motifs take up illustrations from the early days of the company. Specialist dealers were also able to order the tins empty and to fill them as they saw fit. In the beginning there were various shapes, among them a tin in the form of a cap top, a round tin and two versions in upright format. Later a uniform shape was retained; the years documented include 1998 to 2004. Two sales promotion tins occupy a special place: each is filled with six deckle-edged cards bearing the same motif and has a deep-drawn insert for a Meisterstück 164 ballpoint pen, one of them for the Bordeaux version. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc umbrellas were there, and on what occasions were they issued? **Answer:** The first Montblanc umbrella was in black and white, the colour alternating from rib to rib; it had a white, angular plastic handle. It was issued in 1992 in Berlin to the visitors of the international presentation of the New Dimensions line. The second umbrella was entirely black and executed to a far higher standard. It was put into use in the boutiques in 2001: customers who had forgotten their own umbrella in the rain could borrow it and were in fact supposed to hand it back. Both umbrellas have therefore reached collectors' hands only in small numbers. --- **Question:** What is the story behind the Montblanc cufflink case from the summer of 2004? **Answer:** In August 2004 Montblanc issued a case for cufflinks as a promotional item. It is made of embossed calfskin with an alligator look and was not freely available. It was distributed by way of a targeted customer campaign: selected customers received a letter from Montblanc with a voucher which they could redeem at the nearest Montblanc boutique. Because of this tightly limited distribution the case is regarded as a promotional item with collecting potential; at the same time it advertised the matching Montblanc cufflinks. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc postcards with historical advertising motifs were there, and what did the more recent packs cost? **Answer:** At about the middle of the 1990s Montblanc issued a series of individually packaged greetings cards, which was distributed worldwide through the top retailers of the day. The cards show advertising motifs from the 1930s and 1940s and are executed to a very high standard. Originally there were ten motifs, four of which had been sold out for some time; a good six years before 2005 the series was withdrawn from the range, with a specialist retailer in Bremen taking over almost the entire remaining stock. Later a new generation of cards followed, with more modern, restrained motifs which in only a few cases have any connection with Montblanc. These cards carry no full-surface cover image but a steel-engraved relief print, and are sold in packs of ten; in 2005 the price was 29.50 euros per pack. They are packaged in black card with a genuine red wax seal into which the Montblanc star is stamped. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc items were given out as incentives to employees and sales assistants? **Answer:** Besides the promotional items for customers, Montblanc had items that were intended exclusively for its own employees and for specialist dealers and that therefore only rarely come into collectors' hands. These include a scarf of pure silk in the format 50 x 50 centimetres, yellow and set with black Montblanc stars; it went to particularly successful sales assistants. For the same purpose a brooch was awarded in the 1980s, made of sterling silver gilded with 22 carat gold. As is usual with vermeil, it tarnishes over time; the coating can be removed without difficulty in a silver bath. For the inauguration of the new factory building in the 1990s, specially made beer tankards were handed out as well, which occasionally turn up in auctions. --- **Question:** What are the Montblanc mugs of the Nuremberg boutique of 2004 and how large was the edition size? **Answer:** In 2004 the Montblanc boutique in Nuremberg brought out a mug of its own, printed with historical Montblanc advertising vehicles. It was sold exclusively in that boutique and in an edition size of 240 pieces. The sale was made for the benefit of the Nuremberg charity campaign "Sternstunden", which is organised by Bayerischer Rundfunk and supports disadvantaged children. Because of the small, locally restricted edition size, the mug is among the Montblanc collectors' items that are hard to find, although it was sold as a regular item and not given away. --- **Question:** Which smaller promotional items, such as key rings, golf balls or trophies, did Montblanc issue? **Answer:** The Montblanc key ring existed in two versions: initially as a larger plastic disc bearing the Montblanc logo, later in a considerably higher-quality form with a brass core, enamel lacquer on a domed surface and a silver-plated rim. Golf balls were offered in two colour variants, black and white, each in five degrees of hardness. A small trophy 2.8 centimetres in height and 1.9 centimetres in diameter, made of gilded brass, came into being at an open day, presumably the summer party of 2000: the visitors first received a block of brass and accompanied it through the individual work stations, so that every step of the process could be followed on one's own piece. Transparent shopping or beach bags with leather trim were given away in 2002 to customers with a purchase value of more than 1,000 euros. An eraser was most probably presented to purchasers in 2001 on the introduction of the Sketch Pen 169; in addition there are matchbooks in the typical Montblanc design and product samples of the fragrances Presence, Presence Cool and Individuel. --- **Question:** What task does the Montblanc Academy fulfil at the company's Hamburg site? **Answer:** The Montblanc Academy is the training and exhibition area at the Hamburg site. Behind its portal, constantly changing exhibitions with works by various painters and sculptors take place. Art is present throughout the whole building and is not confined to the entrance area, as is otherwise frequently the case. In addition, the Academy houses training and conference rooms as well as a fully fitted model boutique. Sales staff are trained in this dummy boutique; new interior design concepts can also be tried out there before they are implemented in the real boutiques. --- **Question:** What does price-quality irradiation state, and which example from the watch industry demonstrates it? **Answer:** Price-quality irradiation is the term used in marketing for the effect whereby buyers infer quality from price. Expensive products are judged to be of higher quality than objectively equivalent but cheaper offerings. If something is free of charge, it is indeed accepted, but it is not otherwise valued: what costs nothing is quickly regarded as worth nothing. A well-known example is provided by a Swiss watch manufacturer which some years ago offered an inexpensive steel watch for the first time. The price was unusually low for this brand, and the management firmly reckoned on a success; in fact the model proved to be a slow seller. Only after the price had been raised by several thousand DM did the watch sell splendidly, because customers expressly wanted an expensive watch. Something comparable is seen with management consultancies and market research institutes, whose information, known for years, is only actually used once high fees have been paid for it beforehand. --- ### Nibs **Question:** How do M, B and OB nibs differ in shape and writing behaviour? **Answer:** Choosing the right nib width is one of the most important decisions when buying a fountain pen and depends strongly on handwriting size, paper used and personal taste. The tipping of EF, F and M nibs is rounded at the front, allowing writing from various pen positions; they are particularly suitable for beginners and daily heavy writing. B and BB nibs are ground flat at the front, leaving a horizontal stroke under the tip and producing a wider line. OM, OB and OBB nibs are ground at an angle and require a specific pen position; in skilled hands they enable calligraphic effects, but with the wrong grip they can scratch and are unsuitable for left-handers. At Montblanc the nib can be exchanged free of charge within 14 days of purchase; a later exchange is possible against a repair flat fee, provided the nib is unused and as new. --- **Question:** Which nib widths does Montblanc offer, and what should one consider when choosing? **Answer:** Montblanc fountain pens are typically available in nib widths EF, F, M, OM, B, OB, BB and OBB. The letter O stands for oblique, i.e. an angled tipping. Before buying, it is advisable to try various widths in a specialist shop, since the choice depends strongly on personal taste; the smaller the handwriting, the finer the nib should be. EF, F, M and OM are particularly suited to everyday use such as notes and letters, while signatures look most striking with B, OB, BB and OBB. After purchase from a specialist dealer there is a 14-day window in which the nib can be exchanged free of charge; later swaps are only possible via Montblanc Customer Service against a repair flat fee. In the Meisterstück range nibs have changed visibly over the decades; older 149 models have a bicolour nib similar to that of the 146, while newer 149s are made of yellow gold inside and out, platinum-plated in the middle. --- **Question:** Why do some Montblanc pens, normally delivered with 14-karat nibs, carry an 18-karat gold nib? **Answer:** When a Montblanc pen normally sold in Germany with a 14-karat gold nib unexpectedly carries an 18-karat gold nib, the reason most often lies in the French market. In France only pens with 18-karat gold nibs are offered — including standard models like the 146, 144 and 114 as well as older pens. Even special editions like the Special Anniversary Edition come with a special 18-karat nib in France. A German pen of these models with an 18-karat nib therefore usually originates from France. --- ### Special Editions **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc Meisterstück White Pearl Edition, especially regarding edition size and distribution? **Answer:** The Montblanc Meisterstück White Pearl Edition pens were never officially distributed through boutiques or specialist shops. In total only about 100 pieces are believed to have been produced, sold exclusively through a Montblanc-internal private sale to selected dealers. For this reason the pens appear on the market only very rarely. There is some confusion regarding the name: the packaging of one model 144 carries the name "Magic Beauty II", while a Montblanc expert confirms "White Pearl" as the correct designation. These naming inconsistencies trace back to the fact that the edition was never officially offered through the trade. Some pens were sold individually, with complete sets very rare. Even though the exact number remains unknown and estimates put it at around 100 pieces, the White Pearl / Magic Beauty II ranks among Montblanc's rarest editions. --- **Question:** How do Montblanc Special Edition, Limited Edition and Artisan Edition differ? **Answer:** The terms Special Edition, Limited Edition and Artisan Edition are used differently at Montblanc. Special Editions are produced only with a temporal restriction; the quantity, however, can be freely chosen by Montblanc within the production period — many or few writing instruments may be made. Examples are the Special Anniversary Edition produced only in 1999 and the Menuhin Edition, whose production period was not infinite, but whose exact quantity is unknown. Limited Editions are restricted both in production period and quantity. An example is the Patron of the Arts Edition J.P. Morgan 2004: the writing instruments were produced only in 2004; afterwards the moulds were destroyed; the edition was 4,810 pieces in the regular variant and 888 pieces in the solid-gold version. Artisan Editions are extremely rare and generally very expensive writing instruments produced only in quantities of 1, 4, 10 or under 333. An exception are editions like Jungle Eyes as somewhat more regular variants. A typical example of an Artisan Edition is the Carnegie Ruby Edition based on a Carnegie of 2002 and set with rubies. --- ### Storage and care of writing instruments **Question:** Why do fountain pens drip at low air pressure, and what does the feed achieve in an aircraft? **Answer:** When the air pressure falls, ink is forced forward out of the ink reservoir. What is then decisive is the capillary system of the feed: within certain limits it takes up the surplus ink and holds it back, so that the fountain pen remains tight. Precisely this case is reproduced in the test laboratory in a pressure chamber with which a flight in an aircraft can be simulated. The capacity of the feed is, however, limited. If the air pressure falls below a certain threshold, every fountain pen begins to drip, irrespective of manufacturer and price class. For carriage in an aircraft this means that even a carefully built writing instrument does not remain reliably tight when the pressure drops sharply. --- ### Vintage pens **Question:** What features does the Montblanc Safety Pen No. 15 have, and how is it filled? **Answer:** The Montblanc Safety Pen No. 15 is classically filled with a pipette from above; alternatively, filling can be done by carefully holding the nib of a piston pen into the opening of the safety pen and releasing ink from the piston pen into the safety pen. In the example described, the barrel shows several inscriptions: at the top in white the maiden name of a previous owner, below that the barely readable inscription 'Simplo Original Montblanc' with the mountain symbol in the middle. On the turning knob the designation '15 OB' is engraved. The cap bears the lettering 'Montblanc' with mountain symbol and the poorly readable dealer detail 'Füllhalter-Spezial-Geschäft Königsberg Pr. Junkerstr. 11'. The nib is a 14-carat gold nib of width M with the Montblanc circle imprint. The pen is tight and writes flawlessly after filling. --- **Question:** Which feed variants existed on the Montblanc Meisterstück 144 since the 1980s? **Answer:** Since the relaunch of the Meisterstücks in the Classique size, i.e. model 144, various feeds have been used. Initially there were two variants with solid feeds. From the 1990s onwards, feeds with lamellae were additionally used, which enable greater pressure equalisation. With lower air pressure, e.g. on aircraft, fountain pens normally tend to drip. The lamellae of the feed can absorb the ink to a certain extent and so effectively prevent the pen from leaking. Overall at least three feed variants on the 144 are documented; further variants are not excluded. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 144 (Classique predecessor): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-144-en.htm --- **Question:** How did the Onoto fountain pen of Sir Thomas Gibson-Carmichael come back into use after 70 years' watery grave? **Answer:** In April 1917 the ocean liner SS Medina, a former royal yacht converted into a passenger ship, left Sydney with 417 passengers and crew bound for London via Bombay, Port Said and Plymouth. On board was also a valuable private collection of the British diplomat Sir Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, former governor of Madras and Bengal, and his wife Lady Mary Gibson-Carmichael. The family left the ship in Port Said and travelled on with HMS Sheffield, with most of their around 80 pieces of luggage staying on board the Medina. On 28 April 1917 the unarmed Medina was, three miles off the southern English headland Start Point, torpedoed without warning by the German submarine UB 31. Through the explosion of the torpedo in the engine room, the fourth engineer and five engine men died; all other persons reached the harbours of Dartmouth and Brixham in lifeboats. In the 1970s and 1980s, in several salvage operations, extensive finds were recovered, including oriental paintings, perfume flacons, Japanese porcelain, Indian brass ware, Australian gemstones, ancient Egyptian pearl jewellery, Assyrian cuneiform tablets, a coin catalogue of Sotheby's auction house and still readable letters from Lord Kitchener and Earl Rosebery. Sir Carmichael's personal Onoto Plunger Filler was also recovered. At a later auction the newly founded firm The Onoto Pen Company Limited acquired the writing instrument for its company collection. The pen was given to the well-known restorer Laurence Oldfield for assessment, who established that the Onoto was in excellent condition and the 14-carat nib too had hardly suffered damage. Only seals, piston and piston rod had to be replaced because of corrosion with original parts from donor pens. After reassembly and polishing, the Onoto wrote flawlessly again and is today regularly used by the firm's directorate. --- **Question:** What are the most important do's and don'ts for the care, storage and cleaning of vintage fountain pens? **Answer:** Vintage writing instruments – whether made of hard rubber (ebonite), celluloid, cellulose acetate or related cellulose resins (e.g. Forticel, called Radite II by Sheaffer) – respond far more sensitively to improper handling than modern resin pens. Anyone who wants to enjoy a collection over the long term should therefore follow a few proven rules. The points below are sorted in descending order of importance: the first items prevent the most common and most severe damage; those further down add detail for fine-tuned care. RECOMMENDATIONS (Do's) 1. Storage: dry, dark, not airtight. Steel map cabinets with shallow drawers, for example, work very well. Direct sunlight and very bright light must be avoided, as the UV component attacks hard rubber as well as celluloid and cellulose acetate. UV-absorbing glass is only of limited help: the infrared component (heat) still passes through the glass and can literally bake the pens. 2. Keep concrete climate values. Rule of thumb: temperature 18–22 °C (64–72 °F), relative humidity 40–60 % (ideal 45–50 %). Larger swings, heat above 22 °C or sustained humidity above 60 % significantly accelerate material aging, mould and bloom formation. 3. Correct storage position. Always store writing instruments nib-up or at least horizontal – never nib-down. Otherwise ink runs into the cap, the feed dries unevenly, and the next writing session starts with a clogged or skipping nib. Inside a pen case, prefer holders that enforce this position. 4. Store pens empty and cleaned – with one exception: pens with cork seals or piston gaskets should not be stored dry. For longer periods they are filled exclusively with distilled water so that cork and seals remain supple. 5. Use only fountain-pen-safe inks. Any ink containing pigments or particles – including nanoparticle inks such as Platinum Carbon Black – can clog the feed and nib. Nanoparticle inks are nominally safe but require significantly more frequent flushing. Not every ink described as 'fountain-pen-friendly' actually is: Winsor & Newton calligraphy inks contain particulate matter, as do all shimmer inks. Anyone who insists on these special inks should clean their pen at least twice as often as with a plain solution ink. New inks that are not yet established on the market should always be treated with caution; they belong in 'throwaway' pens. The same applies within a brand: just because Ink A is safe does not mean Ink B from the same maker is. 6. Ensure air circulation. Celluloid and cellulose acetate continuously release acids. In an airtight cabinet these gases accumulate and accelerate the decay of the very pieces that are meant to be protected. For large cabinets a small PC fan in a hole in the back panel is a good solution; alternatively, transparent vinyl pads on the corners of the lid keep it from sealing completely. 7. Actively control humidity. In humid environments without air conditioning or a good dehumidifier, small silica gel packets in the cabinet are recommended. Depending on conditions, they need to be replaced several times a year; saturated packets can be regenerated in the microwave on the defrost setting (7–10 minutes). Excess humidity accelerates oxidation of hard rubber, corrosion of metal parts and the appearance of bloom on cellulose resins; on casein materials the consequences are particularly drastic. 8. When in doubt, call in a professional. If a restoration exceeds your own abilities, a qualified specialist should take over. Stubbornness or lack of knowledge are common causes of irreparable damage. As a rule of thumb: most damage to old pens comes not from neglect but from botched repair attempts. Structural cracks and stuck mechanisms in particular are clearly a job for the workshop. 9. Address problems promptly. Nibs with poor ink flow, scratchy noises or generally 'cranky' writing behaviour belong in the hands of a nib technician, as do stiff pistons and fillers that take up significantly less ink than they used to. 10. Isolate visibly decomposing celluloid pieces. So-called celluloid rot (celluloid decomposition: pungent camphor-like odour, crystalline efflorescence, sticky surface, sudden discolouration) is contagious: the released acids and aldehydes accelerate the decay of neighbouring cellulose pieces. Affected pens must therefore be stored strictly separately and not returned to the main collection, even if the odour seems to subside. 11. Inspect stored pens regularly. Take pens out periodically and wipe them down with a soft 100% cotton cloth (no synthetic fibres – some are hard enough to scratch the surface). At the same time, look for signs of crystallisation or fluorescence in the celluloid; fluorescence is an early warning sign of incipient crystallisation. 12. Trap harmful substances. Chemical buffers (alkaline substances such as sodium bicarbonate or calcium carbonate) or molecular traps (zeolite) are advisable. Accelerated aging tests show that zeolites work significantly longer and more effectively than simple buffers, because they bind not only acids but also the upstream aldehydes. MicroChamber interleaving paper (Conservation Resources International), which contains a high-grade zeolite, has proven its worth; it is laid out over the pens inside the drawers. 13. For long-term storage of hard rubber pens and of celluloid pens in colours prone to discolouration, removing the sacs is the best approach. Colours prone to discolouration include Jade, Black & Pearl, Parker's Moderne Green & Pearl, Sheaffer's Ebonized Pearl, Wahl's Cathay as well as Waterman's Onyx and Persian – the list is not exhaustive. 14. Look after hard rubber. A very thin coating of mineral oil helps preserve appearance and material: when manufactured, hard rubber contained mineral oil, much of which has diffused out over the decades. For interior cleaning of cap and barrel, mineral oil with cotton swabs is likewise preferable to water. 15. Use silicone grease very sparingly and only where needed. It spreads quickly across the entire pen during handling, blocks gas exchange and thereby accelerates the decomposition of cellulose materials. Grease also attracts dust, which builds up into a layer whose removal can in turn damage the surface. 16. Know your material. Fragile finishes – such as gold plating on inexpensive steel nibs – should not be polished. Dried ink can be removed with a slightly moist cotton cloth; vigorous polishing quickly rubs the gold plating away. The same applies to cap and trim rings, levers and clips on third-tier pens (and on cheaper models of the top brands, such as the Parkette). 17. On restoration, replace latex sacs with silicone sacs. As they age, old latex ink sacs release sulphur-containing gases that can discolour and damage surrounding plastics. If a vintage pen is being resacced anyway, a silicone sac should be fitted: it is chemically inert, long-lasting, and avoids the sulphur problem. 18. Use the right adhesives for reassembly. For ink sacs and non-threaded joints, shellac (orange shellac is standard – it cures hard yet remains water-soluble when needed) is used; for threaded joints, thread sealant. Both were standard throughout classic fountain pen manufacturing, are reliable, and can be loosened again with heat, so that future repairs remain possible without damage. WHAT TO AVOID (Don'ts) 1. Never store pens filled with ink or tap water. Both contain dissolved substances that can precipitate out, cloud or stain transparent parts and block piston mechanisms. Pen flush also must never be left in a pen permanently. 2. Never soak hard rubber in water, especially not in warm or hot water. Light-aged hard rubber reacts with water in seconds and turns brown. Hard rubber may also swell when exposed to water for an extended time. A John Holland saddle filler, for instance, placed cap-down in a glass to remove an ink stain, was indeed freed of the stain – but at what cost. 3. No heat guns, no hot-air blowers, no hairdryers on full power for celluloid. Celluloid is nitrocellulose and therefore highly flammable; above about 70 °C (158 °F) the material starts to suffer noticeable damage, and hot-air tools easily exceed this. Warming for the loosening of stuck joints is permissible only under careful control (e.g. a warm water bath or a heating mat with thermostat). 4. No Teflon tape. Unlike proper sealants, Teflon is a lubricant; threaded assemblies will loosen and can come apart unexpectedly. Wrapping on more tape in compensation pushes the outer wall (usually the barrel) outwards – with a risk of cracking. Drastic example: a Sheaffer Honor Masterpiece (around 1941, solid gold, today worth more than 5,000 USD) in which a previous restorer had fixed the shrunken section in the barrel with Teflon tape – only because the barrel is made of 14-carat gold (and not of celluloid or a less forgiving metal) did the pen survive the operation. 5. No alcohol and no organic solvents (e.g. nail polish remover, acetone, thinner) on celluloid or other cellulose resins – they attack the material. Common household cleaners are equally unsuitable. 6. No petroleum products on hard rubber or on rubber parts such as sacs, gaskets and seals. They destroy natural rubber components. The only exception is the thin mineral oil treatment of hard rubber mentioned in the recommendations. 7. No general-purpose lubricants such as WD-40 or 3-in-One Oil. WD-40 contains petroleum distillates and destroys rubber parts. 3-in-One Oil is a mixture – partly plant-based – which also tends to congeal and gum up mechanisms. 8. No super glue, Gorilla Glue or other extremely strong adhesives. They cannot be undone; the only way to open a pen sealed this way is to break it. For safe and reversible joints: shellac for sacs and non-threaded joints, thread sealant for threaded joints (see point 18 of the recommendations). 9. No wax. Waxes provide no benefit to hard rubber and damage celluloid and cellulose acetate by trapping the released acids against the material. Over time all waxes harden – carnauba is hard to begin with – and turn yellowish to brown. Even high-quality microcrystalline waxes have these drawbacks; synthetic ones are worse still. Renaissance Wax, once regarded as 'museum-grade', is now known to be no better in the long run than other waxes. 10. No sealed plastic bags. Plastic bags in general should only be used for very short periods. Most plastic films outgas chemicals that attack the surface finish; in addition, they trap the acids released by celluloid and cellulose acetate, which then attack the very piece they came from. 11. Use only 100% pure silicone grease. Some silicone greases contain petroleum additives. Pure silicone grease is available from fountain pen specialist dealers, diving shops or restaurant-supply trade outlets. 12. No silicone spray from a can. The silicone itself may be fine – but the propellant is usually heptane, a petroleum product that partly dissolves in the silicone. 13. With leaking vintage eyedroppers, do not put silicone paste or O-rings into the section joint. The original mating surfaces were machined to extremely close tolerances and seal perfectly as long as they remain undamaged. Foreign material in the thread usually causes the damage in the first place. A leaking eyedropper joint can typically be solved simply by tightening it a little more firmly. 14. Do not pack loose sections with paper or thin pasteboard. The stress is asymmetrical; the barrel – especially if it is hard rubber – can crack. 15. No cases or display cabinets with velvet linings. The material can leave small scratches and dull spots on sensitive lacquers, gold plating and hard rubber surfaces; velvet also binds dust and moisture. Acid-free fleece or microfibre inserts are a better choice. 16. No self-adhesive labels (label maker, price stickers, sticky tape) for marking. Pressure-sensitive adhesives harden and can often only be removed with damage to the surface; some adhesive formulations attack the material directly, even if the sticker itself remains easy to remove. 17. Do not overuse ultrasonic cleaners. They heat the water very quickly to temperatures that can damage vintage materials. An ultrasonic cleaner with a built-in heater should not be used for fountain pens at all. 18. Do not wrap pens in ordinary paper or tissue. Such papers usually contain sulphuric acid residues and can damage the piece. If wrapping is necessary, use only conservation-grade paper (see point 12 of the recommendations). --- **Question:** How is the three-digit model number of older Montblanc writing instruments constructed, and what does the D.R.P. stamp mean? **Answer:** On the older Montblanc writing instruments each of the three digits encodes a separate property. The first digit gives the line: 1 for the Meisterstück, 2 for the mid-range, 3 for school pens. The second digit gives the filling system: 1 for the safety pen, 2 for the self-filler with an ink sac, 3 for the piston filler. The third digit gives the size, with a higher digit meaning a larger pen. A model can therefore be placed from its number alone: a 139 is a piston-filling Meisterstück in the largest size, a 136 the same one size down, a 134 smaller again and a 132 the smallest format in the line. A 333 is accordingly a piston-filling school pen. The system holds for the pre-war and early post-war models; later numbers such as 144, 146 or 149 follow it only in part. A further pointer for dating is the stamp D.R.P., for Deutsches Reichspatent (German Reich patent). A pen carrying this mark was made before 1945. --- ### Vintage pens / oldies **Question:** What lies behind the engraving “Füllfederzentrale Max Schumacher Dortmund” on old fountain pens? **Answer:** The engraving refers to a specialist shop in Dortmund which was opened in May 1925 by Max Schumacher under the name “Die Füllfeder-Zentrale Dortmund”. Montblanc was part of the range from the outset, and alongside it fountain pens by Pelikan, Soenneken, Kaweco and other manufacturers were stocked. Retailer engravings of this kind are still found on old writing instruments today and make it possible to assign a piece to a place of sale and to a period of time. The shop was continued by the founder's son and moved in 1963 to its present premises in Kleppingstraße; since 1980 it has been in the hands of the Volmerg family. A certificate from Montblanc dated 4 December 1948 documents the reopening at that time in the Hansa-Pavillon, where the shop was located for over thirty years. In 2005 the firm looked back on eighty years of company tradition; cleaning, restoration and engraving are part of the service to this day, while complicated repairs to historical writing instruments are outsourced. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc writing instruments and which prices were to be found at the Tilburg Pen Show in 2004? **Answer:** At the Tilburg Pen Show in September 2004, predominantly older writing instruments were traded, newer models only in small numbers. Among the roughly 15 dealers there were numerous Montblanc fountain pens from the 1950s as well as examples of the model 139. At one stand coloured Montblanc pens and baby safety pens were to be seen, at another the Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of the Year 2004 in amber. The pieces on offer were without exception in good condition, and the prices were quite moderate. More recent limited writing instruments were also parted with comparatively cheaply: a set consisting of the Peter the Great and the Catherine the Great cost 2,700 euros, and a 149 from the Edition 1924 was to be had for 900 euros. Besides writing instruments, magazines and books on the subject were also sold at the fair. --- ## General questions on writing instruments ### Fountain-pen nibs **Question:** Do nibs really break in to one's individual writing style? **Answer:** A genuine break-in is mostly denied among collectors: the iridium pellet at the nib tip is so hard that practically no measurable wear occurs in normal use — not even after decades, so used pens can be bought without concern. What is felt as "breaking in" is in practice mostly the writer's own adaptation to the instrument. Only when the iridium pellet is broken off does the softer gold wear quickly. Targeted nib customisation is possible at the Montblanc service in Hamburg, where the writing style is observed and the nib individually ground. Since gold nibs are made by hand and vary even within one nib width, switching to a different nib of the same width can bring noticeable improvements. --- **Question:** Which nibs are suitable for a light calligraphy effect in everyday use? **Answer:** Today's nibs produce only a limited calligraphic effect, since stiffer nibs have been made since the introduction of the ballpoint in the 1950s to tolerate the typical writing pressure of users. Anyone who wants a real, clearly varying line should sensibly turn to an old, broken-in fountain pen with an OM or OB nib, or to pre-war models such as Watermans from 1900–1910 with flexible EF nibs. Current options for a light effect are Aurora Italic or Stub, the music nib of the OMAS Filarmonica, or the Calligraphique nib of the Cartier Louis Cartier. With Montblanc, an OB or O3B nib on the 149 produces a discreet line-width difference. Writing with flexible or oblique-ground nibs requires practice and the right grip on the pen. --- **Question:** Are there even finer nibs than the Lamy EF, e.g. for writing on squared paper? **Answer:** True third-party nibs do not exist, but Japanese makers like Pilot, Namiki or Nakaya supply nibs that are clearly thinner than European brands; a Japanese F is roughly equivalent to a European EF and there are even XF nibs. For the Lamy system the Lamy gold EF nib (from the Studio or Accent) can be fitted to the Logo 06; if needed, a nibmeister can grind it finer still. Paper has a very large influence: on absorbent or rough paper even an EF appears thicker, while satin-finished sized paper (e.g. from Clairefontaine) shows the line noticeably finer. Ink also plays a role — Montblanc Blue-Black / Midnight Blue writes a touch thinner than other water-based inks. --- **Question:** Which paper is suitable for a blank book to be written in with demanding inks like Dr. Jansen "Terra di Sienna" or gold-leaf ink? **Answer:** Paper from Clairefontaine is recommended; it is available from good specialist shops and has also proved itself for breaking in old nibs. A further option is the refill of the Montblanc Diaries & Notes / Notes and Matters books (item 9526), which can be ordered individually at boutiques; the paper matches the well-known Montblanc test pads. Anyone who wants a custom-made blank book should approach a local bookbinder and supply their own high-quality paper if needed. Inks with high paper requirements feather quickly on soft writing paper, so firm, smooth, sized paper is preferable. --- **Question:** What helps against light start-up and scratching on a new Montblanc 149 with M nib? **Answer:** Using sandpaper without experience is strongly discouraged. For start-up problems an ink change to a thinner brand (e.g. Pelikan or Lamy royal blue) often already helps. Slight noises with an M nib can come from "squeak" on certain papers — satin-finished, high-quality paper noticeably reduces this without being significantly more expensive. Genuine scratching often comes from misaligned tines; under a magnifier both halves should sit at the same height, otherwise the nib must be straightened. A gentle break-in, with start-up improving day by day, is normal; a proven trick is to start a new line with a tiny dot. --- **Question:** Can a nib with iridium tipping be 'broken in' at all, or is that a myth? **Answer:** Pure material wear hardly occurs through the hard iridium grain; a true 'breaking in' through normal writing would, by estimate, take about 15 years. In reality two effects overlap: the nib tines are minimally spread through individual pressure, and the writer gets used to the behaviour of the pen. Anyone wanting to speed up the effect can use special nib polishing paper with 12,000 grit (e.g. from David Nishimura or via micro-mesh.de) and draw figure-of-eights laid flat on the sheet — this also removes light burrs and adapts the nib to one's own hand. Alternatively, the classic method using a soapstone is mentioned. Targeted manual adjustment should be done carefully, as removing too much material permanently changes the nib character. --- **Question:** How do you hold and guide a fountain pen with an OM or OF nib, and are such nibs suitable for signatures? **Answer:** Obliquely ground nibs (oblique, abbreviation 'O') produce a broader script with narrower vertical strokes and react very sensitively to hand position; at the wrong angle the nib scratches or skips. There are considerable differences between OF and OB, so extensive writing samples before purchase are important. For very flowing signatures these nibs are not ideal, but they can be used optimally by lightly turning the pen (counter-clockwise so the oblique foot lies parallel to the paper) — this gives maximum line variation. A detailed English-language guide is available in an article on richardspens.com. Signatures with a ballpoint are regarded among collectors as a stylistic faux pas. --- **Question:** Are the M and B nib widths of Montblanc and Faber-Castell directly comparable? **Answer:** Nib widths vary considerably between makers and partly within a brand, since Montblanc nibs are ground manually. Tendentially Montblanc nibs are broader than those of comparable brands (Cross M is narrower than Montblanc M); Dunhill and Aurora are similar at M; a Faber-Castell Anello M tends to seem somewhat broader than a Montblanc M, with ample but not excessive ink flow. The thinner the nominal nib width, the more clearly variation within a model shows — on the Faber Intuition, several nibs of width M showed differences in line width and ink flow. Bringing one's own paper for sample writing is recommended, since the satin sample paper of shops distorts the script. --- **Question:** Which paper makes a fountain pen's line appear as broad as possible without making the script look fussy? **Answer:** Generally the rule is: the cheaper and more absorbent the paper, the broader the ink line appears, because the ink penetrates more strongly into the fibre structure and spreads. Paper that is too absorbent, however, carries the risk that the pen cannot keep up with ink flow and skips, or that fibres get into the nib slit and create a brush effect. Strongly satin or coated papers, on the other hand, make the line appear narrower than it actually is, which is why the nib width chosen in the shop often appears disappointingly narrow at home. Recommended are mid-range premium papers such as Gmund papers, Cranes Crest (with cotton-like fibre composition like banknotes) and, as all-rounders, Zanders Gohrsmühle or Classic. Collectors advise always testing a pen with one's own usual paper, as the perceived nib width varies considerably. --- **Question:** Is there a nibmeister in Germany at the level of Richard Binder or John Mottishaw who makes nibs flexible or replaces tipping? **Answer:** In Germany there are skilled restorers who can grind and adjust nibs, e.g. the specialist known as Dr. Ink, reachable via doerrbecker.de. For demanding work such as replacing tipping, making a modern nib flexible or working in stub and italic grinds, the level in Germany, by collector judgement, does not reach Richard Binder or John Mottishaw. Therefore shipping to John Mottishaw (nibs.com) is recommended; the handling runs reliably and pleasantly via office manager Pat Ackor; phone arrangements are possible. Shipping and customs formalities to the USA must be factored in. --- **Question:** What are oxidative discolourations on a Montblanc gold nib, and can you straighten bent nib tines yourself? **Answer:** Pure gold does not oxidise, but on 14- or 18-carat gold nibs thin tarnish or ink-residue layers can form that are perceived as discolouration; these can be removed without problems by placing the nib for several hours in clear water and then wiping it with a cotton cloth, stubborn layers also with a silver-cleaning cloth. Vermeil nibs (gilded sterling silver) and gold-plated brass nibs of older construction tarnish more visibly; a missing silver hallmark indicates gold-plated brass, which can likewise be cleaned with a silver-cleaning cloth. Displaced or slightly bent nib tines (spreading) should not be corrected by laymen by pressing on paper, since this easily destroys the nib's tuning; for small misalignments going to a nibmeister or qualified specialist dealer is preferable. --- **Question:** Is a height difference between the two nib tines on the order of half a paper thickness still within tolerance on a Meisterstück? **Answer:** Between the two tines of a Meisterstück nib there must, by design, be no height difference; any visible step causes the nib to scratch when writing instead of gliding smoothly. A half-paper-thickness offset is therefore not a tolerance value but an alignment error that should be corrected by a qualified specialist dealer or in the boutique. In individual cases suspected defects turn out to be a pure nib-width misunderstanding: an F nib can seem scratchy to a writer used to an M nib, without there being a defect. For a really suitable writing experience collectors recommend, in case of doubt, exchanging the nib via Montblanc, although the cost (nib and lower section change) can lie in the region of 200 euros. --- **Question:** What are the causes of intermittent ink flow on a Montblanc Noblesse Oblige, and how can the problem be remedied? **Answer:** The most common cause of intermittent ink flow is dried ink in the feed, especially when the pen has not been used or only sporadically over longer periods and was not flushed before being put away. Recommended is multi-day flushing with clear water; with strongly resinified residues, soaking the front section in water or an ultrasonic bath helps. Breaking in a new nib is a long process, since the iridium grain at the tip is only polished by use over long periods; a hasty nib swap is not the way. If the ink flow cannot be stabilised by cleaning, the writing instrument should be presented with a writing sample to a specialist shop so that nib geometry, hand position and writing angle can be assessed in interaction. --- **Question:** Which points are to be considered when buying a Montblanc Meisterstück 145 Chopin Platinum as an everyday fountain pen, especially regarding nib choice, source and price? **Answer:** The Meisterstück 145 Chopin is absolutely everyday-suitable but may be too small for writers with larger hands; trial writing with the 145, 146 and 149 in the specialist trade with one's own paper is therefore recommended, since nib widths look different depending on paper. When buying, the boutique is the safest source; the renowned online shipper scription.de also reliably delivers genuine originals, often more cheaply; non-authorised dealers or eBay increase the counterfeit risk. An official price list Montblanc does not publish, since this contradicts the distribution philosophy; end-consumer prices within a country are, however, identical, only VAT creates small differences between countries like Germany and Austria. A piston filler is to be preferred over cartridge models; a leather case protects the writing instrument permanently. Older 1950s models like the 254 are an attractive but riskier alternative, since their condition is harder to assess. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 145 (Classique): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-145-en.htm --- **Question:** Which fountain pens are suitable for drawing with pressure-dependent line width, and where do you get flexible or stub-modified nibs? **Answer:** What is described as a pressure-sensitive nib is a flexible nib that, through varying writing pressure, delivers variable line widths. Such nibs are mostly found in pre-war writing instruments, especially in Watermans up to about 1930; in modern series-produced fountain pens flexible nibs are practically no longer fitted, apart from a few Japanese exceptions like the Pilot Falcon or Nakaya, whose flexibility, however, often falls short of historical nibs. Anyone wanting to have a modern standard nib ground flexibly or have a stub grind worked in is best served by specialist nibmeisters such as John Mottishaw (nibs.com); he can regrind an M nib both narrower and more flexibly. Special editions like a 149 Special Anniversary should not, however, be used for this, since modifications affect collector value; regular series writing instruments are more suitable. The Music Nib is an alternative for line variation without flex behaviour. --- **Question:** Is it normal that a Caran d'Ache Léman accumulates a fine ink film above the nib slit? **Answer:** A thin ink film that, after short writing, emerges upward from the nib slit is to be observed to varying extent on pens of very different brands (Montblanc, Pelikan, Faber-Castell, Omas, Parker, Waterman) and is not necessarily a defect. The phenomenon can be related to the chosen ink, the nib design or to a high ink amount in the feed and occurs sometimes only during storage, sometimes also during writing. If the ink film is purely a visual nuisance, presenting the pen to the dealer is advisable; the dealer checks flow and nib alignment; on suspicion of a defect, switching to another ink and thorough flushing is recommended before the pen goes for repair. --- **Question:** Of which alloys are the gold nibs of high-quality fountain pens made, and how corrosion-resistant is the gold used? **Answer:** Gold nibs are not made of fine gold but of alloys with silver and copper components, since pure gold would be much too soft and too little elastic. With 18-carat gold the gold content is just over half, with 14-carat only about 38 per cent. In France previously predominantly 18-carat nibs were sold; meanwhile 14-carat nibs are used there; only Solitaire models still have 18-carat nibs. Allergy sufferers, for skin tolerance reasons, often reach for 18-carat or special alloys like gold-titanium; problematic is only the low-alloy 333 gold. Pure gold is very corrosion-resistant and does not tarnish under normal conditions. For authenticity testing of precious metals, hallmarks and acid tests help. --- **Question:** Are oblique nibs also suitable for daily use and longer exams? **Answer:** Oblique nibs like OB or OBB produce a clearly more varied, calligraphically appearing script but require practice; the writing position must be adapted to the nib. For left-handers oblique nibs are not suitable. For fast writing over several hours, e.g. in exams, thin and well broken-in nibs like F or OM are better suited than very broad OBB nibs, since at speed and pressure legibility takes priority over script. Regular M nibs can also produce a calligraphic effect depending on grind. Important remains that the nib width fits one's own handwriting and writing strength. --- **Question:** What can be done about skipping and starting problems on a new Meisterstück Mozart? **Answer:** Frequent skipping is not normal and should lead to a complaint at the boutique; one's own everyday paper should be brought along, since writing behaviour on test paper deviates significantly. Inkjet paper is very smooth and can exacerbate problems; high-quality or simple college paper shows actual behaviour better. If even an exchange of the writing instrument brings no improvement, the nib width can be a factor; trying other nibs at the dealer is sensible. A crookedly seated nib is a clear defect and likewise complaint-worthy. Before concluding a production fault, it should also be checked whether the cartridge sits correctly and whether someone else can write with the pen without problems. For storage there are Montblanc cases from about 70 euros, often with integrated note pad and credit-card slots. --- **Question:** Are matching nibs still available for the GDR fountain pen Markant M7720, and can a scratchy nib be repaired? **Answer:** Spare parts for GDR fountain pens are barely available, since the writing instruments were largely disposed of and no spare-parts stock exists. The material collector value of these pieces is small, so a professional repair is rarely worthwhile in price terms. A scratchy nib can basically be readjusted by a nib straightener. As a contact point for Markant repairs, Schreibwaren Am Schloss in Dresden (Schloss-Str. 3-5) is recommended, whose owner is a former senior employee of Markant. --- **Question:** Can a nib that sits crookedly on the feed of a Montblanc 149 be corrected oneself, or must it be exchanged? **Answer:** The nib should be aligned centrally to the feed so that nib slit and capillary line up. An exchange is not necessary; the correction is done simply with two fingers (straightening the nib right and left), as would also happen in the boutique. Unlike on a Pelikan, where the nib is fastened via a metal ring and mostly has to be exchanged completely, the Montblanc nib seat cannot be unscrewed. If a laser marking on the clip is missing, the pen is presumably at least ten years old. --- **Question:** Where can replacement nibs for a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 be obtained, and how laborious is a nib swap from M to OB? **Answer:** Original nibs as spare parts are only available via Montblanc itself; used nibs can practically only be found via eBay, e.g. by acquiring a further 146 donor piece. The nib swap is possible on the Meisterstück; the weak point, however, are the lamellae which can easily be bent when handled; therefore extreme caution is warranted. The procedure does not differ significantly between Montblanc, Montegrappa or Faber-Castell. Anyone with little experience should first practise the procedure on cheaper pens or commission an expert. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 146 (Le Grand): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-146-en.htm --- **Question:** Can the nib of a Montblanc Meisterstück be exchanged oneself, what does the service cost, and are there quality differences between individual nibs? **Answer:** A nib swap is unproblematic at Montblanc and is carried out by the maker via the specialist dealer; on new pens (e.g. within four weeks of purchase) it is done free of charge; afterwards it costs around 50 euros. Buying a single replacement nib is rarely worthwhile, since it is partly more expensive than a used complete pen. Since Montblanc nibs are handcrafted, individual examples can vary slightly in writing behaviour; significant differences only emerge through longer use and breaking in. When buying second-hand, especially via eBay, watch for counterfeits; stolen pens can be retained on repair. The matching nib width is best determined in a boutique through trial writing of all widths. --- **Question:** Which fountain pen counts among collectors as a dream piece, and which design approaches are rated as promising for own models (brand Wancher)? **Answer:** As dream pens, especially the models of the Japanese manufactory Nakaya are named, particularly the plain variants like matt-black pens with platinum finish. The presented Wancher prototype is rated by collectors as designerly promising. --- **Question:** What nib width does an unusually looking nib have in a Montblanc 145 Chopin sold as an M nib? **Answer:** It is not an M nib but an S nib (Special), a very rare ball nib that Montblanc produced for only one year. It is correspondingly sought-after among collectors and to be valued higher than a standard M. Ball nibs of this kind are particularly suitable for left-handers, since they have lower sensitivity to writing posture. Anyone finding the ink flow too plentiful can store the nib and put a normal M back into the piece. --- **Question:** What does the letter K on a gold-coloured sticker on a Montblanc 32 mean? **Answer:** The K denotes the nib width 'Kugelfeder' (ball nib). Such ball nibs were also offered by other makers like Pelikan or Faber-Castell as KF, KM etc. and often have two breather holes, which allows stronger turning in different directions — good for changing writing posture, e.g. in exams. In writing behaviour they count, however, as rather characterless. A detailed overview of rare nib widths at Montblanc can be found in the fountainpen.de newsletter from February 2005 from page 12. --- **Question:** Must nibs of Montblanc fountain pens always carry a logo or visible inscription, or can a nib without imprint also be authentic? **Answer:** A fully missing imprint on the nib occurs on older Montblanc models from the 1960s to 1980s, e.g. on devices with hooded nib in which the engraving is only visible after disassembly. Current writing instruments, by contrast, should always have a visible nib engraving; where this is not the case, often a foreign nib was fitted, since the original nib would have to be replaced expensively. In the concrete picture example it is a Generation I model (Generation II has a broader cap ring) with a gold-plated steel nib actually belonging to the Classic. The Generation Classic, as a cartridge pen, has anyway no compulsory imprint. The hooded nib on the 31 is reachable by unscrewing the section. --- **Question:** Can Montblanc nibs be reground, and which suppliers are recommendable in Europe for nib modifications? **Answer:** Nib regrinds are basically also possible on Montblanc nibs. As an alternative to the US specialists Mottishaw and Binder, collectors recommend in Europe John Sorowka ('Oxonian') in England, who, after multiple experience, delivers equivalent quality; per nib the regrind costs about 45 pounds (around 53 euros including shipping); common reworkings are e.g. from B to stub or italic. On customs questions on shipping to the USA and back, only customs itself gives binding information — legal ways exist; the exact formalities, however, change and should be enquired about directly. --- **Question:** What to do if a Waterman Carène M, despite factory repair, writes disproportionately thick and the maker's communication peters out? **Answer:** In such complaint cases it is purposeful to involve the dealer where the pen was bought, since this dealer can exert effective pressure on the maker than the end customer can. With email correspondence it should be considered that messages occasionally remain in the spam filter, which is why a phone enquiry or letter can be sensible. If maker and dealer both do not respond, at least it should be documented that the dealer originally responded — that strengthens the position in later legal steps. --- **Question:** How can hairline scratches on a Montblanc nib be removed, and which polishes are safe? **Answer:** Before polishing the nib should be inspected closely under a microscope or stereo loupe (e.g. at the optician) — often it is just lint instead of real scratches. With bicolour nibs caution is warranted, since the platinum inlay is no massive layer but only a coating and can be removed by too frequent polishing. Suitable for gold nibs is Vienna lime, which is softer than gold and only smooths the fine burrs at the scratch edge. For regular gentle care a silver-cleaning cloth is recommended, also suitable for gold-plated parts and removing smaller discolourations and fine scratches. Cloth handkerchiefs generally do not cause new scratches. --- **Question:** How can the nib unit of a Montblanc 144 be removed in order to swap nibs between Slip Cap and Twist Cap versions? **Answer:** To unscrew nib and feed from the front section of a 144, a special tool is required that engages in the feed and turns it without damage. Since the front sections (sections) are mechanically not compatible between Slip Cap black and Twist Cap Solitaire versions, a swap is only possible via nib + feed together, not via the entire front section. Without experience and matching tool, own attempts are advised against, since the plastic parts can quickly break or scratch. --- **Question:** What does the inscription 'Dauerfeder 2' on the nib of a Montblanc 342 mean, and is it an original Montblanc nib? **Answer:** 'Dauerfeder' is no Montblanc designation but was used on nibs of various non-brand makers like Aldor, Hanseat, Komteß, Prinzeß, Rusewe, Stella or Urania, in sizes 2, 4 or 12. The number typically indicates the nib size. Presumably the original nib of the 342 was, in a non-authorised repair, replaced by a cheaper foreign nib because no Montblanc nib was available or it was too expensive. Assessment requires a photo, since the gold colour alone allows no conclusion on gold alloy. --- **Question:** What does the nib designation 'ST' on older Pelikan nibs mean, and is there an abbreviation for stub nibs? **Answer:** ST stands for Steno and not for Stub; corresponding discussions can also be found on the Fountainpennetwork forum. For stub nibs no separate abbreviation exists, since stub forms historically corresponded to standard grinding before the rise of the ballpoint made today's usual ball nibs the standard. Steno nibs are not necessarily rare but achieve premiums on coveted models: at Montblanc, for example, a 32 with steno nib can cost around 100 euros instead of 60 euros, a 146 with ball nib rise from 200 to 600 euros; Pelikan prices vary similarly. --- **Question:** Which writing-instrument makers still make their nibs themselves, and is that an important purchase criterion? **Answer:** Many smaller and mid-size brands (e.g. Faber-Castell, several Italian makers, presumably also Delta) source nibs from specialised suppliers like Bock or Schmidt; that is no quality defect but uses their long-standing development and manufacturing experience. Even on Montblanc Limiteds the cooperation of the Bock specialists is rumoured. Often bought-in nib blanks are subsequently individually ground or adapted by the brand maker (e.g. on Astoria); Delta is said to still make its hard-rubber/ebonite feeds by hand. From a collector view, in-house manufacture is rarely purchase-decisive, as long as overall quality is right. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Astoria — brand overview (fountainpen.de): https://www.fountainpen.de/astoria-en.htm --- **Question:** What does the lying J (or the letters D, E) on old Montblanc special nibs of 14K mean? **Answer:** Since at Montblanc no original documentation from this time has survived, the meaning of the letters can today no longer be unambiguously clarified. In the 1920s several makers (possibly Kaweco, Soennecken) also offered J nibs to which certain writing properties were ascribed. A confusion with a reversed 1 for left-hander nibs does not exist; for left-handers these nibs are not designed. --- **Question:** How do you recognise the nib width of a Montblanc 146 without sticker, since the engraved M does not denote a size but the brand name? **Answer:** The M engraved on the nib stands for Montblanc and not for the line width; the actual nib width is communicated by the works only by sticker to the dealer. Without this sticker the determination is only possible under the loupe and with experience, with at most more extreme grinds (OB, OBB) being well distinguishable from M, B or BB. On eBay the stickers are often still present, so the search for an M nib in practice is feasible. --- **Question:** Can individual nibs (M or B) for a Montblanc 146 be bought separately and exchanged oneself? **Answer:** Montblanc does not sell individual nibs, since they could otherwise be mounted on counterfeits; a own nib swap also fails due to missing special tools and the special sealing material without which the pen leaks. An individually charged nib would, on top, be more expensive than complete sending in to nib change at the works. The recommended way is to send the pen via an authorised Montblanc specialist dealer for a factory change; a swap among collectors (BB against B, F against M) remains, without workshop solution, prone to sealing problems. --- **Question:** How can a deteriorated writing behaviour of the nib after a Montblanc repair be remedied? **Answer:** Montblanc grants on its own repairs six months' liability for defects; within this period one should immediately complain; afterwards the service flat fee applies again. Cause of a hard script is often a too narrow nib slit, e.g. because on reinserting the nib the feed was pressed together. Here professional setting of the nib helps, which most boutiques do not perform themselves but pass on to specialised nib workshops. A correctly set nib already brings ink onto the paper without writing pressure; more pressure would then overstrain the feed. Collectors report that setting is an experience-dependent intervention depending on the user's typical writing pressure. --- **Question:** How is the nib designation MO or OM on Montblanc nibs of the 1950s for left-handers to be interpreted? **Answer:** On classic lettering: if the O stands left of the nib width (e.g. OM), it is a left-bevelled nib; if the O stands right (MO), it is right-bevelled. Left-bevelled nibs were in practice primarily intended for right-handers with certain writing posture; the terms left- and right-hander nibs are, however, often used inconsistently in advertising and packaging, leading e.g. on a Sheaffer calligraphy pen to contradictory statements. Left-handers cope in practice with both MO and OM nibs, depending on individual writing posture. --- **Question:** Can the nib width of a Montblanc fountain pen be recognised from the engravings, e.g. when buying on eBay? **Answer:** Collectors report that a layperson can hardly reliably determine the nib width from photos alone. There are indeed engravings on the nib, but these usually do not provide information about the nib width. It is therefore recommended to buy from specialist retailers, where one can extensively test-write the fountain pen with one's own paper, or from eBay sellers whose information about the nib width is demonstrably reliable. Detail photos can, as a fallback, be compared with the examples on the Fountainpen.de page on nib widths. --- **Question:** What is known about a gold nib of an Esterbrook lever filler labelled "14" and "COLDIN"? **Answer:** Esterbrook was a widespread, rather inexpensive fountain pen ("one-dollar pen") in the USA in the 1940s and 1950s, with easily exchangeable steel nibs; a real gold nib is a rarity, especially in Germany. Reliable information about the specific designation "14 / COLDIN" could not be obtained either via the specialist sites ramblingsnail.net or vintagepens.com/Esterbrook.shtml. Generally, gold designations are regulated country-specifically and not standardised throughout Europe. The Esterbrook is still regarded as a thoroughly solid everyday fountain pen even after 50 years. --- **Question:** How greatly do the nib widths of various manufacturers differ, and are there experiences comparing Montblanc, Cross, Pelikan and others? **Answer:** Nib widths are not standardised across manufacturers and differ considerably. A Montblanc M nib writes significantly broader than a Cross M; a Waterman F roughly corresponds to a Montblanc EF; with Pelikan, the M is between Montblanc F and M. With Aurora, an M nib can write like a Montblanc EF; Faber-Castell is comparatively closer to Montblanc. Since Montblanc nibs are hand-ground, even two nibs of the same width write slightly differently; the thinner the nib, the stronger the variation. Even with old nibs from the 1950s, considerable variations are common, which makes buying used pieces without test writing a lucky dip. --- **Question:** Can the nib of a Montblanc Masterpiece 142G still be exchanged today or replaced with another nib width? **Answer:** Original replacement nibs for the 142G have not been produced for decades and are not available in normal specialist trade. Practical is only using another old 142 as a parts donor, which usually requires the beloved original pen as a donor. It is therefore often worthwhile having the damaged nib repaired by a specialist like HMS; nibs with not too severe damage can often be restored. A change to another nib width (e.g. from M to B) is practically not possible with the 142. --- **Question:** Can the worn silver or platinum coating of an old Meisterstück nib from the 1950s be restored? **Answer:** A complete restoration of the original coating is only possible at disproportionate effort and is hardly economically justifiable. However, a new rhodium coating (alternatively palladium or platinum) can be applied through professional electroplating: for this, the nib is disassembled, cleaned, the gold parts not to be coated are masked with lacquer, then rhodium-plated and the lacquer removed again. Earlier nibs were, incidentally, never coated with silver but with metals of the platinum group (rhodium, ruthenium, palladium, platinum); commonly rhodium is used, which is particularly scratch-resistant and hard. Collectors disagree as to whether a restoration is sensible — traces of use are partly seen as part of the value. --- **Question:** What does the hallmark below the "750" engraving on a Montblanc 149 gold nib mean? **Answer:** The hallmark relates to the gold content of the nib and is also found on other 18-carat gold parts of Montblanc, e.g. on the solid-gold fountain pen. It stands in the context of export regulations: for example, in France, fountain pens may only be sold as "with gold nib" if the gold nib has 18 carat and is correspondingly hallmarked. The nib is thus exportable without further adjustment. "Export nibs" therefore frequently have 18 instead of 14 carat as well as this additional hallmark. --- **Question:** How does a nib exchange on a new Montblanc 149 proceed, and what costs are to be expected? **Answer:** Within the first weeks after purchase, a nib exchange at the specialist retailer is possible free of charge — the easiest is to make the complaint there. Alternatively, one can send the fountain pen oneself (insured!) to Montblanc Hamburg, but should coordinate everything by telephone beforehand. After the exchange period has expired, an official exchange is no longer financially worthwhile; cheaper is then to acquire a used model with the desired nib and to resell one's own. For individual adjustments or refinement, specialists like Horst Schrage (max@maxpens.de) come into question. --- **Question:** What advantages does the fitting of an individually made (customized) nib, e.g. by John Mottishaw, bring compared to a standard nib? **Answer:** Customized nibs deliver perfectly tuned ink flow, no start-up problems and a clearly softer writing feel than series-produced standard nibs. A flexified EF nib too can noticeably change the writing character; writing an EF thereby feels more pleasant than one is used to from hard modern nibs. Providers are e.g. nibs.com (John Mottishaw); to be noted, however, are customs procedures with US orders, which require personal effort. --- **Question:** Where can one obtain a replacement nib for a Montblanc 32? **Answer:** Montblanc usually still keeps spare parts for models of this series; an original replacement nib, however, costs almost as much as a used complete fountain pen. It is therefore more economical to bid on a complete 32 on eBay (rough guide: at most 25 euros for well-preserved pieces; defective examples with good nib can be had for as little as 20–30 euros) or to buy from a collector. Since this model is frequently offered, with some patience almost any nib width is available. --- **Question:** Why does the ink of a Montblanc 145 dry up significantly faster after a warranty repair of the grip section, and how can the writing flow be restored? **Answer:** The cause typically lies in the fact that the nib was not correctly seated on the feed after the repair and the nib slit is therefore too narrow or too tight. A complaint at the dealer is the right path; an experienced specialist retailer can loosen the nib tension and remove any foreign bodies, e.g. a hair between the tines. Today many repairs have to be sent directly to Montblanc, since only few dealers from the old guard are still allowed to carry out such nib work themselves. --- **Question:** How do the nib widths M and B compare with each other at Montblanc, Pelikan and Caran d'Ache? **Answer:** With gold nibs, test writing is indispensable, since these are individually hand-ground and show recognisable differences even within the same nib width of one manufacturer. Tendentially, Montblanc nibs write somewhat thicker than Pelikan nibs of the same designation. The B nib of a Caran d'Ache Ecridor writes considerably finer than the B nib of a Montblanc Meisterstück Classique, which makes clear the manufacturer-specific character of nib widths. --- **Question:** What to do with a new Pelikan Souverän M600 with M nib that shows writing problems despite good ink flow? **Answer:** The problem is mostly to be assigned to the nib itself, not to the fountain pen as a whole. At the specialist shop where the M600 was bought, the nib can be exchanged without complication; a return or complete exchange of the writing instrument is not necessary. The M600 is generally regarded as a recommendable writing instrument. --- **Question:** What does the nib width "S" mean on Montblanc fountain pens? **Answer:** The designation "S" stands at Montblanc for "Special" and was offered only briefly and exclusively on the fountain pen 145 "Chopin". The nib is characterised by an extremely broad and absolutely spherical writing tipping, which makes writing easier for left-handers and writers who need a broad writing contact. The S nib has not been produced for some time. --- **Question:** What should be considered when changing the nib of a Lamy 2000 to an M nib? **Answer:** The Lamy 2000 has to be disassembled for the nib change; with improper assembly there is a high risk that the pen leaks. The change should therefore be left to a specialist or to Lamy service. --- **Question:** How can the nibs be exchanged between the Montblanc 220 (cartridge pen) and 225 (piston pen)? **Answer:** The exchange is basically feasible. With the piston filler 225, the front part is unscrewed and afterwards the nib together with feed is pressed out backwards. With the cartridge pen 220, one first removes the ink-view window and then likewise pushes nib with feed out. Then the nib can be changed. Caution is advised in the procedure. --- **Question:** How does one regrind a Montblanc 146 nib oneself from M to a broader or oblique nib variant, and what should be considered in the finish? **Answer:** For the rough work, a fine sharpening stone is suitable; afterwards, however, the tipping must necessarily be smoothed with ever finer abrasive paper down to 10,000 grit. Suitable fine-abrasive sheets, e.g. as round pads, are available via specialised providers like David Broadwell. Caution with iridium: too much removal makes the nib unusable; after smoothing, the ink flow can if necessary be optimised via re-adjustment of the nib unit. --- **Question:** What is worth knowing about the ball nibs (KM) of the Montblanc Meisterstücks from the 1950s? **Answer:** Ball nibs are an independent subject of collector interest and were extensively treated in newsletter no. 2 (02/2005) on fountainpen.de. There technical properties, writing behaviour and recognition features are documented. For the evaluation of a concrete offer, comparison with the examples depicted there is recommended. --- **Question:** Why does an 18K gold nib of a Caran d'Ache Léman scratch when writing, while other nibs (Montblanc 145, Bohème, Pelikan M405) glide quietly? **Answer:** Scratching noises typically arise because the two tines of the slit nib do not stand exactly parallel to each other, that is, are slightly offset. Larger and softer 18K nibs often react more sensitively to this offset than smaller 14K nibs. Very narrow nibs also tend to scratch more readily. An adjustment by an experienced specialist retailer or nib specialist eliminates the problem in most cases. --- **Question:** Is it correct that a newly bought Montblanc Bohème Noir Platinum is delivered with a 14K nib although the website shows an 18K nib, and how does one care for the platinum plating? **Answer:** In standard Meisterstücks and Bohème models, 14K gold nibs are fitted; 18K nibs are found only in the French market as well as in precious-metal variants (silver, gold). Models depicted on the Montblanc website often come from the French market, hence the deviating nib statement. Precious metals like platinum are basically resistant to hand sweat; thin platinum plating, however, can suffer in the long term. It is recommended to wipe the writing instrument after use with a lint-free cloth (e.g. spectacle cleaning cloth). --- **Question:** Are Montblanc nibs together with nib engravings made by hand or produced by machine? **Answer:** The nib engraving arises in an embossing process, that is, is applied by machine. Manual work at Montblanc essentially comprises the application of a protective foil before platinum-plating, the grinding of the nib tipping as well as the individual writing test for final inspection. Detailed information is provided by the newsletter and the Soulmakers videos on the Montblanc website. --- **Question:** Who can repair bent nibs if the Montblanc service does not offer a repair or only very expensively? **Answer:** With strongly deformed nibs, there is the risk that during straightening the iridium tipping breaks off, so that the nib is anyway mostly no longer usable. Specialised repairers like Horst Maxenberger (maxpens.de) offer to look at such nibs in advance based on photos and assess them. Montblanc generally offers in service a flat-rate nib repair (around 49 euros) or a complete nib exchange (significantly more expensive); before an exchange, the customer is usually informed. --- **Question:** Which model is a Montblanc fountain pen with black metal cap, matt-chrome-plated grip section, MB-engraved chrome nib and 138 mm length? **Answer:** This combination points to a Montblanc No. 1120 from the production period between 1976 and 1980. The model belongs to the then line with steel nibs and is well identifiable by the features mentioned. --- **Question:** What does the marking J on a Montblanc Safety nib mean? **Answer:** It is a contemporary, original Montblanc J nib. The J nib is particularly flexible and enables a calligraphic script, which is why it is valued as a special variant. --- **Question:** How do solid-gold and bimetal nibs differ on Montblanc Meisterstücks, and what advantages or disadvantages do they have? **Answer:** Ultimately, all these nibs consist of solid gold; the difference lies in a platinum coating or platinum intarsia, which has been applied since the 90s mainly for visual reasons, e.g. so that the nib matches the look of modern models like the StarWalker. The coating has no influence on the writing behaviour. Besides, on some vintage Meisterstücks (e.g. the ranges 132 to 139) there were steel nibs used due to wartime gold shortage; they write well but are regarded as inferior compared to the classical gold nib. --- **Question:** Did the Meisterstück No. 14 wing nibs from the 60s already exist in different nib widths? **Answer:** Yes, even then various nib widths existed. In the 30s and 40s, at Montblanc at least 40 nib widths were made; in the 70s still significantly more than today. At that time, alongside today's standard sizes, also exotics like BBBBB (5B) were available, so that the selection ranged from EF to 5B. --- **Question:** Are small ink traces at the transition between nib and body of a StarWalker fountain pen a defect that falls under the warranty? **Answer:** Such traces are not a defect but can occur with temperature and air-pressure fluctuations, e.g. when flying, across models and manufacturers. Important is to free the inner cap regularly thoroughly of ink residues so that from there no ink transfers to the grip section. Additionally, with the StarWalker, always two original Montblanc cartridges should be inserted, which stabilise each other; third-party cartridges can, due to deviating seals, cause leakage, as can repeated refilling of a cartridge. --- **Question:** By what can the quality of a fountain-pen nib be measured, and are, for example, a StarWalker and a Meisterstück nib by Montblanc directly comparable? **Answer:** Nibs of different models are, due to profile, bend, size and structural construction, not directly comparable to each other; this applies across manufacturers. A Meisterstück nib can therefore not be set one-to-one against a StarWalker nib, since both are constructed for other nib carriers and writing characteristics. A flat-rate statement which nib is 'higher-quality' is not sensible. To the quality assessment belong, alongside the material and the iridium tipping at the tip, above all grind, nib flexibility, ink flow and finishing quality. --- **Question:** Has Montblanc ever made Meisterstück nibs with 24-carat gold alloy, as a seller claims? **Answer:** A 24-carat gold nib would practically not be functional: the material would be so soft that every writing movement would bend the nib; the necessary elasticity is missing. For this reason, neither Montblanc nor any other notable manufacturer has ever made 24-carat nibs. Usual are 14- and 18-carat gold alloys, possibly with additional gilding of the surface. A corresponding seller statement is therefore to be rejected. --- **Question:** How does Montblanc assign the limitation numbers in Limited Editions, especially with editions like the 'Voltaire' with division into individual pieces and sets? **Answer:** All Voltaire fountain pens bear the engraving 'xxxxx /20000'; even the pieces contained in sets are counted in this total number. The low numbers 00001 to 05000 fall on the set examples, the other numbers on the individual pieces. The individual number on the fountain pen is identical with that of the matching ballpoint in the set, so set components can be recognised by matching limitation number. The statement that sets and individual pieces are led in two separate number ranges is not correct. --- **Question:** Who can professionally reattach a chipped-off iridium tipping on a Montblanc Meisterstück nib No. 25 (18 carat)? **Answer:** For the repair of nib tips, including soldering on new iridium tippings, John Mottishaw of nibs.com is internationally recognised as a distinguished specialist; experiences with his work are consistently positive. The repair takes place by shipping; a direct alternative at a comparable level is not established in the German-speaking area. --- **Question:** How can the nib width be determined from a photo if the writing effect seems to vary between B and M? **Answer:** On the photo shown, the nib tipping is to be classified as M line width. Fluctuations in the writing image between narrow and broad are primarily attributable to the paper; absorbent or rough papers make lines appear clearly broader, while smooth papers yield a finer stroke. The nib width is therefore correctly classified; the perceived differences rest on the interaction with different writing surfaces. --- **Question:** Is the nib of an azure-blue Montblanc IIIb with Warranted marking and triangle period-original or subsequently inserted? **Answer:** The nib described comes from a later epoch, presumably after 1945, and does not fit the production period of the IIIb of 1932 to 1934. Period-original would be a so-called b-nib with b in a triangle. As an acceptable alternative, a No. 4 nib with the 4 in the Montblanc star circle comes into question. The writing behaviour of the fitted nib, butter-soft and flexible, also corresponds rather to the characteristic of the 1950s. --- **Question:** What does the marking 18 K.R. on an old safety pen mean, and how should a pen of the Imperial brand be assessed? **Answer:** The marking 18 K.R. on the cap, barrel or trim of old fountain pens does not stand for solid gold but for rolled gold: K.R. is the abbreviation for rolled gold, read in Italian markings as karato rolled, that is, a layer of gold of 18 carat fineness rolled onto a base metal. Parts of this kind are the equivalent of gold-filled work. Only a nib with a marking such as 585 or 750 is actually made of gold. Pens inscribed Imperial were, according to collectors, mostly made in Italy around 1930 and belong to the many small brands of the period about which almost nothing is documented today. They are usually safety pens, on which the nib is wound out of the barrel for writing by turning the knob at the end and retracted again before the cap is screwed down tight. Value depends heavily on condition: in the mid-2000s a fully restored example ready to write was put at around 200 euros, an unrestored one at considerably less. It is also worth remembering that old pens frequently turn up in boxes that are not their own. A 1960s Diplomat box around an Italian interwar safety pen says nothing about where the pen came from. --- **Question:** What did the Montblanc Meisterstück Le Grand 146 cost in German specialist shops in 2007? **Answer:** In specialist shops the Meisterstück Le Grand 146 cost around 435 euros in 2007 in the version with gold-plated trim and around 465 euros with platinum trim; the surcharge for the platinum version was therefore about 30 euros. The 146 is a piston filler in black precious resin with an ink window and a two-tone nib of 585 gold, available in the usual widths from EF to BB. Anyone after a particular nib width does better with a bricks-and-mortar dealer than by mail order, because there the nib can be tried before purchase — the writing experience depends more on the width and grind of the nib than on the model. --- ### Ink **Question:** What ink properties (viscosity, surface tension) do the standard inks from Lamy, Pelikan and Montblanc show? **Answer:** Measurements show that all three royal-blue inks have very similar viscosities of about 1.01–1.03 mm²/s — only some 10 percent above water, with no real difference between them. There is, however, a clear difference in surface tension: Montblanc is around 49 mN/m, Pelikan around 57 mN/m and Lamy around 69 mN/m, so Montblanc shows the easiest start-up behaviour. A further drop in surface tension would lead to uncontrolled ink flow. Viscosity is determined with a capillary viscometer at a temperature held constant to 0.01 °C; surface tension is measured by the Wilhelmy method using a platinum ring or plate and a high-precision balance. Personal experiments with other inks can be useful, since the nib's behaviour and the ink interact strongly. --- **Question:** Is there document-proof ink for fountain pens that meets the relevant DIN requirements? **Answer:** Yes — document-proof fountain-pen ink exists. Montblanc Blue-Black, today sold as Midnight Blue, is an iron-gall ink and, according to Montblanc Customer Service, has been tested by the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) for light-fastness, water-drop resistance, smudge resistance and resistance to falsification attempts and is approved for documents including cheques. The package insert also marks the ink as document-proof. Other options mentioned are Noodler's Black (Bulletproof) and inks from De Atramentis. It is important not to mix iron-gall inks with other inks (they will thicken) and to clean the pen regularly. --- **Question:** What helps when a pen with strong ink flow makes a particular ink bleed heavily? **Answer:** The main culprit is usually not the ink itself but the paper: on absorbent copier paper inks like Private Reserve Tropical Blue spread more, while on better, sized paper (e.g. Clairefontaine) a clean line emerges. This is borne out: with better paper the bleed disappeared completely. Alternatively, the ink flow at the pen can be tuned by adjusting nib and feed alignment, although on expensive gold-nibbed pens many collectors do not feel comfortable doing this themselves. Big differences in ink viscosity are rarely observed in practice; brands like Diamine or Noodler's are not generally regarded as particularly "dry". When buying ink, an individual recommendation from experienced dealers like Rolf Thiel (missing-pen.de) is worthwhile. --- **Question:** Which ink colour is regarded historically and today as the classic for fountain pens? **Answer:** Historically, ink was black, since the original ingredients were soot and iron-gall; iron-gall is still found today in blue-black ink. The colour blue only took hold in the 20th century and is today regarded as the typical fountain-pen ink — many career guides also recommend blue for signatures. Black has the advantage that it used to copy better, although that argument is moot with modern colour copiers. The most important point is to choose a water-soluble ink, since only such inks can be flushed out of the pen with simple means; royal blue inks are usually water-soluble. Pelikan 4001 royal blue and Lamy royal blue are inexpensive and good; Pelikan 4001 black, by contrast, tends to clog the feed and is not water-soluble. --- **Question:** Can inks other than Montblanc inks be used in a Montblanc fountain pen, e.g. for a particular green colour or better ink flow? **Answer:** Third-party inks can be used in a Montblanc without problem in principle; the warnings of some dealers about suspended particles or quality variations are not borne out in practice. Jansen inks like fir-green or Atlantic blue are praised by collectors for their good flow and strong colours and can even ease start-up problems on the 146. Standardgraph moss-green and Parker Quink as well as Private Reserve Sherwood Green are also popular options, although Sherwood Green dries slowly. Iron-gall ink should only be used in dip-pen holders designed for it, not in a fountain pen. Some inks like Noodler's are regarded as fairly viscous. Very old ink should not be used. --- **Question:** How is the Montblanc Season's Greetings 2005 scented ink to be assessed? **Answer:** Testers are convinced by the dark brown colour (between gingerbread and chocolate) and a discreet, Christmassy but not cinnamon- or speculaas-like scent. The fragrance intensity is below the well-known Loveletter Ink, which is felt to be pleasant. The ink bottle is a high-quality design object. The price at about 11.50 euros for the bottle is comparable to the Loveletter Ink. Anyone who does not want to carry the scent in their pen for weeks should choose the bottle rather than the cartridge, since the scent partly clings to the feed; on paper, however, the scent dissipates within a day. Quick supply shortages similar to the Loveletter Ink are expected. --- **Question:** Which flat ink bottle with refill insert from the 1990s is being sought, and are there comparable products today? **Answer:** The bottle in question is most likely the Parker Penman, which is no longer regularly available in that exact form. A virtually identical bottle is supplied today with the Parker Duofold True Blue, but buying it as a refill is expensive. Similar designs with plastic insert, refill funnel or a collection well for ink residues are offered by Levenger as well as Lamy, Sheaffer and Visconti in their ink bottles. Levenger inks and similar specialities are easy to obtain through Rolf Thiel (missing-pen.de); the assortment is broad and individual advice is possible. Anyone looking for a specific bottle can ask there directly. --- **Question:** Why do you release a few drops of ink when filling a piston pen, and how deep should the nib be dipped? **Answer:** When drawing up, the capillary chambers in the feed fill completely with ink; pushing out a few drops afterwards creates space so that these chambers can again perform their function (pressure equalisation when flying or with temperature changes) — this prevents blots and leaks and so protects clothing and paper above all. When dipping it is enough for the nib to stand fully in the ink; some collectors dip the grip section a little way in to keep the piston from drawing too much air — that is safer but requires wiping afterwards. It is important to operate the piston slowly so that the ink level reaches as high as possible. --- **Question:** Should you use only Montblanc ink in Montblanc fountain pens such as the Mozart, or can third-party inks also be filled in safely? **Answer:** Collectors report repeated problems with certain third-party inks, especially Private Reserve, which in small Montblanc models like the Mozart lead to heavy 'soup' where cap and grip section are full of ink after a short time; comparable effects also occurred with a Pelikan M200. Thorough flushing before changing does not reliably eliminate the problem, since the small pin that opens the cartridge seal, or other components, can be permanently impaired by aggressive inks; even after returning to the original Montblanc cartridge the soup often continues to appear. Other inks, e.g. black inks from older inkjet cartridges, run by contrast without problems in larger models such as the 146. Anyone using third-party inks in smaller Meisterstücks risks a repair, in which Montblanc typically renews the front section and feed and only retains the old nib; the maker's note to use only Montblanc ink therefore has practical justification. --- **Question:** What experiences exist with Montblanc Loveletter Ink regarding cleaning, scent and ink residues? **Answer:** The Loveletter Ink (Je t'aime) delivers a pleasant Bordeaux red and a rose-like scent that on paper quickly dissipates, but in the bottle is pungent. Water solubility and erasability are inconsistently stated in the trade; collector reports show, however, that red shades are basically more problematic than blues and adhere longer in the feed. A serious disadvantage is the lasting odour off-gassing of the pen: even after weeks of flushing and refilling with neutral-scented ink, the smell often persists for four and a half weeks or longer, which can be unpleasant in closed rooms. Recommended is therefore use in an only occasionally used pen, thorough flushing immediately after writing dry, and prolonged airing of the opened pen over several days. --- **Question:** How do you remove a fresh black Lamy ink stain from a white cotton shirt? **Answer:** A proven method begins with liquid bile soap, applied directly to the stain, left to act for about fifteen minutes and rinsed out with water. Treatment with a heavy-duty detergent such as Persil and a complete machine wash follow; after this procedure the stain is gone without trace, without the fabric being visibly stressed. As an emergency solution on purely white textiles, bleaching with chlorine is also mentioned, e.g. for table linen; collectors advise, however, to start with bile soap before resorting to the radical cure. On coloured or sensitive fabrics chlorine and aggressive ink removers are to be avoided. --- **Question:** Which inks are suitable for historical Montblanc fountain pens, and is it true that only Pelikan ink is solvent-free? **Answer:** A completely solvent-free ink does not in principle exist, since water itself is an inorganic solvent; the claim that Pelikan ink, in contrast to MB ink, is gentler on historical pens is not substantiated. Recommended for old pens is Pelikan 4001 royal blue or Montblanc royal blue, both well water-soluble and so easily rinsed from the feed. In general, caution is warranted with coloured and especially red inks, since they are more aggressive and can eat into the material. Iron-gall ink should absolutely be avoided in old pens. Ink can indeed spoil or grow mould, which is why use of ink no older than three years and regular cleaning of pens is recommended. Open shelf life is, according to Pelikan, about five years for ink bottles and twelve months for cartridges. --- **Question:** Can ink in a fountain pen freeze, and from what temperature should one be cautious? **Answer:** Ink does indeed freeze already at slightly sub-zero temperatures; a Montblanc royal blue, for example, already at -0.3 to -0.5 degrees Celsius, since ordinary inks are water-based. The pen does not write in the frozen state and writes more weakly during thawing; ink puddles can form around nib and feed during thawing. Cartridges do not necessarily burst in tests, but the fill level can change due to the anomaly of water and the closure ball can discolour. With normal outside cold and storage in an inside pocket of the jacket there is practically no danger. With really arctic temperatures it is recommended to leave pens in the warmth. Pencils are suitable as a cold-insensitive alternative. --- **Question:** Is red ink harmful for fountain pens, and which alternatives cause fewer deposits? **Answer:** Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Red tends to leave unsightly deposits with a green sheen and can clog the feed so that the nib jams; in one case the ink damaged a Lamy pen so badly that it had to be discarded. In general, coloured inks, especially red, are more aggressive than royal blue. The recommendation is to use red ink only in inexpensive pens or in models without sight window like the Waterman Serenitè and to flush the pen every few weeks during heavy use. As alternative reds with better behaviour, Private Reserve Dakota Red, Private Reserve Orange Crush, Diamine Monaco Red and Bordeaux-coloured Montblanc ink and inks from Jansen are regarded. --- **Question:** Which new Montblanc inks are introduced, and when do the permanent inks come on the market? **Answer:** Montblanc announces two new permanent inks in blue and black, with minimalist white labels and the marking 'permanent'; the classic blue-black tone is preserved under the name Midnight Blue but no longer counts as a reference for permanent. In addition come two special inks, one for a high-priced edition on a 20th-century personality and one for the annual Writers Edition. The Permanent inks originally planned for April 2012 were postponed several times, most recently to 2013. In the meantime Meisterstück Diamond was introduced as an intense South Sea blue tone in a small bottle for about 13 euros, as well as a new cartridge packaging with 20 instead of 8 cartridges for around 7 euros. Seasonal inks appeared with winter-motif packaging in a red tone comparable to the Hitchcock Special Edition. --- **Question:** Which practical alternatives are there for taking ink along while travelling, and are earlier travel ink containers still available today? **Answer:** The Italian maker Visconti offers a Travelling Inkwell, which after a short familiarisation is safe to operate and proves itself especially in combination with ink pellets, since then only tap water is needed. As a more comfortable alternative, collectors recommend the Montblanc 147 Traveller or cartridge pens like the 145 Chopin, which manage without an ink bottle. Cartridge pens are the most practical solution for travel, while travel ink bottles remain interesting more for lovers of traditional filling. --- **Question:** How do you fill a Haro II lever pen with glass nib, and where do you get replacement ink sacs for historical lever pens? **Answer:** The Haro II is presumably a classic lever filler with internal rubber sac. To fill, the nib is dipped in the ink bottle, the side lever operated (compresses the ink sac) and then returned to the starting position; through the resulting vacuum the sac sucks up the ink. Replacement ink sacs are rare in Germany but still available in the USA from a specialised firm; an assortment with about 15 sacs in various sizes costs about 33 euros. --- **Question:** Can iron-gall ink (e.g. Montblanc Blue-Black) be used safely in a vintage pen like the Montblanc 342 from the 1950s? **Answer:** Iron-gall inks leave waterproof deposits, which is particularly problematic on old pens and rare use; a 342 can in an emergency be opened and cleaned, but regular use is not recommended. Practical experience shows that even with weekly cleaning, traces can arise on the ink window and in the feed. Frequent flushing with lukewarm (not hot) water is recommended by drawing in and emptying until the rinsing is clear. Anyone using iron-gall ink anyway should use the pen daily and care for it thoroughly; in doubt a modern water-soluble ink is safer for valuable vintage pieces. --- **Question:** Does Montblanc ink age, and how long can an opened bottle of ink be reliably used? **Answer:** Ink is an organic substance and should not be used for longer than around three years after opening, since oxygen contact, evaporation and ageing change consistency, colour intensity and flow behaviour. Batch-related colour deviations are also normal even with fresh ink. A 1-litre bottle of Montblanc vintage ink from the 1950s is, from a collector view, more likely placed unopened on the shelf as a contemporary witness; collector value drops by opening. Computationally, one litre yields about 20 fillings of today's bottles (shop price about 170 euros); the ink value, however, makes up only a small part of this price; the main share lies in the glass. --- **Question:** Which document-proof ink in a discreet colour is suitable for a Parker fountain pen without it leading to clogs as previously with Montblanc Blue-Black? **Answer:** Collectors regard it as unlikely that the clog was caused by the Montblanc ink itself; a pre-existing damage or chemical reaction through mixing different inks on the change is suspected. Before filling with a new ink, the pen should therefore be flushed thoroughly. As a reliable alternative the ink manufactory Jansen (de-atramentis.com) is recommended, which offers document-proof inks in numerous, also discreet colours. Own ink mixtures are regarded as risky without experience values. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc ink cartridge leak in the shirt pocket, and how can ink stains be removed from textiles? **Answer:** Self-opening caps frequently occur on short models like the Mozart when the screw cap loosens unnoticed through strong motion in the pocket; pressure differences with altitude (aircraft, mountain stay) can also favour leakage; in the concrete case it was the motion. For non-water-soluble ink there is no easy household remedy; recommended is Amodex (amodexink.com), available also via eBay from the USA or UK online shops. Alternatively, going to a specialist cleaner helps. Ink stains on jeans are particularly stubborn. --- **Question:** How do you clean a fountain pen in which waterproof ink has dried without damaging the pen? **Answer:** A water bath of about six days is recommended, optionally with mild soap solution, then thorough flushing. Important: pens of celluloid, ebonite or hard rubber must neither be placed in an ultrasonic bath nor in a longer water bath, since hard rubber especially absorbs the water's colour and loses its own colour. --- **Question:** Can black ink attack the gold alloy on the cartridge slide of a Montblanc Traveller, and how can this be avoided? **Answer:** Black Montblanc ink is not fully water-soluble and counts as more aggressive than blue ink; it can indeed attack the gold alloy on the cartridge slide, with mostly only material removal and no rust formation observed. Red inks also tend to cause problems. Preventively, regular cleaning of the pen and letting it dry openly help, as does switching to a milder ink, e.g. blue. The Traveller in the black variant was still produced at least until 2005; the Solitaire silver variants, by contrast, were only available in very small quantities. --- **Question:** How is the ink with 24-carat gold nanoparticles to be assessed, and what is to be considered in application and cleaning of the pen? **Answer:** The 24k gold ink is a nanoparticle pigment, held in water, and was offered with an introductory price of around 139 euros but is meanwhile situated at around 290 euros. Document-proofness and water resistance arise only on drying on the paper; before that the ink behaves like a normal water-soluble ink. For cleaning the pen, therefore, clear tap water suffices; important is not to leave the pen unused too long, since the ink otherwise clumps and solidifies. Collectors voice concerns about the high price and see in a second pen the more sensible investment. --- **Question:** Which suppliers and experiences exist for perfumed or scented fountain-pen inks? **Answer:** Alongside the Berlin ink manufactory von Blythen, Franz-Josef Jansen (tintenonline.de) has been offering scented inks with good flow properties for years; especially the Lavender Blue scented ink is described as excellent and is even suitable for elaborate skeleton pens. Collectors report positively about the variants Fir Green with and without lemon (discreet scent, very good flow in Montblanc 146 and 144) and about fine bakelite screw caps and safe packaging; value for money is regarded as very good. Anyone wanting to move away from monotone black or royal blue finds in scented inks a sensual extension of letter writing (addressing the sense of smell). --- **Question:** Which properties and prices have the new permanent Montblanc inks 2013 in blue and black? **Answer:** Montblanc releases two new permanent inks in blue and black, supplementary to the older Blue-Black variant; they will be available in unchanged bottle form and also as cartridges, with minimalist design (white boxes and labels). In the water test the writing is significantly better readable than with classic inks, which confirms the actual permanent quality. Visually the ink recalls acrylic media for artists; the blue variant resembles a Herbin Blue-Black; the black is a very deep, non-glossy grey. The behaviour on inferior paper will still have to show. The price lies around 50 per cent above the standard Montblanc inks and so moves in the range of high-quality Japanese permanent inks like Sailor. --- **Question:** How do you clean a clogged ink channel of an older piston pen, and how can tarnished gold nibs be made to shine again? **Answer:** On a clogged ink channel it is recommended to fill the pen with water, leave it lying for a few days and then thoroughly flush with water; that often suffices. For polishing pure gold nibs, Wenol is very well suited and can also be used on body or clip. Important: gold-plated nibs may not be treated with Wenol, since the agent polishes off the thin gold layer. For gold-plated parts and gentle care, a silver-cleaning cloth or special polishing cloth is the right choice. Wenol develops a quite strong odour, which is to be considered as a disadvantage. --- **Question:** Does Montblanc ink have an expiry date, and how do you recognise whether an ink bottle is already a shelf warmer? **Answer:** On newer Montblanc ink boxes and on the 'shoe' of the ink bottle a white transverse stripe is printed; if this is missing it can be older shelf goods. Ink in principle has a best-before date that can be found on the packaging. In practice, ready-mixed water-based ink stays stable long, provided the bottle is tightly closed; even collectors who have emptied many bottles barely observe real quality losses over the years. Iron-gall inks and chemically more complex types behave differently and can actually oxidise or thicken. --- **Question:** Does ink have an expiry date, and can dried ink be refreshed? **Answer:** On most ink bottles a best-before date is printed that is to be understood rather as a minimum-consumption date — the ink is generally still usable afterwards. With normal water-based ink, dried or thickened liquid can be refreshed with distilled water. Iron-gall ink behaves differently: the iron contained oxidises, which permanently impairs the chemical properties and so writing performance. Collectors observe that even very old ink bottles mostly remain usable over decades, provided they are stored tightly closed. --- **Question:** Can one without further ado switch from black to royal-blue Montblanc cartridges, and which water is suitable for cleaning? **Answer:** Black and royal-blue Montblanc inks are of the same type and can be used one after the other without concern. A fundamental cleaning is on a nearly new pen that contained a black cartridge only briefly not strictly necessary; a simple flushing through suffices. Recommended is the use of a converter for comfortable flushing with water until it stays clear. For cleaning, normal tap water cold or lukewarm suffices — due to short contact time no limescale settles. Important is never to mix Blue-Black (a chemical ink) with other inks, since it thickens in the process. --- **Question:** Which inks can be used in a Waterman Sérénité, and are there recommendations for historical Waterman models with flexible nib? **Answer:** In principle any fountain-pen ink of various makers can be used; one should only watch for 'fountain-pen ink' in the narrower sense and not use document-proof or particularly aggressive inks in sensitive reservoirs. For flexible nibs, especially the Waterman lever pens of models 52 and 54 from the 1920s and 1930s are recommended; they write excellently, but the hard-rubber bodies are UV- and sweat-sensitive and tend to discolour. To source such historical pieces, e.g. Lutz Fiebig in Magdeburg is named. A specialist check before purchase is sensible, since nib condition and sac tightness are decisive. --- **Question:** Are perfumed or scented inks (e.g. De Atramentis Davidoff Cool Water) suitable for high-quality fountain pens, and how long does the scent last? **Answer:** The Jansen / De Atramentis scented inks count among collectors as unproblematic for fountain pens, since they flow cleanly and leave no deposits; tested were among others Waterman Charleston without anomalies. Recommended is to first try a new ink in a less valuable pen and, after first drawing up, return the contents to the bottle to observe the residue behaviour. In the bottle the ink scents clearly of the model perfume; on the pen itself less strongly. On good paper and in closed envelope the scent remains preserved for several days; on simple copy paper it dissipates rapidly. To consider is that scented inks partly continue to scent in the cap, and residues can be perceptible longer even after ink change. --- **Question:** Why is Montblanc ink temporarily hard to deliver, and does the new ink formulation differ from the older version? **Answer:** Delivery bottlenecks occur with other makers too (e.g. Pelikan Edelstein); concrete reasons are often not known to dealers, so only patience helps. The reformulated Montblanc inks in changed bottle form are not necessarily better or worse but seem more strongly saturated, by which flushing and cleaning take longer; an exchange of old remainder stocks is not worthwhile. Reports on flow behaviour contradict one another: some find Midnight Blue better-flowing than Blue-Black, others vice versa; the new violet ink counts as rather dry and tends to smear. Ink should be stored darkly, in any case not in direct sun, since colour tones can change or fade. --- **Question:** Where do you get inexpensive and visually appealing ink bottles, e.g. for the desk in the Stuttgart area? **Answer:** As an alternative to the expensive Montblanc ink bottle, collectors recommend the travel inkwell of De Atramentis: tight thread, good design, but small capacity. For solid desk bottles of crystal a look at eBay auctions and pens.it is worthwhile; on eBay these are often used collector pieces. Concrete recommendations for the Stuttgart area are not available. Important is to check the closure type before purchase if the bottle is to be transported or only used for the desk. --- **Question:** What experiences exist with brown De Atramentis inks, and are red or black inks problematic for the fountain pen? **Answer:** The De Atramentis ink Leonardo da Vinci in Terra di Sienna is praised as open, harmonious and shinier than Sepia; delivery via Dr. Jansen runs reliably. When cleaning a pen that contained Ochre Yellow, surprisingly neon-green water flows out — reported damages, however, do not exist; advisable is to use the colour only on converters emptied promptly and to clean immediately afterwards. With black inks starting problems are observed; blue inks flow more easily; concrete statements on red inks as particularly aggressive the there is no confirmation that. --- **Question:** How long does the scent of a scented ink (e.g. by Jansen or Montblanc Love Letters) remain on the written letter? **Answer:** Scented inks contain essential oils (predominantly terpenes) added in low dose, since they otherwise attack the plastic (e.g. Plexiglas) of the pen or resinify. The scent dissipates over time differently but persists in closed containers or envelopes longer; a letter written and sent with it scents perceptibly at the recipient. The Dornfelder red-wine ink by Dr. Jansen is expressly suitable for common fountain pens, but critical regarding light fastness, since the contained anthocyanins darken oxidatively in the air. The maker achieves light fastness via corresponding ink recipe. --- **Question:** How does a beginner fill an old Montblanc No. 24, and which ink or cartridge is suitable? **Answer:** The Montblanc 24 is a piston pen; conversion to cartridges is not possible but is also not necessary, since the ink reservoir is larger than commercial cartridges. Filling is done with any fountain-pen-suitable ink (in no case Indian ink): dip nib into the ink bottle, turn cone at the barrel end counter-clockwise downward (air escapes), then turn clockwise back until the piston is up (ink is sucked in), pull the nib out and wipe with a cloth. For practice, water is recommended at first, to learn the filling volume. Helpful guides can be found on the Montblanc website and in suitable YouTube videos. --- **Question:** What is the SuperCleaner SC21 in Montblanc inks, and what does it do? **Answer:** SC21 is a cleaning additive blended in by Montblanc that ensures the ink crusts the feed and piston less strongly than other inks. By that, converters and pens can be flushed and cleaned more easily. Comparable additives partly exist in other inks too, but Montblanc explicitly emphasises this cleaning effect as a product feature. --- **Question:** Which ingredients does the Montblanc Blue-Black iron-gall ink contain? **Answer:** It is a classic iron-gall ink in which iron(II) salt is initially present, oxidising through atmospheric oxygen to iron(III) and forming with tannic acids the lasting dark colour tone. Detailed explanations are provided by the Wikipedia entries on ink and iron-gall ink and chemical specialist pages. Phenol as preservative is today, for toxicological reasons, unusual and presumably no longer contained; the use would in any case be subject to declaration under the Hazardous Substances Ordinance. More likely are modern, less toxic preservatives like salicylic-acid derivatives; an exact composition Montblanc gives on enquiry. --- **Question:** How does one change the ink in a fountain pen when several ink colours are to be used? **Answer:** Collectors pursue different strategies: some permanently reserve individual fountain pens for one colour, others switch as needed. When changing, Montblanc recommends thorough rinsing with water, especially when switching between very different colours. Cartridge users can also write the old cartridge empty and insert the new one, but must then accept a brief phase of mixed colour until only the new ink flows. Royal blue is considered unproblematic because it hardly dries out even with infrequent use. --- **Question:** What is the straight line that remains visible in the ink window of a Montblanc 146 when the piston is screwed in? **Answer:** The straight line is an original wall transition, that is, the material-induced change from the transparent ink window to the black area of the barrel. At this point the piston also strikes in its uppermost position. It is thus neither an ink residue nor a seal, but a structurally intended feature of such barrels; comparable pieces are found in many collections. --- **Question:** Are scented inks and high-quality inks also available as cartridges or only in ink bottles? **Answer:** High-quality inks are also available as cartridges, e.g. from J. Herbin in various colours, as well as the Montblanc Seasons Greetings Ink. Sources are online dealers like Captain-Office or specialised providers like Rolf Thiel (missing-pen.de). At missing-pen, a direct enquiry about cartridge types not listed in the online shop is also worthwhile. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc 146 be made workable again when the ink has dried up and the piston is blocked? **Answer:** It is recommended to place the fountain pen without the cap with the nib pointing down in a glass and fill with lukewarm water (about 40 degrees) up to just below the turning knob. By the capillary action of the feed, the water is slowly drawn into the tank over several days; daily, the pen should be turned over once so that the water also reaches the piston. This method requires patience but usually succeeds. It is faster if the cone is unscrewed from the barrel with a special key and the barrel cleaned directly. --- **Question:** Is the red saffron ink from the Mahatma Gandhi series limited, and why do market prices fluctuate so strongly? **Answer:** The saffron ink is a regular accompanying ink for the Gandhi edition and not an officially limited edition. After a phase of clearance sales, it was meanwhile again offered in regular trade, which is why partly very high resale prices on the internet do not reflect the real market value. Since the Hitchcock edition has meanwhile appeared as the successor, worse availability is to be expected in the long term; at the current time, however, the ink is still obtainable, depending on the boutique. --- **Question:** Which blue ink is particularly suitable for a Montblanc Jules Verne? **Answer:** Recommended above all are the Montblanc inks Royal Blue and Turquoise — the latter is described as fitting the character of the writing instrument and is not too garish. Anyone looking for a more special variant can fall back on the ink named "Jules Verne" from De Atramentis (Jansen). The choice ultimately remains a matter of taste; many boutiques offer matching turquoise ink directly with the fountain pen. --- **Question:** Is it normal that on a Montblanc 149, after turning the piston down, ink residues are still visible at the ink-view window? **Answer:** The behaviour is normal: ink residues always remain in the tank and on the piston seal; when turning up, the seal pulls these residues with it, which makes the viewing window appear stained. As long as the same ink colour continues to be used, nothing needs to be done. With an ink change, rinsing should be carried out with water until the viewing window is clear; the same applies before longer writing breaks to avoid drying out. A professional cleaning is only necessary with stubborn deposits or problems with the ink flow; with frequent writing with water-soluble (royal blue) ink, the problem occurs less often. --- **Question:** Which dark-blue, document-proof ink is suitable for an old Montblanc 342, and what should one look out for when buying ink for old fountain pens? **Answer:** Basically, every fountain-pen ink from established manufacturers like Pelikan, Montblanc, Lamy or Sheaffer is suitable; exotic US inks should be avoided, since these are partly aggressive. Important is that the ink does not dry out in the fountain pen: rinse with water before longer breaks. Water-soluble inks are the safest, while document-proof or strongly pigmented inks can form deposits, eat into the material and discolour it. Since the 342 is not a high-priced model, a moderate risk with a dark-blue ink (e.g. Pelikan Sapphire) can be taken — regular rinsing is then particularly important. --- **Question:** Should one use various ink colours one after the other in the same fountain pen, or rather use a separate fountain pen for each colour? **Answer:** The practice varies; common is the use of several fountain pens with different colours in parallel, because then one can switch as desired. Light inks come better into their own with broader nibs (B or larger) than with EF/F. Certain aggressive or strong inks — e.g. red, Pelikan brown or Montblanc burgundy — can especially in Pelikan demonstrators or celluloid models eat into the material and should as far as possible permanently be assigned to the same (possibly cheaper) fountain pen. Important are regular cleaning and trying out new inks first in less expensive writing instruments. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc inks are currently and were formerly in the range, in particular Permanent Blue-Black and Emerald Green? **Answer:** In the ink-bottle range one finds, among others, the colours Black, Royal Blue (washable), Turquoise, Blue-Black (permanent, document-proof), Burgundy Red, Sepia Brown and Emerald Green (dark green); discontinued are, among others, Ruby Red, Smaragd Green, Love Letters and Season's Greetings (chocolate, scented). The cartridges largely correspond to the bottled range, without Turquoise. Permanent Blue-Black and the dark Emerald Green are regular components of the current range, even if availability in individual boutiques can vary. --- **Question:** Is it normal that black ink (Cross/Pelikan) loses gas in the bottle and the colour particles flocculate? **Answer:** A change in this form cannot be reproduced in own comparison samples; usual black inks from Montblanc, Visconti or Pelikan remain stable even after long storage. Possible is spoilage by microorganisms (mould) or a chemical process through contamination. Sometimes light shaking before opening helps, since movement reincorporates the particles. Anyone who writes little should rather buy smaller ink quantities so as not to store whole large bottles; with ink from Made-in-Germany glass (Cross ink presumably comes from Pelikan) it is worthwhile checking whether the second bottle shows the same problem. --- **Question:** How long does a piston filling on the Pelikan Souverän M600 last for everyday student use with longer exam papers? **Answer:** A piston fountain pen like the Pelikan Souverän is basically well suited for studying, since fountain pens deliver a more legible writing image than ballpoints or rollerballs. The exact writing duration varies; a viewing window as some models offer makes monitoring the ink level considerably easier. For longer examinations, it is generally recommended to carry a second writing instrument as an emergency reserve. --- **Question:** Which scent characterises the Montblanc Seasons Greetings ink 2007 and how can the aroma be classified? **Answer:** The red Seasons Greetings ink 2007 contains, according to the American refill page of Montblanc, a vanilla note. Collectors describe the scent as floral-warm with a recognisable cinnamon note and thus overall Christmassy, but significantly less aggressively cinnamon-heavy than the previous year's ink. The perception of the individual components is subjective and varies between floral, vanilla and cinnamon-like impressions. --- **Question:** How does one filter an old Pelikan iron-gall ink from the 1950s of small clumps without impairing the writing flow of an M800? **Answer:** Suitable for filtering are common coffee filters or blotting paper, which reliably retain the solid clumps. A light powder sediment of pigments may well remain desirable after filtering. In general, manufacturers advise against mixing different inks, since chemical reactions can occur; with old iron-gall inks, the deposits are typical components that have thickened over time and are usually not mould. With filtered old IG ink, good writing results can still be achieved on suitable paper. --- **Question:** What are the causes when a Parker Sonnet smears at the front gold ring and the cartridge loses leaking ink during non-use? **Answer:** A blanket remote diagnosis is not possible without inspection; a visit to a renowned specialist shop is recommended. Generally, every cartridge and piston filling condenses during longer storage, which can lead to ink emerging at the grip section, without there being a defect. Truly remaining residual ink quantities can often only be determined when rinsing. Specialised help on Parker is additionally offered by the Penexchange forum with its own Parker section. --- **Question:** How can ink from small ink bottles like the Montblanc Collodi or Ink of Joy be drawn as completely as possible into a large fountain pen like the 149? **Answer:** Practicable options are: pour residues into another bottle of the same ink, transfer them to a smaller container, or tilt the ink bottle strongly when filling so that the ink can be taken up directly at the back of the nib instead of at the feed. With this, the loss of residual ink can be significantly reduced without special tools being necessary. --- **Question:** How is the ink line of Scribal Work Shop, e.g. the variant Nessie, to be classified? **Answer:** Scribal Work Shop is an American ink manufactory of the chemist Lucas Tucker, which has specialised in historical writing inks and places particular emphasis on non-toxic ingredients; even a child-friendly ink line exists. About the ink itself, no further technical details are known. Generally, regarding scented inks, it is noted that the scent can concentrate strongly in the cap and is intensively released when opened, which is why some collectors prefer scent-free inks. --- **Question:** Does fountain-pen ink have a use-by date, and can decades-old ink from eBay offers still be used? **Answer:** Ink has no categorical use-by limit; in collector circles, Pelikan and Montblanc inks from the 1950s and 1960s are also successfully used in writing instruments without problems occurring. Older blue inks are partly even appreciated colour-wise. Nevertheless, caution is in order, and one should not fill old ink into particularly valuable fountain pens, since drying-out and contamination risks exist. --- **Question:** What advantages do inks of other manufacturers (Private Reserve, Noodler, Pelikan, Waterman, Lamy) offer over Montblanc ink for Montblanc fountain pens? **Answer:** The main motive for third-party inks is the significantly larger colour palette, e.g. Private Reserve "Sherwood Green" or special black tones from Noodler. Waterman inks are subjectively regarded as particularly free-flowing, Lamy royal blue as a problem-free, somewhat darker standard blue. Private Reserve inks have the disadvantage of longer drying times and can smear. Pelikan ink is a classic standard, but taste preferences vary widely. Technically these inks can be filled into Montblanc fountain pens without problems. --- **Question:** What contents does the new ink-writing-sample booklet IV offer, and what information does it provide on lightfastness and water resistance? **Answer:** The booklet contains 81 writing samples on 14 DIN A5 cards, all written with the same nib, with a total ink value of over 450 EUR; the price is 25 EUR or 30 USD including worldwide shipping. Booklets 1-3 are still available. On water resistance there is an extra page with permanent inks for self-testing; general notes on lightfastness and water resistance are provided by the competing product by Greg Clark. Notable points on flow behaviour are documented in the ink reports on the related website (in English). --- **Question:** Can a 40-year-old, visually impeccable Geha ink (royal blue) still be used without hesitation in modern fountain pens? **Answer:** Collectors report that old ink is unproblematic as long as it does not mould, no skin forms and no clouding or streaking occurs; even inks from the 1950s have been successfully tested and still used. Printed expiry dates serve mainly the trade's sales interest but are factually mostly not necessary. If the ink writes fluidly and remains inconspicuous, it can continue to be used. It does not hurt, however, to occasionally try out new inks too, in order to support local trade and have variety. --- **Question:** How are the properties and the market value of the Montblanc edition ink "Carlo Collodi" to be classified? **Answer:** Collectors report that the ink is delivered in a 35 ml round bottle and was originally developed for the Writers Edition pen "Carlo Collodi"; in the boutique it cost about €15, on the current market about €40, which converted to 100 ml corresponds to between €42 and €114 and ranks it among the expensive inks. Colour-wise it is a warm, distinctly orange-tinted brown tone reminiscent of wood (allusion to Pinocchio); on yellowish paper (e.g. Moleskine) it appears particularly appealing and shows a beautiful shading even with an M nib. The flow properties are described as very good, without problems in various fountain pens. --- **Question:** Which ink cartridges are compatible with which fountain pens (e.g. Faber-Castell platinum-plated), and where does one find a corresponding overview? **Answer:** A compatibility list for cartridges and converters can be found at giese-online.de (linked via penexchange.de, section "Die Tinte und der Tintenfluss"); additionally, in the Penexchange forum there is a corresponding discussion. A platinum-plated Faber-Castell additionally has a piston converter, so that instead of cartridges, ink from the bottle can be used, which allows significantly more colour choice. Occasionally there are reports that ink from the converter does not flow optimally because of the material; nevertheless, a test is worthwhile, since the cartridge range restricts in the long run. --- **Question:** What colour and properties does the Montblanc Christmas ink White Forest have? **Answer:** The Christmas ink White Forest is a vivid dark green, which also corresponds to the official statement in the Montblanc Refill Shop. On paper it leaves after drying a very appealing impression, which makes it well suited for seasonal correspondence like Christmas cards. In smell it is reminiscent of pine-needle aroma. --- **Question:** Where can one find the Atramentis or Jansen ink colour chart in the forum? **Answer:** The ink colour chart is filed in the section "Tinte" and reachable via the left menu under "Artikel" → "Tinte" → "Jansen Tintenpalette". Direct link: http://community.fountainpen.de/content/view/184/96/ --- **Question:** Is it worth reading the ink discussions in the Penexchange forum, and what sources for inks emerge from this? **Answer:** The Penexchange forum offers substantial contributions on inks and is recommendable as a supplement. Through the forum, collectors come into contact with further sources like missing-pen, which especially supplies collectors with writing instruments across brands. --- **Question:** Where can one obtain Jansen inks in Düsseldorf or order them cost-effectively via group order? **Answer:** A point of contact in Düsseldorf is Carsch-Haus, which generally carries a larger selection of Jansen inks; the delivery time can however be around four weeks. Other shops like Henning offer partly only larger containers, no individual bottles. Because the shipping costs of about 7 euros per order are high in relation to the ink price, a group order with other collectors from the region is the most sensible procedure, in order to come over the postage threshold (e.g. 40 euros goods value). --- **Question:** Which royal-blue ink writes particularly contrast-rich without one having to let it dry on for evaporation? **Answer:** The higher contrast after brief drying arises through the evaporation of water, so that the colour particles remain more concentrated. Ink-killer-compatible royal-blue inks are based, however, on a dye that is converted by the ink killer into a state invisible to the eye (ink death), which is why here limits to the achievable saturation exist. A school-suitable royal-blue ink with simultaneously high contrast is therefore chemically limited. The cause is the interplay between killability and colour intensity. --- **Question:** How long is ink shelf-stable, and can special-edition inks be stored long-term in stock? **Answer:** Ink is normally practically indefinitely shelf-stable; even inks from the 1940s are often still unproblematically usable. The prerequisite is proper storage, ideally dark and closed. With open storage in sunlight, ink can mould and form clumps, which makes it unusable. Collectors can therefore stockpile inks from special editions long-term without problem. --- **Question:** Where can one obtain the Montblanc inks Ink of Friendship, Joy and Love as well as the Mahatma Gandhi ink at the regular price, without overpriced eBay offers? **Answer:** At the specialist retailer these inks are partly still available at the regular unit price of around 11 to 12 euros, e.g. at local Montblanc dealers or at KaDeWe in Berlin (5th floor, writing instruments), where most recently a new delivery of the Mahatma Gandhi ink had arrived at a retail price of 12 euros. The fantasy prices called up on eBay are therefore not justified; anyone without a specialist retailer nearby should preferably enquire directly at specialist trade. --- **Question:** Which manufacturers offer aesthetically appealing, collection-worthy ink bottles? **Answer:** Particularly worth collecting are older ink bottles from Montblanc or Parker from the 1930s. In the current market offer, especially Montblanc bottles including the Season's Greetings and the rose-ink editions, Diamine (classic, e.g. available via missing-pens.de from Rolf Thiel) as well as Caran d'Ache (very beautiful, although with little ink content) are mentioned. Complementarily, Caran d'Ache, OMAS, de Atramentis (with scents) and Visconti are positively highlighted. Differences in taste are pronounced here; one's own selection by visual preferences is usual. --- **Question:** Can one use the Montblanc Jules Verne ink without hesitation in a Jules Verne fountain pen? **Answer:** Experiences with the Leonardo da Vinci ink (Terra di Sienna) from the same novelties series are consistently positive, so the Jules Verne ink can also be assumed to be unproblematic. Substantial reports specifically on the Jules Verne variant are not available. --- **Question:** Which scented inks from De Atramentis are particularly recommendable? **Answer:** Particularly praised are the wine inks, whose properties were recently improved, so that they no longer dry out so quickly; the Dornfelder variant is frequently highlighted. Chocolate and grass or golf ink are also positively mentioned, while steam-locomotive and kerosene ink are regarded as acquired tastes and rather to be recommended to lovers of these scents. The herb ink is also not mass-market-friendly. In colour intensity there are clear differences to branded inks: the black Jansen ink appears, for example, lighter than the black counterpart by Montblanc and rather reminiscent of their English green. --- **Question:** Does the black ink from Montblanc contain iron-gall, similarly to the black-blue? **Answer:** No, the black Montblanc ink by general knowledge does not contain iron-gall and is regarded as unproblematic in daily use. Iron-gall shares are found at Montblanc only in the black-blue variant. --- **Question:** Does ink corrosion occur only with iron-gall inks or also with modern inks like Dr. Jansen ink when used for a book? **Answer:** Ink corrosion is, by general experience, a phenomenon almost exclusively associated with iron-gall inks. Problems with old documents often additionally hang together with too acidically produced papers of the 1920s and 1930s, which decompose themselves over time. For inks without iron-gall, e.g. the Jansen inks, such corrosion phenomena are therefore not to be expected. --- **Question:** Where does the stable skin that forms on some ink bottles during longer storage come from, and how does one deal with it? **Answer:** The firm skin is a clear sign of microorganism infestation, since opened ink bottles at room temperature offer ideal growth conditions for moulds. That also explains why inks without preservatives (e.g. by Visconti, Schreibmayr or OMAS) are affected, while so-called chemical inks like Waterman do not show this. Such infested ink should be disposed of, since skin remnants can clog the feed. Preservatives in mass-market inks thus have a real practical justification. --- **Question:** Does the current Montblanc Midnight Blue have a violet cast compared to the earlier Blauschwarz, and is it known why Montblanc changed the ink supplier? **Answer:** Midnight Blue is generally regarded as the legitimate successor of Blauschwarz, but shows, according to the perception of several users, a slight violet cast that diminishes somewhat after brief drying. Ink flow and writing behaviour are thereby regarded as at least equivalent, rather even as better. Regarding the supplier change, no official information is available; what is known is only that Montblanc at some point changed the OEM manufacturer of the ink. Montblanc has not communicated the background outwardly, so only conjectures circulate. --- **Question:** How does one best store ink, and can it fade with direct sunlight? **Answer:** Ink should above all be tightly closed, cool and without large temperature fluctuations stored, so that no solvent evaporates. Direct sunlight or UV light is to be avoided, since it can promote mould formation and bleach colour particles. Since ink consists predominantly of water and organic components, it is also not indefinitely shelf-stable and should not be stored for years. --- **Question:** Are Private Reserve ink cartridges in Pelikan format also offered individually or as a sorted sampler pack, so that one can test colours without buying a whole bottle? **Answer:** Yes, Private Reserve cartridges are also marketed as a sampler set: individually at around 0.45 euros per cartridge or as a set of twelve freely selectable colours for about 4.95 euros plus shipping. Thus a colour tone can be tried out without immediately committing to a whole standard pack or a bottle. The idea is positively received by ink lovers and evaluated as a sensible complement to the existing offer. --- **Question:** Are the colourful inks by Dr. Jansen, e.g. the colour tone Terra di Siena, unproblematic for older Montblanc fountain pens like the 342G? **Answer:** The fountain-pen inks by Dr. Franz-Josef Jansen, including Terra di Siena, can without problem be used in older Montblanc models too; significant complaints are over many years not known. With longer non-use, the ink tank should, as with any fountain pen, be emptied and the device thoroughly rinsed so that no ink can dry up. These notes apply regardless of age or manufacturer of the fountain pen and are general care basics. --- **Question:** Where in Munich can exclusive inks of the brands De Atramentis or J. Herbin be obtained, and how reliable is the scent of scented inks in the fountain pen? **Answer:** In the greater Munich area, Schreibmayr in the Fünf Höfe offers competent advice and a corresponding range of exclusive inks. With scented inks it is to be noted that the scent in the fountain pen remains over very long periods; after longer contact with the ink, it accordingly takes long until the smell disappears again after rinsing. This property concerns scented inks of various manufacturers, including the Montblanc scented inks. --- **Question:** Does Montblanc Irish Green prove itself in a current 146 with M nib, and are failures with this ink generally to be expected? **Answer:** Montblanc Irish Green generally does not cause failures in current 146s and writes reliably. Failures with other inks – e.g. Jansen Terra di Siena – do not occur systematically and are rather attributable to the individual interplay of ink, feed and nib flow behaviour. Anyone switching to colourful inks can therefore use Irish Green as an uncritical alternative in the 146. --- **Question:** Is the Encre Invisible by J. Herbin suitable as a secret ink for a Montblanc fountain pen? **Answer:** The ink is, according to manufacturer information, not suitable for fountain pens but for dip nibs, glass or quill nibs, calami and brushes. Practical writing tests in the fountain pen led after brief application to unsatisfactory results, so use in the fountain pen is to be advised against. --- **Question:** What are the experiences with the Montblanc ink "Je t'aime Love letters Ink" and with scented inks or scented postage stamps in general? **Answer:** The rose-scented ink "Je t'aime Love letters Ink" is, even after thorough cleaning with water, often still long perceptible in the fountain pen, which many users find disturbing. Overall, the enthusiasm for scented inks has cooled in the hobby circle, since the smell stubbornly remains in the writing instrument. As an alternative, the wine inks by Jansen are mentioned, whose scent is more discreet, is only slightly perceived during writing and does not permanently perfume the fountain pen. A combination with scented postage stamps is seen critically and counts rather as a burden for the addressee and postal delivery. --- **Question:** Are replacement cartridges or a converter still available for the very slim Diplomat cartridge pens of the 1970s? **Answer:** In the 1970s Diplomat brought out an exceptionally slim cartridge pen that depends on special cartridges some 58 millimetres long and only about 5 millimetres in diameter. These cartridges push onto the nib unit and do not disappear entirely into the barrel, as they do on more modern pens. The short and equally narrow gold nibs of these models were made in Japan by Pilot, which is why they carry the word Japan beside the brand name. Diplomat was the brand of the manufacturer Michaelis, based in the Stuttgart area. After the owner's death the company was sold to Herlitz, production was moved to Berlin, and not every model was continued there. The slim special cartridges disappeared from the shops from the mid-1980s onwards, and a converter was never made for this model. Replacements are in practice no longer obtainable in the trade. Anyone wishing to go on using the pen refills the empty cartridges they have from a bottle with a syringe. It is fiddly, but it is the only route left; the cartridge should be rinsed out thoroughly and dried first, so that no dried-on residue works loose and clogs the feed. --- **Question:** Can Montblanc's iron-gall blue-black ink be used in a piston filler, and can it be mixed with other inks? **Answer:** Montblanc's blue-black ink contains iron gall and is document-proof: soak a written sheet in water and the blue dyes wash out, while the black iron-gall compound stays put. It can be used in piston fillers without hesitation, as long as it is never left to dry in. Before a longer break the ink should be emptied out and the pen flushed with clean water until the water no longer discolours; a flagging ink flow is likewise a sign that cleaning is due. Mixing is not to be recommended. An experiment in equal parts with an ordinary blue ink did give the colour wanted, but the mixture congealed on the paper like jelly and the document-proof quality was lost: the dyes washed out completely. In the ink reservoir, and particularly in one that is nearly empty, such a mixture can turn highly viscous. That document-proof inks lose that property as soon as they are mixed with ordinary ink holds for other brands as well. --- **Question:** What can be done when a Montblanc Meisterstück 142 from the 1950s no longer draws up ink? **Answer:** On piston fillers of that period the piston seal is made of cork. If the pen lies unused for a long time the cork dries out, shrinks and no longer seals; the piston knob then turns strikingly easily and without resistance. Soaking often helps: wind the piston fully down, stand the pen nib downwards in a glass of water so that water can reach the piston, and wait a day for the cork to swell again. A gush of old ink frequently comes out in the process; the pen is then flushed until the water stays clear. The water bath does the celluloid no harm, but the brass piston mechanism should not stand in water too long, as it can corrode. If the piston still leaks, the cork has to be replaced. For an experienced restorer changing the cork is straightforward, and sooner or later every pen of this kind will need it. The nibs of those years are considerably more flexible than today's and their iridium tips are ground differently; once the ballpoint had taken hold, nibs were made harder and the tips rounder. --- **Question:** How does the Montblanc edition ink “Alfred Hitchcock” write, and what did a bottle cost in the shops? **Answer:** The ink appeared alongside the Montblanc Alfred Hitchcock edition and was made in Austria. It was bottled in small 35 millilitre bottles selling at 15 euros; once stocks had run out, auction prices in 2012 stood at about 40 euros a bottle, which works out at roughly 42 to 114 euros per 100 millilitres. The colour is a rich, dark blood red with a slightly blue cast and pronounced shading. The ink lays down well and covers properly even with fine nibs and on absorbent paper, but it penetrates deeply and therefore tends to show through. Set against the Season Greetings ink it looks a shade lighter and, unlike that one, is not scented. --- **Question:** What kind of ink is the Sailor Kiwa-Guro, available since 2007, and what is it suited to? **Answer:** Kiwa-Guro is a deep black pigment ink from the Japanese maker Sailor which reached German specialist retailers in 2007. It counts as document-proof: the writing is waterproof and colourfast, and at the same time it dries quickly. That makes it suitable for certificates, contracts and other documents that are to remain legible permanently. It was offered in bottles and also as cartridges. Pigment inks contain solid colour particles instead of dissolved dyes. In modern fountain pens they are harmless, but they should not be left to dry in the pen for weeks on end; rinsing regularly with clean water prevents deposits on nib and feed. --- **Question:** Which scented and special inks were available in 2006, and what did a gold ink for fountain pens cost at the time? **Answer:** Around 2006 several houses offered perfumed writing inks. The Jansen manufactory, distributed in Germany through Dössel & Rademacher, carried inks in numerous scents, among them a vivid green golf ink smelling of grass, as well as bespoke mixtures: for a Hamburg zoo an ink scented of elephant, for other customers notes such as camel or horse. Tobacco and cigar were said to be the preferences among men, lavender and rose among women. Caran d'Ache also brought out an ink collection at the time whose shades take their cue from colours found in nature. The dearest was gold ink: a bottle holding five millilitres cost around 250 euros in 2006 and was meant to last for up to 12,000 signatures. Matching ink containers were also sold by Swarovski and Cartier. As a general rule, the recommendation is to use in a fountain pen the ink offered by its own maker wherever possible. --- **Question:** Which Noodler's inks were available in Germany around 2006, and what does the term bulletproof mean? **Answer:** The American Noodler's inks reached Germany from the middle of the 2000s through group orders and pen fairs. Bulletproof is the maker's term for inks whose dyes bond permanently with the cellulose of the paper and are thereby waterproof and largely proof against forgery. The colours most in demand at the time were Prussian Blue, Polar Black and Black, followed by Luxury Blue, Hunter Green, Fox Red and Lexington Gray. The highlighter inks in various shades sold well too. For the Russian market Noodler's produced a series of its own whose colours are named after Russian poets and composers and which is regarded as waterproof throughout: Rachmaninov in pink, Tchaikovsky in purple, Dostoevsky in dark turquoise, Lermontov in violet, Tsvetayeva in pink-red, Pushkin in grey, Akhmatova in green, Tolstoy in orange, Esenin in red, Pasternak in blue, Chekhov in peach and Kuprin in magenta. --- **Question:** Which ink cartridges fit older slim Sheaffer fountain pens of the Slimline type, and are they still available? **Answer:** Older slim Sheaffer fountain pens do not take an international standard cartridge but a particularly thin cartridge that Sheaffer made specially for this range. Thicker cartridges will not fit because of the small barrel diameter, and shortening or forcing them in is no help either. These narrow cartridges were dropped from the range years ago. As of 2008 they were considered very rare and reached only the specialist trade in vintage writing instruments as remaining stock, there in blue, black, blue-black and brown. Anyone wanting to use such a fountain pen depends on remainders of this kind or has to refill an empty cartridge with bottled ink. --- **Question:** What lies behind the writing ink made of 24-carat gold presented in 2004? **Answer:** In 2004 a writing ink came onto the market that contains pure gold and was offered as a 24-carat gold ink. It could be seen in public in September 2004 at the Tilburg Pen Show on a collector's stand, and on 3 October 2004 at the Hamburg fountain pen fair, where the supplier, a company by the name of Nanosolutions, presented it itself for the first time. Interested parties were also able to try the ink out there in writing tests. It was thus introduced first in the setting of the collectors' fairs and not through the general stationery trade. --- **Question:** What is the Schreibmayr Königstinte, and where was it available in 2004? **Answer:** The Königstinte is an exclusive, hand-made fountain pen ink which the Munich stationery house Schreibmayr offers under its own name. It is bottled in small ink pots; at the Munich pen fair in July 2004 every paying visitor received such a pot as a welcome gift. In 2004 Schreibmayr was, alongside Prantl and Kaut-Bullinger, one of the Munich addresses that collectors headed for on account of their range of writing instruments. The promotional material for the pen fair was also displayed in these shops, and the staff were familiar with the collecting scene. For collectors, a visit to such specialist shops is interesting above all because writing instruments from numerous manufacturers which are otherwise known only from photographs can be inspected there in the original. --- **Question:** Why are old Montblanc inks sought after among collectors, and how extensive can ink collections be? **Answer:** Old Montblanc inks are a collecting field in their own right and one in lively demand. At the collectors' meeting in Cologne in March 2005 they were among the most sought-after items on offer of all; remaining stocks were still being sold after the meeting, as long as supplies lasted. Thus not only the writing instrument itself but also the associated consumables are regarded as worth collecting. Ink is assembled by some collectors systematically and on a large scale: one such collection comprised more than 450 inks from all the known manufacturers in 2005. Historical inks are not merely kept but also tested and described in dedicated ink notebooks and specialist articles, so that the properties of older inks can be read up in documented form. --- ### Storage and care of writing instruments **Question:** Which storage boxes or collector cases are suitable for several high-end writing instruments? **Answer:** What matters is a padded, velvet-like lining of the slots so that lacquer and fittings do not get scratched; bare wooden slots without padding are unsuitable. Montblanc offers a leather collector's case for 10 writing instruments (item 35819, MSRP 320 euros), and Gutberlet has portfolios for up to 100 pieces. Italian makers such as Visconti, Montegrappa and OMAS used to offer wooden cases with glass lids, but these are now hard to find; offers from the United States are often poor in quality and unattractive due to shipping costs. For retrofitting home-built wooden cases, self-adhesive velvet film (e.g. d-c-fix) is mentioned, with the caveat that plasticisers in PVC films can damage writing instruments over time — it is worth asking the manufacturer about that. --- **Question:** How can a newly bought Montblanc fountain pen (presumably a Noblesse) be identified, and what should one do if ink flow weakens with cartridges? **Answer:** The pen described is not a Noblesse but a Montblanc SlimLine, which was produced in large numbers at the time; the collector's value is therefore low. If the nib is stamped "585", it is made of 14-karat gold; otherwise it is only gold-plated. The clip is generally only gold-plated. If ink flow drops with cartridge use, a thorough flushing of the pen with water normally helps. Professional repair is rarely worthwhile on these widespread models, since the cost typically exceeds the replacement value. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc Boheme with a retractable nib be cleaned properly, given that it only takes cartridges and no water should run through the body? **Answer:** A standard piston converter does not fit the retractable-nib Boheme and is not a sensible cleaning option either — the only exception is the mid-size model with a fixed nib. A proven approach is to build a cleaning tool from a thoroughly cleaned original cartridge cut open at the rear, with a pipette or rubber bulb fitted air- and water-tight; this lets you flush water across the nib and feed without flooding the mechanism. Montblanc offers a glass tube with a rubber bulb for this purpose. It is important not to let water run directly through the body, as the mechanism can corrode in the early Boheme, Rouge & Noir and Noir & Noir models. For roughly the past one and a half years the mechanisms have been made of stainless material, and Montblanc will swap older mechanisms in service on request. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Bohème — model overview: https://www.fountainpen.de/boheme-en.htm --- **Question:** How are piston-filler fountain pens built, and can a layperson repair them? **Answer:** There is no universally valid description of the layout of piston-filler pens; mechanisms and threads vary considerably between manufacturers, and special tools such as pliers, pullers and wrenches are often needed for disassembly. On the Montblanc 31, the section can be unscrewed and replaced as a unit; the rear piston part can also be swapped out completely, which is normally safer than full disassembly. On older pre-war Montblanc models the feed and nib are friction-fit and can be carefully pulled out from the front; a replacement nib must match the feed in curvature, width and length. Tools are available, among others, from Tom Westerich (penboard.de); repair workshops at the Hamburg pen show and collector meet-ups offer a chance to learn from professionals. Beginners should first practise on cheap sacrificial pens. --- **Question:** How can disturbing engravings or their gold inlay be removed from an old fountain pen (e.g. Montblanc 342)? **Answer:** Mechanically polishing out the engraving is discouraged, since the early post-war plastic has already lost plasticisers and weakening of the wall can lead to body damage. An ultrasonic bath can dissolve the gold inlay but also attacks the sealing compound and is therefore risky. The recommended middle path is to have an engraver or locksmith cover the gold inlay with the usual black wax stick, which significantly tones down the engraving without harming the substance. Generally there is also an argument for keeping engravings as part of the pen's history. Careful polishing with Wenol is acceptable on old models too, as long as the work is not too aggressive; for repairs HMS is recommended. --- **Question:** How can larger collections of fountain pens be displayed long-term so they don't "go stale" in a cupboard? **Answer:** Pen portfolios, e.g. those by Gutberlet (gutberlet.com) or collection portfolios from penboard.de, have proven good for keeping pens well protected. For a showcase look Montblanc offers a piano-lacquer black collector box that costs around 550 euros depending on size and holds up to 20 pens; variants in blue, green and a dark-brown wooden case matching the Mozart collection with an embossed star are also known. In daily use pieces are often kept in cases or pen stands. Leather loops in simple folders often do not hold ideally and are described as a sub-optimal solution. For exact prices ask at the boutique, as these collector boxes are not always listed. --- **Question:** How do you clean and polish precious-resin writing instruments safely? **Answer:** The precious resin used by Montblanc is a modified methyl methacrylate (Plexiglas) and tolerates cleaning with water and washing-up liquid as well as, to a limited extent, low-volatile alkanes such as octane. Strictly avoid alcohols, esters (nail-polish remover), ketones (acetone), aromatics (benzene, toluene) and chlorinated hydrocarbons (trichloroethane, chloroform), as they irreversibly damage the material within a very short time. For polishing, a water-soluble diamond paste with a grit of 0.25 µm (e.g. from Winter, Hamburg) is recommended; the polish Wenol is widespread in the collector scene and recommended by many repairers, but it has no declared grit size and can wear down coatings with repeated use. Cotton cloths should be as fresh as possible because detergent residues (zeolites) can cause micro-damage; microfibre cloths and unused cleaning cloths are a safe alternative. --- **Question:** Is Wenol suitable as a polish for Montblanc fountain pens, and which agent is right for which material? **Answer:** Wenol is well suited for writing instruments made of older celluloid, e.g. for classic 3-series models like the 342, but it should not be used on precious resin (Resin); there Xerapol or Displex deliver better results. On the 144 in precious resin Displex is unproblematic, on the celluloid 342 it is to be avoided since the material can swell strongly. Every polish removes substance from the surface and can additionally damage gold plating, which is why rings and clips should be covered with adhesive tape before polishing and frequent polishing should generally be avoided. Collectors point out that even Wenol can wear off gold plating with too much pressure, so one should always work sparingly and selectively. --- **Question:** How do you reconnect the front section of a Montblanc 31 (3rd series of the 1950s) permanently to the barrel when both are loose after soaking in water? **Answer:** On the Montblanc 31, by factory design, the front section and barrel are screwed, not glued; sealing is provided by a sealing ring that is set firm by the thread. If the front section can be pulled off without a thread, this regularly indicates a clean break or an earlier improper repair attempt in which the original thread was lost and the parts were then glued. Adhesive residues inside the front section as well as the absence of a recognisable thread starting point typically confirm this finding. In this case the pen is usually only fit as a parts donor; attempts to glue the connection again rarely lead to lasting results because of the ink-tightness required. Models from the 1950s can otherwise be unscrewed without problems for cleaning, with the rings not being mixed up. --- **Question:** Why does ink remain stuck in converters so the pen skips, and how can it be remedied? **Answer:** The problem is a classic ventilation and adhesion issue: in the converter an air cushion must always remain between piston and ink, otherwise the pressure ratios change while writing and the ink flow breaks off. Even with sufficient air space, ink can adhere to the plastic walls because different converter plastics have differently strong adhesion forces; this was particularly pronounced on some Graf von Faber-Castell converters, less strong on Montblanc. Montblanc places a loose metal spiral in newer converters that keeps the ink moving and largely eliminates the problem; the current Parker piston converter also uses a spiral. A practical remedy is cleaning with diluted soap solution to reduce adhesion, or switching to cartridge or piston pens, on which the problem does not occur or only in a strongly mitigated form by design. --- **Question:** Which Wenol (red or blue tube) and which alternatives are suitable for polishing fine scratches out of the precious resin of a Montblanc Meisterstück ballpoint? **Answer:** On precious resin both red and blue Wenol work, with blue Wenol having finer abrasive bodies and therefore being somewhat gentler; perceptible differences in the end result are small. Since Wenol has not been available in drugstores for years (range cleanup), collectors source it online, even at increased prices. As an alternative, Displex has proven itself; originally developed for mobile-phone and watch acrylic glass, it delivers good results on the precious resin of Meisterstücks; on metal parts such as rings and clip Displex is, however, unsuitable, where Cape Cod or polishing cloths from Greg Stevens are recommended. Since every polish removes material, gold plating should be covered with adhesive tape before application and polishing limited to what is necessary. --- **Question:** Are Montblanc inks water-soluble, how often must a regularly used piston filler be cleaned, and how does hard tap water affect things? **Answer:** Montblanc offers both water-soluble inks and iron-gall inks such as the royal blue (component damage is, according to the maker, not to be expected, only more frequent cleaning is required); water-soluble inks can be removed with clear water, document-proof inks need more elaborate methods. With regular use, flushing with clear water before each refill (typically every three weeks) and an overnight stand in a glass of water suffice; the nib cannot bend in the process. Iron-gall residues dissolve with the cleaning agent of a silver-cleaning cloth or in an ultrasonic bath. Hard tap water, in experience, leaves slight limescale deposits and cleans worse than soft water, which is why in lime-rich regions the use of distilled or filtered water for the final rinse is recommended. --- **Question:** How do you correctly clean and store dip nibs such as quill or glass nibs so that they neither encrust nor bend? **Answer:** Both steel and glass nibs should be cleaned immediately after every writing process before ink or Indian ink dries; with normal fountain-pen inks lukewarm tap water suffices; with Indian inks suitable cleaning fluids are needed. Quill pens are basically removed from the holder and stored lying flat, not standing, so as not to deform the delicate slit. With glass nibs careful handling is important, since the fine grooves break easily. Regular cleaning is the most important measure for prolonging life, supplemented by dry, dust-free storage in a case or drawer away from direct sunlight. --- **Question:** Where can collector boxes for 10 to 20 high-quality writing instruments be obtained? **Answer:** Montblanc offered a collector box of black piano lacquer for 20 writing instruments in two layers, which is officially probably no longer in the range but is partly still obtainable via boutiques such as Munich. Alternatives are found at specialised suppliers: the Sini collector case via fountainpen.de, wooden boxes from maxpens.de for about 13 pens, and collector boxes with glass lid from Lindauer for around 20 pens. Via penboard.de from Tom Westerich there is a cheaper box for 40 pens at around 90 euros. For individual quantities, custom-making by a leather worker is recommended; a small case for seven pens costs about 80 euros. In regular stationery trade such boxes are barely in stock; a direct enquiry with the supplier is usually necessary. --- **Question:** Does mobile-display polish like Displex damage the gold plating on writing instruments, and what does Montblanc service do in such cases? **Answer:** Ultimately every polish, whether Displex or Wenol, attacks the gold plating, which is why writing instruments should be polished as rarely as possible. Displex is well suited to precious-resin surfaces but can lead to dissolution effects on gold alloys such as fittings and pen stands. Subsequent re-gilding of fittings is mostly not possible, since these are firmly bonded to the resin. The Montblanc service offers in such cases an exchange of the affected part for a new one; a pen stand was, for example, exchanged for 49 euros. Damaged original parts are shredded or burned by Montblanc, since only flawless goods may be used. --- **Question:** How is a Montblanc 342 to be disassembled and cleaned, and what do the markings on the writing instrument mean? **Answer:** For disassembly the piston screw is fully turned back so that a gap arises between knurl and screw; the knurled disc as part of the mechanism is loosened in a multi-jaw collet of a lathe. The cap top can be unscrewed with a piece of leather or bicycle tube, never with pliers, since these destroy the cap top. The feed sleeve with the two slots is unscrewed with a matching assembly key, and the feed driven out from rear to front with a punch; alternatively, after soaking in an ultrasonic bath or in water, nib and feed can be pulled out. The small bore in the cap is a ventilation hole against condensation, which however accelerates drying. The M on the piston screw denotes the nib width Medium. All threads are right-hand threads; the grip section is often firmly glued and should then not be loosened. --- **Question:** What causes start-up problems on fountain pens, and how can they be remedied? **Answer:** Starting problems can have several causes: viscous or thick inks like some Montblanc inks cause skipping on certain nibs; Waterman inks often flow better. Dried ink residues clog the feed and can be removed by repeated flushing with cold water or soaking, possibly also in an ultrasonic bath, but not on wood or celluloid pens. With new pens with converter, the high adhesion of plastic can slow ink flow. A nib unsuitable for the writing position is also a frequent cause, especially with oblique nibs and signatures with a flying start. Paper also influences starting behaviour considerably; testing in specialist trade should be done with one's own everyday paper. With nib tipping grind, the nib's set angle decides whether ink flow starts reliably. --- **Question:** How do you correctly clean a Montblanc Traveller 147, and is a piston converter necessary for that? **Answer:** According to Montblanc service, flushing with clear cold or lukewarm water suffices; after flushing, the pen should lie open so the water residues can evaporate. A piston converter is not strictly necessary. With heavily dried ink or crusts, e.g. after leaked cartridges, soaking, an ultrasonic bath with distilled water or, if needed, sending in for inspection helps. An inspection at Montblanc costs between 39 and 49 euros, without nib exchange. Certain inks, especially iron-gall-containing black-blue cartridges, attack material and gold plating; iron-gall-free alternatives like Pelikan cartridges are recommended. Cleaning the Bohème with retractable nib requires, due to the delicate mechanism, other precautions. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 147 Traveller: https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-147-en.htm --- **Question:** Is a quick clean by disassembly and rinsing under running water harmful for Pelikan piston pens? **Answer:** Rinsing with cold water alone does not harm a piston pen; unscrewing the nib unit is unproblematic on the newer model. On old Pelikan models like 100 and 100N, the mechanism should only be sparingly disassembled, since the celluloid barrel thread tears easily; celluloid can be repaired but only by few specialists. Ammonia and alcohol must be kept away from the material and should not be used. Pigmented inks like Parker Penman are critical because they can bake the piston during long inactivity; before each writing pause of one to two weeks, cleaning is sensible. For care of the piston seal, a thin silicone film is recommended, but only a non-additionally-modified silicone. --- **Question:** Is cleaning a Montblanc fountain pen in an ultrasonic bath harmful, and how do you correctly clean more modern models? **Answer:** An ultrasonic bath is unproblematic on modern writing instruments, provided the pen does not stay in the bath too long; on wood or celluloid devices it is to be advised against. Gentle routine cleaning succeeds through repeated filling with water until no ink residues come out. Water-soluble royal-blue inks dissolve again with water even after long drying; with coloured inks cleaning is more difficult and requires partly a complete disassembly and mechanical cleaning of the feed. The rumour that Montblanc ink contains particularly many and firm particles does not apply; it counts among easy-flowing inks. Care is required for all brands and price levels. Waterman inks have a musty smell but are flow-technically good but should, on Waterman nibs, occasionally cause corrosion at the grip-section end. --- **Question:** How do you correctly care for and store Writers Edition writing instruments, and does use diminish collector value? **Answer:** Unused writing instruments are basically more valuable than used ones, since in everyday use small scratches inevitably appear; on rarities like the Lorenzo the value difference can amount to several thousand euros. Modern pens can be stored without problems after thorough cleaning and then need no further care. For external cleaning normal lint-free cotton cloths or eyeglass cleaning cloths (without anti-fog impregnation) suffice; special Montblanc cloths are not superior. Ballpoint refills are the only wear parts; their exchange hardly affects value. --- **Question:** How do typical damages arise on the Montblanc 149 (crack in cap star, crookedly seated nib, gold abrasion), and since when do 149s carry serial numbers? **Answer:** Cracks in the cap material typically arise from falls onto hard surfaces and are only repairable at cost (around 50 to 100 euros). A crookedly seated nib is no serious defect and can be straightened with a lint-free cloth and two fingers without ink flow suffering, provided the nib is not bent in itself. Gold abrasion on rings and clip frequently occurs on older writing instruments, e.g. through tight stowing with other pens. The photos show a feed and clip from about 15 to 20 years ago, so from a time when serial numbers had not yet been incorporated into the clip. --- **Question:** How does the Montblanc cleaning cartridge for cartridge pens (e.g. Bohème) work, and is it normal that after cleaning ink is drawn into the cartridge? **Answer:** The cleaning cartridge is, according to the instructions, used about every three months and is suitable for all Montblanc cartridge pens except the Meisterstück Traveller. After pumping, on release a suction arises that draws some ink from the nib unit into the cartridge; that is normal, since the cleaning fluid first has to soften and dissolve the old ink. With heavily dried ink, multiple flushing with water can additionally be necessary. The first generation of cleaning cartridges was meanwhile withdrawn from sale, since the mixture of the cleaning fluid had to be revised. --- **Question:** How do you clean and use a Montblanc Meisterstück 144, and is carrying it with a filled converter unproblematic? **Answer:** For cleaning the pen is unscrewed at the grip section and the converter flushed several times with lukewarm water until the water stays clear; the nib must not be unscrewed. Cartridges do not need to be pierced but are simply inserted and connected through slight pressure. An intact pen can be carried in a leather case without problems with a filled converter, even temporarily nib-down; ideally, however, the nib is carried up, which is why the clip is sensible. On aircraft the nib should always point up to avoid leakage. A resource with animations on filling types can be found on the Visconti website. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 144 (Classique predecessor): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-144-en.htm --- **Question:** Which mistakes should be avoided when self-repairing vintage pens (e.g. for renewing a shrunken cork), and how do you proceed correctly? **Answer:** For access to the piston cork the grip section must first be unscrewed; it is connected to the barrel via a resin-sealed thread; this resin melts on careful warming faster than the plastic of the barrel, but on too much heat or force, breakage damage is unavoidable. For loosening, a small pipe wrench without sharp teeth with leather underneath is recommended, plus fingertip sensitivity. The feed with nib is either disassembled at the section or driven out from behind through the barrel with a supporting block (small vice); the section must absolutely be supported, otherwise it breaks. Warming with a hairdryer is helpful. Anyone failing repeatedly should leave the repair to experienced specialists, since the follow-up costs of damaged nibs, feeds and grip sections far exceed the original effort. --- **Question:** What causes the rosé sheen on Montblanc leather products of the Limited Anniversary Editions 1924 and 75, and how can it be removed or avoided? **Answer:** The rosé sheen on the fine nappa leather forms even without light exposure and is traced to an oxide layer, presumably favoured by outgassing plasticisers of the plastic inserts. Collectors report that the sheen can be reliably removed with Collonil Premium Leather Polish (colourless); Montblanc itself sells the agent as part of the Leather Care Set (ID 02756). On application one should wipe only in one direction, not circle, and let the agent dry afterwards. The product is also cheaply available in shoe shops. An effective prevention does not seem to exist, but regular care counts as a tested countermeasure. --- **Question:** How do you clean a Montblanc fountain pen in which the ink has heavily dried and the feed is completely clogged? **Answer:** First step is long soaking: place the feed in water for several days to soften dried ink. If that does nothing, only mechanical cleaning helps, i.e. pulling out nib and feed and cleaning with a soft toothbrush. Anyone without experience in disassembling should send the pen to Montblanc; there the feed is cleaned or replaced if needed. --- **Question:** How can signature engravings on several Montblanc writing instruments be colour-matched if older engravings look faded? **Answer:** The colour fill of milled engravings undergoes natural shrinkage and can normally be refilled with lacquer paint as a free service by authorised Montblanc dealers or directly by Montblanc service. It is sensible to send in all affected pens at the same time so colour tone and depth become uniform. With scratches on cap or top, polishing first helps; a complete cap exchange is possible but costly. --- **Question:** Can an older Montblanc No. 31 (60s/70s) be polished without damage to remove micro-scratches? **Answer:** The barrel of the Montblanc No. 31 is made of Plexiglas and can be polished without problems; micro-scratches can largely be removed in this way. On the metal parts caution is warranted, since the gold plating can be worn off by too strong polishing. Further hints are given in the newsletter on fountainpen.de. --- **Question:** Does a market need exist for a special glass safe to store and present high-quality writing-instrument collections safely? **Answer:** Collectors see a small but worldwide market potential for such a glass safe and suggest also designing a variant with additional storage option. Important is that the mere acquisition of a safe does not automatically increase household-insurance protection; necessary is the adjustment of the insurance sum, which not every insurer accepts. With marketing materials, picture selection should be made carefully, e.g. so as not to show ambiguous historical insignia. --- **Question:** Are the felt-and-leather pen cleaners offered at Manufactum suitable for cleaning high-quality gold nibs with platinum coating? **Answer:** The classic pen cleaners are unsuitable for high-quality nibs because abrasion is too high and especially gold platings and platinum coatings can be worn off. They are also problematic for gold-plated stainless-steel nibs. As everyday care for high-quality nibs not to be recommended; rather usable as a nostalgic collector's piece or for simple school nibs. --- **Question:** How should fountain pens of celluloid or hard rubber be stored long-term safely to prevent material damage? **Answer:** Celluloid pens should, during long storage, be filled with water about every three months; some of it is absorbed by the material and prolongs its life; the rest evaporates via cap-residue condensation. Hard rubber and celluloid must be stored light-protected, since especially sunlight leads to discolouration (hard rubber turns grey to fawn through sulphur oxidation) and material decomposition. Celluloid is typically recognised by powerful, colourful colours; hard rubber by dark, muted tones like black, dark red or muted orange; reliable distinction of black pieces is visually hardly possible. Functioning collector pieces should not be stored with ink but with water, since ink on drying damages mechanism and seals; before storage, thorough flushing is needed. Writing instruments after 1960 can be stored without water filling but should be flushed beforehand. --- **Question:** Can discolourations on a hard-rubber pen (Kaweco Elite 187F) caused by long bath in water with detergent be reversed? **Answer:** Hard rubber contains a high sulphur content activated by water or UV light and depositing as superficial discolouration; in ultrasonic baths the effect occurs within seconds. Re-colouring the material is not possible, but the sulphur film can be removed mechanically by careful polishing, although here too slightly material and thus possibly surface structures or fine engravings are removed. Older Montblanc pens can also be of hard rubber or celluloid and react similarly; celluloid can develop cracks after drying with too long water contact. --- **Question:** How can stubborn ink deposits be removed from an old feed (e.g. Greif Gold from the 1940s)? **Answer:** On old writing instruments, ink pigments penetrate the material surface and there form a relatively firm bond with the material that cannot be fully removed either by mere soaking or in the ultrasonic bath. Mechanical work is necessary: collectors use sheet-metal gauges, a scalpel from medical supply or used dentist's instruments from flea markets to clean the channels of the feed cautiously. Before exchanging a feed it should be checked whether an original-faithful replacement is available — not every feed fits mechanically or capillary-technically all models. --- **Question:** How do you correctly care for writing instruments and cases of ostrich or alligator leather? **Answer:** For exotic leather types like ostrich, crocodile or alligator leather, a special American care wax is suitable that works with natural oils and preserves the leather over long periods almost like new. Montblanc on enquiry also confirms that care wax is the only correct agent for such leather types — conventional leather care or creams are not suitable. Application should be sparing and at regular intervals to preserve the natural structure of the leather. --- **Question:** What to do if a Meisterstück 149 (e.g. Andree Putman set) draws air on filling and barely takes up ink any more? **Answer:** The behaviour described — air emerging from the nib on drawing up, barely ink absorption — is a classic symptom of a clogged feed. Even a single filling with dried black ink can suffice to clog the capillaries so much that feed and piston have to be exchanged. As a first measure, long, multi-day soaking with subsequent flushing is to be tried. If that brings no success, factory repair at Montblanc is unavoidable; they routinely carry out such complete cleanings. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 149 (Grand Format): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-149-en.htm --- **Question:** Which polish is suitable to polish a Montblanc Meisterstück 144 from the 1950s? **Answer:** The Meisterstücks of the 1950s consist of celluloid, not acrylic, which is why agents like Displex must absolutely be avoided — they attack the surface and can outright decompose it. Wenol with its fine abrasive particles has proven itself; it delivers a smooth surface without aggressive dissolving and is available in automotive or specialist trade. Displex by contrast is well suited for modern Plexiglas writing instruments. With good preservation of the piece, only restrained polishing is recommended in principle. --- **Question:** How can the gold lettering (model engraving) of an older Kaweco Sport contaminated by polish be cleaned gently? **Answer:** Very cautiously a soft toothbrush and water can first be tried to remove polish residues from the engraving without washing out the colour fill with it. If that brings no success or the colour is already largely washed out, going to a specialist dealer is advisable, who refills the engraving outpatient with special engraving paste or engraving pens. Aggressive cleaners are to be avoided, since they additionally remove the remaining colour and only leave a blind engraving. Professional refilling is the most reliable method to restore the original appearance. --- **Question:** How do you store fountain pens (Pelikan M400/M600, Montblanc 146) during longer non-use — with water, ink or empty? **Answer:** For writing instruments from the 1960s no special storage measures are necessary. On longer non-use the pen should be emptied and flushed to avoid drying out and ink residues. Document-proof or black inks are more problematic on extended standing time than water-soluble inks like Pelikan 4001 Blue. As long as ink flow is flawless on resumption, longer filled storage has generally caused no permanent damage. --- **Question:** How do you best store a button-filler pen (e.g. Montblanc 222) of celluloid — with or without ink sac? **Answer:** Subsequent fitting of an ink sac is unproblematic, provided the sac is afterwards not filled with ink but flushed with water after the writing test; ink is unsuitable for old writing instruments. More important than the sac itself is the state of the nib clamp: strongly oxidised clamps should be replaced, since they otherwise cause discolouration on the celluloid. If one has the ink sac fitted by a restorer, it should be agreed not to glue the grip section to the barrel again, so one can later look inside. The optimal storage of celluloid button fillers without ink sac takes place in a humidor. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc case fits a 144 if a Bohème case with zip is preferred, and which cases have dividers? **Answer:** The normal Bohème case is only made for the shorter Bohème; a 144 does not fit, at most into the rarely seen Bohème Big Size case. Florence cases have no dividers; Sienna cases have dividers, which, however, are only about 5 cm long and do not reach the bottom, which can lead to scratch marks. As zip alternatives for a single writing instrument, Montblanc offers cases and leather sleeves with 15–16 cm length and the Ladystar case (16 cm). For several pens with zip Montblanc has nothing fitting; here collectors switch to makers like Golden Head from leather-goods trade. --- **Question:** Why does the piston mechanism of a Montblanc 146 become stiff when the pen is only stored with distilled water? **Answer:** Distilled water has a high surface tension and lubricates the piston worse, by which wall friction rises and the mechanism becomes stiff. Remedy is provided by a drop of detergent per about 100 ml of distilled water, which lowers surface tension by a factor of about 3.5; before resumption thorough flushing should follow. Lubrication with sewing-machine oil is expressly warned against — it harms the pen. Frequent flushing with tap water between every filling is regarded as too much; one should only clean if the pen makes problems. If stiffness returns, repair should again take place at Montblanc. --- **Question:** Which practical solutions for storing a growing writing-instrument collection exist beyond the expensive original cases? **Answer:** The original Montblanc collector boxes are high-quality but expensive; inexpensive leather cases (e.g. by Jürgen Kuhse or Penboard) hold up to 40 writing instruments, are space-saving, mobile and fit well in DIN A4 bank safe-deposit boxes. The Kaweco Cube by Blankenhorn takes 60 pens (24 visible) in a rotating glass/wood cube and counts as price-attractive but is not mobile. Custom drawer inserts at the carpenter (velvet-covered wooden grid) also offer a beautiful but location-bound solution. Further options are cases by Roberto Possar or display cases. Important is material choice: plasticisers in adhesives or linings can attack coatings, so materials should be carefully checked. --- **Question:** How do you bend a bent clip of a Montblanc ballpoint (e.g. 164) straight again? **Answer:** Practical is to unscrew the cap top and remove the clip; only when removed can it be evenly brought back into shape. Then the cap top is simply screwed back on. Anyone not wanting to make the intervention themselves drops off the pen at a Montblanc boutique. Concrete costs for a complete clip or rear-end exchange are not known. --- **Question:** What does the Montblanc Florence etui cost and is it still available? **Answer:** The Florence etuis were last priced at 150 euros for the one-pen and 160 euros for the two- to three-pen variant. They are no longer in Montblanc's official line-up and are only available through old dealer stock. Many find the successor Siena too small, since larger Limited or Writers Editions like the Dickens or a 149 do not fit. The remaining alternative is then the Oblong etui. --- **Question:** How does one deal with an S.T. Dupont fountain pen in which dried ink has caused longer storage problems? **Answer:** With ink that has not dried for too long, thorough rinsing under running water helps, possibly soaking overnight in lukewarm water. More practical in the long run is the use of a piston converter instead of cartridges: with this, bottled ink can be used, the ink level is visible, and cleaning and ink changes are much easier. Before longer storage phases, the fountain pen should generally be emptied and cleaned to avoid drying out in the feed. --- **Question:** What are the causes of a piston mechanism in Montblanc fountain pens that becomes stiff over time, and how can this be remedied? **Answer:** With piston fillers, ink residues, dried-out seals or limescale deposits can make the piston stiff over time. Cleaning with distilled or deionised water is partly viewed critically; some collectors recommend normal tap water or a brief bath in an ultrasonic cleaner. Inks used should be water-soluble where possible, since non-water-soluble inks can leave residues inside the piston. If cleaning does not help, servicing by the manufacturer or a specialist (e.g. Horst Schrage / maxpens) is sensible, since the seal or piston has to be replaced. --- **Question:** How does a considerable amount of dried ink end up accumulating in the cap of an older Montblanc Classic? **Answer:** Collectors report that over long idle periods, ink residues accumulate in the cap and dry into a concentrate, since ink consists predominantly of water and the remaining pigment sinks to the bottom when cleaning. When cleaning, one should be careful: with some old celluloid models, black ink in particular attacks the material from inside, so that the cap can even break in a water bath. Careful rinsing under running water, followed by a water bath, is usually sufficient to clean the cap without damaging the pen. --- **Question:** What can one do if a used Montblanc Marcel Proust loses ink at the threads, and what service costs are to be expected for Limited Editions? **Answer:** With ink leakage at the threads, either a leaking screw connection between grip section and barrel or a crack in the reservoir is to be considered. Limited Editions are only repairable to a limited extent: Montblanc does have spare parts, but their availability is limited, and repair flat rates for LEs are significantly higher than for regular models. In the case described, a cracked ink reservoir was indeed diagnosed; the repair cost around 403 euros. A direct telephone clarification with Montblanc service is recommended; shipping should always be insured. --- **Question:** How can scratches on a Montblanc Meisterstück Stainless Steel ballpoint be polished out and removed? **Answer:** Hand polishing alone is not enough on stainless steel; some collectors report that polishing with products like Wenol has even worsened the result. More effective is processing with a polishing machine at sufficient speed and pressure, possibly combined with a final polish using a Venol-water mixture and an old leather belt as a polishing carrier. Deeper scratches must be ground out beforehand. For professional refurbishment, knife makers or goldsmiths in the area are suitable contacts. The material properties of the stainless steel are overall rather critically assessed. --- **Question:** Can cracks in the plexiglass of a Montblanc 146 cap be filled in oneself, or is a replacement at the service centre necessary? **Answer:** Cracks, unlike fine scratches, cannot be filled in by polishing with products like Displex. A new cap from service costs about 49 euros; however, today's 146 caps are not compatible with those from the 1990s. In 2000, the LeGrand was changed: the diameter was enlarged, the blue ink window replaced by a corrugated one, and the bicolour nib introduced. Anyone who sends in the pen effectively gets back a completely new body (except for their own nib). Alternatives are the targeted search for an old cap (eBay, forums) or accepting the crack as long as the pen writes flawlessly. --- **Question:** Why do fountain pens often drip at the grip section in everyday use, and what can the cause be? **Answer:** Dripping can have various causes: temperature fluctuations, a clogged feed, surfactant residues in the system after cleaning as well as low air pressure (e.g. when flying). Current writing instruments are tested in climatic chambers and under varying pressure conditions, so that modern models do not blot under normal use as a rule; with vintage writing instruments from the 1950s it occurs more often. Often the problem also lies in improper handling or wrong filling technique — instruction at the specialist retailer can help here. For frequent flying, the StarWalker is regarded as particularly insensitive. --- **Question:** Does a Montblanc pen stand with plug-on cap cause abrasion marks on the barrel of the 149, and how does one best store the fountain pen in it? **Answer:** With plug-on cap pen stands, slight abrasion marks on the barrel cannot be avoided over time, since the rim of the plug rubs on the barrel. The previously usual thread solution was abolished because many users damaged the fountain pen when unscrewing it. Recommended is to place the 149 nib down in the pen stand and put the cap loosely on the back; this avoids friction on the polished barrel and saves a step. Frequent polishing of the barrel is not advisable, since the material thickness decreases and predetermined breaking points can develop. --- **Question:** What can one do if a Montblanc 320 no longer delivers ink despite cleaning? **Answer:** Before a complete disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning is the most productive step; on many 320 models, dried ink residues are the cause of a blocked ink flow. On model 320, nib and feed cannot, as on the 22 or 24, be pressed out backwards, since grip section and feed are made of one piece. If when filling rattling noises occur and bubbles form on the piston shaft, this points to a hairline crack on the body — in this case no further cleaning helps; the writing instrument should be carefully examined for cracks before purchase. --- **Question:** How can small scratches and dull surfaces on modern Montblanc precious-resin writing instruments be polished up again? **Answer:** A polishing wheel of about 300 mm diameter and 80 mm width at around 500 revolutions per minute, combined with various polishing and shine pastes, is recommended. With deeper scratches from about 0.12 mm depth, fine polishing paper of 1000 to 2000 grit should be used as preparation before machine polishing. With this, precious-resin surfaces can largely be returned to a near-mint condition. --- **Question:** How does the lead loading on the Montblanc Oscar Wilde mechanical pencil work and where does the rattling inside come from? **Answer:** Operation is exclusively via rotation; an additional lead is not drawn in by the rotary mechanism but introduced from the front via the removable cap. The audible rattling comes from spare leads that lie loosely in the mechanism and can be taken out and reinserted as required. The mechanism is therefore, due to its function, not entirely silent acoustically. --- **Question:** How does one polish precious-resin surfaces of Montblanc fountain pens without damaging them? **Answer:** For current Meisterstücks made of precious resin, Xerapol and Displex have proven themselves; both deliver comparable results, Xerapol is cheaper. Polywatch (actually for plastic watch glasses) is also successfully used. With the corrugated ink windows of newer 146s and 149s, caution is advised, since the polish slightly attacks the surface and the window can darken slightly. Important: never apply these polishes to writing instruments made of celluloid; there they are not suitable. --- **Question:** How does one store fountain pens with cork seals over a longer period so that the seal does not become porous? **Answer:** Writing instruments with cork seals should be stored permanently moist, ideally filled with distilled water to avoid limescale deposits. Storage can be lying flat; with piston fillers also upright, but with the nib up, so that the seal remains wetted; the feed does not have to be kept moist. With fountain pens with rubber sac, it is recommended to remove the sac and only renew it when needed, since the plasticiser can cause discolouration on the material. Independent repairs should be avoided; defective seals are best renewed by specialists. --- **Question:** How does one make a stuck rotary mechanism of a Montblanc 334 1/2 or 332 workable again? **Answer:** With a dried-up or stuck piston mechanism, prolonged soaking helps in many cases: place the fountain pen with the nib part for several hours to days in lukewarm water, so that dried ink and resinified residues dissolve. In the "Care/Repair" section of the forum site, a detailed guide on this can be found under the keyword "Tipp bei eingetrocknetem Kolbenmechanismus". Force should under all circumstances be avoided, since otherwise the mechanism breaks; if the soaking is unsuccessful, a visit to a specialised repairer is worthwhile. --- **Question:** Where can one obtain acrylic or plexiglass blocks for presenting a Montblanc collection in the showcase? **Answer:** The typical acrylic or plexiglass presentation blocks from stationery trade are hardly available in retail but occasionally crop up on eBay. An alternative are Visconti boxes with transparent lid, which do not allow a 360-degree view but show writing instruments very appealingly; enquiries directly to Visconti are mostly not answered; sources are e.g. Mrs. Blankenhorn (fuellhalter.de) and scription.de. --- **Question:** Is the peeling of the rubber coating on a Montblanc StarWalker Rubber a normal sign of wear or a counterfeit indicator? **Answer:** A peeling colour or rubber coating is not normal and does not usually occur on originals; comparable defects are rather known from counterfeits. With an original piece, the pen can be exchanged within the warranty, although the exchange often only takes place after assessment by Montblanc customer service. Collectors advise having the writing instrument complained about and replaced. --- **Question:** How does one rinse a Montblanc 146 piston filler in order to remove blue ink completely? **Answer:** The fountain pen is filled and emptied several times with clear water; usually this is sufficient in less than a minute, until the water remains clear. With stubborn residues, one can place the pen overnight nib-down in a glass of water or shake it vigorously with water plus a little air, in order to loosen ink from the tank. Then push out residual water with the piston and dry the nib with a cloth. As a last resort, an ultrasonic bath with distilled water helps, into which, however, only the nib and at most 0.5 cm of the barrel should be immersed. --- **Question:** Of what material is a Montblanc 149 from the 1970s made, and which polishing and cleaning method is suitable? **Answer:** A 149 from the 1970s is made neither of celluloid nor of modern acrylic resin, but of a plastic mixed with plasticisers, as also used in the 12x and 22x series of this period. For polishing, Wenol has long been a tried and tested means; Displex is advised against. An ultrasonic cleaning is possible but should only be carried out with disassembled individual parts, at most 15 minutes at around 50 degrees and exclusively for internal cleaning, with the ink tank necessarily filled with water. Celluloid pens must not be put in an ultrasonic bath, since colour is leached out. --- **Question:** Where can one have a used Montblanc Charles Dickens cleaned and signs of use on the precious resin polished out? **Answer:** A professional ultrasonic cleaning is offered by competent specialist retailers as well as specialised providers like scription.de. The polishing out of scratches and signs of use, on the other hand, is carried out neither by Montblanc nor by most specialist retailers, because the surface material is thereby weakened and wall thicknesses are reduced; with newer writing instruments, the warranty also lapses. Specialised restorers like Dr. Ink Thomas Watkinson polish older pieces case by case. Polishing oneself is possible with Wenol; in doing so, coated metal parts are sensitive, since gold platings are quickly worn off. --- **Question:** Is it normal that a Montblanc Bohème Marron dries up quickly, and are there special care notes? **Answer:** A Bohème Marron should write without problems like any other Montblanc; repeated drying out is not normal. In such cases, the pen should be presented to an authorised specialist retailer or to service. Visible gold deposits at the barrel end or spots with peeling gilding are also not a known series problem and belong in expert assessment. Special home care is not necessary. --- **Question:** Which special cleaning cartridges or rinse cartridges exist for cleaning cartridge fountain pens, especially for the Montblanc Bohème series? **Answer:** Collectors report so-called bellows or rinse cartridges that function as a small rubber syringe similar to an ear syringe and pump water through the section. They existed e.g. as a GDR product under the brand name Heiko and in different neck lengths, so that long front parts (e.g. Montblanc Traveller and Bohème) can also be cleaned. Montblanc itself issued an extra-long variant with a glass body, since glass is more durable than plastic. In addition, a single-use cartridge by Montblanc was announced, filled with cleaning fluid and intended specifically for cleaning the Bohème cartridge fountain pens. --- **Question:** How should an inherited Montblanc 149 (presumably from the 1950s) be prepared for longer storage, and what does an ink leak mean? **Answer:** Collectors report that on a 149 without cork seal it suffices to flush the fountain pen with lukewarm water until no more ink residues come out; afterwards no further care is needed. Adding a few drops of ammonia water to the rinsing water removes last ink residues; the final rinse should be carried out with distilled water in order to avoid water spots. Ink leakage does not necessarily mean a piston defect — often the feed is clogged by carbon-black particles of black inks, so that the ink seeks another way. With a real piston problem or for professional cleaning, sending it to Montblanc is recommended; the service flat rate (max. about €49) is appropriate in relation to the value of the 149. --- **Question:** How does one open the lead reservoir of a Montblanc pencil 251 to refill leads? **Answer:** The mechanism is opened by pulling at the rear end; alternatively, filling from the front is possible. Required here is somewhat more force, without thereby damaging the pencil. --- **Question:** What can lead, when cleaning a Montblanc Hemingway, to black ink emerging at the turning knob and at connection points, and how should one further proceed? **Answer:** The phenomenon typically occurs when the fountain pen has not been used for a longer time and ink has dried; residues are not completely removed when moving the piston and reach, with the rinsing water, the mechanism. Since the mechanism is today made of plastic, no damage is mostly to be feared. Because of the high value of the Hemingway, the writing instrument should be entrusted to Montblanc service; a complete cleaning with disassembly and replacement of small parts costs up to about €49. In contrast to private repairers, Montblanc can in case of damage provide a replacement. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Writers Edition Hemingway (1992): https://www.fountainpen.de/writer-hemingway-en.htm --- **Question:** How resilient is the clip of a Montblanc Mozart 114, especially when the fountain pen is additionally carried in a thin leather case in the inside pocket? **Answer:** The clip is not constructed for permanent further spreading beyond the factory gap between cap and clip foot. If it is regularly bent further, it can wear out over time. When carrying in the inside pocket together with a case, the total gap should therefore not be larger than the distance directly under the clip foot. Original Montblanc leather cases (e.g. Sienna) are designed for this but are high-priced. An alternative thin fabric or leather sleeve additionally protects the nib if the barrel comes loose from the cap in the pocket and ink leaks out. --- **Question:** How does one clean the ink window of a Pelikan 100N if it is discoloured by ink? **Answer:** A complete cleaning does not succeed in every case; with ink that has remained in the pen for very long, the colour can eat into the material and is no longer to be removed. As a procedure, it is recommended to fill the fountain pen for a longer time with water and rinse regularly. Mechanical treatments with Wenol and cotton swabs experience shows mostly bring no significant improvement. --- **Question:** How is an S.T. Dupont fountain pen rendered functional after a fall, and what costs are to be reckoned with? **Answer:** With a stuttering ink flow after a fall, mere rinsing with water is mostly not enough, since the nib unit itself has to be adjusted. Recommended is direct sending to Dupont Germany as an insured parcel, possibly after telephone notice with request for a quote. The repair (purely technical, without cosmetic refurbishment) is delivered cash on delivery; in the reported case the costs were €44 with an impeccable result. --- **Question:** Does graphite powder from the sharpening process settle problematically on the Montblanc SketchPen despite tapping out? **Answer:** Experiences with the SketchPen are rare, since the model is little known. With comparable sharpening pens of other manufacturers, no critical graphite accumulation has been reported. The design of the SketchPen is praised; the comparatively thick lead appeals more to writers who prefer stronger line widths. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc 220 piston filler (built 1971-1977) be converted into a cartridge filler? **Answer:** The Montblanc 220 is a rather inexpensive model from the 1970s, since Montblanc has only consistently positioned itself as a luxury brand from 1991 onwards. Generally, a piston filler cannot be converted into a cartridge filler. Conversely, however, a converter can be inserted into a cartridge filler and one can fill optionally with cartridge or from the ink bottle. With a leaking viewing window or a loosened piston, professional repair is recommended instead of DIY solutions with adhesive tape. --- **Question:** Does the resin of modern Montblanc Meisterstücks tolerate direct sunlight on a windowsill? **Answer:** Embrittlement or significant colour changes are not to be expected with the resin used (similar to plexiglass) even with light exposure in the short term, since the material is regarded as very lightfast. Nevertheless, a windowsill is not a good storage location: sun, heating warmth and above all the dry thermal air cause the ink in the fountain pen to dry up rapidly. Dried-up fountain pens may not simply be refilled but must first be flushed with water. For permanent storage, cool, shady places are significantly better suited. --- **Question:** How can an Omas Paragon piston filler be repaired that draws air on filling and hardly takes up ink? **Answer:** Description with bubbling air and low ink uptake points primarily to a leaking piston, not to a missing ventilation. Drilling additional holes is not necessary and not to be recommended. Instead, the piston should be properly repaired, e.g. by an Omas-experienced repairer (e.g. Tom Westerich, penboard.de). Silicone grease on the turning-knob thread can indeed increase tightness but is not causal for the actual problem. --- **Question:** How does one remove dried residues of Montblanc Blue-Black (containing iron-gall) from the nib of a Pelikan 146? **Answer:** A moistened silver-cleaning cloth has proved its worth: the cleaning agent contained in the cloth is brought onto the ink residues by wringing out and can act there; afterwards careful polishing follows. Dry polishing is mostly not enough. Soft water dissolves the residues better than hard; with iron-gall inks, iron compounds deposit stubbornly and have to be loosened mechanically gently. With this procedure, users experience very good results. --- **Question:** How does one clean the tip of a Kaweco NYL fountain pen without damaging it? **Answer:** The NYL tip can without hesitation be placed in water. Users report that the nibs after the water bath write like new. Special cleaning agents or precautionary measures are not necessary. --- **Question:** Who can repair a defective screw thread on the Montblanc rollerball 162, and what costs are to be expected? **Answer:** Modern Montblanc writing instruments can only be repaired by the manufacturer itself, so the rollerball must be sent to Montblanc in Hamburg. Before shipping, a call to customer service is recommended in order to enquire about the expected costs. A cheaper repair option through third parties does not exist. --- **Question:** How does one clean a SENSA ballpoint of sterling silver, especially the sensitive grip region, without damaging it? **Answer:** For cleaning silver surfaces, simple silver-cleaning cloths from the drugstore are suitable, which gently free the silver from tarnish. With the soft grip region (as SENSA ballpoints have), particular caution is advised, since aggressive agents can attack the material. --- **Question:** How does one clean a Pelikan M200 Demonstrator that has been discoloured by red ink, and which ink brands are unproblematic? **Answer:** Red ink is, due to its aggressive dye and the interaction with plasticisers, particularly critical and seeps into many plastics, so that the discolouration can no longer be completely removed. This affects all ink manufacturers equally. For demonstrator fountain pens, blue or black inks should preferably be used in order to minimise the risk of permanent discolouration. Material differences between manufacturers like Montblanc and Pelikan are in this respect largely comparable. --- **Question:** How does one clean the thread on the barrel of a Montblanc 146P of ink deposits without damaging the fountain pen? **Answer:** A soft-bristled toothbrush is excellently suited for cleaning the thread, since it gently removes residues without scratching the material. Normal toothbrushes are often too hard and should be avoided. Additionally, filtered water (e.g. from a Brita filter) can be used, since it dissolves ink residues from tank and feed faster, especially with hard tap water. --- **Question:** Is water behind the ink piston in the filling mechanism of a Montblanc 31 problematic? **Answer:** Since the filling mechanism of the 31 is made of plastic, water that has entered behind the converter is not critical and does no permanent damage. It suffices to let the water evaporate before the pen is used again. Generally, water should only reach places designed for it, but on the 31 the risk is low. --- **Question:** How does one clean a Montblanc 146 from the 1970s, and what to do if an insert emerges from the grip section when unscrewing? **Answer:** The narrow ring at the front of the grip section (the lip) is structurally fitted; if this or an insert behind it with rubber seal comes loose, only Montblanc itself can carry out the professional repair. A self-repair is not to be recommended, since the tight reassembly requires special material. Collectors urgently recommend knowing the correct construction before unscrewing in order to avoid such disassembly damages. --- **Question:** How does one clean fountain pens that have been unused for a long time and in which the ink has dried up? Which water, which agents and when is the cleaning process complete? **Answer:** Dried-up fountain pens can be cleaned by soaking in water and repeated drawing up and flushing. The cleaning process is complete as soon as the water comes out clear from the fountain pen. A detailed guide to the care and cleaning of fountain pens can be found in the section Pflege/Reparatur of the community. Aggressive cleaning agents should be avoided; lukewarm water is generally sufficient. --- **Question:** Is red Wenol suitable for polishing a Montblanc Monte Rosa or 342, and what alternatives exist? **Answer:** With Wenol, the surfaces of writing instruments of plexiglass/precious resin, celluloid or hard rubber can be well polished. With metal parts, on the other hand, caution is advised, since gildings are very thin and can easily be polished off. For plexiglass surfaces, Displex additionally comes into question, but only if the material really is plexiglass; on celluloid it would dissolve the material. Polishes basically remove material; therefore one should rather polish restrainedly and carefully or preserve the existing condition. --- **Question:** What to do against fine, hard-to-remove fluff or membranes in the ink window of a used-bought Montblanc 146? **Answer:** Such fluff is generally a purely optical defect without influence on the writing behaviour. It mostly does not come from the ink but is introduced into the fountain pen via cheap paper and the nib; iron-gall inks as a cause are rather unlikely. A brief ultrasonic bath is unproblematic on modern 146s with plastic mechanism but is to be avoided on older fountain pens from the 50s with brass mechanism. Often simply patience with repeated rinsing helps; often such particles only loosen after many cleanings. --- **Question:** How can the rubber-sac ink container of a Parker 51 from the 1950s be best protected from drying out during longer idle times? **Answer:** A preventive treatment with tallow can delay the ageing of the rubber sac. Ultimately, however, with rubber sacs it cannot be avoided that they have to be exchanged from time to time. Replacement sacs for the Parker 51 are available, e.g., via vintagepensacsandparts.com. --- **Question:** How do I remove a bluish discolouration at the tip of a Montblanc gold nib, and how can it be avoided in future? **Answer:** The bluish discolouration arises because 14- or 18-carat gold contains alloy components that oxidise over time. In most cases the deposit can already be removed with a moist cleaning cloth; alternatively a silver-cleaning cloth works, which however should not be used too intensively, since it simultaneously slightly wears off the platinum plating. Dipping fluid for silver was not tested and is therefore not recommended. As a preventive measure, regular light cleaning without aggressive material removal helps. --- **Question:** How is the inner cap of a Montblanc Meisterstück fastened if it keeps coming loose when removing the cap? **Answer:** The inner cap is at the upper end provided with a threaded sleeve into which the cap top with the white star is screwed via a threaded rod. The rod runs through the outer cap and the clip, so that on tightening the clip is fixed simultaneously. The correct procedure is therefore screwing in instead of gluing; if the inner cap comes loose, this screw connection is presumably missing or has come loose. --- **Question:** Which case is suitable for the scratch-free storage of a Montblanc 146 and a 161 ballpoint, ideally with separate chambers? **Answer:** Separate chambers are in practice not strictly necessary, since Montblanc cases with proper use hardly leave scratches. Recommended are especially the Sienna cases, on which the clip can be pushed over the leather and the clip nub can snap into a provided groove; this prevents the writing instruments from slipping and rubbing against each other. Overall Montblanc offers a wide selection, so a suitable model can be found. --- **Question:** What does it mean if ink accumulates over time at the bottom of the holder of a Montblanc Desk Base 204? **Answer:** An accumulation of ink at the holder bottom can point to a leaking piston, especially if red ink was used, which is more problematic in old pens. In a practical test over seven days with daily writing samples and slanted hanging outside the holder, however, no drop emerged, which speaks rather against a defect. Instead, storage with the nib pointing down can lead to ink emerging drop by drop and accumulating at the bottom. If the pen, however, is stored outside the holder, starting problems frequently occur, so storage in the holder is the better compromise. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc 244 be disassembled to renew the piston seal? **Answer:** The models 242, 244 and 246 cannot be easily opened, since special tools are required; with on-board means a non-destructive disassembly generally does not succeed. When nib unit and pin with turning knob are removed, even targeted pressing on metal rod or plastic part is no reliable method. It is recommended to have the piston seal renewed by an experienced repairer, e.g. at Horst Schrage (maxpens.de), Tom Westerich (penboard) or Lutz Fiebig. --- **Question:** Is it normal that a Montblanc 146 with B nib permanently has ink standing on the upper nib surface? **Answer:** A slight ink wetting of the upper nib surface is not unusual with broad nibs, provided nib and feed otherwise sit flawlessly and no dripping or smearing occurs. During writing this phenomenon generally does not disturb; the nib can if needed simply be dabbed dry with a soft cloth. A technical defect cannot be derived from this alone. --- **Question:** How can a yellowed Montblanc star on the plastic cap of a Carrera be brightened again? **Answer:** The yellowed star can at most be brightened somewhat by careful polishing, with minimal material being removed each time. On an old writing instrument, it is rather recommendable to accept the patina as a sign of age and to leave the cap untreated. A reliable, material-friendly procedure for complete de-yellowing is not known. --- **Question:** Which pen trays or desk cases — preferably in black and leather — are currently available as high-quality storage for several writing instruments? **Answer:** The leather tray in question is, according to information from a specialist retailer, no longer being produced. As an alternative, Graf von Faber-Castell offers a broad selection of appealing pen trays and cases that correspond in finish and look to the requirements mentioned. Anyone wishing for a fixed, safe place for several writing instruments will find there both open trays and closed cases in leather or imitation leather. --- **Question:** How can a discoloured, yellowed hard-rubber/ebonite fountain pen be made black again without grinding or polishing it off? **Answer:** Olive oil is occasionally recommended and gives shine but does not eliminate the actual yellowing or sulphuration of the hard rubber; the material does not thereby become black throughout again. A complete re-blackening only succeeds via a chemical process that specifically removes the surface oxidation. Concrete formulas are not openly shared and are usually only passed on among collectors, ideally in exchange with chemically versed persons. Successfully treated examples are e.g. the Penkala Safety or a No. 1 Safety, which after this method appear completely black again. --- **Question:** How can loose cap rings on older fountain pens be permanently fastened again? **Answer:** Simply gluing is not regarded as a proper solution. Since materials like celluloid shrink over the course of decades, the original rings often sit too loosely, so they actually have to be newly made or pressed back to fit. This work is demanding and generally reserved for a specialist workshop. --- **Question:** How can a soiling at the tip of a platinum-plated nib of a Montblanc 146 LeGrand be removed, and is the star cap unscrewable? **Answer:** Soiling on the nib tip should as far as possible be removed without abrasive material; a moistened piece of cloth generally suffices. Leather cleaners may not be used on platinum-plated nibs, since they wear off the platinum and lead in the medium term to a solid-gold look. Silver-cleaning cloths also remove material and should only be used very sparingly and selectively, e.g. on stubborn ink residues. Hints on the unscrewability of the tip cap were not substantively answered. --- **Question:** How can the grooves of a platinum-plated StarWalker Doué be cleaned without damaging the coating? **Answer:** For gentle cleaning of the grooves and the platinum-plated surface, a soft brush is suitable, e.g. a soft toothbrush or the cleaning brush of an electric shaver, lightly moistened. Cloths alone do not reach the recesses sufficiently. Important is to keep mechanical stress low in order to avoid scratches on the platinum plating. --- **Question:** What to do about ink leakage at the turning knob of a Montblanc 342, and can Montblanc service still repair this model today? **Answer:** The 342 was a historical standard fountain pen, produced in large numbers; repairs via Montblanc itself are often disproportionately expensive compared to the market value. More sensible is repair by specialised restorers, who are listed in the repair lists of collector forums. Before the investment, the economic value of the writing instrument should be weighed against the repair costs; pigmented inks like 'Midnight Blue' should anyway be avoided in old holders. --- **Question:** Which classy case for a Montblanc 145 is recommendable that does not consist of fabric or leather and only accommodates one writing instrument? **Answer:** No satisfactory recommendation that fulfils all criteria is known. Only the Andrée Putman case was suggested, which however is conceived for the 149 and would appear clearly too large for the 145. Other suitable alternatives without leather or fabric are not commonly known among collectors. The selection outside the common materials is thus strongly restricted. --- **Question:** Where is there a trustworthy private repair service for Montblanc writing instruments, e.g. for 146 models, and can one unscrew the nib oneself? **Answer:** Recommended is the workshop of Horst (maxpens.de); an overview of repair options can also be found in the area Articles > Repair. A repair is only worthwhile with more valuable or still economically sensible writing instruments; with old 144s from the 50s, e.g., at most a cork change. Removing the nib is risky: usually the transition between grip section and body is heated, the grip section unscrewed and the feed together with the nib pressed out from behind. Too much heat deforms the celluloid, too little heat leads to breakage at the thread, which is why it is urgently advised against own attempts. An alternative is multi-day soaking and careful pulling out, however not without risk. --- **Question:** How can a stuck refill be removed from a 20-year-old Montblanc Solitaire 925 Faden ballpoint? **Answer:** With stuck refills, it is recommended to open the ballpoint and to push from the front through the tip against the old refill with a new refill in order to carefully push it out backwards. This method generally works reliably and avoids damage to the mechanism. --- **Question:** How can a damaged Montblanc Le Grand ballpoint with a hole in the star or a scratched 146 be repaired? **Answer:** Repairs on Montblanc writing instruments are basically carried out only directly by the manufacturer; a spare-parts sale to end customers does not take place. The repair prices are, compared to other manufacturers, however moderate. Sensible is a call to Montblanc customer service in order to obtain a cost estimate in advance. The writing instrument can then either be sent in directly or given via a specialist retailer for repair, with the latter possibly entailing additional costs. --- **Question:** Which tools are suitable for disassembling old fountain pens, especially for loosening stuck piston mechanisms or nibs? **Answer:** For disassembly, pliers with jaws plastic-coated on both sides are recommended, as also used in the automotive area for spark plugs; such pliers cost from about 14 euros and are available under search terms like spark plug and pliers, alternatively via Tom Westerich from penboard.de. The advantage is the even pressure from all sides, which prevents splintering on the barrel. Stuck feeds with nib are better loosened by longer soaking, ultrasonic treatment (immerse only the grip section) as well as careful warming with a hair dryer; on hard rubber, only heat should be used. Stuck nibs can, after removal of the piston mechanism, be knocked out with a matching HSS drill (shaft first, light blows with a rubber hammer) and a hardwood block with drilled holes as a counter-support. --- **Question:** How can light scratches on the surface of a Carbon Steel fountain pen be reduced or removed? **Answer:** It is recommended to present the writing instrument to a jeweller and have the metal professionally polished. From commercially available polishes like Wenol it is advised against, since they are too coarse for the fine surface and can experience-shows significantly worsen the appearance after application. --- **Question:** Are rust spots on the silver-coloured nib carrier of a Montblanc Bohème a known problem, and how should one proceed? **Answer:** On the very first Bohème writing instruments, rust problems demonstrably existed, which were remedied in later production series, since Montblanc exchanged the entire inner workings against rust-free components. Anyone noticing rust spots should contact Montblanc customer service; in comparable cases repairs were carried out free of charge as a gesture of goodwill. Alternatively, the writing instrument could also be restored by experienced repairers, e.g. by polishing the end ring and loosening the front sleeve screwing, but first the official Montblanc service should be used. "Normal" rust is on a Bohème in no way to be expected. --- **Question:** Can the clip of a Montblanc Meisterstück be engraved with a full name, and what does that mean for the guarantee and the value? **Answer:** Montblanc engraves clips only as a monogram, in other words with initials. Some boutiques with a service centre of their own do the work on the premises, others pass it on to the service department. A full name will barely fit legibly on the narrow clip, and on smaller models such as the 145 it will not fit at all. Longer inscriptions, including those filled with colour, are therefore usually placed on the cap or the barrel. A full inscription can be cut by any jeweller or engraver with a workshop of their own, and specialist pen shops offer the service for a comparatively modest sum. It is worth bearing in mind, though, that engraving by a third party counts as an alteration to the pen: the part that has been worked on, the clip and its gold plating for instance, is no longer covered by the guarantee, and dealing with the manufacturer over other complaints can become more difficult as well. From a collector's point of view every engraving reduces the resale value, and on historic pieces it does so markedly. For anyone who intends to keep the pen and wants to be able to prove ownership beyond doubt should it go missing, the practical benefit of personalising it outweighs that. --- **Question:** What should you do if an OMAS Paragon from the 1980s leaks ink into the cap, and who repairs pens like this? **Answer:** If a piston filler empties itself shortly after being filled, so that the cap stands full of ink and the barrel is empty, the cause is almost always the piston seal: over the decades the sealing ring, or piston washer, has hardened, shrunk or cracked and holds neither ink nor vacuum. Less often a loosened feed, a poorly sealing section or hairline cracks in the barrel are to blame. A pen in this state should not be written with, because ink creeps into the cap and the threads and attacks the metal parts and engravings there. The remedy is to replace the seal and overhaul the piston mechanism; that is routine work for a specialist repairer and, as a rule, nowhere near a write-off. For OMAS pens an independent workshop is regarded as the more dependable route, and among collectors Tom Westerich, who specialises in the marque, has made a name for himself in this line of work. Collectors report that the factory service has been of little help since the parent house was taken over by the LVMH group, and for older models it is seldom the first choice in any case. --- **Question:** How is a Montblanc Meisterstück 139 told apart from a 149, and how good is the supply of spare parts for the 139? **Answer:** The 139 measures about 14.1 centimetres capped and is thus distinctly shorter than a 149; the blind cap of the 149, too, is noticeably longer than it ever was on the 139. The barrel of the 139 curves inwards towards the nib, whereas the 149 finishes straight there and has a slight conical step. Early 139s have a flat feed without fins, and the barrel is marked L 139. Because the celluloid layer is thin, parts cannot be turned down into another shape; hybrids arose instead during repairs in the 1950s, when 139 barrels were swapped for 149 ones and 149 caps of that period also fitted a 139 barrel. Such a hybrid can be recognised from the section. Spare parts for the 139 come practically only from donor pens, since even owners of defective examples are reluctant to part with them. The cheapest route is to buy a second 139 as a donor, for instance a piece made cheaper by an engraving. The piston knob is hard to come by on its own and sought-after parts such as caps virtually impossible; only a very few specialists make individual parts to order. The caps of the 1950s are of celluloid on both the 139 and the 149. --- **Question:** Can the piston mechanisms of older Montblanc fountain pens such as the Meisterstück 14 or the No. 24 be taken apart? **Answer:** Dried ink dissolves with hours of soaking and repeated flushing, and in this way the cap and the section with nib and feed can be freed. The piston mechanism, by contrast, is pressed in on several series and not meant to be dismantled. On the Meisterstück 14 removal is considered tricky and has destroyed mechanisms before now; a repair catalogue of 1969 lists two designs for the 121, one of which is expressly described as not dismantlable. With the right tools and some experience such mechanisms can certainly be put right, but without both the attempt often ends in a broken piston rod, as happens with the No. 24 and the 72. In economic terms the repair often does not pay: replacement mechanisms and piston rods are no longer to be had new and can only be salvaged from existing writing instruments, so that a single part costs almost as much as a complete fountain pen. If the ink reservoir has cracked, as a rule the only remedy is to fit a part from old stock. --- **Question:** How do you recognise a Montblanc 320, and is it worth hunting for spare parts for this model? **Answer:** The 320 is a cartridge pen from the Montblanc series of the 1970s. The cap bears no model designation, only the Montblanc wording and the country of origin, Germany; identification therefore rests on the overall length of 13.5 centimetres with the cap on and on the nib stamped MONT BLANC, which was also available in gold. This series was pitched low in both quality and price, which is why hunting for individual parts hardly pays: a single replacement nib is hard to obtain and, even from a restorer, usually costs more than a complete used pen. Examples in middling condition changed hands in 2007 for around 36 euros including postage; a donor pen is therefore the cheaper route to a replacement nib. --- **Question:** What can be used to clean and polish the metal fittings and precious metal parts of a fountain pen gently? **Answer:** An ordinary household metal polish, such as Sidol, is enough to care for the fittings. It is cheap, goes a long way and contains no abrasives, so it cleans comparatively gently. It will clean and polish all the metal parts of a pen, expressly including precious metal parts such as the cap ring, the clip and fittings in silver or gold-plated brass. Apply it sparingly and remove every trace of residue, especially from engravings and from the joint between cap ring and cap. Metal polishes of this kind are not intended for barrels and caps in precious resin, celluloid or hard rubber. --- **Question:** How can spare parts such as a clip for an old Montblanc 234 ½ G be obtained, and how is its value established? **Answer:** Individual parts for vintage models such as the Montblanc 234 ½ G are hardly to be had through normal channels, since nobody takes an intact piece apart in order to part with a clip. When a single part is offered after all, the price is not seldom in the region of a complete fountain pen. The usual route is therefore the donor pen: a 234 with other faults on which the part needed is still sound. Pens of this kind come up regularly on auction platforms, and patience is the chief requirement. The value of these widely distributed models can be read most reliably from the closing prices of completed auctions, not from asking prices. Supply and demand vary considerably, so that a single sale says little; only several comparable results over a longer period give a dependable picture. --- ## Montblanc ### Identifying fakes **Question:** How can I tell whether a Montblanc writing instrument is genuine, especially when buying online (e.g. on eBay)? **Answer:** A reliable assessment can never be made on a single feature alone — it always comes from several indicators considered together. Top-tier counterfeits from Dubai and the Far East now imitate serial numbers, the Pix logo under the clip and even the warm glow of the precious resin, so practically every individual feature can be faked. The more details that line up, the more confident the verdict; for expensive pieces it is wise to have the instrument authenticated in a Montblanc boutique or by a reputable specialist dealer before purchase. The nib is the most important and most difficult feature to fake. Genuine gold nibs are stamped with 4810 (the height of Mont Blanc in metres), the gold-fineness mark 585 (14 K) or 750 (18 K), often a 14C or 18C, and a small Pix logo or MB. As soon as a nib is engraved with "Iridium Point Germany", "IPG", "Iridium Tip" or a bare "Made in Germany", it is almost certainly a fake — Montblanc does not use these markings. A real gold nib also has noticeable spring; an uncompromisingly hard, rigid tip points to a gold-plated steel nib. The slit on a genuine nib runs perfectly straight and centred, with both tines aligned exactly. Since roughly 1997 a small Pix logo has been on the inside of the clip. It is small, machine-stamped neatly and centred. Pre-war and older models do not carry it — its absence is therefore not a proof of forgery. High-end fakes now imitate the Pix as well, but a sloppy Pix is a clear warning sign. The serial number on the lower clip ring (cone ring) was introduced in 1991. Early numbers consist of two letters followed by seven digits in block lettering; later numbers use an OCR-style font. The engraving is uniform in depth, neatly centred and machine-precise. Blurred, crooked or unevenly deep characters are suspicious. Original pieces from before 1991 do not have a serial number — its absence does not necessarily mean it is a fake. The white star in the cap top is six-pointed with softly rounded tips, sits centred in the black precious-resin top and is inlaid seamlessly. Visible glue lines, an offset border, a printed or stick-on star, asymmetry, or a black instead of white star are clear forgery markers. The orientation of the star relative to the clip can be checked too — on the original it is clean. The three cap rings are trade-mark protected: a writing instrument with only one or two rings is not an original Meisterstück. The middle ring carries a clean engraving of MONTBLANC, often supplemented with MEISTERSTÜCK and PIX. The lettering is exactly centred and uniformly deep. The material is precious resin, a high-grade plexiglass derivative. Shining a strong torch through cap or barrel reveals a deep wine-red to ruby glow — the precious-resin test. If the barrel stays pitch black or shows a bluish tint, the material is most likely ordinary plastic. However, the resin of some other manufacturers also glows red, so this test alone is not conclusive. Painted or lacquered surfaces do not occur on Montblanc writing instruments; visible paint or distinct colour layers are an unambiguous sign of forgery. The Mozart range made of lacquered metal is an exception — the wall would have been too thin for precious resin. Finish should be flawless: threads run smoothly, the cap screws on with a defined stop in roughly 1.5 to 2 turns, the inner cap sits firmly and seals the nib, and converter threads run without play. Visible burrs, rough edges, ill-fitting parts, a wobbly clip or sloppily set fittings indicate a copy. Dimensions and weight of the 149 Meisterstück for reference: capped about 147 mm, barrel diameter around 14.9 mm, total weight about 29 to 32 grams (cap c. 12 g, body c. 20 g). The 146 measures about 142 mm and weighs around 25 g. Significant deviations — especially noticeably lower weight from plastic substitution — are a warning sign. On the Starwalker, a black plastic cap on the barrel end is a classic forgery marker — on the original this end piece is metal. The nib type must also match the model: a Starwalker fitted with a classic Meisterstück nib is a cheap mash-up. Rollerballs should not have an ink window; a rollerball with a window is obviously assembled wrongly. Packaging and papers complete the picture. The original box is heavy, with an embossed star, often containing a leather pouch. A service guide bearing the serial number, a warranty card and a certificate of authenticity are included. The print is high-quality, free of typos and poor image resolution. A cheap-looking cardboard box with thin print or spelling errors is suspicious. Missing papers alone do not make a piece a fake — vintage pieces in particular often change hands without the original box. On eBay and similar platforms, the seller's profile matters at least as much as the writing instrument itself. Suspicious markers include profiles with less than 99 % positive feedback, pawnshops and estate-sale resellers without obvious pen expertise, sellers using only stock photos or blurry images, very generic or obviously copied descriptions, and shipping from Dubai, China, Hong Kong, Singapore or Turkey. Unusually round prices like 215, 240 or 350 euros are also typical fake-seller markers. A price clearly below market value (a 149 for under 350 euros, a 146 for under 250 euros in used condition) is a clear warning. The complete-set trick is also popular: an original Montblanc is paired with fake cartridges, a fake converter, a fake box or fake pouch and the set is offered well above MSRP — the buyer focuses on the high price and the accessories and overlooks the fact that the actual pen is fake too. Conversely, originals are sometimes hidden in scruffy-looking sets to fly under the radar of standard searches. Safe sources are Montblanc boutiques and montblanc.com, large authorised dealers like Penboard.de, Drawe, Wilkening, Stilografica.it or Iguana Sell, and established collectors from the major forums (Penexchange.de, Fountainpennetwork.com) with long-standing reputations. Anyone buying via online auctions should additionally ask the seller for detailed photos of the inner cap, the nib from both sides, the underside of the clip and the cone ring — sellers offering an original supply these images without hesitation. Rule of thumb: a single conspicuous feature can also deviate on a genuine piece, especially with vintage instruments; conversely, a single matching feature proves nothing because top-tier fakes mimic it. Only the combination of correct nib engraving, clean finishing, correct dimensions and weight, a credible seller, and honest pricing allows a reliable verdict. When in doubt, the paid authentication at a Montblanc boutique or with a specialised repair shop is worth it. --- **Question:** Which features reveal counterfeit Montblanc Starwalker writing instruments? **Answer:** The original Starwalker fountain pen is purely a cartridge filler; a Montblanc converter does not fit. Auctions in which a converter is included are therefore very likely fakes. The counterfeit nibs frequently bear the typical 'Iridium Point' inscription instead of a genuine Starwalker nib. Visually, fakes can be spotted by a black (instead of acrylic-clear) snow-cap dome in the gift-box lid, a 'jagged' rather than clean star on the service guide, wrong proportions (e.g. an overly long grip section) and a different number of fine transverse grooves on the barrel — the original has ten milled rings between grip and clip ring. Boheme fakes use the same telltale nibs; the counterfeit packaging is becoming better, which makes detection harder. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Bohème — model overview: https://www.fountainpen.de/boheme-en.htm --- **Question:** Has there ever been a black star on Montblanc writing instruments, or is a dark-looking star always a sign of counterfeit? **Answer:** A black, printed star on print material or packaging is always a counterfeit feature. On the writing instruments themselves, however, the finding is more nuanced: between the 1930s and 1950s, on the inexpensive 3rd series (e.g. models 3-42 or 333½), the star was not inlaid but only engraved as an outline into the cap and not filled with colour. These pens were jokingly called 'Montblanc for the poor' at the time, since Montblanc reserved the fully filled star for the higher-quality models. A dark or black-looking star on a pre-war or early post-war 3rd series model is therefore not a sign of counterfeit but a period-typical execution. --- **Question:** Are the engraving 'W-Germany' and a six-digit serial number on a Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand signs of a counterfeit? **Answer:** From these features alone no counterfeit can be deduced. The clip engraving 'W-Germany' regularly appears on writing instruments before 1991, so the seller's statement that the piece is younger than ten years is incorrect here; rather, it is an older original from the time before German reunification. The number of digits in the serial number is also not an authenticity criterion, since the format and length of the numbers have changed several times over the decades. A reliable assessment requires meaningful detail photos of nib, cap ring, clip and ink window, which can be matched against the relevant collector sources. --- **Question:** By which features can counterfeits of Montblanc watches such as TimeWalker or Sport Steel chronographs be recognised? **Answer:** Counterfeits often give themselves away by missing or wrongly positioned date displays, e.g. when a TimeWalker Chrono is offered without the factory-placed date window between 4 and 5 o'clock, as well as by misshapen indices (e.g. an uneven 4 on the bezel) and cases whose strap connections do not match the typical TimeWalker connections. Sales behaviour also gives hints: when sellers do not clearly name brand and model but only suggest them via category and terms such as Meisterstück, or when the rest of the range is thematically incoherent, scepticism is in order. Counterfeiters are getting better, so meanwhile TimeWalker and SkeletonStar replicas are also in circulation; known sources such as replica-watch-town.com offer wide replica ranges. In the souks of Turkish holiday areas such watches are sold legally, which additionally drives distribution. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 with a nib without a visible carat marking be identified as genuine, and how do you proceed when checking the nib? **Answer:** A missing visible carat marking is not necessarily an authenticity feature: on various transitional models, e.g. the 144 from the 1960s, the carat hallmark sits very deep on the nib body and disappears two-thirds into the section, so that without disassembly it is barely visible. Nibs from the 1980s also deviate in engraving and stamping from current nibs. Collectors strongly advise against pulling the nib out yourself, since the special slots on the body require a suitable tool and knowledge of the turning direction, and Montblanc uses a special sealant when reinstalling; a self-damaged nib seat can only be repaired in Hamburg. Instead, comparing the whole pen with the model overviews on fountainpen.de and, if necessary, an enquiry with Montblanc or an authorised specialist dealer is recommended. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 146 (Le Grand): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-146-en.htm --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc Bohème Platinum Doué bought on eBay be checked for authenticity? **Answer:** Collectors compare the piece with the documented Bohème Platinum Doué pictures on fountainpen.de; a brown crocodile barrel is not a regular Bohème Doué variant but a counterfeit, since this barrel was never officially offered. Black stripes on the Montblanc ring are present on the genuine Bohème and not a counterfeit indicator, contrary to initial assumption. Auction ident numbers like IY1073508 Germany alone offer no authenticity guarantee, since counterfeits frequently mark such numbers. With a misrepresentation in the auction text (also implicitly through category choice), the legal warranty claims to rescission and the right to challenge for mistake exist; even subsequent deadlines despite the exclusion clause of private sellers are enforceable in such cases. --- **Question:** Is a Mont Blanc Meisterstück Pix in the version shown an original, and how can you proceed with eBay purchases when the piece turns out to be a plagiarism? **Answer:** Collectors classify the depicted Mont Blanc Meisterstück Pix as a counterfeit; Montblanc does not offer any model with this designation and design; the piece is a pure fantasy product of the counterfeiters, sold in China for very low amounts to tourists. To acquire it for around 100 euros is therefore a clear loss. With PayPal payment the buyer protection is available; a mediation procedure with subsequent refund is possible if the plagiarism can be proven, e.g. by a written authenticity assessment from Montblanc or an authorised dealer. Before legal escalation collectors regularly first attempt direct contact with the seller; a duty to disclose counterfeit characteristics also exists when the seller themselves claims to have known nothing of the counterfeit. --- **Question:** How can Montblanc cufflinks acquired on eBay be checked for authenticity? **Answer:** A high number of positive ratings does not protect against counterfeits, since powersellers also occasionally sell plagiarisms, sometimes without knowing it themselves. Cufflinks are regarded as particularly counterfeit-prone products, and the quality of the plagiarisms is increasing. Authenticity features lie in the workmanship of the bolts (ribbed and solid) and the arrangement of the stars, which on originals are positioned in opposite directions on the two cufflinks. Packaging and materials can vary depending on batch, since these are bought-in items. A reliable authenticity check can only be carried out by a Montblanc boutique; the regular specialist dealer is not allowed to carry these accessories. In doubt, the legal right of return should be used. --- **Question:** Are the high penalties for buyers of brand counterfeits in Italy proportionate, and how is the trade in plagiarisms tackled? **Answer:** Penalties of 10,000 euros for the purchase of single counterfeits are mostly criticised as disproportionate; pursuing the street vendors and commercial suppliers would be more sensible. Anyone who knowingly buys a plagiarism is generally not in the target group of the original brand anyway, so the maker hardly loses direct turnover; more problematic is the image damage from visible counterfeits in public spaces. More serious are sellers who offload plagiarisms at original prices to unsuspecting customers. On eBay a private report is legally insufficient, since only the trademark holder can have auctions ended via affidavit; eBay itself intervenes only hesitantly. Consistent exclusion of repeatedly conspicuous sellers by eBay is debated as a sensible solution. --- **Question:** Is an unknown Montblanc Meisterstück rollerball an original or a counterfeit? **Answer:** The model shown is unanimously classified as a counterfeit, since Montblanc has not produced a comparable writing instrument. The star also looks atypical with overly angular tips, and the workmanship does not match the quality of platinum-plated or white-gold original parts. Such fantasy products are made in the Far East at production costs of about one euro and are also fitted with counterfeit refills that say nothing about authenticity. Even on plagiarisms of existing models, quality differences are clearly visible in detail shots. A definitive clarification is most safely obtained in a Montblanc boutique through direct comparison. Notes on typical counterfeit features are offered by the section 'Vorsicht Fälschungen' on fountainpen.de. --- **Question:** How can the authenticity of a Montblanc Meisterstück 144 be checked, and which ink is suitable for the model? **Answer:** The 144 was produced until about 2000; the M label on the pen denotes the nib width Medium but is only present on new instruments. A missing serial number in the Montblanc system is not a definitive indication of a counterfeit, since not all data records are completely captured. Authenticity can be clarified using detailed photos, the original/counterfeit PDF and a boutique enquiry. As ink, any common brand like Pelikan 4001 is suitable; the rumour of clogging through third-party ink does not in practice apply, only Indian ink is to be avoided; some American specialty inks like Noodler's Ink are also discouraged. Pelikan 4001 is water-soluble and can be washed out without problems. On colour change, flush the pen with water until no residues are visible. --- **Question:** Was there a Montblanc Bohème Steel as a Mid-Size variant with fixed nib and blue stone? **Answer:** The Bohème Steel never existed, according to catalogues of official collectors, as a Mid-Size with fixed nib; the Mid-Size format had a screw-out nib unit or converter without safety mechanism. Steel/Noir models always had a black onyx in the clip; models with blue stone belonged to the Bohème/Silver line with grain guilloché, not the smooth steel version. The Big-Size variant always had a retractable nib and was only available in black precious resin with platinum-plated fittings. Solitaire models were generally delivered in France with 18-carat nibs; a 14-carat nib in such a Solitaire is therefore conspicuous. Authenticity features like the word Pix under the clip ring speak for an original; presumably a tinkering from two Bohème devices or a non-official special model is at hand. An authenticity check in the boutique is recommended. --- **Question:** How can a counterfeit be recognised on a Montblanc Le Grand ballpoint, and are clicking sounds from the refill a warning sign? **Answer:** Clicking sounds from the refill are also known on Meisterstück ballpoints in originals and are no reliable authenticity indicator. An upside-down engraving on the centre ring does not necessarily speak for a counterfeit, since even disassembled originals can be wrongly assembled on reassembly. Decisive for the assessment are shape, proportions and detail features on high-resolution photos. Final certainty is offered only by sending the pen to Montblanc in Hamburg, where an official authenticity check is carried out free of charge and answered with written information. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc ballpoint for 30 euros a bargain or a counterfeit? **Answer:** A Montblanc ballpoint for 30 euros is with certainty a counterfeit. Such models do not exist in the official range at all but are classic own creations of Chinese counterfeiters that are traded as tourist goods for one or two euros. As a rule of thumb: if a price is unrealistically low, it is not original goods. --- **Question:** How do you deal with counterfeits in eBay auctions, and how do reputable sellers behave on suspicion? **Answer:** Counterfeits on eBay occur regularly, and not only with writing instruments but also with attaché cases and key fobs. It is worthwhile pointing out the suspicion to affected sellers, since many sellers themselves do not know they are selling counterfeits and in this case usually end the auction immediately. Buyers should check auction details carefully and consult in case of suspicion. --- **Question:** How do you recognise on eBay listings whether a Montblanc rollerball (Stainless Steel or Platinum rollerball, model 163) is genuine? **Answer:** From the photos the Stainless Steel and Platinum rollerballs of the Classic size (model 163) mentioned can be identified as originals. An important authenticity feature: all Montblanc rollerball refills have a screw thread; if refills without thread are supplied, this is a clear warning sign. With sellers with few ratings caution is warranted, and an escrow service should be clarified beforehand. Detail photos and critical enquiries help to reduce risks. --- **Question:** Is the 'light test' (red transparency when held against a light source) a reliable authenticity test for Montblanc writing instruments? **Answer:** The precious resin of Montblanc Meisterstücks shows under direct light a characteristic red transparency, similar to looking through a glass of red wine; this effect counts as a usable authenticity indicator. It is, however, only reliable on Meisterstücks, Starwalker and Bohème, since Generation and Noblesse are made of other material. The light test is not the only authenticity feature but should always be used in combination with further checks (form, proportions, engravings, mechanism). --- **Question:** Are sufficient precautions to avoid acquiring a counterfeit when buying a Montblanc 145 P online, and does Montblanc check purchased writing instruments for authenticity? **Answer:** For a reputable purchase decision a dealer with high rating count and almost consistently positive ratings, a direct comparison with a verifiably genuine model and typical authenticity features like correct engravings and proportions speak. Discounts of twelve to sixteen per cent are usual on online purchase, but the manufacturer warranty and free nib exchange fall away; the two-year statutory liability for defects continues unchanged. An MB boutique is primarily a sales outlet and not an official testing point; only Montblanc itself (Hamburg) can carry out an authenticity assessment bindingly. Despite unclear roles of individual actors, it is in Montblanc's interest to take action against product piracy in online trade. --- **Question:** How do you recognise the authenticity of a Montblanc Starwalker Rubber ballpoint, and what does the position of the serial number say about the model year? **Answer:** On the Starwalker Rubber two variants of serial-number placement exist: on older models the number is on the clip at the height of the clip ring; on newer ones directly on the clip ring. Both variants are original-typical and no counterfeit indicator. A discrepancy between the serial number on the pen and in the Service Guide is mostly due to an accidental enclosure of the wrong guide by the seller and should be enquired with the seller. A systematic attribution of the serial number (e.g. starting with XD) to a concrete production year is not known; only Montblanc customer service can give information. --- **Question:** How can one act on eBay against sellers who repeatedly offer Montblanc counterfeits, and how do you recognise typical plagiarisms? **Answer:** eBay reacts to reports from private collectors hardly effectively, which is why it is more sensible to inform the maker (Montblanc) directly, who as trademark holder can take legal action. A collegial direct approach to seller or bidder is also used but rarely leads to reactions. Typical plagiarism features on the Meisterstück 145 are a swapped nib coating ('yellow gold' inside, 'platinum' outside instead of vice versa), slip caps instead of the original screw threads and inconsistent cases and nib engravings ('Iridium Point Germany/Paris'). An 'iridium nib' on the 145 is also a clear counterfeit indicator, since originals have gold nibs. --- **Question:** Is a nib swap on a Montblanc Meisterstück 142G from the 1950s worthwhile, and what about authenticity probability? **Answer:** Of the 142 from the 1950s no counterfeits are known, so on an heirloom or flea-market find an original is to be assumed. Replacement nibs are no longer kept by Montblanc for such old models; a matching nib change works only with an original 142 nib, alternatively a (more expensive) 132 nib. The change requires warming the barrel, unscrewing the grip section and pulling out feed and nib; from this beginners are urgently advised against, however, since the repair can damage the value of the writing instrument. Recommended are collectors' regulars' tables, specialist workshops or careful adjusting of the existing nib slit. The flat feed marks an early model variant with often more saturated ink flow but slightly increased leak risk. --- **Question:** Is a green 'Copernicus' with mother-of-pearl star and unusual nib a real Montblanc edition or a fantasy product? **Answer:** The Copernicus exists exclusively with mother-of-pearl star and not in green; the writing instrument in question is therefore clearly a fantasy product or counterfeit. The nib too is recognisably poorly imitated; the star is missing and the engraving does not surround the entire nib face. Suspicious eBay listings can be reported via the help form ('Counterfeits and copyright violations' > 'Trademark violation' > 'Counterfeit clothing, sunglasses and accessories'). More effective is direct reporting to Montblanc, since only the registered trademark holder can take legal action against the seller and have eBay remove the listing. --- **Question:** How should one as a buyer react when one has accidentally won a Montblanc counterfeit at eBay, and how can one act against the corresponding sellers? **Answer:** Counterfeit indications like a 'dark blue' Meisterstück ballpoint should lead to immediate contact with the seller with a request to have authenticity checked or to refund the purchase price; on delivery of a counterfeit, legal steps are advisable. A complaint directly to eBay brings, in experience, little, since the platform appeals to its mediator role and takes no responsibility for foreign goods. More effective is a polite letter to the seller as 'help' and reporting to the trademark holder Montblanc. Disguise spellings like 'Mont Blanc' instead of 'Montblanc' or warranty exclusively on an 'original refill' are widespread deception tricks, and empty packagings are also auctioned as supposedly filled writing instruments. --- **Question:** Is a fully transparent (not striped) ink window on a Montblanc 146 a counterfeit feature? **Answer:** Striped ink windows are found above all on early 146 models up to about 1960; afterwards initially fully transparent windows were fitted; in the 1980s again transparent, then again striped. A smooth ink window is therefore no counterfeit indicator but refers to a model from the corresponding production phase. Safer than the ink window as authenticity features are the nib (counterfeit nibs often carry imprints like 'Iridium Point Germany/Paris') and the bicolour engraving on the clip ring. With eBay auctions, illustration with stock photos can lead to uncertainty; on commercial suppliers there is a statutory 14-day return right that cannot be excluded. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc pencil with only two gold rings (instead of three) automatically a counterfeit or a Meisterstück? **Answer:** The number of rings gives no reliable information about authenticity or model class. Earlier Montblanc had a 'class system' from one ring (cheap) to three rings (Meisterstück), which, however, was abolished in the late 1980s or early 1990s. A writing instrument with two rings is in many cases not part of the Meisterstück but the cheaper Generation line and, despite differing eBay descriptions, is not to be classified as a Meisterstück. For valuation, comparison with current sale prices via the forum database is recommended. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc Limited Anniversary 146 be checked for authenticity in a boutique without fearing that a counterfeit will be confiscated? **Answer:** Private possession of counterfeits is not punishable in Germany; only sale and commercial distribution are forbidden; a boutique may therefore not retain the pen from a private customer on its own initiative. With dealers, however, identified counterfeits are seized by police or customs and destroyed. At EU level, intervention possibilities for trademark holders against private persons have tightened in the recent past, so a certain residual risk remains and the legal situation can vary. Safer than visiting the boutique is therefore first posting good photos in a collector forum, where experts on the basis of nib details, imprint, clip ring and feed can give an authenticity assessment. --- **Question:** Is an offered Montblanc 144 Solitaire Silver grain from the 70s genuine if the clip carries no serial number and no PIX, only 'Germany', and the 925 hallmark sits at the top instead of the bottom of the cap? **Answer:** The features described are completely normal for a 144 Solitaire of the 70s and speak for an original. Serial number and PIX engraving on the clip were only introduced later; older Meisterstücks bore only the '925' hallmark at the top of the cap and had a fully gold nib without platinum inlay. Comparison pictures can be found on fountainpen.de. A price around 250 euros counts as defensible in good general condition; before purchase the nib should be tested in writing, since repairs via Montblanc service can become expensive. --- **Question:** Is a fountain pen with the inscription 'Monte Rosa', steel nib without star and hallmark 042/KF a counterfeit or a genuine Montblanc product? **Answer:** Monte Rosa was Montblanc's second brand and thus the cheaper variant; the piece is an original. The nib designation KF stands for 'Kugelfeder' (ball nib) in fine, which is a rather rare variant. Historically, an independent fountain-pen firm 'Monte Rosa' also existed in Zurich about 90 years ago; the connection with Montblanc is not unambiguously clarified. Anyone wanting to start collecting classic Meisterstücks should rather test and buy the first pen at a specialist trade than buy blindly via eBay, in order to choose the right nib width. --- **Question:** Are counterfeits of Italian OMAS pens, e.g. the Ogiva model, meanwhile in circulation, and how is OMAS quality to be assessed in general? **Answer:** Robust reports of OMAS counterfeits are not available; what is known by contrast are variable quality standards of various production years. The OMAS models (e.g. Ogiva, Filarmonica, 360 Mezzo) are valued for their saturated ink flow, often traced to the ebonite feed. However, the strong flow can lead to wet writing behaviour at warm temperatures. A drawback from a collector view is that most models have only round nibs; stub or italic grinds are rare. Some collectors hold OMAS price-wise to be overpriced; others expressly contradict. --- **Question:** How widespread are openly sold Montblanc counterfeits (replicas) on the internet, and how do you recognise originality on a privately acquired Meisterstück 144? **Answer:** Numerous replica sites can be found online; a Google search for 'Montblanc Replica' yields over 1000 hits, partly supplemented through advertising via Google AdWords. Some suppliers use 'liability disclaimers', which legally do not protect. If one site closes, others open under a new name. The 144 specifically described is an original; older 144s did not yet have outside feed lamellae and a fully gold nib without platinum inlay. Hard-rubber feeds were fitted up to about 1989; today's outside lamellae increase buffer capacity at pressure fluctuations. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 144 (Classique predecessor): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-144-en.htm --- **Question:** How can a Greta Garbo fountain pen acquired on eBay be checked for authenticity if the pearl on the clip looks glued, and is there official B-grade goods from Montblanc? **Answer:** Montblanc does not offer official B-grade goods; the pieces are therefore either originals or counterfeits. On the Greta Garbo described, everything points to an original; however, the pearl on the clip is from the factory not glued but firmly set. A glued pearl is therefore to be regarded as a subsequent repair by a craftsman and constitutes a defect; on a purchase declared as new this justifies a return. Collectors point out that even commercial powersellers often source their goods themselves via eBay and do not always have detailed knowledge, which is why complaint-worthy defects are by no means excluded. More reliable sources are collector shows or well-stocked specialist dealers. --- **Question:** How do you recognise an original Meisterstück Solitaire Sterling Silver with Barleycorn guilloché, and which dating and care notes are to be observed? **Answer:** The Solitaire Sterling Barleycorn line was introduced at Pentecost 1992 with the New Dimensions event in Berlin and discontinued in mid-1998 because it came too close to the 75th Anniversary Edition appearing in 1999. Genuine pieces carry the 925 hallmark, a finely ribbed fine-grain guilloché and, since about 1997, individual clip-ring numbers; the model number for the ballpoint is 1646. The black case with red-marbled paper outer wrap was used between 1992 and 1995/96. For care a silver-cleaning cloth or an ultrasonic bath with cleaning tablets is recommended; polishes with abrasive bodies like Wenol Montblanc itself rates critically because they wear off too much silver. --- **Question:** How do you recognise a counterfeit of the Montblanc Patron of Art Copernicus, and how do you handle suppliers of corresponding auctions? **Answer:** Typical counterfeit features on the Copernicus are a colourless instead of green gemstone in the clip, a straight instead of concave grip section, a simple white star instead of mother-of-pearl on the cap, a nib fully made of steel and a too short thread with an additional thin silver ring. Striking are also a clip not bent true to the original and an additional separation ring between grip section and thread that points to a converted converter mechanism. Additionally, fake suppliers often use stolen original pictures, partly with reversed nib colour, which can be due to old press photos. A Copernicus as a rollerball never existed; corresponding offers are without exception suspect of being counterfeits. Collectors should warn bidders and report the offer to the platform and to Montblanc. --- **Question:** Is it worth, after acquiring an eBay counterfeit of a Montblanc 146, alongside a criminal complaint also informing Montblanc itself? **Answer:** A report to Montblanc is worthwhile, since the maker actively pursues cases of product piracy and welcomes such reports; often even the threat of this report towards the seller is enough, because a cease-and-desist letter turns out significantly more expensive than the purchase price. Contact runs via the contact form of the Montblanc website. In parallel one should absolutely use the eBay buyer protection, since purchases there are insured, and possibly involve PayPal. An own court procedure is mostly not financially worthwhile, because lawyer's fees exceed the dispute value. Before steps against the seller, securing evidence by photos, especially of the nib, is recommended. --- **Question:** Which steps make sense in a Montblanc Mozart counterfeit case identified after eBay purchase if the seller does not agree to take back? **Answer:** A lawyer is rarely financially worthwhile, since costs usually exceed the value of the writing instrument. Instead a free criminal complaint for fraud at the police is recommended, reporting the case to eBay (risk of account ban on multiple offences) and — with PayPal payment — claiming buyer protection. In experience sellers, after announcing these steps, often quickly relent and refund the purchase price. Recognition features of a Mozart counterfeit are unclean star engraving, deviating middle rings and a different twist mechanism than on the original. --- **Question:** Are experiences with the eBay seller topfitab40 available, and is a blacklist for eBay sellers sensible on the forum? **Answer:** A forum-maintained blacklist is rejected by the operator for legal and maintenance reasons; the responsibility for a constantly current list could hardly be borne. Instead it is recommended to use the eBay rating system, possibly enquire in eBay forums and always buy carefully. Concretely topfitab40 (Stefan Zeilinger from Nuremberg) counts as a reputable supplier specialised in purchase and sale of used writing instruments, offers his own repairs, publishes real name with address and phone number and accepts complaints without exception. Several collectors confirm positive transactions including originality confirmed by the maker. --- **Question:** How do you recognise the Montblanc counterfeits from a German bankruptcy-sale offer, and how do you proceed most sensibly against them? **Answer:** Detailed indications for counterfeit recognition are found on fountainpen.de under 'Beware of Counterfeits' and in the PDF 'Counterfeits of Solitaire Meisterstücks — A Comparison', in which typical features e.g. on all-metal writing instruments are clearly documented. Reporting the auction to eBay by non-holders of the trademark right brings little; more effective is reporting to Montblanc as protection-rights holder, who gladly accepts such hints. A coordinated forum report is seen reservedly by the forum operator, since this is a private collector site and not an official Montblanc portal. --- **Question:** How should one deal with the 285 various Montblanc counterfeits shown on a Chinese website, and which buying rules follow from this? **Answer:** The quality of Chinese counterfeits has meanwhile reached the point that even white stars in the packaging and Solitaire cap tops are credibly copied; pictures alone barely allow distinguishing originals from counterfeits. Original goods are therefore to be bought exclusively from authorised Montblanc specialist dealers; authorised dealers may not sell Montblanc writing instruments via the internet, so online offers are basically suspicious. With foreign eBay sellers in particular the risk of being handed a counterfeit is very high, with no practical reclamation options afterwards. Counterfeits of other luxury brands (S.T. Dupont, Cartier) are offered by the same maker. --- **Question:** How reliable is the serial number of a Montblanc Bohème Noir rollerball from eBay as proof of authenticity, and does Montblanc still produce rollerballs at all? **Answer:** Montblanc continues to produce rollerballs; contrary statements from specialist trade are incorrect. An official end-customer-accessible serial-number database for authenticity check does not exist. On the Bohème, the Pix imprint under the clip is to be expected, and on fountainpen.de under the PDF boheme-vergleich.pdf typical counterfeit features for model comparison can be found. Online sales by authorised Montblanc dealers are forbidden; therefore eBay bargains under dealer purchase price are critical; suspicious are short eBay lifespan, few ratings and unusual purchase handling. PayPal protection is limited and only effective up to a maximum of 500 euros, possibly with additional own contribution; on more expensive pieces the damage in counterfeit case is mostly only partially covered. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc Meisterstück Le Grand 146 acquired on eBay with a small clip imperfection and a comparatively weak serial number be checked for authenticity? **Answer:** Piston pens of the Meisterstück 146 have so far not been credibly counterfeited in quality, so the described Pix imprint in the clip, the red to wine-red shimmering precious resin and the overall appearance speak for an original. The small bump in the clip is a manufacturing imperfection without influence on authenticity; only at the specialist trade would it be complaint-worthy. It looks different on cartridge models like the Classique 145, on which already very convincing counterfeits exist; a corresponding shift of counterfeit quality to ballpoints and rollerballs is only a matter of time. --- **Question:** How do you recognise whether online shops or eBay providers for high-priced Montblanc writing instruments like the Starwalker are reputable? **Answer:** An authorised Montblanc specialist trade with shop premises is basically to be preferred for new purchase, since in case of complaint a direct contact is available. Collectors advise checking the self-presentation pages of eBay sellers carefully: sales counters from business closures or typical formulations like 'house warranty' and 'free special polish' indicate that these are not authorised dealers. Important to know is that such suppliers often deliver real goods but cannot grant a Montblanc factory warranty. Recommended is studying the rating history before purchase and only buying from sellers rated positively several times, ideally where own or others' experience exists. --- **Question:** Should one actively inform bidders or sellers of Montblanc counterfeits on eBay, and which measures are sensible? **Answer:** The practice is debated: some collectors deliberately contact bidders and/or sellers; in rare cases truly unwitting sellers can thus be enlightened; but in nearly all cases it is conscious fraud, so the effort remains in vain. Other collectors basically contact no one with the justification that 'greed eats brain' and potential buyers should research themselves before purchase. If sellers do not respond to a first email, a direct report to Montblanc is recommended — the maker actively pursues such hints. On successful sale of a counterfeit the buyer can additionally file a complaint. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc Le Grand Platinum 146 acquired via the internet be verified as an original by packaging and nib details? **Answer:** The angular or oblong packaging with inner lining is typical of the period before 2006 and counts as an indicator of an original from this period. The small notch in the nib area is found on all Montblanc writing instruments from the mid-1990s and is also an authenticity feature. Information on concrete serial numbers is given only by Montblanc service directly; a photo with good resolution of the nib reverse, cap and case logo eases a remote-diagnostic assessment. Distortions on the case logo alone are no counterfeit indicator, provided workmanship and lettering remain clean. --- **Question:** How do you recognise high-quality Montblanc counterfeits (e.g. Alexander Humboldt, Chronograph) on eBay, and how do you protect yourself as a beginner? **Answer:** On a counterfeit Alexander Humboldt the genuine silver inlays on cap and body are missing; the body is overall too thin and the nib does not match the original — the typical 'embellishment' is on the fake merely burned into the barrel; the piston is often missing too. On Montblanc watch counterfeits, a dial not available on the original and a qualitatively inferior movement betray the deception. Protection for beginners: check seller history precisely, only buy from verifiably positively rated sellers with writing-instrument experience and above all only acquire models one knows precisely. The wish to have handover at a boutique is generally not enforceable as a private buyer. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Patron of Arts Alexander von Humboldt: https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-humboldt-en.htm --- **Question:** Which replacement refills fit a counterfeit Montblanc Starwalker rollerball? **Answer:** On counterfeits original Montblanc refills usually do not fit, since the holder does not match the original dimensions. It is recommended to try various standard refills in a stationery shop to find a fitting alternative. Collectors point out that knowingly buying, selling and partly even possessing brand counterfeits can be legally problematic. As a long-term more sensible solution, replacing the fake with an original writing instrument is regarded; repair or nib work on counterfeits is not carried out by Montblanc. --- **Question:** Are eBay sellers like 'pen-seller' or 'vertrieb06' reputable for buying a Montblanc Starwalker? **Answer:** Sellers working with foreign or stolen product images count as not reputable and should be avoided. 'pen-seller' is mostly rated reputable among collectors, with positive ratings and, by his own statement, direct sourcing from Hamburg; several collectors have bought there without problems. Low prices alone need not be an indication of counterfeits, since dealers have different purchasing conditions. To safeguard, a detailed image comparison with the fake overviews on Fountainpen.de and a phone seller contact before purchase are recommended. --- **Question:** How can the authenticity of a cheaply offered Montblanc 144 be assessed by photos? **Answer:** A 144 with 18-carat gold nib speaks for an original; the model line is no longer in active assortment and is aimed at small, delicate hands. Strikingly low prices in the 150-euro range can be reputable but should trigger additional caution and check of nib, fittings and inscriptions. The Mozart by contrast is a still smaller note-writing instrument and not to be confused with the 144. On remaining doubts a comparison with gallery pictures or presentation in a boutique is recommended. --- **Question:** Are both the gold and the platinum edition of the Montblanc 145 Chopin counterfeited, and how do you recognise counterfeits? **Answer:** Both variants are counterfeited, with the quality of the plagiarisms meanwhile considerably increased. The most important recognition feature are the imprints on the nib: on fakes they look typically flat or under strong loupe 'scrawly', since they are lasered instead of stamped. Even complete sets including CD and packaging are now counterfeited, so original boxes are no longer an authenticity guarantee — fraudsters partly use original packaging acquired on eBay for counterfeits. For identification a detail comparison with original photos on Fountainpen.de is recommended. --- **Question:** Are Montblanc Starwalker and Meisterstück with serial numbers starting with 'MBL' original writing instruments? **Answer:** Only Montblanc knows the exact coding of the serial numbers; deviations from the 'two letters + seven digits' scheme do therefore not automatically mean a counterfeit. Indications like inscriptions 'Made in Germany Metal' in the clip and 'Box made in China' on the case bottom are usual on originals. If the serial numbers are engraved instead of embossed, this should, however, be checked more closely. On ballpoints authenticity check without inspection in a boutique is fundamentally more difficult than on fountain pens. --- **Question:** How safe is buying Montblanc writing instruments on eBay given professionally counterfeit auctions with stolen accounts? **Answer:** Fake distribution has developed from easily recognisable China offers into professional auctions with stolen accounts, real pictures and faultless descriptions. Red alarm applies on payment via Western Union; even pure bank transfer without PayPal protection carries considerable risks. Even specialists cannot identify every auction safely as reputable or fake — even experienced collectors have already fallen for account theft. A collector database for serial-number-bound Limited Editions can help with comparison but does not replace critical examination of seller profile, communication and payment route. --- **Question:** How high is the quality of Montblanc counterfeits on fountain pens and ballpoints — are they immediately recognisable as plagiarisms? **Answer:** On fountain pens the quality difference is clearly obvious: already on first writing, scratching nibs, missing ink flow and weak workmanship strike. Ballpoint counterfeits are often constructively unstable, fall apart quickly, can only be reassembled by gluing, and the refills tear the paper rather than write. Even compared with high-quality watch counterfeits, the quality gap on writing instruments stays high. The raw materials look too light; mechanisms last only a few days; correspondingly fakes are quickly identifiable even without comparison with originals. --- **Question:** How do you recognise a counterfeit Montblanc 75th Anniversary Edition, and which steps are sensible after a wrong purchase on eBay? **Answer:** The Anniversary Edition never existed in platinum-plated execution; further counterfeit features are an angular instead of round star, recessed cap rings in the black area and a housing of lacquered tin instead of resin. Such fakes are made in Hong Kong for a few euros. With a German seller one can act via buyer protection, a trademark complaint with Montblanc (service@montblanc.com or contact form) and, if necessary, lawyer or criminal complaint against the purchase; with foreign suppliers chances of success are small, so one should save time, nerves and further money. In future thorough research before purchase and a comparison with the counterfeit articles on Fountainpen.de are recommended. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Slimline-like pen with angular clip without star inlay actually a counterfeit? **Answer:** At first glance the clip seems atypical due to its angular, cast-looking surface, which triggers suspicion. Nib, grip section and converter, however, show all features of an original, so it is not a counterfeit but the Montblanc Noblesse series III (not Slim Line or Noblesse Oblige). This model was produced around the year 2000; before 1991 Montblanc also covered the school and mid-price segment, which explains the unusual look. Caution with the grip section: it likes to break between thread and gold ring. --- **Question:** How should one deal with eBay listings of counterfeit Montblanc writing instruments (StarWalker, 75 Years of Passion and Soul)? **Answer:** A direct report to eBay does little, because only the trademark holder can have auctions stopped there; it is more effective to alert Montblanc itself to the counterfeits. Directly addressing the sellers often has no effect, since many are either uncooperative or do not themselves recognize that the items are counterfeits. The collector community discusses a more consistent banning of relevant sellers by eBay, but this is not yet enforceable. Collectors therefore exchange typical fake characteristics among themselves to protect buyers. --- **Question:** Is there an original Montblanc model for a Noblesse-like ballpoint pen of Chinese production? **Answer:** The writing instrument from Shenzhen is a fantasy product that imitates the look of a Montblanc Noblesse without being a licensed product. Genuine originals with identical form are not known; similar, likewise unauthorised variants exist in gold and gold/silver versions. Interesting is the question of the refill, since Parker-system refills with a subsequent Montblanc imprint are often used. The price difference compared to an original is typically a factor of around 50. --- **Question:** Is a white Montblanc Noblesse offered on eBay genuine, and is the Noblesse series still produced? **Answer:** After comparison with the seller's offer, the piece offered is a Montblanc Noblesse Oblige, whose last regular retail price was 265 euros; in the 2004 clearance the models were sold off for around 130 to 135 euros. The Noblesse Oblige is no longer in the current range. Different arrangements of the 585 and 14 ct hallmarks on the nib are not in themselves a sign of forgery, but should in case of doubt be compared with further original features. --- **Question:** Was the Montblanc Jules Verne available as a rollerball and in red, and how should the offers of a particular eBay seller be assessed? **Answer:** The Montblanc Jules Verne was only available as a fountain pen and ballpoint; a rollerball never existed. The model was furthermore only delivered in blue, since other colours would not have made thematic sense (reference to the sea); the original also has a larger diameter than the counterfeits. The pieces shown in the auction in question are clearly to be classified as counterfeits; the etui can be recognised as forged by its too-short flap. With the Bohème, authenticity is harder to assess from the pictures, but the included etui is also a fake. --- **Question:** How can the authenticity of a Montblanc StarWalker Resin ballpoint pen acquired on eBay be checked? **Answer:** For authenticity checking, comparison with the fake articles on StarWalkers published on Fountainpen.de is recommended, e.g. the PDF guides there to typical counterfeit features. Indications of an original are a clean star, the imprint "Germany metal Pix" on the clip, clean workmanship and the serial number engraved directly on the clip (usual on the first series). With the original disassembled, threads on the front part, a removable coil spring and three rings can be found. In general, it is advised to buy high-quality writing instruments from specialist retailers in order to avoid problems of this kind. --- **Question:** How can one distinguish on eBay between genuine and counterfeit Montblanc writing instruments, especially with a known seller of mixed assortment? **Answer:** Some sellers deliberately mix originals (e.g. a Mozart, a Montblanc 24 or a green etui) with counterfeits in order to appear reputable. Conspicuous features for fakes are forged packaging, wrong proportions (rollerballs often have to have a larger diameter) and implausible model variants. Notes to the sellers usually have no consequence; Montblanc itself, however, gratefully receives such reports. Buyers are advised to consistently compare with the fake overviews on Fountainpen.de before bidding. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück 149 with clip imprint "W-Germany" without serial number genuine, and from what period does it date? **Answer:** The imprint "W-Germany" on the clip indicates production before 1989 (pre-reunification period) and matches a white-gold nib with yellow-gold rim. Earlier Meisterstücks did not yet bear a serial number; this was only introduced later. Since counterfeits often also bear serial numbers, their presence is in any case not a reliable authenticity criterion. A definitive authenticity check is most safely carried out at an authorised dealer on the spot. Based on additional photos, the piece described looks genuine. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 149 (Grand Format): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-149-en.htm --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand Ballpoint Pen Gold offered on eBay genuine, and how is the material to be interpreted? **Answer:** The piece offered is genuine, but is neither a "Parker original" nor a classic LeGrand. It is the Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire Vermeil Classique in Faden Guilloche, manufactured from 1992. Vermeil means solid sterling silver (925) with gilding, hence the differently appearing colour tones and the stamped 925 mark. A central, maintained overview of current fake indicators is no longer regularly kept. --- **Question:** How can one tell that a Montblanc wallet offered in an online auction is a counterfeit? **Answer:** Typical recognition features of a counterfeit are inconsistent packaging (Montblanc uses certain original packaging) and non-existent product lines such as a supposed "Solitaire Leather Collection" — the designation Solitaire at Montblanc refers exclusively to writing instruments with metal overlay. The logo on originals is not jagged, the star is always white (for the snow-capped mountain peak) and never gold-coloured or set off darker. Embossings, leather structure (too "wrinkly") and inaccurate typography also betray counterfeits. With auctions with notes like "illustration similar" or without PayPal payment, particular caution is required, since one then does not receive the article shown and buyer protection is restricted. --- **Question:** How can offered Montblanc writing instruments be checked for authenticity when only photos are available? **Answer:** Some of the pieces shown are clearly counterfeits, because the depicted models do not exist as such (fantasy products) or are only roughly modelled on original models (e.g. Copernicus). Telling are nib engraving, sharpness of the contours (e.g. between star and black border) and the nature of the rings and clip; a two-step constructed cap must show a sharp-edged contour. A nib engraving "Iridium Point Germany" on imitation Montblancs is a clear counterfeit feature, while with other manufacturers it is common. With unsharp photos, a definitive statement is not possible; in case of doubt, a purchase is to be advised against. --- **Question:** How does one tell whether a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 with gold nib M from the 1980s is genuine if no serial number is visible on the clip ring? **Answer:** On a 146 from the 1980s, a missing clip engraving is normal; serial numbers were only introduced later. The typical reddish shimmer of the precious resin against the light is a good authenticity feature — if it is missing, that points to a counterfeit. An official, free nib exchange is only possible on new nibs with an invoice; a subsequent nib purchase from Montblanc typically costs at least 100 euros. If applicable, a swap among collectors offers itself. When posting pictures, the size and file-name guidelines of the forum (max. 499 × 499 pixels, 50 KB, no special characters in the file name) are to be observed. --- **Question:** Does the Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire Ramses II also come without a silver hallmark, and does the weight distribution of the vermeil and brass variants differ? **Answer:** Of the Ramses II there are two variants: an older one of vermeil (gilded sterling silver) with 925 hallmark and a later one of gilded brass without silver hallmark. Vermeil pieces tarnish unattractively over time and can become spotted; the brass variant does not show this problem and is even partly preferred. A Ramses without silver hallmark is therefore not necessarily a counterfeit. The material has hardly any influence on the weight; overall, however, all Solitaire writing instruments are heavier than the regular Meisterstücks made of precious resin. --- **Question:** How can it be recognised on a Montblanc Writers Edition Jules Verne from an eBay auction whether it is an original or a counterfeit? **Answer:** Important authenticity features are the black (not metal) thread on the cap as well as the correct platinum-trim colour instead of an overly yellow-gold tone. The warranty card of the Verne is typically issued for a set, which is why this point alone is not yet a counterfeit indicator. A stamp of the responsible Köln fountain pen office speaks for an original, as does a long-standing reputable seller history. Picture displays can appear distorted depending on the monitor, so reputable sellers and complete papers are more meaningful than pure colour impressions. --- **Question:** How can one tell on an auctioned Montblanc Meisterstück Classique rollerball whether it is a counterfeit, and are the matching refills also susceptible to forgery? **Answer:** By now, very well-made counterfeit Montblanc refills also exist, so the previously common statement that original refills only fit into original pens is no longer reliable. With some editions, e.g. Bohème rollerballs, original and counterfeit can hardly be distinguished from photos alone. Only an assessment at a specialist retailer on the spot brings certainty, where the refills can also be obtained as originals. Service guide, original packaging and a specialist retailer's stamp increase the probability of an original. --- **Question:** How can one check on the basis of pictures and seller information whether a Montblanc StarWalker Doué offered on eBay is genuine? **Answer:** On the Doué, the characteristic feature is the multitude of fine notches on the doué element, similar to the Lennon, but not as thin; if these notches are missing or upper and lower part appear too plain, that is a clear counterfeit indicator. A serious purchase decision requires high-resolution photos as well as concrete information on the serial number in the clip and engravings on the upper part. With a sparse description and evasive seller answers, a purchase is to be advised against. With the StarWalker series, high-quality fakes are also in circulation by now, which is why caution is warranted. --- **Question:** Which features speak in favour of a counterfeit on an eBay auction of a Montblanc Star 4810 watch? **Answer:** Several detail features identify the watch in question as a counterfeit: the case back is screwed with cross-head screws instead of the slotted screws usual at Montblanc; the rotor is simply semi-circular instead of the typical Montblanc form and additionally bears no manufacturer's engraving. The reference number 7069 stated also belongs to the Timewalker line, while the Star 4810 carries reference 7102; the serial number additionally appears inconsistent. In sum, it is a comparatively easily recognisable counterfeit. --- **Question:** How does one recognise a counterfeit Montblanc briefcase made of calfskin? **Answer:** Several indications speak against authenticity: an RRP of around 679 euros, untypically low for Montblanc; an unusual leather appearance and unusual fittings; a Montblanc embossing that appears qualitatively inferior; as well as untidy seams with uneven distances to the edge. Reputable comparable offers of genuine Montblanc bags are rather around 800 euros and more. With these striking features, a purchase is to be advised against; a comparison with genuine Montblanc leather goods like a Meisterstück case shows clear differences in workmanship. --- **Question:** Are a Montblanc Meisterstück 164 ballpoint and a 165 propelling pencil with the markings mentioned originals, and what does the pearl on the clip mean? **Answer:** Both writing instruments are most likely genuine; matching original refills as well as a correctly executed clip construction are central indications, since counterfeiters often use Parker mechanisms on the ballpoint. The pearl is the small spherical thickening at the lower clip end, which fixes the pen in pocket or case. At Montblanc this pearl is soldered on as a separate component, while on cheap writing instruments it is merely punched or pressed out of the clip metal. --- **Question:** Which model is a Montblanc fountain pen with plug-on cap, gold ring with "Mont Blanc Germany" and a plain 585 nib engraving? **Answer:** It is a Montblanc Classic from the 1980s. On these older nibs, the inscription "Montblanc" was not necessarily engraved, only the gold alloy 585. During the production period, smaller model changes occurred, e.g. variants with only one instead of two cap rings, which strictly speaking belong to an earlier series. --- **Question:** Are there now also counterfeits of the Montblanc Limited Edition Imperial Dragon? **Answer:** There are indeed plagiarisms of the Imperial Dragon Limited Edition. The counterfeits are, however, generally very crudely executed and can be recognised already from obvious errors such as the wrong spelling of "Montblanc" as two words. Attentive collectors should hardly fall for them. --- **Question:** Are vintage Montblancs like the 344 also counterfeited, and what should one heed with suspicious eBay offers from China? **Answer:** There are indeed counterfeits of older Montblanc models that crop up at irregular intervals on Penbid and eBay. In the specific case, the photos had been stolen from another auction; what would have been delivered would presumably have been a StarWalker counterfeit. Warning signs are seller accounts with lots of "zero" ratings collected within a few hours, as well as sellers from China. PayPal does refund the purchase price in the case of a dispute, but not the often artificially inflated shipping costs through which the fraudsters profit. Collectors generally advise to be especially careful with Chinese sellers. --- **Question:** Are a Montblanc fountain pen and ballpoint with a striking silver ring under the cap thread genuine? **Answer:** The writing instruments are genuine at their core but appear to be assembled from various parts; a silver ring under the thread could indicate a front part of a 145 Platinum that has been combined with other components. The nib tip seems asymmetrical and is presumably damaged; a blind engraving that was not mentioned in the auction description is also recognisable. The clip of the ballpoint is visibly bent. In combination with an inexperienced seller without a rating profile, collectors advise against the purchase and recommend waiting for a better offer. --- **Question:** How does one recognise counterfeits of the Montblanc Writers Edition Jules Verne? **Answer:** Counterfeits exist on a larger scale of both the rollerball and the fountain pen Jules Verne, in the colours black, red, green and blue, and also of vermeil and StarWalker rubber variants. Recognition features: the nibs of the counterfeits bear the mark "Iridium-Point Germany". All fakes have the same serial number 14873 as well as an etched, blurred-looking, mattly shimmering Jules Verne inscription. The fountain pen is also delivered only with cartridge converter; the clip, on the other hand, looks relatively convincing. On relevant Chinese sites, the counterfeits are offered for about 60 US dollars. --- **Question:** Which model is an unknown older fountain pen from family possessions? **Answer:** The piece depicted is an original from the Montblanc range 252, 254 or 256, depending on size; the exact model number typically stands at the rear on the turning knob. If this number is missing entirely, a sure assignment is difficult. The basic nib form fits this model range; whether the nib is bent or the iridium tipping is intact can only be judged with better photos. For value determination, reference is made to Axel's forum article on valuation principles. --- **Question:** Why do some Montblanc writing instruments bear a model number on the cap ring and others not, and what is normal on the Generation rollerball? **Answer:** Model numbers like 146 or 161 are only engraved on the middle cap ring of Meisterstücks until the end of the 1990s; after that this practice was abandoned. On smaller writing instruments like Mozart (114) or the Generation, the number is also missing; there mostly only "Montblanc" or "Montblanc Generation" as well as "Made in Germany" stands under the clip. A missing model number is therefore no indication of a counterfeit. A serial number in the clip is found only on Meisterstücks, and there too not consistently in all production years. --- **Question:** Are unusually cheap Montblanc leather goods (wallets) on eBay reputable, and does a national identity card fit into the Meisterstück wallet? **Answer:** Price reductions clearly above the VAT rate are regarded as untrustworthy, since they can indicate stolen goods or counterfeits; in addition, filled-in warranty papers are often missing, which is why later repairs would have to be paid for in full. A purchase in the boutique or at authorised specialist retailers (e.g. Haufler in Stuttgart) is therefore preferable, also for trying on wallets. Not all Meisterstück wallets have a slot for the German national identity card; models with an ID slot are, however, in the range, which is why a personal selection is recommended. Individual buyers do however report satisfactory experiences with the eBay seller mentioned. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 LeGrand without model number on the cap ring an original, and how can a stiff piston be treated? **Answer:** Even without a model number on the cap ring, a 146 is most likely genuine; counterfeits of the 146 are hardly known, presumably because the piston mechanism is too elaborate for counterfeiters. There are simply two variants: with and without printed model number. A somewhat stiff piston often comes from dried ink and becomes smoother again with regular use; a smooth-running piston as on some other brands is, however, structurally not to be expected on the 146. --- **Question:** Which new StarWalker counterfeits are currently appearing? **Answer:** StarWalker fakes circulate in untypical colours like red/metal, orange and white, partly also with inserted white middle parts from cobbled-together parts. The white variants are occasionally falsely offered as a limited Scott Fitzgerald. Such colour variants do not exist in the official StarWalker programme and are thus a clear counterfeit indicator. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is a twist-action ballpoint with two rings at the cap end, and what value is appropriate? **Answer:** Owing to unsharp pictures, an unambiguous identification is difficult; in question come a Generation or models of the 28 or 281 series. The Generation was Montblanc's former entry-level series, has not been in production for years but can be obtained from remaining stock via dealers. The new price was, according to the Corporate Gift catalogue 2004/2005, around 145 EUR; used, the value is significantly lower. An auction price of around 50 EUR is in the normal range; a real bargain it is not, in the case of a Generation or 28 model. --- **Question:** How did the seizure value of counterfeit branded articles develop between 2002 and 2003, and what factors explain the rise? **Answer:** The value of counterfeit branded articles seized by German customs rose, according to Wirtschaftswoche (No. 29), from 76 million EUR in 2002 to 178 million EUR in 2003. As reasons, increasing import quantities (especially through the internet) and grown buyer demand for apparently cheap luxury articles are discussed. Affected are not only luxury goods but also safety-relevant products like car parts. The worldwide damage from brand piracy is estimated at around 500 billion USD (Wiwo No. 30). --- **Question:** How does one distinguish original from counterfeit on Montblanc ballpoints and cases from eBay auctions? **Answer:** A Montblanc ballpoint into which a Parker refill fits and on which the black separators between the cap rings are missing is unambiguously a counterfeit; further indications are inconsistent proportions and untidily worked cap rings. With the case, material quality and workmanship speak for authenticity; older models from the 1980s are regular. Trade in counterfeits is forbidden; buyers can insist on reversal and, in case of difficulties, turn to the eBay forums or the trust and safety area there. --- **Question:** How does one recognise counterfeits of a Montblanc Bohème Silver in eBay auctions? **Answer:** A typical feature of such fakes is the simple iridium nib instead of the filigree original nib as well as a clearly coarser surface treatment. With the original, no smooth, non-guilloched piece of the barrel is visible when the cap is screwed on — with the counterfeit, it is. Some sellers mark the pieces as "deceptively similar to the original"; others deliberately omit the note. In hand, even a layperson usually immediately recognises the difference by feel and weight; Hong Kong sources are an additional indicator. --- **Question:** How does one distinguish a real Montblanc Donation Pen "Menuhin" from a counterfeit, especially based on cap ring and inscription? **Answer:** A reliable indication is the spelling "PHILHARMONIA OF THE NATIONS" on the rear ring; the official counterfeit notes name deviating letter forms, e.g. an "A" without crossbar, as suspicious. On the original, the free area on the cap ring is not smooth but patterned. Since counterfeits with high-quality nibs and well-imitated clips exist, the pen should in case of doubt be presented in the original to a specialist retailer or boutique; photos alone do not allow a sure judgement. Variants of the Menuhin are not known. --- **Question:** Is a cheap Montblanc ballpoint in silver look from eBay automatically a counterfeit? **Answer:** No, often these are original models of the Slimline series from the 1980s, made of stainless steel — not of silver. At that time, Slimline was Montblanc's cheap mass series; the retail price in 1981 was 14.50 DM (around 7.50 EUR), the matching fountain pen cost 24.50 DM. Slimline pieces are not comparable to Meisterstücks but are authentic Montblanc writing instruments with their own history. A blanket conversion of historical DM prices to today's euro collector prices is, however, not sensible. --- **Question:** How does one tell whether a Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand (ballpoint) is original or counterfeit, and which list prices are usual? **Answer:** On the LeGrand, the black cap rings are relatively wide; the area between them shows no recess, and the knob at the clip end is, on the original, soldered or welded on invisibly, not folded inwards visibly. If ring spacings, a visible fold or a bulgy clip tip are present, this points to a counterfeit. Since counterfeits are getting better and better, a comparison with original photos and, in case of doubt, a check by an authorised dealer is worthwhile. As a guide to prices, for spring 2007 was given: LeGrand fountain pen approx. €435 (gold) or €465 (platinum), ballpoint/pencil approx. €235 or €270; at authorised dealers, a discount is possible on enquiry. --- **Question:** Is the online shop "montblancpens-shop.com" with conspicuously low Montblanc prices reputable, and how can one determine the owner of a web domain? **Answer:** It is a fraud site that is, according to whois enquiries, registered to an owner in China; the prices lie far below realistic market values, which is a clear warning sign. In the best case a counterfeit is delivered, in the worst case nothing at all. For checking domain owners, denic.de serves for .de domains and easywhois.com (or comparable services) for international domains; address, telephone and email data often give clues about the country of origin. Additionally, the Firefox add-on Flagfox helps, which displays the physical server location; for original Montblanc sites, the server is in Germany. --- **Question:** Are a Montblanc Pix ballpoint and its unusually simple packaging to be evaluated as original goods or counterfeit? **Answer:** Collectors report that the ballpoint shown looks genuine and the apparently poorly finished packaging really comes from Montblanc: such packagings were used in the early to mid-1990s and were possibly intended as dealer packaging. They are not visually particularly appealing. Since counterfeits are increasingly better, a hundred-percent certainty can only be achieved through direct assessment at a specialist retailer. --- **Question:** Are auctioned Montblanc baseball caps (with MB logo) generally originals, and are they official advertising articles? **Answer:** There were various variants of Montblanc baseball caps that are official promotion articles of the manufacturer. If the logo and inscription are embroidered, these are originals. At which event exactly they were originally distributed is not always documented; they are particularly suitable as a collector's item or for collector's meet-ups. --- **Question:** How can one tell whether a Montblanc Meisterstück Classique 163 rollerball/fineliner is original or counterfeit? **Answer:** Collectors report that typical recognition features are the three cap rings (especially the middle one, which on originals should not appear bulgy), the inscription "Montblanc * Meisterstück * Pix *" including inner imprint "Pix" on the clip, as well as the round, not angular, bend of the clip; the points of the star should not be too sharp, and the gold closure ring at the cap base must have the right width. On the website fountainpen.de, detailed comparison PDFs ("Vergleich-Rollerball.pdf") as well as a newsletter article with recognition features can be found. With a clear counterfeit, the following procedure is recommended: notify the seller, inform eBay, notify Montblanc and, in extreme cases, engage a lawyer or file a complaint. --- **Question:** Is a purchased Montblanc 144 with old feed and narrow nib an original, and which ink should be used to optimise writing feel and ink flow? **Answer:** The fountain pen described is genuine; the older model has an early feed without the lamellas typical today, which absorb ink under air-pressure changes. Narrow nibs (e.g. EF) tend to scratch more strongly than broader nibs, which glide more smoothly over the paper. The choice of ink does not influence the actual writing feel but the amount of ink on the paper: Pelikan ink (e.g. 4001) is regarded as thinner, Montblanc ink as somewhat thicker, Waterman ink as very fluid and good for ink-flow problems. With very old writing instruments, Pelikan is recommended because of water solubility, in order not to damage the feed. A nib exchange via the seller is sensible, since later nib exchanges at Montblanc are often very expensive. --- **Question:** Is the English dealer penhome.co.uk trustworthy, and how can one remove sticky soiling from a Montblanc Madame Pompadour with porcelain cap? **Answer:** Collectors report that the owners of penhome (Simon Gray and Sean Lovell) are regarded as absolutely reliable and do not sell counterfeits; of the Madame Pompadour, no counterfeits are also known. Sticky residues, e.g. label adhesive, can if necessary be removed with cleaning benzine; as a gentler alternative, solvent-based transparent car wax ("paint protection") serves, which simultaneously cares — but not water-based, since this variant is ineffective here. With painted-on gold applications (as on the Pompadour), caution is advised, since solvents can dissolve unsealed lacquers; the same applies to ebonite and celluloid. In case of doubt, the manufacturer or a Montblanc boutique should be consulted for cleaning; for precise application, brushes of size 0 or cotton swabs are suitable. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Patron of Arts Marquise de Pompadour (2001): https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-pompadour-en.htm --- **Question:** Are Montblanc Meisterstück 146s with real piston mechanism (without converter) counterfeited, and how does one proceed with a stiff piston? **Answer:** So far, no counterfeit 146s as real piston fountain pens are known; with a 146 with a working piston mechanism (without unscrewable end cap for a converter), an original is therefore most likely to be assumed. For final certainty, one can present the pen to a Montblanc boutique, which is mostly free; sending in to service entails a service flat rate. With a stiff piston, professional servicing is recommendable; self-removal of the piston is, with the matching key, possible but is advised against for beginners, since the damage in case of error is high. --- **Question:** Which features currently help in recognising typical Montblanc counterfeits (StarWalker, Meisterstück, Scenium) on online platforms like eBay? **Answer:** Typical hints of counterfeits are poorly imitated packaging (e.g. with a black instead of white Montblanc star on the mountain symbol) as well as a characteristic notch on the cap rings that does not occur on originals. A well-founded comparison can be found in the Vergleich-Rollerball PDF on fountainpen.de. Counterfeit briefcases as well as Meisterstück, StarWalker and Scenium imitations are frequently offered by a few professional sellers. In suspected cases, it is recommended to inform both the seller and eBay. --- **Question:** How can one distinguish between original and counterfeit on inherited Montblanc writing instruments (Scott Fitzgerald, Cervantes, further Meisterstücks)? **Answer:** Collectors report that a Scott Fitzgerald counterfeit can be recognised by the nib and discolouration, since the original is a piston filler, the fakes, on the other hand, cartridge fillers; a Cervantes fake stands out through non-gilded rings and clip of brass as well as a flaking surface. Pure fantasy products without a real model also occur. Writing instruments with the imprint "West Germany" on the cap ring come from the period before 1991 and are, provided no further oddities are present, generally genuine. --- **Question:** How does one recognise a counterfeit of the Montblanc 145 by nib, serial number and converter? **Answer:** A counterfeit can be recognised by several details: the imprint on the nib is far too flatly stamped and only partially platinum-plated, the serial number is, on the original, laser-etched and executed in an unmistakably different font, and the converter differs clearly on originals from the converters used in counterfeits. These points alone allow an unambiguous identification in many cases. Filing a complaint with the prosecuting authority experience shows little — more sensible is the reversal of the purchase. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Limited Edition John Lennon won at an online auction clearly under list price an original? **Answer:** According to the assessment of several collectors, it is an original; the seller mentioned is known as reputable. Low prices are explained by the fact that non-specialist dealers can offer at calculatively cheaper prices. For transport, a suitable case is recommended in order to avoid scratches. Pros and cons of specialist trade compared to online purchase are widely discussed among collectors. --- **Question:** Are a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 fountain pen, a Meisterstück ballpoint, a Meisterstück pencil and a matching Sienna case to be checked for originality based on the inscriptions? **Answer:** The writing instruments mentioned are classified by experienced collectors as originals. Until the end of the 1980s, the clip read W.-Germany, then only Germany; serial numbers were only laser-etched later. Writing instruments without a serial number and with the imprint Germany can therefore be classified into the 1990s. The case presented is presumably also original but does not belong to the Sienna series and rather comes from the 1980s in a fairly simple version. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc briefcase auctioned at an online auction house with applied star, imitation-leather trim and unmatching pen loops an original? **Answer:** Several assessments see the bag clearly as a counterfeit; indications are the applied star, the foreign design, the deficient finishing as well as the absence of typical Montblanc embossings. Such imitations crop up regularly in online auctions. Buyers should immediately demand a reversal and, in case of dispute, use buyer protection as well as inform the brand piracy department of Montblanc; in extreme cases a criminal complaint is also possible. Experience shows that even the threat of further steps often leads to refund of the purchase price. --- **Question:** Can it be judged from photos whether a found Montblanc Jules Verne ballpoint of the Writers Edition is genuine? **Answer:** On the pictures, no obvious counterfeit features are recognisable; however, of the Jules Verne there are very good counterfeits, which are hardly identifiable from photos. A reliable assessment is only possible through personal inspection, e.g. in a Montblanc boutique or via Montblanc customer service; there a chargeable authenticity check can be commissioned, with the writing instrument to be sent in. Market values should not be read from asking prices but from realised sale prices, e.g. eBay sales of completed auctions. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Friedrich Schiller (Writers Edition) won at an online auction most likely an original, and what liability does the forum bear with such assessments? **Answer:** The Schiller shown looks, in the assessment of experienced collectors, authentic, since counterfeiters do not convincingly reproduce the typical design details of this edition. Generally, online remote diagnoses of authenticity can never be conclusive; in case of doubt, the specialist retailer or a boutique is the right point of contact. Forum operators are not liable for content of individual posts; an obligation of content review for communities does not exist according to relevant case law. Authors of individual posts can theoretically be held responsible for false statements, which, however, is practically difficult to enforce. --- **Question:** Is a supposed Montblanc offered at an online auction a counterfeit, and what value range is realistic for a MonteRosa? **Answer:** The piece shown is not a fake but an original MonteRosa, the simpler sister brand of Montblanc, presumably from the 1960s; a nib exchange is no longer possible on this old model. Even with old Montblanc models there are by now many replicas, so that the warning about fakes also applies in the vintage area. Binding price lists for older Montblancs do not exist; the book Collectible Stars offers price and rarity classes; current market prices can best be derived at fountain-pen fairs or by observing online auctions. For a normal MonteRosa, depending on model variant, colour (export colours are rarer), preservation and nib material, a range of around 25 to 50 euros is realistic. --- **Question:** Can it be said from photos whether a supposed Montblanc Solitaire Carbon Steel with Meisterstück imprint near the writing tip and a strikingly two-piece body is an original? **Answer:** The features described clearly speak against an original; a Meisterstück imprint near the writing tip does not belong on the Solitaire Carbon Steel; the cap ring, the star and the form of the clip deviate, and the gap at the lower barrel end does not exist on the original model. Montblanc has never made such a model. Only the packaging could be original. A definitive assessment is only possible through a boutique or an authorised dealer on the spot. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc offered at a US auction described as a Noblesse Oblige an original, and what distinguishes the series Noblesse and Noblesse Oblige? **Answer:** In the specific case there is a faulty seller description: depicted is a real Montblanc Noblesse of the third series, not a Noblesse Oblige. Both lines are different writing instruments: the Noblesse is significantly slimmer and has a metal core; the Noblesse Oblige consists of plastic and lies below it in quality and price. The faulty description presumably affects the result negatively. For a Noblesse with lacquer surface and 18-carat gold nib, a price around 119 US dollars is market-customary. When buying from abroad, customs and shipping are to be added. --- **Question:** Did the Montblanc Meisterstück 164 ballpoints from 1980 to 2007 have the same length and what dimensions are documented? **Answer:** Dimensions of various model generations, including cap and barrel diameter, are documented in an older forum thread. With the terms cap diameter and barrel diameter, it is simply the diameter of the cap or the barrel. A complete technical overview in picture form provides the simplest comparison possibility for lengths and diameters across the production years. --- **Question:** What possibilities for authenticity checking of a Montblanc does the manufacturer offer, and why does the question of originality nevertheless arise frequently in the forum? **Answer:** Montblanc boutiques check standard models directly on the spot free of charge; a sending in to customer service with photos and serial number is alternatively possible. The question of originality nevertheless arises frequently because boutiques are only located in cities with about 80,000 or more inhabitants, and a journey is in many cases disproportionate. In addition, sales staff in boutiques know mainly the current range, which is why their assessment is not always conclusive especially with older models. Remote diagnoses remain in any case of limited reliability. --- **Question:** Which current counterfeits crop up in online auctions around Montblanc models like Meisterstück, Scenium, Star Walker, Menuhin and Asian sellers, and is their sale in Germany permitted? **Answer:** Collectors observe increasing fake activities of Chinese and other Asian providers; affected are Meisterstück, Scenium, Star Walker and the Menuhin, the latter of which appeared in the original only as a fountain pen and ballpoint and never as a rollerball. Even self-labelled replicas may not be sold in Germany; distribution is generally forbidden. Recommended is purchase from a specialist retailer, since fakes are increasingly elaborately designed and even packaging with Montblanc stars is by now imitated, which complicates recognition. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück 144 with pure plug-on cap and without Pix imprint under the clip an original? **Answer:** Regular 144s are not screwed but only plugged; only individual Solitaire variants and very old 144s from the 1950s have a screw thread. The Pix mark under the clip is present on newer models but is partly missing on older versions. Nibs are technically the most difficult part; well-made original nibs therefore mostly speak unambiguously for an original. --- **Question:** Do counterfeits of the Writers Edition Karajan crop up in online auctions, and which additional model types do not belong to the original at all? **Answer:** The Karajan was never made as a rollerball; an offered Karajan rollerball is therefore necessarily a counterfeit; likewise a Kafka rollerball. Collectors report increasingly well-made fakes, also in packaging design with a white star, which complicates recognition based on offer photos. Even pencils are not generally safe from fakes; collectors have already seen counterfeit Meisterstück mechanical pencils in the USA. Originality features such as the form of the star, the spelling of the word Meisterstück with ue, the number and form of the cap rings, the Pix embossing and the form of the clip end can be checked on careful inspection. Recommended is purchase from the specialist retailer. --- **Question:** How does one recognise the authenticity of a Montblanc Meisterstück 144 with a single-colour gold nib, and is it really a piston filler? **Answer:** The 144, despite being widely called a piston filler, is technically a cartridge or converter fountain pen. For authenticity checking, alongside visual features like star form, Pix embossing and clean laser engraving on the clip, above all comparison with reference photos as well as assessment in a Montblanc boutique, e.g. on Munich's Maximilianstraße, are recommended. A thorough cleaning can often remedy existing function disorders, so that the pen is again usable as a writing instrument. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Solitaire Doué Stainless Steel with somewhat darker-appearing grey rings an original? **Answer:** On the Solitaire Stainless Steel variants, differently produced rings occur, which often look sandblasted or powder-coated and often appear somewhat darker than the rest of the body. If the other original features (star form, laser engraving, clip, Pix embossing) are correct, that points to an authentic piece. A reliable judgement requires high-resolution detail photos of the ring section in question. --- **Question:** Are two silver pencils Montblanc pieces, and what value is to be set? **Answer:** On the photos, only one of the two pencils is a Montblanc pencil in silver from the 1930s or 1940s; the second does not come from Montblanc. At that time the firm Fend, which held the patent for such multi-colour mechanisms, made similar pencils for many manufacturers. The sale of such pieces is sensible via eBay if the value is uncertain; meaningful photos and, where applicable, the reading of possible imprints are necessary for an evaluation. --- **Question:** Are Montblanc spectacle frames offered on eBay counterfeited, and how can originals be recognised? **Answer:** Montblanc spectacle frames are now also being counterfeited, similarly to writing instruments, watches and leather goods. Aggravatingly, Montblanc has changed the spectacle licensee several times since 1997, so that older catalogues are no longer current and legitimate model differences arise. Conspicuously low prices and conspicuously fast direct-purchase processing are indications of untrustworthy offers. --- **Question:** Are eBay offers from a seller with a strikingly large number of identical Montblanc Meisterstück 161s trustworthy? **Answer:** With sellers who offer multiple examples of the same model under similar-sounding account names and use pictures that demonstrably come from foreign websites, extreme caution is advised. If the buyer cannot be sure of receiving the piece shown in the pictures, the purchase should be refrained from. Such constellations with dozens of identical models in the seller history are a clear warning sign. --- **Question:** Does the letterhead of a Montblanc letter suffice as proof of authenticity for a supposed Montblanc pencil that is marked with "M999 Other"? **Answer:** A letterhead alone is not proof of authenticity, and the internal model number M999 stands at Montblanc merely for "other" and says nothing about brand affiliation. If a writing instrument is submitted for repair and not repaired, it appears in the letter with this collective code without Montblanc thereby confirming its originality. The white dot alone does not make a no-name pencil into a Montblanc; decisive are the typical brand features on the writing instrument itself. --- **Question:** Did the Montblanc nibs of the 1950s and 1960s, e.g. on model 3-44 G, always have an engraving of the summit star? **Answer:** On comparison pieces from this period, e.g. on the 342 or 344, the nib is identically worked and engraved with the summit star. A missing star engraving would therefore be untypical; the presence, on the other hand, no sufficient indication of a counterfeit. The evaluation should therefore always take place in the overall context of all original features. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc 146 Le Grand with a single-colour gold nib and blue viewing window an original from the 1980s or a counterfeit? **Answer:** Pens from the 1980s with a single-colour nib and blue viewing window are authentic and correspond to the construction state at that time; comparable examples are documented at fountainpen.de/old-80er-146.htm. The marking "W-Germany" indicates production before 1989. With remaining doubts about authenticity, the pen can be sent for assessment to Montblanc Hamburg; flat-rate remote diagnoses are unreliable. On seller statements about the duration of use one should not rely, since these often deviate significantly from the actual production period. --- **Question:** What possibilities does an eBay seller have if, after the auction is stopped by Montblanc, it turns out that the offered ballpoint is a counterfeit? **Answer:** If an auction is stopped by trademark objection of the manufacturer, eBay refunds the offer fees to the provider; a sale does not come about. Plagiarisms can often be recognised by details like the groove between the engraving rings but are not always obvious for laypersons. Sensible is the personal handing over of the counterfeit for destruction at Montblanc, instead of keeping the piece in circulation. If, on the other hand, one is the buyer and the auction was stopped by the trademark holder, one can withdraw from the purchase and demand refund of the purchase price. --- **Question:** How does one tell whether a Montblanc StarWalker rollerball bought on eBay is a counterfeit, and what can be done if no serial number is present? **Answer:** An original StarWalker carries under the clip the imprint 'Pix' or 'Germany metal pix'. Earlier examples had a longer inner cylinder for accommodating the refill; the absence of a serial number is therefore not yet an unambiguous proof of counterfeit. For reliable assessment, it is recommended to present the device to an authorised Montblanc dealer or a brand expert. A direct comparison with the comparison pictures published on the community page is additionally helpful. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc 144 offered as two years old with a jagged cap and 14K-585 nib genuine, and does the stated age correspond? **Answer:** The 144 shown is an original with a real 14K-585 nib. However, the age statement of two years does not match; the form with plug-on cap and the feed shown correspond to writing instruments from the early 1990s; the 144 in this version has not been produced for some time. Despite authenticity, the price asked on eBay is regarded as significantly too high. Collectors should therefore critically check descriptions and consult comparison pictures of older generations. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Safety with a strikingly jagged star on the cap to be classified as a counterfeit? **Answer:** Even a star that looks jagged need not be a counterfeit indication. The Montblanc Diary & Collector's Guide depicts on p. 116 various historical snow-cap variants, including a correspondingly jagged form that occurs on originals. Before judgement it is therefore worth comparing the star form with documented original variants in the collector literature. --- **Question:** Does a Montblanc fountain pen with the cap inscription 'Montblanc Germany - Classic' and a narrow gold ring belong to the Generation line? **Answer:** Yes, it is an early Generation: the line was initially produced under the name 'Classic' and later renamed to 'Generation' to avoid confusion with the designation 'Classique' of the Meisterstück range. The early variant has a narrower cap ring and a slightly deviating, less smooth clip. The bevelled cap form and the 14K-585 nib remain the same. Real originals are thus correctly designated 'Classic'. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück Classique 165 mechanical pencil with serial number 'IC 248523' and 'Germany' engraving on the clip ring an original? **Answer:** The example described is an original. On the ring at the clip, both serial number and inscription 'Germany' are engraved by default; reduced engraving quality compared to a piece bought in store need not be an authenticity defect. The exact coding of the serial number is, however, only known to Montblanc and cannot be assigned externally to a production batch. Even a missing logo print on the lead reservoir is no unambiguous authenticity indication. --- **Question:** Is the model number (e.g. 146, 161) still engraved on the middle cap ring of Montblanc Meisterstück Le Grand writing instruments? **Answer:** On current Meisterstücks, on the middle cap ring there mostly stands only 'Meisterstück Pix Montblanc'; 'Pix' is an old brand designation. The model number (e.g. 146, 161, 164) has for some time no longer been engraved on the ring as standard, even if older catalogue photos still show this, because Montblanc often continues to use pictures over years. Serial number (PL...) and 'Germany' are, on the other hand, engraved on the clip. Collectors thus distinguish models not only by type but also by year of production. --- **Question:** How does one tell whether a Montblanc Meisterstück Doué Stainless Steel ballpoint is genuine or counterfeit, especially with an unfilled warranty booklet? **Answer:** An unfilled warranty booklet alone is not a reliable indication of a counterfeit. More reliable is the packaging: with many known counterfeits, the case is fitted with a metal clip on the bottom and only covered with a cloth, while original boxes appear more solid. Older original boxes were lined with black satin cloth and not with foam, which does not automatically point to a counterfeit. Collectors confirm that a solid, high-quality finished box is a good authenticity feature. --- **Question:** What consequences does the merger of the eBay platform with the Chinese Eachnet have for the market of brand writing instruments and counterfeits? **Answer:** China and Turkey only recognise trademark protection to a limited extent, so trademark counterfeits there were for a long time de facto tolerated. Since both countries belong to the WTO, however, they are officially obliged to combat plagiarisms, which in practice is inadequately implemented. Even an EU accession would not necessarily solve the problem, as experiences with the Czech Republic show. Collectors therefore expect a clear increase of counterfeit offers on the world market through the platform integration. --- **Question:** How can counterfeit Montblanc keychains on eBay be recognised? **Answer:** The most important recognition feature is the packaging: with counterfeits the paper of the box looks differently glossy, since original boxes have a characteristic surface structure. The origin of the seller (e.g. Taiwan) alone is no proof of a counterfeit. A direct comparison of original photos and auction picture can reveal subtle deviations not recognisable at first glance. Collectors recommend, in case of doubt, placing a known original piece next to it. --- **Question:** Which features do obvious Kafka ballpoint counterfeits show, and how problematic are crude plagiarisms compared to more precise reproductions? **Answer:** Crude counterfeits like the supposed Franz Kafka of rosin (precious resin) or as a water pen betray themselves through faulty descriptions, ridiculous material specifications and cheap finishing but are easily recognisable through their price and look. Collectors agree that less obvious, high-quality reproduced counterfeits are the actual problem, since they approximate the original ever more. This development is observable in plagiarisms in many sectors, e.g. also in the automotive area. --- **Question:** How can one tell on an eBay purchase whether a Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire Doué ballpoint is genuine, and which discounts are usual in specialist trade? **Answer:** Based on good auction photos, the authenticity can often be judged already; especially Solitaire models are well checkable due to detail-rich finishing. In specialist trade and in boutiques, list-price binding generally applies; a sale below it can lead to delisting of the dealer by Montblanc. With a friendly enquiry, discounts of 5 to 10 percent are quite possible, in rare exceptional cases also more. Anyone who does not know their way around should preferably buy in specialist trade, since there advice and authenticity guarantee are ensured. --- **Question:** Does a Montblanc 149 with unusual look (e.g. overlay) exist as an official factory model? **Answer:** Such unusual 149s are mostly own constructions of skilled collectors or pieces reworked by third-party providers like Paul Rossi and were not officially delivered by Montblanc. The motive is often the restoration of damaged body parts or a pure refinement, e.g. with maki-e or gemstone overlays after the historical model of the jeweller's overlays. Such reworkings can significantly increase the market value, sometimes by triple or more. Important, however, is correct declaration as a special production, not as an original Montblanc. --- **Question:** What to do if a Montblanc Meisterstück 144 writes well freshly filled but increasingly badly after days and finally shows failures? **Answer:** Such problems mostly arise through a worn or soiled feed, whose capillary action slackens. An air gap between nib end and feed can also interrupt the ink flow. The nib itself should under no circumstances be removed oneself, since the required tight reassembly only succeeds with special sealing material. At Montblanc a service with replacement of the feed costs about 49 euros, which is the most reliable solution. --- **Question:** On which Montblanc writing instruments does the inscription Germany Metal PIX under the clip serve as an authenticity feature, and since when has it existed? **Answer:** The PIX inscription under the clip is found not only on Meisterstücks but also on many other lines like the Bohème and some Limited Editions. A complete list of affected models does not exist. The additional engravings like clip-ring number, Made in or PIX were introduced in the course of time into ongoing production, so no uniform cut-off date exists; the introduction did not occur synchronously for all models. A missing PIX is therefore alone no reliable authenticity feature. --- **Question:** Why does no viewing window appear on a Montblanc 146, and how can its authenticity nevertheless be established? **Answer:** The viewing window of a Montblanc 146 is frequently present but barely visible; with a strong light source (halogen or LED) behind the barrel, body and viewing window can be clearly distinguished by colour, since the window shimmers through brighter. On old 146s from the 1950s, the celluloid body can be discoloured dark red to black by aggressive inks, so that the ink window also appears obscured. Today, too, with use of certain inks a thin coating can form. For authenticity checking, comparison photos, proportion comparison with documented originals and the serial number help. --- **Question:** Which features do the increasingly high-quality Greta Garbo counterfeits have, and how does one recognise them? **Answer:** The first Greta Garbo counterfeits reach Germany and are visually so good that recognition is difficult. A central indication, however, is the model itself: no official Greta Garbo rollerball exists; an offered rollerball must therefore necessarily be a counterfeit. The same sellers often also offer other known plagiarisms, e.g. StarWalker Rubber fakes, which likewise serves as a warning signal. Collectors notify on suspicion directly the highest bidders and eBay. --- **Question:** How does one recognise a counterfeit of a Montblanc StarWalker offered on eBay? **Answer:** Recognition features for StarWalker counterfeits are above all the nib and the rear barrel area: StarWalker models do not have a two-tone nib; a two-tone nib is therefore a clear counterfeit feature. In addition, the rear barrel part must be chrome-plated and shiny, not black. Even the packaging can be telling — boxes from the 1970s or 1980s do not fit a piece allegedly acquired in 2005. Such counterfeits sometimes reach three-figure amounts at auctions, which is why collectors point out corresponding offers early on. --- **Question:** Is the depicted writing instrument a counterfeit or an original? **Answer:** Based on the photos provided, the answerers here see an original. In case of doubt, further and more detailed pictures should be requested from the seller in order to enable a reliable judgement. --- **Question:** Are writing instruments of other manufacturers (Pelikan, Graf von Faber-Castell, Caran d'Ache, OMAS) also being counterfeited, or do counterfeiters concentrate on Montblanc? **Answer:** Counterfeits concentrate for economic reasons primarily on the market leader with high numbers and high shop price, in the writing-instrument area on Montblanc. Other brands like Pelikan, Caran d'Ache, Graf von Faber-Castell or OMAS hardly play a role in counterfeits; occasionally, however, fakes of Cartier or Louis Vuitton (LV) are also known. The phenomenon thus corresponds to that of other sectors, e.g. watches (Rolex, Breitling) or lighters (Dupont). --- **Question:** My Montblanc 164 ballpoint squeaks on twisting, the clip looks more golden than the ring and at the same time bears W.-Germany and a serial number. Is it nevertheless genuine, and how do I get rid of the squeak? **Answer:** Based on the photos, it is an original. There were transition phases in which clips already bore a serial number and at the same time the engraving W.-Germany. That the clip optically looks more golden than the Meisterstück ring is typical on the 164 and no counterfeit indication; it can additionally be due to polishing. Against the squeak, the star can be unscrewed; afterwards clip and cap can be removed, and on the underlying black rubber ring as well as the milling of the twist mechanism a little Vaseline can be applied, which generally removes the noise. --- **Question:** How does one proceed against obvious counterfeits on eBay, e.g. of a Montblanc Kafka, if the marketplace itself does not intervene? **Answer:** Even with private auctions, legally no counterfeits may be sold; the seller cannot here exclude a right of return. Concrete auction numbers can be reported to the eBay hotline; eBay forwards these to Montblanc as the manufacturer, which checks the auction. Helpful for one's own evaluation is the overview of typical counterfeit features at fountainpen.de/fakes.htm. Since counterfeits are getting visually better and better, the counterfeit problem on eBay, in the view of many collectors, remains permanently. --- **Question:** How does one recognise that a Montblanc Meisterstück set offered on eBay is counterfeit? **Answer:** Recognisable is the counterfeit above all by the cap top and the cap rings. On the pieces shown, the cap top is executed entirely black, while on originals it consists about two-thirds of metal and only the star itself is set against a black background. The cap rings are also interrupted here by black fields, which is likewise not the case on originals. In case of doubt, additional sharp detail photos should be requested. --- **Question:** Are the depicted Montblanc writing instruments (fountain pen and ballpoint) from the 70s/80s real, and which models exactly are they? **Answer:** Both writing instruments are genuine; counterfeits of these simple models are not known, since counterfeiters concentrate on Meisterstücks. The first fountain pen is the model CS from the 70s with gilded steel nib (then retail price 39.00 DM); the second is a Montblanc Turbo from the early 80s, sold as a school fountain pen for 19.50 DM. A blue cap top signalled at Montblanc in the 50s the presence of a carbon-copy nib that worked with high pressure on carbon paper and was correspondingly rigid and inflexibly designed. --- **Question:** Is the Montblanc Patron of Art J.P. Morgan also available as a rollerball or ballpoint, and is an auction with limitation number xxxx/4810 for a J.P. Morgan rollerball credible? **Answer:** The J.P. Morgan officially exists only as a fountain pen; a rollerball or ballpoint version with limitation number x/4810 is not in the programme and thus most likely a counterfeit, even if 925 stamps and mother-of-pearl star can look deceptively real on photos. Occasionally there may be conversions, which however would not justify an official limitation statement. In the specific case, the seller himself stopped the auction after a hint in order to check the originality at a boutique. --- **Question:** How does one recognise counterfeits of Montblanc rollerballs (e.g. a supposed LeGrand) on eBay? **Answer:** Several features expose such counterfeits very reliably. On the original Solitaire, the cap top is of the same material as the body with only the star at the front, while fakes often show a completely black cap top. The spaces between the cap rings on plagiarisms show recognisable indentations and are black, while on the original the body material shimmers through. Additionally, on a fake LeGrand the thread for screwing on the cap is often missing, which a larger rollerball should actually have. A comparison with pictures on the Montblanc website or relevant collector sites usually suffices to determine the differences. --- **Question:** Is a strongly altered Montblanc 146 with overlay a counterfeit? **Answer:** The base model is recognisable as an original 146 from the 80s by the ink-view window and the nib and thus no counterfeit in the narrower sense. It is, however, an unauthorised customising, since Montblanc does not give permission for such refinements. In the collector scene it is known that, e.g., a Belgian collector occasionally fits 146s and 149s with sterling-silver overlays and engravings; such individual pieces do not violate trademark law but may not be sold. The pen is then no longer an original Montblanc but an individualised collector's piece. --- **Question:** How can the authenticity of an eBay offer of a Montblanc Fitzgerald or Greta Garbo ballpoint be judged? **Answer:** Greta Garbo counterfeits are on photos often very well made and hardly distinguishable from originals, which makes an online judgement difficult. Suspicious are sellers who as private persons offer over a hundred allegedly new Montblancs, use poor or blurred photos and set prices far below 50 percent of the list price. Typical fake features like the inscription Iridium Point or a black star in the case should also deter buyers. With realistic observation, a Greta Garbo at a bargain price is neither plausible as genuine nor worth the price as a fake; in such cases, the purchase from a specialist retailer is the better option. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Bohème with the inscription Rouge et Noir, two-tone 14K-585 nib, Pix clip and arched stone genuine, and what collector value does it have? **Answer:** Based on the features mentioned, it is a genuine Bohème Rouge et Noir, which was made only in a short production period and is correspondingly rare. The collector value is recognisably increased but not dramatically high; the piece nevertheless remains special and worth collecting. The model is also valued in writing behaviour and should therefore be kept, especially since it rarely turns up on antique markets. --- **Question:** Is Commerzbank allowed in an advertising campaign to depict an altered fountain pen leaning on a Montblanc 146P, without violating trademark law? **Answer:** It is presumably a Photoshop edit, with which deliberate deviations from the original (e.g. three instead of one platinum ring, missing nib engraving) were generated to circumvent trademark-law problems. Without express permission of the manufacturer, protected brand articles may not be used in foreign advertising, since this is regarded as reputation exploitation; corresponding rulings, e.g. on Rolls-Royce, exist. As long as no identical trademarks like star or inscription are used and only an allusion to the design takes place, advertisers mostly move within the legally permissible area. The comparable applies also to advertising-gift ballpoints, which often take visual loans from the Meisterstück. --- **Question:** Are the Montblanc push fillers with swastika overlay offered as 'NAZI Pen' genuine, or are they counterfeits? **Answer:** There were indeed original Montblanc push fillers with raised swastikas on the precious-metal overlay; such historical pieces thus do exist. The offers cropping up today on eBay or Penbid are, however, predominantly counterfeits, often from Eastern Europe, and in the workmanship poor. eBay often removes such offers quickly, which is mostly due rather to the swastika than to the counterfeit as such. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück 144 in aubergine or Bordeaux with a black grip section genuine, or is it a counterfeit? **Answer:** The fountain pen is genuine; the components are original Montblanc parts: cap and reservoir come from the 144 in Bordeaux; the front part from a black model of the same caliber (Classique). Bordeaux 144s were until June 1992 delivered by Montblanc basically with a black grip section and fitted with a single-colour gold nib; only from 1992 with the Solitaire Doué series were Bordeaux grip sections with bicolour nib uniformly fitted. The supplied gift packaging, however, comes from the 90s and originally belonged to the Generation and Noblesse Oblige series; it is therefore not necessarily original to the piece. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück Pix '10 Years Vodafon' genuine, can one use cartridges or ink bottle, and is the cinnamon ink still available? **Answer:** Based on the description and photos, it is a genuine Montblanc. Both cartridges and filling with the converter from the ink bottle are possible and equivalent in writing quality. The brown cinnamon ink is by current state presumably no longer in the range; a direct enquiry to a Montblanc boutique gives binding information. Alternatively, numerous other inks from other manufacturers are available. --- **Question:** Is an eBay-acquired Montblanc 149 without serial number on the clip, with Germany engraving, 14K nib and a dash instead of the umlaut points on the word 'Meisterstück' genuine? **Answer:** The 149 is genuine; older Meisterstücks did not yet bear a serial number on the clip, and the deviating spelling of the Ü with dash instead of dots is typical for older models. The combined hints of the buyer (original nib, old engraving form, missing serial) speak for a real 80s model. For further use, another 146 need not necessarily be dried out: with current seals it is not necessary, and with writing instruments with cork seal it suffices to condition them with water some days before filling. --- **Question:** Can one tell from a single photo and seller description whether a Montblanc Bohème Bleu Platin is an original or a counterfeit? **Answer:** A reliable authenticity assessment based solely on a single photo is, with the Bohème, not possible, since by now very good counterfeits circulate. On the concrete picture, no obvious defects were recognisable, but several description details were wrong: the Bohème does not have a white-gold nib but a platinum-plated yellow-gold nib, and it does not belong to the Meisterstück line. The spelling 'Mont Blanc' is also a warning sign, since the manufacturer officially appears as Montblanc. The mentioned RRP of 749 euros for a 149 was at the time excessive; in the boutiques rather 660 to 679 euros were charged. --- **Question:** Can one judge on the basis of small, low-resolution photos whether a Montblanc Platinum Resin writing instrument is genuine? **Answer:** At a resolution of only about 53 by 70 pixels, no sensible statements on authenticity are possible; sensible are photos of about 800 pixels width or more. Especially with models from the StarWalker line, counterfeits are by now so good that even on high-quality photos frequently no unambiguous differences to the original are visible. In such cases only a direct authenticity check helps further, e.g. via an enquiry to Montblanc itself (montblanc.de) or via assessment at a specialist retailer. --- **Question:** How can one tell from the online description and the photos in the clip area whether a Montblanc Bohème ballpoint is genuine? **Answer:** With too small or unfavourably lit photos, a reliable authenticity judgement is hardly possible; a broad selection of nib widths and the presence of a pencil in the seller's range can be indications of a reputable offer, since fakes mostly offer only one nib width and pencils are rarely counterfeited. A serial number alone is no authenticity proof, since even counterfeits by now bear serial numbers. The original has on the clip the embossing 'Pix'; characteristic are also the stone in the corresponding colour (e.g. 'bleu') and the finishing of the rings. Ultimately, only checking the piece in hand at a specialist retailer or in direct comparison with a known original brings certainty. --- **Question:** How can one judge from an unsharp photo whether the clip of a Montblanc 146 is genuine or counterfeit? **Answer:** On the basis of an unsharp photo, a final judgement is difficult; the clip form of the 146 has slightly changed several times in the course of the decades, so deviating details do not necessarily indicate a counterfeit but can point to an older production period. As far as recognisable, the clip in the specific case appears plausible and fits a not-quite-current writing instrument. For a reliable judgement, a sharp, well-lit photo would be necessary, complemented by details like inner thread, serial number and nib engraving. --- **Question:** Can one judge from photos whether a used-bought Montblanc StarWalker Resin is genuine? **Answer:** The StarWalker shown makes on the photos an authentic impression: the laser engraving on the clip, the Pix embossing under the clip as well as inside and nib speak for an original; striking counterfeit features are not recognisable. A last residual certainty, however, cannot be derived from photos, since better fakes can look comparable. As an additional practical test, the cap should be easily and evenly screwable on at the rear end; in combination with the visual features that is a strong indication of a real piece. --- **Question:** Can one recognise from a photo whether a supposed Montblanc fountain pen is a counterfeit and which model it is supposed to be? **Answer:** The fountain pen shown is a poorly executed counterfeit of a Montblanc Solitaire Stainless Steel II. Several original features are not correctly implemented: the cap top has wrong proportions, the three rings are coarsely faked, the inner thread does not fit and the surface pattern of the cap recognisably deviates from the original. Comparison pictures of an original can be found on fountainpen.de under 'solitaire-steel2.htm'. From buying such a piece one is to be advised against. --- **Question:** Is a supposed Montblanc 146 acquired on eBay genuine, and which nib width does it possess? **Answer:** Based on the posted pictures, the fountain pen can be identified beyond doubt as an original and model 146. The nib width is difficult to judge exactly on photos; the characteristic speaks here most likely for an M or F nib. For a reliable determination, comparison with unambiguously assigned nibs at the specialist retailer or at Montblanc itself is recommended. --- **Question:** Is the Montblanc ballpoint presented an original or a counterfeit? **Answer:** Based on the submitted pictures, everything speaks for the ballpoint being genuine. A reliable judgement via photos has, however, limits; in case of doubt, presentation to the specialist trade or to the manufacturer in Hamburg is recommended. --- **Question:** Is the brand 'Croco Romedile' or 'Crocodile/Crocodille' to be classified as a pure plagiarism brand that copies other brands like Montblanc, Parker and Waterman? **Answer:** The brand is unanimously classified as a plagiarist that takes over designs of Parker, Waterman and Montblanc; claim and actual quality lie far apart. The similarity, e.g. on the pen stand to the Montblanc Golden Dragon 2000 or to the Meisterstück Black Resin Collection, is obviously intentional. The internet presence is also linguistically strikingly poor, which further undermines the seriousness of the brand. In parallel, currently high-quality fakes on a larger scale are also being observed in the market; in Italy, for example, 130,000 counterfeit Montblanc Meisterstücks were once confiscated. Given this, the brand is clearly to be assigned to the area of recognising counterfeits. --- **Question:** Why does a Montblanc 114 Solitaire Vermeil (Mozart) bear the stamp 'Ag925' and the marking 'France' instead of 'Germany' — are certain Montblanc models made in France? **Answer:** The body parts of the Solitaire Mozart were and are made in the former Cartier factory in France, which was taken over by Montblanc years ago. For this reason, according to EU legal requirements, the country of origin 'France' is to be applied to the writing instrument. The marking, however, concerns only these metal parts; central components like feed and nib remain of German manufacture. 'Ag925' stands for sterling silver 925 and is in content identical with the pure number 925. The fountain pen is thus a regular original. --- **Question:** How effective are commercial providers that track down brand counterfeits at auction houses and online marketplaces? **Answer:** The effectiveness of such service providers is limited, because the detection essentially rests on writing to suspicious sellers; a large part of the fakes is in this way actually not captured. Brand owners formally outsource the problem via corresponding contracts but do not solve it systematically. A complete containment of counterfeits via such 'carefree packages' is therefore unrealistic. --- **Question:** Does eBay actually advertise on its homepage with a counterfeit Montblanc 164, and are there other manufacturers that use similar three-ring designs? **Answer:** On the ballpoint shown in the advertising, the cap top is missing, and the clip also does not correspond to the original; that speaks clearly for a counterfeit or at least for an unauthorised third-party product. There are indeed hints of an American manufacturer that fits a similar three-ring configuration, but the three rings are largely protected by trademark law for Montblanc; known is e.g. that Diplomat's model 'Senator' could no longer be distributed because of too great proximity to the 149. Comparable plagiarisms are additionally regularly observed in Asian markets like Shanghai or Bangkok. Montblanc in cases of confusion danger generally consistently takes action against violations. --- **Question:** Is a pen offered for purchase, which purports to be a 'Hommage à Mozart' edition with a flat (instead of arched) cap, an original? **Answer:** There was no alternative Mozart edition with a different cap form than the officially documented variant. The fountain pen in question is not a Mozart but a Montblanc Classic, which is externally related but belongs to another model range. A real Mozart edition is unambiguously identifiable via the official product pictures; deviating cap forms are a clear indication that it is another model or a confusion. --- **Question:** Is a green Montblanc fountain pen from the 1950s with slightly loose cap rings an original, and how are these oddities to be classified? **Answer:** It is an original Meisterstück from the 1950s in celluloid; in this period there were two different green tones as well as a grey variant. Loose cap rings are typical of celluloid, since the material contracts over time; a repair specialist can press the rings and refasten them. The clip with lever mechanism is additionally regarded as one of the most robust and function-secure constructions Montblanc has ever made but is no longer fitted today. Strongly discoloured examples are frequent; well-preserved, little-yellowed celluloid Meisterstücks from the 1950s are rare and correspondingly high-priced. --- **Question:** Are the supposed vintage Montblancs with 'Iridium Point Germany' nibs and silver decoration offered in the eBay auctions in question genuine or counterfeit? **Answer:** The depicted nibs with the imprint 'Iridium Point Germany' are unambiguously counterfeits; the matching silver bodies, e.g. the 'Silver Dragon', are also to be classified as fakes. They are the typical coarsely finished vintage Montblanc plagiarisms from Eastern Europe, whereby some of the pieces do not even carry Montblanc-typical nibs. Imprinted 'D.R.P.' numbers have nothing to do with the originals and serve merely the deception of potential buyers. The applied minimum bids of one euro or dollar stand in no relation to the actual value; even the shipping costs are hardly justified. Buyers have repeatedly bought in good faith via auction houses, which after clarification generally respond responsibly and end the auctions. --- **Question:** How seriously are counterfeits of Montblanc watches from China to be taken, e.g. when they are offered on eBay with a Chinese description? **Answer:** The watch counterfeits from China in circulation are qualitatively significantly worse than the originals and generally immediately recognisable as fakes. In some auctions even a photo from the official Montblanc website is used, without the actual product corresponding to this picture. Anyone who imports the counterfeit goods from China and resells in Germany at higher prices is committing clear trademark violation. Overall, the concern about deceptively real Chinese Montblanc watch counterfeits is currently to be classified as low. --- **Question:** Which features speak for a newly acquired Montblanc Le Grand 146 being genuine, and how reliably does the authenticity check by Montblanc itself turn out? **Answer:** Since counterfeits become technically ever better and circulate in numerous variants, originals cannot be unambiguously determined via one or two individual features but only via the totality of components. Indications for an original are, among others, the presence of various nib widths — counterfeits practically always carry the width 'M' — as well as the correct execution of clip, cap, star and engraving. The authenticity assessment by Montblanc based on submitted photos generally proceeds swiftly and competently; the query about an engraved ID serves here the internal assignment and is no indication of a counterfeit. On this basis, a presented 146 can without problem be confirmed as an original. --- **Question:** How can counterfeit Montblanc StarWalker rollerballs and fountain pens with 'Iridium Point Germany' nibs be recognised, and which eBay auction patterns are suspicious? **Answer:** On the rollerball, the rear body part is, on the counterfeit, black instead of — as on the original — executed in metal. On the StarWalker fountain pen, the original carries a characteristic, clearly different nib that the counterfeits do not reproduce in this way. Generally, auctions are suspicious that run only one day, in which the sellers come from typical counterfeit regions like China or Poland, or in which the names of the highest bidders are hidden so that they cannot directly be warned. A direct reaction by eBay to hints is experience-based ineffective; whether Montblanc on direct contact intervenes faster is unclear. --- **Question:** Is it unusual that a Montblanc Meisterstück 'Hommage à F. Chopin' (145P) was delivered with 18 carat / 750 instead of 14 carat / 585, and does that speak against authenticity? **Answer:** No, an 18-carat nib on a 145P does not necessarily speak against authenticity; writing instruments from the French market are factory-equipped with an 18-carat gold nib. The internet dealer presumably sourced the goods via French supply chains, or the nib was later regularly exchanged. Since the 145 does not exist in a Solitaire version, a model confusion is ruled out. The other authenticity features — magnifier star, belly band with 'Montblanc Meisterstück Pix', clip engraving with serial number and 'Germany' — fit an original. A counterfeit is therefore unlikely. --- **Question:** How should one react to counterfeit Montblanc writing instruments at internet auctions? **Answer:** Direct mails to the sellers mostly have little effect but can become more effective if one points to the legal consequences from trademark protection law and links to corresponding information pages. More successful is generally the reporting via the official platform mechanisms or the trademark owner. Caution is in order, because some providers react aggressively; therefore it is recommended to formulate hints factually and without personal accusations. --- **Question:** Is an unknown Montblanc-like model a counterfeit? **Answer:** Yes, it is a counterfeit. Counterfeiters often design pure fantasy products that cannot be assigned to a real Montblanc model, which explains the futile comparison with picture material of real pieces. The designation 'Montblanc' may therefore not be used for such a product. --- **Question:** How can a business-card case of the Montblanc 'Platinum' series be distinguished from a counterfeit or another leather series? **Answer:** Montblanc made a complete range of leather goods in the Platinum line, including business-card cases. Decisive for the correct assignment is the colour of the corner reinforcement: a gold-coloured corner refers to the older Solitaire leather series; a silvery or platinum-plated corner to the Platinum series. Both variants are genuine; deviating inner fabrics compared to other leather articles are possible, since the materials between lines and across production years can vary. --- **Question:** Is the box of a used Montblanc 146 with a whitish-discoloured logo in the lid genuine or counterfeit? **Answer:** The box is genuine; the waxy white substance in the lid logo is not part of the original finishing but was subsequently introduced by a previous owner, e.g. as 'customising'. Such colour residues can generally be removed without great effort, without the box taking damage. --- **Question:** Is an offered used Montblanc 146 trustworthy and is the price appropriate, or should one rather buy a new one? **Answer:** The provider named (gidania, Jürgen Kuhse) is regarded in the collector scene as highly reliable; one can trust his statements. The price named for a 146 from the 1980s is fair and appropriate. If the pen, however, is intended as a gift for a beginner, it is recommended to buy a new 146 with full warranty and nib selection, since vintage pieces with specialist retailers do not entail the same service. --- **Question:** Which typographies and digit counts exist with Montblanc serial numbers? **Answer:** Older writing instruments bear round digits; around the year 2000 Montblanc switched to an angular, computer-like font. Laser engraving is basically used with both variants. The number of digits varies: older or higher-quality models often have five-digit serial numbers; today's are generally six- to seven-digit; a completely consistent numbering systematics cannot be derived. --- **Question:** How are Montblanc offers from China to be evaluated that apparently offer originals at striking prices? **Answer:** The pictures shown in the auction text mostly come from originals; the goods themselves, however, are either a counterfeit or after payment not even delivered. Striking indications are identically-sounding serial numbers, deviating nib engravings, black stars on inserts and wrong spellings in the designations. With high-quality ranges like Patron of Art or Writers Edition, nibs are by now very precisely imitated, which is why general caution is advised in buying Chinese Limited Edition offers. --- **Question:** How widespread are counterfeits of older Montblanc writing instruments and how does an auction platform react to them? **Answer:** Counterfeits of old Montblanc pens, e.g. of the 1930s and 1940s, are rarer than with current models but, through high closing prices, particularly dangerous. Platforms like eBay cannot recognise such offers independently and can only intervene if the rights holder reports them as a plagiarism. Certain counterfeit types, e.g. those with Krupp nibs, turn up repeatedly in identical construction and are documented in specialised articles and forums. --- **Question:** Are two found Montblanc Bohème ballpoints originals or counterfeits? **Answer:** Both pieces are modern counterfeits without collector value. Real Bohème writing instruments move price-wise in the range of about 850 to 1,000 euros at the new price and can hardly be expected as coincidental finds in larger numbers. A sale as an original would thus be ruled out. --- **Question:** Does the Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire Doué 144 also exist with a gold-plated silver cap and what does 'Metal 2' on the clip ring mean? **Answer:** The Solitaire Doué exists regularly with a gold-plated cap in the model sizes 144, 146, 163, 164 and 165, each with thread-guilloched decoration; the 144 has the ID number 03495-98 or 14144 with a list price around 535 euros. The gold-plated variant is mainly known from the Bordeaux writing instruments, on which the cap is of gold-plated sterling silver and the body of dark-red precious resin; a black-body variant with gold-plated silver cap is rarer. The meaning of the imprint 'Metal 2' on the clip ring is not finally clarified in the collector circle. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Miguel de Cervantes as a rollerball with detachable cap genuine? **Answer:** Of the Miguel de Cervantes, never a rollerball was produced; the edition comprises exclusively fountain pen, ballpoint and pencil. A piece designated as a rollerball with detachable cap is therefore a counterfeit. Anyone owning such a variant should not rely on an authenticity confirmation and can cross-check the official model statements on the Montblanc website. --- **Question:** How does one recognise counterfeits of the Montblanc Writers Edition Franz Kafka? **Answer:** Real Kafka pieces show a slightly reddish shimmer of the surface and bear on the box an attached strip with the individual limitation number; on counterfeits, both features are frequently missing. A clear exclusion criterion is the construction: the Kafka does not exist as a rollerball; every such offer is therefore necessarily a counterfeit. Packaging and accompanying material are by now very elaborately copied, so the exact comparison with documented original material is recommended. --- **Question:** Is a found ballpoint with the inscription 'Montblanc-Noblesse-Germany' genuine and which refill fits? **Answer:** The ballpoint is most likely a real Montblanc Noblesse I of stainless steel with gilded trim. In contrast to the more recent Noblesse range, the model works with a click mechanism whose spring-mounted clip triggers the retrieval function via a nipple; the deviating mechanism is thus typical and no authenticity indication against Montblanc. Matching refills are available via every Montblanc specialist retailer; before ordering, the exact construction or refill should be checked. --- **Question:** Is an old Montblanc Meisterstück ballpoint without a clip-ring number with 'W.-Germany' stamping genuine? **Answer:** Older Meisterstücks from the period before the fall of the Wall bear the marking 'W.-Germany' and do not in all cases have a number on the clip ring; the absence of this number is therefore no counterfeit indication. There also exist W.-Germany pieces with clip-ring number, the practice was not entirely uniform. A reliable authenticity feature is compatibility with Montblanc original refills: into typical counterfeits of that time, only Parker-system refills fit, so a ballpoint that takes a Montblanc refill is most likely genuine. --- **Question:** Does a writing-instrument stand acquired at a flea market, which fits the Montblanc ink bottle, come from Montblanc? **Answer:** The stand does not come from Montblanc, even if the Montblanc ink bottle is precisely accommodated. Comparable matching reception is rather of coincidental nature; use with the original ink bottle is independent of this possible. --- **Question:** How can originals and counterfeits be reliably distinguished on the Montblanc StarWalker? **Answer:** Indications of originality are, among others, a clip ring whose 'Germany' embossing was, in the early period, stamped and not laser-engraved, as well as a clean and correctly engraved nib. Counterfeits often reveal themselves through faulty inscriptions like 'IRIDIUM POINT PARIS', which do not occur on a real Montblanc. The StarWalker officially exists only in two colour variants, Resin Black and RubberLine; deviating versions are not authentic. In case of doubt, assessment at the authorised specialist retailer or comparison with documented examples is recommended. --- **Question:** Are older Montblanc pencils with odd model number and 1.18 mm lead as well as associated butterfly-nib pens authentic originals? **Answer:** The writing instruments mentioned are actually originals, even if they do not correspond to today's high-price expectation. Until into the 1980s, Montblanc produced alongside the Meisterstücks also much mass goods in middle price ranges; only under Norbert Platt was the brand decidedly positioned in the luxury segment. The mentioned pencil 164 is led as an official Meisterstück, in the 1960s and 1970s recognisable by the 'bishop's hat' at the cap ring. The nib named is correctly to be designated as 'butterfly nib' (German Schmetterlingsfeder), not as 'wing nib'; the latter refers to certain models of the 1950s like 252, 254 and 256. Further information can be found in the book 'Collectible Stars' by Stefan Wallrafen. --- **Question:** How can one judge relatively reliably on a Montblanc StarWalker on eBay whether it is an original? **Answer:** A reliable recognition feature is the nib, which counterfeiters have so far not been able to imitate with high quality. Since Montblanc does not sell any replacement nibs to end customers and repairs only run via the authorised service, it is additionally uneconomical for counterfeiters to fit individual original nibs into imitations. A purchase from a commercial provider with a 14-day right of return additionally allows checking with the specialist retailer. A personal pickup additionally enables visual inspection of further details before purchase. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc W.A. Mozart and Chopin from an auction house be checked for authenticity and warranty claim? **Answer:** On the photos provided, it was, according to the assessment of experienced collectors, originals. Important, however, is the status of the service guide: if it is not delivered filled in by an authorised specialist retailer, the possibility of the free nib exchange in the first two weeks as well as the full nib warranty falls away; a pure dealer's guarantee on the article can indeed exist but does not replace this. Safety-oriented buyers should therefore prefer specialist retailers or Montblanc boutiques or have a planned Mozart/Chopin directly checked by Montblanc. Even with reputable dealers like Handelshaus Rheinländer, authenticity is given, but without automatic nib warranty. --- **Question:** How can a counterfeit be recognised on a Montblanc W. Faulkner ballpoint, and how is the eBay dealer to be evaluated? **Answer:** An unambiguous list of features that only originals show cannot be drawn up, since counterfeits have very different qualities. An indication is the inscription Pix highlighted under the clip, which is present on many originals but not on all, which is why the absence is no sure exclusion criterion. With commercial sellers with positive ratings, the risk is manageable through the legal right of return; nevertheless, purchase from the authorised specialist retailer is recommended, since internet dealers are neither tolerated nor authorised by Montblanc. In case of doubt, a staff member of a boutique can subsequently judge the authenticity. --- **Question:** Can it be judged from the eBay pictures whether an acquired Montblanc set is genuine, and how is the use of foreign sale photos to be evaluated? **Answer:** The depicted pens appear, based on the pictures, most likely genuine; however, the nib shown in the gallery picture fits rather a 149 and presumably does not come from the offered piece. The use of foreign pictures in eBay auctions is legally problematic, since pictures are part of the offer and bidders have the right to original photos of the concrete article. Adopted photos are often a warning sign for counterfeits or unclean sales and lead to no valid sales contract coming about. A reliable estimate only succeeds after receipt of the goods based on one's own photos. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Copernicus offered on eBay a counterfeit? **Answer:** With an instant-buy price of 95 euros and multiple availability, a counterfeit is to be assumed with almost one hundred percent certainty. Even if the photo is unsharp, several anomalies speak against an original. It is not unusual that counterfeiters use original photos for their offers, which is why the photo alone is no authenticity proof. On relevant fake platforms, numerous Montblanc imitations from standard models to Limited Editions are offered. --- **Question:** Is the 75th Anniversary 1924 Solitaire series by Montblanc by now being counterfeited, and how is the imitation to be evaluated? **Answer:** Counterfeits of this series too exist, in which black rings and jagged star were adopted. The imitation, however, is poorly executed in craft, e.g. recognisable by the crooked positioning of the brilliant. Despite the deficient quality, for such fakes prices over 100 euros are partly bid. --- **Question:** Which rare model is a small black Montblanc about 7 cm with 14-carat nib, star with the number 00 and hexagonal star on the cap? **Answer:** It is a very rare, absolutely genuine Montblanc Double Zero Baby Safety with a long cap from the period about 1920 to 1924. A counterfeit can be excluded, since counterfeiters generally do not bear the effort of an original gold nib and use glass nibs instead. Complete model lists of Montblanc do not exist, which is why rare early pieces are hardly to be found in the literature. In restored condition with the star shining again, the model reaches a considerable collector value. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 with bicolour nib, striped ink window, Germany embossing without serial number and a visible metal screw inside the cap genuine? **Answer:** Without a photo a reliable judgement is not possible; the described features sound, however, inconspicuous. The metal screw inside the cap is found on all Meisterstücks; on newer models it is additionally hidden by a blind cap and therefore not visible. The described appearance is thus no indication of a counterfeit. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc rollerball won at eBay, allegedly originating from the Bohème range, an original? **Answer:** It is a counterfeit. A typical indication is the black Montblanc star on the inside of the packaging, since this is on originals never black. Additionally, the pen is not a Bohème but a counterfeit of a StarWalker RubberLine. If already the packaging is unambiguously imitated, most likely the writing instrument itself is no original goods. --- **Question:** Is it worth bidding on eBay on a Montblanc Solitaire Nikolai I, and is the offer despite unsharp pictures to be judged as genuine? **Answer:** The pictures allow an original to be recognised; several assessments confirm the authenticity. Whether a purchase is economically sensible depends on the highest bid and personal collector interest; in regular clearance sales, prices around 685 euros are called up for this model. Buyers report very good writing properties of the model. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc 146 with a strikingly thick middle ring a Wedding Pen or an Anniversary variant? **Answer:** The thick middle ring consists of 585 gold; the pen is a Wedding Pen. The Wedding Pens were historically presented in boutiques as a set consisting of a 144 and a 146, which points to the paired sales idea. The narrower 144 was intended for more delicate hands, the somewhat larger 146 as the counterpart. In black both variants also exist, which regularly causes surprise among collectors who previously knew only the 144. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück 149 from 2014 genuine if on the nib Au750 instead of 18K and under the clip Metal Germany Pix is engraved? **Answer:** The pen is genuine. The inscription 18 kt is found only on older nibs; newer nibs bear the marking Au 750 or Au 585, which is why this marking indicates the age and not the authenticity. The additional inscription Pix under the clip or on the cap has been applied more frequently in recent years, because Pix is in many countries protectable as a brand, while Meisterstück cannot be protected everywhere. The combination of the named features is thus a normal characteristic of current production. --- **Question:** Does Montblanc offer its own jeans collection? **Answer:** With the pictures of alleged Montblanc jeans in circulation, it is a fake, and a poor-quality one. An official jeans line does not belong to the Montblanc range. --- **Question:** Is a fountain pen offered as a Montblanc Noblesse genuine, and how can pictures be uploaded? **Answer:** The pen described is an original. The design corresponds to the taste of the 1970s; comparable writing instruments also existed from other manufacturers like Markant. For picture upload, a maximum resolution of 499 by 499 pixels applies; larger pictures cannot be uploaded. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc case won at eBay with an unusual logo a counterfeit, and how can the purchase be reversed? **Answer:** The case described is a counterfeit; the deviating logo is an unambiguous recognition feature; original cases typically show a clamping for holding the fountain pen. For reversal, the path via PayPal buyer protection is recommended, since the effort is small. With proven counterfeit, the fake status can be confirmed by Montblanc and, if applicable, a complaint filed, since the sale of counterfeits in Germany is punishable. Buyers should carefully check cases before payment, since counterfeiters often make obvious errors on the logo. --- **Question:** Is a fountain pen acquired at an auction a known Montblanc model? **Answer:** The pen is a counterfeit. Striking are, among other things, black spaces between the rings as well as a cap form not occurring on originals. In comparison with the original Solitaire Silver Doué or Solitaire Steel Doué, the differences become clearly visible. --- **Question:** How can I recognise whether my Montblanc Meisterstück Classique ballpoint is genuine, and of what does the material really consist? **Answer:** The Meisterstück writing instruments consist of so-called precious resin, that is, a plastic (similar to plexiglass), not of real natural resin. An exception is the Mozart series, which due to the small wall thickness is made of lacquered metal. Originals typically show a plastic body with metal tip, while counterfeits often consist entirely of lacquered metal. A small chipping behind which yellowish-shimmering material appears can be attributable to the metal tip or simply to ingressed dirt and is no unambiguous authenticity feature. Based on the length and the detail photos, the model number (e.g. 116) can be narrowed down. --- **Question:** Is it normal that a Montblanc 145 Meisterstück appears slightly reddish-transparent when held against strong light? **Answer:** Yes, the precious resin of the Meisterstücks is slightly transparent against a strong light source and can thereby show a reddish shimmer; this is an authenticity feature. It is to be noted that the material is additionally sensitive to heat. Counterfeits typically consist of lacquered metal and are thereby opaque. --- **Question:** How can oddities on a Montblanc Classique Platin Line ballpoint 164P be evaluated, e.g. position of the clip engraving, type of engraving and missing PIX logo? **Answer:** The engraving under the clip reads on current models 'Made in Germany' instead of 'PIX'; that is therefore inconspicuous. The position of the serial number on the clip edge has been changed several times in the course of production and is therefore no reliable authenticity criterion. The inscription should regularly be a laser engraving; however, current counterfeits also use engravings, so this feature has lost meaning. With the large-capacity refills, variants existed over the years too. For concrete authenticity check, an enquiry to Montblanc Service via the contact form on the website with the complete serial number is recommended. --- **Question:** How can one tell whether a Meisterstück from an unknown source is an original or a counterfeit? **Answer:** If the writing instrument shown does not correspond to any documented Montblanc model, it is beyond doubt a counterfeit. Typical recognition features of plagiarisms are unusual spaces between the cap rings, deviating inscriptions like 'MONT BLANC' (instead of Montblanc), occasionally even with spelling errors, and nib inscriptions with general terms like 'Iridium Point'. Such pieces are produced in Asia in large numbers at low prices. The designs resemble no really existing model, which eases identification as a fake. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc pilot's briefcase No. 30860 offered via an internet dealer an original model, and which pilot's briefcases existed at all? **Answer:** The offered briefcase comes from the years-ago discontinued Solitaire leather collection in matt black soft leather, which should not be confused with the nappa leather of the Platin line. Gilded corners on small leather goods were usual in this series and no indication of a counterfeit. Alongside, pilot's briefcases existed from the 4810 Eastside collection (No. 07578, dimensions 47x35x19 cm) as well as from the Meisterstück line. The Solitaire variant is significantly smaller. Current pilot's briefcases are no longer led by Montblanc in the regular range. --- **Question:** Has Montblanc ever produced a travel trolley, or are corresponding offers counterfeits? **Answer:** A Montblanc travel trolley does not belong to the official range; corresponding offers are unquestionably counterfeits. At Asian leather-goods fairs, e.g. in Shenzhen, Montblanc-printed bags, cases and trolleys are produced in container loads and distributed via eBay as well as at border markets in Europe. Even sellers with a high rating can offer such plagiarisms commercially; a high rating count is therefore no authenticity indicator. --- **Question:** Did a Montblanc Platinum ballpoint from the series '75 years Passion and Soul' exist, or is it necessarily a counterfeit? **Answer:** A Platinum variant of the Anniversary Edition '75 Years Passion and Soul' was never produced; offered were exclusively steel and black versions. Further typical fake features are the black case in the packaging, the inside white box (originals are inside black) as well as blurred product photos. Such writing instruments are produced at manufacturing costs of about 10 euros and offered for 100 to 150 dollars as originals. Caution: counterfeiters partly also use real original photos, so pictures alone are no authenticity guarantee. --- **Question:** How risky is the purchase of a Montblanc Meisterstück 149 from a Turkish eBay seller without ratings? **Answer:** The risk is high regardless of whether the auction photos show a real 149. With sellers without ratings from abroad, there is a considerable danger that the delivered goods do not correspond to the description or fail to arrive entirely. Disreputable providers also regularly use foreign photos found via image search, so the illustrations have little meaning. A comparable 149 in coral costs in specialist trade around 900 to 1000 euros; with doubtful offers, distance is to be kept. --- **Question:** How does one tell whether a Montblanc Generation ballpoint acquired via eBay is genuine, and what does the supplied plastic packaging mean? **Answer:** Based on the features shown, the ballpoint can be classified as an original; obvious counterfeit features are not recognisable. The transparent plastic packaging is an internal shipping packaging that Montblanc uses for delivery to dealers and boutiques; dealers are actually required not to pass it on in sales. An unfilled warranty card is therefore no indication of a counterfeit. Original refills can be reliably obtained via established online shops like missing-pen.de. --- **Question:** Is the gold nib of a Montblanc 246 only with the inscription '4810' and star, without further information like '14C' or '585', original? **Answer:** The nib depicted is likely genuine but does not regularly belong in the 246: it looks like a Meisterstück nib from the 1930s, recognisable by the small logo hallmark under the main logo. On a regular 246 nib, 'MONTBLANC', the logo, '14C', again 'MONTBLANC' and '585' should be stamped. An exception are France models: since France only recognises gold from 18 carat, writing instruments sold there were delivered with 18-carat nibs, partly by drawing on old stock of Meisterstück nibs. Thus the nib can also be correct in a 246 destined for France. --- **Question:** How is a Montblanc StarWalker Rubber Line offered on eBay at a strikingly low price to be evaluated, even if the pictures look like an original? **Answer:** Strikingly cheap offers are most likely counterfeits or fraud attempts. Sellers often use original photos but deliver plagiarisms; especially Chinese online shops use picture material of real writing instruments. A second variant is identity theft: hacked eBay accounts are misused for mass phantom sales; the money goes to the perpetrators. Indications are many identical expensive sets with one seller with few, exclusively buyer ratings. If needed, payment should be made exclusively via PayPal with credit card in order to keep both refund routes open; in case of doubt, the purchase is to be refrained from. --- **Question:** How can serial fake sellers be recognised on eBay who distribute plagiarisms over a longer time? **Answer:** Repeat offenders are often recognisable by using the same product photos for months and only changing the seller name. Occasionally, providers combine an original photo with a second shot that, however, shows a plagiarism; decisive are fine differences e.g. in the grooves or inscriptions. Even sellers who unintentionally take over picture material from foreign auctions can distribute plagiarisms. A careful picture analysis and comparison with documented originals are therefore indispensable. --- **Question:** How can the Montblanc 75 Years of Passion and Soul (Ballpoint 164) be verified as an original, and are the unfamiliar imprints on cap and clip typical of authenticity? **Answer:** With the Anniversary Edition 75 Years of Passion and Soul, there are body and nib versions whose engravings do not look exactly like the standard Meisterstück. Thus the Pix imprint on the inside of the clip can appear with an inconspicuous (R) and the cap embossing read only 'Montblanc-Meisterstück-' without the Pix addition. These features are confirmed as correct through comparison with the sister model 144. With remaining doubts, an authenticity check in a Montblanc boutique is recommended, which brings final certainty. --- **Question:** Is a Hommage à Chopin with silver instead of gold trim a counterfeit, and how can a hesitant ink flow on broad nibs be remedied? **Answer:** The Hommage à Chopin also exists as a Platinum variant with platinum-plated/silver-looking trim; a silver-banded Chopin is therefore not necessarily a counterfeit but often the more expensive Platinum version. Problems with the ink flow can generally be adjusted in a Montblanc boutique. Before that, the attempt with other inks (e.g. blue from Lamy, Pelikan or Montblanc) is worthwhile, since the flow properties vary significantly. Failures with broad nibs (B/BB) are frequent at first, since Montblanc nibs are flat and not strongly rounded ground; 'breaking in' concerns rather the hand than the pen. If the problem remains after several weeks, an examination by service is sensible. --- **Question:** How does one recognise high-quality Montblanc counterfeits, e.g. of Special Editions like the Writers Edition? **Answer:** Even optically deceptive counterfeits can be identified by detail features: non-gilded cap and body rings, wrong feed, steel instead of gold nib as well as a packaging not matching the edition. Even individually-appearing clip numbers and nearly correct stars are now being imitated. Counterfeits predominantly occur with cartridge fillers; piston fillers like Writers Edition models are more elaborate to copy and thus comparatively rarely counterfeited – but occasionally yes. To minimise risk, purchase from a Montblanc boutique or an established specialist retailer is recommended instead of from unknown online providers. --- **Question:** How can the authenticity be secured when buying a Montblanc Solitaire Carbon/Steel ballpoint on eBay if the seller has only few ratings? **Answer:** Even if the photo shown depicts a real Montblanc, that says nothing about the goods actually sent; more problematic than crude counterfeits are today virtual offers (sellers with few ratings, prepayment, identical texts/pictures). Sensible safeguards are the express question about originality, the offer of cash payment on collection and the written authenticity guarantee. If the seller refuses collection and gives no clear authenticity assurance, a purchase at higher amounts is to be advised against. --- **Question:** What should be considered when buying a Montblanc Chopin (M145) as a gift, especially regarding nib width and eBay risks? **Answer:** Decisive for later use is the right nib width that fits the writing habits of the gift recipient; otherwise the fountain pen remains unused. Before purchase, an inconspicuous test with other fountain pens is therefore recommended to determine the preferred line thickness. When buying from an established Montblanc dealer, the nib can typically be exchanged within 14 days; on eBay this safety net is not given, which is why caution is advised with private sellers and especially with providers with few ratings. --- **Question:** Are older Montblanc Meisterstücks without serial number (146 converter, ballpoint, pencil) necessarily counterfeits, and what does the clip engraving 'W-Germany' or 'Germany' mean? **Answer:** The absence of a serial number is no indication of a counterfeit, since Montblanc introduced serial numbers only relatively late; counterfeits today often even bear fictitious numbers. A 146 without platinum intarsia on the nib usually indicates production in the 1980s. The clip engraving 'W-Germany' stands for manufacture before reunification 1990, 'Germany' for later production. Further detail features can be compared via the historical model descriptions on fountainpen.de. --- **Question:** Does a Montblanc Bohème Steel ballpoint exist, and what price is appropriate for a used example in mediocre condition? **Answer:** The Bohème Steel ballpoint exists; compared to the black precious-resin variant, it is significantly more expensive (new price around 690 euros). The value on the second-hand market depends strongly on the polishing condition: if scratches can be polished out, the purchase can be worthwhile; deeper damage on metal models can expose the coating, and a complete replacement by Montblanc is in such cases very expensive. For a near-scratch-free example, a price around 240 euros counts as a bargain, while offers in worn condition are to be critically checked. --- **Question:** How can an S.T. Dupont money clip in palladium be checked for authenticity, and is a price around 300 euros for four pieces realistic? **Answer:** S.T. Dupont counterfeits, especially in lighters and accessories, are technically often very high-quality, which is why a missing serial number or precious-metal hallmark alone is no unambiguous authenticity indication; the 'Made in England' stamp is, however, unusual for a French brand and should be questioned. Since the model is to be found neither via Google nor in the official product database, it is likely an older or already discontinued variant. For verification, it is recommended to send photos directly to S.T. Dupont or to involve specialised accessories forums before a purchase in larger quantities. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc with only "Montblanc Germany" on the cap edge a 121, and did it also exist as a cartridge filler? **Answer:** The Montblanc 121 was, according to the relevant literature (Collectible Stars by Stefan Wallrafen), made exclusively as a piston filler. A cartridge-filler variant is not documented; therefore the suspicion is close that it is a mixed assembly, e.g. with a body of a 220 and a cap from the 121. A counterfeit is with these editions practically ruled out, since they are uninteresting for counterfeiters. Ultimately the variant remains difficult to unambiguously assign. --- **Question:** How is an eBay offer of a Montblanc Mozart set from a dealer without specialist-trade status to be evaluated? **Answer:** On the photos, no signs of a counterfeit are recognisable; the set appears original. The assured two-year warranty, however, is problematic, since this can actually only be granted by authorised specialist retailers, who may not sell on eBay. Such offers often come from foreclosure sales of former specialist retailers or from clearance sales of office-furnishing houses that have discontinued the writing-instrument business. A warranty via the manufacturer is in such cases not to be expected. --- **Question:** How can one tell whether a Montblanc StarWalker with eight transverse grooves on the body auctioned on eBay is genuine? **Answer:** The StarWalker fountain pen can above all be unambiguously distinguished from the fake by the characteristic original nib; comparison photos can be found on relevant collector sites. The discussion about the transverse grooves primarily concerned the ballpoint, on which original and counterfeit are harder to separate. Important: an original StarWalker fountain pen can, by design, only be filled with cartridges, not with a converter, since the rough grip section contains a special component inside. If a converter fits, it is a fake. --- **Question:** Are the depicted Montblanc ballpoints Ballpix 780, Carrera 570 multi-colour and Junior 690 originals? **Answer:** All three depicted pieces are originals. Important for the classification: Montblanc has only been a pure luxury-goods manufacturer since 1991; before that, the entire spectrum from cheap school writing instrument to luxury product was made. Owing to today's perception as a luxury brand, even used simple models from that time often achieve more than their original new price. --- **Question:** Is an older lever filler with overlay an original Montblanc when a letter of Montblanc service from the twenties is available? **Answer:** Despite the available letter, most likely no original is present. The letter from Montblanc is linguistically cautiously formulated ("writing-instrument type that we have made") and does not rule out that the concrete piece does not come from Montblanc. The overlay shows rather English production features; the clip could point to Pforzheim or an English manufacturer like Swan. Also the lever does not fit in this form to Montblanc production and would originally have been gilded. Additionally, the typical Montblanc star in the characteristic form is missing. Caution when buying such pieces is advised despite the accompanying letter. --- **Question:** Can a supposedly old Montblanc fountain pen without model number and with an inconspicuous nib be identified based on photos? **Answer:** The piece is a Montblanc SlimLine (SL) cartridge fountain pen, built between 1979 and 1982. It has a brass core with plastic surface, gilded trim and a gilded steel nib; the then shop price was about 49 DM. The SlimLine series was settled in the lower price segment, intended for school pupils and students, and lay below the Noblesse and the Meisterstück ranges. A rough model determination based on clear photos is mostly possible; with rare pieces a personal assessment is necessary. --- **Question:** How does one recognise counterfeits of the Montblanc Lalique 4810 Limited fountain pen stand, which partly turn up without obvious features? **Answer:** Recognisable are counterfeits, among other things, by a black star on the packaging as well as by the inferior packaging quality overall. There have, however, also been very well-made fakes without these obvious hints sold, e.g. by an American provider who earned around 160 US dollars per stand. Even experienced collectors have already fallen for well-made fakes like the Greta Garbo. Therefore: always compare carefully and inform oneself thoroughly before purchase. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Patron of Arts Lalique (1991): https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-lalique-en.htm --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Rouge et Noir fountain pen without a serial number on the clip ring despite the presence of Pix genuine? **Answer:** Yes, the predecessor variants Noir et Noir and Rouge et Noir were delivered before the Bohème series without an identification number in the clip ring. The missing serial number is therefore no indication of a counterfeit. The writing instrument is therefore to be regarded as original. --- **Question:** How can two inherited, supposedly original Montblanc writing instruments (Karajan ballpoint) be verified based on poor photos? **Answer:** The pieces depicted are presumably Montblanc Donation ballpoints of the Karajan series. Owing to the dark, unsharp photos, a reliable authenticity confirmation is not possible, since well-made counterfeits are known. A typical indication of fakes is a thinly stamped clip pin instead of a massive original clip; therefore a detail shot of the back of the clip is recommended. Without better pictures, the final judgement remains open. --- **Question:** Has the Montblanc Bohème ever existed as a gilded variant with a black onyx stone? **Answer:** The Montblanc Bohème actually exists with a black stone on the clip; this is even one of the most-sold variants of the series, which formerly bore the name Rouge & Noir. The trim consists, however, not of white gold but is platinum-plated; a gilding with white gold Montblanc has never offered on the Bohème. The pieces described in the offer are most likely genuine; only the seller's material description is misleading. For a final judgement, meaningful photos are helpful. --- **Question:** How is one to deal with professional sellers who auction obvious counterfeits of old Montblanc writing instruments and do not react to hints? **Answer:** Even experienced professional sellers occasionally offer counterfeits, e.g. from a normal 136 and celluloid assembled supposed rarities that can achieve high prices in the high four-digit range. Especially with old writing instruments, counterfeits are often so well made that even collectors do not recognise them at first glance. If a seller is pointed to a counterfeit and does not react or only refers to the previous owner, this behaviour is to be classified as bordering on fraud and damages his credibility. Buyers should exercise particular caution with such providers and have offers in case of doubt checked by experienced collectors. --- **Question:** Are there at Montblanc counterfeits with plastic housings or are the counterfeits restricted to lacquered metal housings? **Answer:** Montblanc counterfeits with resin or plastic housings have existed for some time, even if lacquered metal housings are more frequently encountered. A known example is the counterfeit of the Limited Edition Kafka, which also consists of resin. With the counterfeit of the Greta Garbo, even a new, significantly improved nib variant was discovered that comes very close to the original. The quality of the imitations thus continuously rises also in the area of materials and nibs, which makes identification for laypersons increasingly difficult. --- **Question:** Can one judge from unsharp photos whether a Montblanc 144 is genuine or a counterfeit, and can converters from other manufacturers fit? **Answer:** A reliable authenticity check is not possible without sharp, detail-rich photos; especially the imprints on the nib must be clearly recognisable. A clear warning sign in the present judgement was a converter that unambiguously did not come from Montblanc. Converters of other makes can mechanically fit but do not speak for an original set. Imprints like Germany on the clip alone do not deliver authenticity proof. --- **Question:** Is the Montblanc Soulmakers 100 Anniversary Bohème offered on eBay a counterfeit? **Answer:** The writing instrument is genuine; it is the officially issued Bohème 1906 Edition for the 100-year company jubilee of Montblanc. Further information and illustrations can be found at fountainpen.de on the page on the Anniversary 100 Bohème 1906. The model is actually comparatively little known, which can cause uncertainty in sales. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc pen bought as Edition Chopin with 18-carat gold nib be identified as an original and the correct model? **Answer:** The fountain pen described is genuine, but it is not the Meisterstück 145 Chopin but the cheaper, meanwhile discontinued Meisterstück 144. An 18-carat gold nib indicates that the piece was originally intended for the French market, since 14-carat gold nibs are not permitted there. The longitudinally ribbed feed without lamellas is typical of older models; newer devices have lamellas on the feed. A matching piston converter can be bought in specialist trade for under 10 euros. On the 144 it is also normal that the cap bears neither a serial number nor a Pix embossing on the inside of the clip. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc leather case from an eBay auction could it be if it is not findable online anywhere? **Answer:** An unambiguous identification of the case has so far not been possible. The supposition that it could be the leather sleeve for the Leonardo Sketchpen was rejected based on a direct comparison photo. Possibly it is a free case from a special campaign, which given the unfindability in the regular range appears plausible. For large writing instruments above the LeGrand, such cases offer anyway no sufficient protection. --- **Question:** How is one to deal with sellers who suddenly offer counterfeit writing instruments from apparently hacked eBay accounts? **Answer:** Currently, hacked eBay accounts are being used in increased numbers in order to offer, often inferior, counterfeits originating from China; affected are not only Montblanc writing instruments but also brand products like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Fendi and Nokia mobile phones. eBay can hardly keep up with deleting such auctions, and help for affected account holders is primarily only offered via English-language live chat. Striking is when an account suddenly offers completely different articles than before, which points to a takeover. Recommended is a daily check of one's own eBay account in order to recognise unnoticed third-party activities early. The eBay toolbar is said to offer some protection but does not replace regular checking. --- **Question:** Does an enquiry of the serial number to the manufacturer offer certainty whether a Montblanc bought in a shop is genuine or a counterfeit? **Answer:** A mere enquiry of the serial number to the manufacturer does not deliver certainty, since even counterfeits can be provided with fictitious serial numbers and Montblanc, without inspection, gives no authenticity statement. Certainty is given only by sending the writing instrument to Montblanc; genuine pieces are returned, counterfeits disposed of. By now also very well-made counterfeits exist that are not distinguishable from originals at first and second glance but hardly turn up in reputable shops. An experienced specialist, however, reliably recognises these counterfeits. --- **Question:** Why do buyers bid on obviously counterfeit Montblanc writing instruments on eBay partly high amounts, and how should one behave as a buyer? **Answer:** Even clearly recognisable counterfeits regularly achieve three-figure bids on eBay, because buyers often do not inform themselves sufficiently or deliberately speculate on a supposed bargain price. A geographical concentration e.g. in the new federal states cannot be evidenced; location indications can be set arbitrarily. Basically, prepayment on eBay bears a high risk, since the effort to enforce rights in case of dispute mostly exceeds the goods value. Anyone not wanting to pay the boutique price must calculate the risk of being cheated. Safe procedure are careful checking of the pictures, research of the model features and avoiding obvious plagiarisms. --- **Question:** How can one judge after an eBay purchase whether a Montblanc Meisterstück 144 is genuine? **Answer:** Based on the posted auction pictures a tendency can often already be recognised; a serious authenticity check, however, requires the pen in hand. In the specific case, the piece depicted on the photos seemed original, which however does not rule out that after shipping another example is delivered. Therefore one should after receipt carefully compare the delivery with the auction pictures and, in case of deviations, use the eBay buyer-protection deadlines. --- **Question:** Does the Montblanc Meisterstück No. 149 exist with both 14-carat and 18-carat gold nibs? **Answer:** On the Meisterstück 149, both 14-carat and 18-carat gold nibs were actually fitted. The variant depends on the year of manufacture and country of destination and can also overlap within a series. A 14-carat nib is therefore no indication of a counterfeit. Overviews of the various 149 variants can be found in collector databases like pentrace.com. --- **Question:** Are the briefcases shown in a particular online offer really original Montblanc products or counterfeits? **Answer:** The briefcases linked in the post are counterfeits. They are sold via corresponding dubious sources. A purchase of such pieces is therefore advised against. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück ballpoint acquired on eBay with a serial number on the upper ring and Pix engraving genuine? **Answer:** Based on the pictures shown, the ballpoint appears genuine. Authenticity features are, among others, the Pix engraving, the clean rotary mechanism for extending the refill as well as correctly seated rings and engravings on the upper ring. For reliable confirmation, high-resolution detail shots of all relevant spots are necessary. --- **Question:** Did Montblanc actually have service guides in the unusual get-up shown in the eBay auctions? **Answer:** The packaging depicted and the service guide correspond to a variant used by Montblanc in the early 1990s. The combination is therefore consistent and no indication of a counterfeit. --- **Question:** Is the leather of a particular offered Sienna case an unusual variant or the normal version? **Answer:** The case shown is the normal Sienna leather version in Italian leather and looks genuine. Really rare are, by contrast, variants of ostrich leather (Anniversary 75) as well as of mastic leather; the latter never officially came on the market and existed only as a prototype at Seeger. --- **Question:** How is an eBay shop to be evaluated that uses the same original pictures for many models and demands payment via Western Union? **Answer:** From such providers it is urgently advised against. eBay expressly warns against payments via Western Union, since via this no buyer protection exists. Even the promise of a purchase-price refund in case of complaint helps no further if the goods are not even shipped or a postal address is missing. The uniform use of pictures for all models (e.g. regardless of the plating) is a typical feature of disreputable shops. Even if the depicted original pictures look genuine, one should refrain from such auctions. --- **Question:** Which model is a Montblanc piston filler with converter bought on eBay, is it genuine and how does one remedy failures during writing? **Answer:** Based on the pictures, it is a Montblanc 145 (Chopin/Classique) with piston converter; a counterfeit it is not according to the pictures provided. Writing failures often arise through ink deposits, especially if black ink was used previously, since it contains more suspended particles than blue ink. Helpful is, at every ink change, to flush the fountain pen with warm water and thereby keep the ink channels free. With longer writing breaks, it is recommended to fill the converter halfway with water and insert it, so that the ink line does not dry out. Platinum-plated 145s are very sought-after on the second-hand market and accordingly achieve high prices. --- **Question:** Are Montblanc Solitaire Doué fountain pens now also being counterfeited, and how does one recognise a counterfeit? **Answer:** On a Solitaire Doué shown in the discussion, the star on the cap appears unusually angular and "jagged", differently than on the original with clearly rounder points. A comparison with the cap of a guaranteed genuine Solitaire 144 Stainless Steel confirms this difference. Added to this are a hardly credible nib design that rather recalls models of the 1950s, an unsharply taken photo and a seller with only few ratings. Before a purchase, additional detail photos should be requested; in case of doubt, the auction is to be advised against. --- **Question:** How can one judge from photos whether a Montblanc rollerball is genuine? **Answer:** Based on the posted photos, the rollerball shown appears original. A final authenticity check is, however, beyond pictures only safely possible in hand, since details like engraving depth, material weight and mechanism must be judged. --- **Question:** Is a "Mont Blanc Meisterstück ballpoint, near-new" offered on eBay genuine or a counterfeit, and can Montblanc legally proceed against sellers of counterfeits? **Answer:** The ballpoint offered under eBay article number 112440688012 is unambiguously a counterfeit; in particular, the engraving shown does not exist in this form, and the rings are not correct. Sellers of such pieces are often "newcomers" without sales history who know exactly what they are offering. Montblanc does not proceed against every auction but forwards, after targeted hints, auctions with counterfeits to lawyers, which can become very unpleasant and expensive for sellers. Buyers should consistently keep their distance from such offers. --- **Question:** Are the Montblanc perfumes and face waters offered in eBay auctions in strikingly simple packaging really original goods or frequently counterfeits? **Answer:** The plain, cheap-looking packagings do not correspond to the usual get-up of Montblanc fragrances as can be seen in official channels like Douglas or on the Montblanc website. Original fragrances like Individuel, Présence or StarWalker are described in full there and labelled with product names. On eBay, the proportion of counterfeit perfumes is generally very high, and the imitations including packaging are by now so well made that they are hardly recognisable on photos. With the offers mentioned, counterfeits are therefore most likely to be assumed; in fact, often only water with Montblanc imprint is sold. --- **Question:** Can a Bordeaux Montblanc 146 Le Grand already bear a serial number in the clip ring, or does this variant basically exist only without a number? **Answer:** The 146 in Bordeaux existed not only until 1990 but significantly longer; production ran for at least ten more years, and in the trade corresponding writing instruments often still lay for many years. Therefore real Bordeaux Le Grand models exist both without and with serial number in the clip ring, and a serial number is no indication of a counterfeit. The acquisition of a Bordeaux 146 with serial number is thus unhesitating. --- **Question:** Can one ascertain solely on the basis of the serial number of a Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire Stainless Steel whether the writing instrument is genuine? **Answer:** The meaning of the serial numbers is secret; therefore only Montblanc or an authorised specialist retailer can bindingly check the authenticity. Counterfeits also frequently bear serial numbers, so the mere existence of a number has no meaning. A positive indication is when the serial number is laser-engraved ("grey") and not stamped; certainty, however, is only brought by presentation to the specialist retailer. If the number begins with an "8" instead of with the letter "B", a counterfeit is to be assumed, since originals use corresponding letter prefixes. --- **Question:** Can a gifted Montblanc Meisterstück with the engraving "Pix" and "Montblanc Meisterstück Pix" on the ring be classified as an original despite a missing serial number? **Answer:** The writing instrument is most likely an original, presumably a Montblanc Meisterstück 164 (ballpoint), available, among others, in gold and platinum version. A missing serial number can have various reasons: on writing instruments made before 1991 there was not yet consistent numbering; occasionally the number was simply forgotten to be laser-engraved during production. The engravings "Pix" under the clip and "Montblanc Meisterstück Pix" on the ring are characteristic features of an original. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc 144 acquired on eBay be reliably verified as an original, and which inks are unproblematic? **Answer:** An authenticity check most likely succeeds through careful comparison with documented features as well as assessment based on clear detail photos; in the specific case, the fountain pen was classified from description and pictures as 100 percent genuine. A reputable eBay purchase including personal handover is quite possible, even if the risk of counterfeits remains real. Unproblematic are water-soluble standard inks like the original Montblanc ink; non-water-soluble inks can on longer idle time clog up the feed. Iron-gall inks (blue-black) are also to be seen critically, since they can contain acidic components (formerly even sulphuric or hydrochloric acid). --- **Question:** Is an offered Montblanc that at first glance looks like a counterfeit actually counterfeit or a real Mozart? **Answer:** On closer examination it is an entirely normal, original Montblanc Mozart from the Meisterstück range. The optical similarity to known counterfeits stems from the fact that the model is shown on many relevant comparison sites together with plagiarisms. Anyone who does not know the model can therefore easily mistake it for a counterfeit, which in the specific case led to a misjudgement. --- **Question:** How can it be explained that a Montblanc Meisterstück 144 in Bordeaux with solid-gold nib is engraved on the clip ring not with "W-Germany" but only with "Germany"? **Answer:** The change of the engraving from "W-Germany" to "Germany" took place in October 1990, while the black-grip-section variant with solid-gold nib was mainly made in the middle of the 1980s. A plausible explanation is that within a repair by Montblanc the clip or the entire cap was exchanged for a then-available spare part; writing instruments with temporally "mixed" components are therefore not unusual. A subsequent cap exchange by a dealer is also conceivable, especially since the cap of the 144 is susceptible due to its thin material. The writing instrument thus basically remains a real Montblanc but combines components from different production phases. --- **Question:** How can one recognise a supposedly old Montblanc set that was actually subsequently "Montblanc-ised", and how does a seller deal with corresponding hints? **Answer:** Indications of a subsequent brand counterfeit are, among others, a logo that does not correspond in size, placement or plasticity to the known Montblanc conventions, as well as a star with a white ring that has only been used in recent times and therefore does not fit a declared old set. Complementarily, comparison with Montblanc stickers from today can indicate pure sticker application on old pieces. Atypical style elements that fit no documented original product of the stated era are an additional warning sign. If a seller reacts to corresponding factual hints demonstratively dismissively or insultingly, this is a further indication that it is not a reputable original auction. --- **Question:** Is a Schiller set offered in the USA via an Italian provider an original good, and is the price reasonable? **Answer:** The Schiller set shown looks authentic based on the pictures. The called-up price of over 1100 euros is, however, too high, since the Schiller edition is regularly still led in many shops and is thus cheaper to obtain. Even the shipping costs of around 27 euros and the unclear exchange rate in US dollars speak against the purchase from this provider. The same seller had previously offered a complete display box of 146s for 1500 euros without finding a taker. A purchase in Germany is therefore safer and generally cheaper. --- **Question:** Can it happen that on eBay offers only the packaging is counterfeit but the fountain pen itself looks genuine? **Answer:** In the case described, not only is the packaging with black star counterfeit but the fountain pen itself too. Unambiguous indication is the nib with the inscription Iridium Point Germany, which would never be found on a real Montblanc. Structural details like the missing thread on the grip section (only plugged in instead of screwed) also expose the counterfeit as a typical LeGrand imitation. More difficult is recognition with StarWalker or Bohème counterfeits, which are on photos hardly distinguishable from originals but in hand are immediately noticeable. Pleasing is that Montblanc and eBay are increasingly successfully removing such offers. --- **Question:** How should one evaluate an eBay fountain pen whose packaging is obviously counterfeit but the pen itself on the pictures still looks genuine? **Answer:** If the packaging is recognisably counterfeit, one should basically keep one's distance from the purchase, even if the fountain pen still appears genuine on the mostly deliberately detail-poor photos. On closer inspection, e.g., the grip section often does not look original-true, and the assured properties cannot be verified based on poor pictures. Even if the seller acts in good faith, that does not protect the buyer legally and financially. The risk of receiving a fake is in such cases simply too great. --- **Question:** Has Montblanc produced briefcases from the Meisterstück series also in brown, or are all exclusively black? **Answer:** The leather bags from the Meisterstück series were made exclusively in black. Brown leather articles by Montblanc do indeed exist in other collections like the West or Eastside line, but a briefcase from the Meisterstück line in brown is not known. The brown bag offered in the concrete case on eBay is therefore most likely a counterfeit. --- **Question:** How does one recognise on a Montblanc 149 (or 146) offered on eBay whether it is genuine, especially when the nib embossing appears unusual? **Answer:** If the description does not clearly identify the model as a 149 and the nib does not fit the rest of the construction (for example 14C embossing on a supposed 146), one should for safety reasons keep one's distance. With real new Meisterstück nibs, the edges are covered with gold and the centre with platinum. Particular caution is in order when a seller uses foreign photos, e.g. pictures stolen from fountainpen.de; such auctions are ended via the eBay VeRO programme. Generally it is recommended, when buying, to accept only own photos and plausible seller histories and in case of doubt rather to acquire directly from trustworthy collectors. --- **Question:** Is an eBay rollerball with strikingly pointed star corners despite a serial number and heavy weight an original? **Answer:** A star with unnaturally pointed corners is a clear counterfeit feature; equally typical are visible furrows between the three cap rings. Despite a serial number and higher weight, it is therefore a counterfeit. Detailed comparison overviews of typical counterfeit features can be found on fountainpen.de, e.g. in the PDF comparison of rollerball counterfeits. Anyone buying a Montblanc at strikingly low prices or from disreputable providers should reckon with counterfeits. --- **Question:** Is a cheaply offered, near-new set of the Writers Edition Fitzgerald on eBay trustworthy or rather a counterfeit? **Answer:** Based on the available hints, nothing speaks against the Fitzgerald set being genuine. The inner packaging equipped with cloth and holding clamps was standard at Montblanc until at least 2006 and is therefore no counterfeit indication. The original retail price in 2002 was around 1310 euros; the Fitzgerald edition does not count as particularly sought-after, which is why the currently called-up auction price is to be classified as market-customary but not as a bargain. To be noted is that the white material of the edition can over time yellow to an amber tone. With uncertainty, it is recommended to suggest the handover directly in a Montblanc boutique. --- **Question:** How does one recognise today a very well-made Montblanc Hematite counterfeit? **Answer:** Even high-quality-looking Hematite counterfeits show classical weak points that stand out on closer examination. Typical indicators are a not-original-true designed body end, deviating rings, a poorly executed star and an unusually-looking nib. Even if the counterfeit deceives in overall impression, these detail differences can be used for recognition. Concrete proof photos of such auctions are generally only briefly available and protected by copyright. --- **Question:** How can one with an eBay purchase of a Montblanc 146 with an unusual nib constellation have the authenticity checked? **Answer:** The model described is a real Montblanc 146 with a barrel as was fitted until into the 1980s. The deviating nib indicates that it was exchanged over time, e.g. in favour of another nib width. A missing or strokeless ink window combined with a bicolour nib is therefore no necessary counterfeit feature. Anyone nevertheless wanting a final assessment can turn to a reputable vintage specialist retailer or an experienced collector. --- **Question:** How can a layperson check whether a Montblanc 149 acquired on eBay is genuine? **Answer:** Based on clear detail photos, the authenticity of a 149 can generally be reliably judged. In the specific case it is an original from the 1980s and not the current model. Older examples are thus not automatically suspicious but can quite well be authentic. With uncertainty, it is recommended to post additional close-ups and compare them with reference pictures. --- **Question:** Can one judge from photos whether a used-bought Montblanc 145 Chopin is genuine? **Answer:** On the available shots, no features are recognisable that would indicate a counterfeit, so the pen is most likely an original. Since complete sets together with original packaging are also being counterfeited, for reliable judgement preferably more than one detail photo should be presented. Ink flow and writing behaviour are with a well-preserved original generally flawless. In case of doubt, the direct comparison of the nib with documented features of real pieces is worthwhile. --- **Question:** How can an older Montblanc fountain pen without platinum intarsia be identified and checked for authenticity? **Answer:** The piece depicted is an original, namely a Meisterstück 144 Classique from older production that does not yet show platinum intarsia on the star. Such models appear at first glance different than the current versions but are authentic writing instruments. Comparative detail shots from the collector literature help with unambiguous assignment. The 144 Classique counts as a very beautiful and popular fountain pen. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc pen auctioned for 120 euros an original or a plagiarism? **Answer:** The piece depicted is a real Meisterstück 145, which at this price counts as very cheaply acquired. The nib quality is still the clearest authenticity feature, since counterfeiters here still lag behind the original, even if the plagiarisms overall are getting better and better. The material is actually plastic or plexiglass, which Montblanc markets under the term precious resin. On any cracks in the cap, attention should nevertheless be paid to safety so as not to reduce the value. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc 121 with 750 gold nib and amber-coloured viewing window from the 1960s genuine and what value does it have? **Answer:** The Montblanc Meisterstück 121 was produced from 1970 to 1973/74 with thick feed and from 1974 to 1979 with flat feed; a dating to the 1960s therefore does not quite fit. It is an original and not a counterfeit; no plagiarisms of this model are known. The collector value is rather low, because the model is still too young for a pronounced collector demand. As a reliable daily writer, the 121 is, however, still usable. --- **Question:** Is a leather case offered at an auction from older production a real Montblanc case? **Answer:** The leather case shown is a real Montblanc product from the 1970s or 1980s. The workmanship, however, is comparatively plain and simple and not comparable to current Montblanc leather cases. Anyone valuing the model above all for visual reasons can acquire it without authenticity concerns. An expectation of today's quality level is however inappropriate. --- **Question:** From what production time does a Montblanc ballpoint 77 acquired on eBay come and is it genuine? **Answer:** The Montblanc 77 is an original and was produced according to the standard work Collectible Stars between 1960 and 1961. It is thus an authentic vintage writing instrument and not a counterfeit. Further authenticity features can be traced based on the illustrations documented there. --- **Question:** Do the Montblanc Greta Garbo fountain pens bear a serial number, and if so, at what place? **Answer:** Of Montblanc three versions of the Greta Garbo models exist: two limited editions with 100 or 1905 pieces as well as the unlimited model with an ivory-coloured cap and matching ballpoint. The limited pieces always bear their individual edition number including the total edition as engraving. On the unlimited models, only a very small identification number, only legible with a magnifier, is located in the clip ring. A classical serial number as on old Montblanc writing instruments no longer exists on today's models. --- **Question:** Does Montblanc actually produce unusual products like knives and are such pieces unrestrictedly worth collecting? **Answer:** Such unusual products are generally not made by Montblanc itself but by commissioned third-party firms that either produce exclusively for Montblanc or only apply name and logo. Therefore, these pieces do not have a special manufacture-related value, since they did not arise in the Montblanc manufacture. A certain collector value they nevertheless retain, because they officially belong to the brand world. Whether a particular concrete piece, e.g. from an auction, is original should be checked case by case. --- **Question:** How reliable is an eBay seller for a Montblanc StarWalker Special Edition Ballpoint Pen 38302 and are there counterfeits? **Answer:** Description, instruction and positive ratings as well as a stated phone number and a more than two-year-long membership at eBay speak for a reputable handling. The seller has additionally in the past already sold Montblanc articles with positive ratings. Based on the photos, the offered writing instrument appears authentic. For additional safeguarding, payment via PayPal is recommended, since buyer protection thereby applies. --- **Question:** How is the quality of current counterfeits of Montblanc vintage rollerballs to be assessed? **Answer:** The quality of the counterfeits is significantly improving, so current vintage-rollerball plagiarisms are visually no longer easy to expose. Striking are partly contradictory detail engravings, e.g. inscriptions like Hemingway on a cap that does not fit the model designation. Generally, as a rollerball there are anyway no comparable originals from the corresponding vintage range. Anyone valuing the characteristic tie clip finds as a legitimate alternative e.g. the Astoria models, which also show such a clip. --- **Question:** Is a Meisterstück 146 auctioned on eBay with the engraving Montblanc Meisterstück No. 146 genuine? **Answer:** The writing instrument depicted is one hundred percent genuine and comes from the 1980s. The engraving Montblanc Meisterstück No. 146 is typical of this production phase and therefore differs in size and form from later models like the Traveller of 2001. The condition is additionally described as very good, the purchase price as appropriate. There is thus no suspicion of counterfeit. --- **Question:** How does one recognise a counterfeit of a supposed Montblanc wallet from eBay stock? **Answer:** A wallet offered on eBay with an unusual division is likely actually a counterfeit, since Montblanc has not produced an article with this inner division. Typical indications are coarse, untidy seams, a formless-looking workmanship as well as the absence of usual equipment features like a hard-money compartment. Suspicious are additionally providers who sell several supposedly gifted branded articles in short intervals in parallel. In case of doubt, the authenticity should be compared to known originals or the purchase refrained from. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc case with the designation "Oxford" an original? **Answer:** The case "Oxford" is a real Montblanc product from the 1970s to 1980s, qualitatively however clearly settled below the later Siena cases. It was intended as a cheaper variant, among others, for the Slimline and Noblesse models. The designation can be found on an enclosed cardboard strip together with the model number 2450 and the article number 12067. On the official website, this older range is no longer documented. --- **Question:** How reliable are warranty slips on eBay auctions for Montblanc writing instruments? **Answer:** Warranty slips too are being counterfeited; not seldom one receives a complete counterfeit including packaging and service guide. A warranty slip and an original packaging do have their own value but do not replace an authenticity check on the writing instrument itself. Important is not to be impressed by externals, since the combinations range from genuine pen with false slip to false pen with genuine slip. Initialling without a clearly recognisable seller's stamp is therefore no reliable authenticity proof. --- **Question:** How does one recognise that a found Montblanc ballpoint is a counterfeit, and what value does it have? **Answer:** Often the counterfeit is already recognisable at first glance, because the model has never existed in this form at Montblanc. A typical example are poor copies of the StarWalker; for comparison the section "Counterfeits" of the relevant collector sites helps. Economically, such pieces are worthless: in China they cost 2 to 3 euros for tourists; in Germany the distribution is anyway forbidden. A sale on eBay is therefore not permitted and should not take place. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire fineliner in carbon look with finely laser-engraved serial number an original? **Answer:** The model described corresponds to the Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire Silver Fibre Guilloche, which is documented on the relevant information pages of the collector community. The features like finely rounded logo corners and the laser-engraved serial number speak for an original. Visual deviations from current collections, e.g. missing ridges on the cap, can be explained by the older model range. For detail comparisons, a look at the product-related pictures in the collector archive is recommended. --- **Question:** Can one judge from pictures whether a Montblanc 144 is genuine? **Answer:** With a Montblanc 144 assessed via pictures, in particular the appearance of the nib speaks for an original; counterfeit Montblancs with real nibs are not known. A reliable confirmation, however, additionally requires the assessment of further details like clip, engravings and serial numbers. In the concrete case described, the piece is assessed as very likely genuine. --- **Question:** How can one recognise that a pen allegedly coming from Montblanc is a fantasy product and thus a counterfeit? **Answer:** With pieces unambiguously recognisable as counterfeits, the model has never existed in this form in the original range; the entire design is a fantasy product. Apart from the applied star, in such cases no detail fits a real Montblanc model, which points to cheap reproductions without serious imitation intent. Helpful for one's own assessment is comparison with documented original ranges on collector sites. Missing certificates are an additional warning sign. --- **Question:** Which recognition features exist on current counterfeits, e.g. on the StarWalker and on the Meisterstück? **Answer:** Frequent counterfeit variants comprise the StarWalker with rubber surface, easily recognisable by the black end piece, as well as versions in red and white that were not offered like this in the original. On the Meisterstück too, fakes turn up repeatedly, both as individual pieces and as sets. The counterfeits look generally optically inconsistent and in workmanship clearly below original quality. Before purchase, a comparison with the corresponding collector sites on original models should take place. --- **Question:** How can one judge the authenticity of a Montblanc Octavian? **Answer:** Important indications are a complete documentation and especially matching numbers on the warranty card and on the fountain pen itself. If these papers with correctly assigned edition number are present and pictures and description match known originals, an authentic piece is most likely to be assumed. Especially with rare Limited Editions like the Octavian, such proofs are a central authenticity criterion. In case of doubt, an additional assessment by a specialist should take place. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Patron of Arts Octavian (1993): https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-octavian-en.htm --- **Question:** Does a Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire Faden Guilloche bear at the tip the engraving "MONTBLANC", and what does that say about the authenticity of an eBay offer? **Answer:** The piece offered in the named auction is a counterfeit, even if a comparatively well-made one. The engraving at the tip does not agree with the original conventions. Generally, when buying branded products on eBay, caution is in order, since counterfeits are difficult to recognise for laypersons based on photos. Collector sales of reputable providers are by contrast quite a source, provided seller profile and description are critically checked. --- **Question:** Has Montblanc actually produced simple imitation-leather cases with snap-button fastener, or is it a counterfeit? **Answer:** Even a simple, black imitation-leather case with snap-button fastener and star logo can be an original. Until the repositioning as a luxury manufacturer from 1991, Montblanc produced the entire spectrum from the cheap school fountain pen to the high-quality Meisterstück and correspondingly also simpler accessories. Cases from the 50s therefore often appear "cheap" compared to later leather versions but are nevertheless authentic. A simple visual or material impression does not suffice to rule out originality. --- **Question:** How can the authenticity of a fountain pen auctioned on eBay be assessed, and is the price paid appropriate? **Answer:** Based on the pictures, only a first authenticity suspicion can be formulated; absolute certainty exists only when the actually delivered piece can be checked. If the seller is known and respected in the collector scene, the risk drops considerably. Compared to the official new price of around 425 euros, eBay prices can lie significantly below, which with renowned providers can nevertheless be a fair deal. An additional check by a specialist retailer or experienced collectors is always recommendable. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire Ceramics Black Prisma with shifted serial number and clip engraving "Made in Germany" genuine? **Answer:** A slightly offset serial number on the cap ring does not speak against authenticity; on Montblanc such tolerances occur. The clip engraving "Made in Germany" is also regular: on older writing instruments there the engraving "PIX" is found; on newer models it was replaced by "Made in Germany". If the other details match, the piece can be classified as an original. A definitive authenticity confirmation can however only be given by Montblanc itself. --- **Question:** Does it speak against the authenticity of a Montblanc 163 rollerball if only "W-Germany" stands on the clip and no serial number is laser-engraved? **Answer:** Serial numbers were laser-engraved into the clip as standard at Montblanc only from about 1991. The engraving "W. Germany" indicates that the writing instrument was made before reunification 1989, so the missing serial number is in this case normal and does not speak against authenticity. Without pictures, however, no final judgement can be made. In case of doubt, the piece should be presented to a specialist retailer. --- **Question:** Is a reddish-brown leather case in the style of a Montblanc Siena without metal ring around the logo an original or a counterfeit? **Answer:** At first glance, much speaks for an original, since imprint and further details fit Montblanc cases of this type. Unusual, however, is the absence of the metal ring around the logo, since this was actually standard. A definitive authenticity evaluation can only be given by Montblanc customer service, e.g. via the contact form on the official homepage. To be noted is that there is no "one" counterfeiter but many different sources with strongly varying quality, so no individual detail reliably proves authenticity. --- **Question:** How can counterfeits of Montblanc writing instruments be reported on eBay? **Answer:** Ebay has under the section "Contact" a reporting tool with which auctions of plagiarisms can be directly reported to the platform. After entering the report, the reporter automatically receives a confirmation to the deposited email address. In practice, such offers are frequently removed by eBay after a short time. The active use of this tool is recommended in order to make market access more difficult for plagiarism providers. --- **Question:** Is a non-centred hyphen between "Meisterstück" and "Montblanc" on the cap of a Meisterstück 144 a sign of a production error or a counterfeit? **Answer:** Neither one nor the other: with the imprints by Montblanc there have been and are numerous different variants, and the positioning seems partly inconsistent. It can be assumed that this aspect was not strictly standardised in production. A decentralised hyphen is therefore no reliable authenticity criterion. An official authenticity guarantee can exclusively Montblanc issue after sending in the piece. --- **Question:** Is an older-looking Montblanc ballpoint from an unknown model an original? **Answer:** The model mentioned is an original ballpoint that was produced in the period 1961 to 1970. Such pieces are relatively frequently to be encountered on the market. For this reason, the collector value remains within manageable limits. --- **Question:** Do counterfeits of the Montblanc Document Marker exist, and what significance does the black dot in the clip have? **Answer:** The black dot in the clip is a regular marking that serves to distinguish the Document Marker in the case from same-format pens. If this dot is missing, that indicates in doubt that it has fallen off; the piece remains, however, genuine. Older Markers of the LeGrand series originally did not have different clips, so examples without dot can also be original. Specific counterfeits of the Document Marker are not widespread. --- **Question:** What should be considered with a first Montblanc purchase, e.g. a Platinum Line 165 mechanical pencil from eBay classifieds, regarding authenticity? **Answer:** There are numerous counterfeit features, which vary depending on the model. A helpful indicator for an original is the inscription "Pix" under the clip, which must not be engraved but executed as raised protrusion. Basically, it is recommended before purchase to thoroughly study original photos on the Montblanc homepage and only to buy models that are visually beyond doubt familiar. A definitive authenticity evaluation based on photos, however, remains restricted. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is the Meisterstück Ceramics Black Prisma, and is there a counterfeit risk? **Answer:** It is the Ceramics Black Prisma variant of the Montblanc Meisterstück, a special variant of the regular model. On the pictures presented, no counterfeit can be recognised. An official guarantee for authenticity can however only be given by a specialist retailer or Montblanc itself. To be noted is that the barrel of these models scratches relatively easily; with a suitable cleaning cloth, surface traces can however be remedied again. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc 139 with a flawlessly yellow ink window without visible stripes a counterfeit or an assembled body? **Answer:** A yellow-looking, freshly appearing ink window without recognisable stripes is striking: if the fountain pen had been little used, the stripes would have to be present; if it had been heavily used, the window would have to be darkly discoloured by ink residues. Both speak against an unchanged original body. Also the nib looks compared to the rest of the older components like the D.R.P. number possibly younger. Overall the piece thus appears dubious and suggests that at least the body or parts of it were subsequently made or brought together. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc set offered on Willhaben with strikingly-looking stars an original or a counterfeit? **Answer:** The set described is a particularly crude counterfeit. A clear indication are the Montblanc stars, which look glued on instead of inset or integrated. Such plagiarisms are made in China for only one to two euros per piece. The purchase is unambiguously to be advised against. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Solitaire Vermeil offered on eBay with unambiguous hallmark to be regarded as an original? **Answer:** Based on the pictures, especially the recognisable hallmark, the Solitaire Vermeil looks very credibly like an original. The auction itself also makes a reputable impression. The risk thus appears overall low. An on-site collection from the seller would be the safest variant; if it is not possible, shipping with a reliable service provider is an acceptable alternative. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc StarWalker Resin fountain pen with a striking thread and visible plastic on the grip section possibly a counterfeit? **Answer:** Nib and feed of a StarWalker Resin sourced from online trade can quite correspond to the original, even if the thread visually deviates from examples in authenticity guides. A definitive evaluation of the grip-section material is difficult without inspection. For safeguarding, an authentication enquiry to Montblanc with the serial number is recommended. --- **Question:** How can one tell on eBay whether a Montblanc StarWalker Rubber ballpoint is genuine? **Answer:** Based on auction photos, the authenticity of a StarWalker Rubber is mostly not unambiguously to be judged, and the risk remains that the depicted goods do not correspond to the delivered ones. Additionally, the rating history of the seller and the lack of a manufacturer's warranty in the eBay purchase are to be heeded. A provider known as reliable who only carries original goods can significantly reduce the risk; in case of doubt, the purchase from a specialist retailer is to be preferred. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Le Grand without PIX inscription on the back of the clip necessarily a counterfeit? **Answer:** Older Meisterstücks, e.g. until the middle of the 1990s, do not yet bear a PIX engraving under the clip, so its absence is no unambiguous counterfeit feature. Counterfeit piston fillers in Meisterstück style are also extremely rare; most counterfeits concern other models. A final confirmation of the authenticity can be made by a Montblanc boutique. --- **Question:** How can the authenticity of a Montblanc Cervantes offered on eBay be checked when the provider uses replica photos? **Answer:** With the Cervantes, counterfeits frequently occur that are partly even visually confused with the Copernicus, because the counterfeiters themselves mix up the models. An authenticity check based solely on foreign or replica photos is not possible; in such cases the purchase is risky and not recommended. Replicas are sold for very low prices freely on the internet, which additionally aggravates the counterfeit problem. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück ballpoint with dedication engraving a rarity, and how does an engraving affect the value? **Answer:** The offered ballpoint is genuine but not rare; a new, unengraved cap is at Montblanc available for at most about 49 euros. An individual name or dedication engraving is on pure utility pieces mostly regarded as value-reducing. It can however quite be value-increasing if the engraving documents a prominent owner and a comprehensible proof of ownership is available; in a concrete collector project, additionally, only 25 instead of the stated 1000 pieces were engraved. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück fountain pen with a plastic-looking, gold-coloured thread a counterfeit? **Answer:** Such a piece is generally an original, however frequently not a 146 but the smaller 144. The 144 was made until the end of the 1990s; the example described should be based on the feed about from the late 1980s to early 1990s. The supposedly painted plastic on the thread is actually gilded brass. --- **Question:** How can one recognise that a supposed Montblanc Copernicus is a counterfeit? **Answer:** Comparing the piece with real pictures of a Montblanc Copernicus, obvious differences are immediately noticeable, e.g. a red, gilded surface instead of the original decoration. The nib of such counterfeits is generally of very poor quality. Such plagiarisms are made in China for a few euros; in Germany their sale is not legally permissible. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück 147 without box and receipt genuine, and is the asking price reasonable? **Answer:** Based on the pictures, no indications of a counterfeit can be recognised, so the piece is most likely an original. The list price for the 147 is currently around 600 euros including travel case; a used example without warranty and original accessories for 275 euros is to be classified as ambitious but compared to other online offers still the cheapest. Anyone who does not urgently need a 147 generally fares better with some patience, since Traveller models are indeed rarer than 146s but are nevertheless offered repeatedly. --- **Question:** How does one reliably recognise on eBay auction photos counterfeits like a false Scott Fitzgerald rollerball? **Answer:** A reliable authenticity evaluation based on poor auction photos is for beginners often hardly possible; safer is the purchase from a specialist retailer or at collectors' fairs. Concrete recognition features for individual models and counterfeits are extensively documented. Anyone who internalises the topic can better assess typical weak points but should rather forgo online auctions with uncertainty. --- **Question:** Is a case offered as Montblanc Sienna case 906/2 from the 1970s to 1980s genuine? **Answer:** The case shown comes from the 1970s to 1980s and is most likely an original, although a simple model from that time when Montblanc still carried a broad product range from school fountain pens to Meisterstücks. With the Sienna case, however, it has nothing to do; the designation in the offer is wrong. Anyone who ordered a real Sienna case should therefore insist on delivery of the correct model. --- **Question:** How can it be judged whether a Montblanc fountain pen offered on eBay is genuine? **Answer:** The piece shown looks largely genuine in the pictures; however, several indications speak against a reputable sale: hints of a Vietnamese lacquer presentation box, the separated spelling Mont Blanc instead of Montblanc and deliberately unsharp photos are typical warning signs. There is also the danger that a pen other than the one depicted is shipped. From bidding it is therefore to be advised against. --- **Question:** How does one recognise on an old Montblanc No. 22 with a delicately engraved nib inscription and a piston insert inside whether an original or a counterfeit is present? **Answer:** A delicately engraved nib inscription on a Montblanc No. 22 is no indication of a counterfeit but corresponds to the original version. If in the ink chamber instead of a piston mechanism a component with Montblanc imprint is located, it is a so-called piston converter. This converter can be removed and replaced with normal ink cartridges; the fountain pen is thus suitable for both filling types. Both pieces described thus count as real Montblanc pens. --- **Question:** Is a StarWalker Resin Black with a hollow clip inside without Pix embossing a counterfeit, or did that also exist on the original? **Answer:** A StarWalker Resin Black with a hollow clip inside without the typical Pix embossing is most likely a counterfeit. Further indications are an unusually designed nib, an unscrewable star, striking rings on the grip section as well as a poor script quality on the clip. A direct comparison with a guaranteed genuine piece brings in such cases quick clarity. Buyers should note that even large auction houses often do not sufficiently control the sale of counterfeit branded goods and in case of dispute mostly only refer to the sellers. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc ballpoint acquired via eBay and the matching case be checked for authenticity? **Answer:** For an authenticity check, well-resolved pictures are necessary, since only thus an assessment is possible. Indications like a matching Parker refill already point on a ballpoint to a counterfeit. Before a final evaluation, clear photos of pen and case should in any case be available. --- **Question:** How can the authenticity of a Montblanc writing instrument be assessed based on unsharp eBay photos? **Answer:** A reliable authenticity check based on unsharp photos is hardly possible. On the available pictures the pen looks basically genuine, but additional risk factors like a low seller rating (e.g. 90 percent) and a present engraving are to be heeded. Before the purchase, sharp detail shots should better be requested. Ultimately the decision lies with the buyer, who must weigh the risk. --- **Question:** To whom can one report brand piracy of writing instruments and lighters, and does a slightly altered spelling of the brand name suffice to be legally non-attackable? **Answer:** Brand counterfeits can be reported directly via the contact forms of the manufacturers like Montblanc or S.T. Dupont. Alongside, associations like the Aktionskreis gegen Produkt- und Markenpiraterie (markenpiraterie-apm.de) or the international Alliance for Gray Market and Counterfeit Abatement (AGMA) exist, which however mostly only act for member firms. A slightly deviating spelling (e.g. "Dupon" instead of "Dupont") legally does not protect: with high confusion danger in the same product group, trademark protection still applies; a counterfeit remains a counterfeit. Even semantically similar designations like "Volkswogen" have been judicially objected to. --- **Question:** Is a significantly smaller and front-heavy Montblanc rollerball with "W-Germany" embossing and "Meistersück" inscription an original? **Answer:** A reliable judgement is only possible based on sharp photos; a textual description is mostly not enough for the experts. A smaller size and a slight imbalance need not be an authenticity problem, since Montblanc has built differently dimensioned models. Striking spelling errors in the engraving (like "Meistersück" instead of "Meisterstück"), however, would be a clear counterfeit feature and should be precisely checked. A check at a Montblanc specialist retailer is usually free of charge and quickly possible. --- **Question:** How does one deal with the fact that a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 Le Grand auctioned on eBay is documented only by unsharp photos, and how does one recognise authenticity? **Answer:** Even with unsharp auction photos, decisive authenticity features can be recognised, especially the transitions between the cap rings. On originals the spaces are cleanly worked; on counterfeits typical "notches" are found there. A dealer's stamp in the service document, e.g. of Montblanc Deutschland GmbH in Hamburg, gives additional security. Anyone wanting as a beginner to be entirely sure is, on the first purchase, however better off in a Montblanc boutique. --- **Question:** Is an inherited gold-coloured Montblanc Noblesse pencil with thread guilloche pattern genuine, and in what period was it made? **Answer:** The Noblesse pencil described is an original from the period end of the 1970s to 1980s. A peculiarity of this line is that the Montblanc logo in this phase was not executed in white but in black, which makes the pencil also interesting for collectors. However, the model was produced in larger numbers and is therefore regularly to be found on the second-hand market. The collector value remains correspondingly within limits. --- **Question:** Is an older Montblanc Meisterstück ballpoint without "Pix" inscription on the middle ring a counterfeit, and what does a slight red shimmer mean? **Answer:** Older Meisterstück ballpoints were partly made with, partly without the Pix inscription on the middle ring; the absence is therefore no indication of a counterfeit. The Pix inscription was added in the course of the model history and is on newer writing instruments often to be found on the inside of the clip. A slight reddish shimmer on black Montblanc pens is even a reliable authenticity feature and arises through a very high concentration of the black dye in the plastic. Many counterfeits do not show this property. --- **Question:** Is a supposed Montblanc Greta Garbo ballpoint stemming from a household clearance genuine? **Answer:** The writing instrument found in the household clearance is, according to the assessment of collectors, a counterfeit. Own research on the internet showed indeed similar models but no exact equivalent, which is already a warning sign. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Solitaire Vermeil offered on eBay with correct hallmark genuine, and does the model belong to the size 144 or 146? **Answer:** The Solitaire Vermeil offered is an original; the hallmark confirms that cap and reservoir are made of vermeil. With the size question, caution is in order, since the Solitaire Vermeil as a small 144 Classique model is widespread. A clear distinction feature is the grip section: with the 144 Classique Vermeil it is typically gilded, which is not familiar to every provider. A dealer statement "surely a 146" should therefore be checked based on the dimensions and the design of the grip section. --- **Question:** Are on a ballpoint offered as Montblanc Meisterstück 164 with engraved serial number and unusual box oddities to be expected? **Answer:** On the writing instrument itself, no obvious authenticity defects are recognisable; the rings and the engraved serial number look consistent. Striking, however, is the high retail price, which lies for the model significantly above the usual level. The unusual packaging is also explicable: such boxes are frequently used by airlines like Lufthansa as gift packaging and are no original Montblanc cases. That is, however, uncritical if the ballpoint is intended for writing and not as a collector's piece. --- **Question:** How does one recognise a particularly well-made counterfeit of the Montblanc Annual Edition on eBay? **Answer:** Even visually successful counterfeits of the Annual Edition can be exposed by several details. A clear indication is the packaging with black star and further typical fake features. Additionally, the Annual Edition never existed as a rollerball, so every corresponding auction is necessarily counterfeit. Even the depicted swords and the missing year deliver further hints; only the housing itself comes visually close to the original. --- **Question:** Which typical features expose Montblanc counterfeits on eBay, and does a purely gold nib automatically make a Meisterstück 146 suspicious? **Answer:** Designs that Montblanc has never made as well as a wrongly positioned or missing cap ring or a missing ink-view window are clear counterfeit features. A completely gold nib alone is by contrast no indication of a counterfeit; there are quite genuine 146s with a pure gold nib. Very well to be recognised are fakes frequently by the nib engraving: counterfeit nibs typically bear the inscription "Iridium Point". Striking is additionally the concentration of counterfeit StarWalker models with some sellers. --- **Question:** Have on the early Montblanc Writers Editions like Hemingway, Agatha Christie and Oscar Wilde counterfeits already turned up? **Answer:** On the early Writers Editions Hemingway, Agatha Christie and Oscar Wilde, no counterfeits are so far known. A complete certainty does not however exist with brand counterfeits. If fakes do turn up at some point, they can so far reliably be identified based on the nib. It is on these editions the most reliable authenticity feature. --- **Question:** How does eBay deal with the massively occurring Chinese Montblanc counterfeits, and how effective are reports to manufacturers and platform? **Answer:** On eBay, numerous counterfeits turn up daily, from professionally made to poor plagiarisms, often from ever-new seller accounts from abroad. Reports to Montblanc lead, according to collector experience, to about 70 percent of the fake auctions being ended prematurely or after the end of the auction. eBay itself shows itself rather restrained in combating, since already the listing of the auctions brings fees. Striking is additionally that counterfeits, e.g. on the StarWalker Rubber, are getting significantly better in quality, which complicates recognition; Meisterstück counterfeits, however, are mostly obviously poorly executed. --- **Question:** How can one ascertain to which Montblanc series a ballpoint belongs that was given as a gift but shows indications of a counterfeit? **Answer:** A ballpoint that resembles a Copernicus model is most likely a counterfeit, since the Copernicus exists exclusively as a fountain pen, and only in the variants 4810 and 888. On counterfeit nibs, the inscription "4810" or with very bad fakes only "Iridium Point" is frequently found, while packagings of counterfeits often stem from other models like the Bohème. Original Copernicus pens cost new around 1,700 euros; counterfeit versions are sold for 20 to 50 euros online and for 2 to 4 euros in China. For reliable clarification, the comparison with original photos on the Montblanc website or at fountainpen.de as well as the visit to a Montblanc boutique is recommended. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Ramses II fountain pen offered on eBay genuine, and how high lies the market price? **Answer:** The auction photos show a real Montblanc Ramses II in original version. In near-new condition, the market price on eBay usually moves around 400 to 420 euros. To be noted is the nib width BB of the specifically depicted piece, which is primarily suitable for signatures and not for longer texts. --- **Question:** Why does a Montblanc Meisterstück carry only the marking W. Germany and no serial number, and does that make it a fake? **Answer:** On older writing instruments the absence of a serial number is no sign of a fake. Montblanc began numbering the fountain pens, ballpoints and propelling pencils of the Meisterstück series consecutively only from about 1991; the number appears on the gold band below the cap top with the star. Pieces made before that change carry nothing there but the country of origin. That marking allows the age to be narrowed down roughly: “W. Germany” points to manufacture before reunification, that is, before 1989/90, whereas later pieces carry only “Germany”. A ballpoint marked “W. Germany” without a number and a propelling pencil marked “Germany” with a serial number can therefore both be genuine, but they then come from different decades. What does decide the question of authenticity is the workmanship and the details: cleanly made trim with no bent sheet-metal parts, a correctly seated cap star, crisp engravings and the characteristic look of the precious resin. If doubts remain, a Montblanc boutique or a specialist workshop will examine the piece. --- **Question:** What is a Montblanc Solitaire Doué Signum, and why does brass show through the surface on worn examples? **Answer:** The Solitaire Doué Signum belongs to the Meisterstück Solitaire family and was probably launched in 2003; it has since been dropped from the range. Its defining feature is a platinum-plated surface over a body of brass. Since this is a plating and not solid precious metal, heavy use brings the yellowish brass through at the edges, at the cap lip and on the clip. A pen showing yellow metal over a large area is therefore not necessarily an unrecorded special version, still less a fake; as a rule it is simply well worn, and the plating is occasionally rubbed off on purpose. Replating can normally only be carried out by the manufacturer's service department or a specialist workshop, and is worth the outlay only on a pen that is otherwise in good condition. It is also worth knowing that the line was produced in corporate-gift versions, with a company logo worked into the cap crown in place of the Montblanc star. Such pens are genuine, but the collector market rates them below the standard version. Whether gold-plated variants of them were also made remains unresolved. --- **Question:** How can fake Montblanc StarWalkers be spotted, in particular the rollerball in the Rubber Line version? **Answer:** On the Rubber Line StarWalker the most reliable point to check is the end of the barrel behind the threads: on the original this area is steel, whereas on the copies circulating at the time it was finished in black. Side by side the difference is obvious at once, and it also shows up clearly on any halfway usable sales photograph. A second warning sign is a finish that never existed in the regular range. White StarWalker barrels, or StarWalkers with a grained guilloche, were not part of the line-up in the mid-2000s and could safely be classed as counterfeits. Anyone who knows what the catalogue held in a given year will spot such invented variants faster than any point of detail on the pen itself. One further rule applies to online auctions: if a seller is offering several obviously fake writing instruments at once, the rest of his listings deserve the same scepticism, cases, wallets and writing folders included. Blurred photographs, or ones plainly lifted from the maker's brochures, are an additional warning sign, precisely because they make it impossible to judge the tell-tale flaws in a fake's finish. --- **Question:** Is a piston filler marked “Monte Rosa”, with no star emblem on the cap top, a genuine Montblanc? **Answer:** Monte Rosa is not another maker's brand but a Montblanc range in its own right: inexpensive school and everyday fountain pens of the 1950s, named after another Alpine peak. The absence of an engraved, uncoloured star emblem on the cap top is normal for these models and no sign of a fake. The steel nib bearing the words “Monte Rosa” likewise belongs to the original, since the range was deliberately positioned below the Meisterstück. Identification is made easier by the two-part imprint at the end of the barrel beside the piston knob: on one side the model number, 042 for instance, on the other the code for the nib. Here K denotes the ball-ground, smooth-running tip and the second letter the width, so “KF” is a ball nib in fine. Condition matters more to the value than rarity does. Worn plating on clip and cap ring, or a nib worn shiny, push the price down sharply. Well-preserved Monte Rosas turn up regularly at collectors' fairs, and often cost less there than poorer examples do in online auctions. --- **Question:** Is it normal for the precious resin of a Montblanc Meisterstück 164 to glow reddish when light is shone through it, and how is authenticity established? **Answer:** Yes, that is normal. Precious resin is Montblanc's name for a high-grade acrylic, in material terms a close relative of Perspex. Shine a strong light on a black body and it becomes translucent, showing a reddish to red-brown glow. Collectors treat the effect as an indication of authenticity if anything, since many fakes are made of opaque plastic. On the Meisterstück 164 ballpoint the cap inscription “Montblanc Meisterstück Pix” is likewise part of the original. Pix is an old registered house name that Montblanc uses on ballpoints and propelling pencils in the Meisterstück range, not an invented term. The serial number on the clip, by contrast, can only be read at the factory: from it Montblanc can tell the year of manufacture among other things, but without the key it means nothing to a collector. Binding confirmation of authenticity comes from Montblanc alone; the pen has to be sent in, and the service is chargeable. Any judgement made from photographs remains an opinion, even though clean engravings, the fit of the original refill and the behaviour of the material already provide strong pointers. --- **Question:** What should you look out for when buying a used Montblanc Meisterstück 144, and how does it differ from the 145? **Answer:** The 144 and the 145 both belong to the slim Classique size of the Meisterstück and, in their later versions, take a cartridge or converter; only the 144s of the 1950s were true piston fillers. The 144 was appreciably more expensive when new than the 145. With any listing it is therefore worth looking at the retail price quoted: if it is at the level of a 145, either the model is wrongly stated or the seller has taken the figure from the wrong price list. That in itself is no reason to suspect a fake, but it is reason enough to check model number, nib and filling system carefully. Before buying, the nib width should be tried out at a specialist shop. Free exchange of the nib for another width was normally possible only if the pen had been bought new and directly from a dealer (as of 2005); with pens acquired privately or at auction, the cost of a nib change falls to the owner. Since line and writing feel differ markedly between EF, F, M and B, the wrong width is the commonest reason why a cheaply acquired Meisterstück ends up disappointing after all. --- **Question:** Are there fakes of the Montblanc Writers Edition Franz Kafka, and how can such counterfeits be recognised? **Answer:** Yes. Counterfeits of the Kafka rollerball circulated first; from 2005 fake fountain pens and ballpoints from the 2004 Writers Edition Franz Kafka joined them, so that the series was being offered in imitation as a complete set. The clearest pointer lies in the nib: if it is stamped “Iridium Point”, it is an off-the-shelf bought-in nib of a kind Montblanc has never used. Equally telling are papers supplied with a pen that do not belong to the model, a Bohème guarantee booklet with a Kafka pen for instance. Genuine editions are delivered with documents specific to the model; conversely, the papers supplied prove nothing in themselves, because cases, booklets and certificates are traded separately and bought in expressly to dress up fakes. Anyone buying a Writers Edition second-hand should therefore always consider nib, engravings, cap ring lettering and documents together, and in case of doubt take the price as a warning: with limited editions, offers well below the usual collector level are almost never a bargain. --- **Question:** How do you spot fake Montblanc StarWalkers in online auctions, and can such listings be taken down? **Answer:** The first step is to check the pen against the actual model range. If the design on offer does not exist at Montblanc at all, a StarWalker with a marbled finish for instance, the matter is settled before any discussion of detail. A nib that does not belong to the series, or that carries the generic stamp “Iridium”, equally rules out an original. The StarWalker is among the most frequently copied Montblanc ranges. The sales patter is characteristic too: the seller was given the pen as a present, claims to know nothing about the subject and therefore nothing about where it came from. The material value of such a counterfeit runs to a few euros; around two euros was the estimate in 2009. Bids of 30 euros and more are thus no bargain but the price of a worthless object. A listing can be reported, but only the rights holder can have it ended: Montblanc alone can make the auction platform remove it. That is why by no means every fake disappears from the listings, and why checking for yourself before bidding remains the most important protection there is. --- **Question:** Was there an official Montblanc edition bearing Helmut Newton's signature, and how do you recognise fakes cobbled together from it? **Answer:** Collectors report that Montblanc did indeed issue a Newton edition, around 1999 and in a very small run. What has been handed down is that it was always a set: a 149 fountain pen with Helmut Newton's signature engraved on it, sold only together with a hand-signed poster or book. Accounts of the number made vary between roughly 75 and 100 examples, and red gold trim is also mentioned. None of this is conclusively documented, so the details should be passed on only with that reservation. What is certain, on the other hand, is that it was not a pen from the Special Anniversary Edition. Listings that combine a body from that edition with a stuck-on edition number, parts from other pens and a crudely engraved signature are home-made. The usual marks of such concoctions are numbers the model never had, engravings in a different typeface and depth, silver-coloured rings where gold-plated ones belong, and packaging and papers that match neither the pen nor each other. All this is frequently accompanied by a mawkish sales text meant to push the buyer into a quick decision. --- **Question:** What does the nib stamp “Iridium Point Germany” mean on a supposed Montblanc, and which ranges are faked especially often? **Answer:** The stamp “Iridium Point Germany” is the single most reliable indicator of a fake. Montblanc has never marked its nibs in that way. The wording comes from mass-produced bought-in nibs and turns up on counterfeits of all sorts of brands; the country of origin, “Germany”, is every bit as invented as the rest of it. Originals carry the word Montblanc and the gold content, that is 585 and 14 C or 750 and 18 K, and on the Meisterstück models the figure 4810 as well, a reference to the height of Mont Blanc in metres. Steel nibs from the cheaper ranges are stamped accordingly with the series or model name. A nib without any Montblanc marking at all but with a generic iridium legend rules out an original for practical purposes. Counterfeits are especially numerous among the StarWalker models, while the large Meisterstück pens and the limited editions are also frequently copied. Since fakes are by now passable enough on the outside, it pays more to look at the nib, the feed and the quality of the engravings than at the overall shape. --- **Question:** Are older Montblanc ballpoints such as the No. 38 of the 1960s Meisterstücke, and do today's refills fit them? **Answer:** No. Until the early 1990s Montblanc was a full-range manufacturer whose catalogue covered everything from the plain school pen to the Meisterstück 149. Models such as the No. 38 ballpoint of the 1960s belong to the mass-produced end of that programme and not to the Meisterstück line, and they differ accordingly in materials and finish. On vintage pieces the brand name alone therefore says little about standing or value. The practical snag is the refill: today's Montblanc refills do not fit these old bodies, which were built for a format long since abandoned. Replacements can only be had from old stock or by trimming another maker's refill to size. Anyone buying a pen as a present for everyday use is better served by a current model such as the Meisterstück 164; a piece from the 1960s or 1970s is really one for enthusiasts of the period. As for fakes, there is little to worry about with models like these: counterfeiters concentrate almost entirely on the well-known current Meisterstück models, and plain workaday pens of the 1960s are hardly ever copied. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc fountain pen without a laser-etched identification number on the cap ring necessarily a fake? **Answer:** No. Montblanc only began laser-etching an identification number onto its pens in about the early to mid-1990s. A pen made before that — with the 144, that means the earlier series — should carry no number at all. Its absence on such pens is normal and no defect. A plain gold nib instead of a two-tone nib is likewise nothing unusual on these models. Conversely, the presence of a serial number proves nothing: most fakes carry invented numbers, and the manufacturer will give no information on individual ones. The nib, the finish and the feel of the materials tell you far more. Genuine nibs carry the fineness mark for 14- or 18-carat gold, that is 585 or 750, often together with 14 C or 18 K. The common fakes of the 2000s usually had no gold nib and were crudely made throughout, so a close look was enough to expose them. That can no longer be relied on: more accomplished copies are now in circulation. In case of doubt, the only answers are a direct comparison with a pen known to be genuine, or buying from an authorised dealer. --- **Question:** What is a Montblanc SlimLine, and are push-button ballpoints of this kind faked at all? **Answer:** The SlimLine is a slim, inexpensive Montblanc range from the 1980s. Until 1991 Montblanc made the whole spectrum, from the cheap school pen to the expensive Meisterstück, and the SlimLine sat at the lower end of that programme. Only afterwards did the company concentrate on the high-priced range. That is precisely why push-button ballpoints from this range are virtually never faked: the resale value is far too low for counterfeiters, and the effort does not pay. What gets copied is above all the Meisterstück and the limited editions. A SlimLine in good condition is therefore very probably genuine, even without elaborate checking. The same argument, though, means the market value is slight: a well-preserved example fetches little on a sale, so as a rule the sensible thing is simply to use the ballpoint yourself (as at 2017). --- **Question:** How do you spot fraudulent Montblanc listings that use other people's genuine photographs and copied descriptions? **Answer:** A recurring pattern in fraudulent listings looks like this: the photographs are lifted from other, genuine auctions and show real pens that do exist, while the description has been taken over unaltered from an entirely different product. The heading offers a Meisterstück 146, say, the text describes a Noblesse propelling pencil taking 0.7 mm leads, and the same text appears in every one of that seller's listings. This mismatch between title, picture and description is often the only thing that gives the fraud away — nothing about the photograph looks wrong, because it shows a genuine pen. Listings of this kind often run through hijacked seller accounts whose accumulated feedback is meant to suggest respectability. Very short runs of only a day are another hallmark: experience shows that it takes three or four days before reports from buyers or the brand owner take effect and a listing is pulled — by which time the auction has long since closed. In some cases there is no pen behind such an offer at all, only an attempt to get hold of payment details. Anyone examining a listing should therefore hold text and picture up against each other, treat very short durations with suspicion, and look at the account's previous selling history (as at 2005). --- **Question:** Is there a Montblanc Meisterstück 164 on which the refill can only be changed through a removable tip? **Answer:** No. On the Meisterstück 164 twist ballpoint the refill is always changed by unscrewing the body in the middle. Montblanc never built a version that opens at the front alone. If a supposed 164 will not come apart in the middle while the front section comes away easily and the refill can be changed there, that points strongly to a fake. It should be borne in mind, though, that the front section is threaded on the genuine article too and can be forced off; the tip coming away therefore proves nothing on its own. What counts is whether the usual thread in the middle is present and works. For a final verdict other features should be brought in — the quality and execution of the stampings, the style of the serial number and how precisely the parts fit together. In the end only the manufacturer can give a binding answer. --- **Question:** How do you spot scams using recycled auction photographs when buying a Montblanc Skeleton 333? **Answer:** With numbered limited editions such as the Skeleton 333, the individual number often gives the fraud away. If, months after a completed sale, the same pen turns up again with an identical number, the same pictures and virtually the same description, quite possibly in another country, that is no coincidence: pictures and text have been lifted from the old auction, and as a rule there is no pen behind the listing at all. Anyone who keeps a record of listings in their own collecting field will spot such repeats. Other typical signs: the seller offers to end the auction early and sell directly; payment is to go through cash transfer services such as MoneyGram, with the buyer footing the fees and with no way of recovering the money once it has been collected. As “proof of authenticity” there is a photograph of a supposed receipt on which nothing but the company logo can be made out. The most effective counter-test is to ask for specific close-ups that cannot already exist online — of the nib imprint, the serial number or the engraved edition number — and to insist on them at the camera's original resolution. Genuine sellers supply such pictures; fraudsters break off contact. The fact that the same account is offering other high-value goods proves nothing about the seller's good faith. --- **Question:** What is the edition size of the Writers Edition Jules Verne, and are there fakes of this edition? **Answer:** The edition size of the Writers Edition Jules Verne varies according to the type of pen, and every piece carries it engraved: 18,500 fountain pens were made, 16,500 ballpoints and 4,500 pencils, so the complete set is likewise limited to 4,500. The engraved figure must therefore match the type of pen. A fountain pen marked 16,500 is a contradiction in terms — and that very figure crops up again and again on fakes, whatever the pen happens to be. Fakes of the Jules Verne edition do indeed exist. If you are buying without seeing the pen, ask the seller for the engraved edition figures without naming the correct ones yourself; otherwise they will simply be confirmed back to you. If a seller will not or cannot open the packaging, a photograph of the label on the outside of the box, which states the edition size, will serve. Before bidding, also establish the postage and handling charges, which can be considerable on listings from abroad (as of 2006). --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc 136 with a silver overlay and a 925 hallmark a factory model, or something cobbled together later? **Answer:** A 136 with a silver overlay calls for considerable caution. Collectors report that Montblanc never offered this model with a mixture of silver and gold parts; far more likely is that an ordinary 136 was fitted afterwards with an overlay from another pen or one made specially for it — in collectors' jargon, a cobbled-together piece. The hallmark supplies a further clue: German pens from the period when the 136 was made normally used 900 silver, so a 925 hallmark points to an overlay produced later rather than to a factory version. Material combinations that appear in no catalogue version are to be judged in the same way, as are fits at joints and rings that are not quite true. For collector value this matters a great deal: even neatly executed overlays added after the fact reduce the value considerably, because the pen is no longer original. A reliable judgement requires the pen in hand; photographs from a sales listing are rarely enough. --- **Question:** Are a Montblanc ballpoint and propelling pencil from the 1970s marked W-Germany genuine, and which models are they? **Answer:** Older Montblanc pens from the 1960s and 1970s were practically never faked, because the prices they sold for at the time were so low that copying them would not have been worth anyone's while. Counterfeiting affects almost exclusively the expensive models made after 1990. Immaculate condition, a smooth-running mechanism and a surviving gold “Made in W.-Germany” sticker are therefore no grounds for suspicion; they are exactly what you would expect of pieces that lay unused in a drawer for decades. That modern Montblanc refills fit with a plastic adapter is equally normal. The model numbers are 281 for the ballpoint and 251 for the matching propelling pencil. Until 1991 Montblanc was an entirely ordinary stationery firm that made everything from school pens to the Meisterstück; the plain ranges are correspondingly common, and what they fetch today rests above all on the name. As of 2014, around 70 euros was a fair price for the pair — and about the same could be expected back on a resale. --- **Question:** Why is the leather case of the Meisterstück 147 Traveller so often sold separately from the pen, and what did the set cost? **Answer:** For a while, namely in 2001, the Traveller was officially available without its case as well. The pen on its own cost about 375 euros then, and the travel case could be had separately for a little over 50 euros. Added together that came to more than the 400-euro threshold which Montblanc presumably did not want to show openly for this model. By 2002 the option of ordering the parts individually had been withdrawn again; the Traveller then cost 410 euros with its travel case, and as of 2005 the recommended retail price for the set was 445 euros. When pen and case are sold separately today, the reason behind it is usually no more than a wish to sell two lots instead of one. For buyers that means a Traveller without its case is neither an incomplete nor a suspicious piece, but a set price for the pen alone is well over the odds. If you are putting pen and case together from two different sources, it is worth checking that the case matches the pen, since the leather goods were supplied in slightly differing versions over the years. --- **Question:** Can a rollerball offered as a Montblanc Writers Edition F. Scott Fitzgerald be genuine, and how are such fakes recognised? **Answer:** No. The Writers Edition F. Scott Fitzgerald was never issued as a rollerball. If such a pen is offered, it is either a fake or a pen assembled from parts. That also points to the simplest check of all: before comparing individual details, establish whether the edition exists at all in the form offered — fountain pen, ballpoint, mechanical pencil or rollerball. Counterfeiters, experience shows, pay no attention to this and build pens that never existed. A second giveaway is wrongly combined components. On the pen described, the cap ring was recognisably from a Bohème. Such mixtures of features from different ranges are typical of fakes. Comparing the cap, with its ring, lettering and clip shape, against reliable pictures of the edition in question usually reveals discrepancies faster than looking at the nib or the colour of the body. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc rollerball genuine if the original Montblanc refill fits it? **Answer:** No, a refill that fits is no proof of authenticity. The refills themselves are now being counterfeited too, and the bodies of the copies are made to such close tolerances that genuine refills fit almost any fake. The old rule of thumb that only a genuine body would take the original refill no longer holds. The same goes for paperwork: a completed service booklet with a dealer's stamp is no reliable sign either, since even the stamps have been copied. In the end only the source of supply offers complete certainty. Buy from a Montblanc boutique or an authorised specialist dealer and you can rely on the pen being genuine. Any other purchase carries a residual risk, which can only be reduced by the seller's standing, a verifiable selling history and an inspection of the pen in the hand. In case of doubt, Montblanc will examine a pen for a fee and issue a certificate of authenticity. --- **Question:** Are there simple features by which a fake Montblanc fountain pen can reliably be recognised at the point of purchase? **Answer:** There are no general tell-tale signs that hold good always and for every model. The fakes keep getting better, and features that used to be dependable — weight, the fit of the refill, the lettering of the engravings, a service booklet with a stamp — have by now largely been imitated. In the middle and upper price brackets especially, sales photographs often make it impossible to decide whether the pen shown is genuine or a copy. Security therefore lies less in the object than in where it comes from. Buying from a local specialist shop, from a boutique, from the official online shops and from the handful of authorised online and specialist pen dealers is safe. On auction platforms, check the selling history: someone who has sold pens regularly over the years is a far smaller risk than a seller with no track record in the field. Collecting the pen in person only really helps if you take someone along who knows what they are looking at. Two rules of thumb still hold: buy only where you can trust the seller, and as far as possible buy only models you know yourself. With older Limited Editions the second-hand market is often the only route, since they are no longer available in the shops; there patience pays, and where large sums are involved an appraisal before buying is money well spent. --- **Question:** How much discount do authorised Montblanc dealers give, and how do you recognise a current piston converter in a Meisterstück 145? **Answer:** There is some room for negotiation when buying from an authorised dealer, but it is narrow. As of 2008 regular customers were typically given around ten per cent, with roughly fifteen per cent regarded as the absolute ceiling. As a maker of luxury goods Montblanc keeps a close watch on price stability, and dealers who go noticeably further risk being cut off from supply. Anyone buying second-hand instead should keep that range in mind, because an apparent bargain is often not far below what a dealer would come to, warranty included. With the Meisterstück 145, the Classique, it is also worth looking at the converter supplied with it, since it reveals whether the accessory really belongs to that pen. Older piston converters are simply pushed into the barrel. The newer versions have a thread at the lower end and screw firmly onto the section; inside there is also a small metal spring that makes sure the ink reaches the feed reliably. An old push-fit converter in new packaging is not a mark of a fake, but it does show that pen, converter and box did not arrive together. --- **Question:** Why does a gold-plated Montblanc ballpoint carry a different emblem on the clip instead of the white star? **Answer:** An emblem that differs from the familiar white star is not in itself a mark of a fake. Montblanc shipped many writing instruments destined for the Arab world without the star, fitting a different emblem instead, and such export versions do occasionally turn up on the European second-hand market. The absence of an emblem on the push-button of a pen like this fits the same picture. These instruments were never intended for the German market, which explains the unfamiliar look. The second possibility is later tinkering: a replaced clip, say, or an emblem fitted after the event. Plain sales photographs will not tell the two apart; for that you need the pen in your hand, or sharp close-ups of clip, cap ring and push-button. A deliberate fake is rather unlikely with a gold-plated ballpoint of this kind, since these were comparatively inexpensive everyday writing instruments and copying them hardly pays. What gets faked above all are the expensive fountain pens and the limited editions. --- **Question:** Were there Meisterstück 149s without a serial number and without an engraving in the clip, and has the model been built unchanged since 1952? **Answer:** A Meisterstück 149 with no serial number and no engraving in the clip is nothing out of the ordinary. Montblanc only introduced these markings later on; older examples simply do not carry them, so their absence is no argument against authenticity in itself. In the mid-2000s it was also taken as read among collectors that nobody had yet attempted a convincing copy of the 149. That is not something to rely on when buying today, however; nib, feed, cap rings, threads and piston mechanism should each be examined in turn. What is wrong, on the other hand, is the claim sellers so often make that the 149 has been produced unchanged since 1952. All that is true is that the model has been in the range continuously since 1952. Over that period there have been numerous changes, among them the material of the body, the nib, the ink-feed system and the piston mechanism. Those very differences are what make it possible to date an individual pen, and they explain why the writing behaviour, the weight and the feel of the materials of an early 149 differ markedly from a current one. Sweeping statements about the model never having changed are therefore a sign that the seller does not know it at all closely. --- **Question:** What should one make of a second-hand Montblanc organiser in A5 format described as a Meisterstück Prestige? **Answer:** There has never been a Montblanc leather line called Meisterstück Prestige. Anyone offered an organiser under that name should therefore not jump to the conclusion that it is a fake, but first suspect a mix-up on the seller's part: what is meant is in all likelihood the Meisterstück Platinum version, which was available with platinum-coloured fittings alongside the classic line with gilt ones. The fact that nothing at all can be found about the supposed name points to precisely this error, not to an especially rare piece. Price is no test of authenticity with leather goods either. Used organisers lose a great deal against their price when new; a figure of around 120 euros was perfectly plausible in 2013 for a used but well-preserved example. What should be examined instead is the workmanship and the stitching, the embossing of the logo, and the quality of the zip, the ring mechanism and the interior fittings. Counterfeit Montblanc leather goods almost always give themselves away at first glance through coarse or crooked stitching, unevenly finished edges and stiff, cheap-feeling leather, whereas the wrong model name on its own proves nothing. --- **Question:** Was there a rollerball in the Montblanc Writers Edition Franz Kafka, and what does that mean for offers of one? **Answer:** The Writers Edition Franz Kafka did not include a rollerball. If such a pen is offered it is a fake, and one that can be exposed from the edition's line-up alone, without examining a single detail. The pattern is a familiar one: counterfeiters transfer the decoration of a well-known edition onto shapes that never existed in the original, because a rollerball or ballpoint is far simpler to make than a fountain pen with a gold nib, a feed and a filling system. Before buying a Writers Edition or any other limited series, then, it always pays to check against what was actually produced: which types of writing instrument existed at all, in what edition size, with what numbering and in what packaging. If even the type of instrument is wrong, any further examination of nib, engraving and finish is superfluous. Experience shows that buyers who point this out to disreputable sellers do not get the listing withdrawn, but at best convoluted wording added to the description afterwards, designed to shift the responsibility onto the bidder. --- **Question:** What should you watch out for in online auctions so as not to end up buying a counterfeit Montblanc StarWalker or vintage fountain pen? **Answer:** The first thing to be wary of is the way the auction itself is set up. If the list of bidders cannot be viewed, other interested parties cannot be warned when a pen is recognised as a fake; with high-priced branded goods a concealed bidder list is therefore a clear warning sign. Equally suspect are seller accounts with very few ratings or a conspicuously short history, since those who trade in copies routinely open new accounts after being shut down. Several similar listings from the same seller with identical photographs and strikingly brief descriptions point the same way. On substance, checking against what was actually produced helps: types of instrument, colours or decorations that never existed in the original give a fake away at once. With modern models such as the StarWalker it pays to look closely at clip, emblem, cap ring and quality of finish; with old Montblanc fountain pens an independent expert opinion before bidding is advisable, from an experienced collector, say, or from a dealer specialising in vintage writing instruments. Reports to the platform, experience shows, seldom lead to a listing being taken down, so checking for yourself before you bid remains the most effective protection. --- **Question:** How do you recognise counterfeit Montblanc rollerballs, such as supposed pieces from the 100 years edition or the Patron of Arts edition Humboldt? **Answer:** A first and often decisive step is to check against what the edition in question actually comprised. The rollerball for the 100 Years of Montblanc edition came in black only; versions with green elements do not exist in the original. The Patron of Arts edition Humboldt, in turn, was issued only as a fountain pen, so a rollerball or ballpoint in that decoration cannot be genuine from the outset. On the instrument itself it is worth looking under the clip. Montblanc rollerballs and ballpoints carry the markings Germany and Pix there, raised as a three-dimensional relief, not milled and not lasered in. Flat engraved or lasered lettering in that place is a strong indication of a fake. To that come the usual signs of poor manufacture: clips that sit badly or feel too soft, cap rings without crisp definition, uneven lacquer, ill-fitting threads and a body that feels light and cheap overall. If in doubt, take sharp close-ups of clip, cap ring and emblem and compare them with documented originals, rather than relying on the general impression given by small sales photographs. --- **Question:** Were there Montblanc Meisterstück pens with a green marbled or striped body, and how do you recognise fakes of such models? **Answer:** Striped Meisterstück pens did indeed exist. From the older Meisterstück generation, a 142 with a green striped body and a 144 with a grey striped body are among those documented. Pieces like these are rare and much wanted by collectors, and copies and fantasy versions turn up correspondingly often. A conspicuously green marbled body that otherwise shows the design language of a modern Meisterstück is in all likelihood a fake. The giveaways lie in the details, which can be checked well on close-up photographs: on crude fakes the star on the cap top is poorly formed and looks more like a flower than an even six-pointed star, the cap rings are imprecisely made or wrongly lettered, and the nib engraving differs from the original in its lettering and its arrangement. Comparison with documented originals of the same model is therefore advisable before any purchase, since combinations of colour and shape that Montblanc never made rule a pen out for certain. --- **Question:** Was the Montblanc Meisterstück 145 of the Platinum Line ever made with a gold-coloured ring and thread on the section? **Answer:** No. On the platinum-plated versions of the Meisterstück range every visible metal part is platinum-plated, and that expressly includes the narrow ring at the rear end of the section as well as the metal threaded part. A 145 P whose cap fittings and clip are platinum-plated but which has gold-coloured parts on the section was never delivered in that combination. Fit the section of a regular gold-plated 145 into a 145 P by way of experiment and you get exactly this picture, with the difference in colour immediately apparent. As a rule, then, someone has put together parts from different writing instruments. A piece assembled in this way must not be offered as new and unopened, even if the original box and the ident number are there: the packaging and the number say nothing about the integrity of the contents. Anyone needing certainty in dealing with a seller should have the instrument assessed by the manufacturer's customer service; a written statement from there carries more weight in a dispute than any collector's opinion. --- **Question:** How can the spelling and the model name in an online listing reveal that the pen on offer is not a genuine Montblanc? **Answer:** The first clue is often in the listing title itself. The brand is written as one word, Montblanc; the split form Mont Blanc — usually combined with an English-language description and a seller based in the Far East — is one of the commonest giveaways of commercially produced fakes. Invented model names are just as telling. Sellers pair up names that never went together at Montblanc — a StarWalker described as a 75th Anniversary, for instance. The 1999 edition marking 75 years of the Meisterstück has nothing to do with the StarWalker line, and it was never offered with platinum-plated trim. Anyone who knows the correct model names and which trim variants were actually available will weed out a large proportion of listings before even looking at the photographs. Be wary, too, of descriptions that ape an original without clearly calling the pen a replica; there the buyer's mistake is part of the plan. --- **Question:** Can the authenticity of a Montblanc Meisterstück 145 Chopin still be judged reliably from listing photographs? **Answer:** No — not since around 2010. Fakes of this model are in circulation that are all but indistinguishable from the original in photographs. Every feature that once gave a copy away is present on these pens: an ident number in the cap ring, the Pix lettering under the clip, and a convincing nib engraving with platinum plating. Anyone who checks only those points will inevitably take such a listing for genuine. Held in the hand next to a real one, however, the difference is still obvious. Weight and balance, the sheen of the precious resin, the crispness of the engravings, the way the piston runs and, above all, the way the nib writes all betray the fake. Quality is generally far lower at markets and in street sales in the Far East, so those pens can be spotted from a distance; the high-grade copies are placed deliberately through mail order. For the buyer the conclusion is to stay clear of suspiciously cheap listings that offer no chance to inspect the pen, and, in case of doubt, to involve the manufacturer or an authorised dealer. --- **Question:** How do you spot listings for fakes that appear to come from German sellers but are in fact supplied from the Far East? **Answer:** The item's location, a German-language description and domestic postage rates prove nothing about authenticity. As early as the mid-2000s there were sellers with German addresses sourcing their goods directly from Far Eastern counterfeiting workshops, using sober, unremarkable listing text that read as perfectly accurate. The conspicuous listings shipped straight from China were already in decline by then, because they were too easy to see through. One useful indicator is where the pictures come from. If the product photographs are hosted not on the trading platform itself but on a third-party server, the image address in the page source will show it; where that address points to a foreign wholesaler, the goods very probably come from there too. It is equally telling if the same photograph turns up in numerous other listings, since that means it is catalogue material rather than the pen actually being sold. Reputable sellers photograph the individual pen themselves, show the nib, clip and cap rings in close-up, and answer detailed questions without evasion. --- **Question:** Does a serial number on the clip ring prove that a Montblanc from the Greta Garbo edition is genuine? **Answer:** A serial number on its own proves nothing. Fakes circulate both with and without a serial number applied, so its mere presence is no evidence of authenticity. More telling is a look under the clip: on pens of recent date, and the Greta Garbo edition is one of them, the word “PIX” stands proud there, worked in relief out of the material rather than engraved or lasered. Bear in mind, though, that pens from the 1980s carry no lettering under the clip at all and that in the 1990s it was sometimes engraved; on the Agatha Christie it reads simply “Germany”. Antique fairs and flea markets are a typical outlet for counterfeit pens, as they are for counterfeit clothing or software; a current model at a conspicuously low price is almost never an original there. In case of doubt a specialist dealer will give a firm opinion. Owning a fake is not a criminal offence in Germany, but reselling one certainly is: it can be prosecuted and can expose the seller to claims for damages by the rights holder. In other countries — France, for example — even possession is problematic. --- **Question:** What should you watch out for when buying a Montblanc amber set from an online auction, and is the edition limited? **Answer:** With listings of this kind the first thing to check is where the photographs came from. Where the pictures are recognisably taken from the manufacturer's website or from collectors' pages, be extremely wary: a seller who posts someone else's images is precisely not showing the pen that will be delivered. Such listings are best avoided regardless of whether the set in the picture looks genuine, since authenticity cannot be judged from another party's photographs anyway. Misleading claims about availability are just as common. The amber version is a Special Edition and was regularly available in the shops; the assertion that it was never officially sold is untrue. A Special Edition is moreover not limited, so there is neither a fixed edition size nor individual numbering as with the Limited Editions — nothing there justifies a collector's premium. A price in the region of 888 euros, such as was asked around 2010, was accordingly well over the odds. Pens from this edition come up on the second-hand market regularly, so patience pays. --- **Question:** How do you spot faked Montblanc editions when a listing shows colours or designs that never existed? **Answer:** One reliable and frequently overlooked test is to compare the item with what an edition actually comprised. Many fakes come unstuck because they show versions that never existed: a Writers Edition F. Scott Fitzgerald in blue, a rollerball of the Greta Garbo Edition, which by collectors' accounts was never made at all, let alone in steel, or a ballpoint belonging to an edition that appeared only as a fountain pen. Check before buying which types of writing instrument, which colours and which materials belong to a given edition, and pieces like these give themselves away at once, with no detailed knowledge of the workmanship required. Harder to judge are fakes that stick to models which genuinely exist. The worst affected are comparatively recent, much sought-after ranges such as the Bohème, the StarWalker and the Greta Garbo Edition; here nothing helps but close examination of the clip, the star, the nib engraving, the lettering on the ring and the finish, and, in case of doubt, the verdict of a specialist dealer. Auction listings from unknown sellers therefore always call for extra caution. --- **Question:** How do you recognise the Far Eastern Montblanc fakes offered at online auctions? **Answer:** The counterfeits sold in quantity through auction sites since the mid-2000s keep repeating the same handful of features. The box often contains a star made in black rather than white. The nib carries the imprint Iridium Point, a marking Montblanc does not use on its gold nibs. The cap and barrel rings show a visible notch or seam where the original has a cleanly continuous ring. Then there is the item's location: with Montblanc pens, listings located in China or Hong Kong, or shipped from the Far East, always warrant the greatest caution. These features have stayed unchanged for years, because the copies are evidently turned out in large runs from unchanging tooling. Anyone who pulls up reference photographs of genuine examples of the same model before bidding will spot the great majority of these fakes from the listing photograph alone. A low price is no reliable guide, since the very same pieces are also offered at full retail prices. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc fountain pen genuine if it combines the nib ring of a 144 with the screw thread of a 145? **Answer:** A mixture of that kind is a sure sign of a fake. The 144 and the 145 are closely related Meisterstück models in the smaller Classique size, but they differ in details such as the nib ring, the section and the design of the thread. Parts from the two models were never mixed at the factory. Anyone finding the ring of one version and the thread of the other on the same pen is looking at a copy that has taken its cues from several originals at once without getting any of them right. A second and usually still clearer indicator is the nib: on fakes the engraving looks flat and monotonous, whereas the stamping on a genuine nib shows clearly stepped depths and clean edges. With listings of this sort the box and the converter are almost always counterfeit too, so the suspicion can be confirmed on several separate components. Price proves nothing about authenticity: in 2014 a pen like this was being offered at 399 euros, appreciably more than a used 145 normally fetched at the time. --- **Question:** How can you tell that a supposedly early Montblanc lever filler with a Simplo imprint has been put together from parts that do not belong to it? **Answer:** Pieces like this give themselves away through a chain of inconsistencies, each of which might be explained on its own but which together add up to something that cannot be original. Strikingly fresh imprints on a supposedly very old pen are only weak evidence, since re-whitening the stamping later is common practice. The fittings tell you more: a cap ring of unfamiliar shape and set an unusual distance from the cap lip is not documented for Montblanc, and a star with sharply drawn-out points suggests the Eastern European reproductions known from the Czech Republic and Romania. A clip markedly too small for the cap is another warning sign; on genuine ball clips the metal ball is a separate piece, soldered on, and was never made in one piece with the clip. The same goes for the barrel: a lever set close to the end of the barrel occurs on no Montblanc lever filler. Particularly revealing is a check of the patent number next to a Simplo imprint, because if that number belongs to a plunger filler, the pen cannot be a production lever filler, and the prototype explanation falls away as well. Not infrequently it is the nib of all things that is genuine, though from a different era, the 1950s say, and therefore at odds with the pen it is supposed to belong to. For checking shapes, caps, cap rings and clips, Rösler's collector books are the best foundation. That over 500 euros was bid for a piece of this kind in 2008 shows how worthwhile the effort is for the forgers. --- **Question:** How do you recognise counterfeit Montblanc ballpoints, and is it true that versions of that kind were made for the Asian market? **Answer:** The commonest signs concern the rings, the number and the clip. The cap and barrel rings of the fakes show the characteristic notches, and the serial number is punched rather than cleanly laser-engraved, often so crudely that it is hard to make out even with a loupe. The Montblanc Meisterstück lettering on the centre cap ring is frequently poorly legible too. Another point to check is where the clip sits, which on copies starts too low down, below the cap ring. And if the pen looks, by its girth, like a size 162 rollerball, the cap ought to screw on; a cap that merely pushes on argues against an original. The frequently heard claim that such pieces are special versions for the Asian market is untrue. Montblanc never issued editions of that kind, and Far Eastern-looking motifs such as dragon ornament on a supposed Meisterstück are in themselves enough to rule out an original. In China copies like these cost one to two euros around 2013; at auction they fetched many times that. Before bidding it is worth approaching the seller and agreeing a right of return; many sellers do not themselves know what they are selling and will go along with it. Good seller ratings say nothing about authenticity, and a strikingly low hammer price is more a warning sign than a stroke of luck. --- **Question:** How do you tell the Montblanc 164 Classique ballpoint from the larger 161 LeGrand, and what should you watch for in auction photographs? **Answer:** The 161 LeGrand is the large version of the Meisterstück ballpoint, the 164 Classique the slimmer one. They are told apart chiefly by diameter and length, which only a photograph can show that pictures the whole pen, ideally alongside something of known size. Since the LeGrand sells for considerably more than the Classique, the two models are repeatedly confused in listings, or deliberately conflated. At auction, then, it pays to work out which pictures actually show the pen on offer. Where a single crisp manufacturer's photograph appears among several of the seller's own, often blurred, shots, it will as a rule depict not the item itself but the model it is meant to be sold as. Before paying, get the seller to confirm the model designation explicitly and choose a payment method with buyer protection. Cap rings that look unusual, on the other hand, are not automatically a mark of a fake: poor image quality, lighting and honest wear often lead to misjudgements here, and many a suspected case turns out in the end to be an unremarkable original. --- **Question:** Are Montblanc Scenium writing instruments faked, and how can fakes from this range be recognised? **Answer:** The Scenium range is faked as well. The models are relatively simple in construction and get by without elaborate mechanics or costly materials, which makes them easier to copy. Many Scenium fakes give themselves away through an idiosyncratic design that was never offered in that form: bodies finished in silver or gold, unusual patterning on the barrel, and combinations of fittings that Montblanc never used. Comparison with period catalogue illustrations or a model overview of the series is therefore the first step, and often already the decisive one. Beyond that, the general checks apply: a crisply and cleanly executed star in the cap crown, evenly struck imprints with no blurring of the letters, clean cap rings free of notches or burrs, a clip and fittings that sit without play, threads that run true, and a weight that feels right. Since Scenium pens were conceived from the outset as a corporate gift as well and went into circulation in large numbers, a good many genuine examples carrying a company engraving are about on the second-hand market; an engraving of that kind says nothing against authenticity in itself, but it does reduce the collector's value. --- **Question:** How do you spot cheap Montblanc fakes at first glance, from the way the cap rings are made for instance? **Answer:** A large proportion of the fakes offered on auction platforms come from cheap mass production and can be identified from small details alone. The cap rings are a reliable giveaway: on these pens the rings often show one or two notches, or a visible joint where the ring has not been closed cleanly. That is never the case on an original, where the rings are worked evenly all the way round, cleanly engraved and set into the body without a step. Add to that imprints that are usually struck untidily, a star sitting crooked or off-centre, too little weight overall, and cheap-looking fittings, often too yellow in tone. Fakes of this sort are produced for about a euro in the country of manufacture and resold in Europe at the prices of genuine pens. Anyone assessing an offer should ask for sharp close-ups of the cap ring, the clip mounting, the star, the nib and the imprint; if extra pictures are refused, or only catalogue photographs are shown, caution is called for. With the more elaborate fakes, though, these quick checks fail, because their details are being improved all the time. The only recourse is then a direct comparison with a pen known to be genuine, or an examination by the manufacturer. --- **Question:** Does the engraving “France” instead of “Germany” on the clip ring of a Montblanc Bohème point to a fake? **Answer:** Not necessarily. Some versions in the Bohème line carry “France” alongside the serial number in place of the usual “Germany”. The reason is that individual components, sleeves and barrels in particular, were made by Cartier in France according to the manufacturer; pieces marked accordingly therefore left the factory that way. For the Bohème Je t'aime in precious resin with its heart-shaped ruby, collectors regard the same explanation as plausible, though it has not been established conclusively. The country marking on its own is thus no proof either way, of authenticity or of forgery. More telling are the finish of the clip and clip ring, the execution of the star, a serial number struck cleanly and evenly, the engraving and grind of the nib, the faultless working of the retractable nib mechanism, and the fit and weight of the fittings. Anyone who wants certainty should have the pen examined by the manufacturer, who can also say which marking was intended for a particular version. --- **Question:** How do you recognise a fake of the Montblanc Donation Pen Karajan that is being offered under the wrong name as a Leonard Bernstein? **Answer:** Fakes of the musician editions surface again and again, often offered under the wrong model name into the bargain, as a “Leonard Bernstein” for example, even though the design is modelled on the Donation Pen Herbert von Karajan of 1995. These pieces are marked out by fittings in silver throughout, clip included, and by a silver band of musical notation running the whole length of body and cap. The original is designed differently, so that here a comparison with a reliable picture of the edition in question is already enough. There is also a characteristic selling tactic that is hard to attack in law: the brand name is deliberately left out of the description while the photographs create the impression of an original. Buyers then pay prices in the range of genuine pens; one such piece went for 230 euros in 2010. Anyone who comes across a suspicious listing can report it to the platform and leave feedback on the seller, though experience shows that auctions of this kind disappear only after several reports. Before buying any special edition, always ask to see the limitation number, the certificate and the packaging, and compare the design point by point with reliable pictures. --- **Question:** On a platinum-finished Montblanc Meisterstück 164, is a brass-coloured thread normal, and do genuine refills that fit prove authenticity? **Answer:** A brass-coloured thread that becomes visible when the cap of the Meisterstück Classique 164 ballpoint is unscrewed is nothing out of the ordinary and occurs on originals in the platinum finish as well. The threaded portion belongs to the internal construction and is not given the same surface finish as the fittings visible on the outside. The colour of the thread alone therefore proves neither authenticity nor forgery. Another frequently cited test is no better: the fact that genuine Montblanc refills fit is no proof of authenticity. Refills too are faked in large numbers, and the makers of fakes naturally stick to the original refill format so that the pens work in everyday use. Conversely, having the refill changed at an authorised dealer at least combines the purchase of a consumable with an expert eye over the pen. For a sound check of authenticity there remains only comparison with a pen known to be genuine, or an appraisal by the manufacturer; individual features never amount to more than an indication. --- **Question:** Is a black fountain pen marked Monte Rosa with a blue ink window a genuine Montblanc product? **Answer:** Monte Rosa was Montblanc's budget second brand. A pen engraved “Monte Rosa” along the lower edge of the cap is therefore a genuine product of the Hamburg firm, even though the white star and the Montblanc name are absent. Their absence is how the line was meant to be and is no mark of a fake. The background: until the late 1980s Montblanc was a full-range supplier making everything from the cheap school pen to the expensive Meisterstück; only from the early 1990s did the company position itself exclusively as a maker of luxury goods. Monte Rosa served the lower price segment, which is why the materials, the finish and the feel in the hand are noticeably plainer than on a Meisterstück of the same date. In form and engineering the Monte Rosa models are closely related to the simpler Montblanc lines of the 1950s, in particular the 342 and 344 series; comparison with those models will usually place an inherited pen. A black body with a metal cap and a translucent blue ink window for the ink level fits that picture well. The collector's value is slight, but as sturdy everyday pens these are still perfectly serviceable. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück 161 with the word Pix and a cap-ring engraving that reads the wrong way round a fake? **Answer:** The word “Pix” on the ring goes back to Montblanc's traditional designation for pencils and ballpoints and is nothing out of the ordinary in itself. Nor does the direction in which the engraving reads serve as evidence of a fake: the words “Montblanc Meisterstück” normally read towards the tip, yet there are documented originals from the 1980s on which they run the other way. Deviations of this kind arose in production and, while rare, are a matter of record. An unusual engraving is therefore neither proof of a fake nor proof of authenticity. Far more telling are the clip and the star inlay, the crispness of the ring engraving, how well the threads fit, the mechanism and, on fountain pens, the nib and feed. A single conspicuous feature should always be judged in context, and sharp close-up photographs compared with a known-good pen of the same years, before any verdict is reached. If doubt remains, the only answer is to have an experienced dealer examine the pen in the hand. --- **Question:** Are dark-looking spacer rings on a Meisterstück Solitaire Stainless Steel II a sign of a fake? **Answer:** Not necessarily. The spacer rings of the Meisterstück Solitaire Stainless Steel II are indeed platinum-plated, but they vary in production and can at times look considerably darker than catalogue pictures would lead one to expect. On top of that, sale photographs are frequently taken in poor light, in which stainless steel and platinum-plated parts throw back hardly any light and come out almost black. A dark ring on its own is therefore no grounds for suspecting a fake. Other checks are more reliable, first among them the clip, which gives copies away in most cases: shape, crispness of the edges, the seating of the roller ring and the engraving almost always differ on fakes. Also to be examined are the star inlay in the cap top, the sharpness of the laser engraving on the surface, the ident number and the fit of the threads. If none of these gives cause for concern, the pen is very probably genuine. A final judgement on photographs alone is never possible, however, which is why experienced collectors expressly offer their opinion in such cases without guarantee. --- **Question:** Is a small tube protruding from the barrel of a Montblanc ballpoint after the tip has broken off an indication of a fake? **Answer:** Inside the barrel of a Montblanc ballpoint sits a narrow, tapering tube which in normal condition is firmly attached to the front cone, that is to the writing tip. It can only be removed towards the threaded end of the barrel. If the tip breaks off, the tube loses its anchorage and protrudes from the lower end of the barrel. The sight is unfamiliar, but it follows from the way the pen is built and is no mark of a fake in itself. The authenticity of a pen can be neither proved nor disproved by this component; what should be drawn on instead is the execution of the star, the clip, the engravings and the general finish. For a repair the only option is the manufacturer's own service, since Montblanc does not release sections or other spare parts to third parties. --- **Question:** Was the pencil of the Montblanc Anniversary Edition made as a push-button pencil, and what should one make of an offer described as such? **Answer:** Montblanc built the pencil of this anniversary edition as a twist pencil: the lead is advanced by a twisting mechanism, not by a push button. Where such a piece is offered as a push-button pencil, it is almost always down to the seller's lack of knowledge and not to a second version existing. The pencils of the Meisterstück line are traditionally twist pencils in any case. A warning sign of quite another kind is where the photographs in the listing come from. If the pictures plainly originate from collectors' websites or dealers' catalogues, the listing is not showing the pen actually being sold. Quite apart from the question of copyright, it means that the buyer has no way whatever of judging condition and authenticity before parting with his money. In such cases one should insist on additional pictures that are unmistakably the seller's own and that also show the nib or mechanism, the engravings and the cap top. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc rollerball with Alexandre Dumas's signature on the cap be genuine? **Answer:** No. The Writers Edition Alexandre Dumas included no rollerball; no such pen was ever made in that form. On top of that, the edition as actually produced differs markedly in shape, decoration and colouring from the pieces offered with a Dumas signature on auction sites. Anyone examining a listing should compare it with reliable pictures of the edition; discrepancies in the overall impression weigh more heavily than individual details. The pattern is typical of fakes: body shapes, signatures and writing systems are combined at will, so that variants arise which never existed in the Montblanc range. A first step, and often a sufficient one, is therefore to check whether the combination of edition and writing system on offer was ever available at all. Limited editions in particular are well documented in the collectors' literature. --- **Question:** Is an unfilled certificate or Service Guide on a Montblanc Limited Edition a sign of doubtful provenance? **Answer:** No. A Service Guide or certificate left blank is no indication of questionable provenance. Many collectors make a point of never having these papers filled in, since the receipt is proof enough and the entry matters in practice only where a guarantee claim arises. What decides authenticity is the pen itself, its finish, the engravings and the limitation number, not the completeness of the accompanying papers. Box and papers should nevertheless be kept, since they have a noticeable effect on resale value. The Agatha Christie edition is a limited edition. Although a comparatively large number of pieces were made at the time, it is in lasting strong demand among collectors, and that is unlikely to change. An inherited example need not therefore sit unseen in a cupboard. Anyone putting a hitherto unused piece into service should be aware, though, that this reduces its collector value: unwritten examples with all their accessories fetch appreciably higher prices. --- **Question:** Is the clip imprint “Metal France” on a Montblanc ballpoint a mark of a fake, and what does the service guide give away? **Answer:** The imprint “Metal France” on the clip is nothing to worry about in itself. For a time Montblanc had certain overlays made by Cartier, which is where the French mark of origin comes from; it is found on some Bohème pens among others, while most pens carry “Germany”. The papers that come with the pen are another matter. If the service guide shows a model that never existed — a “StarWalker Bohème”, say — that points plainly to a fake, since StarWalker and Bohème are two separate lines and were never combined. Nor does an engraving voucher belong with a model such as the Carbon Steel, whose cap offers no surface for an engraving at all. A sound judgement cannot be reached from a verbal description alone, because by now it is not only the pens themselves that are forged but serial numbers, certificates and service guides as well. In case of doubt the only remedies are to show the pen to an authorised specialist dealer or to have it assessed from sharp, well-lit close-up photographs of the clip, the cap ring, the nib or push-button, and the refill housing. --- **Question:** What is known about the edition size, the distribution and the counterfeit-resistance of Montblanc's Artisan editions such as the True Princess? **Answer:** Montblanc's Artisan editions, among them the True Princess, Magic Beauty I and II and the barely circulated White Perl, were according to the company's own statement of 2003 not formally limited, but were made only in very small numbers and sold as a boutique special edition. Since production ran for only a short time, the pieces seldom appear in the trade. Collectors report that no sales brochures of their own were ever issued for these series; all that survives is a price list published by Montblanc for the True Princess. No fakes of the Artisan range were known up to 2004. The elaborate construction of these writing instruments makes copying difficult, and the nib at the latest provides an unmistakable point of difference. For the True Princess fountain pen the price level in 2004 was about 550 euros plus postage. --- **Question:** Where can the Montblanc Writers Edition Hemingway of 1992 be found, and should fakes be expected? **Answer:** The Hemingway of 1992 has long been sold out and is to be had only second-hand; the prices realised fluctuate widely, so looking at completed auctions over several months gives the best guide. Convincing fakes of this model were unknown to collectors until the middle of the 2000s, unlike those of the current Meisterstück models. Caution is called for with sellers in the Far East, however: sought-after pieces were paid for there and then not delivered at all, or delivered as an empty parcel, and large sums were not covered by the platforms' buyer protection at the time. Besides the auction platforms, collectors' fairs are the obvious source. The large fairs in Cologne, Hamburg and Tilburg in the Netherlands are held to be especially worthwhile for beginners and experienced collectors alike; further dates were held in Berlin, Munich and Rome. --- **Question:** How can the age and authenticity of a Montblanc Meisterstück 144 or 146 Solitaire in sterling silver be established? **Answer:** The silver Solitaire versions of the Meisterstück 144 and 146 carry the 925 hallmark, usually at the cap top or near the cap ring. A reliable dating feature is the engraving “W.-Germany” on the cap ring: pieces with this addition must date from before reunification, that is from the late 1980s at the latest. If the cap ring also bears a multi-digit serial number and the model name written out in full, such as “Meisterstück No146”, that is taken as a sign of a somewhat later example; where the number is missing, the pen is usually older. What speaks above all for authenticity is the cleanly inlaid star in the cap top: the joint between the white star and the black surround can be felt with a fingernail, and the points of the star look neither grey nor sharp. Differences between two pieces in the size of the inlay or the shape of the feed are no evidence of a fake but a consequence of different years of manufacture. The generally plain, unelaborate impression made by older pieces is normal: until about 1990 Montblanc was an ordinary pen manufacturer and positioned itself as a maker of luxury goods only from 1991. --- **Question:** Can the papers and the certificate of authenticity of a Montblanc pen be bought afterwards or reissued? **Answer:** Papers cannot be bought after the event. They are not an accessory but part of the individual pen: the certificate proves authenticity, with limited series the number of the example is entered on it and stamped, and the purchase documents prove acquisition from the specialist trade together with the guarantee claim. For collectors they belong to the complete piece, which is valued considerably higher than a pen without box and papers. Boxes and papers are occasionally offered separately on the second-hand market. Whether they are genuine and can be matched to a particular pen at all is as a rule impossible to check; anyone who takes his collection seriously does not separate the papers from the pen. Whether a Montblanc boutique will issue a replacement certificate on presentation of the pen and the original till receipt has not been conclusively established. --- **Question:** Were the Montblanc special editions Octavian and Imperial Dragon faked as well, and where do reproductions of old Montblanc fountain pens come from? **Answer:** Fakes are not confined to current production models. As early as 2004 photographs were circulating of counterfeit examples of the elaborate and expensive special issues Imperial Dragon and Octavian. With pieces of this kind in particular, provenance, papers and packaging should be examined; in case of doubt an expert appraisal should be insisted on before purchase. Beyond that, reproductions of old Montblanc fountain pens have been turning up on auction platforms since the early 2000s, which collectors attribute to eastern European workshops on the evidence of their construction and the feel of the materials. Their quality of finish is well below that of original pieces and is usually obvious to those who know the field from the overall impression alone, before individual details such as the nib, the fittings or the imprints are examined at all. --- **Question:** How badly had product piracy hit German companies around 2004, and what does that mean for branded writing instruments? **Answer:** Product piracy was a growing problem for German industry in the mid-2000s. In a survey of companies published at the end of 2004, 73 per cent of the firms questioned said that cases of product piracy had increased over the past two years. China was regarded as the centre of counterfeit production, and there manufacturers also had to contend with the weak enforcement of intellectual property rights. Large groups can absorb losses of this kind more easily than small and medium-sized businesses, whose existence can be threatened by copies. Expensive branded writing instruments have long been among the counterfeiters' preferred targets; the number of copies reaching the market through auction and trading platforms is correspondingly large. --- **Question:** Which feature raises doubts about the authenticity of a Montblanc Patron of Art Gaius Maecenas, and who can check them? **Answer:** Collectors know the Patron of Art Gaius Maecenas only with a matt cap surface. An example with a strikingly glossy cap departs from that and should be treated with caution, even if the workmanship is otherwise unremarkable: copies of limited editions now reach a quality at which a fake often cannot be identified with any certainty from photographs. If doubts remain, the pen is best left alone. Only the manufacturer itself can give a binding opinion on authenticity; enquiries go through the contact form on the Montblanc website. According to collectors, Montblanc has charged a fee for such assessments since about 2016, whereas they were previously given free of charge. --- **Question:** Why do French dairy products carry the name Mont Blanc, and how does the pen maker spell its own name? **Answer:** The pen brand from Hamburg spells its name as one word: Montblanc. The two-word spelling Mont Blanc, by contrast, denotes the mountain — and at the same time a leading French dairy brand of non-frozen desserts, largely part of the Nestlé group; its products are sold mainly in France, Switzerland, Italy and Spain, and from the middle of the 2000s they could for a time be found in German discount stores as well. There is no connection between the two companies; each simply refers, independently of the other, to the highest mountain in the Alps. For collectors the distinction is useful nonetheless: the two-word spelling on packaging, cases or in listings is not the spelling the pen maker itself uses. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc propelling pencil with only two cap rings a fake, or did such models really exist? **Answer:** The three rings on the cap are a feature of the Meisterstück line and not a general mark of authenticity. Montblanc has built numerous series alongside and below the Meisterstück that make do with fewer or narrower rings; a pen with two rings is therefore not automatically a copy. A propelling pencil of this kind belongs to the Generation line, a range in its own right with a slimmer body which, according to collectors, was out of production by the middle of the 2000s at the latest. Other points tell you far more when checking authenticity: the workmanship and fit of the parts, the lettering of the engravings, the serial number on the clip of more recent pieces, and the emblem on the cap top. The number of cap rings is useful at most for placing a pen in the right range. --- **Question:** How do you spot Montblanc fakes that have been put together at home from the parts of different makers? **Answer:** Alongside the industrially produced copies, assembled pens have been in circulation since the beginning of the 2000s: bodies made from the parts of different manufacturers, given a Montblanc inscription on the cap after the event. Such pieces often come from eastern Europe and tend to be offered with a family story about a grandparent's estate. The individual parts are what give them away. A clip of an alien shape, in the style of Matador for instance, or a piston knob of the kind Kaweco used, do not belong on a Montblanc body. The engraving itself is just as telling: spellings and letter forms that appear in no model survey never existed at Montblanc. The rule is that clip, cap, knob, nib and barrel must all belong to the same model, and that the lettering has to match the style of the period in question. --- **Question:** Why does a recent invoice matter when buying a Montblanc 147 Traveller, and what was it worth in 2005? **Answer:** The 147 Traveller is the cartridge pen in the LeGrand size. In 2005 a price of about 275 euros was regarded as appropriate for a well-preserved example; the list price was higher, which is why offers around that figure were thought reasonable at the time. A receipt of recent date is worth more here than a mere record of provenance: anyone who cannot get on with the nib width can as a rule have the nib exchanged for another width free of charge, and a current invoice is required for that. Dealer offers with an invoice and a right of return are therefore often preferable to a private purchase without papers, even if they cost rather more. --- **Question:** Why are the seller's location and the original packaging no reliable guide to authenticity in Montblanc listings? **Answer:** Both can be faked. Since the middle of the 2000s sellers of copies have given German towns as their location although the goods are dispatched from the Far East; the location line on its own therefore says nothing about where a pen comes from. Delivery time, shipping route and the wording of the item description are more revealing. The packaging is no proof either: cases, outer boxes and papers are copied and even traded separately, so the presence of a box establishes neither age nor authenticity. This affects not only the series current at the time, such as StarWalker, Scenium and Meisterstück, but also old pens offered as vintage pieces. What counts is the examination of the pen itself. --- **Question:** Can the notepad for a Montblanc notebook cover be bought as a replacement, and are the brand's leather goods faked as well? **Answer:** The notebook covers in the Meisterstück leather range are designed around a replaceable notepad. If that pad is missing from a second-hand purchase, the cover is neither incomplete nor suspect: matching replacement pads are part of the current range and can be bought in the Montblanc boutiques. The brand's leather goods are faked too. Besides bags, small leather goods are affected, and since copies of the Bohème leather line appeared no product group is exempt any longer. Whether a piece is genuine is decided by the workmanship, the embossing and the look of the material, not by the absence of accessories such as the notepad. --- **Question:** How can you tell whether Montblanc ballpoint refills are genuine when the printing differs from that on your own refills? **Answer:** The printing on its own is no proof of authenticity. Montblanc has changed the marking on its ballpoint refills many times over the years, so that wording such as “document proof”, or additions that differ from what you know, also occurs on genuine refills from different years of production. A departure from what you have at home does not in itself prove a fake. The colouring is more revealing: on Montblanc refills the end cap is in the writing colour. A refill sold as blue but with a black cap does not add up and argues against a genuine part. If the suspicion persists, the only recourse is to ask the manufacturer, since no public survey of all the marking variants exists. --- **Question:** How long has the Montblanc Meisterstück 145 Chopin, the smaller piston filler in the range, been in production? **Answer:** The Meisterstück 145, sold under the by-name Chopin, is the smaller piston filler of the Meisterstück range and is shorter and slimmer than the 146. According to collectors it has been on offer since about the year 2000, possibly a few years earlier; the exact year of introduction has never been finally established. It reached the shops in black precious resin with gold-plated as well as platinum-plated furniture, in each case with an ink window and a two-tone nib. --- **Question:** What does a fake presentation box tell you about the authenticity of a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 offered in it? **Answer:** Packaging is faked separately and offered in quantity; a copied box therefore does not necessarily mean that the pen lying in it is false as well. The other way round, caution remains in order: anyone who knowingly sells a fake box along with a pen gives little cause for trust. Box and pen have to be assessed separately from one another. With the Meisterstück 146 one simple feature helps: the piston filler has an ink window in the rear part of the barrel through which the ink level can be read. If it is missing, or if the photographs in a listing consistently leave it out, that is reason to ask questions. --- **Question:** What does the nib engraving Iridium Point mean on a supposed Montblanc StarWalker or Meisterstück? **Answer:** Nibs engraved Iridium Point or Iridium Point Germany do not come from Montblanc. The maker stamps its nibs with the number 4810, the gold marking such as 585 and 14C or 750 and 18K, and the Montblanc name; to this is added the letter for the nib width, on older pens within a circle. If Iridium Point appears instead, the pen is a fake or has an alien replacement nib. Copies fitted out in this way were being offered in numbers on auction platforms as early as the middle of the 2000s, among them StarWalker fountain pens complete with a matching ballpoint from the same source. The absence of the engraving, however, proves nothing about authenticity on its own; it is merely the first of several things to check. --- **Question:** How can a fake Montblanc rollerball be recognised from the cap rings and the way the cap is attached? **Answer:** A reliable giveaway is the cap rings: on fakes the outer ring is distinctly wider than on the original, and the proportions of the group of rings are wrong. The second feature is the way the cap is attached. An original of this size, which in girth corresponds roughly to a Meisterstück 161, has a screw thread; the fake, by contrast, merely pushes on. Copies of this kind were already being sold to tourists in China in 2013 for as little as about a euro. The execution of the fakes has improved noticeably over the years, which is why it is worth comparing a pen with a guaranteed original and checking several features at once. --- **Question:** Was the Montblanc Anniversary ever made in platinum, and how are such fakes recognised? **Answer:** The Anniversary issue was never made in platinum. Pens offered under the name Anniversary Platinum are therefore fakes. The pattern is a common one: a well-known edition name is combined with a material or a finish that never existed on that model. Comparing the version on offer with the versions actually produced is thus the first step in checking. A second point to look at is the cap top. If the star does not sit cleanly and centrally in its setting, or if the metal rim around it looks conspicuously wide, the proportions differ from the original. The number, width and seating of the cap rings are likewise among the features on which copies regularly fail. --- **Question:** Are entirely plain, single-colour gold nibs on old Montblanc fountain pens a sign of a fake? **Answer:** No. Early production included nibs that carry no decoration at all and are a single gold colour throughout. The two-tone nib with a rhodium-plated centre panel, which is now regarded as typical of the brand, came along only later. A plain, undecorated nib on an old pen therefore argues for originality rather than against it, and can be used to place a pen roughly in time. Checking continues nonetheless: the hallmark with the gold content, the marking of the nib width and the maker's mark must all match the model, as must the way nib, feed and section work together. A nib that fits does not by itself make a pen genuine, for nibs get swapped and circulate as spare parts. --- **Question:** Are Montblanc leather goods and accessories such as cufflinks faked as well as writing instruments? **Answer:** Yes. As early as the mid-2000s the brand's leather items were being copied in large numbers and offered through auction sites, bags as much as small leather goods. At the same time, Chinese-made replicas of the Solitaire cufflinks reached the market, mostly through commercial sellers based abroad. Those pieces were still comparatively easy to spot from the standard of finish, the feel of the materials and the imprecise engraving. The same approach applies as with writing instruments: a version for which no counterpart can be found in the range of the day gives itself away. Occasionally whole product groups turned up under the Montblanc name, gloves among them, that the firm never offered at all. --- **Question:** How could fakes of the Montblanc Skeleton Star watch be told apart from an original? **Answer:** As early as 2005, copies of this watch were good enough to pass unnoticed in photographs; the crown was reproduced almost faithfully. What still gave them away was the engraving on the side of the case, which differs from the original in lettering and execution. A second line of attack follows from the construction: in a skeleton watch the movement is exposed. Comparing the visible mechanism with photographs of an original reveals discrepancies that are harder to disguise than those of the case. This version is therefore more difficult to fake than a watch with a solid dial. --- **Question:** How can the fakes of the Montblanc Nicolaus Copernicus that have been circulating since 2005 be recognised? **Answer:** The original is set with a mounted moldavite, a greenish tektite. The Chinese-made copies offered in large numbers from late 2005 onwards replace this stone with a colourless one; that feature alone gives them away at first glance. The nibs of the faked fountain pens also depart clearly from the original in shape and hallmarking. The sheer variety of the copies is striking as well: they turned up in green just as in gold, silver and other colourways, each as a fountain pen and as a rollerball. At the time they sold for around ten euros. With an edition of this calibre, a price in that region is the most reliable first warning sign, before the stone and the nib have even been examined. --- **Question:** How do you recognise faked Montblanc watches, for instance a supposed TimeWalker chronograph with a large date? **Answer:** Checking a piece against what was actually catalogued exposes many fakes at once. In the TimeWalker line the large date was available only on the standard version, and according to the maker not on the chronograph. A TimeWalker chronograph with a large date therefore cannot be a production piece, however convincingly it may otherwise resemble the original. Crudely made replicas, of the kind offered mainly from Italy in the mid-2000s, give themselves away by clumsy departures instead: a conspicuous black star applied to the case back and plain rubber straps in place of the original bracelets. The way a listing is presented proves nothing about authenticity; auctions of this sort also made unauthorised use of the official logo of the Montblanc specialist dealers. --- **Question:** Why is a rollerball offered as a Montblanc Writers Edition Virginia Woolf bound to be a fake? **Answer:** The Writers Edition Virginia Woolf was never issued as a rollerball. Anyone offered such a piece is therefore dealing with a fake, however convincing the presentation may look. The method applies to any edition: first establish which writing instruments belong to the issue in question, and only then examine the individual piece. The make-up of the Writers Edition changed from year to year; some issues comprised a fountain pen, a ballpoint and a pencil, others only part of that. Forgers like to pad the series out with formats that never existed, because there is a demand of its own for them. Checking against the maker's own details for the edition concerned is thus the first and cheapest authenticity test. --- **Question:** How can faked Montblanc listings online be spotted when the product photographs look above suspicion? **Answer:** Since about 2017, fakes of current production models have been good enough to pass unnoticed in listing photographs; the ballpoints and rollerballs of the Meisterstück, the StarWalker and the Bohème are chiefly affected. That leaves only the price, the wording and the origin of the listing to go on: a buy-it-now price far below shop level, evasions such as MB instead of Montblanc, advertising phrases such as Classic Design Luxury and distorted model names such as Bohemia instead of Bohème are typical signs, as is a dispatch location in the Far East. There is also the fact that photographs need not show the item actually sent. On the big marketplaces, sellers can attach their listing to an existing catalogue entry and use its manufacturer images along with it; the picture then comes from Montblanc itself. With current production models, no verdict on authenticity can be reached from images alone. --- **Question:** Are the service documents and accompanying papers supplied with a Montblanc pen proof that it is genuine? **Answer:** No. It is not only the pens that are faked but the papers that come with them. Copied service guides of the kind supplied with the Bohème were already being offered alongside Asian-made counterfeits in the mid-2000s. A seemingly complete set of case, guarantee booklet and service instructions therefore says nothing about authenticity; it is the pen itself that has to be examined. Listings of this kind are taken down by the auction sites once they are reported, since the trade mark owner has the market monitored. It would be unwise to rely on that, though, as many listings run to the hammer unchallenged. --- **Question:** What is a Montblanc Stainless Steel Doué, and is it a regular model of the brand? **Answer:** The Stainless Steel Doué is a regular Montblanc model and belongs to the Solitaire line. Doué denotes the two-part construction used there: a metal cap sits above a barrel of black precious resin, while the rest of the pen follows the Meisterstück. Alongside the commoner versions in sterling silver and in gold plate, this variant was made with a cap of stainless steel. An unfamiliar combination of materials is therefore no indication in itself that a Montblanc is fake. Anyone unable to place a pen should first check it against the model listings for the Solitaire line before concluding that it is not genuine. --- **Question:** Are plain Montblanc fountain pens such as the 22 or the 24 faked as well, and are photographs from a small ad enough to judge by? **Answer:** Fakes concentrate on current and expensive models. No copies are known of the plain 1970s fountain pens numbered 22 and 24; the effort is not worth a forger's while on pens like these. A 22 or 24 in hand is therefore very probably genuine. Even so, no verdict on authenticity can be drawn from the blurred overall shots typical of small ads. What is needed are sharp individual photographs of the nib, the cap top, the cap rings and the imprint. If a seller fails to supply such pictures on request, the pen is best left alone. --- **Question:** What features give away faked Montblanc writing instruments with a guilloché surface? **Answer:** Several features occur together on these counterfeits. At the cap rings there is a notch or a step where the original has a clean, flush transition. The cap top with its inlaid emblem is untidily worked in shape and curvature. The guilloché looks shallow and irregular; the copies never achieve the fine, evenly cut lines of the original. Any one of these features is enough to reject a pen. As all three are on the cap and the trim, they can be judged from sufficiently sharp photographs without having the pen in hand. --- **Question:** Are old Montblanc fountain pens faked too, and how do you spot an overlay added later? **Answer:** Vintage pieces are faked as well, and not only as complete copies. A common practice is to upgrade genuine pens with metal overlays made after the event: an original 136, say, is given an overlay that Montblanc never produced and is then offered as a rare luxury version. Barrel and nib stand up to examination in such cases; the overlay does not. Coarse, blurred patterning, an overlay that does not fit the cap and barrel exactly, and ornament that cannot be traced in any catalogue of the period are all suspicious. Before buying a supposedly rare overlay version, checking it against the specialist literature is essential. --- **Question:** How do you recognise a fake of the Montblanc Meisterstück 144 in the vermeil version? **Answer:** Three points separate the original from the copy. On a vermeil version the cap rings are gold-plated as well; rings left silver on a pen that is supposedly gilded do not belong. The 144 in vermeil has an 18-carat nib, not the 14-carat one of the plain model. And on the original the word Pix beneath the clip stands proud, never stamped into the surface. Apart from these details, such a counterfeit was hardly to be distinguished from an original, all the more so in poor listing photographs. If the cap rings, the nib engraving and the area under the clip are not sharply shown, insist on better pictures before buying. --- **Question:** Is there a ladies' Montblanc Meisterstück whose distinguishing feature is a nib engraved Iridium Point? **Answer:** No. Montblanc never made a ladies' version of the Meisterstück distinguished by a nib described as Iridium Point. The claim cropped up repeatedly in auction listings during the 2000s and served solely to account for a nib that was plainly wrong. Montblanc marks its gold nibs with 4810, the fineness and the word Montblanc; the addition Iridium Point, or Iridium Point Germany, comes from bought-in nibs by other makers and is found on fakes. Slim Montblanc models have always been sold as ladies' pens too, but they carry the same nib markings as the large ones. As a rule of thumb: the more elaborately a listing accounts for a departure from the familiar appearance, the greater the cause for caution. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc products were counterfeited particularly often around 2004, and how widespread were copies in online auctions? **Answer:** Whereas in earlier years it was chiefly ballpoint pens and rollerballs that were imitated, by 2004 the counterfeiters covered almost the entire range. Affected are Meisterstück ballpoint pens, rollerballs and fountain pens, with ballpoint pens and rollerballs still being copied most frequently, and furthermore Bohème writing instruments, leather goods and accessories as well as Limited Editions, above all from the Anniversary Edition and the Scott Fitzgerald Edition. Watches too, namely the Chronograph and the Dual Time, and older writing instruments of the Monte Rosa series are counterfeited. Random samples taken in online auctions in 2004 showed that about five to ten per cent of all Montblanc items offered were fakes, although the supply fluctuated considerably. It was striking that copies were offered not only by sellers without feedback ratings, but also by commercial high-volume sellers. For the economy as a whole, the share of counterfeit goods in world trade was estimated at around ten per cent at that time; manufacturers thereby lost an estimated ten to twenty per cent of their turnover, and in Europe alone some 100,000 jobs were lost. --- **Question:** Why are the original packaging, the papers and an engraved serial number not a reliable proof of authenticity for a Montblanc writing instrument? **Answer:** Packaging and accompanying papers are by now imitated just as the writing instruments themselves are; counterfeit boxes and certificates are in some cases barely distinguishable from the original. A listing with complete accessories therefore says nothing about authenticity. The same applies to the serial number on the clip. A few years ago it could still be read off it fairly reliably, in the case of plain Meisterstück pens, whether an original was at hand; by now counterfeits also bear an engraved number. Conversely, some genuine writing instruments have no serial number at all, among them older models as well as the Rouge et Noir, the Noir et Noir and the writing instruments of the Scenium series. A missing number is thus no proof to the contrary, and a number that is present is no proof of authenticity. A Montblanc refill in a ballpoint pen likewise proves nothing in itself, for refills in particular are frequently counterfeited. --- **Question:** How does the Montblanc emblem on the cap top of an original differ from that of a fake? **Answer:** The white emblem on the cap top is not a star in the strict sense, but the stylised, snow-covered summit of Mont Blanc with its six valleys. The shape and the number of the points are thereby fixed: an emblem that looks angular, or one with only five edges, points to a fake. Some of the counterfeits are conspicuous simply because the emblem is executed not in white but in black. On particularly high-quality writing instruments, such as some Limited and Special Editions, the emblem is made of mother-of-pearl. As the differences are fine and are barely apparent in overview photographs, it is worth requesting a sharp close-up of the cap top before making a purchase at a distance. --- **Question:** In which colours does Montblanc offer the Meisterstück and the Bohème in precious resin, and which colour combinations give a fake away? **Answer:** The precious resin versions of the Meisterstück are available in black and in Bordeaux, the Bohème exclusively in black. Marbled writing instruments in green, blue or grey date from the 1940s; they do not exist in the current range. Meisterstück ballpoint pens are not offered in green, yellow, white or similar colour combinations. At Montblanc, brightly coloured writing instruments belong to other lines, such as Noblesse and Generation, which are indeed available in yellow, orange or green, but not to the Meisterstück pens. A green marbled or yellow Meisterstück ballpoint pen is therefore very probably a counterfeit. It is also typical of such fakes that a coloured barrel is combined with a large black cap. Black writing instruments cannot, in the nature of things, be checked by their colour and are therefore harder to identify as counterfeits. --- **Question:** Which irregularities on the rings and the cap reveal counterfeit Montblanc writing instruments, particularly on the Meisterstück 144? **Answer:** The rings are among the most reliable places for a first examination. On many fakes the spaces between the rings are executed in black, irrespective of the colour of the rest of the barrel. On the Meisterstück 144 it is also worth looking at the ring at the front of the section: on the widespread copies it turns out to be a great deal broader than on the original. This cannot be relied upon in every case, however, because variants of the counterfeit 144 also exist with a ring that matches the original in width. On Solitaire writing instruments, by contrast, it is usually the cap that deviates most clearly; there it is the first feature that should be compared with an original. --- **Question:** How are the nibs of original Meisterstück pens marked and constructed, and how are counterfeit nibs recognised? **Answer:** Nibs of Meisterstück pens are made of 14- or 18-carat gold; steel nibs were used only in wartime. The engraving on an original shows the Montblanc logo, the gold mark 14 kt or 18 kt, and the number 4810. Counterfeits, by contrast, very frequently carry the engraving Iridium Point, supplemented by an indication of origin such as Deutschland, Germany or Paris. A marking of this kind is a strong indication against authenticity. Current Meisterstück nibs are two-tone; older nibs are in part single-colour. On the original two-tone nib the outer area is of yellow gold, while a light platinum inlay sits in the centre. On the known counterfeits it is exactly the other way round: the gold tone lies on the inside, and a silver stripe runs along the outside. Since these differences can be photographed well, anyone buying at a distance should, in case of doubt, ask for a close-up photograph of the nib. --- **Question:** Which checks of the material, the feel and the ballpoint refill help to expose a Montblanc writing instrument that has already been bought as a fake? **Answer:** The common Montblanc writing instruments are made of precious resin, a plastic of the Plexiglas type. Many fakes, by contrast, are made of coated metal, which makes itself noticed in the weight and in the feel in the hand. When a copy is picked up, the inferior workmanship is usually apparent at once. With ballpoint pens and rollerballs a fitting test helps. Montblanc uses refills in a format of its own that fits only the originals. Anyone who has a genuine Montblanc refill to hand can check whether it can be inserted cleanly; if it does not fit, that speaks against an original. The reverse conclusion does not hold, as refills are imitated as well. A close comparison with the manufacturer's photographs and with close-up images from relevant collectors' sources is also helpful, the small details being what matters. If doubts remain, the authorised specialist trade will give reliable information. --- **Question:** What did the directive against product counterfeiting adopted by the European Parliament in March 2004 change? **Answer:** On 9 March 2004 the European Parliament adopted a draft directive against product counterfeiters which strengthens the enforcement of manufacturers' trade mark rights. Under it, product pirates can be pursued more vigorously under civil law, but not under criminal law; national differences within the European Union remain in place. What is new is that private individuals are also covered by the directive. In their case, however, it must first be examined whether the placing of copies on the market was intentional. For companies, the directive improves rights to information, simplifies claims for damages and makes the seizure of counterfeits easier. Transposition into national law was subsequently a matter for the individual member states. --- **Question:** By what methods are old Montblanc fountain pens faked or subsequently 'enhanced'? **Answer:** Because old writing instruments fetch high prices, models from the 1930s and 1940s had already come into the counterfeiters' field of view by the early 2000s. The simplest procedure consists of taking any old writing instrument and fitting it with a Montblanc star. The characteristic imprints can be faked as well: replica stamps exist, in Germany as well as abroad, whose impressions correspond almost entirely to the original imprints. Some of this work is executed cleanly in craft terms, apparently by jewellers, and is correspondingly difficult to detect – the result nevertheless remains worthless. A second ploy is so-called tuning. Here a genuine old writing instrument serves as the basis and is subsequently upgraded, for example by means of a silver overlay. This practice is particularly widespread with Pelikan writing instruments. Since the version thus created never existed ex works, it likewise constitutes a fake, even though the underlying instrument is original. --- **Question:** Which older Montblanc models are counterfeited particularly often, and how does one guard against this when buying? **Answer:** According to experts it affects above all the marbled Montblanc writing instruments, such as the 333 ½. In 2004 such pieces were worth from around 500 euros upwards, which makes the effort worthwhile for counterfeiters. Fakes have already been sighted even among the inexpensive models, among them a pink Monte Rosa. Since several thousand euros are quickly asked for old writing instruments, one should make certain before the purchase that the version offered ever existed at all. Picture comparisons with verified originals are helpful, as is the relevant collectors' literature, in which the model variants are documented. The basic rule is: do not buy writing instruments whose model history you do not know. There are more fakes than most buyers suspect. --- **Question:** How can it be recognised from the cap star and the decorative rings whether a Montblanc Bohème ballpoint pen is a fake? **Answer:** The cap star is the first reliable feature: on the original the points of the star are rounded, whereas on the copy they end angularly. Equally important is the transition from the logo to the metal part of the cap top. On the original the logo finishes cleanly flush with the metal, whereas on the copy a distinct projection remains. The second feature is the rings with the Bohème lettering. On the copy the lettering is executed in hatching instead of being cleanly engraved, and the middle one of the three rings is distinctly wider in relation to the two outer ones. Neither feature can be made out on the usual sales photographs from internet auctions, but both can be checked immediately on purposeful close-up images or on the instrument itself. --- **Question:** How does the decorative stone in the clip of a genuine Montblanc Bohème differ from that of a copy? **Answer:** On the Bohème the stone in the clip is the most conspicuous single feature. The original carries a round-cut stone, the copy by contrast a straight, plain cut that looks flat and dull. In a close-up photograph the difference is so great that it requires no further explanation. Immediately beside it, the clip itself is worth a look. On the copy it is a clip bent from sheet metal, which, particularly when viewed at an angle, shows a different contour from the stamped original clip. Since both can only be judged on the instrument itself or from very good close-up photographs, it is advisable to request images of the stone and the clip specifically before buying second-hand. Reputable sellers post such detailed photographs of their own accord in any case. --- **Question:** Which lettering appears on the underside of the clip of a genuine Montblanc StarWalker, and what is missing on the copy? **Answer:** On the original the underside of the clip bears the lettering GERMANY metal Pix. On the copy this marking is absent entirely. The reason lies in the manufacture: Montblanc clips are stamped, whereas the clip of the copy is bent from a piece of sheet metal, which is why it also lacks the internal stamping. A second feature on the same component is the drop-shaped end of the clip. On the original the clip passes smoothly and without a step into the drop, while on the copy a distinct edge is to be seen at this transition. Both features can be checked with the naked eye as soon as one has the cap in hand; in the photographs of an internet auction, by contrast, a well-made copy cannot be recognised as such. --- **Question:** Where is the clip code located on Montblanc writing instruments, and how is a genuine code constructed? **Answer:** Montblanc burned the code onto the clip only on the first series of the instruments; thereafter it is located on the upper cap band. It always consists of two letters followed by seven digits and is executed as a laser engraving, so that it appears burned in. With a magnifying glass or a strong pair of reading glasses it can readily be deciphered. On copies the supposed serial number is frequently in the wrong place, for example on the clip, although on the corresponding original it would stand beside the clip or on the cap band. There it is usually barely visible and recognisably not applied by laser. Position, the structure of two letters and seven digits, and the execution as a laser engraving together yield a readily verifiable mark of authenticity. --- **Question:** Which irregularities in the floating star and in the surface betray a copy of the StarWalker Resin? **Answer:** On the original, the floating star in the cap top is worked in in such a way that the logo cannot be focused on directly in a photograph; on the copy this succeeds without difficulty. In addition, the star of the copy does not have the typical Montblanc shape but rather resembles a dented circle. The star in the packaging, too, is often poorly formed on fakes and scarcely looks like a star any more. A second indication is the feel: on the copy the surface of the barrel feels strikingly dull, noticeably more matt than on a genuine writing instrument of the brand. When the refill is changed, it finally becomes apparent that the metal part of the copy is made considerably longer, while the section of the original is darker and its stamping more pronounced. The refill supplied with the copy is likewise a reproduction. --- **Question:** Why does the filling system alone expose a counterfeit of the Writers Edition F. Scott Fitzgerald? **Answer:** The F. Scott Fitzgerald is a piston filler. Anyone who has an unscrewed Fitzgerald with cartridge or converter filling in front of them is holding a copy. In addition, the barrel of the copy can be seen through; it is therefore translucent. The original is of black precious resin on the inside and thus opaque. In the opened state these counterfeits also reveal a Bohème inscription, which has no business being on a Fitzgerald. It shows that parts or moulds from the imitation of another model were used for the copy; consistent with this, the section too is reminiscent of a Bohème in its shape. Both observations are unambiguous and require no comparison piece. --- **Question:** Which nib stamping is genuine on a Montblanc Writers Edition, and which inscription gives a fake away? **Answer:** The nibs of the Writers Editions always bear the 4810, the designation 18 KT and the year from which the edition dates, for example 1999. Montblanc, by contrast, does not inscribe nibs with IRIDIUM POINT; a stamped PARIS, too, is a pure invention of the makers of copies. Either one of these two inscriptions is enough on its own to identify a fake. In the case of the F. Scott Fitzgerald there is the additional point that the nib of the copy is not platinised and altogether bears a completely different stamping from the original; the comparison with the illustration in the accompanying booklet makes this immediately clear. Nibs of this make with exactly this stamping are also found on copies of other Montblanc models, so that the feature is of use beyond the Writers Edition. --- **Question:** What does the limitation number 04602 / 16500 on an F. Scott Fitzgerald say about the writing instrument? **Answer:** Every known counterfeit of the model bears this number: the limitation number of the copies is always 04602 / 16500. The total figure alone is wrong, for 16,500 fountain pens were never made. The edition comprised 14,000 fountain pens and 4,500 sets. In addition, the cap is worth a look. The cap of the original is of a more rounded shape, that of the copy almost straight. On the copy it cannot be posted in such a way that it holds securely on the barrel, and in doing so the black conical area remains visible. The cap bands of the original are made of silver, those of the copy appear rather chrome-coloured. On the copy the clip is made of bent sheet metal, which is immediately apparent when viewed from below. --- **Question:** How do the guilloché, the cap bands and the cap top of a genuine Solitaire differ from those of a copy? **Answer:** In the overall view two things are striking: on the copy the cap bands are interrupted by black rings, and the guilloché pattern sits considerably closer together than on the original. Both are so coarse that they can be recognised even in poorly made sales photographs. A further feature, often overlooked, is the cap top. On copies it is frequently entirely black, that is, executed as on a writing instrument made of precious resin. The Solitaire writing instruments, however, always have a top there in the metal finish of the barrel. If a purely black cap top is noticed on a supposed Solitaire, this argues against authenticity. --- **Question:** How can a copy of a Montblanc Solitaire be recognised by the cap star and the shape of the clip? **Answer:** The star of the copy tapers to points at the corners and appears angular overall, whereas the original star is more rounded in form and distinctly whiter. The clip of the original is rounded, that of the copy edgy and angular. The serious difference shows itself in side view at the so-called clip drop. On the original the drop is attached separately, that is, soldered on. On the copy, clip and drop are bent from a single piece of sheet metal, so that there can hardly be any talk of a drop shape. This clip bent from sheet metal is a feature that recurs on copies of a great many Montblanc models and should therefore always be checked first. --- **Question:** Is the serial number on the clip of a genuine Montblanc stamped or burned in with a laser? **Answer:** On the original, the marking on the clip is burned in with a laser. For that reason it always appears somewhat grey and lies in the surface without deforming the metal. On copies, by contrast, the number is stamped or punched in, and so it looks as though it has been pressed in. From this a simple rule follows: any marking that appears to have been pressed into the metal belongs to a fake. The feature is easy to check with a magnifying glass and can also be judged on a sufficiently sharp close-up photograph, which is why it is worth asking for a photograph of the clip marking before a second-hand purchase. --- **Question:** How do the cap bands of a genuine Meisterstück rollerball differ from those of a copy? **Answer:** Two things are noticeable in a direct comparison. First, the cap band of the copy has a different shade of gold. Second, and this is the more reliable feature, the black rings on the copy are not flush with the surface of the cap band: they are grooves, that is, incisions, which are filled in black. On the original, by contrast, the black rings are of precious resin and form a continuous surface with the metal. When both cap bands are magnified side by side, this difference emerges unmistakably and is comprehensible even to the inexperienced. --- **Question:** How can it be recognised from the clip of a supposed Meisterstück rollerball that it is a copy? **Answer:** The clip shape of the Meisterstück has been unchanged since the 1940s, that is to say it has remained the same for around six decades. On the copy the lower end of the clip ends angularly rather than roundly, which can be seen clearly in a direct comparison. Viewed at close range, it also becomes apparent that the clip of the copy consists of bent sheet metal. Such sheet-metal clips are found on a great many Montblanc fakes and are therefore one of the most reliable features of all. If one of these features applies to a supposed Meisterstück, it is a copy whose value corresponds at most to that of a single Montblanc refill; in the middle of the 2000s that cost about four euros. --- **Question:** What does the MONTBLANC stamping on the back of a genuine Sienna leather case look like? **Answer:** On the original the stamping on the back is executed considerably more distinctly than on the copy: the entire MONTBLANC panel is worked into the leather in recessed form, and the star within it is cleanly formed. On the copy, by contrast, the stamping is merely hinted at. The panel barely stands out from the surrounding leather, and the star is hardly visible within it. Together with the coarsely grained leather surface and the tab that is too short, the weak stamping on the back is the most unambiguous distinguishing feature on these cases, because it can be judged even from a simple photograph. --- ### Limited Editions **Question:** What is known about the Starwalker Special Edition "Soulmakers for 100 Years"? **Answer:** It is the black Starwalker with a diamond in the acrylic dome of the cap; MSRP is 495 euros for the fountain pen and 395 euros for the ballpoint. Collectors report that the diamond "floats" beautifully in the acrylic body and shows off its facets, in contrast to the embedded diamond of the Solitaire Granit 1906 Edition. Delivery is expected in early April with the start of Montblanc's new business year. The silver-coloured Starwalker visible in the photo belongs to the 100 anniversary editions and is not identical to the black special anniversary edition. --- **Question:** What facts are known about the Writers Edition 2005 "Miguel de Cervantes"? **Answer:** The edition is delivered in September 2005, comprises three writing instruments as usual and is dedicated to Miguel de Cervantes. The design recalls a periscope with tapering steps separated by gold-plated metal bands and a black-brown marbled lacquer body; the clip is also stepped. The nib engraving shows a windmill. Edition size and prices are unchanged from the previous years: fountain pen 650 euros MSRP, ballpoint 350 euros MSRP, set of three (fountain pen, ballpoint, mechanical pencil 0.7 mm) 1,350 euros MSRP. In dimensions the series is just below or on a par with the LeGrand models; weight is higher because of the materials, but the fountain pen does not reach Solitaire weight. Subscription prices can be requested from late July with Scription. --- **Question:** What does the Montblanc Writers Edition Virginia Woolf look like, and what are the first impressions? **Answer:** On the first press images the Virginia Woolf appears rather restrained, but in hand it is much more convincing: the surface shows a dark brown shifting toward Bordeaux with a wave pattern alluding to Woolf's novel "The Waves". Gold fittings harmonise with the warm body; the clip is half polished, half satin-finished, and accentuated by a round red stone (presumably not a real ruby). It was debated whether it is a cartridge or piston filler — according to Stylo.ca a piston filler, although without a visible ink window. Market launch is expected in August/September; size is comparable to the 146-class Writers Edition models. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc Writers Edition 2007 William Faulkner? **Answer:** It is confirmed that the Writers Edition 2007 is dedicated to William Faulkner; design and materials were not officially announced at the time of the early hints. First indications suggest a brown colour scheme, which was received with reservation among collectors. It is discussed that Montblanc, in choosing the namesakes, has the US-American and Asian markets strongly in mind, since the German-speaking market accounts for only a small share of total turnover; German-speaking classics like Goethe or Kant have been wished for for years without success. Concrete nib engravings and detail shots were not expected until shortly before delivery. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc Writers Edition 2010 Mark Twain? **Answer:** The Writers Edition 2010 is dedicated to Mark Twain; on the nib a rope knot is engraved. First, still blurred photos circulated in international collector forums. A criticism from the early writing samples: the pens apparently tend to write broad. In parallel the forum discussed the Music Edition with John Lennon, whose stylistic logic in the line of previous Donation Pens (Bernstein, Menuhin, Solti, Karajan, Bach) provided material for debate. For a Goethe in the line, the German collector scene continues to wait in vain. --- **Question:** What is already known about the Montblanc Writers Edition 2008 dedicated to George Bernard Shaw? **Answer:** The Montblanc Writers Edition 2008 is dedicated to George Bernard Shaw. The writing instruments are made of green marbled lacquer with inlaid platinum-plated rings and are offered in the usual breakdown of fountain pen, ballpoint and rollerball. First images and an English-language description circulated initially via the Fountain Pen Network forum; later, flyers with images of the entire edition were distributed in Montblanc boutiques. --- **Question:** Why do Unicef special editions of the Montblanc 149 have an 18-carat gold nib, while older standard 149s only have a 14-carat nib? **Answer:** Current standard 149s are delivered with an 18-carat gold nib, while older variants of the 1990s often had 14-carat nibs, which explains the discrepancy between an older personal piece and newer special editions. The change to 18 carats took place in the early 2000s as a general upgrade in model maintenance. In France 18 carats was already common before, because there gold is only spoken of from this purity, which is why country-specific nib variants existed in the past as well. The 149s auctioned for Unicef as well as the three limited Unicef-4810-149s (e.g. Tom Sachs) carry 18-carat nibs, which underscores the special significance of the literacy project. --- **Question:** How is the Montblanc Historical Pen Anniversary Edition equipped, and do rollerball and ballpoint fit a historical edition? **Answer:** The fountain pen is as exact as possible a recreation of the first Rouge et Noir writing instruments and uses the slide mechanism of the Montblanc Semi-Safety of 1908, but with cartridge filling instead of pipette filling, which avoids contamination. The edition is limited to 15,000 fountain pens, 45,000 ballpoints, 30,000 rollerballs and 10,000 pencils; the combination with ballpoint and rollerball is criticised by some collectors, since these writing instruments do not historically fit the original, but is equally usual on earlier Writers Editions like Hemingway or Agatha Christie. The precious resin is disappointing for some collectors; some would have preferred celluloid in jade green or lapis blue. Modern materials and a modernised historical nib together with a matching leather case are used. The list price lies around 600 euros for the fountain pen. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Writers Edition Hemingway (1992): https://www.fountainpen.de/writer-hemingway-en.htm • Montblanc Writers Edition Agatha Christie (1993): https://www.fountainpen.de/writer-christie-en.htm --- **Question:** How is the Montblanc Patron of Arts Edition 2011 Gaius Maecenas designed, and at what price is it available? **Answer:** The edition is dedicated to Gaius Maecenas and exists in two variants: the 4810 version in white with silver and the 888 version with golden cap. The cap is provided with a verse, the clip is sword-like, the cap of the 888 version is modelled on Dali. The price of the 888 version lies around 7,500 euros. First official pictures are available via the Montblanc boutiques and via collector blogs. --- **Question:** Which Limited Editions does Montblanc announce for 2017? **Answer:** The Great Characters Edition 2017 is dedicated to the Beatles; the annual edition leans on Yellow Submarine; the Limited Edition shows white with the UK flag. The Writers Edition is dedicated to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. From 2017 the 4810 variant of the Patron of Arts is dropped and converted to an annual edition. The Unicef Edition appears in April and comprises a Skeleton variant at around 9,000 to 9,700 euros, a Solitaire in blue lacquer with silver-coloured letters of various alphabets, a Doué variant with laser-engraved metal cap and a standard variant in black precious resin with letter ring on the cap; supplemented by special ink, Booknote and Augmented Paper. There is also a fully silver-coloured Rouge et Noir edition with rubies and, with each limited edition, its own limited ink. --- **Question:** Which models does the Montblanc catalogue 'Creations of Passion' cover in the new edition, and how are the Annual Editions structured? **Answer:** The new edition of the catalogue adds the Patron of Art 2004, the Writers Edition 2004 (Franz Kafka) and the Annual Edition 2005; the cover features an Imperial Dragon 888. The Writers Edition 2004 on Franz Kafka alternates formally between round and square cross-section as an allusion to The Metamorphosis and shows a cockroach on the nib. The Annual Editions have been organised since 2003 in three series: Classical Mythology (2003 Leda and the Swan, 2004 Europa on the Bull, 2005 Venus and Cupid), Venetian Carnival (2003 Coviello, 2004 Colombine, 2005 Harlequin) and Mythical Creatures (2003 Blue Lion, 2004 Flying Dragon, 2005 Phoenix). The launch regularly takes place in September of the previous year. The catalogue can be ordered free of charge via the Montblanc website. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc Writers Edition Collodi 2011, especially regarding availability and sales start? **Answer:** At market launch, only the complete set including cufflinks and special ink was offered; the individual writing instruments followed only a week later. Montblanc had unlocked its own website (montblanc-collodi.com) on the edition with elaborate product animation. Collectors rate the appearance overall positively and recommend a boutique visit for direct inspection. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc Special Editions were released in 2011 alongside the Limited Editions, and may press photos be shared in the forum? **Answer:** The Special Editions 2011 include 'The Diva' Grace Kelly and the Donation Pen 'Alfred Hitchcock'. Advance photos from Montblanc may not be directly posted for copyright reasons; instead, an external source should be linked in order not to violate copyright. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc Limited Editions were presented in 2014, and which writing instruments does the 90 Years collection comprise? **Answer:** The 2014 editions include the Writers Edition Daniel Defoe, the Patron of Arts Steinway, Great Characters John F. Kennedy and the Meisterstück 90 Years Collection. The latter comprises the models 149, 146 and 161, each with rose-gold-plated clips and rings and a special nib, supplemented by a 90 Years variant with special guilloché. Particularly highlighted are the Skeleton models of the 90 Years Collection, which regularly count as design highlights. --- **Question:** What do the different edition numbers on fountain pen, ballpoint and pencil of a Montblanc Writers Edition like the Jules Verne set mean? **Answer:** The first number before the slash is the individual limitation number; the second the respective total edition of the individual writing instrument. On the Jules Verne, 16,800 fountain pens, 14,800 ballpoints and only 4,500 pencils were produced; the latter were offered exclusively in the set. The first 4,500 writing instruments of each variant were reserved for the sets; an individual number lower than 4,500 indicates that the piece comes from a set. When buying a set, identical limitation numbers on all writing instruments are to be ensured. --- **Question:** Is it permissible for boutiques to sell individual mechanical pencils from Writers Edition sets (Schiller, Wilde), although the pencil is officially only offered in the set? **Answer:** On the Oscar Wilde, pencils with edition numbers between 5,001 and 12,000 were also sold individually, as Montblanc intended; the first 5,000 belonged to the set. With other sets like Schiller or Kafka, individual pieces mostly arise because collectors take only parts (pen and ballpoint, or conversely pencil) and the set is broken up by the dealer. From a pure collector perspective, breaking up sets is unfortunate, since the consecutive edition numbers of the set ware should remain together; from a user's view it is, however, often the only way to get individual pencils. --- **Question:** Which features and dimensions characterise the Greta Garbo Special Edition as the first ladies' fountain pen of this line? **Answer:** The Greta Garbo edition is conceived as an unlimited Special Edition and, like the Donation series (Bernstein, Menuhin, Karajan), is made until a successor appears. The range comprises fountain pens (600 euros) and ballpoints (380 euros) in typical ladies' format. The fountain pen is fillable only with cartridge, not with converter, and is somewhat smaller than a 144 but significantly larger than the Mozart; the proportions and balance are specially optimised for women's hands. An additional third variant limited to 100 examples exists. --- **Question:** Which material and design features characterise the Montblanc Patron of Art Edition 2007 'Alexander von Humboldt', and is it suitable for daily use? **Answer:** The edition consists of turned grenadilla, a nearly black South American precious hardwood also used in instrument-making (e.g. saxophone mouthpieces); clip, blind cap, cap top and fittings are of 925 sterling silver, in the 4810 variant with wood inlays, in the 888 variant with onyx. The bicolour nib with the sextant motif is described as particularly successful in design; the pen lies massively and heavily in the hand due to wood and silver and writes softly with the M nib. Grenadilla, like ebony, is heavier than water but, due to higher oil content, more pliable and so less prone to cracks, so normal use should generally not harm the material. On the wood's light sensitivity no firm statements exist; slight patina marks on silver through skin contact, by contrast, are usual. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Patron of Arts Alexander von Humboldt: https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-humboldt-en.htm --- **Question:** Which features characterise the Montblanc Limited Editions 2012 (Writers Edition Jonathan Swift, Donation Pen Brahms, Patron of Art Joseph II), and what is to be considered in the material change of the 888 edition? **Answer:** The Patron of Art Edition 2012 is dedicated to Emperor Joseph II with king motif; striking is that the 888 variant for the first time is no longer made of solid gold but only of 925 sterling silver with white-blue translucent lacquer, which, given the previous prices (around 7,500 euros), is criticised as significantly overpriced. Among the special editions presented the Einstein stands out with silver, formula-engraved barrel, black 'striped cap' and a planet clip end; the Picasso has a brushed gold-plated barrel with red strokes and a cap window in the form of a Picasso artwork. Alongside, a Statue of Liberty Artisan Edition is also being announced. The growing number of parallel limited editions in general is seen critically. --- **Question:** What characterises the Montblanc Limited Edition 'Soulmakers for 100 Years' Solitaire Granite 1906, and how is availability at specialist trade regulated? **Answer:** The edition appears in an edition of 1,906 pieces each and consists of sterling silver with a cap of real Mont Blanc granite, crowned by a specially designed, 43-facet-cut Montblanc diamond in an acrylic dome in star form. Alongside, a cheaper Special Anniversary Edition of the Starwalker with a smaller diamond in acrylic dome is offered. Montblanc Germany has, for 'fairness reasons', decided to allocate each dealer only three examples of the 1906 writing instruments, regardless of pre-orders, which strongly limits the reservation situation. Collectors highlight especially the symbiosis of white metal, fine stone and the diamond as successful; the nib design is partly seen critically. --- **Question:** What is the meaning of the quantities 4810 and 888 on the Montblanc Patron of Art editions, and what consequences arise for price and material choice? **Answer:** The number 4810 refers to the height of Mont Blanc in metres and is interpreted as a homage to highest aspirations; the 888 variant stands as a triple eight in Asian symbolism for highest happiness and marks the more exclusive edition. 888 models are often of solid precious metal, additionally provided with gemstones or special decoration and correspondingly more expensive. Each Patron of Art edition also has its own nib engraving, by which the model can be identified. Limitations arise both quantitatively (number) and temporally through production limits and meet collectors' wish for 'something special'; as sole purchase motivation, however, limitation does not count. --- **Question:** What is known about the design of the Montblanc Writers Edition 2011 'Carlo Collodi' (Pinocchio), and which further editions are announcing themselves? **Answer:** The Collodi edition takes up the Pinocchio motif via an extendable clip symbolising the 'long nose'. Collectors rate the design predominantly as unbalanced: the cap looks inconsistent; the 'nose' idea seems forced and unsuccessful; and the overall impression appeals rather to a female target group. Alongside, a fully white Meisterstück fountain pen/rollerball, a Donation Pen Edition Gustav Eiffel and a Hitchcock Limited Edition are announced. The growing number of parallel Limited Editions (Writers, Patron of Arts, Donation, Special) is increasingly questioned critically. --- **Question:** What is the meaning of special prefixes like 'S/' or 'Sample' in the serial numbers of Montblanc Limited Editions, and how are writing-instrument sets numbered? **Answer:** The prefix 'S' (e.g. S/0503) stands for 'Service' and marks writing instruments whose cap was exchanged at the factory; since for service no consecutive original numbers are reserved, these replacement caps receive their own S numbers. Prototypes carry the designation 'Sample' with three-digit number and are delivered, among others, to boutiques and country representations. With Limited Editions the total edition is always the sum of single sale and sets: example Marcel Proust: 17,000 fountain pens and 16,000 ballpoints as single pieces plus 4,000 sets yield consecutive numbers up to 21,000 or 20,000 respectively. The Hemingway formed an exception without total numbering and without set, since the ballpoint was only later produced at the request of the US market. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Writers Edition Hemingway (1992): https://www.fountainpen.de/writer-hemingway-en.htm --- **Question:** Is Montblanc planning a celluloid edition, special give-aways or a comprehensive editions catalogue for the 100-year anniversary? **Answer:** A celluloid edition will appear for the anniversary, presumably as a Safety reissue, which on photos, however, looks rather like the Bohème; whether it is actually celluloid or marbled synthetic resin/acrylic (as on Poe, Dumas, Wilde) remains to be seen. Special give-aways for collectors are not envisaged; pins and smaller commemorative pieces are reserved above all for employees and on eBay achieve sometimes high prices (e.g. peppermint tins of aluminium for 67 euros, MB golf balls for 43 euros). A comprehensive editions catalogue is also not planned. --- **Question:** What subscription prices and material features does the Montblanc Patron of Art Edition 2005 'Pope Julius II' have? **Answer:** The Pope Julius II 4810 has a shop price of 1,700 euros at a subscription price of 1,465.50 euros; the more exclusive 888 variant with rhodolite stones on the cap top, guilloché cardinal-red lacquer and 18-carat yellow-gold filigree lies at 4,850 euros shop price or 3,950 euros subscription price (each plus 6.90 euros shipping). With prepayment the subscription conditions apply. In content the edition takes up Pope Julius II (Giuliano della Rovere, 1443–1513), who reigned from 1503 to 1513 and entered art history e.g. as the patron of St Peter's Basilica and supporter of Michelangelo and Raphael. First original photos circulated via Russian pen websites. --- **Question:** How is the Montblanc Writers Edition 2009 'Thomas Mann' assessed regarding design, haptics and collector value? **Answer:** The Thomas Mann lies, due to its weight, well in the hand and is also suitable for daily use; collectors rate look and workmanship predominantly positively. Critically remarked is that the body shape is again modelled on the 146, which on several consecutive Writers Editions is felt as little inventive; some collectors would have preferred for a literary personality of Thomas Mann's rank a shape modelled on the Meisterstück 139. The edition is also for the first time delivered with a rollerball as additional writing instrument; the wish for the same serial number for set and rollerball can rarely be fulfilled by production reasons; usually only consecutive numbers are available. The shape is occasionally criticised as rather Donation-Pen-like, which puts the price into perspective from a collector view. --- **Question:** What characterises the Limited Edition Montblanc Rouge et Noir 100 for the brand anniversary? **Answer:** The Rouge et Noir 100 is a replica of the first Montblanc safety pen, released for the 100-year brand anniversary in 2006. Edition: only 100 pieces worldwide, sales price 3,900 euros. The pen is made of vulcanised hard rubber with integrated ink tank; the 18-carat gold nib carries the historical engraving 'Simplo Pen Co 4' with breather hole; the cap is bright red, the body black. It is delivered in an orange-red box together with historical packaging, travel inkwell of hard rubber and a booklet with old advertising. Due to the small quantity rapid sell-out is to be expected. --- **Question:** Which writer is honoured in the Montblanc Writers Edition 2006, and is a price increase to be expected as with the Patron edition? **Answer:** The Writers Edition 2006 is dedicated to Virginia Woolf; hints to this circulated for a while in the Montblanc dealer intranet and on third-party sites and were partly removed again, which is interpreted as a consequence of the strict secrecy policy towards dealers. Since the pen will apparently be equipped with a diamond, some collectors suspect a price increase over previous editions, but secured information was not available at the time of discussion. --- **Question:** How is the Montblanc Limited Edition Charlie Chaplin 88 to be assessed regarding design, workmanship and price? **Answer:** The Charlie Chaplin 88 counts among many collectors as one of the most beautiful Skeleton editions of Montblanc, with very elaborate and detail-rich artisanal work that goes clearly beyond the level of usual Artisan pieces. Others find it overloaded because too many Charlie Chaplin aspects are united in tightest space. The price lies around 20,600 euros and thus exceeds the budget of most collectors. Live the pen seems, according to reports, more impressive than on the press photos. --- **Question:** Who is the honoured inspirator of the Montblanc Patron of Art Edition 2006, and which visual features does the pen show? **Answer:** The Patron of Art Edition 2006 honours Sir Henry Tate, British sugar producer and patron, who in 1872 acquired the patent for sugar cubes (he did not invent them himself) and with his fortune founded the Tate Gallery. The pen has a striking red surface that recalls for collectors the Pope Julius II 888 or the Jules Verne, with a shape similar to the Frederick II. The official presentation took place first in the USA; in Asia, brochure photos circulated already beforehand. --- **Question:** To which person is the Montblanc Patron of Art Edition 2010 dedicated, and which materials and colouring are to be expected? **Answer:** The Patron of Art Edition 2010 will be dedicated to Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603). Provided are a 4810 variant in brown with yellow gold and an 888 variant in red with red gold. Collectors who have already seen them rate the design rather restrained — it is rated as a matter of taste and not as a highlight. Advance photos should not be uploaded oneself but at most linked on existing sources, since Montblanc does not desire advance publication. --- **Question:** What does the striking notch on the cap of the Montblanc Jules Verne pen stand for, and is its ink tank smaller than that of a 146? **Answer:** The notch in the cap represents the porthole of a submarine or a sight window and refers to Verne's 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea'; in addition the cap shape is interpreted as an allusion to a diving helmet, and the symbolism is also found on the nib. The ink tank of the Jules Verne is in fact smaller than that of the 146, because the sealing piston in the limited edition — as on all editions — was structurally changed. --- **Question:** What is known about the individual Mario Barth Limited Edition by Montblanc, and why does the official product picture show deviations? **Answer:** Mario Barth had, as one of the first private customers, a tailor-made 1/1 edition made by the Artisan Studio; the piece was seen in the studio before completion together with brass samples and contains a diamond in the form of the Montblanc star on the cap. The final version is in white gold, while the photo depicted on the Montblanc website apparently shows a master sample in yellow gold with a white-gold nib — a material combination that was not used in the final piece. Barth received his copy at a preferential price; subsequent individual editions are, according to statements from the manufactory, considerably more expensive. --- **Question:** Should the forum maintain a public list of all collections of individual Montblanc collectors to ease sale and trade? **Answer:** A public full list of all writing instruments of individual collectors is rejected by the forum admin and the majority, because members appear largely anonymously and such a listing would have no practical use. Collectors also generally have only a part of their stock actually for sale, so a complete list would receive many enquiries without result. Instead the section Offer and the module MyPMS exist for internal communication; for sale and trade activities reference is made to separate platforms like morepens.de. Collection size alone is also not regarded as a quality feature. --- **Question:** Which Patron of Art Edition does Montblanc release for the year 2008? **Answer:** The Patron of Art Edition 2008 is dedicated to François I; corresponding flyers and first pictures were available around the start of 2008; in the boutiques hardly any information was given in advance. Stylistically the edition seems to some collectors disappointing and comparatively plain, with comparisons drawn to a mix of Delta and Montegrappa designs; by collector opinion it does not reach Writers Editions like Proust or Poe. Both the 4810 and the 888 variant appeared. --- **Question:** Are photos of the rings and bracelets made by Sabine Bach for the Montblanc Year of the Golden Dragon 2000 edition available, and are the pieces obtainable in Germany? **Answer:** Montblanc offered for the Year of the Golden Dragon Edition 2000 strictly limited rings and bracelets by jewellery designer Sabine Bach, produced exclusively for the Asian market. Each depicted only the dragon. Published photos are found in Werben & Verkaufen 10/2001 of 09.03.2001, but these images are subject to copyright and cannot be reproduced here; in the W&V online archive only the text, not the photos is available. In Germany the pieces are barely findable and correspondingly high-priced; an occasional hint to jewellery motifs is found on the Montblanc website under Precious Dragon 88 (Flash version). --- **Question:** Which variants and quantities of the Montblanc Teatro alla Scala exist, and is a 600-euro edition based on the 149 available? **Answer:** According to the press text there are three variants: a 78 edition, a 7 edition with diamond setting and a single piece. Alongside, Montblanc Customer Service has confirmed a separate 149 special version at a price of around 600 euros sold exclusively in Italy; partly a limitation of 2,004 pieces is mentioned. This 149 variant differs from the standard 149 only by box, companion booklet and a large engraving on the cap and is, due to the manageable price, comparatively attractive for collectors. --- **Question:** How can one classify counterfeits offered as commercial on eBay, brazenly described, including counterfeit watches with positive ratings, and what protection mechanisms exist? **Answer:** Even professional suppliers with disclaimer may, in Germany, generally not sell counterfeits; a disclaimer does not exclude criminal liability. The positive rating situation of such suppliers does not necessarily prove reputability, since the eBay verification seal can be imitated by HTML manipulation; the actual PostIdent procedure via Deutsche Post AG, by contrast, is built on identity-card basis and harder to fake. With watches especially the box (Montblanc uses black, not red boxes) is an indicator; a first counterfeit with a real automatic movement would already require a minimum calculation beyond 300 euros, which permits doubts about movement quality. Bidders should check supplier and auction behaviour critically and report violations to the trademark holder. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc Artisan editions Otto von Bismarck and Fortune 88, and what price is to be expected for the Fortune 88? **Answer:** The Otto von Bismarck edition is limited to 75 pieces, executed in white gold with oak-leaf inlays, filled with cartridges and has a twist closure of the cap directly behind the nib. The skeleton Fortune 88 is intended for the Asian market, kept in red gold, formally modelled on the Skeleton 333, and shows interlocking eights as the Asian lucky number. According to Montblanc, the Fortune 88 is to cost around 22,000 euros; collector estimates beforehand were between 15,000 and 18,000 euros. Photos can be viewed on fountainpennetwork.com. --- **Question:** How is the new Skeleton Edition Tchaikovsky by Montblanc to be assessed in relation to the Duomo, the limitation of 130 pieces and the price of 17,900 euros? **Answer:** The Tchaikovsky Skeleton Edition is design-wise close to the Duomo and so seems to collectors rather conservative; the classic shape, however, basically fits the composer theme. At a sales price of around 17,900 euros, the limitation to 130 pieces (oriented on a premiere) is felt as too high to still speak of a true limitation; Montblanc could harm itself in the long term thereby. In the further course, editions like a 241 Artisan piece (oriented on a march length) are announced, often available in markets outside Germany. Pictures of both Tchaikovsky variants can be found on cruzaltpens.com. --- **Question:** Which filling mechanism does the Montblanc Rouge et Noir replica of 2006 have? **Answer:** The Rouge et Noir replica exists in two variants. The more expensive variant, limited to 100 pieces, takes over the historical safety filling system (slide pen) of the original, in which the nib is protected by sliding the mechanism in and out. The cheaper variant, produced in 15,000 pieces, is despite similar look a cartridge pen with a special slide mechanism: instead of unscrewing the nib as on the Bohème, the grip section together with part of the body is pushed backwards. --- **Question:** Are the leather-bound Montblanc special catalogues for the Limited Editions still available in the boutiques? **Answer:** The black leather ring binders titled 'Limited Editions' lay exclusively in the Montblanc boutiques, generally with only one example per boutique. They were mostly not openly displayed but could be inspected on polite request. Updating of these folders was discontinued in 2002 and not resumed since. As a replacement a consumer brochure was later distributed free in the boutiques; in normal specialist trade these special catalogues are not available. --- **Question:** Does a Montblanc special edition 'Beethoven Bernstein 9' actually exist, and how is it to be classified? **Answer:** The edition, after research at Montblanc, comes indeed from the Artisan department and was at short notice in September 2004 made on demand of marketing for a concert of the Philharmonic of the Nations in China. It was rated factory-side as very inconspicuous and qualitatively little convincing ('the ugliest thing we ever produced'). The pieces are genuine, but the porcelain cap with the photorealistic motifs arose under time pressure. The whole Artisan line was not officially advertised, which is why even with renowned collectors little knowledge circulates about it. --- **Question:** Should one actually use high-priced Limited Editions like the Montblanc Patron of the Art line (e.g. Tate) or only collect them? **Answer:** Within the collector scene there are two main positions: some lovers use all their writing instruments including limited editions in everyday life and take them to the office; others deliberately buy two examples, one for the display case, one for writing. That dealers refuse trial writing on Patron of Art pieces has a factual reason: these editions are predominantly acquired by collectors who only want 'virgin' examples in their collection, and on shows inked pieces are significantly harder to sell. Ultimately it is a personal decision — anyone not prioritising the value aspect can use the pieces without having to justify themselves. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc Skeleton Limited Edition 'Eiffel Tower', especially price and availability? **Answer:** The Skeleton Edition 'Eiffel Tower' was offered in selected boutiques (e.g. Hamburg, Neuer Wall) at a price of about 17,000 euros. The edition counts as successful; a quick sell-out is, however, not expected — other Artisan editions also lie longer in boutiques without all storing for two or more years. For example, the last Chaplin was acquired only two years after edition start. Anyone wanting to inspect the edition up close can ask the boutique or the Artisan Studio for detail pictures or display pieces. --- **Question:** Who bears the design and technical responsibility for the Visconti/Dörrbecker 'Quintessenz', and how is the writing instrument to be assessed? **Answer:** The Quintessenz is a cooperation: design was largely co-determined by Axel Dörrbecker; in particular cap rings and cap top emblem come from him; the nibs were also chosen by him. The technology (especially the striking 2-chamber filling system) comes exclusively from Visconti (Dante). Collectors praise the Quintessenz as a hand-flatterer of beautiful celluloid with a particularly large ink supply — a plus for heavy writers. The writing instrument has proven itself in practice and is recommended further in collector circles. --- **Question:** What is the Montblanc Leonard Bernstein Edition worth, and how can authenticity be checked? **Answer:** The Bernstein edition is no real Limited Edition — the quantity of writing instruments produced is not limited — which dampens the collector price. For value determination, the established valuation guide in the collector scene is referenced, providing among other things comparison with current eBay auctions. Authenticity indications: on the fountain pen there should be a small gold sticker with the inscription 'B Germany'; the ballpoint typically carries no visible inscription. The correct spelling 'Montblanc' (not 'MONTblanc') is an important authenticity criterion — deviating spellings are often found on counterfeits. --- **Question:** Which versions and peculiarities does the Montblanc Alfred Hitchcock Limited Edition have? **Answer:** The edition appears in two variants: a red version of white gold limited to 80 pieces with 25-layer red lacquer and a black-white edition limited to 3,000 pieces in silver with 8-layer lacquer, each as fountain pen and rollerball. Characteristic are a Vertigo effect on the cap, a clip designed as a knife and slightly liftable, 56 strokes for the 56 films on the black-white variant and a film-roll look and 80 dots for Hitchcock's 80 years of life on the red variant. Accompanying it, a separate red ink was announced to come on the market in parallel with the pen launch. --- **Question:** Which models and versions does the Montblanc Unicef edition comprise, and is there a special Limited variant? **Answer:** The regular Unicef edition was introduced on 11 May 2009 and comprises the Meisterstück models 145, 146, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165 and 167; characteristic is a blue gemstone in the form of a water drop on the cap top. Accompanying it, there is a true Limited Edition with lapis-lazuli caps, executed in 750 yellow or white gold (not platinum-plated), in 100 pieces each. In September 2009 the line was supplemented with women's and men's jewellery and a collection. Proceeds flow into the joint education programme 'Schools for Africa' of UNICEF and Nelson Mandela Foundation; special individual cases as part of the action are not known. --- **Question:** When is the Montblanc Johannes Brahms Donation Edition officially sold, and at what prices? **Answer:** The Brahms edition has been officially available in Montblanc boutiques since the beginning of May. Prices are 590 euros for the fountain pen, 490 euros for the rollerball and 390 euros for the ballpoint. Visually and conceptually it resembles the other Donation Pens, which is interpreted as a deliberate line guidance of the Montblanc strategy for this series. Companion brochures are available in the boutiques. --- **Question:** Which variants exist of the Montblanc Limited Edition Albert Einstein, and what properties does the matching ink have? **Answer:** The Einstein edition is offered in three edition strengths (2, 99 and 3,000 pieces); cufflinks with space-curvature motif (around 350 euros) supplement the theme. Accompanying it, a grey ink appears that on writing shows a slight lilac tone and remains visibly on the skin compared with other Montblanc inks unusually long. Availability is initially uneven: individual pieces appear before the regular trade start on eBay, while boutiques and stationery dealers partly have not yet received display pieces or ink. Meaningful pictures can be found on Fountainpennetwork. --- **Question:** What current market value does the Montblanc Limited Edition Agatha Christie Vermeil with sapphires have, and where can auction prices be reliably researched? **Answer:** The price depends strongly on condition; in mint condition with original packaging 1,200–1,300 euros were named. The Vermeil variant is equipped with blue sapphires; only the gold version limited to 4,810 pieces carries rubies, in distinction from the 30,000 standard edition in sterling silver with rubies. Reliable indications are provided by ended auctions national and international (especially eBay), with ultimately the current supply-demand state deciding. The market for such editions is dynamic; a sale at currently weak dollar is not currently recommended. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Writers Edition Agatha Christie (1993): https://www.fountainpen.de/writer-christie-en.htm --- **Question:** What characterises the Montblanc Donation Pen Sir Georg Solti as successor to the Karajan model? **Answer:** The Donation Pen 2005 honours Sir Georg Solti as the fourth artist of the Donation line, an initiative for cultural support: per fountain pen sold, 20 euros, per ballpoint 10 euros flow into international classical-music projects. Solti, born 1912 in Budapest, was one of the most important conductors of the 20th century. Visually the writing instrument counts as plain and avant-garde, without return to yellow-gold fittings. Since the Karajan edition can run out, securing remainders timely via Scription or specialist trade is recommended. Concrete dimensions, weight or sales price of the Solti are not conclusively known. --- **Question:** Is a sales price of 25,000 USD for a factory-sealed Montblanc Skeleton 333 appropriate? **Answer:** The Skeleton 333 is sold out worldwide and counts as one of the outstanding Montblanc editions, but 25,000 USD is rated among collectors as significantly excessive. The original sales price was around 7,500 euros for the pen plus about 3,500 euros for the matching watch. Concrete collector offers lie around 12,500 euros in mint condition with full Montblanc warranty and original papers, without US import taxes. As alternative, the newer Pompidou Skeleton is named; current market prices should be compared via ended international auctions. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc Writers Edition 2013 Honoré de Balzac? **Answer:** The Writers Edition 2013 is dedicated to Honoré de Balzac and, corresponding to the corpulent stature of the author, conspicuously voluminously designed. First pictures appeared early in the duty-free shop assortment (Heinemann Frankfurt); the price range was between around 630 and 810 euros for the various writing-instrument variants. Collectors judge the model as very special and agree that a final assessment is only possible on direct view in the boutique. --- **Question:** What is known about the UNICEF special edition of the Montblanc 149? **Answer:** Within a UNICEF donation campaign three different special editions of the Montblanc 149 were released, designed by André Putman, Helmut Jahn and Tom Sachs. Each of the three editions is limited to 4,810 pieces. They are factually regular 149s delivered, however, in specially designed boxes; the writing instruments themselves carry no limitation marks, which meets with mixed echo among collectors. The boxes appeared first in French Montblanc boutiques. --- **Question:** How is the Montblanc Meisterstück Le Petit Prince II edition designed? **Answer:** The second Petit Prince edition comes on the market in April. The standard version in dark-brown resin counts as rather plain, without engravings, with a sheep on the nib and without aviator motif, which causes disappointment to some collectors. Doué and Solitaire versions are more elaborately designed, with wave pattern on metal (Doué) or leather (Solitaire), although the Solitaires are partly felt as too heavy for longer writing. The ink appears in dark brown; added is a matching brown notebook in 146 format. Prices lie at the level of the first edition. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc StarWalker Special Edition for the 100th anniversary of the company's founding? **Answer:** The StarWalker Special Edition for the 100th founding year was officially launched in April; the fountain pen was to retail at 495 euros, the ballpoint at 395 euros. However, the first pieces had already appeared on eBay in advance at significantly inflated prices. The design polarises the collector scene: some find it cheap-looking, others appreciate the line and deliberately collect various StarWalker variants such as the RubberLine. Overall, the 100-year anniversary edition is visually placed behind the 75-year edition, whose 1924 and 75 limiteds are regarded as more convincing in design. --- **Question:** How has the market value of the Montblanc Writers Edition Franz Kafka developed, and is the fountain pen available individually from the set? **Answer:** The Kafka fountain pen was originally offered for around 650 euros; current collector prices are about 800 euros, corresponding to a moderate increase in value of around 150 euros over seven years. Writers Editions are generally delivered in special book packaging. Acquiring the fountain pen individually from the three-piece set is officially not provided for; boutiques and dealers usually only sell the complete set. Through collectors or dealer relationships, individual pieces can occasionally be obtained by passing on the unwanted parts within the collector community. --- **Question:** Is it worth buying a new Montblanc Leonardo Da Vinci for 2,500 euros with a view to a possible increase in value? **Answer:** Increases in value with Montblanc Limited Editions are not guaranteed; even experienced collectors have had luck and losses over 20 years. Individual pieces offered on eBay beyond 5,000 euros do not necessarily reflect actual sales prices. It is recommended to look at actually realised closing prices of completed auctions before any purchase decision and not to rush into anything. A purchase should be made primarily out of collector interest, not as a pure investment. --- **Question:** Is there an overview of Montblanc Special Editions like the Willy Brandt Edition, and by what criteria are such special editions issued? **Answer:** A complete listing of these Special Editions does not exist. In the Corporate Gifts area, Montblanc offers possibilities to individualise Meisterstücks with company logos, engravings or special nibs; from a corresponding minimum order quantity, customers can have their own special editions issued. Packaging and inserts are designed partly directly by Montblanc, partly by external providers. Since the conditions are not communicated publicly, such editions can hardly be catalogued systematically. --- **Question:** Is there a separate certificate of authenticity for insurance purposes for the Montblanc Limited Anniversary Edition 1924 (146 Solitaire LeGrand)? **Answer:** For the Limited Anniversary Edition 1924 as well as many other high-priced Special Editions, Montblanc does not issue a separate certificate of authenticity; only the usual warranty card and the standard service guide are supplied. Some editions like Writers, Patron of Arts or Asia editions do have special packaging and service guides, but a separate certificate is unusual. For household contents insurance, in the case of damage, a proof through purchase invoice and photo is usually sufficient; the precise requirements should be clarified with the insurer. Additionally, household-contents documentation on a CD at an external storage location is recommended. --- **Question:** How many pieces are produced per design of a Montblanc Annual Edition (Meissen porcelain), and are official figures available? **Answer:** Annual Editions are Special Editions whose number is not officially published, since the limitation refers to the production period and not to a fixed number; Montblanc does know the produced quantities but deliberately does not disclose them. The assumption of around 7500 pieces per design (i.e. 22,500 per year) can therefore not be officially confirmed. Pictures of all three editions per year can be found in the catalogue "Montblanc Collectables, Creations of Passion" (autumn 2004), which is available in all boutiques worldwide. The official price per pen was 1350 euros in 2005; special offers can be requested from Scription (info@scription.de). --- **Question:** Which official Authors Sets of the Montblanc Writers Edition exist, and what status do the pieces offered in picture frames have? **Answer:** The following Authors Sets were officially issued: Oscar Wilde pencil (09051), Voltaire pencil (09052), Dumas fountain pen (09053), pencil (09054) and 3-piece set (09055), Dostoyevsky fountain pen (09104 M and 09105 B) as well as Schiller fountain pen (09108 M and 09109 B). They were issued mainly in order to sell off remaining stock more quickly; a marketing strategy in the narrower sense did not lie behind it, and the edition sizes are not known. Writing instruments framed in picture frames are not official, but were partly produced by Montblanc for promotional purposes and never regularly sold; partly such frames are also home-made. --- **Question:** Is there a website that fully documents all limited Montblanc editions such as Patron of Art, Writers Edition and Donations Pens? **Answer:** A complete online overview of all editions since 1991 does not exist; the official Montblanc books and brochures list editions from a run of 333 pieces with text, pictures and launch prices, but are no longer being reprinted. An extensive, although not exhaustive, picture source is www.cruzaltpens.com (Paco Cruz), although predominantly in Spanish and only partly translated into English; the provider is regarded as serious. An older list maintained by Axel and Michael (up to 2006, available as a newsletter PDF on fountainpen.de) also shows that many editions with small runs (sometimes only four pieces) are publicly hardly documented. A central, current source thus remains a desideratum. --- **Question:** What edition sizes, prices and background does the Montblanc Limited Edition Mahatma Gandhi have? **Answer:** The Mahatma Gandhi edition appears in two variants from the Artisan workshop: a run of 3,000 fountain pens each (price approx. 2,500 euros) and 3,000 rollerballs (approx. 2,200 euros) as well as a small Artisan edition with only 241 fountain pens at 17,000 euros each. The numbers refer to Gandhi's famous Salt March of 241 miles, on which 3,000 companions are said to have walked. Collectors criticise the edition of 241 pieces at this price level as too high for a really exclusive collector's piece and see it more as a marketing strategy. The look of the 241 variant, however, is described as very noble. --- **Question:** Is it more worthwhile when collecting Montblanc Limited Editions (Writers Edition) to complete existing LEs, fill gaps in the year sequence or buy exclusively according to taste? **Answer:** Increase in value should not be the primary goal in collecting, since writing instruments — similarly to wine, classic cars or watches — usually do not represent a reliable investment; one should buy primarily according to personal liking. Fountain pens are basically easier to resell than ballpoints or pencils. Anyone who nevertheless collects in a structured manner should first complete the fountain pen series and not put themselves under time pressure but rather observe the market and have patience. As a supplement, the Patron of Art editions with a quantity of 1,000 or 4,810 also come into question. --- **Question:** What information is there on the Montblanc Limited Edition "Meisterstück 149 – 25 Years Fall of the Wall"? **Answer:** The Special Edition celebrates the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and is based on the Meisterstück 149. The hand-finished 18-carat gold nib shows an engraving of the Quadriga of the Brandenburg Gate; the fountain pen is delivered in individually designed packaging with a black ink bottle. A more precise figure for the edition size is not known; further pictures and discussions can be found in the Fountain Pen Network. The edition is regarded by some collectors critically as a commercially motivated extension of the LE programme. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 149 (Grand Format): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-149-en.htm --- **Question:** Which Montblanc Limited Edition is a hard-to-recognise skeleton fountain pen depicted in a magazine? **Answer:** Collectors discuss as candidates the Asia Golden Dragon 888, the Beethoven & Bernstein, the Max Reinhardt as well as the Sakura 333. The Golden Dragon is excluded because of the missing flames on the body, the Max Reinhardt because of differing cap motifs and stronger body images. A certain similarity to the Annual Edition 2006 Pantalone is perceived as motivic resemblance. Because of the unsharp source, the determination remains speculative; a better source would be needed. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Asia Edition Sakura: https://www.fountainpen.de/asia-sakura-333-en.htm --- **Question:** What is the first impression of the Montblanc Writers Edition 2012 Jonathan Swift and from when is it commercially available? **Answer:** The Jonathan Swift is regarded as a visually very successful edition with an impressive triangular cap and finely worked nib. Despite its large appearance, it lies well in the hand thanks to a surprisingly pleasant weight and is comparable in size roughly to the Toscanini. The precious resin appears slightly reddish-translucent in the light. Delivery to dealers occurred, depending on region, between August and September 2012; the matching green ink was at the time of the first sightings partly not yet available. --- **Question:** Where on the Montblanc StarWalker Soulmakers for 100 Years fountain pen from 2006 is the individual limitation number located? **Answer:** On the Special Edition of this series, the serial number is engraved on the clip ring, while on the Limited Edition variants it is mostly placed at the end of the pen. The rollerball also bears its number at the end of the pen. A complete absence of the number would be untypical; usually the supposed absence is simply an overlooked engraving. The 1906 edition comprises correspondingly numbered examples, which secures the authenticity check via the correct numbering. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc fountain pen is regarded as the most expensive and what distinguishes it? **Answer:** Regarded as the most expensive series model so far is the Mystery Masterpiece, a cooperation with Van Cleef & Arpels, of which there are three examples each in red, blue and green; the price stated was around 558,000 euros. The piece is set with numerous diamonds and coloured precious stones. Upwards, however, individual pieces or later editions are basically open, so this price does not represent a final upper limit. Further details can be found on the official Montblanc page for the model. --- **Question:** Where can the Montblanc Donation Pen Leonard Bernstein still be obtained? **Answer:** The Leonard Bernstein is occasionally offered on the private collector market, but is no longer regularly available in normal trade. Among collectors, contacts are occasionally arranged with owners who are giving up a complete Bernstein set including original packaging and papers, both as fountain pen and as ballpoint. Direct contact with the webmaster of the collector site or enquiries in collector circles are the usual source. --- **Question:** Is it worth buying a Montblanc Artisan Edition Picasso when only a particular individual number out of 91 examples is available? **Answer:** The buying decision should depend primarily on personal liking, not on investment considerations. Only a few Limited Editions have actually risen in value; at the same time, the sheer quantity of Limited and Artisan editions is now so large that the term limited has lost meaning. If the piece is subjectively worth the price to one, nothing speaks against the purchase; as a pure investment, however, it is not to be recommended. --- **Question:** Is it normal that on the Montblanc Jules Verne the cap shows a different colour tone with a reddish tint than the barrel? **Answer:** The Jules Verne has a special lacquer coating that produces strongly varying colour impressions under different light, partly even up to a purple shimmer. Slight colour differences between cap and barrel are therefore frequently due to lighting; a clear reddish tint independent of lighting only on the cap, on the other hand, is untypical and suggests a later exchange of a component. Original packaging with intact seal makes a subsequent exchange unlikely but does not necessarily rule it out. Recommended is a comparison with further Verne examples in very bright daylight or white lamp light. --- **Question:** What features, edition size and availability characterise the Montblanc Limited Edition Brandenburg 89? **Answer:** The Brandenburg 89 is the first Montblanc Limited Edition produced exclusively for German boutiques, with a total run of 89 examples. The skeleton of transparent dark-blue precious resin carries an 18-carat solid-gold overlay reminiscent of the Brandenburg Gate, is set with 108 brilliant-cut diamonds (total approx. 0.75 carat) and shows the Quadriga in relief on the cap as well as the Victoria on the 18-carat nib. The piece was exhibited, among other places, in Heidelberg and Hannover; due to the high price, it is not affordable for most collectors. A picture appeared in the magazine Kult am Pult No. 4-2004 on page 25. --- **Question:** What is the background story of the Montblanc edition limited to 5 pieces, presented in 2011 in the Paris fashion shop Colette? **Answer:** The correct name of the edition is not "Montblanc Nike" but "Montblanc Marinière for Colette". The striped pattern quotes the then jersey of the French national football team, and the blue corresponds to the colour of the Colette logo. As part of the campaign, the Paris fashion boutique Colette invited several brands (e.g. Longchamp, Montblanc) to reinterpret one of their leading products. The fountain pen was made of white Meissen porcelain and limited to 5 pieces at 2500 euros each. --- **Question:** What does the serial-number marking "S/0503" on a Montblanc Agatha Christie mean? **Answer:** The leading "S" stands for "Service" and indicates that the writing instrument has already been at Montblanc for repair once. Since for every limited edition a complete spare-parts inventory cannot be kept, exchanged parts receive this special S marking. Specifically, only caps are given S numbers, since the limitation number is engraved there; on non-limited writing instruments no such limit number exists, only the production coding. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Writers Edition Agatha Christie (1993): https://www.fountainpen.de/writer-christie-en.htm --- **Question:** Is it worth bidding on the rare Montblanc 162 rollerball from the 75th Anniversary Edition on eBay? **Answer:** With the seller specifically discussed, caution is advised; despite a high rating count, individual collectors after payment have received neither the goods nor their money back in full. More reliable are other providers like pekebuddy. The 75th Anniversary Edition is regarded as exceptionally desirable; the 144 and the Mozart sizes of this edition can be viewed e.g. in the Düsseldorf Montblanc boutique; a 146 of this range is extremely rare. Before bidding, it is recommended to have the auction evaluated by experienced collectors and, if appropriate, to consider direct offers from private collectors. --- **Question:** Do two nib variants in 14kt and 18kt gold actually exist on the Montblanc 147 of the Special Anniversary Edition, and how does that come about? **Answer:** Both variants are original. Montblanc traditionally delivers writing instruments for the French and Swiss markets with 18kt nibs, since French law only speaks of "gold" from 750/1000 gold content; in the rest of the market, 14kt nibs (585) are fitted. For the respective variants, Montblanc has different ID numbers. Since Montblanc writing instruments are internally identified primarily via the clip-ring numbers, it can also happen with a mix-up that, e.g., the body of a Solitaire Doué (with 18kt nib) is combined with other components. Montblanc customer service is sometimes not informed about this 18kt variant and wrongly classifies such pieces as fakes. --- **Question:** What is to be made of the Montblanc Heritage Collection 1912 Limited Edition, and which variants are announced? **Answer:** Alongside the titanium version limited to 333 pieces, a cheaper regular variant of precious resin is also appearing; the black version is felt by collectors to be more in keeping with the classical design of 1912. The exchangeable rings are regarded as a nice but rarely used detail in everyday life. The combination of machined titanium and the classic safety design is partly criticised as ill-fitting. Further pictures and discussions can be found in relevant collectors' forums like the Fountain Pen Network. --- **Question:** Where can one currently acquire a Montblanc Jules Verne fountain pen or pencil, and at what price level? **Answer:** At a concessionaire in the Ruhr area (Oberhausen), a disassembled set with the fountain pen for 650 EUR and the pencil for 350 EUR was offered; the pencil was already sold at the time of the discussion. The address will be passed on by private message on request. Since limited editions sold individually are usually quickly sold out, prompt contact is worthwhile. --- **Question:** Which versions, edition size and prices does the Montblanc Writers Edition 2016 William Shakespeare have? **Answer:** The Writers Edition 2016 appears in two versions: a regular variant as well as a version limited to 1564 pieces with a price of about 3500 EUR. Accompanying this, a limited ink is offered, presumably in red. First pictures and impressions are documented in the Fountain Pen Network. The highly limited version is felt by collectors price-wise to be partly too expensive. --- **Question:** Is a freely movable small spring in the ink tank of the Montblanc Kafka normal, and what function does it have? **Answer:** The Kafka has no converter but a fixed piston mechanism that merely looks similar to a converter. The freely movable coil spring in the ink tank is regular and can also be found in newer Montblanc converters. It prevents the ink from sticking at the tank end and the ink flow from breaking off. The component is therefore a simple but effective construction and no defect. --- **Question:** Does Montblanc offer a nib exchange and repairs for the Limited Anniversary Edition 1924? **Answer:** Montblanc has in the past carried out nib exchanges and repairs (e.g. of leather parts) of the Limited Anniversary Edition 1924 without problems; reported is, among others, a successful nib exchange in spring 2004. A direct, friendly telephone enquiry to Montblanc service is the recommended path, especially since these pieces have not been newly produced for some time. Warranty periods should be heeded; nevertheless, generous handling is possible. --- **Question:** What characterises the Montblanc anniversary edition "Meisterstück Solitaire Mammoth 100" for the 100-year jubilee, and in what edition size or at what price does it appear? **Answer:** The edition was issued on the occasion of the Montblanc 100-year anniversary in a run of 3 x 100 examples, 100 LeGrand piston fountain pens each in yellow gold, rose gold and white gold; the threefold 100 limitation refers to the three founders Voß, Nehemias and Eberstein. Barrel and cap show a guilloche of running-out Montblanc stars with inlays of mammoth ivory from the Siberian permafrost soil; the cap carries a specially designed 43-faceted diamond in star form, cast in acrylic. The 18-carat gold nib is colour-matched to the body with partly platinum-plated year number. The retail price is €15,000 per piece; further writing instruments (ballpoints etc.) do not exist; in Germany about 5 examples each are available. --- **Question:** Is it normal on a Montblanc Patron of the Arts Copernicus that the two middle sections and the cap ring sit loosely and are rotatable? **Answer:** On comparison examples, the rings sit firmly and cannot be rotated, which suggests that loose rings represent a defect. It is recommended to contact Montblanc customer service (also by telephone in Germany) for an official assessment and, if applicable, repair, although Patron of Arts pieces are not in every case repairable. --- **Question:** How are the market prices for the Montblanc Skeleton 333 (149 variant) to be classified, and is a mint-condition example for around €10,500 reasonably valued? **Answer:** The Skeleton 333 had a former shop price of about €7,500; used pieces were temporarily offered for around €3,700 plus shipping, money-transfer fees, customs and import VAT, which gave a total final price of around €5,000 and was at the time regarded as a bargain. In mint condition the collector price is hardly under €10,000 any more, so an offer around €10,500 is to be regarded as market-appropriate. --- **Question:** Where can the current fountainpen.de newsletter (with Limited Editions list, ink reports etc.) be downloaded, and is the list complete? **Answer:** The newsletter (no. 1/2007) is available in the newsletter archive of fountainpen.de in two resolutions (low resolution about 636 kB, high resolution about 1.37 MB) and has been downloaded over 2,300 times by now; older newsletters are also archived. The included Limited Editions list ("The List") is very extensive but can never be complete — e.g. the George Washington (50) from 2006 is missing. In terms of content, among others, the ink reports, Ribeiro, the Aurora visit and the Dortmund CAS get-together were highlighted positively. --- **Question:** Did Montblanc pencils of the Writers Edition Dumas exist individually really only with son's signature, or also with father's signature? **Answer:** The pencil of the Dumas edition existed, contrary to earlier statements, in both variants — with son's and with father's signature. The older information on fountainpen.de, according to which the father's variant was not separately available, is based on a then-reliable source and will be corrected accordingly on the website. --- **Question:** Should one choose the standard or the Putnam/UNICEF packaging for the Montblanc 149, and how can the nib widths F, EF and M be sensibly compared? **Answer:** The choice of nib width is a matter of taste and should be tested in the specialist shop with the usually used paper, since the line width appears different depending on paper type; on smooth high-quality paper a nib appears broader than on absorbent copy paper. The differences between EF, F and M are clear, although some EF and F nibs overlap in practice. The Putnam/UNICEF packaging has additional charm and supports a charitable purpose. A supposedly identical serial number of fountain pen and case does not exist; a dealer can at any time deliver a new 149 to the existing box or have the nib exchanged free of charge by Montblanc within two weeks of purchase in the desired width. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc Hemingway ballpoint be converted to a Hemingway mechanical pencil? **Answer:** A clean conversion is technically very elaborate, since among other things an internal thread would have to be removed and pencils of the range are plug-in; in addition, a LeGrand pencil would be needed as a parts donor. Possible would be a variant via an adapter made on the lathe with subsequent press fitting; in this solution, however, the eraser on the mechanism is omitted. An original mechanical pencil in Hemingway look is thus not to be made, only a technically functioning pencil in the Hemingway body. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Writers Edition Hemingway (1992): https://www.fountainpen.de/writer-hemingway-en.htm --- **Question:** How is the Montblanc Max Reinhardt 2010 (limited edition of 20 pieces) judged in the collector environment, and how does its price fit into the line of predecessors? **Answer:** Collectors evaluate the Max Reinhardt 2010 as a successful piece but point to the pronounced edge between the middle barrel and grip section, which can make writing uncomfortable. Compared to the previous years, the price is regarded as relatively moderate: the 2007 editions were around €19,000, 2008 and 2009 about €18,500, more recent pieces of the line around €11,000. The edition size of 20 pieces is small; individual pens were still available via German dealers after the initial delivery. --- **Question:** Which versions and edition sizes does the Montblanc Artisan Edition Henry Moore comprise, and how is it judged in the collector circle? **Answer:** The Artisan Edition Henry Moore appears in two variants: yellow gold limited to 88 pieces at around €31,000 and white gold limited to 5 pieces at around €65,000. The design is described as interesting but addresses only a very narrow target group because of price and edition size. --- **Question:** How is the numbering on Montblanc Writers Editions to be understood, and do the entries on the Montblanc website agree with the actually engraved edition numbers? **Answer:** On the Writers Editions, the total number of all produced fountain pens is engraved, with the first examples of every edition reserved for the three-writing-instrument sets. Serial numbers are not assigned twice; a change of the numbering logic has never taken place. Edition sizes vary from edition to edition (e.g. Faulkner 16,000, Kafka 18,500, Wolfe 16,000, Collodi 12,000). Confusion arises because the Montblanc website lists partly only the individually sold pens, partly only the sets and partly partial quantities; what counts is always the figure engraved on the writing instrument itself. --- **Question:** Is a strikingly unusually designed StarWalker as a supposed Limited Edition from eBay an original? **Answer:** The offer in question is unambiguously a counterfeit. Such replicas come from Chinese production and cost there 1 to 2 euros per piece. eBay removes such auctions on notice from Montblanc, which actively pursues trademark violations. --- **Question:** Has the packaging of the Montblanc Writers Edition changed over the years, and are there counterfeit packagings, e.g. for the Agatha Christie edition? **Answer:** The book form of the packaging was retained over the years, but details changed several times: on the Hemingway there was still a slightly removable sticker on the front; on the Agatha Christie the pen was fixed at the cap top and pen end with an easily breakable clip clamp under the silk cloth. Vertically embossed stripes on the book spine are original. Packaging is now also being counterfeited, which is why even existing original packaging is no compulsory authenticity proof; the evaluation must always include the writing instrument and the packaging together. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Writers Edition Agatha Christie (1993): https://www.fountainpen.de/writer-christie-en.htm --- **Question:** Is there an official Montblanc Special Edition on the topic of Ronald Reagan, or is it merely an individual engraving? **Answer:** At first glance a 'Reagan' engraving on a 146 looks like a regular customer engraving. If, however, the auction includes its own Montblanc certificate with Reagan reference, that speaks for a special production and not for a standard engraving that any customer can order. Such personalised special editions occasionally crop up in the politician and diplomat environment. --- **Question:** How high is the official edition of the Montblanc Kafka ballpoint, and is an engraved number 18,500 a counterfeit indication? **Answer:** Of the Montblanc Kafka ballpoint, 12,000 pieces individually plus 4,500 in 3-piece sets, that is in total 16,500 ballpoints, were officially produced; the number 18,500 would thus lie above the edition and would be a counterfeit suspicion. However, Montblanc itself states for the line 14,000 fountain pens and 12,000 ballpoints, so the number 18,500 as overall numbering pen plus ballpoint can quite well fit an original. With uncertainty, comparison with documented fakes (e.g. maxpens.de) and the check whether the digits were correctly read are recommended. --- **Question:** Why are there in the Montblanc Flag Series skeleton editions for other countries but no German flag? **Answer:** The Flag editions (e.g. Tricolore, Stars and Stripes) were initially launched on the opening of the Montblanc flagship stores in Paris and New York and then expanded after demand. A regular edition with the German flag does not exist, which is explained by both restrained domestic demand and the abroad delicate reference to German national symbols. Via the Atelier Privé of Montblanc, individual pieces with desired motifs (also black-red-gold) can be commissioned; the prices are then in the range of 25,000 to 30,000 euros. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc 'Homage to Kyoto Artistry (Project Chiso)' Limited Edition 55? **Answer:** It is a very small edition with 55 pieces, which was designed in connection with the traditional Japanese atelier Chiso. Detailed picture material and English-language descriptions can be found among others on watchprosite.com; there the writing instrument can be better recognised than in the Japanese first announcements. On edition size and design concept, this source provides the most reliable overview. --- **Question:** Is the Montblanc Lalique Limited Edition Set from 1991 suitable as an investment, and how are price differences between the US and German markets to be evaluated? **Answer:** Writing instruments are unsuitable as a pure investment, comparable to classic cars, watches or wines; a sure increase in value is not to be expected. The high price differences (e.g. 4,000 USD in the USA, around 2,500 euros in Germany) depend on market interest, completeness (box, papers) and individual buyer group. The visibly rough hand engraving on the set is an original feature and identically executed on several documented pieces. Anyone who buys should primarily act out of collector interest and not speculate on value increase. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Patron of Arts Lalique (1991): https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-lalique-en.htm --- **Question:** What edition size did the Montblanc Artisan Solitaire Doué Gold ballpoint have, and where was it sold? **Answer:** The Artisan Solitaire Doué Gold belongs to the Montblanc Gift Collection 2004 and was at the time offered exclusively in Germany. Since it is a Special Edition, the quantity is small and lies, according to collector recollection, at under 300 examples. Official production numbers Montblanc has never published for this line. Further background can be found on fountainpen.de under the entry on the Artisan Solitaire Gold Doué. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc Marcel Proust ballpoint (Limited Edition 1999) without a printed limitation number be original? **Answer:** All Marcel Proust editions must show an individual 5-digit number (e.g. 12345/20000) at the top in the black precious resin. Only the Hemingway had no direct limitation number but one on the clip without reference to the running number. Even after repairs or exchange of parts, the numbering is reapplied. A real Proust without number would be a unique piece and accordingly worth collecting; however, the authenticity check is to be made carefully, ideally without permanently parting with the pen. Even prototypes are numbered, but with prototype numbers in order to ensure their destruction. --- **Question:** What value-development potential do collector writing instruments offer, and which factors influence the market value? **Answer:** The main motive for collecting remains the fascination with the object; value preservation is mostly only a welcome side effect. A central list of realised sale prices does not exist, since alongside condition the renown of the seller also has influence. Value-influencing are in particular the serial numbers: in the Asian market, lucky numbers like 3 or 8 are particularly sought-after, as are pre-series prototypes with the number 000, which are difficult to obtain and accordingly achieve high sums. Supply and demand remain the essential value drivers. --- **Question:** In what rhythm do Montblanc Limited Editions like Writers Edition and Patron of Arts appear, and how high are the editions? **Answer:** The Patron of Arts and Writers Editions appear yearly; all other Limited Editions follow no fixed rhythm. The Patron of Arts editions were each issued in 4810 examples; from The Prince Regent onwards, there is additionally an 888 gold edition. The editions of the Writers Editions vary and are documented at fountainpen.de/writer.htm. Alongside, Special Editions and Limited Productions exist that are produced over a pre-defined period and then discontinued, without exact quantity statement. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Patron of Arts Prince Regent Luitpold: https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-prince-regent-en.htm --- **Question:** What should be considered when buying and caring for a Montblanc Alexander von Humboldt with EF nib, and how does one clean the writing instrument despite wooden elements? **Answer:** With the Humboldt, the purchase should preferably take place in a Montblanc boutique, since the wood inlays of cap and barrel do not always sit congruently; there were examples that for this reason were not released for final acceptance in Hamburg, so a personal inspection is recommended. For cleaning, the fountain pen need not be placed in water — it suffices to immerse only the nib together with the feed in water, so that the wooden section is spared. The purchase at list price and the writing with an EF nib does not, experience shows, lead to noticeable loss of value, since Limited Editions are also demanded by collectors in used condition. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Patron of Arts Alexander von Humboldt: https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-humboldt-en.htm --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Solitaire Ceramics Black Prisma with Mexico 2010 engraving and x/200 numbering an official Limited Edition, and is the engraved cap top exchangeable as a spare part? **Answer:** An official Limited Edition is not present, since the Ceramics Black Prisma is led as a regular, unlimited edition. With an additional Mexico 2010 engraving and a numbering x/200, it is most likely a Corporate Gift, presumably on the occasion of the 100-year jubilee of Mexican independence (1910 to 2010). The upper part under the star is basically exchangeable as a spare part, although an exchange is likely to be correspondingly costly. --- **Question:** Is the Montblanc H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco Wedding Pen an independent edition or largely identical to the earlier Monaco Pen? **Answer:** Visually, the Wedding Pen is very similar to the earlier Monaco Pen and differs essentially through additional stone settings; the marketing, however, stages it as an entirely new creation. It is to be assumed that it is a non-publicly saleable individual piece or occasional object on the occasion of the wedding. The design continuity is evaluated among collectors rather critically. --- **Question:** Is an offered fountain pen with overlay really a Montblanc, and how is such a purchase to be evaluated? **Answer:** The overlay shown is definitely not an original overlay; in the past, jewellers have often fitted arbitrary fountain pens with their own self-made overlays. An original Montblanc overlay clearly bears the logo and the brand name, which is missing here. Even if the body or the nib comes from Montblanc, the value is not comparable to that of an original overlay model. With such offers caution is advised, since not seldom only individual parts (e.g. the nib) actually come from Montblanc. --- **Question:** What is the story of the Montblanc Texas Flag Pen, and is it to be classified as an official edition or a commissioned work? **Answer:** The Montblanc Flag Pens are not official editions or political statements but commissioned works for high-paying customers, as Montblanc also practises in other cases (e.g. special productions for Jean Todt or Michael Schumacher). The Texas Pen is reportedly set with brilliants imitating the Texan flag, with reference to the then US president George W. Bush. In design it corresponds to the often-used skeleton layout, which is no longer necessarily felt to be exclusive by buyers of the SkeletonStar 333 edition. --- **Question:** Are there matching cufflinks for the Montblanc Patron of Art Edition Gaius Maecenas, and what do they cost? **Answer:** For the Patron of Art Edition Gaius Maecenas, matching cufflinks exist, comparable to those for the Collodi edition; a corresponding photo can be found at fountainpennetwork.com. The price is 380 euros; there, a figure of 545 US dollars was additionally mentioned, which however possibly referred to the Collodi variant. --- **Question:** Which launch price and which market prices are realistic for the Montblanc Skeleton Star 333 (limited edition)? **Answer:** The original retail price in 2001 was 7,500 euros. Auction results today move significantly below; Bonhams, for example, set an example with an estimated price of 6,000 to 8,000 USD, with the hammer price possibly higher. Added to this are buyer commissions of 20 to 25 percent, shipping and import VAT, which makes purchases outside the EU more expensive. Within these orders of magnitude the pieces are significantly cheaper to be had than the frequently mentioned 10,000-USD-plus prices. --- **Question:** How are the contradictory serial numbers on an Agatha Christie writing instrument (28383/30000), in the service card (4518/7000) and on the packaging to be interpreted? **Answer:** The papers are apparently not original to the piece, since the serial number on the fountain pen and in the service guide should agree. The numbering 4518/7000 points to a set component, so the papers and possibly the packaging were combined from different sources. A price of 650 euros for an Agatha Christie in nearly mint condition is nevertheless reasonable. What exact meaning the gold-coloured versus the one in Agatha design service card has remains open. --- **Question:** In what size is the new Masters for Meisterstück Firenze Limited Edition offered? **Answer:** The edition is again in the size of the 146, that is, the medium-sized Meisterstück, not in the 149 format. --- **Question:** What value does a Montblanc Andora set for the opening of the Montblanc boutique Hannover 2001 have? **Answer:** The Andora edition was made in 2001 on the occasion of the opening of the Montblanc boutique Hannover and was actually officially produced by Montblanc, but remained an individual case that Montblanc did not want to repeat. The value depends strongly on taste: while some collectors feel the Pop Art design to be worthless, others are willing to pay high prices. A serious value estimate is therefore difficult; an indication are the original list prices (e.g. 400 euros for rollerball and ballpoint). For mediation to interested buyers, contact with Tom Westerich, who was involved in the creation of the edition, is recommended. --- **Question:** What is known about the upcoming Montblanc Donation Edition Arturo Toscanini, especially on the retail price? **Answer:** The Toscanini is available as a Donation Pen; the ballpoint costs, according to information from the Montblanc boutique Düsseldorf, 495 euros. About a likewise mentioned 'William Faulkner' no confirmed information is available, only a conjecture about gold trim and a presumably brown body. --- **Question:** How does the filling system of the Montblanc Franz Kafka work, and is the silver inner tube an exchangeable converter? **Answer:** The Kafka has a fixed piston filling mechanism; because of the angular barrel design, no classic externally operable rotary piston could be fitted, which is why the mechanism sits as a 'silver tube' inside. It is not a converter, that is, it cannot be removed or replaced with ink cartridges — the Kafka is therefore a pure ink filler. For filling, the mechanism is, according to the instructions, turned counter-clockwise, the nib completely dipped in ink and the mechanism turned in again; subsequent release of a few drops is not sensible given the Kafka's rather small ink volume; two drops suffice. In case of doubt, the official filling instructions in the warranty booklet should be followed. --- **Question:** How is the Montblanc Rita Hayworth Limited Edition 46 evaluated regarding design and price justification? **Answer:** The edition is controversially discussed among collectors: some voices feel especially the cap form and the orange-red stone on the clip to be aesthetically unsuccessful and compare the effect to similarly controversial LEs like the Pelikan 1108 Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Others find the basic form appealing, see echoes of Montegrappa Ferrari editions and value especially the cap design. The high price is borne above all by the numerous diamonds as an enhancement element; overall the edition rather serves a luxury-affine target group for whom 'bling-bling' is more important than restrained design. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc Leonardo Sketch Pen in sterling silver, which occasionally appears as a rare variant in US auctions? **Answer:** The Leonardo Sketch Pen in sterling silver is a very rare variant so far hardly documented; even experienced collectors had previously not laid eyes on such a piece. It is presumably a special production, in one concretely reported case from the loft sale of a designer (R. Wilson), which was auctioned via a US auction house. The hammer price of around 400 US dollars lay significantly below what comparable pieces usually achieve, which additionally underscores the rarity of this offer. Reliable information on edition size or on the official distribution channel does not exist. --- **Question:** How strongly do customer wishes — e.g. for a Jane Austen or Goethe edition — flow into Montblanc's decisions on the Writers Edition? **Answer:** Individual customer emails are likely to have hardly direct influence on the selection of a Writers Edition but also do no harm and are partly internally forwarded. Alongside market interest, above all legal questions play an important role, because descendants or rights holders must agree to the use of an author's name; in the past, editions have already failed because of this. The range tries with lines like the Diva series to specifically address female target groups but is criticised because of small nib proportions and unfavourably placed threads (especially on the Greta Garbo). A real 'ladies' Writers Edition' like an Austen or Poe in standard proportions is therefore expressly wished by collectors. --- **Question:** Is the Montblanc Annual Edition 2006 with the motifs 'Daphne', 'Pantalone' and 'Yellow Tiger' actually limited to 300 pieces? **Answer:** Officially the Annual Edition is not numerically limited and does not bear individual edition numbers but only the handwritten year markings like 2006/I, 2006/II and 2006/III. The production and delivery time extends in each case from September of the previous year to August or September of the edition year. In past Annual Editions, generally significantly more than 300 examples were made; concrete quantities Montblanc does not communicate. On some photos of the 2006 edition, however, a cap embossing 'Lim. 300' can be recognised, which could suggest a really tighter limitation on this issue; a confirmation from the manufacturer is not available. --- **Question:** What did a Montblanc Limited Anniversary Edition 75 rollerball (Classique 163) with white gold, mother-of-pearl star, rose-gold trim and diamonds originally cost in trade? **Answer:** The rollerball of the Anniversary Edition 75 was available as a Classique 163 variant; the list price was 21,500 DM or, converted, around 8,330 euros. Thus the rollerball price corresponded in amount to the ballpoint of the same edition, as is traditional at Montblanc. On most circulating piece lists, the rollerball is not separately mentioned, which is why confusions with the models 75113 (ballpoint) or 75114 (Mozart FP) often occur. At a real hall auction an example most recently started at 800 euros; the hammer price, however, lay significantly higher. --- **Question:** What is the likely cause for an ink leak at the groove behind the silver ring of the grip section on the new Montblanc JFK pen, and how does service deal with it? **Answer:** Probably there is a small crack in the grip section at the ring through which ink leaks; the feed itself practically does not come into question as a cause, since it must always carry ink. The problem is to be sent in via the specialist shop as a warranty case to Montblanc in Hamburg. Experience shows that the repair there takes about four weeks and is handled under 'ebonite flat rate, without charge within the framework of the warranty'; after return the pen is tight. A content diagnosis Montblanc generally does not communicate; only the note that drop damages are not covered by the warranty is recorded. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc skeleton models have most recently been presented, and is a new skeleton to be expected in 2008? **Answer:** Among the most recent skeleton editions count the 'Charlie Chaplin' — at that time already largely sold out — as well as the Limited Edition 81 'Prince Rainier III'. The 'Otto von Bismarck' (Limited 71) does not belong to the skeletons. For the US American market, for Valentine's Day, the skeleton 'Romantic Hearts' appeared, however only in 14 examples and at a price of around 72,000 euros. Concrete announcements for 2008 were not yet available at that time; further skeleton editions, however, were expected. --- **Question:** How is the version of the Montblanc Marlene Dietrich edition to be evaluated and is it optionally available with a converter? **Answer:** The Marlene Dietrich is regarded among collectors as a successful homage; it lies well in the hand and captures the appearance of the namesake coherently. Binding information on converter suitability is not available, so an enquiry at an authorised specialist retailer is recommended. Basically, many smaller Meisterstücks are only delivered with cartridges, which is why this clarification is sensible before a purchase. --- **Question:** With the Montblanc Writers Edition Dumas: was the signature of the father or that of the son wrongly applied? **Answer:** Correct would have been the signature of Alexandre Dumas the Father, who with works like The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo provided the basis for the edition. Actually, however, the signature of the less well-known son was engraved, which is regarded as an error. The differing statement in the current Montblanc brochure is wrong and to be attributed to deficient proofreading; further errors in MB publications are known. --- **Question:** Which new limited Montblanc edition from the Artisan or Skeleton range has currently appeared? **Answer:** From the skeleton line the Fortune 88 is available, from the Artisan range the Cristobal as well as the new Le Duomo, also called Duomo di Milano. The Duomo was positioned with a list price around 18,500 euros and thus counts among the top of the range. The design is evaluated by collectors as appealing but not necessarily on-theme. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc edition 'Vincent van Gogh' on a StarWalker basis and how rare is it? **Answer:** It is not an official Limited Edition but a special version of the StarWalker, presumably from the Business Presents department in cooperation with the Van Gogh Museum in the Netherlands. On the fountain pen and ballpoint, 'Vincent' is engraved; the packaging shows a portrait and a Dutch reference text. The initially rumoured edition of only 10 pieces is regarded as unlikely, since the packaging effort for such a small quantity is economically not justifiable; actually the edition should be somewhat larger. --- **Question:** When does the Pen Port Hamburg take place and how was the event? **Answer:** The Pen Port Hamburg took place on 3 October 2009 at the Museum of Work at the Barmbek station and is well reachable by car as well as public transport. Prior, there was additionally the Nuremberg fair on 23 May. The Hamburg event was accompanied by talks, a CAS annual general meeting with a joint evening in the Trude restaurant and interesting conversations, e.g. with the Spanish collector Molas. --- **Question:** In which set configurations was the Montblanc Writers Edition Agatha Christie officially distributed? **Answer:** Officially there was only a 3-piece set consisting of fountain pen, ballpoint and pencil; a 2-piece set was never planned by Montblanc. However, the 3-piece set was delivered in two separate packagings, one with fountain pen and pencil, the other with the ballpoint, which on the market leads to apparent partial sets. Of the fountain pen, in total 30,000 examples were made, with the first 7,000 being reserved for a special version with gemstone setting. --- **Question:** What was the original retail price of the Montblanc Artisan Mozart 250 Limited Edition? **Answer:** The list retail price of the Artisan edition for the 250th birthday of Mozart was 17,900 euros. On this basis, current offers on the secondary market can be classified and a negotiation basis derived. --- **Question:** Which writing instruments does the Montblanc 'Soulmakers for 100 Years' Edition 1906 comprise and which materials are used? **Answer:** The 1906 edition comprises fountain pen, rollerball and ballpoint. From the Meisterstück line, the cap is executed in granite; from the Bohème line in marbled look; all three writing systems are available in the same get-up. After the 100-year anniversary, further 1906 editions across different lines follow. --- **Question:** How rare is the Montblanc Limited Edition 'White House' and what price dimensions are realistic? **Answer:** The Montblanc 'White House' counts among the extremely rare Limited Editions and turned up at the time only the second time at all on eBay. The pen was set by the seller at a value of well over 20,000 US dollars. Due to the rarity, the market is shaped above all by collector interest; a later auction 'no Reserve' was communicated as a rare opportunity. Shipping to Europe does not take place by default but is possible on request. --- **Question:** Is the Montblanc 'Anniversary Edition 100 Years' (2006) or the associated 'Rouge et Noir' replica still available and in what price range? **Answer:** The 'Anniversary Edition 100 Years', executed as a cartridge filler, cost in the boutique at the sales start at the end of 2006 around 620 euros; in early 2008, prices were partly raised. The separate 'Rouge et Noir' replica with real safety filling mechanism was limited to 100 pieces and already within a week or partly before sales start sold out; the list price was, depending on source, 3,800 to 4,200 euros. On the secondary market, for the replica later 6,500 euros and more were called up; eBay offers move partly in the five-figure dollar range. A regular new purchase of the Safety replica at list price is practically no longer possible. --- **Question:** How does the new sales system of Montblanc for Artisan editions work and what consequences does it have for collectors? **Answer:** In the new system, Artisan pieces are no longer permanently displayed as eyecatchers in the boutiques but lie in the headquarters; a sample only briefly, about three days, passes through the boutique before the sales start. Registered collectors with fixed number then have up to six months to accept or refuse the piece; the package remains sealed. Unknown interested parties can view the pen after interest via an internet address three to five times in pictures and then order it via the boutique. Criticised is that a longer payment-in-instalments period falls away, an accidental discovery of Artisan pieces in the shop is hardly possible any more and an assessment in person practically falls away; the success additionally depends strongly on the passionate engagement of the boutique staff. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc Limited Editions come up for auction at the Bonhams auction on 17 February 2009 in Los Angeles? **Answer:** The auction comprises predominantly originally packaged Limited Editions with a total value of over 1,000,000 USD, including highlights like 'Magical Black Widow' (1/88), 'White House' (32/43), '4th of July' (32/56), 'Stars & Stripes', 'I Love New York', 'Mexican Flag', 'Salvador Dali' (88/100), 'Catherine II the Great' and 'Peter I the Great' (each 293/888), 'Meissen Dragon' (830/888), 'Year of the Golden Dragon' Sapphire (7/8), 'Copernicus', 'Prince Regent', the Atelier 'Beethoven' (1/9) as well as Agatha Christie, Hemingway and Alexandre Dumas pieces. The catalogue can be retrieved via www.bonhams.com or the Sales Calendar entry 'Pen Collection' on 17 February. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Patron of Arts Prince Regent Luitpold: https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-prince-regent-en.htm --- **Question:** What value does a Montblanc Meisterstück ballpoint Limited Edition Agatha Christie from 1993 have today, and how should it be stored? **Answer:** The Christie ballpoint is regarded as a popular and sought-after collector model whose value today lies above the then retail price, provided the condition is near-new or objectively hardly used; a concrete price determination takes place by comparison with completed eBay auctions, since fixed prices do not exist. A missing certificate tends to reduce the value but does not preclude price-finding. For storage, writing instruments should not be placed loose with other pens in a collective box, since body and trim can quickly be scratched; more suitable is a multi-piece case with internal separation. A sale is not recommended, since the model counts as a classic. --- **Question:** Do Limited Editions like the Montblanc Agatha Christie also reliably start after longer idle times, and is this due to a special construction? **Answer:** Users report a strikingly reliable start-up behaviour of the Agatha Christie even after four to five weeks without use in a presentation stand with the nib pointing slightly upward, while other Meisterstücks like 114, 144 or 146 after long idle time often first have to draw ink. Feed and mechanism, however, do not differ technically significantly between Limited Editions and regular writing instruments, so the observation is rather to be valued as an individual property of the concrete piece. A systematic preference of limited editions in this respect cannot be derived from the available experience reports. --- **Question:** Does a Montblanc fountain pen with a dedication by Catherine Deneuve exist, or is it a counterfeit? **Answer:** The writing instrument comes from a UNICEF special campaign in which numerous prominent personalities each briefly used a pen and had it engraved correspondingly. Such pieces are real Montblanc pens but no official Limited Editions; rather individually engraved promotional or campaign pens. Comparable constellations turned up earlier e.g. with the so-called Special Edition Willy Brandt. Since Montblanc always also uses its pens as high-quality promotional gifts, the existence of such dedication copies is plausible. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc Limited Rotary Edition for the 100th birthday of the Rotary Club? **Answer:** The pen was produced on the occasion of the 100th birthday of the Rotary Club in an edition of 100 pieces and is already sold out in some Asian countries, since demand exceeds the available quantity. With a retail price of around 13,600 euros, the quick scarcity is little surprising. --- **Question:** Does the Montblanc Limited Anniversary 75 Skeleton watch actually exist, and how is an offer from Taiwan to be classified? **Answer:** The watch is a regular model by Montblanc and belongs to the Special Edition Meisterstück Anniversary 75 Skeleton, retrievable via the official website. Whether the concrete offer is an original piece cannot be judged from the basic data alone. Taste judgements on the beauty of the watch fall differently. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc Limited Edition Andrew Jackson for the US market? **Answer:** Since February, there is a new presidents' edition for the American market with Andrew Jackson as homage figure; the pen is offered for around 33,000 US dollars. Montblanc's choice of model is critically discussed in collector circles, since the historical person Andrew Jackson is controversial especially among American natives. Such discussions accompany Montblanc special editions more often. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc Art of Porcelain Limited Edition 10 Ballpoint Pen? **Answer:** It is a very rare edition that is little known even to experienced collectors and has also turned up at Bonhams only occasionally. Comparable rarities like the matching Sketch Pen in silver have in the past been auctioned from designer estates at comparatively low prices. Substantial detailed information on the edition hardly exists. --- **Question:** Is pensinasia.com a reputable source for Asia-specific Montblanc editions like the Kafka, and which customs and VAT aspects are to be observed? **Answer:** The provider is regarded as reputable; however, shipping costs are high, and the total amount is to be cleared through customs, which means surcharges of about 25 to 30 percent including processing fee. If it can be proven that the pen was produced in the EU, only the import VAT of 19 percent applies; a mere Made in Germany imprint, however, does not suffice as proof. The Kafka is also available in European specialist trade, e.g. at Karstadt for around 650 euros, which often makes the foreign order economically unattractive. Overall, sourcing within the EU is recommended. --- **Question:** How rare is the Montblanc Writers Edition J.S. Bach and in what price range is it traded? **Answer:** The edition of the J.S. Bach was around 12,000 pieces and is thus below most other Writers Editions, without being really rare. The original list price was about 400 euros in 2001. On the second-hand market, depending on condition and sales platform, prices between approx. 300 and 600 euros are usual; with some patience one finds it on eBay also in the lower range. As with all limited editions, it is traded more rarely with time, simply because fewer pieces change owners. --- **Question:** Do variants of the Montblanc Lorenzo de' Medici exist in which only the body consists of silver? **Answer:** Of the Lorenzo de' Medici from the Patron of Arts Edition, only a regular variant with octagonal hand-engraved sterling-silver overlay exists; alongside, only a solid-gold version is known. A version with exclusively silver body does not exist. Possibly meant is the Marcel Proust from the Writers Edition: it too has an octagonal sterling-silver overlay but a cap of resin and was made in significantly higher edition than the Medici. --- **Question:** Where can one acquire the George Washington from the Montblanc series of American presidents? **Answer:** Such rare Limited Editions turn up regularly in relevant auctions. Alongside eBay, especially the auction houses Bonhams, Bloomsbury Auctions and Christies are suitable, since there high-quality writing instruments are regularly auctioned. Alternatively, a direct enquiry to specialised collector dealers like Paco Cruz (cruzaltpens.com), who has a large range of rare Limited Editions, can be successful. --- **Question:** How is the Marcel Proust pencil correctly filled with leads? **Answer:** The Proust pencil has the standard mechanism of a Montblanc pencil: the rear cap can be pulled off; behind it the leads are inserted. That when unscrewing the front part the lead visibly protrudes is normal with mechanical pencils and no defect. In an emergency, filling from the front is also possible, by operating the mechanism and pushing the lead in. If the cap sits firmly, it should be carefully pulled off again. --- **Question:** Which writing instruments from the Montblanc editions Writers Edition, Patron of Arts, Artisan and Skeleton are regarded as particularly successful? **Answer:** Taste questions lead to different favourites, but some models are particularly frequently named. With the Writers Edition, Jules Verne, Schiller, Kafka and Faulkner stand high in favour, although the Verne is regarded as visually balanced but top-heavy in handling. With the Patron of Arts, the Copernicus, the Friedrich II and the Pope Julius II are highlighted; the 888 versions are throughout evaluated as more attractive. From the Artisan editions, the Salvador Dali is particularly valued, which stands close to the skeleton style, followed by the Hundertwasser. Among the Skeletons, the Black Widow is seen narrowly before the Charlie Chaplin, whose availability however is uncertain. --- **Question:** How large is the Montblanc Scott Fitzgerald compared to 146 and 149, and is it suitable for large hands? **Answer:** The Fitzgerald has roughly the diameter of a 146 but is overall shorter and smaller than the LeGrand. For writers with large hands it is therefore less well suited; a 146 or larger lies more comfortably in the hand. --- **Question:** Which seal is fitted in the Montblanc Rouge et Noir Safety, a cork seal or a modern solution? **Answer:** Since the Rouge et Noir is conceived as an exact replica of the historical Safety models, it is likely equipped with a cork seal. Cork seals are with proper treatment very long-lasting, especially when the fountain pen is not in use. --- **Question:** Must the writing instruments of a Marcel Proust Limited Edition set bear identical edition numbers, and are early Limited Editions possibly without numbering? **Answer:** On an original set, all three writing instruments bear the same edition number; only then is, from a collector perspective, a complete set with corresponding value present. If the numbers are different, the set was subsequently put together, which reduces the collector value to the respective individual value. Particularly unusual is when the pencil delivered only in the set deviates. Early Limited Editions without numbering are possible; this should, however, in the individual case be confirmed by Montblanc. --- **Question:** Does a subsequent diamond decoration on a Montblanc Kafka from the Writers Edition reduce the collector value? **Answer:** Subsequent modifications like applied diamonds on collector writing instruments are a matter of taste: supporters see it as a creative enhancement; critics complain about the loss of original symmetry and evaluate the conspicuous jewellery as a pure status signal. From a collector's view, it is no longer the original state, which generally reduces the value for classical collectors. --- **Question:** Does a Montblanc Leonard Bernstein exist as a cartridge filler with decorated body and silver clip? **Answer:** Such a variant of the Leonard Bernstein Montblanc has never produced; the writing instrument shown is unambiguously a counterfeit, presumably of Chinese origin. Recognisable is this, among other things, by nib, feed, clip, grip section and 'converter', which do not correspond to the original features of Montblanc. The real Leonard Bernstein is designed as a piston filler with a gold clip. --- **Question:** Who will the Patron of the Arts Edition 2006 be dedicated to? **Answer:** The Patron of the Arts Edition 2006 is dedicated to Sir Henry Tate. --- **Question:** How is the Montblanc Hommage à Max Reinhardt Edition 2011 designed, and how is it judged? **Answer:** The Edition 2011 is designed with tiger eye as the decorative stone, whose characteristic structure, however, hardly comes into its own on press photos. While the workmanship is evaluated as successful, the design is regarded, compared to the Reinhardt editions of earlier years, as less convincing. Tastes here diverge, and the edition is anyway aimed at a special target group. --- **Question:** How rare is the Montblanc Artisan Collection White Pearl or Magic Beauty II Mozart set, and what was the original retail price? **Answer:** The White Pearl or Magic Beauty II sets are regarded as exceptionally rare and were in 2003 led only in a few boutiques; the edition of the Mozart sets is said to be in the two-digit range, that of the 144/164 somewhat higher. A purchase price of 750 euros for a Mozart set is classified as very cheap. The original retail price was, according to boutique information, around 860 euros for the 144/164 variant. The claim that the set is already 15 years old is wrong; correct is the first issue May 2003. Because of low demand and unfavourable dollar exchange rate, it is currently rather advised to hold than to sell. --- **Question:** Will the Montblanc Cardinal Richelieu (Limited Artisan Edition, retail price 13,500 euros) gain in value in future? **Answer:** The Richelieu belongs to the Limited Artisan Edition, which is not actively marketed by Montblanc. Owing to the high issue prices and the narrow collector circle, the value can after the first sale initially fall, especially with quick resale e.g. via eBay. Well-marketed, e.g. via auction houses, higher prices are possible. Ranges like Writers Edition or Patron of the Arts benefit more strongly from collectors who aim for complete series; with Skeleton and Artisan editions this is hardly possible due to high prices and small quantities. A reliable value forecast is not possible; a pleasing design and low limitation can have a positive effect. --- **Question:** Is there a list or source from which one can read the availability and current market prices of Montblanc Limited Editions? **Answer:** A central, complete list does not exist. Larger stocks are kept by specialist retailers like Scription, whose offers and prices, however, are non-binding and quickly changing. For realistic value determination, it is recommended to search on eBay for completed auctions worldwide in order to see actually achieved sales prices. The auction prices stated by Montblanc on its own website often deviate significantly from eBay prices. Generally: some editions like the Hemingway retain their value close to the RRP; others like the J.P. Morgan are to be had under RRP. --- **Question:** What background information is there on the Montblanc Pope Black & White fountain pen? **Answer:** The Pope Black & White had a launch price of 37,000 euros and counts accordingly as a high-priced, very exclusive piece. With a purchase in the USA at low dollar exchange rate, a price advantage could theoretically arise; however, on import into Germany, customs fees apply that can quickly eat up the advantage. Substantial further background information is not available. --- **Question:** Where are high-quality ballpoints, e.g. Limited Editions by Montblanc, best sold? **Answer:** Suitable sales routes are the for-sale section of relevant collector forums, platforms like penexchange.de and eBay. Particularly recommendable are collectors' meet-ups and fountain-pen fairs, e.g. in Hamburg; dates can be found for example on cas1996.de. There, market prices and personal contacts can be especially well realised. --- **Question:** Which variants does the Montblanc Princesse Grace de Monaco Edition comprise? **Answer:** The edition exists in two particularly limited variants: a version with only three examples and a variant with 29 pieces. Montblanc presents the edition on a specially set-up microsite and in an elaborate magazine that is available in the boutiques. The magazine contains large-format photos on Grace Kelly's career as well as on the further Limited Edition pieces. Beyond the existence of these variants and accompanying materials, no technical details are known. --- **Question:** Which hard-to-obtain Limited Editions were most recently in stock in the Munich and Düsseldorf boutiques? **Answer:** In the Munich boutique, among others, the Greta Garbo Limited 100 as well as the Golden Dragon 2000 were available, plus numerous Patrons of the Arts and Writers Editions. In the new Düsseldorf boutique, e.g., I Love NY, Gutenberg, Musashi, Russian Flag, Montblanc 100 rose gold, Bohème 100s and 75s, 144s and 117s, Juilliard Centennial Celebration as well as various 888s and 4810 editions, supplemented by the Golden Dragon were found. The Düsseldorf boutique is additionally regarded as particularly impressively designed, with a several-metre-long, illuminated art object of the Montblanc summit. --- **Question:** What does the Montblanc Writers Edition William Faulkner look like, and is the early release date correct? **Answer:** The Faulkner is a piston filler whose body and cap consist predominantly of transversely ribbed silver, presumably platinum-plated, similar to the cap of the StarWalker Doué. The barrel end with the piston mechanism as well as the upper cap end are made of brownish-shimmering precious resin. The nib is rhodium-plated and shows a gold-coloured engraving with clouds and a plane flying below them. The description has been confirmed as fitting, although the early delivery date was surprising. --- **Question:** Where can one buy Montblanc Limited Editions as a gift, and what is the difference between a Limited Edition and a Special Edition? **Answer:** Current Limited Editions are available at every Montblanc dealer as well as directly in the Montblanc shop; older Limited Editions are found above all on eBay or at specialised collector sites like penboard.de or Fritz Schimpf. On the mentioned site liebl.exklusives-schreiben.de, on the other hand, no Limited Editions but normal editions and Special Editions were carried. The decisive difference: with Limited Editions the quantity is limited from the start, while Special Editions are only produced in a certain period but in unlimited quantity. To the Special Editions belong, e.g., the UNICEF editions, Brahms or Lennon. Which piece fits well into a collection can only be judged when the collector's holdings are known. --- **Question:** Are there concrete hints of a Montblanc Limited Edition on Goethe? **Answer:** Concrete and confirmed hints of a Goethe edition did not exist at that time; even enquiries at Montblanc boutiques remained without result. Such an edition is among collectors regarded as an obvious idea, e.g. within the framework of the Writers Edition, but has so far not been announced. Anyone wishing to follow current rumours on coming Limited Editions finds these, by experience, early in the forum of fountainpennetwork.com. --- **Question:** How high is the approximate value of a Montblanc Year of the Golden Dragon to be estimated? **Answer:** Two different Year of the Golden Dragon exist: an edition of 2000 pieces as well as an edition of 888 pieces (among others in Meissen porcelain); additionally there are Special Limited Editions. The launch price of the 2000 edition was between about 2400 and 2800 euros. The variant with Meissen porcelain had a list price of around 3850 euros. As a utility pen, the model is only restrictedly suitable because of the very massive clip; as a collector's piece, however, attractive. --- **Question:** How does one clean and care for the silver surfaces of Montblanc Limited Editions, e.g. on the Charles Dickens, Kafka or Fitzgerald, without causing damage? **Answer:** Tarnishing silver surfaces is a normal chemical reaction and for many collectors visually unproblematic. For cleaning, a common silver-cleaning cloth is suitable, ideally with anti-tarnish protection for longer effect; Montblanc also offers its own silver-care set. To be considered is that every polish removes material, no matter which manufacturer; with vermeil writing instruments, too frequent polishing can wear off the gilding, e.g. on the Oscar Wilde. The natural oxide layer additionally acts as a protective layer that on removal restarts the corrosion process. A sealing with lacquer would be theoretically conceivable but would bring other disadvantages with it. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is an angular, partly matted and shiny gold ballpoint with the engraving Mont Blanc Germany? **Answer:** Without a photo, a reliable determination is not possible; based on the description, the model fits most likely the Montblanc Leonardo Da Vinci. It is not a Limited Edition but an entirely normal ballpoint from the 1990s. Caution is in order if on the pen really Mont Blanc Germany is written separately, since the manufacturer spells itself Montblanc; such a spelling speaks clearly for a counterfeit. For final clarification, an assessment based on photos is recommended. --- **Question:** Where was a three-piece Montblanc Franz Kafka Limited Edition set available at a special price in 2007? **Answer:** The complete three-piece Kafka set was offered in August 2007 for 1350 euros minus 3 percent discount. Source was Papeterie Prygoda, Augustastraße 10, 45525 Hattingen, telephone 02324/22796. --- **Question:** What is known about the first issue of the limited Montblanc "Presidential Pen" range on George Washington? **Answer:** The edition "George Washington" is the first issue of the Presidential Pen range and limited to 50 examples. Distribution is exclusively via Montblanc boutiques in the USA. Collectors evaluate the look predominantly positively but criticise the presumably very high price and partly the textual staging. Further information and pictures can be found via kulturgutschrift.de. Awaited with anticipation is the subsequent Marlene Dietrich issue, which is regarded as more accessible price-wise. --- **Question:** How is the Montblanc Magical Black Widow 88 to be acquired and what price is called up for it? **Answer:** The Magical Black Widow 88 is hardly to be found in Germany, since only about two to three examples were sold to Germany; the majority went to the USA. An international search, e.g. via English-language collector forums, is therefore more promising. Privately called-up sale prices move in the range of around 30,000 euros. The piece No. 1/88 was additionally offered at a Bonhams auction in Los Angeles in February 2009. --- **Question:** What is to be made of the Montblanc John Lennon Edition (limited and unlimited versions), and does John Lennon thematically fit a Montblanc luxury pen? **Answer:** The John Lennon Edition appears in several variants, including an unlimited issue as well as a version limited to 1940 pieces. From 2010 the pieces are available; whether they will also be offered in Germany was open at the time of the discussion. The light, silver colouring is felt by some collectors as rather feminine. In content, the thematic connection between John Lennon and Montblanc is seen critically, similarly to previously with the Mahatma Gandhi Edition, because the reference between personality and luxury fountain pen feels far-fetched. The name reference recognisably serves as justification for higher prices of limited editions. --- **Question:** Which range does a completely black Montblanc fountain pen with "Bosch" imprint on the cap come from, and how old could it be? **Answer:** An exact model determination is not possible without pictures. Montblanc made in the 1980s and 1990s writing instruments for Bosch and other companies with individual advertising imprint as special versions. The fountain pen is therefore likely to come from this period and is a regular series version personalised by advertising imprint. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc edition "Hommage à Max Reinhardt 2005" for the Salzburg Festival? **Answer:** The edition "Hommage à Max Reinhardt 2005" supported the Young Directors Project of the Salzburg Festival. It was exclusively available during the festival (25 July to 31 August 2005) in the Montblanc boutique Salzburg (Alter Markt 1). The worldwide edition was 30 examples, 10 pieces per colour variant. --- **Question:** Which retail price is realistic for a Montblanc Meisterstück 742 in Rolled Gold? **Answer:** A serious price statement is hardly possible without a photo and condition description, since the preservation condition is decisive. As a rough indication, an example in good condition most recently achieved around 200 euros on eBay. Comparable models offer further guidance on establishing a value. --- **Question:** What did the Montblanc set "300 Years St. Petersburg" with the Patron of Art Editions Peter & Catherine the Great cost, and how are the sets numbered? **Answer:** In May 2003, Montblanc compiled 300 St. Petersburg sets from remaining stock of the Peter & Catherine 4810 edition as well as 100 sets from the 888 stock. The 4810 sets cost 2,970.00 euros, the solid-gold 888 sets 8,670.00 euros; the individual editions lay at 1,483.00 euros (4810) or 4,334.00 euros (888). The edition numbers are not running consecutively from 1 to 100/50 but resulted coincidentally from the remaining stock; however, the pen pairs within a set are always equally numbered. The sets were delivered in special outer packaging with description and leaflet, the 100 solid-gold sets in a special wooden box; distribution took place exclusively via Montblanc boutiques worldwide. Critically seen is when boutiques later significantly higher prices (e.g. 9,100 euros for a Catherine 888) adapt to individual auction results and thereby suggest an artificial increase in value. --- **Question:** How and where does one best sell a Montblanc set like the Imperial Dragon 1993? **Answer:** For the sale of high-quality writing instruments, three routes come into question: an advertisement in the collectors' forum (free of charge but limited reach, especially not international), an eBay auction (large reach but high fees) and sale via professional dealers. The latter is, especially for more expensive pieces like the Imperial Dragon, recommendable, since specialised dealers have well-funded collector contacts and can take pieces on commission; usual is a commission. As proven contacts, Tom Westerich and Lutz Fiebig are named, both reachable via penboard.de. --- **Question:** Which hints and what price range are to be considered in the private sale of a rare Montblanc Masterpiece 146G in grey striped? **Answer:** For a serious sale enquiry, clear information is indispensable: salutation with first names, meaningful pictures (ideally with a note bearing the seller's name in the picture) and a concrete price expectation. In the specific case, a guideline price of about 1,100 euros was named by another collector. Among collectors, private auction-style offers à la eBay are additionally seen critically, since a sale among collectors is not primarily intended to achieve maximum prices. --- **Question:** What can be the cause that on a Montblanc Writers Edition William Faulkner between the metal ring and the precious resin ink leaks out and causes inky fingers? **Answer:** During normal writing no inky fingers should arise; if between the front metal ring and grip section ink emerges, a defect is to be assumed that cannot be unambiguously diagnosed without inspection. It is recommended to present the writing instrument to a Montblanc boutique or to Montblanc service. The repair by Montblanc service worked reliably in the specific case; an initially issued invoice was generously handled in the boutique. If after filling ink first emerges, this can at least temporarily be controlled by carefully wiping the area (e.g. with a tissue); if fine scratches later arise on the grip section, these can be caused by putting on or screwing on the cap. --- **Question:** Does the accompanying brochure of the Montblanc Agatha Christie have the same format as that of the Hemingway, or do the originals differ? **Answer:** The Hemingway brochure is actually larger than the accompanying brochures of other Writers Edition writing instruments; the larger format thus corresponds to the original and is no indication of a deviating or non-genuine document. --- **Question:** Is it correct that on the Montblanc Writers Edition Fitzgerald the actually white body shimmers amber on some examples? **Answer:** The body of the Fitzgerald edition (ArtDeco) was originally made in white; brownish or amber-coloured shimmers arise when the plastic was over a longer time exposed to UV radiation, e.g. in illuminated shop windows. On some examples, however, the discolouration affects the entire body evenly and not only the one-sidedly exposed side, which can indicate further material influences or even storage in light. It is no separate production variant but an age-related discolouration. Originally, the Fitzgerald exists in clear white and in differently strongly browned intermediate stages. --- **Question:** Are photos of a Montblanc Andrew Carnegie 4810 desired for a picture collection in the forum/on fountainpen.de? **Answer:** Missing photos of writing instruments are always welcome for the website, especially of editions for which no pictures yet exist. Owing to high professional workload of the webmaster, posting can however take a longer time. Contributions by collectors are gladly accepted and will gradually be integrated into the overview. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Patron of Arts Andrew Carnegie: https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-carnegie-4810-en.htm --- **Question:** What value does an original three-piece set of the Montblanc Writers Edition Edgar Allan Poe have? **Answer:** Complete three-piece sets of the Edgar Allan Poe Edition have occasionally been auctioned for around 1600 euros, which is rather at the upper end of the market price. Value-determining are in particular the completeness of the papers, the condition of the writing instruments and the presence of consistently identical serial numbers (limited to 3000). General hints on value determination of writing instruments can be found in corresponding forum threads. A realistic market price lies rather below the achieved peak values. --- **Question:** Does a rollerball variant of the Montblanc Imperial Dragon exist? **Answer:** A rollerball from the Imperial Dragon range has never existed. From the Imperial Dragon only fountain pens in two variants, a ballpoint and a pencil appeared. Every piece offered as Imperial Dragon rollerball is thus necessarily a counterfeit and typically corresponds to an imitation produced in China for a few euros. --- **Question:** Where and in what form is the Montblanc Egyptomania Edition available? **Answer:** The Egyptomania Edition is available both on the French and on the German Montblanc website; only ink and pen pouch of the range are partly not depicted there. The edition is visually judged very positively; some, however, feel the fountain pen, due to its comparatively narrow diameter, as too thin. Anyone preferring thicker fountain pens may not find the ideal size here. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the Montblanc Artisan Edition Caspar David Friedrich, and how is it assessed? **Answer:** The Caspar David Friedrich Artisan Edition is designed in champagne-gold version with brown applications modelled on the mountain ridges from the painting Wanderer above the Sea of Fog. The nib is highlighted as particularly finely worked and as the visual highlight of the pen, while the overall feel is felt to be not particularly attractive and weaker than the Gaudí edition. The retail price is around 18,500 euros. Spanish-language background information and pictures can be found, among others, at cruzaltpens.com. --- **Question:** Is the Meisterstück 149 of the Unicef Edition by Jahn or Putman still available in trade, and at what price? **Answer:** A dealer in Traunstein most recently offered the Unicef edition for around 688 euros. Concrete further sources are not named. Since it is a Limited Edition, availability and price depend on the respective provider. An enquiry to the specialist retailer or to Montblanc itself is recommended for current information. --- **Question:** How high was the original shop price of the Montblanc J.S. Bach fountain pen? **Answer:** According to the Compendium of limited editions issued by Montblanc, the shop price of the J.S. Bach fountain pen was 400 euros. Further price-relevant information is not available. It is a Limited Edition from the Patron of Arts or Donation range, which is documented in specialised collector sources. Current market prices can deviate from this. --- **Question:** Do all pencils of the Montblanc Writers Edition have the same lead thickness and is the lead interchangeable? **Answer:** Most pencils from the Writers Edition are equipped with a lead thickness of 0.7 mm. There are, however, exceptions, e.g. the Oscar Wilde mechanical pencil with a lead of 0.9 mm. A tolerance for deviating lead thicknesses is not provided on these writing instruments; a switch to thinner or thicker leads is therefore not possible. Before buying replacement leads, the respective model should be checked. --- **Question:** What value does a Montblanc Charles Dickens 3-set have whose pen bears a different serial number than the other parts? **Answer:** Complete Charles Dickens sets with identical serial numbers are currently traded on eBay for about 1000 euros, occasionally also for 1200 to 1300 euros. Boutiques can generally not call up or offer this market price. Sets with deviating serial numbers tend to be given a value discount; an exact quantification of the loss is, however, difficult possible. Before purchase, comparison with current auction offers is worthwhile as orientation aid. --- **Question:** Does the plastic bag in the original packaging of a Limited Edition influence the collector value? **Answer:** The plastic bag in the original packaging has no significant influence on the value of a writing instrument and can be disposed of without hesitation. Anyone valuing the appearance can have the packaging re-sealed by Montblanc free of charge within half a year after acquisition. On eBay, sealed original packagings tend to achieve somewhat higher prices. Even at renowned auction houses like Bonhams in Los Angeles, only previously checked writing instruments are auctioned. --- **Question:** Of which sub-series does the Montblanc Precious Dragon 8 series consist? **Answer:** The Precious Dragon 8 series comprises four sub-series that appeared under the designations Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald and Diamond. The individual pieces count among collectors as interesting variations of the Dragon series. Concrete price information or further technical details are not available. For illustration, pages of Airline International show illustrations of all four sub-series. --- **Question:** Where can the Meisterstück Unicef Edition ballpoint still be acquired? **Answer:** If the writing instruments are no longer available in regular trade, a direct enquiry to Montblanc whether remaining stock still exists is first worthwhile. Should this not be the case, essentially the second-hand market, especially eBay, remains as source. There older editions turn up regularly; however, authenticity and condition should be heeded. --- **Question:** Can nibs also be exchanged on Montblanc Limited Editions and in which period is that possible? **Answer:** As long as corresponding nibs are in stock, an exchange is basically possible, outside the 14-day period however mostly for a fee. A subsequent manufacture of individual nibs is, on the other hand, not practicable, because the tools needed for production are destroyed after expiry of an edition; only plans and drawings remain. Since nibs are made with specially fabricated stamping tools, an individual hand manufacture cannot be economically represented. For a concrete piece of information on a particular edition, a direct enquiry to Montblanc is recommended. --- **Question:** How are the three writing instruments of the Max Reinhardt Edition (Salzburg Art Director's Pens) visually to be classified? **Answer:** The various Salzburg Art Director's Pens, also designated as Max Reinhardt editions, are generally regarded as requiring some getting used to in design. The three pens named are felt in this respect to be hardly surpassable. The taste judgement remains naturally individual. Content-historical details on the edition are not available. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc Skeleton Edition "Gaudi", and where are pictures of it available? **Answer:** The edition named is a skeleton fountain pen whose design is oriented on the architecture of Antoni Gaudí. A content connection of Montblanc to Gaudí cannot be clearly derived from the posts. Pictures and further impressions of the piece can be found on the collector site cruzaltpens.com in the post on the model. As with many special editions, the design is a matter of taste; in collector circles, the Gaudi is overall positively received. --- **Question:** Which costs are to be expected for the repair of a bent nib of a Montblanc Voltaire? **Answer:** If the nib only has to be straightened, costs up to about 100 euros are to be reckoned with. A complete nib exchange moves, by experience, between 200 and 300 euros, which on the Voltaire economically still remains sensible. A binding estimate is only made by Montblanc service in Hamburg, which is why the writing instrument must be sent in directly or via a specialist retailer. After receipt of the quote, it can be decided whether the repair is carried out or the piece is returned unrepaired. --- **Question:** Should the nib of a Montblanc 149 from the Unicef Edition be three-part, and which nib width regularly belongs to the set? **Answer:** With an offer with a two-tone instead of three-part nib, it is to be assumed that an older 149 from the 1980s or early 1990s was inserted into the Unicef packaging. Limited Editions can however at Montblanc also be individually ordered in a deviating nib width, e.g. if the standard width M is felt to be too broad. An F nib in the Unicef set is therefore indeed untypical but can be legitimate. The sets regularly come with an M nib. --- **Question:** How high were edition and price of the Montblanc Limited Edition "Ancient Games" for the 2004 Olympic Games? **Answer:** The Limited Edition "Ancient Games" belonged to the Atelier Privés range and was sold in July 2004 exclusively via the Greek Montblanc boutiques. It was limited to 28 pieces. The body consists of solid yellow gold with a white marbled cap. The introduction price was 14,800 euros. --- **Question:** How are the first pictures of the Montblanc Writers Edition 2014 on William Faulkner to be judged? **Answer:** The Writers Edition 2014 appears overall appealing, with especially the darker, contrasted nib pleasing, as is also a known stylistic device with other manufacturers. Critically seen is the newly designed grip section, since it lacks the ergonomic, curved form that, e.g., on the Meisterstück 146 is felt to be particularly pleasant. Thus the fountain pen leaves a mixed first impression. --- **Question:** How does the Montblanc Skeleton "Romantic Heart" look, in what edition did it appear and how high is the price? **Answer:** The Montblanc Skeleton "Romantic Heart" was made in an edition of 14 pieces on the basis of the LeGrand and specially issued for the US market for Valentine's Day. The price is around 72,000 euros. Pictures and further information can be found in relevant international collector forums like the Fountain Pen Network. --- **Question:** What is known about the break-in at the Montblanc boutique Hamburg and the associated stolen goods? **Answer:** In November 2008, the Montblanc boutique in Hamburg was largely cleared out in a single night after a fashion show; the booty was a total value of around one million euros. With the arrest of the receivers of stolen goods in Hamburg, goods worth 400,000 euros could be secured; the rest remained missing. The perpetrators apparently tried to dispose of the stolen goods within Germany, including models like Bismarck, Francois, Mozart and Dietrich. Anyone offered one of these pieces should notify the police or Montblanc. --- **Question:** Who were the Montblanc Patron of Art Edition 2009 and the Writers Edition 2009 dedicated to? **Answer:** The Patron of Art Edition for 2009 is dedicated to the banker, patron and orientalist Max von Oppenheim, the Writers Edition of the same year to the novelist Thomas Mann. Both series appear annually and rank among the most keenly collected Montblanc editions: the Patron of Art Edition honours historical patrons of the arts, the Writers Edition major writers. The Patron of Art Edition is issued in two limitation sizes, a larger one of 4810 pieces and a smaller, more elaborately executed one of 888 pieces; the figure 4810 refers to the height of Mont Blanc in metres. The two versions differ above all in materials and finish, not in the underlying model. Montblanc traditionally releases precise details of the theme and the design only shortly before delivery; until then the trade usually has nothing more than design sketches or the odd photograph. To identify a particular piece beyond doubt, what count are the limitation number, the dedication engraving and the certificate. --- **Question:** What did the writing instruments of the Montblanc Limited Edition 1924 cost when they were launched, and did the edition include a black 144? **Answer:** The anniversary edition, limited to 1924 pieces of each model, came onto the market in 1999 and consisted exclusively of Solitaire versions, that is, models with metal bodies. A classic black Meisterstück 144 in precious resin was never part of it. What was offered were sterling silver bodies with the Barley and Pin Stripe patterns as well as Doué versions with a silver cap, all with rose-gold-coloured trim. Converted into euros, the launch prices of 1999 were around 1,330 euros for the Solitaire Sterling 146 LeGrand fountain pen and about 1,200 euros for the matching 162 rollerball. The Solitaire Sterling 144 Classique fountain pen cost about 1,050 euros, the 163 rollerball and the 164 ballpoint around 850 euros each. The Doué versions came in lower: about 895 euros for the 146 fountain pen, around 770 euros for the 144 fountain pen and 690 and 590 euros respectively for the 162 and 163 rollerballs. Alongside these, smaller runs of 75 pieces each in white gold appeared in the same year, among them a Skeleton 149 in gold at what was then around 25,570 euros. Limited models were supplied in all the usual nib widths as a matter of course; only on very small models such as the Mozart 114 is the choice restricted at the broader end, because of the small nib. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc Limited Editions and special models came onto the market in 2015? **Answer:** For 2015 Montblanc issued the Writers Edition Leo Tolstoy, which appeared alongside the regular version as a more tightly limited variant in a run of 1868 pieces. The Patron of Art Edition of that year was dedicated to Luciano Pavarotti, and the Donation Pen, which appears annually, to the composer Johann Strauss. Several other series continued or were newly added: the models of the Chinese Zodiac series; a tribute to Andy Warhol, offered both as a Special Edition and as a more tightly limited edition; the Masters for Meisterstück series with the Firenze version; a Skeleton model bearing the name Blue Hour; and an Artisan Edition in honour of the sculptor Henry Moore. A blue LeGrand and two versions of the Heritage 1912 rollerball rounded off the year. When identifying a piece from this vintage it helps to look at the limitation number and the certificate, since Montblanc often offers several versions under one and the same dedication, with different limitation sizes and materials. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc Limited Editions appeared in 2011, and is the cap star of the Writers Edition Bernard Shaw made of mother-of-pearl? **Answer:** For 2011 Montblanc announced four editions: the Writers Edition Carlo Collodi, the Patron of Art Edition Gaius Maecenas, a Character Edition devoted to Alfred Hitchcock and a Special Edition devoted to Grace Kelly. The Collodi takes up motifs from Pinocchio and is finished in a yellowish green; its clip is modelled on the shape of a knife. One claim about the Writers Edition George Bernard Shaw stubbornly refuses to die, namely that the star in the cap top is made of mother-of-pearl. It is not: the star is not mother-of-pearl but merely set off in beige to ivory, which is easily mistaken for a pearly sheen in product photographs. Anyone examining an example should therefore go by the numbering, the engraving and the certificate rather than by the colour effect. For individual editions Montblanc brought out matching inks; for the Mahatma Gandhi edition, for instance, there was an ink of its own, which reached the boutiques only in limited numbers. The editions themselves each appeared as a fountain pen, a rollerball and a ballpoint, so that sets of three could be put together. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc editions were announced for 2016, among them a Writers Edition and a Great Characters edition? **Answer:** Among the announcements for 2016 were a Writers Edition devoted to William Shakespeare with decoration in gold and a Great Characters edition devoted to Miles Davis. For the latter, an annual edition entirely in black was planned, along with a more elaborate variant tied to the number 1926 in a steel or platinum-plated finish; its most striking design feature is a clip shaped as a trumpet. To these were added a large-format fountain pen bearing the name Goliath, built on the Heritage line with its reference year of 1914, and a new yellow ink. Overviews of this kind regularly come from advance information in the trade and from international collectors' circles. Montblanc confirms names, limitation sizes, specification and prices only at the official launch, and individual points in such announcements turn out in hindsight to be inaccurate. To assign a particular piece beyond doubt, what count are the engravings on the cap ring and the nib, the limitation number and the certificate supplied with it, not the working titles doing the rounds beforehand. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire Mountain Massiv Skeleton of 2006, and how large was its edition? **Answer:** The Meisterstück Solitaire Mountain Massiv Skeleton 2006 was the top piece of the first wave of products Montblanc presented on 11 January 2006 to mark the company's centenary. The edition ran to just three examples, all of them already spoken for at the launch; the value of each was given at the time as 140,000 euros. On a transparent blue barrel in the shape of the 149, the silhouette of the Mont Blanc massif is picked out in 1,400 diamonds, 1,277 of them white and 123 blue, set in 18 carat white gold. Through the translucent barrel the hand-made piston mechanism in solid white gold can be seen. In place of the usual white star, the cap top carries a specially designed star-shaped diamond cut with 43 facets and set in acrylic. The nib is 18 carat gold, rhodium- or platinum-plated, and carries the engraving typical of the anniversary nibs, with a mountain motif and the year 2006. --- **Question:** What did the Montblanc Rouge et Noir edition for the company's centenary in 2006 cost in the shops? **Answer:** The retail price of the Rouge et Noir edition issued for the company's centenary was 3,800 euros in 2006. The name harks back to the firm's beginnings: founded in Hamburg in 1906, it brought out a safety pen under the name Rouge et Noir from 1909, black with a red cap top, whose nib was wound back into the barrel to close it. The anniversary edition quotes that design language. No blanket statement can be made about the market value today. Prices for anniversary and special issues fluctuate considerably and depend above all on whether the outer box, certificate and papers are all present, whether the pen is unwritten, and what condition the nib, the cap ring and the precious resin are in. Hammer prices achieved for comparable pieces at auction are a useful guide; asking prices in the trade are not. --- **Question:** Who was the Montblanc Patron of Art Edition 2014 dedicated to, and in what edition sizes and at what price did it appear? **Answer:** The Patron of Art Edition for 2014 is dedicated to Henry E. Steinway, the German-born founder of the piano makers Steinway & Sons. The design turned out markedly more idiosyncratic than that of most earlier years, and collectors received it accordingly: opinion was divided. The way the edition sizes are tiered is unusual. The edition appeared in four of them — 8, 88, 888 and 4810 pieces — with the smaller editions as a rule the more elaborately finished. As with all the large Montblanc editions, the figure 4810 refers to the height of Mont Blanc in metres. The list price of the 4810 version in 2014 was around 2,200 euros; the smaller editions cost considerably more. To place an individual pen, the engraved edition number and the certificate supplied with it are what matter, since the four versions differ chiefly in materials and appointments rather than in the basic model. --- **Question:** How many examples of the Montblanc Artisan Magic Beauty “Ugly Duckling” were made, and how should such a pen be judged? **Answer:** There is no official figure. Montblanc's Artisan pieces were not issued as a numbered Limited Edition but as elaborately made special models with no fixed edition size. Anyone looking on a Magic Beauty for an edition number or a certificate stating a print run will therefore find neither, and their absence is no sign of a fake in this series. Collectors report that only a few were built; Montblanc has never published exact numbers. That leaves condition, the completeness of case and papers, and comparison with prices actually achieved for similar Artisan models as the only guides to valuing a pen on offer. Membership of the Artisan series says nothing about value on its own, and without a stated edition size particular rarity cannot be demonstrated either. --- **Question:** What are the technical features of the 1999 Montblanc Patron of Arts edition Friedrich II, and how large was the edition? **Answer:** The Friedrich II fountain pen appeared in 1999 as the annual edition in the Patron of Arts series, with which Montblanc honours historical patrons of the arts. The edition ran to 4,810 pieces worldwide — the figure refers to the height of Mont Blanc in metres and recurs throughout this series. Technically the pen follows not the large piston fillers but the Bohème design: size and filling system match that series, so it is a cartridge pen with a retractable 18-carat gold nib that is wound out and back in by a twist mechanism at the end of the barrel. The body is rolled gold. On the collectors' market, shop-fresh, unused examples complete with all their accompaniments were changing hands for around 1,300 euros as at 2008. As with every limited edition, a missing box, certificate or service booklet depresses the price considerably. --- **Question:** Does the Montblanc Skeleton Star 333 fountain pen come with a special guarantee and service booklet? **Answer:** No. Unlike many limited editions, the Skeleton Star 333 fountain pen was supplied with nothing more than the ordinary Service Guide that also came with the regular models. Montblanc has confirmed this on enquiry. Anyone buying a used example without a special booklet, or finding that only a standard booklet comes back after a visit to the workshop, need not assume the set is incomplete. The confusion arises with the watch of the same name: as a wristwatch, the Skeleton Star 333 came with a specially designed and very elaborately produced service booklet, and buyers of low serial numbers also received a voucher allowing a star to be registered in their own name. Those extras belonged to the watch alone and never to the pen. --- **Question:** How large is the edition of the Montblanc 75th Anniversary Edition numbered “/1924”, and how do you establish its value? **Answer:** The edition issued for the company's 75th anniversary is numbered “/1924”, which gives the impression of a very small run. The figure, however, applies to each individual type of product: the edition comprised some 35 different writing instruments and leather goods, each in 1,924 examples — around 67,000 numbered pieces in all. There can be no question of genuine rarity. The series never sold particularly well in the shops, and Montblanc later cleared it through its own boutiques at discounts of up to 40 per cent. For valuing a piece from this edition — the Meisterstück Mozart 114 with its 18-carat nib, say — what holds for collectables in general holds here too: there are no price lists, and prices are not fixed but fluctuate much like share prices. Second-hand opinions are systematically skewed: those who want to sell quote high figures, those who want to buy quote low ones. The only dependable guide is prices actually achieved at auction for the same model in comparable condition. Where a model changes hands only rarely, nothing helps but watching the market patiently over months. As at 2009 prices for pens from this edition were low in any case, so there was much to be said for holding off from selling. --- **Question:** How do the Montblanc John Lennon edition and the Franz Kafka Limited Edition differ, technically and in their design? **Answer:** Technically the two pens have little in common: the Kafka has a permanently fitted piston converter, while the Lennon is a conventional piston filler. In terms of design, too, the resemblance is essentially limited to the basic shape. The Kafka takes up “The Metamorphosis”: the cross-section changes from square to round, barrel and cap are partly transparent, and the whole design is deliberately restrained. The Lennon, by contrast, is showy and draws on guitar motifs. There are several versions of the Lennon. Alongside the unlimited edition there was a limited version in white, with the guitar strings picked out, which looks poppier still. At the top of the range sits an Artisan version as a Skeleton model, on which the strings are set individually into the clip. According to the manufacturer, this Artisan edition was sold out before production even began; only selected collectors were approached, and they had to pay in full at once. That a first example turned up on the secondary market shortly afterwards — at 40,000 US dollars (as of 2011) — shows how quickly such allocations find their way back into trade. --- **Question:** How do the star, the lettering and the packaging reveal that a supposed Montblanc pen is a fake? **Answer:** Three checks expose a great many fakes without any specialist knowledge at all. First, the star: Montblanc's emblem is white. A black star, or one in any other colour, on the cap top as much as on the packaging, is a certain mark of a fake; boxes with a black star do not come from Montblanc. Second, the lettering: genuine pens and their packaging carry the full name “Montblanc”. Abbreviations or variants such as “mont” are typical of the counterfeit market, where near-brands of this kind are sold in quantity. Third, the model itself: if a supposed Montblanc product cannot be traced in any catalogue or model listing, the question has usually answered itself, because many of the combinations of pen, pouch and box sold as Montblanc were never made by the company at all. Pieces that have come down through a family are often gifts bought in good faith. In such cases a look at the colour of the star, the lettering and the model name settles the matter of authenticity before any paid appraisal becomes necessary. --- **Question:** What does a second-hand Montblanc Writers Edition Edgar Allan Poe cost, and can the nib width still be changed on this edition? **Answer:** The edition came out in 1998 and has long since disappeared from the shops; it can now only be had on the second-hand market. Prices there depend heavily on what happens to be available: around 2011, fountain pens from this edition were being asked about 1,100 euros, and whether such a figure is reasonable in a given case cannot be said in general terms. It is sensible to watch the market for a few weeks before committing. Only by comparing several listings — each with an eye to condition, completeness of box and papers, and nib width — do you get a sound feel for a realistic price level. When it comes to changing the nib, caution is called for. Montblanc does not keep spare nibs for a 1998 edition indefinitely, and the nibs of the Writers Editions carry an engraving specific to the edition, so any ordinary Meisterstück nib cannot simply be fitted. Whether a change of nib width is still possible at all, and what it would cost, should therefore be established with Montblanc before buying. If you depend on a particular width, you are better off buying an example with the right nib from the outset. --- **Question:** What does an S in front of the identification number of a Montblanc pen mean? **Answer:** According to collectors, an identification number beginning with “S/” indicates that the pen has been through Montblanc's service department and that something on the cap or clip was repaired or replaced there. On Limited and Special Editions the serial number sits on the cap or the cap ring; if that part is replaced, the original number cannot be carried over, and the service department marks the replacement part accordingly. The same applies to numbers prefixed with an “R”, and to replacement caps with no number at all. A full overhaul in which the cap is kept, by contrast, does not result in such an addition — an overhauled pen with its original cap keeps its number unchanged. An “S” is therefore not a question of authenticity, but it does reduce the value of a collector's piece, because it is no longer entirely original. Anyone buying a numbered collector's piece should look at the number before buying and take such an added letter into account in the price. --- **Question:** Can a broken barrel on a Montblanc limited edition such as the Voltaire be replaced or repaired? **Answer:** A broken barrel does not necessarily mean the pen is a write-off. According to information from the factory, Montblanc puts aside and stores a certain quantity of spare parts for limited editions as well, though quantities and prices are not published. In practice a repair of this kind goes through an authorised dealer, who passes the pen on to the manufacturer's workshop, where it is assessed and an estimate drawn up. Beyond that, Montblanc is in principle able to make individual parts specially. That is technically possible but correspondingly expensive, and as a rule only worthwhile for editions with a high collector value. The obvious idea of simply replacing the barrel from an identical model rarely works with the Writers Editions and the Patron of Arts editions, because their bodies are specific to the edition in their decoration, their engravings, the edition number and sometimes in their dimensions. An independent pen workshop can in some cases glue a break or stabilise it from the inside; the repair usually remains visible and markedly reduces the collector value, so the effort is chiefly justified where the piece has sentimental value. --- **Question:** Which models belong to the Montblanc Diva Line, and why is the position of the thread on the barrel considered impractical? **Answer:** The Diva Line is a Montblanc range dedicated to famous film actresses. It includes the Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich models as well as the Ingrid Bergman introduced in 2009, which was supplied with red gold-plated fittings. The line is emphatically slim and decorative in design and was offered as a fountain pen and as a ballpoint; in practice many owners reach for the ballpoint by preference, because it is less trouble in daily use. Anyone meaning to write with these pens should handle one first. By design, the thread between section and barrel sits very low down, so that the fingers almost inevitably come to rest on it while writing. Over short notes it hardly matters; over longer texts it is felt as a nuisance. The point was already raised as a criticism of the Greta Garbo and was left unchanged on the Ingrid Bergman. It makes no difference to the collector value, but it does explain why fountain pens from this line so often reach the second-hand market in almost unused condition. --- **Question:** Do the Montblanc Donation Pens such as the Sir Georg Solti carry a serial number, and what does that mean for the warranty card? **Answer:** The Sir Georg Solti Donation Pen carries no engraved serial number, so examples without a number are nothing to take exception to. According to collectors, the only Donation Pen to bear such a marking is the Johann Sebastian Bach. If the corresponding field on the warranty card is left blank when buying from a specialist shop, that follows logically and is not a fault, since the dealer cannot enter something the pen does not have. Nor are the Donation Pens numbered limited editions; they are a series produced over a longer period in aid of cultural projects, which explains the absence of an individual number. Beyond that, the serial number is not a consistent feature at Montblanc at all: several series were delivered without any such engraving, among them the Rouge et Noir, the forerunner of the Bohème line. No recognisable system behind it has come down to us, so neither the authenticity nor the age of an instrument can be inferred from the presence or absence of a number alone. --- **Question:** How is the clip of the Montblanc Donation Pen Sir Georg Solti shaped, and is a rough raised spot at the end of the clip normal? **Answer:** The clip of this Donation Pen is modelled on a piano key. A black element is set onto the silver-coloured body of the clip and takes up roughly sixty per cent of its length. This element is the same height along its whole length; it is cut off square towards the cap top and tapers away at an angle towards the lower end of the clip. An additional raised portion, a distinct step or an edge at the upper end forms no part of the design. On a pen of this class a noticeably rough or sharp-edged spot is a manufacturing defect, not a design feature. The proper route here is through the dealer, who will handle the complaint under the guarantee; comparison with a second example from the same edition will show reliably whether something is amiss. On no account should you work on sharp edges yourself, since any alteration to the clip or cap substantially reduces the collector value of a limited edition. --- **Question:** Which fountain pens in the Montblanc Patron of Arts editions are cartridge pens rather than piston fillers? **Answer:** Most of the fountain pens in the Patron of Arts series are piston fillers. There are exceptions, however: besides the edition dedicated to Frederick II, collectors report that the Sir Henry Tate edition also works with a cartridge or converter, and on the same technical principle as the Frederick pen. For use and care this difference matters more than it sounds at first. A cartridge pen can be flushed out completely and stored dry for years without concern, since there is no piston seal to dry out; the trade-off is a smaller ink capacity. A piston filler holds more ink but requires that the seal be moved now and then, and that the pen not stand for years with ink dried inside it. Which system you have is evident from the end of the barrel: a turning piston knob, usually together with an ink window, marks out the piston filler; where both are absent, assume a cartridge pen. Unscrewing the barrel to check is not advisable on editions of this quality. --- **Question:** Why does the Montblanc Writers Edition Alexandre Dumas exist in two versions with different signatures? **Answer:** The Writers Edition in honour of Alexandre Dumas appeared in 1996. Part of the run, collectors report, carries the signature of the son, Alexandre Dumas fils; once the mistake became known the engraving was corrected, so that both versions are in circulation. Collectors distinguish them as the version with the wrong and the one with the right signature. Because the edition was in effect made twice over, the total number of Dumas writing instruments is comparatively high, and the edition is accordingly thought less desirable than other years. In price the two versions lie close together, with a slight edge to the faulty one: a propelling pencil with the wrong signature was offered in 2006 at 240 euros, one with the correct signature at 210 euros. Complete sets of fountain pen, ballpoint and propelling pencil cost about 1,250 euros in 2007 in either variant. The nib of the edition is elaborately engraved and matches the nib of the 149 in size. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the Montblanc 1924 Limited Anniversary Edition from the Special Edition for the 75th anniversary? **Answer:** Two different series appeared in 1999 for the 75th anniversary of the Meisterstück. The Limited Anniversary Edition was limited worldwide to 1924 pieces and has rose gold trim and a star of mother-of-pearl. The Special Edition was made without any limit on numbers, but only during 1999, and carries yellow gold trim and the ordinary white star. Both share a small brilliant in the additional clip ring, set into the O of the inscription 75 Years of Passion and Soul. Because the Special Edition is not limited it has markedly the lower collector value, yet the unwary often pay more for it than for the limited series. Within the limited series the 149 piston filler is held to be the most sought-after piece. It cost around 560 euros in 1999 and in 2005 mostly traded at auction between 950 and 1,200 euros, and at collectors' fairs at about 900 euros. A Solitaire 146 from the same series stood at 1,330 euros in 1999 and later stayed below that figure. The 164 and 161 ballpoints and the 164 Doué are also in demand. --- **Question:** What historical models and distinctive features do the Montblanc Writers Editions from Hemingway to Kafka have? **Answer:** The Writers Edition has appeared annually since 1992 in limited runs of a similar size. The Hemingway of 1992 opens the series and is modelled on the 139 of the 1930s. The Agatha Christie takes up the historic snake clip and carries a snake's head on the nib. The Oscar Wilde of 1994 stands out for its boldly mottled surface, the Voltaire of 1995 for a chased vermeil cap; after it, vermeil disappeared from the editions. The Dostoevsky of 1997 was offered as an unusual four-piece set of fountain pen, ballpoint, rollerball and propelling pencil. The Edgar Allan Poe is finished in deep blue-black and carries a raven on the nib, but has no ink window. The Marcel Proust of 1999, with its octagonal body and silver filigree, takes up the shape of the Lorenzo de Medici. The Schiller of 2000 has a cap of amber, the Dickens a strikingly large cap top without gold trim, and the Kafka a body that passes from an angular into a round shape. A fountain pen from this series cost about 600 euros around 2005. --- **Question:** How large was the run of the Writers Edition Voltaire, and what reduces the collector value of a limited edition? **Answer:** The Writers Edition Voltaire appeared in a run of 20,000 fountain pens, each piece carrying a serial number followed by the size of the total run. A limited edition only develops collector value, however, if all its components are present, that is the pen, the case, the outer box and the complete papers. If anything is missing, or the piece has been used, what is left is essentially an ordinary everyday writing instrument. For used pieces of that sort the realistic order of magnitude in 2007 was at most about a quarter of the former shop price. Unlimited models such as the Meisterstück Solitaire 146 in stainless steel follow the ordinary second-hand market in any case and gain little from their accessories; in neither case is a valuation possible without photographs and a precise statement of condition. --- **Question:** What determined the collector value of the Writers Editions Agatha Christie and Marcel Proust in the 2000s? **Answer:** The Agatha Christie fountain pen appeared in a run of 30,000 pieces and carries a serial number referring to that total. A fountain pen and a ballpoint with different numbers do not make a set and sell better individually. A missing outer box and a missing certificate rule a piece out for many collectors: a used pair of fountain pen and ballpoint without certificates fetched around 1,100 euros in 2006, whereas about 3,250 euros were being asked in 2007 for a complete, unused set of three with blank papers. The greater part of these writing instruments went abroad; in the United States prices were well above the German ones. The Writers Edition Marcel Proust is regarded as one of the best designed in the series and is hardly ever parted with, so that offers are rare. Damaged pieces are taken in by the Montblanc service even years after purchase: a Proust reduced to its component parts by a fall came back perfectly repaired within five days. --- **Question:** What did the Montblanc Writers Edition Agatha Christie with the snake clip cost on the collectors' market around 2005? **Answer:** By 2005 the Writers Edition Agatha Christie with its characteristic snake clip had long been sold out in the shops and could be had only second-hand. Serviceable fountain pens started at about 800 euros at the time; a keenly priced resale from France marked the bottom end at 500 euros, and an as-new piece at a German jeweller's the top at 1,200 euros. Considerably dearer was the higher-grade version with a gold-plated clip, which was still in stock in a few boutiques and traded in four figures. At its original shop price the edition was by then no longer to be had anywhere. Since prices for Writers Editions fluctuate widely, comparing completed auctions over a longer period gives the most reliable guide. --- **Question:** How extensive was the Montblanc 1924 Limited Anniversary Edition, and what did the 116 ballpoint from it cost? **Answer:** The 116 ballpoint from the 1924 Limited Anniversary Edition officially cost 220 euros in 1999, the equivalent of 430.28 DM. Only 1,924 examples of that one model were made, but the edition as a whole comprised 36 different items at 1,924 pieces each, that is 69,264 writing instruments. It is therefore scarcer than the Special Editions, but no great rarity. Within the edition it is above all the 149 and the 146 in the silver version that carry particular collector value. Also in demand are the all-black pieces, that is the 146, 144, 165, 164, 161, 117, 116 and 114, which were cheaper at the time than the platinum-plated ones and therefore sold more quickly. For valuing individual pieces, completed auctions are the best source, because the prices fluctuate widely. --- **Question:** Does a Montblanc fountain pen from the amber Special Edition carry a serial number, and can the nib be exchanged? **Answer:** The amber version was a Special Edition and not a Limited Edition. It therefore carries no serial number, neither on the clip ring nor on the cap, and the matching numbers across all the parts of a set, so important with Limited Editions, play no role here. Nor do the nibs themselves ever carry a number. From the factory the pen was available in all eight Montblanc nib widths, that is EF, F, M, B, BB, OM, OB and OBB; the claim heard now and again that it came as standard only in M is wrong. M is merely by far the most common width, OM the rarest. An unusual width such as OBB affects collector value only marginally, so the nib should be chosen to suit one's own hand. The service department in Hamburg will exchange a nib free of charge if it can be shown that the pen was bought new and unused from an authorised specialist dealer within the past four weeks, that the warranty card has been filled in and that the nib is undamaged. --- **Question:** How do you recognise the Meisterstück 149 from the 1924 Limited Anniversary Edition, and what was it worth in 2009? **Answer:** Like all Limited Editions, the 149 from the Limited Anniversary Edition 1924 carries its serial number on the cap, in the form of the individual number over the limitation size, for example 0611/1924. The trim is not yellow gold but rose-gold plated, which is why clip and rings have a reddish sheen, and the star in the cap top is made of mother-of-pearl. The edition went on sale from 1999. Prices vary considerably. Before the financial crisis, isolated examples of the 149 from this edition fetched around 1,000 US dollars; afterwards they fell for a time to between 560 and 600 euros, whereas in December 2009 an unused piece with its original 1999 invoice made 1,580 euros. It is worth noting that the 1924 pieces were originally scarcely dearer than the regular Meisterstück pens, remained hard to sell for years and were in part cleared at a 40 per cent discount before they turned into sought-after collector's pieces. --- **Question:** How large was the limitation of the Montblanc Writers Edition Charles Dickens ballpoint, and when is single packaging suspicious? **Answer:** Twelve thousand examples of the Writers Edition Charles Dickens ballpoint, released in 2001, were made. According to collectors, the first 4,000 numbers or so went exclusively into the three-piece sets of fountain pen, ballpoint and pencil; individually boxed pieces therefore usually carry higher numbers. A ballpoint with a number well below 4,000 in single packaging thus points to a box swapped after the event. A low number in a single case cannot be ruled out entirely, though, because the trade occasionally broke sets up and passed the individual pieces on in boxes from other Dickens writing instruments; one such example, number 1864, is documented. On the collectors' market a Dickens ballpoint in as-new condition with papers and packaging cost between 260 and 300 euros in 2004, some 30 per cent below the list price of the day. --- **Question:** What collectors' prices were being asked between 2006 and 2010 for Montblanc special editions such as the Schiller, the Edgar Allan Poe or the Patron of Arts Elizabeth I? **Answer:** For Writers Edition fountain pens in 2006 you paid Spanish dealers about 600 euros for the Schiller and about 850 euros for the Edgar Allan Poe. At that point the series ran from Hemingway to Franz Kafka, with Cervantes and Virginia Woolf the most recent titles. Collectors also count the Imperial Dragon with its sterling silver or solid gold clip and the Agatha Christie in vermeil as belonging to the series in the wider sense. Four years later, at the end of 2010, the following sums were being asked for unused boutique pieces with invoice, papers and box: Patron of Arts Elizabeth I in the limitation of 888 between 4,000 and 4,500 euros, the same edition in the limitation of 4810 between 1,400 and 1,500 euros, and 400 to 500 euros each for the Writers Edition Virginia Woolf, the Donation Pen Arturo Toscanini, the Special Edition John Lennon and the Meisterstück Diamond. Prices for limited editions fluctuate sharply, however; experience shows they are lower in the summer months than in the autumn. --- **Question:** How large was the limitation of the Montblanc Donation Pen Karajan with the gold baton on the clip, and what did it cost in 2006? **Answer:** The Donation Pen in honour of Herbert von Karajan also appeared in a particularly small version in which the conductor's baton on the clip is made of gold rather than of ivory as usual. Ninety-five examples of this variant were produced, and as fountain pens only; a matching ballpoint was never made. The odd piece could still be obtained through the Montblanc boutiques in 2006, at a price of around 9,000 to 9,500 euros. Among collectors, unwritten examples with complete packaging and blank papers changed hands the same year for about 8,200 euros. --- **Question:** What characterises the Montblanc Jules Verne of the 2003 Writers Edition, and what did it cost used in 2005? **Answer:** The Jules Verne appeared in 2003 as a Writers Edition. Striking features are the deep blue decoration patterned throughout and a weight unusually high for a Montblanc fountain pen: it sits noticeably heavier in the hand than a comparably sized Meisterstück, which is precisely what many collectors value. Only two years after its release the model was already hard to come by on the second-hand market; asking prices in 2005 were around 350 euros. For comparison within the series: the Writers Edition Franz Kafka shows a dark red that shines through against the light, combined with matt-gloss silver. --- **Question:** In what limitations did the Montblanc Alexander the Great appear, and how do you get lost papers replaced? **Answer:** The Alexander the Great appeared in 1998 in the Patron of Arts series, in two limitations as is usual there: the larger one of 4810 pieces and the smaller, more elaborately executed one of 888. According to collectors, the original shop price of the 4810 version is given as around 1,585 euros. In 2008 dealers were asking between 2,150 and 2,500 euros for examples in as-new condition; with sought-after editions, then, collectors' prices lie above the former price when new. Any Montblanc boutique will issue duplicates of lost certificates and accompanying papers. When establishing value, asking prices and prices actually achieved should be kept strictly apart: on auction platforms pieces sit permanently at fantasy prices without ever selling. It makes sense to follow the prices actually realised over at least three months and to form a reference price from them. --- **Question:** How large was the limitation of the 1996 Montblanc Writers Edition Alexandre Dumas, and what distinguishes the earliest examples? **Answer:** The Writers Edition Alexandre Dumas appeared in 1996 in a limitation of 15,000 fountain pens, 11,000 ballpoints and 4,000 propelling pencils; 5,000 pieces were delivered as three-piece sets whose instruments all carry the same number. The body has a dark shimmer and is combined with a cap of deep brown precious resin, the clip is shaped as a sword, and the signature on the cap is filled in gold. The rhodium-plated 18-carat gold nib in width M carries a fine engraving of the French lily. The particular feature of the first examples delivered is an incorrect signature: they show not the name of the novelist intended but that of a namesake within the family, according to collectors that of his son. This early version has been regarded as an especially sought-after rarity ever since. In 2009 a set in as-new condition without its case was first offered at 1,500 euros and was finally sold for 1,200 euros; new Writers Edition sets stood at about 1,500 euros at the time. --- **Question:** What properties does tantalum have, the metal Montblanc used for the case of a chronograph in the Anniversary Editions? **Answer:** Tantalum is not a precious metal but a heavy metal with atomic number 73, the immediate neighbour of tungsten in the periodic table. It melts at a good 3,000 degrees Celsius, has a density of about 16.7 grams per cubic centimetre and is thus considerably heavier than lead; its Mohs hardness of 6.5 comes close to that of iridium, which is used for the tips of gold nibs. Characteristic are a slightly violet-tinged lustre and an exceptional resistance to corrosion that withstands even aqua regia. The name goes back to Tantalus of Greek mythology, because the tantalum-bearing mineral would not dissolve in acid. Extraction requires many elaborate separation stages and a great deal of energy, and the price is correspondingly high: about one euro per gram in 2006, roughly three times that of silver and a tenth that of gold. Montblanc used tantalum for the case of a wristwatch in the Anniversary Editions; the house was not the first maker with a tantalum case, since Hublot and Audemars Piguet had already used the material before. --- **Question:** How large was the edition of the Montblanc Limited Edition Juilliard Centennial Celebration of 2005? **Answer:** The Juilliard Centennial Celebration limited edition appeared in 2005 in a run of only 100 pieces. The occasion was the centenary of the Juilliard School in New York, the academy of music, dance and drama, and the size of the edition takes up that anniversary. The pen was aimed squarely at collectors and was richly set with diamonds, so its value derives as much from the very small edition as from the materials used. That makes it one of the smallest Montblanc editions of its day. --- **Question:** What is the Montblanc Special Edition Greta Garbo, and on what occasion was it issued? **Answer:** The Greta Garbo Special Edition appeared in 2005 for the hundredth anniversary of the actress's birth. Montblanc presented it as the company's first special issue expressly tailored to the woman user, and described the design as fashionable and sensual. Unlike a Limited Edition, a Special Edition is not restricted to a fixed number of pieces and carries no individual numbering; in return it stays in the current range for a longer period. What identifies a piece is therefore not a limitation number but the design, engraving included. --- **Question:** Why does a pencil from the Montblanc Writers Edition Jules Verne offered on its own come without a certificate of its own? **Answer:** The pencil of the Jules Verne Writers Edition was not available separately, only as part of the set. The certificate was therefore issued for the set and normally stays with the fountain pen, since that is the only way to document the provenance and lawful acquisition of the most valuable piece. If the pencil is sold on its own, it goes without papers. A copy of the stamped certificate, even a certified one, is no substitute for a collector; for someone who merely wants to use the pen it can at least serve as proof of the date of purchase for the guarantee. The pencil is reckoned comparatively heavy and so sits differently in the hand from an ordinary propelling pencil. In 2008 a flawless, only briefly used single example without box or certificate was first offered at 380 euros; the price was reduced in two steps, by way of 350, to 290 euros. --- **Question:** How was the Montblanc Moscow Skeleton Pen for the opening of the Moscow boutique executed? **Answer:** The Moscow Skeleton Pen was made in 2005 as part of a high jewellery concept developed specially for the opening of the Montblanc boutique in Moscow. Cap and barrel are of solid 750 white gold, that is 18 carat. On the cap the Russian flag is set in precious stones into the outline of Russia: 193 sapphires of one millimetre each, together about 0.96 carats, 117 rubies of the same size at about 0.70 carats and 121 diamonds at about 0.54 carats. No list price for this piece has come down to us; pieces of this kind were made as showpieces for individual boutiques and are not among the Limited Editions produced in numbered runs. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the Montblanc Special Anniversary Edition of 1999 from the Anniversary Edition limited to 1924 pieces? **Answer:** The Special Anniversary Edition marking 75 years of the Meisterstück was not limited, but was made in 1999 only. Its identifying feature is the cap ring with the inscription “75 Years of Passion and Soul”. It was offered in the usual Meisterstück formats, among them the 161 ballpoint and the 162 rollerball in LeGrand size as well as the 149 fountain pen; according to collectors, versions of the 149 carry a small brilliant in the “O” of the inscription. Because production ended after a year, the series has long been unavailable both from Montblanc and from the specialist trade and is now to be found only at fairs and among collectors. To be kept separate from it is the Anniversary Edition limited to 1924 pieces with red gold fittings, which stands considerably higher in collectors' esteem than the unlimited version. According to collectors, the anniversary series was accompanied by additional runs of only 75 pieces each, among them the 144 fountain pen and the 164 ballpoint; the list prices of these tiny runs at the time have not come down to us, and no information about them could be obtained from the manufacturer either. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc Mozart version was auctioned at the Salzburg Festival in 2006, and what did it fetch? **Answer:** In the Mozart year of 2006 Montblanc issued a limited Mozart edition of elaborate craftsmanship, described as the Artisan version. Beyond that, a unique piece was made in an edition of one: this fountain pen was produced specially for the W. A. Mozart Weekend on 28 July 2006 during the Salzburg Festival and auctioned there. It was knocked down at 44,000 euros. The proceeds went to the Salzburg Festival and were earmarked for the purchase of contemporary art. Single pieces of this kind appear in no regular price list and practically never turn up on the collectors' market. --- **Question:** How does the Montblanc Unicef edition of 2013 from the Signature for Good series differ from the preceding issue? **Answer:** The Unicef issue of the Signature for Good series presented in 2013 is identical in shape and decoration to the preceding Special Edition; it was given no design of its own. The most striking difference lies in the fittings: on the 2013 issue the clip and trim are platinum-plated. On the piston filler in the LeGrand size 146 a second feature is added, a blue-striped ink window. For identification that means: without box and papers the two issues can be told apart only by the colour of the fittings and by the ink window. The series was conceived as a charity edition in aid of Unicef. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc Patron of Arts editions appeared between 1992 and 2007, and in which limitation sizes? **Answer:** The Patron of Arts series begins in 1992 with the Lorenzo de Medici and runs through to the Alexander von Humboldt of 2007; seventeen editions appeared in that period, as a rule one per year. Each edition was made in several limitation sizes. By far the most common, and the one usually met with on the market, is the version limited to 4810 pieces; which version a pen belongs to is shown by the accompanying certificate. Special sets such as the Lalique set or “A Tribute to 300 years St. Petersburg” do not form part of the annual series proper; overviews of the Patron of Arts editions generally list them separately. When buying complete collections it is advisable to inspect them in person, as photographs convey the condition of these pieces only poorly. --- **Question:** Did the 2007 Montblanc edition in aid of Unicef come in specially designed packaging? **Answer:** Montblanc has issued pens in aid of Unicef on several occasions, among them in 2004 and again at the beginning of 2007. Unlike the 2004 issue, the 2007 edition was not delivered with special packaging of its own: the outer box corresponds in size to the ordinary packaging of a Meisterstück 149. A missing special case is thus no sign that an example is incomplete. --- **Question:** How large was the limitation of the Montblanc Artisan Edition Diego Rivera of 2009, and which market was it intended for? **Answer:** The Artisan Edition Diego Rivera appeared in 2009; the figure 70 in the model name gives the size of the limitation, so 70 pieces were made. The intended market was Mexico, the painter's homeland — which prompted collectors to ask whether so small but expensive a run could be sold out in a single country. The piece was shown to collectors beforehand in Montblanc's Artisan Studio, where photographing the exhibits was forbidden. The design is unusual even by the standards of the Artisan series; its slim construction, stepped towards the top, has been likened to a tower. --- **Question:** How is the fountain pen of the Montblanc Writers Edition Jules Verne filled with ink? **Answer:** The Jules Verne is filled like the other Montblanc piston fillers: the nib is immersed completely in the ink, and the piston knob at the end of the barrel then draws the ink into the reservoir. There is no separate filling system, no converter and no barrel end that unscrews; anyone looking for an additional opening is looking in vain. On unused examples the knob sometimes sits so tightly that it will move only with a certain amount of force. That is not a defect — turning it too gingerly merely creates the impression that the pen cannot be filled. --- **Question:** What was included with the Montblanc Meisterstück Special Edition Yehudi Menuhin, and what was it worth in 2009? **Answer:** The Special Edition of the Meisterstück range dedicated to the violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin is a piston filler and was available in, among others, nib width M. Besides the pen, the delivery comprised the Service Guide and the original packaging, which came with a CD. If the Service Guide carries a dealer's stamp, the original purchase is documented; together with the original invoice that makes a pen's history traceable. For an as-new example that had never been filled, with all its accessories, 395 euros was asked in a private sale in 2009, later 380 euros as a basis for negotiation. --- **Question:** What did the writing set of the 2004 Montblanc Writers Edition Franz Kafka cost when it was launched? **Answer:** The Writers Edition of 2004 was dedicated to Franz Kafka. According to collectors, the recommended retail prices were 1,350 euros for the complete writing set, 650 euros for the fountain pen and 350 euros for the ballpoint pen. That graduation matched the price level of the series as a whole at the time. The Writers Edition appears annually in a limited run and was offered both as individual pieces and as a set. --- **Question:** How large was the limitation of the Montblanc Metamorphosis watch, and what did it cost when it was presented? **Answer:** Montblanc presented the Metamorphosis in 2010. The watch was limited to 28 pieces, and the price was given at the time as around 195,000 euros. That makes it one of the most expensive pieces the firm has produced outside its writing instruments. The name refers to the mechanism by which the display on the dial can be transformed into a second layout. The model stands for the ambition with which Montblanc, having moved into watchmaking, wanted to make its mark in the field of elaborate complications as well, and it was made at the brand's Swiss manufactory. --- **Question:** How does the design of the Montblanc Skeleton Louvre take up the Paris museum? **Answer:** The Skeleton Louvre is one of the Skeleton issues, in which Montblanc reproduces buildings and motifs in pierced casework. The cap shows the dome and the glass pyramid in the Louvre's courtyard, while the openwork pattern on the barrel picks up the rows of windows on the main building. The design was presented towards the end of the 2000s. The same series includes the Black Widow and the Chaplin, among others. The Skeleton pieces appeared in very small editions and involve a great deal of hand work, so they rarely come up for resale; photographs are more likely to be found with specialist dealers than in the regular catalogues. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc special editions were announced for 2008, and in what edition sizes did they appear? **Answer:** Montblanc announced several special models for 2008. The Friedensreich Hundertwasser edition appeared in a run of 100 pieces in solid yellow gold with blue enamel stripes; before its launch the price was estimated at 15,000 to 17,000 euros. The Patron of Arts Edition for 2008 was François I. Added to these were the Bohème Papillon in rose, white and yellow gold, whose exact numbers were not apparent from the advance reports of the time and which were priced considerably higher. The Bohème Arabesque, by contrast, was not among the limited editions but part of the regular range. Figures from advance announcements should always be read with caution: edition sizes and prices were quoted before launch and occasionally differed from the figures that later applied. --- **Question:** In which year did the Montblanc Writers Edition F. Scott Fitzgerald appear, and what did it cost around 2009? **Answer:** The Writers Edition F. Scott Fitzgerald came onto the market in 2002, the year after the Charles Dickens issue of 2001. Montblanc has issued the series annually since 1992, each year devoted to a different author, so year and subject can be matched with certainty. On the second-hand market an unused fountain pen from this issue could be had for about 600 Swiss francs around 2009. Prices for Writers Editions depend heavily on condition, on whether the packaging is complete and on how popular the year is; early issues such as the Hemingway stand a good deal higher than the middle years. --- **Question:** In what edition sizes did Montblanc editions such as Charlemagne, Gutenberg or Alexander the Great appear? **Answer:** The Patron of Arts editions generally appeared in two edition sizes, a larger run of 4810 pieces and a more elaborately finished one of 888. Among those limited to 888 were the Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Semiramis and Alexander the Great issues, while the figure recorded for Charlemagne is 4810. Individual special issues were very much smaller: the Gutenberg edition ran to 42 pieces, the Juilliard School edition to 100. The number 4810 refers to the height of Mont Blanc in metres and occurs at Montblanc both as an edition size and as a nib engraving. The notion that such editions sell out quickly does not hold across the board: as late as 2007, several of the issues named were still in stock at list price in individual boutiques. --- **Question:** How are the hallmarks arranged on the cap of the Montblanc Charles Dickens, and what does a reversed arrangement mean? **Answer:** On the Charles Dickens of the Writers Edition the silver hallmark sits plainly visible at the lower end of the cap, while the word Pix is at the upper end beneath the clip. This arrangement is the rule and is one of the things taken into account when examining a pen. There are, however, examples on which the two marks are placed exactly the other way round and whose authenticity the Montblanc service department nevertheless confirmed. A reversed arrangement on its own is thus no proof of a fake. Whether such caps were assembled the wrong way round at the factory, or taken apart and put back together incorrectly later, has never been settled. --- **Question:** How is the Montblanc Patron of Arts Edition 2004 in honour of J. P. Morgan made and how large is its edition size? **Answer:** The Patron of Arts Edition of the 2004 series honours the banker and art patron J. P. Morgan. It was officially presented in the spring of 2004, and from April 2004 it was available through Montblanc specialist retailers. The barrel is made of 925 sterling silver and corresponds in size roughly to a Meisterstück 146. The defining design feature is the cap with its lattice of silver and carbon, which creates a three-dimensional sense of depth and produces a considerably stronger contrast than the familiar carbon Meisterstück pens. As already on the Copernicus, the star is made of mother-of-pearl; the clip is strikingly plain, almost purist in character. Like all fountain pens in the Patron of Arts series, the J. P. Morgan carries an 18-carat gold nib. The edition size of the regular version is 4,810 pieces. Alongside it, a series limited to 888 pieces is issued. --- **Question:** Which anecdote about wealth links the Writers Edition authors F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway? **Answer:** Both writers, to each of whom Montblanc has dedicated a Writers Edition, thought very differently about wealth. A brief exchange has been handed down: Fitzgerald remarked to Hemingway that the rich were different from other people, to which Hemingway drily replied that they simply had more money. Hemingway considered rich people dull; they drank too much, played too much backgammon and repeated themselves constantly. Fitzgerald, by contrast, himself lived generously in his best years, had comparatively large sums of money at his disposal and drank too much gin. From this period comes his light-hearted piece “How to Live on $36,000 a Year” – a sum which, by the standards of 2004, corresponded to around 360,000 dollars. In the nineteen-thirties he fell into debt, succumbed increasingly to alcohol and died at the age of only 44. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the three limited Unicef editions of the Montblanc Meisterstück 149 of 2004? **Answer:** The Unicef editions of the year 2004 are, strictly speaking, standard production Meisterstück 149 pens; the writing instrument itself was not altered in comparison with the regular model. What is special lies in the packaging. Specially designed boxes were created for the three editions, namely by Andrée Putman, Helmut Jahn and Tom Sachs. The case thus becomes an accessory for the desk in its own right and is the actual distinguishing feature of the edition. The market launch took place in the autumn of 2004. As the fountain pen corresponds to an ordinary 149, the completely preserved original box is the decisive feature by which a Unicef edition can be recognised at all at a later date. --- **Question:** What appointments and what edition size does the Montblanc Limited Edition Ancient Games of 2004 have? **Answer:** Montblanc brought the Limited Edition Ancient Games onto the market in 2004, in good time for the Olympic Games in Greece. The fountain pen is made of gold, the cap is made of marble. The barrel is decorated with engravings of ancient depictions of athletes and thus takes up the theme of the contests of antiquity. The edition size is limited to 28 examples. Together with the combination of gold and marble, this very small number makes the writing instrument a decidedly rare Montblanc release of the year 2004. --- **Question:** When did the Montblanc Writers Edition 2004 Franz Kafka come on to the market, and where was it first to be seen? **Answer:** The Writers Edition for the year 2004 is dedicated to Franz Kafka. It was illustrated for the first time in the Limited Editions catalogue for 2004. In September 2004 production at the Hamburg factory was in full swing, and by that time the first pieces were already standing in individual Montblanc boutiques. The specialist trade was not supplied until about a month later, so that the examples sold through the boutiques are the earliest pieces delivered. The edition could likewise be seen at collectors' meetings as early as September 2004: at the Tilburg Pen Show on 24 September 2004 a dealer showed the new Kafka alongside older Montblanc rarities. --- **Question:** What is the Artisan Shop at Montblanc, and which writing instruments are made there? **Answer:** The Artisan Shop is the manufactory workshop at the Hamburg factory. It is there that the particularly rare Limited Editions and the especially valuable writing instruments are made, and indeed in elaborate handwork by the masters of their craft. There can be no question of series production in this area. Pieces that hardly ever appear in the trade can therefore also be seen in the Artisan Shop, for example the Beethoven, various Skeleton Editions or Asia Editions. In 2004 the area was one of the stations shown to collectors on a factory tour. --- **Question:** What did a Montblanc Schiller from the Writers Edition cost on the collectors' market in March 2004? **Answer:** Around 360 euros was asked for a Montblanc Schiller from the Writers Edition at the Cologne collectors' meeting in March 2004. Among collectors this sum counted as a good price and by no means an excessive one, and it is a serviceable point of reference for the level at which used pieces of this series were traded at that time. The sum is to be placed in the market environment of the day: at collectors' meetings the prices of more recent writing instruments were roughly at the level of the online auctions, and genuine bargains remained the exception. Anyone who in 2004 sought a piece of this series below the shop price depended on meetings and fairs, but had to reckon with customary market demands there as well. --- ### Montblanc — general **Question:** Which refills fit old Montblanc ballpoints such as the No. 315? **Answer:** The original refills came from Ballograf, since Montblanc cooperated with the Swedish manufacturer at the time; they are hard to obtain in Germany but available without trouble in Vienna or directly from Ballograf in Sweden. As a workable substitute, a standard DIN large-capacity refill (e.g. Schneider Express 225 or Schmidt) is recommended, with the rear plastic spacer snipped off and the end filed smooth so the lever mechanism still works correctly. The Schmidt refills are mentioned as the best choice in terms of quality. Penboard.de also offers an adapter for old ballpoints. Worries that snipped refills might leak are dismissed by experienced collectors as unfounded, since the writing paste is sealed by an oil layer. --- **Question:** How can one estimate the approximate market value of a writing instrument? **Answer:** A serious valuation requires the writing instrument in hand, since condition is decisive and prices fluctuate strongly with supply and demand. A practical method is to research on eBay via the advanced search: enter the model as precisely as possible (e.g. "Montblanc 136"), search ended auctions worldwide, and narrow further by categories such as Collectibles or Watches & Jewellery if needed. Collector shows in Cologne and Hamburg as well as specialist forums (fountainpen.de, penexchange.de, fountainpennetwork.com) are further sales channels, although prices achieved there are clearly below eBay levels because collectors usually only buy at bargain prices and have a high level of price knowledge. Selling at shows also incurs stand fees. --- **Question:** Which variants of the Montblanc Meisterstück 146 exist from the 1970s onwards, and how do they differ? **Answer:** The 146 was reintroduced in 1974 and has been built in several variants since. A simplified overview from observation: 1973–1979 blue-grey ink window, ebonite feed, single-tone gold nib, "Germany"; 1980–1984 same configuration with "W. Germany"; from 1985 additionally a brass piston mechanism; from c. 1987 bicolour nib while keeping the blue-grey window and ebonite feed, with serial number (two letters + six digits); from c. 1988 a new T-shaped plastic feed; from 1990 a striped ink window; from 1994 without the Pix symbol. Bicolour nibs with blue windows therefore also occur from the factory in a transition phase, not only through later nib swaps in service. Later 146s are slightly longer and bear the addition "LeGrand". The cap can read "Montblanc – Meisterstück No 146", "Montblanc – Meisterstück" or with the addition "Pix", depending on the variant. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 146 (Le Grand): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-146-en.htm --- **Question:** What does a nib swap at Montblanc cost, and under what conditions is it free? **Answer:** Within six weeks of purchase a nib swap is free of charge according to Montblanc Customer Service, provided the nib is in as-new condition. For Limited Editions this period is extended to twelve months. The pen, together with the completed warranty card or the proof of purchase, must be presented at a Montblanc boutique, an authorised specialist dealer or a service centre. Calligraphy nibs are excluded from the free exchange. Montblanc offers eight nib widths: EF (Extra Fine), F (Fine), M (Medium), B (Broad), BB (Double Broad), OM (Oblique Medium), OB (Oblique Broad) and OBB (Oblique Double Broad). Within the free period it is possible to switch between these widths, with multiple swaps until full satisfaction permitted in this window. Outside the free period Montblanc charges a service fee. The manufacturer does not give a flat price — the exact amount depends on the model, the condition of the old nib and the requested new width, and is only confirmed after inspection at the service centre. A written quote before placing the job is therefore advisable. Ad-hoc statements from sales staff at the boutique counter without inspecting the nib should be treated with caution. Important: the nib width is encoded in the pen's individual serial number. An official swap can therefore only be carried out by Montblanc itself — nib changes by unauthorised workshops are technically possible but do not change the recorded configuration and may void the warranty. On request Montblanc returns the old nib; without that instruction it is melted down. The two-year international manufacturer's warranty covers material and workmanship faults; during this period the corresponding repairs are free for the customer, except shipping costs. Practical hints: it is most convenient to use the service via a Montblanc boutique or an authorised specialist dealer; alternatively direct shipping to a service centre is possible. The warranty card or dated proof of purchase should be enclosed. Processing time is typically a few weeks; an over-the-counter swap is only possible in exceptional cases. Anyone wanting to avoid the full service fee should act within the six-week period (or twelve months for Limited Editions); for gifts it is advisable to check at the boutique early on whether the nib width matches the recipient's writing style. --- **Question:** Are there alternative refills for the Montblanc Rollerball Classique with a better line or wider stroke? **Answer:** The market is narrow: Lamy refills like the M30 or M32 fit with some adjustment but write only moderately well (the M30 is felt-tip-like, the M32 rated as critical). The M30 does not fit in the LeGrand. Workable alternatives from personal testing include the Schneider Topball 850 with a wider stroke and good writing behaviour — adjustment also needed here. In general the comfort of a fountain pen for heavy writing is regarded as superior to a rollerball, so this is a niche issue with limited supplier choice. Anyone wishing to experiment should test various gel and ink-roller refills as well as fibre refills, and possibly keep Montblanc's original refills for occasional premium use. --- **Question:** In which periods were the Montblanc Meisterstück 144 and 146 produced after 1961, and are the models technically comparable? **Answer:** With the introduction of the new, slimmer shapes designed by Albrecht Graf Goertz in 1959, production of the Meisterstück 142, 144 and 146 was discontinued; only the 149 continued. In 1969/70 the Goertz models received a flat cap top and new numbers (e.g. 320, 220, 120). In 1979 the gradual reintroduction of the classic design began; the Meisterstück 146 was officially relaunched in 1986 — although 1970s-era 146s are known, indicating transitional models. Current Meisterstücks are formally based on the 1950s predecessors but technically and materially considerably modernised. The 144 was later marketed as the Classique and discontinued some years ago; early Classique models sometimes still had no serial number. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 146 (Le Grand): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-146-en.htm --- **Question:** How do you fill and clean a Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand 146 correctly? **Answer:** The LeGrand 146 is a piston filler: the turning knob at the back is gently turned to the stop (not over-turned), the nib is dipped about three-quarters into the ink bottle and then the piston is turned slowly back to draw ink. Afterwards a few drops are released back so the capillary chambers can equalise pressure and nothing blots. To clean, draw clear water in and out repeatedly until it stays clear; for drying, the pen should rest with the nib down in a lint-free cloth. A small air space of 2–3 mm in the ink window after filling is normal. The option of unscrewing the rear part completely applies only to converter models such as the 147; on the 146 the mechanism is permanently installed. --- **Question:** Where do the many Montblanc writing instruments come from that are offered as new on eBay clearly below boutique price? **Answer:** There is no factory sale for private individuals or resale permission for staff at Montblanc — employees receive a limited quantity once a year at a discount; resale is strictly forbidden. Defective goods also do not leave production after factory tours. The low online prices can be explained by dealers operating with large quantities, international sources of supply and considerable margins; powersellers in the USA also occasionally bring editions onto the market before the official launch. Regular discount campaigns such as Payback at Kaufhof have, in the past, allowed up to 30 per cent off Montblanc ranges. Overall the online share of new Montblanc trade is considerable, and reputable private or commercial sources are possible without any employee sales being involved. --- **Question:** Are repair costs of around 130 euros for a stiff piston mechanism on a roughly 2.5-year-old Montblanc Meisterstück 146 reasonable? **Answer:** Collectors regard 130 euros for a pure piston repair on a black Meisterstück 146 as clearly excessive, since Montblanc has been working with flat-rate repair fees for years and even the complete replacement of a black Meisterstück without nib lies below this sum. Forum reports cite figures of around 42 euros for a general overhaul including renewal of piston thread, seals and feed and shipping. The recommendation is first to fix the stiffness by repeatedly flushing with clear water and then to call Montblanc customer service directly to clarify the flat fee, bypassing any dealer surcharges. The piston mechanism of the Meisterstücks has been almost unchanged since the 1960s and is very robust under normal care, which is why a real defect is unusual. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 146 (Le Grand): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-146-en.htm --- **Question:** How do you change the lead in the Montblanc 161 LeGrand Meisterstück twist pencil with 0.9 mm, and what should you do when the mechanism only clicks? **Answer:** The LeGrand twist pencil in 0.9 mm calibre does have a lead reservoir but must be reloaded from the front: remove the old lead, turn the upper part to the left until a slight click is heard, insert a new lead and feed it into the pencil by turning left. If the mechanism continues to click without the lead advancing, remnants of the old lead are presumably stuck in the tip; turning right makes the lead end visible so it can be pulled out with tweezers. The LeGrand twist pencils are regarded among collectors as the best on the market and not prone to fiddling in meetings. With persistent defects it is recommended to first go to a competent Montblanc specialist dealer (e.g. Knoblauch in Heidelberg or Bürohaus Lehr in Trier) for an on-site check, before sending the pen in to the boutiques in Frankfurt, Stuttgart or Hamburg. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc ballpoint models in the 200–300 euro budget are sensible besides the Meisterstück Classique 164, and where can you obtain them safely? **Answer:** The list prices of Solitaire ballpoints at Montblanc are basically above 300 euros; in the 200–300 euro range a Solitaire model can be found at most second-hand or as new with reputable eBay sellers or via the sales sections of relevant collector forums. Within the Solitaire line the Classique versions in gold or platinum are at the lower end; a complete overview of materials and model variants can be found on fountainpen.de. For online purchase collectors recommend monitoring several auctions in order to determine reference prices and thoroughly comparing equipment features against relevant collector pages to rule out counterfeits. To care for gold alloys soft cloths suffice; aggressive polishing should be avoided. --- **Question:** Can you determine, on the basis of the nib engraving 4810/M/14K Montblanc 585 and a barrel length of 13.5 cm, which Meisterstück it is, and how do you protect yourself from counterfeits when buying on eBay? **Answer:** The nib engraving 4810 is borne by every Montblanc gold nib and says nothing about the model; the 585 hallmark confirms 14-carat gold, the M the nib width Medium. With a length of only 13.5 cm a 146 LeGrand can be ruled out; smaller Meisterstücks such as the 144 Classique come into question. A reliable authenticity check is not possible from verbal descriptions alone, which is why purchase from an authorised specialist dealer or from reputable mail-order sellers such as scription.de is recommended. For eBay purchases collectors advise requesting high-resolution photos of nib, ink window, cap rings and clip and matching them with detail shots from relevant collector pages. Cartridge compatibility is given on Meisterstücks only with a few smaller models; classic Meisterstücks are piston fillers. --- **Question:** Is the Montblanc Bohème suitable for a heavy writer who has been satisfied with a Lamy 2000, and which Bohème variant (Mid- or Big-Size) should you watch for? **Answer:** Heavy writers used to a Lamy 2000 will usually find the regular Mid-Size Bohème too small and too light; the two pens differ fundamentally in size, weight and ink capacity. The Bohème was offered as a Mid-Size with a stone in the clip and a retractable nib and as the no-longer-produced Big-Size Bohème Platinum the size of a Meisterstück LeGrand without a stone in the clip; only the Mid-Size has a stone, and only the Big-Size reaches the size of an everyday LeGrand, although there too the nib is retractable. Nib widths such as OB or OBB are not standard and are little suited to everyday use, but rather signature nibs. Collectors strongly advise buying from an authorised specialist dealer rather than online, because there nib widths can be exchanged subsequently and originality is guaranteed. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Bohème — model overview: https://www.fountainpen.de/boheme-en.htm --- **Question:** Are Montblanc writing instruments such as the Solitaire Carbon Classique or the Jules Verne Edition really suited to daily use? **Answer:** Collectors unanimously confirm that Montblanc writing instruments are unrestrictedly suitable for everyday use, from filigree Solitaire models to the classic 146/149 line. Reports include daily use of a 146 over more than ten years without loss of function or substance, as well as the use of a Bohème or Jules Verne as a constant companion in a professional environment; even manual activities the pens endure. Anyone who wants to write with quality should use the pen consciously and not lock it away from exaggerated worry, since regular use keeps the pen in shape. High-priced materials such as carbon or gold change nothing about robustness but are to be handled more care-consciously. With frequent use collectors recommend a rollerball or mechanical-pencil model as a complement to the fountain pen, in order to avoid changing ink in meetings. --- **Question:** How reliable is Montblanc's repair service, and what experiences do collectors have with defect remedy and quality control? **Answer:** Collectors describe the Montblanc service as varied; many reported defects do not originate from factory production but only arise during sale or trial writing in the shop, since the factory's quality control is regarded as very strict. Workmanship faults on clip hemispheres (sharp-edged adhesive surfaces) as well as scratches and wave effects on the ink window are sometimes not faulted by the service but accepted as within tolerance, which leads to frustration. Ink leakage at the grip section of a heavily used 146P can be a consequence of a feed clogged with dust and ink residues and is remedied by replacing the affected component. When sending in repairs experienced collectors recommend documenting the matters precisely in writing and, in case of doubt, communicating directly with Hamburg instead of relying on the dealer alone. --- **Question:** Is owning Montblanc fountain pens a sign of wealth, or rather an expression of consumer priorities? **Answer:** Among collectors the ownership of Montblanc writing instruments is rated as a question of individual priorities and not as an indicator of wealth. Terms such as well-off, rich or super-rich refer, by common definitions, to private wealth from about one, five or thirty million euros, which does not correlate with the acquisition of even high-priced writing instruments. Collectors draw the comparison to model railways, on which comparable amounts are invested without this being labelled wealth. Perception is reinforced by the exclusive brand image and media stagings such as the boulevard magazine in question, so that outsiders reflexively equate status symbols such as fur coat, Rolex or Montblanc with wealth, although the acquisition costs are quite bearable in a middle salary class. --- **Question:** How is the quality of Montblanc writing instruments to be assessed in long-term comparison with Pelikan, Parker and similar brands? **Answer:** Collectors confirm that Montblanc models remain largely unblemished on rings, nib and barrel even after long standing times, while on Pelikan pens gold platings tarnish more often or partially come off. On vermeil pens of both brands discolourations are, however, normal by design and not a quality defect. Montblanc's pricing policy is regarded as appropriate, since long-term use without loss of shine and writing performance and a high resale value put the acquisition costs into perspective. With Pelikan especially the M800 and M1000 with their brass mechanism are appreciated; the flexible nib of the M1000 requires getting used to, while the M800 offers a slightly stiffer but still very good nib and is available in four colour variants (black and green-, red- and blue-striped). Both makers deliver at a high level, with different emphases in nib character and material durability. --- **Question:** Which writing instruments do collectors carry with them daily, and how are they transported safely? **Answer:** Daily kit ranges from a single ballpoint such as the Montblanc Starwalker to a multi-piece leather case (e.g. Sienna or a classic three-piece Montblanc case) with fountain pen, ballpoint and mechanical pencil. Frequently mentioned combinations are 146 with 164, 147 Traveller with Classique models or a 146P with 164P plus pencil with Faber-Castell push-on eraser. For meetings some collectors deliberately switch to rollerball or ballpoint to avoid a cartridge or ink change. Valuable and larger models are regularly transported in a leather case to avoid pressure marks and contact scratches; heavy writers rotate their daily selection weekly to keep the collection in motion. Transport in open trouser pockets is, due to risk of damage and ink stains, advised against by experienced collectors. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 147 Traveller: https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-147-en.htm --- **Question:** Are Montblanc special editions like the John Lennon suitable as an investment, and is an eBay bargain sensible for a beginner? **Answer:** Writing instruments are basically not suitable as an investment; only a few special editions hold or increase their value long-term, a price drop is not excluded, and the market is comparable to watches but more volatile. Collectors therefore advise buying primarily according to personal taste and not speculating on appreciation; a later value consideration only makes sense after decades. With limited editions it should be noted that nib exchange after some years can become difficult, because replacement nibs are not kept in stock indefinitely, which is why many collectors nevertheless use their special editions in everyday life. As an entry, classic standard models such as the 149 or 146 LeGrand are recommended; eBay offers from unknown dealers carry counterfeit risk, which can be avoided by buying from authorised dealers or established online shippers like scription.de. Complementary collector sources are penexchange.de and fountainpennetwork.com. --- **Question:** Do typical cracks occur on Montblanc Meisterstücks made of precious resin at the cap ring or ballpoint tip, and how does Montblanc deal with them? **Answer:** Cracks in precious resin, especially on the mechanical pencil in the area of the screwed-on clip mount and on the ballpoint at the point where the metal tip is screwed in, are reported in individual cases from the 1980s but are not typical of models produced since. Collectors with stocks from very different decades and with Meisterstücks made after 2000 have neither observed this phenomenon themselves nor regularly found it documented in auction listings. Solitaire writing instruments, due to their metal barrel, are crack-free by design and today significantly more expensive than the precious-resin variants. Spare parts and repair are still possible only via Montblanc itself; in the 1980s defective components were frequently exchanged free of charge, later only against the repair flat fee, which depending on the model can reach about a third of the new price. --- **Question:** How does the Montblanc service handle a nib exchange (e.g. from B to M) on a Meisterstück 146 Platinum bought used on eBay? **Answer:** Nib exchanges on Meisterstücks are, by collector experience, generally unproblematic and cost only the repair or service flat fee (about 49 euros at the time of the report); shipping and the exchange of the existing nib for another regular nib width are handled via authorised specialist dealers or the boutiques. Difficulties arise, in experience, when the nearest dealer is not a full-service concessionaire and merely enquires further with Vienna or Hamburg, or when a piece offered on eBay as unused is rated by Montblanc as not original-packaged. Response times from Montblanc to direct enquiries can, according to forum reports, be ten days and longer; a second written exchange or addressing the head office Hamburg or the boutique in Jena directly usually accelerates the process. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 146 (Le Grand): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-146-en.htm --- **Question:** What is the correct spelling of the brand name Montblanc? **Answer:** The brand name is always written in running text as one word, i.e. Montblanc or MONTBLANC. The two-word spelling Mont Blanc by contrast denotes the mountain. Confusion arises through the two-line trademark with the star, which optically separates the lettering; this has, however, no influence on the correct spelling of the name. Historically there were various variants in the lettering, single-line in capitals, with mountain or star symbol, in upper and lower case and in italics. --- **Question:** How does a repair via Montblanc service correctly proceed, and what experiences with processing times are realistic? **Answer:** For repairs the writing instrument should be sent in via the authorised specialist dealer, who uses a Montblanc service envelope with a unique service number; only via this number is the process traceable in the Montblanc SAP system, and enquiries can be answered competently. The direct point of contact for enquiries is the respective service centre, not the boutique — in Vienna, for example, the service centre on Kärntnerstraße. Usual processing times lie at two to three weeks. Hard-start problems on new nibs can also break in by themselves after a few writing operations. Experiences with the service vary considerably, from very accommodating handling to unanswered enquiries via the online contact form. Important is the proper stamping of the warranty booklet at purchase. --- **Question:** How are the recent price increases on Montblanc writing instruments to be evaluated, and which models offer good value for money? **Answer:** Prices reflect supply and demand in the luxury market; Montblanc, as part of the Richemont group, is one of the strongest-growing brands in the segment. Collectors evaluate this ambivalently, since rising prices do raise the value of one's own collection but make new purchases more difficult. For better value, Writers Editions, Solitaires, StarWalker and Bohème are recommended; the Meisterstücks have always been the high-priced top segment. Direct comparison with DM prices from the late 1990s comes out unfavourably for the current list prices. Some collectors fear an image loss similar to that of certain watch brands. Despite the prices the Meisterstück counts as a classic that remains recommendable. --- **Question:** Is it appropriate to use a Montblanc fountain pen in everyday school life, or should it be limited to special occasions? **Answer:** Opinions are divided. One position warns of social conflicts when a pupil shows off a Montblanc, since this in a heterogeneous student body with different financial backgrounds can quickly be perceived as arrogant. Another position emphasises that what matters above all is how one handles the writing instrument and not abstinence; whoever appreciates the comfort and uses the device unobtrusively should do so. In professional life collectors tend to argue for understatement and use in meetings more discreet models like 145 Platinum or classic Lamy or Pelikan pens, instead of standing out with a 146 or 149. Decisive is the user's attitude; with restrained behaviour a Montblanc is also accepted in the school context. --- **Question:** How is an auctioned Montblanc 144 with 18-carat nib to be assessed, and which polish is suitable for precious resin and fittings? **Answer:** 18-carat nibs on the 144 are not unusual, since they were produced for the French market and also turn up in Germany; they are not a sign of manipulation. The 144s from the 1950s consist of celluloid; later models of precious resin (Plexiglas); production ended around the year 2000. For polishing the precious resin, Wenol is used by Montblanc itself; alternatively Mellerud polish for acrylic and plastic or Displex, which slightly dissolves the topmost layer and fills scratches. The fittings are gold-plated or platinum-plated on brass; every polish removes material, which is why polishing should be done as rarely as possible. Real scratches in the gold plating cannot be polished out, since they are deeper than the coating; only tarnished surfaces can be refreshed. --- **Question:** With which writing instruments do figures from politics and celebrity write? **Answer:** Observations are anecdotal and inconsistent. In Austria members of the federal government often use Graf von Faber-Castell pens; the Federal President and the President of the National Council use Pelikan, while Jörg Haider was associated with several Montblanc Limited Editions. Christian Wulff presumably writes with Cartier or S.T. Dupont; Ron Sommer used a 146 Solitaire Silver with thread guilloché. The actor Johnny Depp owns several Montblanc Limited Editions; Sylvester Stallone once wrote with a Montegrappa Golden Dragon. For a systematic overview no reliable source exists. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Asia Edition Year of the Golden Dragon: https://www.fountainpen.de/asia-golden-dragon-888-en.htm --- **Question:** Can Montblanc ballpoint refills be used in rollerball models? **Answer:** In all rollerballs that take Classique rollerball or fineliner refills, the Montblanc ballpoint refill including extension plug also fits without an additional adapter. With slim Slimline models a self-built adapter would be necessary. With cramped writing posture and strong pressure, however, the slim form is not recommended; rather a thicker writing instrument like the LeGrand rollerball, since this reduces cramping. For left-handers the ballpoint is usually the better choice but should still be sufficiently thick. With some rollerball models like the Meisterstück Platinum Line Classique Rollerball the local dealer denies compatibility, which is to be checked individually. --- **Question:** What stresses do automatic watches withstand in everyday sport, and at what intervals is a service sensible? **Answer:** An intact automatic watch should withstand normal sporting activities and shocks like fast cycling over cobblestones; if parts come loose, this points to a pre-existing damage or improper prior use, which when buying second-hand watches via eBay without warranty is a known risk. For extreme stresses sport or diving watches with screw-down crown, thicker glass and stable case are better suited. Signs of a due service are deviations of more than five seconds per day or a clearly reduced power reserve. As an interval, about four to five years is recommended on everyday watches; on rarely worn watches only when problems appear, except on rare movements with difficult spare-parts supply. Letting watches sit without movement harms them; a service usually costs several hundred euros. --- **Question:** What should be considered when transporting fountain pens on flights, and are cartridge or piston pens better suited? **Answer:** Decisive is storage with the cap up, ideally in hand luggage or in a case in the inside pocket; in this way both cartridge and piston pens stay leak-proof. Critical are the pressure-change phases during ascent and descent, in which ink can leak out; after the flight leaked ink should be wiped off. On reaching cruising altitude the pen can be used normally; ink flow is usually noticeably more saturated during ascent and descent. Lying storage in a suitcase can lead to ink residues in the cap but does not damage the writing instrument. The pressure differences are smaller in modern aircraft than earlier; balanced cabins reduce the leak risk. --- **Question:** What should be considered when posting the cap, removing an engraving, a general overhaul and a nib swap on a Montblanc? **Answer:** On the 144 Solitaire Carbon the cap, by design, does not hold securely on the barrel and can leave scratches; an inserted piece of paper can serve as an improvised solution; a real fix does not exist. An engraving cannot be removed subsequently; replacement of the cap sleeve is only possible if it is significantly damaged; a service flat fee 2 covers cap exchange and general overhaul excluding nib; an individually purchased cap is significantly more expensive. On sending in, it should be stated that no new engraving is to be carried out. A nib exchange without a stamped service booklet requires assessment by Montblanc and an individual cost estimate. The piston mechanism with seal change is also handled via the service flat fee; concrete amounts are quoted by every boutique. --- **Question:** How is the new Montblanc Meisterstück Tribute to the Mont Blanc Edition designed and to be assessed? **Answer:** The edition is not an official Limited or Special Edition; it addresses, in design, a female target group and uses white as the central colour; the grip section bears engraved altitude figures of various mountains. The size corresponds to the Classique Meisterstück series; the weight rather to the LeGrand line. Used is not classic precious resin but lacquered brass. Assessments range from rejecting (too fake-like, too much aimed at the rich and beautiful) to positive. An official pencil does not exist; individual special commissions were made by Montblanc on customer request through mechanism conversion from the rollerball. The associated cufflink set rounds off the collection. --- **Question:** What does the M on a Montblanc nib mean, and how can the nib width be recognised? **Answer:** The M on a Montblanc nib stands for Montblanc and not for the nib width Medium; all Montblanc nibs bear this mark. The nib width is not stated on the nib itself or on the feed and can only be determined by inspecting the tipping or by a writing test. Nibs vary slightly even within the same classification due to handwork, which is particularly noticeable on EF nibs. --- **Question:** What is the legal status today of the lifetime warranties Montblanc earlier issued? **Answer:** Earlier Montblanc warranties from about 1950 referred exclusively to the nibs: lifetime warranty on Meisterstücks, 25 years on the second series and 10 years on the gold nibs of the third series. Pre-WWII lifetime warranties were limited by law to 25 years and have today expired; in individual cases, even in the 1950s, old warranty cards were still issued by dealers, but they too are expired. Today's customary 'lifetime warranties' from other makers are subject to restrictions; in particular, instead of repair, a contemporary replacement device may be offered. On occurrence of a warranty case and presentation of proof of purchase, there is a repair flat fee that is significantly below usual hand-repair costs. Warranty and statutory liability for defects are to be distinguished; the latter runs two years for consumer purchases, with reversed burden of proof in the first six months. --- **Question:** Which rules apply to a Montblanc nib exchange, and what goodwill is to be expected without a sales receipt? **Answer:** Montblanc exchanges an unsuitable nib free of charge, provided the original nib is mint and the writing instrument is sent in together with the warranty card within six weeks; in older practice the period was 14 days. Without a stamped service booklet, sales receipt or invoice, the purchase cannot be proven; credit-card statements are not accepted as proof of purchase. A nib exchange outside the period is charged via the regular repair flat fee. With watches, deviations are often justified by Montblanc with the nature of mechanical movements, which also includes a certain tolerance in the GTC; warranty performance must, however, be provided. Goodwill is voluntary and not an enforceable claim; preventively the proper keeping of all receipts and being known to the local boutique staff is recommended. --- **Question:** Were Montblanc sub-brands like Adler Spezial actually made by Montblanc? **Answer:** Montblanc-Simplo supplied unbranded fountain pens via the firm Excelsior to retailers who could provide them with their own lettering, e.g. Adler & Co. In the concrete case of the Adler Spezial examined, feed with lamellae, the front part of the rod and the thread of the mechanism speak against Montblanc production. Similar Waterman-style models were also made by Diplomat, Tatra and Stöffhaas, partly with double spindle; on Montblanc simple spindles dominate. A safe attribution is only possible by disassembly and inspection of the inner workings, possibly after a brief bath in distilled ultrasonic water with attention to the risk of oxidation. Not every sub-brand pen with a Montblanc nib is from Montblanc production. --- **Question:** Is online buying of Montblanc writing instruments from private sellers worthwhile, and what risks exist compared with the specialist trade? **Answer:** Collectors hold different positions here. Some advise buying exclusively from professional dealers ('Buy the seller'), since private sellers often lack sufficient expertise. Others argue that even professional sellers do not necessarily have more know-how and that private sellers with a good rating history can quite well enable reputable bargains. An unfilled service guide is not regarded as evidence against authenticity, since many originals are sold without entry. Anyone wanting security in nib exchange and warranty performance fares better with the specialist trade. --- **Question:** Is the new midnight-blue Montblanc ink really the document-proof successor to the old blue-black ink? **Answer:** The earlier blue-black document ink was, according to missing-pen.de, renamed Midnight Blue; on the packaging the note 'for documents' still appears. Alongside the ink names, the bottle and closure design and the maker have changed: the old inks came from Gutenberg in Bonn; the new ones are produced in Austria. The properties of the inks are described as similar. If the document-proof note is missing on the packaging, one should specifically ask in the specialist trade. --- **Question:** Is a pen with a Montblanc star on the nib and two cap rings really a Montblanc 320? **Answer:** It is presumably a Montblanc 310 (ident no. 13110) from the period of about 1985 to 1988 with a gold-plated stainless-steel wing nib, offered only as a cartridge pen with piston converter. Usually, however, the 310 has a cap with only one ring, while a double-ring cap belongs to model 221 (13121); here a mix-up apparently exists. Up to the early 1990s Montblanc was not a pure luxury supplier but produced, similarly to Pelikan, from school to high-quality models. Instead of an original Montblanc converter, a Pelikan converter is recommended. --- **Question:** Does it harm Montblanc's reputation when the brand expands its range to jewellery and other lifestyle products? **Answer:** Collectors evaluate the diversification predominantly positively, since Montblanc is long no longer a pure writing-instrument manufactory but a luxury brand. The writing-instrument industry hardly grows worldwide, which is why brand transfer to jewellery, leather goods and accessories financially secures the brand and opens up new target groups. Critically seen are above all cufflinks and tie pins, since Montblanc is no classic gentleman's outfitter like Dunhill. Brand transfers carry risks but also open opportunities, which is what entrepreneurial action is about. --- **Question:** Can the numbering of Montblanc pencils be systematically explained? **Answer:** A consistent system behind the pencil numbers does not exist. Montblanc has used very different numbering schemes since about 1920. Only between roughly 1930 and 1960 can it be seen that the first digit indicated product-group affiliation (Meisterstück, 2nd series, 3rd series) and the second digit was a 7. After that, fundamentally different numbering systems were introduced. --- **Question:** What should be considered when buying a high-quality fountain pen like the Montblanc LeGrand or Pelikan M800, and how do you store it correctly? **Answer:** In the boutique all nib widths should be available for trial, which is mostly possible with Montblanc Meisterstücks; with the Pelikan M800 the selection at dealers is often more limited. A newly purchased pen should be a previously unused example and not the much-handled showpiece. Montblanc and Pelikan nibs differ noticeably in writing feel and absolutely must be compared. Anyone who writes a lot on flights benefits from the piston-cartridge Traveller model (147). For storage a leather case is recommended; at home the desk or an acrylic stand suffices. --- **Question:** How is the new Writers Edition Kafka to be assessed in terms of looks and writing behaviour, and how does delivery to dealers proceed? **Answer:** The Kafka convinces with its discreetly translucent black-red of great depth and the interplay with cool silver fittings, as well as the unusual shape that runs from round to angular. Ballpoint and pencil are slightly tail-heavy; on the fountain pen the classic piston mechanism is missing (cartridge pen), but the ventilation problem is solved. Delivery is staggered annually: first the flagship stores, then the boutiques and finally the retailers, which on highly demanded editions can mean wait times of several months. Retailers who invest a lot in Montblanc are preferred in delivery. --- **Question:** What speaks for the Montblanc 149 and what for the Pelikan Souverän M1000 when buying a large premium fountain pen? **Answer:** Objective arguments for or against either of the two models are scarce; the decision is ultimately a matter of taste. The Pelikan M1000 has a noticeably softer nib; Pelikan nibs are occasionally felt as scratchy but are exchangeable without problems. With the current 149 there are isolated reports of starting problems that can mostly be remedied through thorough cleaning (ultrasonic bath); a nib exchange at the maker is possible. Between the 146 and 149 there is hardly any difference in nib quality or starting behaviour. Vintage 149s from the 1950s are preferred over current models. Tightness problems, e.g. when flying, do not, in experience, occur on the 149. --- **Question:** Is it permissible for online shops to sell Montblanc writing instruments with price information? **Answer:** Selling Montblanc writing instruments via online shops is basically permitted, but publishing prices is not allowed for dealers. Montblanc can take legal action against individual shops with price information, but in practice enforcement is limited; some suppliers adjust their price information after a short time or are removed from the list of authorised dealers. A direct hint to Montblanc sometimes leads to reactions but often only with limited effect. --- **Question:** Why is the ink-level sight window on the Montblanc 149 and 146 often hard to read, and can it discolour? **Answer:** On intact newer 149 and 146 models the ink window is basically well readable. Clouding can arise through long-term ink exposure; after flushing the window appears clear at first, but on refilling with ink the clouding becomes visible again. Certain inks (e.g. heavily pigmented) can contribute to deposits, which is why thorough cleaning is recommended. Anyone who does not need exact ink level can live with an approximate display; for precise readability holding against a light source helps. --- **Question:** How do you open and disassemble a Montblanc 142 from the 1950s, since it has no knurled screw for opening? **Answer:** For disassembly special tools are needed (e.g. via penboard.de, item number 09736); a suitable block can also be made oneself. To loosen the piston mechanism the grip section must first be unscrewed; since grip section and barrel are glued with shellac, the pen must be heated with a heat gun at about 120 degrees until the adhesive softens. Care must be taken not to overheat the celluloid, since otherwise it becomes soft and can be destroyed. The cork must subsequently be replaced. On maxpens.de a photo of a fully disassembled Meisterstück can be found as a reference. --- **Question:** Does a complete inventory list of all Montblanc writing instruments ever made (not limited) exist, including nib material? **Answer:** A comprehensive listing of all Montblanc models including nib variants can be found in the two books by Jens Rösler: 'Montblanc Diary and Collectors Guide' and 'Collectible Stars'. These standard works are partly antiquarianly expensive (several hundred euros for the Diary, under 100 euros for Collectible Stars) but are regarded as compulsory reading for serious collectors and, through their detail accuracy, often save costly mispurchases. Own overviews from existing literature and websites like fountainpen.de remain fragmentary and quickly hit limits. --- **Question:** Do Montblanc pen stands fit across models, or does each model need its own stand? **Answer:** Every Montblanc fountain pen needs a matching stand, since the stand receptacles correspond to the cap dimensions; a 144 stand thus fits only the 144, a 146 stand only the 146 and so on. Even within the same model number, old and newer versions cannot be exchanged, because dimensions have changed over the years (old and new 146 stands are not compatible). The stands usually work on the slip principle, regardless of the model. For safe selection it is recommended to take one's own pen to a specialist dealer and check on site. --- **Question:** How is the value-for-money ratio of high-priced Montblanc leather goods like the Meisterstück Zipped Leather Case to be assessed? **Answer:** Collectors rate many leather products and accessories from Montblanc as significantly overpriced; the range serves recognisably brand positioning as a lifestyle brand and not primarily functionality. As a cheaper alternative within the maker's own range the Sienna cases are mentioned. With some special editions like the Artisan line, matching crocodile pen cases are included, which are partly traded individually but whose rarity is hard to assess, since identical cases were used on several editions (e.g. Gift Collection, Jungle Eyes). In general the collector advice applies: scrutinise new editions critically and possibly prefer the second-hand market. --- **Question:** Is buying a Montblanc Generation ballpoint via eBay worthwhile, and how does the price classify compared with RRP and boutique price? **Answer:** The Generation is no longer in production and barely available in trade; the RRP for Meisterstück Classique ballpoints is around 290 euros in specialist trade, while e.g. Galeria Kaufhof offered Generation models at times for 99 euros. eBay prices around 139 euros count in this context as too high, especially as for the money one can already get a used Meisterstück ballpoint. eBay prices are usually below shop price; the warranty and nib exchange service fall away, however, and a counterfeit risk exists. Warranty handling runs in case of doubt via the specialist dealer, who needs the receipt for that, not necessarily a service booklet. --- **Question:** How can an inherited Montblanc ballpoint be identified as a Limited Anniversary Edition 75 (164 Classique) or as Royal Steel? **Answer:** The Limited Anniversary Edition for the 75th anniversary is recognisable by clip and cap ring of red gold and an individual numbering 'xy/75' on the barrel; all anniversary writing instruments of metal also have a grain or thread guilloché. A smooth, non-guilloché metal surface excludes an Anniversary Edition and points rather to the Royal Steel model. This has 36 brilliants on the cap ring and 19 on the clip ring (model number M10264). A clear identification requires a high-resolution sharp photo; for detailed model comparisons the model overview on fountainpen.de is recommended. --- **Question:** Is an old Montblanc cartridge pen labelled 'Generation' a real Generation, and which predecessor comes into consideration? **Answer:** The Generation exists exclusively as a cartridge or converter pen; a piston pen of this line does not exist. If a supposed Generation is offered as a piston pen, it is usually the predecessor 'Classic' (not to be confused with the Meisterstück Classique) with the MB number 13xxx, produced from 1978 to the late 1980s. A typical weak point of these models are fine hairline cracks on the grip section at the cut ends where the nib ends; these cracks are often only visible under load. For comparison, sharp photos and matching with the model images on fountainpen.de help. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc DBS-Pix mechanical pencil be matched to a 144 fountain pen, and which variant designations ('K', 'L') are to be considered? **Answer:** Matching the 144 is typically a Meisterstück pencil of the 172 line; the designation '172K' refers to the shorter variant (about 12 cm), produced approximately 1950 to 1958; alongside there were the longer variant 'L' and the standard model without length suffix. Not all Pix pencils are numbered; unmarked examples are, according to the book 'Collectible Stars', attributable to ID 1134 (page 36/37). A 144 fountain pen from 1959/60 with the cap top designed by Albrecht Graf Goertz counts among the rare so-called transitional models, produced for less than a year. Such transitional models count as collector rarities. --- **Question:** Are Montblanc specialist dealers systematically disadvantaged compared with the boutiques, and what effects does this have on the collector scene? **Answer:** Boutiques actually receive new writing instruments and information earlier than the free specialist trade, which sometimes leads to models like the Scenium being already sold in boutiques while specialist dealers are not yet informed. The background is the strategic reorientation of Montblanc/Vendome-Richemont as a lifestyle brand; the largest turnover is meanwhile generated with leather goods, cufflinks, sunglasses and accessories — areas that a classic writing-instrument dealer can hardly serve. From a purely economic view, the favouring of the boutiques is logical but unsatisfying for brand-loyal customers in rural regions. Brand expansion does increase visibility (Douglas, department stores) but carries the risk of diluting the brand core 'writing'. Boutiques sometimes coin small customer gifts (leather cases, cufflink storage) as exclusive bonding tools. --- **Question:** How uncomplicated is the handling of a Montblanc piston pen compared with a cartridge pen, and what ink consumption and nib feel can be expected on the 146? **Answer:** Piston pens or converter systems are unproblematic in practice: ink stains on the grip can be wiped off with a cloth, and cleaning is even easier than on pure cartridge pens, since water can be drawn directly. The ink consumption of the 146 depends strongly on nib width and paper; one filling can last several days; on a wet nib or absorbent paper also only a few hours. Montblanc nibs are perceived as softer than the comparatively rigid nibs of Faber-Castell or Aurora, which increases writing comfort with heavy writing. On the 146 the Solitaire Stainless Steel is named as a high-quality choice. --- **Question:** What can be done about fine scratch marks on the body above the thread on Montblanc pens like 147 and 149, and which polishes are suitable? **Answer:** Scratch marks above the thread from screwing the cap on and off are a known and mostly normal use phenomenon but do not occur equally strongly on every model and can be material-dependent. Collectors successfully use polishes like 'Wenol' or the motorbike-related 'Unipol' (source e.g. Hein-Gericke) to polish out the scratches. Montblanc itself, however, advises against such agents and officially recommends only clear cold or lukewarm water and a soft cloth, since polishes always remove some material. On valuable or rare pieces the trade-off between visual improvement and long-term material preservation must therefore be weighed. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc Meisterstück pen is suitable as an entry-level model for daily studies and exam writing, and which nib width makes sense? **Answer:** For exams and heavy writers the 146 is recommended, since its weight and girth stabilise the script and reduce the pressure feeling on the middle finger. The slimmer 145 is also well suited but for extremely long writing sessions less ideal. The 149 offers maximum support in the hand. As nib width F or EF are recommended, since they enable more text per page and make the script better readable; depending on individual handwriting M can also fit. From the Mozart (114) heavy writers are advised against, since its slim and short shape leads to cramping during longer writing; it is suited above all for notes on the road. As source, primarily specialist trade is recommended for trial writing; online (e.g. scription) prices are cheaper but trial writing is omitted. --- **Question:** When was the Montblanc Collection Madame 946 made, and what value does it have today? **Answer:** The Madame 946 was produced about 30 years ago and dates from the phase before Montblanc became a luxury-goods maker in 1991; accordingly it was normal mass production and not a rarity. The gold-plated or silver-plated ballpoint exists in four versions (two silver and two gold variants each); on eBay, depending on condition, between 35 and 50 euros are achieved. An official quantity is not known; exact information can only be given by Montblanc itself. Anyone seeking one should regularly observe eBay, also Europe-wide. --- **Question:** What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Montblanc 145 Chopin, especially regarding the thread on the barrel, and is it suitable for heavy writers? **Answer:** The 145 is appreciated for its balanced format and nib quality as a very pleasant heavy-writer pen; the thread lies sufficiently far from the grip area, so it usually does not bother during writing, even on small hands. Narrower nibs (EF, F) generate a slightly stronger friction during writing, which can be felt as 'scratching' but breaks in over time; broader nibs like OB write more softly but use more ink. On the 145 Platinum the look is particularly highlighted. In general it is recommended to test the 145 in the boutique before purchase to check nib width and hand feel. --- **Question:** How high is the resale value of a Montblanc 146 LeGrand and a Montblanc special edition (e.g. Warner Music 1995) via eBay? **Answer:** Standard models like the 146 LeGrand achieve significantly less on the second-hand market than the original shop price; examples show that 146s that once cost 600 to 700 euros are traded for around 250 euros. The main reason is the high quantity that has been produced for standard Meisterstücks for years. A real value increase is shown only by Limited Editions (e.g. Writers Edition, Patron of Art). Employee-gift pens like the Warner Music special edition are not official editions but with a good eBay description can easily achieve higher prices than series 146s. In general Montblanc standard ware is comparable to a car: on leaving the shop it noticeably loses value. --- **Question:** Are Montblanc ballpoints and rollerballs more prestige objects than utility devices, since the actual refill makes up only a fraction of the sales price? **Answer:** Collectors classify MB ballpoints and rollerballs clearly as luxury and prestige objects, since the high price is not justified by the writing properties of the refill itself. The value lies in design, mechanism (e.g. twist mechanism), housing materials and brand value. For historical comparison: according to the price list of 1982, a 164 ballpoint cost 75 DM, a 149 fountain pen 320 DM. Practically to consider is that a ballpoint, unlike a fountain pen and partly also a rollerball, writes reliably on thermal paper (debit/credit card receipts). The rollerball writes with more fluid ink and a feel more similar to a fountain pen but has a faster-empty refill. --- **Question:** How can the nibs of a Montblanc fountain pen be exchanged, and where do you get the necessary nib key? **Answer:** Original nib keys Montblanc gives only to its own service centres; some collectors have therefore built their own tools; instructions and special tools can be found on sites like penboard.de. Important: Montblanc uses no self-sealing threads like Aurora or Pelikan but a silicone seal that on disassembly must absolutely be renewed; otherwise the pen leaks. Hardware-store silicone is unsuitable, since not sufficiently elastic and ink-resistant; high-quality, ink-resistant silicone is needed. The nib unit can be unscrewed counter-clockwise at the front matt-black ring of the section. Because of the risk of permanently damaging a Montblanc, experienced collectors advise on valuable pieces repair by Montblanc or specialists. --- **Question:** How do Montblanc Meisterstück ballpoint and rollerball differ in writing behaviour and handling? **Answer:** The rollerball writes significantly more lightly than the ballpoint because its ink is more fluid and approaches the writing feel of a fountain pen. The disadvantage is that the ink runs and bleeds more easily on poor paper and that the refill is comparatively quickly empty. Constructively both models differ in that the rollerball has a screw-off cap while the ballpoint typically works with a twist mechanism. Writers who get along well with it appreciate it as a high-quality alternative to the ballpoint in everyday life. --- **Question:** How do you recognise a Montblanc Meisterstück 146, and which filling system does this model have? **Answer:** You recognise the 146 primarily by its size: closed about 14.5 cm long with a Meisterstück ring of about 1.5 cm diameter. The filling system is a permanently fitted piston filler, no converter and no cartridge system; it is operated by turning at the rear end. The term 'piston converter' is used by some for the permanently fitted mechanism; more correct is the designation piston pen, since converters must always be exchangeable. Cartridges are taken only by the 147 Traveller; the 145 Chopin uses an exchangeable converter. Classic piston pens have, by the state of the discussion, practically not been counterfeited. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 146 (Le Grand): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-146-en.htm --- **Question:** How can the refills be exchanged in the Montblanc 4-colour ballpoint? **Answer:** The refills can simply be pulled out at the front and replaced with new ones; a tool is not necessary. Matching replacement refills are available at writing-instrument specialist trade. --- **Question:** How are workmanship quality and service of current Montblanc leather products — specifically the Nightflight collection — to be assessed compared with earlier decades? **Answer:** Collectors judge the quality of current Montblanc leather goods differently: some see a quality loss compared with older editions; others still hold today's leather goods to be high-quality and market-leading, especially compared with the competition. Particularly older cases from the 1950s are valued by some for size, haptics and cut, while others see nothing special in them. Montblanc's repair and exchange service is regardless rated as accommodating and fast. On textile-coated pieces like the Nightflight key case (silk-cotton mix with impregnation), unraveled seams have been reported repeatedly as a typical wear problem. --- **Question:** Where do you best buy a Montblanc Meisterstück Chopin: at the specialist dealer or online, where significant price differences exist? **Answer:** Buying at the specialist dealer or in a boutique is recommended, since only there can various nib widths be tested extensively — the matching nib width is decisive for writing pleasure. Important is to bring one's own paper for trial. At least the standard widths F, M and B should be available. Concretely recommended are the boutiques in Bremen and Munich and specialised online suppliers like scription.de for later replacement purchase. Online purchases are price-attractive but carry the risk of a wrong nib width. Some dealers also offer to test pens from other sources comparatively on site. --- **Question:** Is Montblanc's 'Masters for Meisterstück' line with Meissen porcelain still in production, and what does it cost? **Answer:** The black porcelain pens of the line are no longer being made; the stocks remaining in the boutiques were recalled, which probably explains problems with the black porcelain colouring. The white variant is still listed, e.g. via the Meissen website. The price is given as around 1,950 euros. Concrete background to the production stop is, as company internal information, not public. Striking is an erroneous spelling of 'Montblanc' on the Meissen page. --- **Question:** What to do if a Montblanc Greta Garbo fountain pen shows poor ink flow and the first letters write only weakly? **Answer:** A frequent cause is a nib width unsuitable for the writing posture or a very upright writing posture on the fine Greta Garbo pen. Collectors advise giving the pen a few days break-in time and working on the writing posture. If the problem persists, going to the specialist dealer or to Montblanc is worthwhile; a free nib swap is only possible within 14 days of purchase, afterwards subject to charge. In the concrete case the problem was fixed by nib swap and a more upright writing style. --- **Question:** From which time does an inherited golden Montblanc fountain pen with gold overlay date, and who made it? **Answer:** It is a Meisterstück 144 (or possibly 146; size measurement gives clarity) from the 1950s. The gold overlay is a sleeve that comes not from Montblanc itself but from goldsmiths in Pforzheim/Mühlacker — named are Bossert & Erhard, who still work for Montblanc today, and Sarastro as a maker of pocket-use articles. A hallmark indicates that it is indeed precious metal. The pen, despite the aftermarket overlay, is collectible and has relevant material value; inscriptions like 'Meisterstück' the old 144s did not necessarily carry. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 144 (Classique predecessor): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-144-en.htm --- **Question:** Is there an official price list of the entire Montblanc product range for orientation, e.g. when buying used pieces? **Answer:** Complete price lists only authorised specialist dealers have, and they are generally allowed neither to release nor publish them online. Old price lists and brochures, however, regularly turn up on eBay and partly contain lists in the appendix. Some dealer websites show prices, e.g. fuellhalter.de or koitz.com. Overall the market for used Montblancs remains price-wise inconsistent; concluded eBay auctions provide realistic indications. --- **Question:** Which writing instruments count among collectors' personal favourites? **Answer:** Particularly many pieces of the Limited Anniversary 1924 line (146 Doué, 144 Sterling) and the Anniversary 75 Skeleton Edition are named. Popular are also Writers Editions like Marcel Proust and Agatha Christie, Patron of Art editions like Dörrbecker Quintessenz, the Skeleton Star, the 145P, the 122 Malachite and the Jules Verne. Outside Montblanc, the Waterman Edson (with L or F nib), Pelikan M700 Toledo and Sheaffer Balance are also cited as favourites. Preferred is mostly the medium-sized barrel with individually fitting nib width (often B or M). Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Writers Edition Agatha Christie (1993): https://www.fountainpen.de/writer-christie-en.htm --- **Question:** Which Montblanc writing instrument — fountain pen, rollerball or ballpoint — should be chosen as a first purchase, and which warranty advantages exist with the specialist dealer over internet purchase? **Answer:** Recommended is the writing instrument actually most frequently used; a 'tradition' in favour of the fountain pen does not exist. Warranty-wise: every commercial dealer must grant two years' liability for defects, regardless of whether bought online or in the boutique. Additionally Montblanc grants a manufacturer's own warranty whose scope can vary depending on the dealer relation. Advantages of online purchase: from a goods value of 40 euros the buyer bears no return shipping costs and can test the product at home; disadvantage is the missing personal advice. Meanwhile Montblanc specialist dealers may also sell their writing instruments online. --- **Question:** What experiences exist on workmanship quality of the Montblanc Nightflight Collection, especially with unraveling seams on key cases and bags? **Answer:** Several owners report consistently of unraveling seams on the Nightflight key case, partly already after a few weeks' carrying in the trouser pocket. Montblanc exchanges the case under warranty; the problem, however, recurs on replacement deliveries. Precondition for the free exchange is a correctly completed warranty card with purchase date, dealer stamp and concrete article — a foreign warranty card does not help. Larger pieces of the collection (e.g. the Nightflight backpack) are reinforced with leather piping at the outer seams and show hardly any wear. Materially the combination of silk-cotton fabric and rough denim in the trouser pocket is little durable. --- **Question:** Are 6.50 euros shipping costs on a warranty repair on a Montblanc 164 justified, and is it usual that in service the entire piston/feed is replaced? **Answer:** On eBay purchases the dealer sending in rightly demands shipping costs, since he is not the original seller and so not obliged to free warranty handling. A precautionary exchange of the feed is standard procedure in Montblanc service and counts as a quality measure. With complaints of obvious faults (e.g. shifted nib) sending in again should be done promptly, with the two-week deadline for free nib swap to be observed. --- **Question:** Which fountain pen under about 100 euros, or which Montblanc, is suitable for very fast, fatigue-free and unstrained writing — especially under exam conditions? **Answer:** The Montblanc Meisterstück 145 Platinum with F nib is recommended as a long-lived all-rounder that meets the typical requirements. Anyone who must stay within a student budget fares well with Lamy models (e.g. Lamy Studio with gold nib). The choice of fountain pen is highly individual — some prefer light, small pens, others large, heavy ones. An 18-carat nib brings, compared with a 14-carat nib, hardly noticeable differences in writing. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 145 (Classique): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-145-en.htm --- **Question:** Does Montblanc still offer real entry-level pens in the range of 100 to 150 euros, and what is behind the conspicuously small models like the Mozart? **Answer:** Montblanc has, for some years, deliberately no longer produced actual entry-level pens; the Scenium and Noblesse lines are discontinued, and from the Scenium there was never a fountain pen. The smallest current writing instrument is the Meisterstück 114 Mozart, which, however, is strictly speaking not a writing instrument but a notation device for short notes with style and is not suitable for longer texts. For everyday school use, therefore, a regular Meisterstück or robust brands like Lamy, Pelikan or Rotring are recommended; for children the too narrow, fragile barrel of the Mozart is regarded as unsuitable. Anyone wanting to use a Montblanc on the road should carry it in a case in the inside pocket to avoid damage and loss. --- **Question:** Which pen is suitable for daily entry into the upper class: Montblanc Meisterstück 146, OMAS Milord or Visconti Van Gogh Midi? **Answer:** The Meisterstück 146 has the highest prestige value and uses acrylic resin, which in everyday use stays particularly scratch-resistant; Montblanc also offers reliable service over decades. OMAS models have a warm haptic, but the softer material shows clear use marks already after short use, and the complaint rate of older years was high. Similar quality concerns earlier applied to Visconti, which may have improved in younger models. Anyone seeking off the beaten brand path and valuing high-quality black/silver looks finds in S.T. Dupont (e.g. Orpheo) or Caran d'Ache an alternative; in Hannover Goebelhoff at Steintor carries S.T. Dupont. On the 146 with piston system the ink volume is comparable with about two standard cartridges. --- **Question:** Can subsequent engravings on cap or clip of current Montblanc writing instruments be removed? **Answer:** Removal of the engraving itself is not possible on modern writing instruments, since the material consists of synthetic resin and cannot be filled without visible traces. Only two ways are practical: first, the inserted colour within the engraving can be removed so it looks more inconspicuous; second, on comparatively new pieces, the engraved part can be exchanged within the service flat fee at Montblanc, although the reason for the complaint must be clearly formulated and an ungraved replacement component expressly requested. --- **Question:** Is the repair and value of an older Montblanc 1276 gold pen along with a defective Parker writing instrument worthwhile, and how do you sell the pieces if needed? **Answer:** The 1276 is a solid-gold piston pen, produced 1971 to 1975 (according to Collectible Stars). First cleaning attempts with a clear water bath are often successful; if writing behaviour is still too fine afterwards, nib swap or service repair come into consideration but are economically only sensible on valuable pieces. Repair addresses can be found under Care–Repair and weblinks on fountainpen.de; further hints come via regional collector regulars' tables (e.g. Karlsruhe via the C.A.S.). For sale, waiting until the end of the summer holidays and turning to collector or show platforms with fair pricing is recommended, instead of often uninterested stationery specialist dealers. --- **Question:** Which inexpensive, qualitatively high-quality blotter rockers or roller blotters for open office environments are recommendable? **Answer:** In the entry range, the roller blotters by Lerche present themselves as inexpensive, practical and well-made. A step above are blotter rockers by ElCasco that visually fit excellently with Montblanc writing instruments, are significantly more substantial but price-wise still under the classic Montblanc blotter rockers. Genuine Montblanc blotter rockers with silver-coloured body and black leather inlay are rare and are produced rather for corporate-customer presents in small editions (e.g. No. 07791, in the Presents of Character brochure); they barely turn up in boutiques but rather in well-stocked specialist stationery trade. Caution is warranted with supposedly silver-coloured Montblanc blotter rockers from eBay, since such model variants count as counterfeit-suspect. --- **Question:** Where are the old fountainpen.de newsletters from 2004 to 2007 still retrievable? **Answer:** Of the old fountainpen.de newsletters the following issues exist as PDFs: newsletters 1 to 5 from 2004, a newsletter 01-06 from 2006, the issues no. 1 (in low and high resolution) and no. 2 from 2005 and the newsletter no. 1 from 2007 (each in low and high resolution). A planned subsequent maintenance on the main website was at that time still pending, especially since the newsletter was discontinued for time reasons. --- **Question:** Where are the three-digit model numbers found on Montblanc Meisterstücks, and according to which system are they assigned? **Answer:** On most writing instruments the model number is not directly imprinted; on some 146 and 149 fountain pens it is found on the cap ring (e.g. 'Meisterstück 146'). The numbering system is historically grown: the first digit denotes the series (up to WWII there was additionally the '4' for school and stylo writing instruments; the '3xx' was not a pure pupil line but simply the third series). The second digit stands for size, the third for device type: 4 fountain pen, 6 ballpoint, 7 twist pencil. Thus 114 denotes a fountain pen, 116 a ballpoint and 117 a twist pencil. --- **Question:** Why does the cap of a Meisterstück 163 rollerball not sit correctly on the body, and can it be exchanged? **Answer:** If the cap sinks about 2 mm too little onto the body, with high probability a fountain-pen cap (typically from the 144 Meisterstück) is fitted whose inner cap is too large for the rollerball. The inner cap of a rollerball is significantly smaller and only encloses the ball tip of the refill. Exchanging only the inner part is not possible, since Montblanc principally does not sell spare parts to end customers — this also serves to curb the counterfeit industry. An original rollerball inner cap as a repair item costs in experience at least 50 euros via the works service. --- **Question:** What to do if a new Montblanc Meisterstück 146 is felt as too fine or scratches with heavy writing? **Answer:** Adjusting to a new pen is generally necessary; in most cases the cause lies not in the writing instrument but in user adaptation. For heavy writers who have to mind tendinitis, the larger 149 is ergonomically often better, since the thicker body strains the arm tendon less. An M nib should not scratch on normal paper; problems mostly occur on very inexpensive paper or when the nib tines do not stand cleanly to each other. Good papers like Clairefontaine are recommended. Anyone with a nib-swap guarantee at the dealer can also have the nib width adjusted afterwards in the boutique without problems. --- **Question:** What does the inscription 'Pix' on Montblanc writing instruments mean? **Answer:** 'Pix' originally goes back to a designation protected by Montblanc in the 1930s for a certain pencil-lead-feed mechanism. Due to trademark protection rights, Montblanc moved in 2004 to using this term — which is still associated with Montblanc — on further writing instruments to secure the trademark. The inscription has today no technical meaning any more but serves primarily trademark protection. --- **Question:** How do you distinguish Montblanc Noblesse and Slimline, and which model is a pen with matt stainless-steel housing and gold-plated fittings? **Answer:** It is a Montblanc Noblesse I (first version) with matt stainless-steel housing, gold-plated fittings and a 14-carat gold nib; these models were made until the late 1980s. Important for distinction: Slimline writing instruments rank below the Noblesse line and are recognisable by simpler workmanship. On some online sources Slimline models (e.g. the 1122) are mistakenly listed as Noblesse — correct attribution is via nib material (gold nib on the Noblesse) and housing version. --- **Question:** Is the eBay seller 'pen-seller' reputable for Montblanc purchases, and which warranty and return rights apply on online purchase? **Answer:** The seller is described in the collector scene as reputable, with proper invoice and the usual 2-year warranty. When buying from a commercial dealer in distance selling (internet, telephone, doorstep), additionally a 14-day return right exists, also without reason. Important: Montblanc principally forbids its authorised specialist dealers distribution via the internet — reputable eBay sellers are generally not authorised dealers; the warranty thus comes from the seller themselves, not directly from Montblanc. Warranty cards are handed over depending on supplier with or without factory stamp. --- **Question:** Which differences exist between Montblanc Classique and LeGrand rollerball refills, and which rollerball is better suited for heavy writers? **Answer:** The Classique rollerball refills contain a liquid ink filling and hold more ink than the LeGrand refills, in which the ink soaks a sponge; own investigations, however, show that a sponge can also be fitted in the Classique refill. Criticism in collector forums refers predominantly to the shorter range of the LeGrand refills. Both models count basically as usable; the practical difference lies above all in the frequency of refill change. For final decision a trial grip in specialist trade is recommended, since the LeGrand is generally described as more pleasant in the hand. --- **Question:** Did the Montblanc models 244 and 272 actually also exist in a black-grey colour variant? **Answer:** The models 244 and 272 count among the most sought-after non-Meisterstück post-war models from Montblanc. They actually exist in several sizes and colour variants, including the black-grey stripe pattern. These multi-colour versions are today significantly rarer on the collector market than the plain black variants and correspondingly in demand. For founded identification of the specific variant, relevant Montblanc specialist literature documenting all known sizes and colourings is referenced. --- **Question:** Are the Montblanc writing instruments from the Generation line in the Galeria Kaufhof anniversary campaign genuine factory ware? **Answer:** The Montblanc Generation writing instruments from the Kaufhof anniversary campaign, according to information from Montblanc, come from their own stock, which the Kaufhof chain had collected over a longer period — these are real remainders, not special deliveries. Prices were below the conditions even authorised dealers can achieve directly with Montblanc. Such campaigns must, by law, be available for at least two days; the offer was nationwide; popular models (e.g. pencils for 79 euros) were therefore quickly sold out online, while branches still had stock. --- **Question:** Why does ink drip from the mechanism of a Meisterstück 146 after filling, and how can the problem be remedied? **Answer:** When the pen was held completely under water during cleaning, on operating the piston mechanism water penetrates into the rear area (mechanism chamber). On renewed drawing-up this remaining water mixes with ink and then visibly emerges from the rear ring. Remedy is provided by repeated dry-wiping of the mechanism area after filling. If that does not help, a factory repair is necessary — Montblanc reliably remedies such defects. For disassembling the piston mechanism English-language guides exist (e.g. on fountainpennetwork.com); aids of soft wire (paper clips) are unsuitable; a cocktail fork with bent prongs or a dedicated mechanic's key are the better tools. --- **Question:** Is buying a high-quality Montblanc Starwalker as ballpoint or rather as rollerball worthwhile, and are there objective writing advantages over inexpensive writing instruments? **Answer:** The choice between ballpoint and rollerball is primarily a personal decision; collectors who themselves only write with fountain pens refer to personal comparison in specialist trade as the best decision basis. Factually: a Montblanc ballpoint refill is not in principle easier to guide than a good plastic ballpoint refill, and Montblanc ink hardly differs qualitatively from high-quality alternatives like Pelikan 4001. The added value lies above all in workmanship, material quality, ergonomics and haptics of the body, less in pure writing performance. Rollerball refills are shorter-lived and so more expensive in consumption. --- **Question:** Which features characterise the new Montblanc Starwalker Doué line, and when is it available? **Answer:** The Starwalker Doué is priced between the black Starwalker and the Starwalker Rubber. The resin barrel carries — like the cap or the ballpoint grip section — a striking transverse guilloché and looks at first glance as if of metal, although it is made of resin. The line is already deliverable in the boutiques, even if it is not necessarily listed on the Montblanc homepage. The fountain pen is also available in EF nib width. With offers in atypical colours (e.g. blue) caution is warranted — Starwalker Doué were made by Montblanc exclusively in the official standard colours; deviating versions indicate counterfeits. --- **Question:** Why is there no special packaging or accompanying material for the early Montblanc Artisan editions (True Princess, Magic Beauty, Hans Christian Andersen)? **Answer:** Binding information can only be given by the respective product manager; the background lies, in collector judgement, in the original marketing strategy. The early-released 'Fairy Tale Collection' (Magic Beauty/True Princess, 1999) was distributed very discreetly and without public advertising, which is why special packaging and inserts were dispensed with. Only later Artisan editions received high-quality leather cases and companion booklets, which is interpreted as a reaction to the upmarket price level. With cufflinks and similar jewellery pieces, the Jungle Eyes collection is sometimes wrongly offered as True Princess on eBay, so verification via the boutique is sensible. --- **Question:** What value and history does an older Montblanc Carrera fountain pen from the 1970s have? **Answer:** The Carrera is a school or use fountain pen produced in the 1970s in the lower price segment of Montblanc. Collectors estimate the market value in normal preservation state at about 30 euros or less, since the model is neither rare nor particularly coveted. Up to 1991 Montblanc made the entire spectrum from inexpensive school pens to Meisterstück; the brand's luxury reputation refers above all to later production. The Carrera is therefore primarily suitable as a use writing instrument and not as an investment. --- **Question:** How can the nib width of a Montblanc 146 be exchanged, and what costs apply? **Answer:** Within the first 14 days of new purchase, the nib width is exchanged free of charge by Montblanc, provided the nib is not bent. Later exchanges run via the boutique or factory service against the usual repair flat fee, whose exact amount Montblanc only states after assessment. Some boutiques exchange the nib directly on site, which significantly speeds up the process. A precondition is generally that a matching desired nib is in stock. --- **Question:** Is it worthwhile for jewellers to take high-quality writing instruments into their assortment, or do they remain a domain of specialist trade? **Answer:** The majority of collectors buy their high-quality writing instruments in classic stationery specialist trade or directly in the brand boutiques, since better advice competence and greater service relation exist there. For jewellers, especially from the mid-class segment, a supplementary assortment of premium pens can work, provided the staff is correspondingly trained. Brand boutiques count for makers like Montblanc as very lucrative, because there sale takes place without doubled trade margin and barely with discounts and service can be handled cheaply. A blanket evaluation as a goldmine is, however, not possible without balance-sheet insight. --- **Question:** How can a gifted Meisterstück with 18-carat nib be verified as model 144? **Answer:** The pen described is actually a 144 from the 1990s. Whether the nib is 14 or 18 carat is for model determination secondary, since Montblanc fitted nibs in both carat grades — decisive are dimensions, shape and fittings. On comparison with boutique models or fountainpen.de galleries, the typical features can be checked well. With ballpoints applies: the only true 'Mont Blanc' ballpoint comes from the 100-year anniversary edition with granite cap; everything else are regular models like the Starwalker. --- **Question:** Has Montblanc ever produced a ballpoint with two refills? **Answer:** Yes, Montblanc offered in the 1980s a two-colour ballpoint belonging to the Slimline series and sold from 1985 to 1988. It was available in matt-brushed stainless steel and rarely in titanium colour, with chromed or gold-plated clip. The mechanism does not come from Montblanc itself, which is why common standard 4-colour refills fit. After concentrating on the Meisterstück programme, these models were taken out of the assortment. --- **Question:** Can scratches on a Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire of stainless steel be polished, and is the effort worthwhile? **Answer:** Self-polishing is difficult, since improper attempts mostly leave additional scratches. Recommended are Cape Cod polishing cloths, also standard on steel watches and effective at removing fine scratches. Alternatively, a watchmaker or jeweller with experience in steel-watch care can professionally polish the writing instrument. In assessment from photos it should be considered that flash makes scratches appear more dramatic; as a new price the stainless-steel ballpoint lay at around 550 euros. --- **Question:** How is a Montblanc fountain pen to be assessed whose components come from three or four different epochs? **Answer:** Such a fountain pen was never originally delivered in this configuration but assembled from parts of various models and epochs. A war-related makeshift assembly is unlikely if components from the 1950s are contained. Such a mixed piece is collector-worthy at most as a parts donor; a proper model attribution is not possible. On sale it should be declared accordingly to avoid false expectations. --- **Question:** Is the quality of Montblanc counterfeits meanwhile so high that they are hard to recognise, and how helpfully does Montblanc act against plagiarisms? **Answer:** On fountain pens counterfeits can still be well recognised by the bad nib quality; on ballpoints and Starwalkers the differences are significantly more subtle and partly only noticeable to the expert. Montblanc engages against product piracy and accepts hints on eBay fakes. The service area is rated mixedly: nib swaps and repairs can take several weeks; in individual cases statements about nib equipment are communicated contradictorily. Experience values differ strongly, which is why blanket judgements on service quality are precluded. --- **Question:** How high are the current list prices of the Montblanc Bohème Big Size Platinum and the small black/rose-gold variant with topaz? **Answer:** The Bohème Big Size costs 495 euros, the small model with rose-gold trim and topaz 395 euros. The Big Size Platinum exists exclusively in a variant without stone in the clip; it is decidedly conceived as a men's model and, with extended nib, about as large as a 149. While the small Bohème models appeared in many variants, the Big Size remained restricted to the platinum trim, without yellow-gold, sterling or stainless-steel versions. For the Big Size a matching single leather case in black exists; the clip does not, by production reasons, necessarily stand exactly in line with the nib. --- **Question:** What are the Montblanc Scenium Artists Packaging Sets, and what background does their limitation have? **Answer:** These are Scenium sets of ballpoint and fineliner in gift cases with cartoon motifs by Mordillo, each at about 179 euros per set and so around 15 euros above the calculated single price. Released on the themes 'Love', 'Friendship' and 'Thanks', they are intended to bring these terms back into consciousness. After the Mordillo sets followed a series with Jim Davis Garfield motifs on the same three themes. The boxes are the essential collector interest; the sets were time-limited and quickly sold out; later reordering via regular channels is generally not possible. --- **Question:** Is a 'hole' or black dot in the clip of a Montblanc marker an original feature or a counterfeit hint? **Answer:** On current models it is a black dot in the clip that distinguishes the marker within the LeGrand line from other writing instruments. The dot is only glued in and can fall out with frequent use. Older markers (e.g. with sticker 'W. Germany') did not yet have this dot, so its absence on old pieces is no authenticity problem. On overseas purchases shipping costs, customs and PayPal fees should additionally be included in the calculation to assess bargains realistically. --- **Question:** Are the partly several hundred euro 'moon prices' for the book 'The Montblanc Diary & Collectors Guide' by Jens Rösler justified? **Answer:** The book counts as an indispensable standard work for diehard Montblanc collectors; the asking prices are nonetheless perceived as significantly exaggerated. Such moon prices are detrimental to the seller's image without actually being achieved. Commercial suppliers who additionally take over foreign web content more or less verbatim come additionally under criticism. On eBay similar price excesses occur more frequently, e.g. on Montblanc POS trays given to dealers free of charge that are partly sold declared as leather — which would constitute fraud. --- **Question:** Are there various variants of the Montblanc model 31 with different barrel and nib versions? **Answer:** Model 31 existed in different versions with two different nib shapes and matching front sections exchangeable among each other; additionally at least two further front-part variants exist. The trailing 'P' stands for 'Patronenfüllhalter' (cartridge pen) and marks the cartridge variant. The variety is considerable, so identical-looking pieces side by side can actually differ. For exact attribution, comparison with specialist literature and the gallery on Fountainpen.de is worthwhile. --- **Question:** Which variants of the Montblanc 114 (Mozart) exist, and with which nibs are they delivered? **Answer:** The 114 exists in the classic variant black/gold-plated and black/platinum (114P) and in numerous Solitaire versions like Ramses, Nikolai, Royal, Platinum and Solid Gold. Standard models are equipped with a 14-carat nib, Solitaires and special editions with an 18-carat nib. Nibs made in France deviate in carat convention. The 114 did not exist in the Artisan True Princess Collection and not in the Magic Beauty I edition; further variants comprise the 1141 Solitaire Doué with sterling silver cap and the 1142 Solitaire Doué Vermeil. --- **Question:** How is a Montblanc fountain pen to be assessed whose model designation cannot be researched? **Answer:** A model that cannot be assigned is often a composite piece from components of various origin. In the concrete case the cap comes from a 234½, the body from a 344 or 342, so both parts are Montblanc originals but were not delivered in the same model. A corresponding model designation cannot therefore exist. For use as a writing instrument such a mix is nonetheless suitable; from a collector view, however, only as a parts donor. --- **Question:** Why does the cap of a Montblanc 146 sit loosely after short carry in the case, and can the problem be remedied oneself? **Answer:** Collectors name several causes: manufacturing tolerances on the thread, an accidentally swapped cap or worn thread teeth through daily screwing, occasionally also through too firm tightening by third parties. Between barrel and cap, in final inspection, no play should occur; an audible crunching with light wobbling indicates a no longer matching thread. Self-help (e.g. warming) is advised against, since the thread is anyway not used for slip mounting. Sending in to Montblanc service is recommended; in warranty cases the cap is generally completely exchanged. --- **Question:** Why do current Montblanc advertising articles achieve sometimes very high prices on eBay, although they are regularly distributed as giveaways? **Answer:** Unlike historical advertising pieces (display cases, grooved boards, old ink bottles, posters) that are rare and collector-worthy, on current giveaway and promotion articles it is rather about irrational enthusiast prices: Coca-Cola collectors behave similarly, as do lovers of old fountain pens. Collectors advise dealers not to throw away old advertising materials, since for nearly anything a buyer is found. Critically seen are excessive prices for anyway freely available current brochures (e.g. Kafka), since one gets them free in specialist trade. With own exhibitions, celluloid-containing vintage writing instruments should be stored light-protected; modern devices may by contrast lie without problems in lit display cases. --- **Question:** What to do if a newly bought Montblanc 145 does not start reliably and ink flow is felt as too dry? **Answer:** Often it is a matter of getting used to it — a pen often writes without problems after some time. If the problems persist, the pen should be sent via the specialist dealer or a boutique to Montblanc for repair; within warranty no costs usually apply; processing takes 2–3 weeks. Experimenting with various inks (also Montblanc itself) rarely brings lasting remedy; modern paper like Clairefontaine or Rhodia causes fewer problems than cheap college paper. Today's nibs no longer need to be broken in. Practically the report shows: after factory adjustment of ink flow, the 145 was reliable and without starting problems. --- **Question:** Why does ink collect on the grip section and in the cap of the Montblanc 146, and which repair options are there? **Answer:** Possible causes are a leaking piston, hairline cracks in the grip section, pressure differences (aircraft, shocks) or simply ink residues in the cap — simply flushing and drying cap and feed often already eliminates the problem. In the concrete case, a hairline crack lay in the nib carrier between nib edge and thread; such cracks arise from the tension with which nib and feed sit in the ring. Own repair (gluing) is possible but risky, since on disassembly lamellae on the feed can break or the nib can be bent. Recommended is the factory repair at Montblanc; alternative contacts are Maxpens, Interpens or Penboard. According to collectors, a comprehensive factory repair (incl. barrel, cap, clip, cap top) cost only around 61 euros. --- **Question:** Where do you most sensibly buy a Montblanc pen as a gift, and is there price scope at various dealers? **Answer:** Prices are factually uniform in Germany: dealers selling below the prescribed prices are no longer supplied; price lists on the internet are therefore not available. Discounts of 5–10 % are partly possible in specialist trade, mostly not before Christmas. On purchase in a Montblanc boutique a subsequent free nib swap is still possible for a while; at independent dealers only the statutory return right and a dealer warranty apply. Online purchase from unknown sources is advised against; the strategy 'give pen and exchange later' is not necessary, since the nib swap is offered anyway. --- **Question:** Where do you get a used Montblanc Carrera in yellow/orange, does it exist as a piston pen, and is a repair worthwhile? **Answer:** The Carrera existed only as a cartridge pen, not as a piston model; used examples change owner on eBay typically for 50–75 euros. Spare parts (e.g. the transition ring to the grip section) can only be obtained by butchering defective examples, since Montblanc discontinues spare-parts supply for non-Meisterstück models 10 years after end of production; an economically sensible repair is therefore hardly possible. Anyone seeking a functioning replacement waits for a defective Carrera with intact desired part on eBay. As inexpensive alternatives with good value, a Pelikan 605 (e.g. at Galeria Kaufhof around 130 euros) or a Lamy 2000 (e.g. via Regina Martini) are named. --- **Question:** Can the production year of a Montblanc Meisterstück be determined by general nib engravings and cap-ring lettering? **Answer:** The engravings 4810 (height of Mont Blanc), 14 C and 585 are found since the 1930s on nearly all Montblanc gold nibs and provide no dating. The description with narrow silver band on the gold nib indicates a 149; since this is equipped with 14K nib, the piece probably dates from the early 1990s. For more concrete determination, comparison with the Meisterstück section on Fountainpen.de is recommended. --- **Question:** How do you get spare parts for a Montblanc 220 (especially the star inlay on the barrel end), does a modern converter fit, and does the model have collector value? **Answer:** A single star inlay is practically not obtainable as a spare part; a restorer would have to scavenge a complete 220, which is uneconomical. Montblanc discontinues spare-parts supply for non-Meisterstück models 10 years after end of production and destroys the remainders, so sending in only costs postage. On the converter question: there is no prescribed standard converter — best try various piston converters at the dealer; one fits in experience. The black 220s have, due to lack of rarity, no collector value at present; they remain, however, good use pieces, qualitatively under pre-war and new productions. --- **Question:** Which arguments speak in comparing Montblanc Meisterstück 145 and 146 (practicability, haptics, balance, writing behaviour)? **Answer:** Material, nib quality and feed are comparable on both models, so objectively no clear quality differences exist; the choice depends above all on the writer's hand. The 146 holds more ink (around a writing day), is gladly handled without cap posted and is thereby regarded as very balanced; the 145 is more compact and better suited for shirt or briefcase, while the 146 counts as a typical desk pen. Recommended is a test in specialist trade with one's own paper, since the grip section of the 145 seems to some too thin, that of the 146 to others too thick. Pragmatically, acquisition of both models is also advised — supplemented with the 149 for signatures. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 145 (Classique): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-145-en.htm --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model from the 1970s with longitudinal guilloché surface is at hand, and how are Carrera models to be classified? **Answer:** The model with thread guilloché is a Montblanc Noblesse I in platinum-plated execution, originally with rhodium-plated steel or white-gold nib. In 1980/81, while keeping the model number, the change to the Noblesse II followed, which is why Montblanc partly states the production time extendedly. A white-gold nib is unusual in this line; mostly a rhodium-plated gold nib is present. The Carrera line was also made in the 1970s, typically had only a steel nib, was at the time very inexpensive (the three-piece set barely above 50 DM) and is today classified as inexpensive collector ware. --- **Question:** What variants exist of the Montblanc 75 Years of Passion and Soul Anniversary Edition, and how should value and counterfeit risk be assessed? **Answer:** The 75 Years edition comprises four variants, including skeleton models and various white-gold writing instruments as well as a 146 Le Grand as a Special Anniversary Edition (1999) with a characteristic ring on the cap. The individual editions differ considerably in features and value; an overview is provided at fountainpen.de/anniversary.htm. Current collector prices can best be determined via the closing prices of completed eBay auctions; former retail prices are no longer officially published. Guidance on identifying Meisterstück counterfeits can be found at fountainpen.de/fakes.htm. --- **Question:** What is the small plastic part with two tongues that fell out of a fountain pen's cap after a fall? **Answer:** It is not merely a transport safety part but a functional inner-cap cover that prevents the feed from drying out. If the cover is damaged or missing, the fountain pen should be sent in for repair, since Montblanc does not release spare parts in order to prevent assemblies cobbled together from original parts. On some models like the StarWalker the part is sometimes declared as merely a design element, because the model is operated with cartridges; on classic piston fillers, however, it is functionally necessary. Besides direct shipping, private workshops also offer repairs. --- **Question:** What is the name of a slim Montblanc fountain pen from the 1980s with a polished centre section? **Answer:** The fountain pen described is unmistakably a Montblanc Slim Line. In the English-speaking world, the Slim Line range is often mistakenly assigned to the Noblesse series, which stems from a lack of familiarity with the model history. Characteristic is the polished decorative surface on the centre section, which consists not of a separate ring but of the polished surface of the barrel itself. Detailed model overviews can be found in the vintage section of fountainpen.de. --- **Question:** Where can one find used vintage Montblancs in Germany, especially from before 1950? **Answer:** Regular retail shops with vintage Montblancs practically do not exist in Germany. The best source for collectors is pen shows, especially the Pen Port Hamburg (in October), at which numerous dealers offer historical Montblanc models. Information can be found at marktundkultur.de. Anyone in Munich should therefore consider the trip to Hamburg in order to find pre-war models. --- **Question:** What did the Montblanc ostrich-leather collection for the 75-year edition (1999) originally cost, and which pieces did it include? **Answer:** The ostrich-leather Anniversary collection comprised at least a notepad, a wallet, a timer, and two similar bag variants (one with two document compartments, one undivided). Owing to the high material quality and limitation, the pieces are sought-after today; on eBay, bags fetched prices of around 750 euros. The former original retail prices are not publicly documented and can in part only be traced via collectors with original receipts. Current market prices can best be assessed via the closing prices of relevant auctions. --- **Question:** What causes blue fingers when writing with a Montblanc 146 or 149, and does the problem also occur with current models? **Answer:** Current Montblanc 146 and 149 usually do not show the problem of blue fingers. With older models, especially from the 1980s and 1990s, a leaking grip section or feed can be responsible; a repair by the dealer sometimes brings only short-term improvement. The causes are varied (microscopic cracks, aged seals, unsuitable ink). 50s models are considered more pleasant by heavy writers, but are mostly more expensive than the current versions. --- **Question:** Does the Montblanc 168 Fineliner Classique exist, and what distinguishes a fineliner from a rollerball? **Answer:** The Montblanc 168 Fineliner Classique has been on the market for about two years, both as the 168 and the P168, and differs externally from the rollerball only by a small black dot on the clip. Technically the fineliner has a spring-loaded writing tip (spring mechanism at the tip) that writes similarly to a felt-tip pen, while the rollerball works with a rolling ball mechanism on a liquid-ink refill. The fineliner thus writes harder and less wet, the rollerball softer and with stronger ink delivery. --- **Question:** From what period does a Montblanc Meisterstück 12 and the matching ballpoint date, and can one obtain a certificate of authenticity? **Answer:** The Meisterstück 12 was produced between 1960 and 1970, the matching ballpoint between 1961 and 1970. Both writing instruments are easy to maintain and were made in larger numbers, hence not particularly rare. Montblanc generally does not issue certificates of authenticity for such models, which is also unusual. The 12s and 14s of the 1960s usually have an 18-carat gold nib whose hallmark only becomes visible after disassembly; the 22s and 24s, on the other hand, had 14-carat gold nibs. --- **Question:** Does Montblanc offer special left-handed nibs? **Answer:** Special left-handed nibs are no longer made by Montblanc since the 1950s. Left-handers can however use the regular nib widths from EF, F, M, B to BB without any problem, since most modern nibs are anyway designed in such a way that they function regardless of writing posture. Anyone wanting a particularly tuned nib can specifically search for obliquely ground nibs from older stock or have an individual adjustment carried out by a nib specialist. --- **Question:** Will a blue Montblanc StarWalker appear, and is the StarWalker converter-compatible? **Answer:** A blue StarWalker with a similar surface to the Jules Verne was announced; the launch has, however, been postponed indefinitely because the existing StarWalker variants are selling successfully. The StarWalker is officially not designed for converter operation and is constructed accordingly; matching Rotring converters do work mechanically, but writing problems are said to occur during permanent operation with a converter. Collectors also complain that the StarWalker is too thin, light and small for their taste; an attractively designed blue StarWalker would be a buying incentive for many. --- **Question:** What is a Montblanc LeGrand 146 with transparent body, and which editions exist? **Answer:** A 146 with a transparent body is either a Skeleton Edition (with skeletonised metal surface and translucent background) or a demonstrator (demo fountain pen). Demonstrators were originally produced for training and demonstration purposes in boutiques and are only available in very limited numbers, accordingly sought-after and expensive. They differ from the regular model only by the transparent body; all other components (nib, mechanism, cap) are original Montblanc. An overview of the Skeleton Editions can be found at fountainpen.de/skeleton.htm. --- **Question:** What experiences are there with Montblanc ladies' watches with automatic movement regarding robustness and maintenance? **Answer:** Automatic watches have a rotor that can heavily strain the axles during sporting activity; they are therefore basically more sensitive than quartz watches or hand-wound watches. For everyday use, however, they are sufficiently robust. Regular wearing or occasional winding is important so that the oil does not gum up; professional servicing with cleaning and oiling is recommended after several years. Anyone wanting to save costs can check authorised repair centres abroad. For sporting activities, a quartz watch is more advisable. --- **Question:** Who is invited to the official opening of the Montblanc boutique in Düsseldorf, and how do boutique events usually proceed? **Answer:** Invited are usually regular customers whose addresses are on file with the boutique, as well as celebrities from politics, culture and business. Collectors report consistently positive experiences with advice in the boutiques, e.g. in Bremen, Hamburg, Munich or Cologne, where special requests are also fulfilled without complication. Anyone who has lodged address data or buys regularly is also frequently invited to private sales or other special events. The new Düsseldorf boutique is located directly on Königsallee. --- **Question:** What is known about a Safety No. 00 long (Baby) in Email Rose in a red Osmia case, and is it a Montblanc piece? **Answer:** The Montblanc Safety "00" or Baby is the smallest Montblanc model and was offered in various filling variants (eyedropper, safety) and with different overlays; email overlays are among the most beautiful and rarest versions. An original piece should bear a star with six points (symbol of the snow-capped Montblanc summit with six valleys). If the nib has only four points and the inscription "Warrantel 14 ct", it is not Montblanc but most likely Osmia, which also produced Babies and is occasionally confused with Montblanc. The accompanying Osmia case does not match a Montblanc original. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc is more suitable for taking notes at university — the Mozart or the Classique — especially with small hands? **Answer:** Both the Mozart ballpoint and the Mozart fountain pen are primarily stylish note-taking devices and are not suitable for prolonged writing; the narrow grip section leads to cramping when held for longer. The Classique ballpoint is also at most suitable for shorter notes, since ballpoints generally require high writing pressure. For intensive note-taking in lectures, a fountain pen like the Montblanc Chopin or, with a higher budget, the Meisterstück 146 LeGrand with a suitable nib width (often F) is recommended. Rollerballs are not recommended because of smearing ink and lack of writing control. --- **Question:** Why does Montblanc Permanent Blue stop flowing in a 146P after a short time, and is a service flat rate necessary? **Answer:** Collectors report similar ink-flow problems with Montblanc Permanent Blue, which also occur in other normally wet-writing fountain pens; this points more to an ink problem than to a defect in the fountain pen. In the specific case, however, a hairline crack in the ink reservoir was additionally found, so that the service flat rate (around 88 euros) covers cleaning, reservoir replacement and other small parts; Montblanc gives a guarantee on the repair. Hairline cracks do not arise on their own but mostly through a fall. Shipping should always be insured, since shipments have already been lost. --- **Question:** What value does an inherited Montblanc Meisterstück L 139 G - M with 14-carat gold nib have, and is it a collector's piece? **Answer:** The 139 was produced from 1939 to 1951 and is highly sought-after among collectors. Pure asking prices on eBay (e.g. 4600 USD) are not meaningful, since what matters are the actually realised sales prices, which fluctuate strongly depending on condition. Decisive for the value are in particular the colour of the ink window (as light as possible, the darker the lower the value), scratches and cracks, the condition of the cork, the nib type (e.g. ball nib, KOB imprint), the presence of packaging and papers, as well as whether the piece is NOS (never used). eBay reaches the largest collector target group for the sale. --- **Question:** How does Montblanc appear on the internet within the Signature For Good campaign as well as on social-media channels? **Answer:** Montblanc is involved with the Signature For Good Edition (with blue sapphire and gold-coated UNICEF leaf in the cap, in a limited and a regular variant) for UNICEF and uses a Facebook widget campaign in which users can enter their signature. Accompanying this, there is a Twitter account (twitter.com/mysignature) as well as an official Facebook channel (facebook.com/montblanc), on which exclusive product announcements and campaigns are also announced. In addition, customers are occasionally invited to auction events (e.g. LE 1/1 in Los Angeles with pens of money gold and brilliant rings, starting prices 18,000 to 20,000 USD); invitation criteria are not public but are presumably based on purchase history. --- **Question:** Is it worth swapping a Montblanc Meisterstück Classic 165 propelling pencil for a Meisterstück 144 fountain pen in Bordeaux? **Answer:** The 144 has not been produced since the late 1990s; its new price was around 200 euros, a 165 propelling pencil about 180 euros, so the swap is reasonable in terms of price. The 144 uses cartridges or a converter and has no rotary closure on the cap — anyone who finds a rotary closure is in fact holding a LeGrand 146. Adding to the value is original packaging with warranty card (serial number and dealer's stamp are entered there); its absence reduces the collector value. Before the swap, authenticity, nib condition, piston mechanism and cracks should be checked; an assessment in the boutique or at an authorised dealer is the safest option. --- **Question:** How is the redesigned Montblanc website to be evaluated from a collector's perspective? **Answer:** The new website is regarded as a clear improvement over the old one: it loads faster, products are easier to find, descriptions more detailed, and thanks to better search-engine friendliness, deep links to individual products are possible. Criticised are a still inadequate internal search, the missing German language version and the absence of individual editions like the "75th Anniversary Meisterstück Edition" and particularly small editions (88 to 333 pieces) in the Limited Editions area. The auction prices stated under "Collector's Information" (Patron of Arts) are not fantasy figures but average prices from three documented hammer prices of renowned auction houses such as Christie's and Sotheby's, but partly several years old. Factually wrong is the dating of the 149 to 1924 in the History section. --- **Question:** How does one gently remove the nib-width sticker (e.g. "M") from a new Montblanc 145 without scratching it? **Answer:** The sticker can simply be peeled off without problem. Any adhesive residues are then removed with a microfibre cloth without damaging the material. --- **Question:** Why is the engraving "Made in Germany" on a new Montblanc 163P located under the clip instead of "GERMANY" on the clip ring? **Answer:** According to information from Montblanc customer service, this is a deliberate change: on all writing instruments the engraving "Made in Germany" is now placed on the inside of the clip, no longer on the clip ring. This change was initially also unfamiliar to customer service and had to be coordinated with the specialist department. With repairs, however, it can happen that "old" clips with serial number and "Germany" engraving on the clip ring are still fitted. A counterfeit can thus not be deduced from the changed engraving location alone. --- **Question:** How do the Montblanc Meisterstücks 146, 147 and 149 differ in size, mechanism and nib colour? **Answer:** The 149 is the largest Meisterstück and is available exclusively with piston mechanism and only in black. The 146 and the 147 are identical in size and diameter and differ solely in their filling: the 146 has a piston mechanism, the 147 takes cartridges. The 146 is additionally available in Bordeaux as well as as a Platinum version, while the 149 is not. Detailed pictures and further variants are documented on fountainpen.de under the corresponding model pages. --- **Question:** Does Montblanc offer factory tours in Hamburg, and how can these be booked? **Answer:** There is no open day, but group tours are basically possible. The so-called Factory Tours now take place exclusively from May to July, on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9:30 and 17:00; a maximum of eight people can participate. Enquiries should be directed directly to Montblanc from March onwards, with at least four people required. Between Christmas and New Year (from 23.12.) the factory is regularly closed. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc offered for direct purchase on eBay genuine, and is the parallel offer for auction and direct purchase admissible? **Answer:** The Montblanc offered looks authentic in the pictures; a definitive judgement is, however, only possible with the piece in hand, so a written authenticity confirmation before purchase can be sensible. eBay auctions may not be ended prematurely at will but only for a valid reason (e.g. damage, theft or error in the description); otherwise the highest bidder has a court-confirmed right to the article at the last bid price. In case of a description error, a contestation on grounds of error is possible; instead of ending the auction completely, the seller can also delete individual bids and correct the text. Against joke bidders, several legally binding judgments exist in favour of sellers (e.g. AG Bremen 16 C 168/05, LG Aurich 1 S 244/08), so a lawsuit can be quite promising. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc 146 with ink-view window offered on eBay genuine, or is it a counterfeit or an older model? **Answer:** What was initially taken for a viewing window was, in the specific case, the golden nib-width sticker. The 146 has been available with an ink-view window since the 1980s; a 146 without a viewing window is in fact a 147 Traveller. The shape of the sticker has changed over time (in the 1970s small and round); at the same time, earlier the nib width was additionally engraved on the cap ring or at the cap end. A combination of sticker and 146 engraving at the cap end is unusual. Older 146s from the late 1980s have a viewing window without ribbing and a full-gold nib without platinum inlays. --- **Question:** From what years does the Montblanc 215 ballpoint date, in which colours was it produced and which writing instruments fit as a set with it? **Answer:** The Montblanc 215 dates from 1957 to 1959 and was produced in black, green, grey and red; the black examples in particular appear comparatively often on collector platforms like eBay or with specialised dealers (e.g. penboard.de), so that with patience working pieces can be found. Suitable pencils are the models 275 and 276; the matching piston fountain pens are the models 252, 254 and 256, which differ mainly in size and diameter (the higher the model number, the larger the writing instrument). Concrete value statements are difficult, since the price depends decisively on the state of preservation; flat-rate market values do not exist. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Solitaire Vermeil ballpoint with clip inscription only "GERMANY" without serial number genuine, and what price is reasonable for the matching set? **Answer:** On older writing instruments, only "Germany" is engraved; a laser engraving with serial number was only added later, so the absence of the serial number does not speak against authenticity. Solitaire sets of this kind are typically to be assigned to the 1980s. A price of 150 to 200 euros for the gold-plated 144 fountain pen alone is a clear bargain, since realistic market prices are rather around 240 to 280 euros. The 144, however, is for many too thin for prolonged writing and is more suitable for signatures; the collectability of a set is determined by the original packaging and impeccable condition (no dents, engravings or scratches). --- **Question:** Why does the ink flow on a Montblanc 149 repeatedly diminish despite using Montblanc ink and regular cleaning, and which repairs are sensible? **Answer:** Most frequent causes are deposits from not fully water-soluble inks or writing with too much pressure, which can shift the nib tines. Once the ink is dried up, simply topping up with new ink does not help; saturation rises and the feed clogs. Recommended are exclusively royal-blue, water-soluble Montblanc ink, regular and thorough cleaning as well as light writing pressure. With repeated nib problems, a workshop repair by Montblanc is justified; an annual repair necessity, however, is not the rule. --- **Question:** Are a stiff piston mechanism, slight wobble of the turning section and water behind the piston on the Montblanc 146 normal? **Answer:** A slight wobble of the turning section and a somewhat stiff extension are known on many 146s and 149s, more pronounced on one example, less on another — not a defect, but generally disliked. Stiffness often arises from dried ink residues; these can be loosened by an ultrasonic bath or by rinsing. Water or ink behind the piston does not belong there: it is mostly the result of solid ink deposits that produce a gap between piston and barrel. With modern writing instruments with a plastic mechanism, this is mostly uncritical; with older writing instruments with brass mechanism, this can rust. Hot water or DIY attempts should be avoided with celluloid models; in case of doubt, repair by professionals or with special tools (e.g. from penboard.de) is advisable. --- **Question:** How does one choose the right nib width (EF, F, M, B, BB) for a Montblanc 146 LeGrand when different boutiques give contradictory recommendations? **Answer:** The choice of nib width depends on writing pressure, handwriting size and above all on the paper used; the broader the nib, the lower the surface pressure and the softer the writing feel. Tests in the shop should therefore always be carried out with one's own frequently used paper; ideal are smooth, satinated papers with about 90 g/m², unsuitable are laid and recycled papers. With Montblanc, the nibs EF, F and M are round-ground, B and BB on the other hand straight, which leads to a clearly different writing image — this can explain why a B nib is felt to be more pleasant. Blanket recommendations are impossible; many collectors use different nib widths for different applications (e.g. EF/F for notes, M/B for letters, BB for signatures) and therefore reach for second or third fountain pens. --- **Question:** Which carrier material lies under the platinum coating of the Montblanc Meisterstück Platinum Edition, e.g. on model 161? **Answer:** On the Platinum writing instruments, the basic material consists, depending on the component, of different materials: the tip is copper-plated brass with platinum plating, the rings are made of rolled gold (thick gold layer on brass) and additionally platinum-plated, the clip is made of nickel silver (Alpacca, copper-nickel-zinc alloy). With extremely heavy use and frequent polishing, the coating can wear off; with normal use, however, no problems are to be expected even after years. Anyone wishing for a continuously metallic construction can reach for the stainless steel variant. --- **Question:** How old is a Montblanc Monte Rosa 042 (G), and what value does it have together with original packaging from Simplo Hamburg? **Answer:** The Monte Rosa 042 (G) was an inexpensive school fountain pen sold with or without a gold nib. With missing cap top and clip, the value of the pen itself is only around 15 to 20 euros. The accompanying original box with Simplo Hamburg imprint dates from the 1920s to 1930s and is quite interesting for collectors: boxes of this kind can fetch around 90 euros or more. It was further discussed that sellers might first offer their pieces to the forum community before an eBay auction in order to keep originals within the German-speaking area. --- **Question:** Where can one obtain spare parts for the missing black logo border on the cap top of a Montblanc 264 from the 1950s? **Answer:** A professional restoration quickly exceeds the value of the 264 (depending on condition between 50 and 150 euros). It is more sensible to acquire on eBay another 264 or a damaged cap top as a parts donor, since this model is regularly offered. In everyday use, attention should be paid to the cork seal: with longer non-use, flush out the ink and fill with water; in operation use water-soluble, royal blue ink as far as possible and rinse at least once a month with lukewarm water, since aggressive inks can damage the fountain pen. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Solid Gold 146 genuine that is stamped only on the cap with "750" and on the clip with a serial number? **Answer:** Original solid-gold writing instruments typically bear the 750 stamp in several places: on the crown, on the cap, on the barrel, under the clip and on the nib; each of these parts is individually hallmarked, since otherwise an exchange would not be traceable. With early solid-gold pieces, however, partly only barrel and cap are hallmarked, and some early models still have the normal (non-gold) clip fitted, because the pure gold clip was mechanically unsuitable — the marking helps with classification here. Vermeil writing instruments, on the other hand, are marked with "925" (sterling silver) and partly the "StO" stamp. If both "750" and "925" appear on a piece, one should keep one's distance. --- **Question:** What experiences are there with the online dealer www.fuellhalter.de (Blankenhorn, Frankenthal), especially as an official Montblanc dealer? **Answer:** Experiences with Blankenhorn/fuellhalter.de are consistently positive: fast, well-packed shipping, friendly telephone and e-mail contact as well as proper service in the shop in Frankenthal too. The company is an official Montblanc dealer, so the warranty papers are delivered fully filled in. In individual cases there can be typing errors with the serial number on the warranty papers — in case of warranty it is therefore important to check the entry immediately to avoid later problems. --- **Question:** How can a bent OB nib on the Montblanc Le Grand arise and what can be done about it? **Answer:** Modern Montblanc nibs are very stiff and hardly bend by themselves during normal writing-in, so it is more likely that the nib was not optimally set up at the factory or that there was transport damage. With obliquely ground nibs (O nibs) like OB or OBB, the nib angle to the paper is particularly critical; if they are not held at the right angle, they scratch and only deliver their typical incisive writing image when held correctly. A slight correction can be made oneself with experience; otherwise the piece should be returned via the dealer to Montblanc. --- **Question:** How does one change the refill in the Montblanc Leonardo da Vinci click ballpoint and which refill fits? **Answer:** On the back, beneath the engraving, there is a small button that is pressed in together with the new refill; this allows the click button together with the mechanism to be removed upwards and the old refill pulled out. The new refill must necessarily be fitted with an extension adapter, otherwise it does not fit. The usual Montblanc Ball Pen Refill is used, provided the adapter is present. If no adapter is left in the pen, it must be obtained separately. --- **Question:** How does one tell on a blindly auctioned Montblanc whether it is a 146 Le Grand with M nib, and what costs arise for a later nib exchange? **Answer:** The 146 Le Grand is identified, among other things, by the viewing window, which is missing on the 144. When buying at a specialist retailer, there is the possibility, within a certain period, to have the nib width exchanged free of charge. A subsequent nib exchange outside this period is significantly more expensive; currently the costs are around 187 euros, earlier lower amounts in the region of 50 euros are no longer current. On the nib itself, the nib size is usually stamped as a small letter. --- **Question:** Can a rollerball from the Montblanc Masters for Meisterstück Porcelain Black & White series be converted to a ballpoint, and what is the availability of the pieces? **Answer:** A conversion of the rollerball to ballpoint mechanism is not possible. The black models of the series were quickly removed from the programme by Montblanc due to repeated cracks and are hardly available any more. The white variants are likewise scarce; the white fountain pen is offered, among others, by the Meissen online shop, list prices are around 2050 euros for the fountain pen and 1940 euros for the rollerball. Anyone wishing for a ballpoint of this design must turn to another edition. --- **Question:** In which colours were the Montblanc Carrera ballpoints with stainless-steel tip produced between 1971 and 1979? **Answer:** Known are, among others, yellow-orange, blood-orange, red, purple, turquoise, light green, green, dark green, olive, brown and black. According to references from former Montblanc employees, a wine-red variant additionally exists. About the existence of further blue tones such as light, medium or dark blue, there are no confirmed sightings, so the collecting series overall apparently comprises significantly more than ten colours. The writing instruments from the 1970s are regarded among collectors as underestimated. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc Solitaire model numbers exist in fine-grain (Feinkorn) version and since when have these been produced? **Answer:** The Solitaire Meisterstücks of the newer construction were only produced from 1987; the model numbers 1443 (fountain pen) and 1633 (rollerball) in vermeil fine grain fall in this phase. In 1999, the fine-grain models were discontinued, and later, on the Faden models, the vermeil version was replaced by gilded brass. Gilded fine-grain writing instruments without 925 stamp would be untypical for the 1970s and must be examined more closely on photos in order to rule out confusion or later modifications. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is a fountain pen with satinated grip section, silver-shiny barrel, relief-like star and 585 gold nib? **Answer:** The writing instrument corresponds to the Montblanc Noblesse 1128, which was made from 1976 to 1980. It is a comparatively low-priced model of that time; the last shop price was around 98 DM, before that around 120 to 125 DM. Owing to the high production numbers, the collector value has not significantly increased today. A 585 hallmark on the nib confirms the gold material of the nib tip. --- **Question:** Is it worth redeeming a Montblanc Meisterstück Platinum 145 via the Lufthansa Miles & More programme, and is the model designation correct? **Answer:** It is the Montblanc Meisterstück Platinum-Line Classique 145 with platinum-plated trim, which appears more modern and discreet compared to the classic gold variant. The designation "Platinium" on the Lufthansa page is a typo; correctly the model is called "Platinum". Collectors often advise against redeeming via the Lufthansa Worldshop, since the mileage conversion is economically unfavourable; anyone who has surplus miles anyway can however use the offer. A purchase from a specialist retailer has the advantage that the nib width can be tried out and individually selected there. --- **Question:** Can a company engraving be removed from the clip of a Montblanc StarWalker or polished out? **Answer:** Polishing out a clip engraving is advised against, since the coating of the clip is very likely damaged in the process and the clip then has to be exchanged anyway. It is more sensible to ask Montblanc directly about the costs of a clip exchange. Alternatively, leftovers of defective writing instruments including clips are occasionally offered on eBay, which can serve as parts donors. --- **Question:** Is it normal that the spiral or spring in the converter of a Montblanc 145 rattles loose after cleaning? **Answer:** Yes, the spiral in the converter is, by design, loose and must be freely movable; that is not a defect. It serves to support the ink flow at low fill levels through movement and to mix ink residues in the chamber. --- **Question:** When and with which writing instruments was the Montblanc tin box delivered, and how high is its rarity value? **Answer:** These are praline or gift tins that Montblanc handed out to employees and good customers at Christmas; the tins are regularly in circulation and have no special rarity value. There were tins specifically tuned to the 164 ballpoint with matching pen insert, Montblanc paper and a service-guide compartment. In total, about 14 special Christmas tins as well as 2 boxes for 164 ballpoints are known. Such tins are also partly being remade and are occasionally available for around 10 euros. --- **Question:** Why does one not get along with Montblanc Meisterstücks (149, 146) despite repeated nib exchanges, and glide better with other brands? **Answer:** Frequent causes are writing posture and pressure behaviour: left-handers and writers with an untypical posture angle or high contact pressure often do not get along with Montblanc nibs from OM upwards. Every nib is individually ground and written in, which is why the usual nib width of other manufacturers cannot be directly transferred; in a boutique the after-sales service can re-grind nibs or exchange them. The choice of ink also plays a role, since some inks harmonise poorly with Montblanc's feed system; Montblanc ink in Montblanc pens reduces problems. Generally, manufacturers like Omas with ebonite feeds offer a more saturated ink flow, but they dry out faster and tend more to leak. --- **Question:** What information, factory and ID numbers as well as prices are known about the Montblanc Meisterstuck watch (Quartz and Solid Gold Automatic)? **Answer:** The number 49392 mentioned does not correspond to any official Montblanc ID number; an unambiguous assignment only succeeds with a photo. The Quartz variant "Star Gilt" with silver dial, ETA movement 955.112, 36 mm stainless-steel case with PVD gold coating, sapphire glass and 30 m water resistance, was offered at a boutique price of 765 EUR. Solid-gold watches appeared as Reserve du Marche, Automatic, Automatic Chronograph, DualTime, Quartz as well as two ladies' Quartz models, each with alligator strap. The solid-gold variant discussed here was the "Large Automatic" with ID number 18602, former RRP 2,750 EUR, which is no longer being produced. A solid-gold execution can already be recognised by the dial. --- **Question:** Where can one obtain high-quality collector's boxes for fountain pens, and do larger models like Charles Dickens or Jules Verne fit inside? **Answer:** Collector's boxes are offered outside Montblanc boutiques by, among others, penboard.de and maxpens.de. Larger limited editions like Charles Dickens or Jules Verne do not fit into every box; before purchase, an enquiry with the dealer is recommended. --- **Question:** Which Solitaire versions existed of the LeGrand rollerball 162, and is the sterling-silver variant genuine? **Answer:** The LeGrand rollerball was previously available in several Solitaire series: Sterling Doué, Sterling Faden Guilloche, Vermeil Faden Guilloche, Vermeil Doué (with Bordeaux-red barrel), Ramses, Nikolai as well as in the Anniversary editions 1924 and 75 Years (white gold). The Sterling Silver LeGrand version depicted is authentic; the ID number 20162 is officially assigned. A stainless-steel variant as a LeGrand rollerball was indeed shown in brochures, but actual production cannot be substantiated. With current Solitaire series, the rollerball is anyway no longer offered in LeGrand size. --- **Question:** What collector value does a Montblanc Writers Edition Alexandre Dumas ballpoint with the "wrong" signature have, and what should one watch out for when buying? **Answer:** The Dumas writing instruments with the inadvertently applied signature of the son (Lady of the Camellias) are rare because Montblanc had them recalled worldwide; only about 15 to 20 percent compared to the later correct edition with the father's signature remained on the market. They were sold mainly through dealers who kept their stock. From this, a certain premium results for collectors compared to the regular variant, while ballpoints are generally less sought-after than fountain pens. When buying, the signature engraving should be unambiguously attributable to the son and the piece in original condition. --- **Question:** Is a Meisterstück 146 or 147 suitable for exams with twenty to twenty-five pages of writing, and which nib width is sensible? **Answer:** Both models are basically suitable; the 147 (cartridge filler, "Traveller") has practical advantages on the road, because a cartridge change is faster, cleaner and less stressful than drawing up from the ink bottle. A 146 piston filler usually suffices for 25 pages and avoids carrying an ink bottle. With the nib width, many collectors advise against OBB for exams; F or M are usually more favourable under time pressure and for the legibility for examiners, although individual handwriting also matters. A pragmatic solution is the combination of a 146 with OBB for representative purposes and a 147 with F for exams, supplemented with backup writing instruments. --- **Question:** What value can be set for a rare Montblanc L129 (Meisterstück, ca. 1936), and which cap-ring configuration is original? **Answer:** The L129 is very rare and difficult to value because of missing comparison sales; estimates in the four- to low five-figure range are only vague benchmarks, since serious collector price lists for historical Montblancs do not exist. The correct L129 carries three cap rings: a wide, gilded middle ring as well as two narrow silver rings above and below. The narrow rings were not gilded. A known earlier auction with closing price 5,520 DM (not euros) was reversed; the example in the Montblanc museum is regarded as a reference. eBay as a sales platform is disputed, since rare pieces do not necessarily achieve their actual collector value there. --- **Question:** Are pressure and scratch marks on the barrel of a Montblanc Hommage à Chopin from putting on the cap a reason for complaint? **Answer:** Marks from putting on the cap are unfortunately regarded as use-related and are hardly subject to complaint, even with higher-priced writing instruments. Anyone wanting to avoid this should choose models with screw-on instead of plug-on caps like the StarWalker. Polishing is possible oneself with Wenol; however, material is removed in the process, and coated metal parts are particularly sensitive. Boutique staff are not everywhere expertly trained; specialised retailers are often more competent and accommodating. Detailed instructions for polishing can be found in the newsletter on fountainpen.de. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is a writing set with engraving "Montblanc 246" and pencil number 272, and what value is to be set? **Answer:** The set corresponds, according to collector literature ("Collectible Stars"), to a Montblanc 246 combined with the matching pencil 272. The Tiger Eye variant in black is a known version. Such sets are regarded as worth collecting and well worth preserving. A concrete value statement is, with collector pieces, strongly dependent on condition and demand and is deliberately not answered flat-rate; storage in a protected area is sensible. --- **Question:** How does one recognise an original Meisterstück 146 from the 1980s, and what is the significance of the single-colour gold nib, the corrugated ink window and an additional perforated ring at the barrel end? **Answer:** It is an original 146 (LeGrand) from the 1980s: models of that period had monochrome yellow-gold nibs, no clip-ring number yet and only "Germany" as origin indication. The corrugated (instead of monochrome grey) ink-view window points to the late 1980s or a later barrel with an older nib. The additional perforated ring at the barrel end is a defect — the blind cap was not pushed fully forward — and should be addressed with the seller before purchase. An adjustment Montblanc charges via the service flat rate 2 with reservoir exchange; cheaper is a repair via specialised workshops like Maxpens, provided they cover the production period. --- **Question:** How does one identify the nib width of a Montblanc Noblesse cartridge filler from the nib tip? **Answer:** A round-tipped nib typically corresponds to M, F or EF; a flat, straight tip points to B or BB. The form is best checked in comparison with a known nib (e.g. of a Pelikan 200 in M). High-resolution photos are often deceptive because of reflections and overexposure. With the Noblesse described here with clearly flattened, broad tip, it is therefore a B or BB nib. The Noblesse with stamp "750 16/18K" was offered until into the 2000s. --- **Question:** Does the clip of a Montblanc Bohème necessarily lie in line with the nib, and what is to be done if it is twisted? **Answer:** On every Bohème, StarWalker and Mozart, it is manually and individually adjusted in the final assembly that the clip stands aligned with the nib after screwing on; each cap belongs only to its barrel. A deviation is a service case, e.g. with a swapped cap after engraving or through over-tightening. With the Bohème Big Size, careful manual rotation of the nib with a cloth into the right position is structurally possible because the mechanism has some play. Otherwise, Montblanc service adjusts the clip flat-rate (e.g. around 52 EUR), with further inspection services included in the flat rate. --- **Question:** Which model is an inherited Montblanc fountain pen with a blue, gold-glittering barrel, imprint "METAL3" and nib "4810 18K 750"? **Answer:** It is a Montblanc Solitaire 144 Ramses. The nib consists of 18-carat gold (750 stamp); the silvery-looking areas inside are not a platinum inlay in the literal sense but a platinum or rhodium intarsia, which visually creates the bicolour effect. A flat-rate value statement for used writing instruments is not possible, since the price depends decisively on condition and market demand; eBay comparison sales are the usual orientation. --- **Question:** Is it worth keeping unused Montblanc writing instruments for value increase or rather selling them? **Answer:** Increases in value are realistic above all with limited editions and with vintage writing instruments up to the 1960s, especially in rarer colours like Bordeaux Meisterstücks; with standard writing instruments, a substantial value development is hardly to be expected. The market development remains uncertain, but a Bordeaux 146/167 set rather speaks for "holding" over 10 to 20 years. Collectors largely see writing instruments not as an investment but as objects of love for use; as an investment there are better alternatives. Hold back near-mint pieces before sale; sell used ones promptly when they are no longer used. --- **Question:** Since when has the Montblanc Meisterstück 145 been produced, and why was the 144 discontinued in the classic variant but continued in special editions? **Answer:** The 145 has been produced since 1998 and is essentially a variant of the Meisterstück (also marketed as Hommage à Chopin with CD); it is not to be understood as a direct successor of the 144, since there are no ballpoints and pencils in identical size to it. The 144 in the classic plug-on cap version was discontinued for reasons of product rationalisation, because the plug-on cap is regarded as a weak point and wears out over time; the replacement cap seal is not separately available and the service flat rate is comparatively high. In addition, the 144 had a screw thread metal on precious resin, which could lead to predetermined break points; on the 145, metal meets metal. In the Solitaire editions the 144 was retained, since these have a short screw thread between cap and reservoir and the range there continues to comprise ballpoint, pencil and rollerball. --- **Question:** What information on dating, variant distinction and collector value of a Montblanc Meisterstück 254 (e.g. with advertising imprint like AEG or DüWAG) can be given? **Answer:** Two variants of the 254 exist: with transparent ink window (1954-1956) and with blue ink window (1957-1959); the series comprises the sizes 252 (small), 254 (medium) and 256 (large). The 25x models are popular everyday fountain pens with a flexible nib but often suffer from cracks in the cap. Since Montblanc has only been positioned as a luxury-goods manufacturer since 1991 and the 25x were produced in large numbers as everyday writing instruments, the collector value is rather low; in the foreground stand the sentimental value and the good writing quality. With a crack-free cap and transparent ink window, a dating of 1954-1956 can be assumed. --- **Question:** What are the qualitative differences between the Montblanc 144 Classique and the 145 Chopin, and which is rather to be recommended? **Answer:** Both belong to the Classique series of Meisterstücks. The main difference lies in the cap construction: the 144 has a plug-on cap that wears out over time and leads to the cap unintentionally falling off; the 145, on the other hand, a screw cap; for this reason the 145 succeeded the 144. On the 144, additionally, the gilded ring between nib and grip section tends to corrode, and the body material is thinner and breaks more easily when dropped. The 145 is somewhat thicker, which many find more pleasant. For the final choice, however, the personal writing feel is decisive — the slim 144 appears too thin for some and leads to cramping during prolonged writing. --- **Question:** Is it reputable when the Sparkasse, via mall4me or mastercard-exclusives, offers Montblanc writing instruments at high discount in the online shop? **Answer:** Collectors report that the Sparkasse offers the Montblanc Meisterstück 164 together with leather case for about €160 (about 27 percent saving on the list price) within a time-limited campaign, without quantity restrictions. The online dealer mall4me additionally offers further Montblanc products with discounts of up to 38 percent (e.g. Platinum coin purse). Since the campaign runs via the Sparkasse, it is regarded as reputable; the Lufthansa Worldshop also carries writing instruments of the Classic series, but at full prices, redeemable against Miles & More. Such discounts on Montblanc products are unusual in any case. --- **Question:** Which information is there on the Asian Montblanc edition with the Han Wu Ti nib, especially on edition size, material and availability? **Answer:** The "Han Wu Ti" was produced in 2003 in a run of only 88 examples exclusively for the Asian market. The base material is solid 18-carat gold with black lacquer coating; alongside, an 8-piece edition with yellow lacquer exists. As early as 2003 the edition was completely sold out and today belongs to the most coveted high-end collector's pieces, which are only traded under the table. Occasionally the model still appears in the trade, e.g. at pensinasia.com — but at very high prices. --- **Question:** How accommodating is Montblanc with the nib exchange of an unused fountain pen acquired on eBay, and what costs are to be reckoned with? **Answer:** A nib exchange is basically possible; without proof of purchase from a boutique or from an authorised dealer, however, a service flat rate is charged, which depending on source lies at about €39-49. If the nib is not accepted by Montblanc as near-mint, a new nib can be required, whose costs can amount to up to half of the fountain-pen price (example value: about €190 on the 146). With a near-new piece including warranty booklet, an alternative is the direct exchange at the local stationery dealer for a model with the desired nib width, which is partly possible without bureaucracy and free of charge. The boutique mostly decides on the spot and additionally allows trying out various nibs. --- **Question:** Is a BB nib on the Montblanc 149/146 suitable for everyday use as a heavy writer, or is it rather intended for signatures? **Answer:** The suitability of a BB nib depends strongly on the individual handwriting; small writing fits BB worse than large writing. Collectors with large handwriting report that a BB on the 149 is very good for notebooks, letters and cards — that is, quite suitable for everyday use — and that Montblanc nibs tend to write broader than comparable nibs of other manufacturers (e.g. Kaweco, Lamy). For finer comments or marginal notes, narrower nibs (EF/F) or a rollerball are recommended. Before purchase one should bring one's own paper to the boutique and test extensively. --- **Question:** How can the nib width of a Montblanc Meisterstück 144 be reliably determined, e.g. with a complaint about a mix-up of M and F? **Answer:** An unambiguous determination of the nib width is practically impossible for laypersons and also difficult for experts, since the nibs are hand-ground and, e.g., a broad F can be very similar to a narrow M. An assessment based on photos is not feasible. With suspicion of a mix-up, the impression can be deceptive, because M nibs on the 144 appear too thin to many writers; a subsequently affixed nib-width sticker, however, that looks suspiciously over-stuck, can be a hint of manipulation by the seller. --- **Question:** What appeals to collectors about the Montblanc brand, and what motivations stand behind collecting writing instruments and accessories? **Answer:** The motivations of collectors range from aesthetic appreciation of beautiful objects, through the cultivation of writing culture and interest in scripts, calligraphy and old books, to the idea of an investment in materialised form. Further mentioned are the connection of Montblanc with perfection and timelessness as well as belonging to a reference group that flirts with luxury brands. Some deliberately call themselves writing-instrument lovers instead of collectors, since they do not systematically complete an area but acquire individual beautiful or technically interesting pieces. Often the interest expands to peripheral areas like inks, paper, sealing wax and brand history. An unambiguous answer as to why precisely Montblanc does not exist; personality, environment and biographical coincidences play an essential role. --- **Question:** Does Montblanc offer factory tours in Hamburg? **Answer:** Montblanc does not offer routine individual factory tours; the annual contingents are usually quickly exhausted; a renewed enquiry is possible the following year. Background, in the assessment of collectors, is among other things that the museum currently manages without a curator and is in a rather neglected state; in addition, the effort for individual visitors is high. Enquiries are partly answered via the personnel department. --- **Question:** How can Montblanc models like the supposedly cartridge-fillable 149 or a supposed Solitaire Doué be identified, and how can pictures be posted in the forum? **Answer:** A reliable identification without photos is not possible. The Montblanc 149 has never existed as a cartridge filler; with such a piece, it is presumably a Montblanc 147, which was delivered in French markets with an 18-carat gold nib. For embedding pictures, reference is made to the help pages of the forum; alternatively, pictures can be sent by email to the webmaster, who posts them. Dimensions and model overviews can be found on the page Meisterstücke of the forum website. --- **Question:** What does the engraving Use Montblanc ink only on a converter supplied with a Montblanc 145P mean, and how does one care for the fountain pen correctly? **Answer:** Montblanc recommends its own ink because only with it can the specified flow properties of the ink-feed system be guaranteed. Other water-soluble premium inks often function similarly well, while strongly colour-saturated and especially blue-black as well as black inks are more viscous and can favour writing failures. Water-soluble inks are generally regarded as the best choice. When using non-water-soluble inks, the fountain pen should as a precaution be flushed with lukewarm water before every third filling; with diminishing ink flow or longer idle times (from about half a year), a thorough cleaning, e.g. by ultrasound, is indicated. --- **Question:** What are the experiences with Montblanc specialist retailers compared to online buying, and is an online shop like uhrinstinkt.de a reputable source for a Meisterstück Doué Stainless Steel? **Answer:** The forum majority defends the specialist trade but points out typical deficits in differentiated form: no dealer and no boutique can keep the entire Montblanc range in stock, because the capital tied up would be too high; ordering is the rule. Quality of advice varies considerably; in many stationery shops with only a few premium sales per year, expertise is hardly to be found. With online buying, the manufacturer's warranty typically falls away; instead, an in-house guarantee of the dealer applies, which brings advantages and disadvantages. Anyone without suitable specialist shops nearby understandably switches to online providers. On the concrete suitability of a particular online shop, the forum delivers no unambiguous evaluation. --- **Question:** What experiences do collectors make with the Montblanc service for repairs, nib exchanges and signature engravings? **Answer:** Experiences range from lengthy procedures with multiple complaints (e.g. cap that does not stay attached after nib exchange, forgotten engraving on the replacement cap, crack on the body) to very accommodating handling, e.g. free replacement of defective piston mechanisms even on auction pieces without warranty papers. Repair turnaround times can take several weeks with shipping between boutique and Hamburg. Regular initial engravings are mostly carried out free of charge in the boutique on the spot; signature engravings cost regularly 25 euros, since scanning, post-processing and machine costs apply. A signature sample on paper can be handed in at the dealer; even small models like the Mozart are basically engravable. --- **Question:** Were ballpoints and pencils also offered for the Montblanc VIP Pen series of the 1970s (models 1124/1324), and which converter fits? **Answer:** The VIP series was sold from 1978 to 1984; according to further sources, it was already produced for Montblanc by Aurora from the mid-1970s. Available were exclusively fountain pens and rollerball (formerly called Quickpen); ballpoints or pencils did not belong to the programme. Market prices for the fountain pen are around 40 to 120 euros, for the rollerball 40 to 80 euros. Current Montblanc converters with thread do not fit; suitable are the old converters (market price about 5 to 20 euros) as well as, as a stopgap, Pelikan converters and cartridges. The Aurora converter of the Hastil 158 has a different fitting and is not compatible. --- **Question:** Which matt-black Montblanc ballpoint with click mechanism is meant, and is the model still being produced? **Answer:** It is the Montblanc Scenium, which continues to be produced as ballpoint, rollerball and fineliner with gilded or platinum-plated rings. Quality and design of the model do not, in the assessment of experienced collectors, reach the usual Montblanc level. For the identification of significantly older models (e.g. from the 1980s), detailed descriptions or photos are necessary that allow a comparison. --- **Question:** Can a value development be foreseen for a Montblanc Limited Edition like the Max v. Oppenheim 888 or 4810, and is filling and writing value-reducing? **Answer:** A reliable forecast of value development is not possible; writing instruments are no safe investment, comparable to shares. Right after purchase, the value usually falls, because private persons cannot pass on a manufacturer's warranty; increases in value are realistic only with very rare models or over long periods. Among collectors there are two main positions: keep sealed unopened as a possible return factor, or deliberately use and enjoy the writing instrument; filling lowers, from the view of purist collectors, the potential resale value. Recommended is a purchase primarily out of personal joy, not as an investment, although occasional jackpots like the Proust are also documented. --- **Question:** Does the Montblanc Bohème have serial numbers, what is the point of retracting the nib, and are the gemstones in the clip real precious stones? **Answer:** The serial number of the Bohème is, where present, on the clip ring slightly offset to the right. The first Bohèmes (with only one ring on the grip section and engraving Rouge et Noir) as well as some of the early three-ring models do not yet have a clip-ring number; they are nevertheless original and partly sought-after collector pieces. On the underside of the clip the embossing Pix or Meta Pix can be recognised, analogously to the Meisterstücks. The gemstones in resin Bohème models are synthetic (even when Montblanc speaks of gemstone); real rubies, e.g. heart-shaped, occur only on individual precious-metal Bohèmes like the Je-t'aime. Retracting the nib serves practically for compactness when at rest and protects the nib in transport; a special protective function against ink on the fingers as on Safetys, however, this is not. --- **Question:** Where can one obtain spare parts for a Montblanc 146 with a cracked barrel, and is a trade-in possible at a dealer? **Answer:** Spare parts are available exclusively at Montblanc itself; dealers do not have barrel parts. Repairs take place by sending the writing instrument in to Montblanc, by which the manufacturer prevents counterfeiters from assembling whole writing instruments from individual parts. Before deciding for repair or trade-in, a cost enquiry directly to Montblanc is recommended. --- **Question:** How does one identify and fill a Montblanc Meisterstück 25 SIMPLO safety fountain pen from the 1930s with the characteristic stampings? **Answer:** The pen described is a safety filler with 18-carat gold nib; the second stamping on the turning knob (e.g. M) gives the nib width. Filling takes place with the nib pointing upwards, half turned out; after dropping in the ink, the nib is fully extended for writing and retracted again before closing, in each case with the pen held upwards in order to prevent leakage. Before first filling, the seals are to be checked; a repair service is mostly necessary; alternatively a water test can be made. The model number 25 is engraved both on the nib and on the turning knob and gives the size class within the series (e.g. a 35 existed); the meaning of the S in the mountain symbol on the cap is unclear, possibly a dealer code like Stöffhaas. A shortened cap considerably reduces the material value; the sentimental value as a family piece, however, remains unaffected. --- **Question:** From what period does the Montblanc model 030 date, is it a piston or cartridge filler, and what are the holes under the nib for? **Answer:** The model 30 was made by Montblanc between 1967 and 1970 and offered both as piston filler and cartridge filler. The yellow sleeve in the barrel is structurally correct. Despite the identical model number, this pen has nothing to do with the 30 models from the 1930s. --- **Question:** Which publications exist on the Montblanc literature prizes of recent years, and what role does Joseph von Westphalen play? **Answer:** Joseph von Westphalen has been a member of the jury of the Montblanc literature prize since 1991 and does not himself participate in the competition. With financial support from Montblanc, he subsequently issues the submitted competition contributions in book form, so that for several years collected volumes exist. --- **Question:** What market prices do Montblanc pill boxes and similar promotional gifts like keychains achieve in resale? **Answer:** Promotional gifts like pill boxes or keychains, which Montblanc handed out as add-ons to good customers, achieve on eBay partly astonishing prices: pill boxes were sold for around 36 euros, keychains even for close to 56 euros. Original packaging and appealing product texts can drive the price further up. These lovers' prices reflect rather the brand charm than the real material value. --- **Question:** How can the nib and feed of a Montblanc Meisterstück 144 be removed in order to convert the pen with a chiselled silver body? **Answer:** On Montblanc Meisterstücks, the nibs are screwed in and sealed with viscous, permanently elastic silicone mass, which is why disassembly is only possible without damage with special tools and is not recommended. If one wants only to use the nib, it can be carefully pulled out (with cloth and pliers); the feed should also be used with it. For chiselled jewellery on the pen, conversion with silver cap and silver sleeve over the original grip section is the simpler variant than the complete material exchange, especially since glowing for cement removal would not be possible on the original material. Historically, overlays were made for such refinements; corresponding examples can be found at maxpens.de. --- **Question:** What does the additional inscription "METAL" on the clip of a Montblanc P164 Platinum mean, although clip and trim are anyway made of metal? **Answer:** The additional engraving "METAL" Montblanc, according to its own information, only uses on writing instruments of solid precious metal or stainless steel, e.g. on Solitaire models, on the Stainless Steel or on the 147 Silver ("Metal 2"). On the platinum-plated 164 this inscription is untypical and points to an exchanged clip, possibly originating from a Stainless Steel model, which was fitted by mistake in after-sales service. Laser engraving instead of stamped lettering remains a reliable authenticity feature. Ultimately only the clip with its serial number stands for the identity of the writer; replacement clips are not registered at Montblanc as complete writing instruments and are exchanged without complaint when needed. --- **Question:** Can a vermeil cap of a Montblanc 144 Solitaire Doué be re-gilded if the silver shows through in the engraving area? **Answer:** Vermeil surfaces tend to dark spots that can easily be removed with a silver-cleaning cloth; a showing-through of the underlying sterling silver mostly only occurs after very frequent cleaning. With a Bordeaux 144 Solitaire Doué Vermeil, the repair via Montblanc service is the most economical path. The clip-ring number serves only the tracing of grey-market reimports and not the dating of the year of manufacture. --- **Question:** Does Montblanc engage in deliberate product placement in novels, e.g. in the book "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafón? **Answer:** Deliberately commissioned product placement in novels is not known, and manufacturers in such a case would presumably ensure historically correct classification. More likely is that the authors themselves are Montblanc collectors and transfer their enthusiasm for the pens to their novel characters. In films and novels, writing instruments frequently appear as a stylistic device to characterise wealthy or cultivated figures. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc ballpoint belongs to the Meisterstück 146, and what do the designations "Pix" and "converter" mean? **Answer:** Belonging to the fountain pen 146 (Le Grand) is the ballpoint 161 Le Grand with about 148 mm length; the 164, on the other hand, is made exclusively in the smaller size of around 136 mm. If one encounters a writing instrument with 148 mm length and 15 mm diameter that bears "164" and shows "Pix" on the middle ring, it is in fact a 161 Le Grand. "Pix" is a registered trademark of Montblanc and a compulsory feature for originals; a "converter" is a refillable ink cartridge. A model overview can be found on fountainpen.de. --- **Question:** What should one watch out for in the eBay purchase of a supposedly new but 20-year-old Montblanc 146, and how does one check the functionality? **Answer:** Even with the description 'new and unused', piston mechanism, tightness and feed should be precisely checked, since after 20 years the piston can be stiff and ink residues can be present in the cap or on the feed. The case need not appear in the current Montblanc catalogue, because older editions are already discontinued; even unusual presentations can be real presentation pieces from old shop displays. For price assessment, comparison values from the community database help. When presenting pictures and using texts, the forum rules and any copyrights are to be observed. --- **Question:** What market value does a used Montblanc Meisterstück L139 G with dried-up ink have? **Answer:** The 139 belongs to the highly traded classic Meisterstücks; in optically and technically top condition, prices of about 1,500 to over 2,000 euros are mentioned, depending on source. The estimates differ, however: an experienced seller regards 2,000 euros as excessive and points to eBay prices at which good pieces sell for considerably less. Dried-up ink is no value-reducing defect; clear signs of use or defects, however, are noticeably reflected in the price. The variant with long or short ink-view window and the original box can additionally influence the achievable price. --- **Question:** How high is the service flat rate of Montblanc, and is an amount of 81 euros usual? **Answer:** Montblanc does not work with a single fixed service flat rate but with several stages, which depend on type of repair and on the value of the writing instrument. With very high-quality editions (e.g. Patron of Arts), flat rates of 860 euros and more can apply. An amount of 81 euros lies in the lower range and is plausible for manageable damages. Montblanc designates the flat rates as cost-covering, not as a profit item. --- **Question:** How does one gently clean Montblanc watches (Automatic, Réserve de Marche) with crocodile strap in everyday use? **Answer:** For ongoing cleaning, a lint-free cloth suffices; if needed, a moistened nail brush also helps. Jewellery-cleaning or ultrasonic baths are taboo, because they destroy leather straps and depending on the model can impair water resistance. Only Montblanc sports watches with a screwed crown tolerate an ultrasonic bath reasonably, yet here too it is expressly advised against. For thorough cleaning, the watch should be sent to Montblanc service. --- **Question:** Which writing-instrument models could be behind the fountain pens acquired by the Bundestag in large numbers? **Answer:** From the mentioned 68,800 euros for 296 writing instruments, a unit price of around 232 euros results, which after procurement discounts most likely fits middle-priced models. Discussed at Montblanc were among others remaining stock of the Scenium series (of which, however, never fountain pens but only ballpoints existed) as well as later Pelikan models at around 169 euros unit price, e.g. an M400 with a significant discount. Which concrete model was chosen is not unambiguously documented; presumably a quantity discount applied. The designation 'gold fountain pens' can also refer solely to gilded cap rings, not to solid gold. --- **Question:** Which model and which value are an old Montblanc 'No. 030' and a pen with 18K/750 nib without model number? **Answer:** The Montblanc No. 030 belongs to the class of school fountain pens and achieves on the collector market about 10 to 18 euros. The second pen shown by description with 18K/750 nib is a Montblanc Noblesse II from the 1980s (not to be confused with the Noblesse Oblige). Its body consists of gilded brass with a high-quality multi-layer lacquering; despite positioning below the Meisterstück series, it is a qualitatively high-grade writing instrument with an 18-carat gold nib. --- **Question:** How does one use white and red sealing compound on the nib change and sealing of a Montblanc 146? **Answer:** The sealing compound in question comes from Sebastian Schulze in Munich and is mixed in a 1:1 ratio (white and red component); the working time is about 20 minutes. In practice, many collectors also manage without such a sealing compound, when they merely remove, clean and reinsert nibs. Anyone wishing to use it nevertheless should adhere to the manufacturer's instructions, since mixing ratio and pot life are provider-specific. --- **Question:** Where and when was the Montblanc reportage of the broadcaster XXP (magazine 'Lebensart') aired, and how can it be recorded? **Answer:** The programme ran in the weekly magazine 'Lebensart' with Jutta Lang on XXP and contained a longer report on the flagship store in New York and the Artisan atelier in Hamburg, including a Cardinal de Richelieu (edition 8 pieces, black and white diamonds). Repeats were announced in the programme schedule. XXP was at the time only available via satellite and not easily accessible for analogue satellite receivers; a digital recording was therefore difficult and could only be realised with appropriate receiver and recorder equipment. --- **Question:** Why does Montblanc prefer yellow-gold trim on its Meisterstücks instead of white gold or platinum, and are special productions with other trim possible? **Answer:** The Meisterstück 149 has been produced since 1952 in nearly unchanged form with yellow-gold trim and is regarded as a classic standard model, which is why Montblanc holds on to yellow gold for traditional reasons. The Artisan Atelier of Montblanc, however, makes special productions with individual wishes like platinum-plated trim, provided they do not deviate too strongly from the model line, although at very high prices. The selection of nib widths is by now reduced at Montblanc; Aurora is regarded as a brand with particularly broad nib range from OFR to OBBR. Tastes in trim differ: younger buyers feel yellow gold partly to be old-fashioned, while white trim appears more modern. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 149 (Grand Format): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-149-en.htm --- **Question:** Why does a new Montblanc Meisterstück 145 write untidily or with failures at first, and how does one remedy the problem? **Answer:** The cause is often the piston converter: the adhesion force of the plastic material is initially very high, so that the ink does not flow sufficiently; after contact with lukewarm water, the converter loosens more easily and the ink flows better. In the shop, testing is on very smooth paper, which makes the writing behaviour appear different than at home on normal paper; therefore, when testing, one's own paper should always be taken along. Nibs cannot be written in — as they write, they always write; with persistent failures, the nib or the writing instrument should be exchanged. --- **Question:** What is to be done if customs holds back a Montblanc Solitaire Nikolai imported from Switzerland on suspicion of trademark violation? **Answer:** Of the Nikolai model no known counterfeits are in circulation, which is why the customs suspicion is mostly unfounded. Recommended is to print the auction with all pictures and to go with it to customs as well as additionally to contact Montblanc itself for an authenticity check. Montblanc has confirmed that original writing instruments are never withheld; with authenticity, only the regular customs duties apply. Customs officers are sensitised to brand counterfeits, which can lead to such suspicion cases also with originals. --- **Question:** Can the nib of a Montblanc Solitaire Meisterstück be inserted into a normal Meisterstück, and which quality differences exist? **Answer:** A nib exchange between Solitaire and standard Meisterstücks of the same size (e.g. 144 or 146) is technically possible, since the nibs are identically constructed. Standard Meisterstücks, however, have a 14-carat nib; Solitaire models an 18-carat nib; on this hallmark, the exchange can be detected. On the 144, the dealer can carry out the nib exchange by changing the complete front parts; on other models, mostly Montblanc itself is responsible. In the writing behaviour, no difference between 14k and 18k is noticeable, but the value of the writing instrument rises through an 18k nib. --- **Question:** Are gold-coloured ink cartridges for the old Classic and Generation fountain pens still being produced at Montblanc? **Answer:** The gold-coloured cartridges have not been made for several years; they were initially still used in the Travellers but are today only available as collector's pieces. Current Montblanc cartridges are transparent and show the ink colour directly. For conservation reasons, one should no longer use the old gold cartridges but leave them in the fountain pen as decoration. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc Meisterstück actually be damaged by short-term use by an outside person? **Answer:** The claim that a pen becomes broken through foreign use is essentially a myth. The gold nib has at the front an extremely hard iridium tipping that does not wear off even with years of use by different people. Only when the iridium tipping is missing or broken off can the bare gold nib individually grind in over a long time to a particular writing hand. A brief outside use is therefore completely unproblematic. --- **Question:** Which construction variants of the cap crown (top at the clip) existed on the Montblanc 149 in the course of the decades? **Answer:** Until the end of the 1980s, on the 149 the plastic thread was integrated directly into the large cap, so that no separate cap top was recognisable — this variant ran for around 40 years without technical change, also in the 40s and 50s models. Subsequently it was replaced by a variant in which the top is fastened from inside with a screw. Both variants are original constructions from different production periods. --- **Question:** Has the number of counterfeits on eBay diminished, and are there counterfeits of the pencils from the Writers Editions like Oscar Wilde or Alexandre Dumas, and how does one recognise authenticity? **Answer:** The number of Montblanc counterfeits on eBay has not gone down; eBay does not basically check the origin of articles, and Montblanc itself hardly takes active steps against counterfeits. Even the pencils of the Writers Editions are being counterfeited; often they are hardly distinguishable from originals on photos. The Oscar Wilde pencil has a stepless rotary mechanism, a 0.9 mm lead and an eraser identical in construction to that of the LeGrand pencil and separately purchasable. Brownish discolouration on vermeil surfaces like tip or clip is tarnished silver under the gilding and can be removed again with a silver-cleaning cloth. Before a purchase, it is recommended to have the piece checked by a dealer one trusts, and to pay attention to positive ratings and relevant sales history, or to buy via trustworthy platforms like penboard.de. --- **Question:** How can I check on the basis of the serial number whether a used-bought Montblanc Meisterstück has been stolen? **Answer:** On the basis of the serial number it can only be traced to which country or to which dealer Montblanc originally delivered the writing instrument. A central list of writing instruments reported stolen Montblanc does not keep. Information on this can at most be given by Montblanc itself; a theft check via the serial number is de facto not possible. --- **Question:** What is to be made of the new Montblanc Meisterstück Legrand Diamond with transparent cap top, and does this design element fit the classic Meisterstück line? **Answer:** The model met mixed to rejecting reactions. Critics complain that the transparent cap top with diamond stylistically does not fit the classic Meisterstück form from the 50s and displaces the characteristic snowflake; the element seems like a foreign body taken over from the StarWalker, which is rather sales-driven. The wider clip ring presumably explains itself by the fact that the screw fastening of the clip cannot be installed visibly with a transparent cap top. It is not finally clarified whether it is a special edition; the setting of stones to justify the price, as already with earlier 888 editions, is at the latest seen critically. --- **Question:** My Montblanc Le Grand has been smearing for years and leaves blue fingers despite cleaning. What can be the cause, and how can it be sent in from abroad for repair? **Answer:** Frequent causes are paper fluff between the nib tines, ink residues inside the cap or unsuitable paper; often a thorough cleaning of the cap with water and cloth helps. If the problem persists, a hairline crack comes into question, which requires a repair. The writing instrument should be sent in as an insured parcel, since registered mail in Germany is only insured up to 25 euros. Alternatively, sending in can take place via a Montblanc dealer or a boutique, which can also be found abroad via the dealer search on montblanc.com. Before a repair, the expected costs should be compared to the market price of a used 146; hairline cracks can also be glued by specialised repair workshops if appropriate. --- **Question:** What does the book Montblanc Schreibgeräte 1980-2015 by Achim Sievers offer, and for which collector circle is it suitable? **Answer:** The book, published in 2015 and self-published in DIN A4 landscape format, comprises around 350 pages and offers a comprehensive overview of Montblanc writing instruments between 1980 and 2015 with product photos, model facts and partly also price information. Particularly useful is a detailed list of rare editions on the last 20 pages, which updates existing online overviews (e.g. on community-fountainpen.de, which end in 2007). Especially for collectors of newer writing instruments the work is a recommendable reference; before 1991, the model selection is manageable due to the then smaller market breadth. The book appears in small print runs and is distributed via eBay or directly from the author. --- **Question:** How does the Montblanc Meisterstück Diamond Classic prove itself in long-term use after almost ten years? **Answer:** The Meisterstück Diamond Classic is regarded in long-term use as a convincing writing instrument that remains in very good condition even after several years of intensive use. Its particular value results precisely from the lasting everyday suitability, the reliable writing behaviour and the optically unchanged high-quality appearance over many years. --- **Question:** How do I determine nib width, model and fill level of a Montblanc 146 won at eBay, and which nib width is suitable for exams? **Answer:** Model and nib width are not directly noted on the writing instrument on the 146; a reliable determination is best made by presentation at the specialist retailer or by comparison with model databases on the net. Gold nibs last, thanks to the iridium tipping, practically a writer's lifetime; a nib exchange at service costs around 49 euros and should be weighed beforehand in the shop through test writing. For longer writing, finer nibs (F or EF) are rather recommended; ultimately, the choice is a matter of taste. One tank filling suffices, experience shows, for about 20 to 30 pages; the ink window does not show the exact fill level but only serves to indicate an approaching end of ink, which can best be judged if the pen is held horizontally against the light for about ten seconds. --- **Question:** Which model of the Montblanc Meisterstück watch line is shown on the depicted photos, and what value is realistic today? **Answer:** The watch shown is a Montblanc Star Quartz Gilt Small, that is, a ladies' watch with gilded case, made about 1996 to 2000 at a then boutique price of around 800 DM. The current value is in flawless condition around 200 euros; due to the clearly visible scratch correspondingly lower. The strap shown on the photos does not come from the original equipment; the original strap was without visible seams and slightly arched. --- **Question:** Did Montblanc give the Ferrari leaders like Luca di Montezemolo and Jean Todt individual special pens after the World Championship title 2000, and can such pieces be acquired? **Answer:** A skeleton Ferrari for Jean Todt is documented, to be found on fountainpen.de. Before that, Jean Todt already owned a Solitaire 146 as an individual production with red cap and a guilloche in the tyre profile; this piece appeared once on eBay at a price far above 4,000 USD but is said to have later been lost by Todt. Such Ferrari special productions are not regularly available as individual pieces, and a sale would, due to trademark-law problems, hardly be possible anyway. Anyone wishing to buy Ferrari writing instruments will rather find what they need with Montegrappa, which also belongs to the Richemont group and offers official Ferrari editions. --- **Question:** Do Montblanc fineliner refills fit the LeGrand rollerball? **Answer:** No, in the LeGrand rollerball no fineliner refills fit, since this requires a larger and thicker refill, which is not offered by Schmidt Feintechnik in this form. The standard fineliner refills only fit the smaller rollerballs like Classique, Bohème, StarWalker and Scenium as well as many identically constructed competing models, since Schmidt also makes these refills for Faber-Castell. Pelikan rollerball refills are made in Asia and have a somewhat slimmer tip, which is why they fit neither the LeGrand nor other Montblanc rollerballs. --- **Question:** Are noble wooden pen stands of hard woods like maple or olive wood suitable for storing valuable writing instruments? **Answer:** Wooden trays of hard woods like maple or walnut are visually very classy but are regarded by some collectors as too hard for high-quality fountain pens; leather-lined trays are therefore preferred to avoid scratches. Practical reports show, however, that even uncovered wooden trays, e.g. for a StarWalker, can be scratch-free in use. The sensitivity therefore depends strongly on the concrete writing instrument and the handling. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is a fountain pen that recalls the Carrera but carries a clip in the style of the Generation? **Answer:** It is the black Montblanc Caressa No. 422. The model is documented in the standard work 'Collectible Stars' by Jens Rösler and Stefan Wallrafen on page 69 under the ID number 1530. The Caressa was produced between 1976 and 1979 by the firm Mutschler in Heidelberg, which at the time made numerous similar models for Montblanc. Mutschler discontinued business activity in the 1990s. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück No. 25 with a dark-green hard-rubber body authentic, into what period can it be dated and how rare is it? **Answer:** The Meisterstück No. 25 was, according to the Rösler book, made from 1935 to 1947 and belonged at the time to the standard programme; measured by today's standard models like the 146 it is significantly rarer, but turns up on eBay regularly. Three mechanism variants exist: safety, push filler and lever filler; the functions are documented e.g. on penexchange.de. The green colour arises through oxidation of the hard rubber and can be partly approximated again with a light polish (e.g. Wenol, which Montblanc also uses); however, every polish removes material. An official, complete model archive of Montblanc does not exist, since the factory archive burned in the Second World War; with a defective ink-sac seal, a professional repair is worthwhile, e.g. at maxpens.de. --- **Question:** What advantages does a fountain pen like the Montblanc 149 offer over a ballpoint if one has rather smearing and blotting pens from school in mind? **Answer:** The negative school experiences with blots and smearing ink mostly result from simple school pens and lack of practice and generally do not occur with high-quality writers like the 149. The advantages lie in a more pleasant feel, an individual writing image and a relaxed writing feel, which is felt to be more valuable and conscious compared to a ballpoint. The price of a Meisterstück, however, does not necessarily justify the entry; it is sensible first to try out cheaper fountain pens and to extensively test-write in specialist trade. Nib width and model size are very individual factors that can only be reliably judged through one's own testing with one's own paper. --- **Question:** Which movements does Montblanc fit, and are these manufacture calibres or bought-in movements? **Answer:** Montblanc predominantly uses bought-in ETA or Valjoux movements. With the acquisition of the manufacture Minerva, Montblanc has by now also genuine manufacture calibres available, used above all in the higher-priced Villeret line, in limited quantities (1, 8 and 58, which simultaneously gives Minerva's founding year). A broader in-house production in the middle price segment is not planned, since the development of own movements requires very high investments and is hardly economically viable for the smaller quantities beyond the 10,000-euro mark. Larger manufacture quantities, as realised e.g. by Rolex, are structurally different from such strategies. --- **Question:** Does the Montblanc Club 4810 still exist, or is a reissue planned? **Answer:** The Club 4810 was put on ice by Montblanc a longer time ago; new admissions were already from 2006 no longer possible. At the time, a revised, modernised version was held out in prospect, but since the '100 Years' campaign 2006 visibly nothing more has happened. Among collectors it is by now doubted that Montblanc revives the concept, especially since the group is strategically increasingly concentrating on watches, leather and jewellery instead of on pure writing-instrument communities. --- **Question:** How does one recognise a counterfeit of a Montblanc Meisterstück ballpoint in a concrete eBay offer, and how is one to deal with an unwise seller? **Answer:** Typical recognition features for counterfeits are unusually designed rings with indentations, stamped instead of laser-engraved serial numbers — Montblanc has never stamped serial numbers — as well as size deviations, e.g. a too-small cap top. A description like 'The serial number is a model number and the same for every model range' is also factually wrong and a clear warning sign. Such fakes often come from China and cost in procurement a few euros. In dispute with the seller, it is recommended to remain factual, not to enter into personal discussions and, if applicable, to turn to eBay, Montblanc or a specialist repairer (e.g. Tom Westerich). --- **Question:** Which Montblanc cartridge fountain pens are suitable for a large writer as a 'cheap' entry, can cartridges of other manufacturers be used, and how does one subsequently determine nib width and converter? **Answer:** As cartridge fountain pens, besides the 144 and 145 (Chopin), above all the 147 Traveller is suitable, which corresponds roughly to the size of the 146 LeGrand; the 114 Mozart is very small and less suitable for longer texts because the hand quickly cramps. Size and nib width should always be tested in specialist trade with one's own everyday paper, since the writing pads on the spot are mostly higher quality than the later everyday. Pelikan-compatible third-party cartridges fit mechanically into many models but are slightly deviating in detail and can theoretically trigger warranty problems with Montblanc; a converter can be separately procured as a spare part. The nib width of old nibs can be roughly recognised by the tipping: round tipping corresponds to M or finer; flattened tipping B or broader; bevelled tipping an oblique variant (OB and broader). --- **Question:** What are the causes when the lower gold ring of a Montblanc 144 (on the grip section near the nib) appears chipped or 'scarred', and can this be repaired at Montblanc? **Answer:** The phenomenon arises through corrosion of the base material: on older 144s the ring core is of brass, whose gilding in the cap area is damaged through repeated contact with ink residues and through microscopic damage on closing the cap. Thereby especially acidic (iron-gall) ink attacks the brass; together with the gold it forms a local element that additionally accelerates corrosion. Later versions use stainless steel, which on damaged gilding forms a protective passive layer, which is why the problem hardly still occurs there. Repairs are possible: Montblanc exchanges the front part/grip section within the framework of the service flat rate (typically around 49 to 79 euros including shipping); in warranty cases the exchange has already been handled free of charge. --- **Question:** How can one watch the NDR video report on the 100-year Montblanc jubilee, and in what format is it played out? **Answer:** The NDR report is delivered as a Real Media stream (rtsp://…rm) and can therefore not be played with Windows Media Player. Required is the RealPlayer or its free Basic variant (real.com), which alongside RM supports many other formats (AVI, MP3, MPG, MOV, WAV, QT); only the Plus version with extended functions is chargeable. On macOS the stream can alternatively be played via other Real-capable players. The format was chosen to make simple saving of the file difficult. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc Meisterstück fountain pen bought at an antique market in Barcelona be identified and put into everyday use? **Answer:** The piece described is a Montblanc Meisterstück Classique 144, about 20 to 30 years old and, by photo, not a fake. As ink, Montblanc or Pelikan cartridges or inks are suitable; before putting it into operation, a thorough cleaning is necessary; the old piston converter should be replaced, with Pelikan or Waterman converters fitting; the newer Montblanc converters, on the other hand, do not. An initial cleaning can take place in an ultrasonic bath; if that is not enough, Montblanc service in Hamburg takes over a complete refurbishment including feed, front part and inner mechanism against a service flat rate of around 50 euros. On the laser engraving on the clip, it should be noted that this has only been used since the 1990s; an older piston filler with a laser-engraved clip therefore mostly indicates that the cap has been exchanged once in service. --- **Question:** Is it recommendable to buy a new Montblanc StarWalker Midnight Black on eBay significantly under the shop price, or should the specialist trade be preferred? **Answer:** With eBay or online purchase of new Montblanc writing instruments, the full manufacturer's warranty generally falls away; one receives only the legal warranty of the seller, often called 'in-house warranty'. Even the free nib-width exchange within the first weeks, which the authorised specialist trade enables, is mostly not available online. The eBay price should therefore lie significantly below the regular shop price in order to compensate for this loss in service; with new goods at only small savings, the online purchase is hardly worthwhile. In specialist shops, additionally, without negotiation often noticeable discounts are possible, partly into the two-digit percentage range. For used pieces, eBay can be sensible; for new goods with warranty entitlement, the authorised specialist retailer is the safer choice. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc pill box in question, especially on origin and character of this object? **Answer:** The Montblanc pill boxes are not regular collector's pieces but normal promotional gifts of the house of Montblanc. They were distributed within the framework of campaigns or as give-aways and accordingly have no collector value at the level of the writing instruments. Further information and comparable objects are documented in the relevant overviews of Montblanc accessories and give-aways. --- **Question:** What experiences are there with the official Montblanc engraving on a Meisterstück Le Grand, and which engraving contents – full name, initials or signature – prove themselves? **Answer:** The gold filling of an engraving can fade with time but can be freshened up free of charge in every Montblanc boutique if the writing instrument was bought there. In terms of content, the personal signature is frequently preferred, because it appears more individual than an engraved name or mere initials; a full name is, however, more practical in case the writing instrument is lost and an honest finder is to be enabled to return it. Initials are regarded, regarding recognisability, as the least favourable variant. Anyone wishing possibly later to sell the writing instrument should consider that every engraving reduces the resale value. Alternative engraving sites other than the location on the cap intended by Montblanc are not offered ex factory. --- **Question:** What would an 'ideal' Montblanc Meisterstück fountain pen look like if one were free to combine design elements of old and new models? **Answer:** The wishes mentioned mostly revolve around the classic body forms of the models 138 or 139 in black precious resin, supplemented by platinum-plated trim or the historical three-ring combination. Frequently named are also an enlarged star, ideally of mother-of-pearl or embedded in a transparent precious-resin body, as well as a flexible gold nib of classic construction. As material, historically used materials like original celluloid in the pearl or green tones of the 1940s come into question. A limitation – for example to 999 pieces and a sales period of only one year – is felt to be desirable as is a clearly calculated price in the area of 999 euros. Strongly individualised engravings or family pictures are rather rejected, since they restrict everyday use. --- **Question:** Does it affect, with the purchase of a Limited Edition, value, warranty and resale whether the warranty slip is stamped or not? **Answer:** With Limited Editions, the warranty slip should as far as possible not be stamped; the receipt suffices for warranty claims. A 'virgin', i.e. unfilled warranty slip clearly increases the resale value, since the warranty period on a later service first begins with the date of putting into use entered then. Reputable dealers stamp only on express customer wish. Montblanc keeps in the year of issue all nib widths from EF to OBBB in stock and offers within the framework of the special nib-exchange warranty an exchange; the time limit to the edition year named in the accompanying booklets for editions like Kafka or Jules Verne, however, narrows this possibility more than the normal warranty. Spare parts of older Limited Editions are indeed largely kept in stock, but always only incompletely, so that from individual parts whole devices cannot be assembled; an exchange is exclusively possible via Montblanc service in Hamburg. --- **Question:** How can a brown Montblanc fountain pen found in the cellar, with marbling, the number 4810 and the marking 'Simplo' from the 1930s, be more precisely determined? **Answer:** A model determination is not possible based solely on verbal descriptions; decisive are meaningful photos. Very large image files can be reduced with programs like Photoshop, the free Gimp or online editors like pixlr.com. With good pictures, a 4810 Simplo from the 1930s can generally be reliably assigned, possibly complemented by an enquiry by email to a collecting specialist. --- **Question:** What contents and what collector value does the book 'Montblanc Schreibgeräte 1980 – 2015' offer? **Answer:** The work comprises around 364 pages and lists more than 1,300 Montblanc writing instruments including the Limited Editions; over 750 models are depicted. For every writing instrument, sales period, last list retail price, nib details, body, cap, trim and clip are described. It contains the ranges Meisterstück, Bohème, Female Line, Etoile, Donation Pens, StarWalker, Great Characters, Series M, Carrera, Ballpix, 690, Traveller, Leonardo, Titano, Classic Generation, Cruise Line, Slim Line, Noblesse and Noblesse Oblige as well as special Meisterstück series and jubilee editions. Limited editions like Patron of Art, Writers Edition, Skeletons and Artisan Editions are mentioned in full; individual ones are, however, for legal reasons not depicted. The book was presented at the Pen Port in Hamburg. --- **Question:** How does one correctly fill an ink converter: via the screwed-in nib or directly at the bottle? **Answer:** The correct method is filling via the screwed-in converter, that is, by dipping the nib in the ink bottle and drawing up the ink via the feed. This procedure is uniformly recommended in the operating instructions of notable manufacturers like Visconti and ensures that the feed too is wetted with ink. The separate placing of the converter on the ink bottle is not provided for. --- **Question:** Which model is a Montblanc Meisterstück with wine-red body, gilded cap and the inscription 925, and what value is to be set? **Answer:** It is the Meisterstück 164 ballpoint from the Solitaire Doué range with a cap of gilded 925 sterling silver (vermeil) and a body of Bordeaux precious resin. The model number 164 gives thereby only the size and does not stand for the year of manufacture. Solitaire editions belong to the more valuable writing instruments of the brand; the exact year of manufacture cannot be derived from the number; the model should however come from the last years of production. --- **Question:** Since when has Montblanc produced spectacle cases, and which constructions exist? **Answer:** The top-open leather spectacle case is part of the Meisterstück leather series and available via authorised specialist retailers at a list price of 65 euros. Closed clamshell cases Montblanc has never offered as a stand-alone product; they were exclusively available as part of certain sets. The leather accessories are regularly extended alongside the rest of the range, by now also with cufflinks. --- **Question:** What is the small hole under the cap ring of a new Montblanc Meisterstück Le Grand for? **Answer:** On fountain pens, it is a deliberately built-in breathing hole in the cap, which enables a pressure equalisation and prevents drying out or leakage. A comparable hole on the rollerball fulfils a similar function and is no defect. There is therefore no defect but a structurally intended detail. --- **Question:** What is the cause of a too-strong ink flow on a Montblanc 221 and how can it be remedied? **Answer:** A clearly too high ink flow mostly indicates that nib and feed do not sit correctly or are not fully pushed into the grip section. Likewise, a slightly bent nib can enlarge the gap between the nib tines and thus lead to stronger flow. Careful realigning of the nib tines can remedy the problem; decisive is that both tines lie exactly on top of each other and the nib slit is even. --- **Question:** Which variations are there with Montblanc serial numbers and what does the inscription 'Pix' mean? **Answer:** Solitaire writing instruments bear serial numbers of two letters and six digits; on particularly high-quality solid-gold pieces it is partly only five digits. With the typeface, Montblanc changed around the year 2000 from round to angular, laser-engraved digits. The designation 'Pix' was originally the name for the mechanical pencils of the 1930s and has been engraved since about the early 2000s also on other writing instruments as well as on watch models (e.g. of the Summit range); older models that expired before the introduction of this practice, like the 146 Bordeaux, therefore lack the inscription. --- **Question:** What is the difference between Montblanc 'Classic', 'Classique' and 'Generation'? **Answer:** The term 'Classic' designated in the 1980s the former second line below the Meisterstück and is therefore not a Meisterstück. 'Classique' has stood since the 1990s for the smallest Meisterstück variant and is part of the main line. 'Generation' is the successor of the earlier 'Classic' line. The designations are not synonymous but mark different product lines and eras. --- **Question:** Which model is a white-silver Montblanc ballpoint with lever function from the 1980s? **Answer:** The ballpoint belongs to the range of the so-called 'Eleventh Finger' from the 1980s. Model number 782 formally fits; the white model corresponds however rather to the 780, which was made in black, red, blue, green, olive and occasionally further colours; matt and shiny variants bore different model numbers. The retail price in 1982 was for the 780 11.90 DM, for the 782 19.75 DM and for the 784 29.50 DM. --- **Question:** Are Montblanc writing instruments sensibly to be bought online at specialist retailers, or do advantages compared to shop purchase get lost? **Answer:** Online orders at Montblanc specialist retailers like Schacht-Westerich are possible and sensible if the regional dealer density is inadequate. However, essential advantages of stationary trade fall away, especially the prior testing of nib, feel and weight, which is important especially with first purchases or limited editions. With reputable specialist retailers, the nib width is queried during the ordering process; restrictedly reliable are providers without a clear specialist-dealer profile; here authenticity and service possibility should be clarified before purchase. --- **Question:** Are the Montblanc models Bohème and StarWalker also suitable for persons with large hands? **Answer:** The suitability depends less on hand size than on intended use: for short notes the diameter is secondary; for longer writing very important. The StarWalker is rather slimly built; the Bohème additionally is available in a larger 'Big Size' variant with LeGrand dimensions and retractable nib; this Big Size version is available only as an individual pen with platinum-plated trim and without a gemstone, without further matching writing-system devices. Subjectively, many collectors with large hands also cope well with thinner pens like the classic Bohème; decisive is a test in the hand. --- **Question:** Does a blank-supplied Montblanc service guide have a value for the warranty? **Answer:** An unfilled service guide without purchase date and dealer's stamp has hardly any practical use for the warranty, since Montblanc generally demands a purchase proof for warranty services. Officially, boutiques should not give out the service guide blank; in practice, however, this happens. Especially with Limited Editions, attention is paid to an unfilled, clean service guide; decisive remains, however, the original receipt with date. --- **Question:** What are small bubbles on the clip pearl of a new Meisterstück 149 and how can the damage be remedied? **Answer:** The bubbles are a known finishing defect that goes back to an untidy gluing of the hemisphere with the clip. The assessment of whether it is a general quality problem is disputed in the collector circle: some users report frequent occurrences, others see no widespread defect. Pragmatically, the clip should in the warranty case be exchanged free of charge via the specialist retailer; outside the warranty, the costs for the exchange are around 49 euros. --- **Question:** Is an offered Mozart ballpoint with a 'Czar Nicholas I' look genuine and what is the correct model designation? **Answer:** The ballpoint is genuine; correctly it is called 'Meisterstück Solitaire Hommage à Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart' or 'Solitaire Malachit', although the designation 'Czar Nikolai I' was not officially used as a product name. The labelling 'Solit. Malachit' on the packaging is an abbreviated correct statement and no indication of a counterfeit. The material used is vermeil, that is, solid sterling silver with gilding, not solid gold; the ID numbers were 02020 (price list 2000) or 02987 (price list 2002). The named price of 180 euros is plausible. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model range can fountain pens with two cap rings, star on cap and body, gold decoration rings and a nib mount with two lateral prongs be assigned to? **Answer:** The features described, especially the nib mount with two lateral prongs, the second narrow cap ring, the star on cap and body as well as the nib hallmarked with 14K/585 and star, point to the Classic series and not to the Generation line. The nib engraving 'MONTBLANC GERMANY' confirms the assignment. For a reliable identification, meaningful photos of the nib, the cap rings and the body are helpful, since the designs of Classic and Generation are similar in basics. The models existed regularly in black and Bordeaux with gold trim. --- **Question:** Is the online shop www.uhrendirct.de a reputable source for the purchase of a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 Carbon? **Answer:** Concrete experiences with www.uhrendirct.de are not available. As an alternative, the well-known specialist retailer www.scription.de was recommended, at which a reliable service is to be expected. With the online purchase of branded goods, the choice of an established specialist retailer is generally worthwhile, since warranty claims and service-guide filling are secured at the authorised dealer. --- **Question:** Is there a converter for the Montblanc Bohème and is conversion of the cartridge filler sensible? **Answer:** For the Bohème with fixed nib, a normal Montblanc converter can be used. With the Bohème with retractable nib, this is structurally not possible, since structurally there is only room for a standard cartridge. Even if a matching converter were constructed, it would hold significantly less ink than a regular cartridge, comparable to the thin small converter of the Waterman Lady Agathe. In practice, refilling empty cartridges by syringe is therefore the more pragmatic solution. --- **Question:** Are the Montblanc models piston filler 420 and mechanical pencil 251 regular series products or specially made promotional gifts? **Answer:** Both the Montblanc 420 (production period 1971–1975) and the mechanical pencil 251 (1971–1984) are regular series writing instruments that were offered in this time in the middle to lower price segment. They were only frequently personalised as promotional articles with a company engraving, here 'KAEFER'. Strictly speaking, the two models do not fit together as a set: the fountain pen with gilded steel nib comes from the fourth, very inexpensive series; the pencil with two rings from the second series. Despite the simpler version, they are full-fledged Montblanc writing instruments. --- **Question:** How can a gold nib that has acquired patina over time be gently cleaned? **Answer:** A tried and tested method is cleaning with a normal silver-cleaning cloth, which should be applied with some feel and reliably removes patina. With nibs with sensitive inlays like platinum intarsia, however, caution is in order; here often a simple cloth already suffices to remove deposits without risk. Aggressive cleaning or polishing agents should be avoided, as should strong rubbing. --- **Question:** What experiences are there with the Montblanc automatic watch Sport Steel 03275 regarding accuracy, power reserve and finishing? **Answer:** Users report a very good accuracy for a mechanical movement of about five seconds deviation per 24 hours, provided the watch is regularly worn or moved; the power reserve is around 36 hours. The finishing corresponds to the good level usual at Montblanc. Certain accuracy tolerances are normal with every mechanical watch and independent of the manufacturer; with permanently more than five seconds deviation, an adjustment in the Montblanc plant Hamburg by the watchmaker is necessary, for which a deviation documented over several days is presupposed. Strap shortenings are carried out free of charge in every Montblanc boutique. The RRP was 1,500 euros. --- **Question:** What experiences with the Montblanc Customer Service in Hamburg are to be expected and how is an exchanged cap with 'Pix' marking to be evaluated? **Answer:** Reported is a smooth service: within the framework of a service flat rate, cap, front part, feed, cap seal and tank were replaced, so the writing instrument came back practically near-new. A nib exchange or regrinding an OBB nib to narrower nib widths is generally not possible; a nib exchange costs about 150 euros. The model designations 144 (Classique) and 146 (Le Grand) are clearly to be separated; their nibs are not interchangeable. Since 144 and 146 are everyday writing instruments and no collector's pieces, an exchanged cap with 'Pix' hallmark is in the short term not value-reducing. --- **Question:** How is a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 correctly filled, cleaned and cared for in everyday life? **Answer:** The 146 is a classical piston filler: for filling, the piston at the rear end is completely unscrewed; the nib is fully immersed in the ink bottle and the piston then turned all the way in; finally two to three drops of ink are returned to the bottle. With regular use a cleaning is seldom necessary; after longer idle times or ink change, the writing instrument should be rinsed several times with cold or distilled water. Cleaning agents or polishes are to be avoided. An instruction manual is included with every Montblanc ink bottle; complementarily, animations on the Visconti website offer an illustration of the piston filling principle. --- **Question:** Which structural differences exist between an older Montblanc 146 (mid-1990s) and a current Le Grand? **Answer:** Montblanc changed the dimensions of the Le Grand around the end of 1999: the new cap is, at 71 mm, 2.2 mm longer; the entire pen grew from 142.5 mm to 146 mm length, and the cap circumference increased slightly, so that old caps no longer fit new pens. Causal is a changed thread standard: while previously, since the 1950s, a four-start thread was used, since then a different number of starts is used, recognisable by the number of thread entries. The screwing of the cap top consists today of plastic instead of metal, and the nib sits somewhat deeper in the barrel, so the 585 hallmark is less visible. Possibly the feed was also modified. --- **Question:** Which fitting case options exist for the storage of three Montblanc Mozart writing instruments, since the original Mozart three-piece set case is no longer produced? **Answer:** Since Montblanc no longer newly offers either the Mozart three-piece set case or the Bohème three-piece case and currently only the Siena is available as a three-piece case, the secondary market remains an important source. A used Bohème three-piece case comes close to the Mozart size: the leather tabs are indeed designed somewhat wider but, in near-new condition and with the zip closed, fix three Mozart pens, especially when these are hooked at the clip. Since the size differences are noticeable, a fitting in a boutique or at a specialist retailer is recommended before purchase if possible. Alternatively, a Montblanc notebook with a Mozart loop exists, which however only holds one pen. --- **Question:** What can one do about a stiff piston mechanism on a Montblanc 149 without sending the pen to service? **Answer:** It is recommended to first fill the fountain pen with water over several days, since often dried ink is responsible for the stiffness. The use of silicone grease is expressly advised against, since it adheres extremely strongly to almost all plastics and can only be removed with aggressive agents. Independent interventions on the mechanism mostly fail because the necessary special tools by Montblanc are not available in free trade. If the water bath does not help, only the way via Montblanc service or a specialist retailer remains, who can carry out simple repairs on the spot. --- **Question:** From what period does a Montblanc 146 with solid-gold nib, completely transparent ink-view window and only 'W.GERMANY' embossing on the clip without serial number come? **Answer:** This feature combination points to a Montblanc 146 from the 1980s: at the time, solid-gold nibs were fitted and the ink-view window was completely transparent without stripes. Serial numbers were only later laser-applied to the clip, which is why the absence of a number in this period is normal. If, on the other hand, on a nominally older piece a serial number is present, this can indicate a later cap exchange. --- **Question:** How are two gifted Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire Doué (No. 16664 black and No. 1442 wine-red with gold cap) to be classified qualitatively and price-wise? **Answer:** Both models belong to the high-quality Solitaire range and are in no way to be compared to a school fountain pen. The Bordeaux Doué with gold-plated 925 sterling-silver cap (No. 1442) cost 1998/99 in Germany 995 DM; the Doué in sterling silver (No. 1461) 985 DM. The identification is essentially secured by the designation on the original packaging; detail prices for concrete boutique conditions at the current time were not given. Both pieces are regarded as a very good entry into a collection. --- **Question:** Is an original price of 145 US dollars for a Montblanc Meister Bütten box on eBay reasonable? **Answer:** The price stated is in order. Sometimes the set of laid paper and envelopes can even be acquired more cheaply. Sourcing from the USA, however, is generally not worthwhile because of shipping and customs costs, since corresponding sets are frequently also offered domestically. --- **Question:** Are there Montblanc Meisterstück models with a clip of 14-carat gold, and is this correspondingly stamped? **Answer:** Current solid-gold Meisterstücks have, for stability reasons, no clips of pure gold; on older models, e.g. about ten years back, however, clips of gold were fitted. Such older solid-gold variants can still be found at dealers. Real gold clips are provided with the corresponding hallmark, e.g. a 585 or 750 stamp; if this is present, the clip really consists of gold and is not only coated. --- **Question:** Which fountain pen is preferable for a switch from M to F, the Montblanc Chopin Platinum or the Le Grand Traveller? **Answer:** There is no universally valid recommendation, since the decision depends primarily on size and feel and is a matter of taste. In the model comparison it is to be considered that the Traveller does not exist in Platinum version; if Platinum is desired, only the 145 Chopin remains. Practically relevant is additionally that the Chopin can be filled with a converter; the Traveller, on the other hand, presumably not. Anyone open to both sizes should be led by the immediate impression in the hand. --- **Question:** What flat-rate prices does Montblanc charge for repairs like nib change or turning-knob repair, and is this uniformly regulated in the boutique? **Answer:** The nib change is price-coupled to the condition of the nib: with nearly near-new nib, Montblanc charges a flat rate of around 50 euros; with no-longer-new condition it becomes significantly more expensive. In the Vienna boutique, for a nib change from F to EF on a 146, almost 200 euros were estimated; German boutiques, by contrast, demand the lower flat-rate amount, which is not always uniformly communicated by telephone. The repair service proves accommodating in many cases, e.g. with the free exchange of deformed nibs. Overall the service quality of Montblanc is praised; regionally, however, there are differences in pricing. --- **Question:** How must an original nib of the Montblanc 149 look, and are large-area platinum-plated 149 nibs genuine? **Answer:** An original 149 nib is today consistently executed in 18 carat and outside as well as inside yellow-gold with only a platinum-plated stripe in between. A nib on which only the outer edge is gold-coloured and the inner surface appears platinum-plated belongs, on smaller sizes, typically to a 146. There exist, however, older 149 nibs, presumably from the 1980s until before the Hemingway generation, on which the entire inner field was platinum-plated; with the Hemingway edition, a return was made to the variant with narrow edge. Accordingly, a large-area platinum-plated 149 nib can be genuine if it is at least about 15 years old. --- **Question:** Did a gold-coloured Montblanc Noblesse mechanical pencil exist, and are there pictures of it? **Answer:** There were gilded writing instruments of the Noblesse range in several model variants, each as fountain pen, ballpoint, mechanical pencil and rollerball. In total three different model variants of the gilded Noblesse line existed. Owing to unsharp pictures, an individual assignment can only be guessed at; the example described presumably comes from the Noblesse III with open clip. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc offered on eBay that resembles a Medici Patron of Arts that, an older model or a counterfeit? **Answer:** It is not the Medici from the Patron of Arts but an old Safety pen with silver overlay that merely visually resembles the Medici, since the Patron of Arts edition is deliberately modelled on the early Safety models. The pen is thus no fake but a historical original. The bidder structure of the auction with experienced vintage collectors confirms this classification. Comparable is the model with the Safety No. 6 Silver Overlay. --- **Question:** Which market value is realistic for the not-on-public-sale nib tester boxes with Montblanc 146 LeGrand, and which nib widths belong in a complete box? **Answer:** Comparable individual Meisterstücks from such tester boxes were traded around 140 euros; a complete set lay price-wise at around 1,400 euros, without this price having been demonstrably achieved. Into a complete box belong not exclusively 146s but in combination also a 145 with S nib; the S nib width was regularly available but sold poorly and today is regarded as hardly still procurable. Reports exist that the character of the S nib was felt to be too characterless by the then managing director. Tester boxes are particularly sought-after in the US market and find interested buyers there. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc pencil fits best the Meisterstück Classique Chopin and what differences exist between the models? **Answer:** Visually, the Meisterstück Classique 165 in the same size best fits the Chopin; the LeGrand would not harmonise proportionally. The LeGrand is a rotary pencil (front-loader) with 0.9 mm lead, which is steplessly advanced; the Classique a push pencil (rear-loader) with 0.5 or 0.7 mm lead. As an alternative for notes and corrections, the Bohème pencil is also suitable, which is compact, has an eraser and is equipped with 0.9 mm lead, which breaks less often. The choice thus depends on look, desired lead thickness and mechanism. --- **Question:** Which size differences exist between the Montblanc Meisterstück 144 and the 145 regarding barrel diameter and length? **Answer:** The 145 is somewhat larger than the 144 but retains the proportions of the Classique line. Detailed dimension specifications and comparative illustrations can be viewed in the relevant overviews (e.g. fountainpen.de) as well as in dimension tables in the collector literature. The models both belong to the Classique size; the difference is therefore moderate but visible and measurable. --- **Question:** How are the numerous supposed Montblanc online shops to be evaluated that offer original goods at strikingly low prices? **Answer:** They are practically without exception fake shops: either the customer receives no goods at all or a counterfeit, and the credit-card data is misused. Such sites exist in their hundreds and crop up under changing domains. Montblanc pursues corresponding cases via the legal department, but the proceedings drag on. A reliable warning sign is deficient German as well as payment requests by email with attached ZIP files. --- **Question:** What emerges from the Richemont press release on the possible sale of Montegrappa and on the withdrawal of Norbert Platt? **Answer:** Richemont has classified the writing-instrument business Montegrappa as a 'discontinued operation' and is actively in sale negotiations. Norbert Platt, who had previously shaped Montblanc decisively and had been CEO of Richemont for five years, announced his withdrawal at the end of the year; later it became known that the resignation took place for health reasons. During his term, group turnover grew to record levels, and operating profit exceeded the one-billion-euro mark. His strategic swing at Montblanc away from the inexpensive writing instrument towards the luxury brand with extended range is regarded across the industry as defining. --- **Question:** How can an inherited Montblanc 149 from the 1950s with the inscription 'Masterpiece' be dated and assessed in value? **Answer:** The inscription 'Masterpiece' identifies it as an export model that was not intended for the German market. Based on the feed, it can be classified as the second variant of the then 149. The value depends decisively on the condition of the ink window: light, yellowish celluloid points to little use and thereby higher value; dark discolourations reduce it significantly. Before a sale, the fountain pen should be thoroughly flushed. For value orientation, a look at already sold articles on eBay serves; alternatively a sale to specialised collector dealers is possible. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the Montblanc Bohème Jewels line and why are they rarely to be found on the collector market? **Answer:** The Bohème Jewels line is relatively new and connected with high retail prices, so buyers are reluctant to part with them, which explains the small presence on the second-hand market. Characteristic are real semi-precious stones like citrine, rhodolite or similar stones as well as a leather sheathing of the body, which makes the pieces appear particularly unusual. Over time, rising collector value is to be expected, since these are real niche products. As with other limited editions of Montblanc, here specific customer needs are specifically addressed. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc fountain pen is equipped with a green semi-precious stone or a cap of green semi-precious material? **Answer:** Several models show green stones: in the Bohème Vert there is a synthetic emerald in the clip, in the Jungle Eyes collection a tourmaline and in some Patron of Arts editions peridot stones. With the Atelier Privés pieces, real sapphires are used. The cap of the Meisterstück Solitaire Nikolai edition consists of ground and newly bound malachite and was produced in gold and platinum variants. The Nikolai series is no longer being made; remaining stock is available via specialised dealers. --- **Question:** Are brown discolourations on the Montblanc J.S. Bach and similar oddities on a 149 and Mozart attributable to material defects or storage conditions? **Answer:** On the J.S. Bach it is no discolouration: Montblanc leads this colour as 'Sepia' and the material is by design dark-brown. Real discolourations or deposit formations on Montblanc writing instruments are, according to collector experience, very rare and can be attributable to unfavourable storage (case materials, humidity, neighbouring materials like furniture outgassing) as well as to inks used. If deposits can be removed with a silver-cleaning cloth or careful wiping, mostly no substance damage is given. For a well-founded judgement, the writing instruments together with the case must be sent in to Montblanc with detailed information on storage location, climate, ink and cleaning. --- **Question:** Which model and which value are an inherited antique Montblanc fountain pen from family possession? **Answer:** It is a Meisterstück from the 1930s, based on the indications given presumably a 25. The exact model number is embossed at the rear on the turning knob of the filling mechanism. It is a push-knob filler with an ink sac inside; after long non-use, the sac typically has to be renewed, for which specialised restorers like Horst Schrage (max@maxpens.de) offer themselves. For value determination, the relevant collector guides and a comparison with current eBay auctions are recommended; 25s are not rare, so patience in market observation is sensible. --- **Question:** Since when is the Montblanc StarWalker Cool Blue available and what is the price difference compared to the Resin variant based on? **Answer:** The StarWalker Cool Blue was already announced in 2004 but only actually came into trade in May 2007. The intense blue colouring acts in the original more vigorously and partly slightly translucent, which on photos is hardly reproducible. The price premium of around 100 euros over the Resin model results from the more elaborate manufacturing process of the coloured variant. A sound technical justification of the price difference is not provided by the manufacturer. --- **Question:** What does the inscription Montblanc-Meisterstück-Pix(R) on the cap of a 146 Le Grand mean and is this embossing normal? **Answer:** The cap inscription with the component Pix(R) is normal on Meisterstück models like the 146 Le Grand and has been usual for decades. Pix is a historical brand name protected by Montblanc, which goes back to the ballpoint mechanism and appears as a trademark-secured addition on the caps. Background can be found in the more in-depth articles on the brand history of the house. --- **Question:** Which high-quality fineliner alternatives to Montblanc StarWalker and Stabilo 88 exist, and are the fineliner refills of various manufacturers interchangeable? **Answer:** The fineliner refills by Montblanc, Faber-Castell (e.g. Graf-von-Faber-Castell roller) and many other manufacturers are made by Schmidt Technology and are largely identical in construction. Apart from the refill end and the thread, they correspond to the Euro standard for rollerball refills and can therefore be used in most housings that use this standard. The selection of brands and models with Schmidt fineliner refills is thereby very large. On the topic of choosing writing instruments for left-handers, personal trying-out in the shop is decisive, since the writing behaviour strongly depends on individual pen posture. --- **Question:** How reliable are condition specifications in eBay auctions for high-quality writing instruments and what strategies minimise the risk? **Answer:** Condition descriptions like 'good condition' or 'near-mint' are often strongly glossed over by private sellers; PayPal generally does not intervene with condition defects, provided the consignment counts as delivered. Known commercial collector dealers are by contrast reliable but mostly run their own shops outside eBay at often cheaper prices than in the auctions – direct enquiries are worthwhile. Compared with realistic collector prices at pen shows, eBay prices for used and rare pieces frequently lie significantly excessive. Recommended are detailed photos and descriptions on buying and selling as well as a basically sceptical attitude towards unknown private sellers. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc models are three inherited writing instruments with 925/750 hallmarks, a lapis lazuli look and a solid-gold body? **Answer:** The gold pen is a 144 Solid Gold with 18kt overlay from the early to mid-1990s; later solid-gold models show a herringbone pattern of yellow and white gold, the gold layer is thin and the material value moderate, but the models are comparatively rare. The lapis rollerball is a 163 Solitaire Ramses II with lapis-lazuli cap and gilded silver body (vermeil). The third piece is a 144 Ramses II whose thin lapis-lazuli cap (frequent defect of the range) had broken and was subsequently sheathed in wood/horn by a third party – an unofficial DIY job, no Montblanc original state. --- **Question:** Does an old wristwatch inscribed 'Montblanc' come from the Hamburg writing-instrument manufacturer, and does it have a watch history before 1997? **Answer:** Before 1997, Montblanc Simplo GmbH did not produce watches; older watches with the inscription 'Montblanc' come from an independent Swiss watchmaker, which is now insolvent. When Montblanc Hamburg entered watch production, the trademark rights for the watch name 'Montblanc' were bought from a Swiss watchmaker, whereby Hamburg has been allowed to appear in the watch segment under its own star since 1997. From a pure collector's view of Montblanc writing instruments, the old Swiss watches are not relevant; their historical value and their connection to the brand history can nevertheless be interesting. --- **Question:** Is the use of the term 'Meisterstück' in the advertising of other manufacturers (e.g. Garmin) trademark-problematic for Montblanc? **Answer:** The term 'Meisterstück' is in general language a quality term and no exclusively Montblanc-protected brand name; in trademark law there is a need to keep it free, which is why other companies may advertise with it. The trademark-law assessment can however vary in the individual case, especially with very similar handwritten design the topic of reputation exploitation could be discussed, as comparable domain and trademark disputes show. For the broad population, 'Meisterstück' is moreover not primarily associated with Montblanc but generally understood as an award of craftsmanlike top quality, so confusion danger is mostly not given. --- **Question:** Are frequent defects on cap thread, nib and body of a Montblanc StarWalker fountain pen typical, and how does Montblanc react with repairs outside the warranty? **Answer:** On the StarWalker, the cap thread is inside of plastic, while the barrel thread consists of metal; with too firm tightening, the plastic thread can give way over time. Repeated defects of the same components are, however, not the rule. The warranty does not automatically extend through a repair; after expiry, the customer bears the costs, which for a cap can be around 120 euros. Goodwill is a matter of negotiation and to be weighed entrepreneurially between prior pricing-in of possible repairs and individual assumption of costs. --- **Question:** How high are the repair costs at Montblanc when on a 144 a body crack and gold abrasion at the cap cone occur, and is this a justified defect? **Answer:** With a justified material defect, Montblanc service generally takes over the repair free of charge; otherwise the flat rate 1 of 49 euros applies. Cracks in the barrel, peeling gold layer on the cap/nib ring or similar material defects should therefore be sent to service for assessment. Before shipping, cleaning, water-based rinsing and inspection are recommended; further factual information on scratches in the lacquer is not available. --- **Question:** Is the Montblanc Noblesse Oblige correctly named, or does 'oblique' refer to the nib form? **Answer:** The model is officially called 'Noblesse Oblige'; the name plays on the saying 'noblesse oblige' (nobility obliges) and has nothing to do with the nib form. An obliquely ground nib would be called 'oblique', which is often confused with 'oblige'. Of the Noblesse Oblige, an older and a more recent version exist, distinguishable by logo and clip design. With authenticity checking of used-bought pieces, the front of the original nib is decisive; the feed is rarely subsequently retrofitted to fit. --- **Question:** What are the causes of writing failures of a Montblanc 162 rollerball in certain writing angles, and can a fineliner refill provide a remedy? **Answer:** Roller- and ballpoints regulate the ink flow via the ball in the tip, which simultaneously acts as a limitation; the sharp edges of the tip lead to tight tolerances in the writing angle. Failures can indicate a too dry refill or a slightly bent tip edge. A switch to another refill, e.g. a broader ballpoint refill or a Schmidt fineliner refill, can improve the ink flow and ease the angle range, since the 162 barrels accept both rollerball and fineliner refills. --- **Question:** How high are the current list prices (status 2008/2009) of the Montblanc Meisterstück Classique and Le Grand twist-action ballpoints in gilded and platinum-plated version? **Answer:** At the Münster dealer the following prices applied: Classique twist ballpoint with gold trim 265 euros, platinum 275 euros; Le Grand twist ballpoint with gold trim 285 euros, platinum 295 euros. For comparison: in 2006 the Le Grand Platinum was at 270 euros, the gold Le Grand at 255 euros. Telephone price enquiries and occasional discount requests are frequently successful in MB shops. With purchase from commercial eBay providers under shop price, restricted or missing international manufacturer's warranty is to be reckoned with; campaigns like 10 percent Payback at Kaufhof can compensate the price difference with the internet. --- **Question:** How should one react to a suspicious-looking eBay offer that is possibly a counterfeit or a hacked seller account? **Answer:** With suspicious offers, a direct enquiry to the supposed seller is worthwhile, since accounts are regularly used by third parties and articles posted without the owner's knowledge. Before a transfer, the purchase should be aborted. PayPal indeed offers in case of justified complaints like counterfeits a refund, but the procedures are lengthy and connected with writing effort. In case of doubt, the purchase is to be refrained from. --- **Question:** From what period does a Montblanc Pix 283 pencil come, and is a restoration sensible? **Answer:** The Montblanc Pix 283 was made between 1954 and 1959. With signs of use like small scratches, much can be achieved with polish. More difficult is a worn-off gilding, which mostly requires a professional re-gilding. With the disassembly of older Pelikan or Montblanc models, utmost caution is in order; without experience, releasing the upper part oneself is basically advised against. --- **Question:** How everyday-suitable is the Montblanc StarWalker Rubber & Metal, and is an expensive repair worthwhile? **Answer:** With careful transport in cases, hardly any problems are to be expected; in the grooves, however, through reaction with skin sweat an oxide layer can form that is mostly easy to remove. Problems with the rubber surface are known but not universal. A repair, e.g. with a defective cap thread, is only worthwhile if one wishes to continue to use the writing instrument; after the exchange, warranty on the replaced parts again exists. As an alternative, Pelikan was discussed; the ductus does not appeal to everyone; personally the StarWalker was preferred. --- **Question:** Why does a Montblanc 146P suddenly write with significantly increased ink flow, possibly caused by frequent flights? **Answer:** With frequent flights, the pressure change during climb and descent leads to more ink reaching the feed and partly the cap. A remedy is provided either by upright storage with the nib up or by carefully dabbing the lamellas under the nib with a tissue after the flight in order to absorb excess ink. If the strong ink flow remains, the nib can be slightly bent, which permanently increases the ink flow. The paper quality also plays an essential role for the flow behaviour. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc 149 nib whose slit clearly stands apart defective? **Answer:** A wide nib slit is no necessary defect feature; the wider the slit, the higher the ink flow. From the factory the slit is, however, not so wide, so the piece described was presumably set by the previous owner for a saturated ink flow. Without macro shots of the tipping or a writing sample, the condition cannot be reliably judged. With an internet purchase without writing sample, it is therefore recommended in case of doubt to switch to pieces whose condition is clearly documented; regular 149s are anyway frequently available. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc 149 with an unusually designed star on the cap (variant for the Arab market) an original, and is a nib change sensible? **Answer:** Yes, this model is original. The only difference to the regular Meisterstück is the modified star that Montblanc has used for certain Arab markets. Such pieces are rare in Germany. A nib change is not recommended: it would be a pity to fit a modern nib into an older piece, and additionally such a repair is very expensive. The achieved sale price of around 225 euros counts as a bargain. --- **Question:** Should one post the cap on the back when writing with the fountain pen or rather not? **Answer:** That is a matter of taste and depends strongly on the respective writing instrument. Small models like the 114 Mozart or a Kaweco Sport need the posted cap for reasonable balance, while a 146 Solitaire with posted cap quickly becomes too heavy and unwieldy. With middle Meisterstücks like the 146, many switch depending on the situation. Anyone wishing to avoid cap impressions and polish effort on the body writes basically without the cap. A general rule does not exist. --- **Question:** Since when was the Montblanc 164 ballpoint produced in Bordeaux, does it still exist, and are the matching packaging and short serial number correct? **Answer:** Bordeaux Montblancs have existed since the 1920s; the 164 Meisterstück ballpoint, however, has only been made since the mid-80s and with numerous detail changes. The Meisterstück Classique series in Bordeaux is still available, while the Meisterstück LeGrand in Bordeaux was discontinued two years ago and the Mozart in Bordeaux the previous year. The box in question is authentic but was likely used more than 20 years ago. A 164 without an engraved clip-ring number in this old box is plausible; pieces with a number are, on the other hand, younger than about five years. Some dealers voluntarily forgo stocking but accept orders. --- **Question:** What is the Montblanc Augmented Paper, how does it work and is it worth its price of 650 euros? **Answer:** The Augmented Paper is a leather folder with a special pen in StarWalker style and Mozart ballpoint format that transfers handwritten notes from the pad to digital text with the help of a smartphone app. The underlying technology comes from Wacom, which makes long-term software maintenance likely; the comparable Wacom Bamboo Folio costs around 100 euros but offers no high-quality leather or premium writing instrument. Workmanship and handwriting recognition of the Montblanc variant are praised, provided one writes legibly. Negatively noted are the exclusively available A5 format, the limitation to single-sided writing and the binding to the Mozart ballpoint refill. Whether the price is justified depends on the value placed on the workmanship quality. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc nib with imperial-eagle hallmark and inscription "NICHROM" on a Montblanc 236 original, and which nib size should the model have? **Answer:** The NICHROM nib with imperial eagle is no Montblanc nib and does not belong in a 236. Correct for the 236 is a nib size 6, be it as a gold or steel nib; the model number does not encode the line width but price class, construction and housing/nib size. Line widths are exclusively indicated with capital letters (e.g. F, M, B). With the third series ("III MONTBLANC III"), instead of numbers the letters a, b, c in a triangle were used, with a, b, c corresponding to the nib sizes 2, 4, 6. A 234 would consequently have a smaller nib than a 236. --- **Question:** Is a gilded Montblanc Meisterstück fountain pen with corn guilloche offered for 199 euros an original? **Answer:** On the pictures, the fountain pen looks like an original, although the nib could come from an older model, since no hint of a central platinum intarsia is recognisable. An unambiguous bargain the price is not, especially since the piece shows an engraving; polishing out the engraving simultaneously removes the gilding at this point and makes an expensive re-gilding necessary. In addition, this model with corn guilloche is no longer being produced, which increases the appeal. The changeable auction behaviour (changed starting price, picture change, location change), however, gives cause for caution. --- **Question:** Can one ascertain from the serial number whether an offered Montblanc StarWalker Midnight Black ballpoint with inside stamp "Made in Germany" is an original? **Answer:** A reliable authenticity check via the serial number is only possible by Montblanc itself, since only the manufacturer can interpret the coding. Especially with StarWalker ballpoints, the counterfeits are often very well made, which is why increased caution is advised. If identical serial numbers already turn up on the internet in connection with counterfeits, that is a clear warning sign; with the number mentioned that was not the case, which is at least not a bad sign. --- **Question:** Which ID number and which then retail price did the Montblanc Writers Edition 2001 Charles Dickens have? **Answer:** The Charles Dickens from the Writers Edition 2001 cost 620 euros at market introduction. Montblanc assigns to every writing instrument of a Writers Edition its own ID number, which is found, among other places, on the outer packaging; alongside, the goods number (model number) exists, which marks the entire series and on the Dickens reads M 28710. The ID numbers additionally distinguish by nib width: on the Dickens, the F nib bears the number 2480 (with special packaging Autograph 2485), the M nib 2481 (or 2486) and the B nib 2482 (or 2487). The ballpoint has the ID number 2483 (or 2452), the complete three-set 2484 (or 2488 with nib M). This differentiation makes sense above all with orders, because it avoids confusion between the nib widths and packaging variants. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is behind the cap-ring marking 1255 or 1266 in sterling silver with longitudinal guilloche? **Answer:** It is presumably the Montblanc 1266, a Meisterstück piston filler with sterling-silver thread guilloche, which was made between 1971 and 1976 in small numbers. It has a rhodium-plated 18-carat gold nib. Early examples had a massive feed with a metal-mounted ventilation hole, later ones a flatter, more reliable feed. Due to the rarity, the collector value in flawless condition lies up to 1000 euros. In the standard work Collectible Stars, this model is not listed. --- **Question:** From what period does a green-marbled Montblanc Meisterstück with the patent number DRP 508058 and the marking 30 at the barrel end come? **Answer:** It is the Meisterstück Stylo number 30, made between 1930/31 and 1934; the barrel number 30 refers to the then retail price of 30 Reichsmark. From the factory the model was originally not a fountain pen with nib but a push filler with stylo tip, to which the patent number mentioned unambiguously points. Often the black front part with the stylo tip was subsequently exchanged for a grip section with nib. On the green-marbled celluloid housings, discolourations as well as material shrinkages additionally often occur. --- **Question:** Is a used Montblanc Meisterstück 164P for 129 euros via a classified ads platform a good purchase? **Answer:** Whether the price is reasonable depends decisively on the actual condition and the completeness (original box, service guide). The provider named is known from eBay and has there already sold numerous allegedly near-new 164Ps, which gives cause for caution; queries about the origin of the pieces were not reliably answered. An authenticity check after purchase is therefore urgently recommended. Basically: with doubtful sources, one should keep one's hands off the deal, provided the authenticity and origin are not clarified beyond doubt. --- **Question:** Where can information be found on sales periods and original prices of Montblanc writing instruments from 1980 onwards like Traveller, Noblesse, Slim Line or Carrera? **Answer:** The standard work Collectible Stars by Stefan Wallrafen covers writing instruments only up to 1979 and therefore offers no complete data for the desired models of the 1980s; some devices are additionally missing there entirely. A suitable point of contact for historical catalogues and supplementary information is Stefan Wallrafen himself, who has(d) extensive material but has in recent years given up holdings. Even if some models were produced longer than stated, the production periods named in the book are reliable for most devices. Original dealer catalogues from the period 1980 to 1985 are the most reliable source for exact sales periods and prices. --- **Question:** Where can one cheaply obtain original refills for the Montblanc Meisterstück Classique Line? **Answer:** Outside eBay, bargains on original refills are hardly to be found, since mail-order dealers with such low-value articles often do not allow the minimum order value and prices online hardly differ from specialist trade. On eBay, 10-packs are occasionally offered; here, however, caution is in order, since refills are now also being counterfeited. Anyone wanting to be safe therefore buys best from the authorised specialist retailer or from Montblanc itself. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc is suitable as an everyday companion up to 500 euros, and what is known about the Lennon rollerball and the announced Hitchcock edition? **Answer:** The choice between fountain pen, ballpoint and rollerball is strongly personal; a rollerball is, however, basically well everyday-suitable. Prices in specialist trade deviate only insignificantly from the recommended retail price, so the Lennon rollerball at around 510 euros lies in the usual range. On the announced Hitchcock special edition, no concrete pictures or prices were available at the time of the discussion. Special Editions are only made in a limited period and are after sell-out generally only obtainable via the collector market. --- **Question:** Can the steel bracelet of a Montblanc Star Large Automatic be extended, and where can one obtain individual links? **Answer:** The extension seems to prove more difficult on the Montblanc steel bracelet than on many other brands; a new bracelet costs, according to dealer information, around 370 euros minus the clasp. In current dealer catalogues numerous clasp variants are listed, but individual links for bracelet extension are not to be found there. The metal bracelets are apparently delivered in the three sizes medium, large and XL. It is recommended to contact Montblanc customer service directly, since the similar procedure with other renowned watch manufacturers shows that procurement of individual links can be complicated or expensive; links kept when shortening are therefore valuable. --- **Question:** Which model is a Montblanc ballpoint with the inscription METAL2 and Pix engraving under the clip, and is it genuine? **Answer:** It is a Solitaire 164 Doué; the inscription METAL2 without 925 hallmark indicates that the pen consists of gilded brass and not of vermeil (gilded silver). Montblanc later replaced the vermeil version with gilded brass, since vermeil tarnishes with time and the gilding can become spotted. The Pix engraving under the clip is entirely normal: Pix was originally Montblanc's brand name for mechanical pencils and was later used on further writing instruments too, because the brand Meisterstück was not protectable in all countries. Pix is therefore frequently found on rings of various Meisterstücks and is no indication of a counterfeit. --- **Question:** Should one as an everyday pen choose a Montblanc ballpoint or rollerball, and which alternatives come into consideration? **Answer:** The choice is strongly a matter of taste; a rollerball is, because of the cap and the visual proximity to the fountain pen, often preferred, while the StarWalker appears to some too modern. Particularly popular as an everyday rollerball is the Meisterstück Le Grand. From the view of writing culture, however: ballpoints have an unfavourable effect on handwriting; rollerballs even more strongly. Anyone who cannot or does not want to use a fountain pen should rather choose a click pencil with 0.9 mm lead for notes. --- **Question:** Does a timeline for dating the Montblanc Meisterstück 149 analogous to the timeline for the 146 exist? **Answer:** Helpful online resources for dating the Meisterstück 149 are a PDF in the blog whitestar_ftl on livedoor.jp as well as the thread Dating Montblanc 149s in the forum of fountainpennetwork.com. With the help of these overviews, models can be classified quite precisely temporally based on structural features. For example, a bicolour 14K nib combined with a two-part barrel, brass filling mechanism and ebonite feed points to a production time between 1985 and 1990. --- **Question:** Which diaries and refill books exist in Montblanc's Diaries & Notes collection, in which colours, sizes and prices, and are there ruled inserts from third parties? **Answer:** Montblanc also offers ruled refill books for the Diaries & Notes collection, which in boutique specialist trade was temporarily not correctly communicated. The individually available books cost without the expensive leather cover around 21.50 euros and have a plain black cardboard cover with silver star, so only the inner book has to be exchanged when it is fully written. The paper is ink-fast enough for common fountain-pen inks of various manufacturers; bleed-through occurs only in exceptional cases. The price lies clearly above commercially available notebooks, which with intensive daily use is a cost factor. Concrete size variants and colour specifications (e.g. black instead of only red, mustard, caramel) are not finally documented; an on-site appointment in the boutique is therefore recommended. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc piston filler offered on eBay without a model statement on the middle ring a 144 or 145, and how does one recognise original or counterfeit? **Answer:** The models 144 and 145 are exclusively cartridge fillers; a piston filler is therefore either a 146 or a 149. The model number is not necessarily engraved on the middle ring, so the absence of such an inscription is no authenticity criterion. Piston fillers like 146 or 149 are because of the elaborate mechanism usually not counterfeited, unlike the 145, of which there are by now very good copies. With suspicion of a counterfeit, a detail photo of the nib is worthwhile, paying attention to flat-engraved script and correctly seated rings. In case of doubt one should refrain from the bid and request pictures from the seller. --- **Question:** Is the blue ink-view window of a Montblanc fountain pen from the 1950s (e.g. model 042/342) originally blue or does the colour come from dried ink? **Answer:** The ink-view windows of the 1950s models like 342 or 042 were made at the factory of transparent blue plastic; a blue tone is therefore normal. Whether an allegedly "never filled" pen really is ink-free is difficult to ascertain externally; colour deviations at the transition to the grip section can indicate ink residues. When buying such pieces, scepticism towards seller statements is therefore in order. Especially from eBay providers in Singapore and neighbouring regions, due to frequent negative experiences, is advised against. --- **Question:** Which ID number and which price does the round Montblanc bookmark with punched-out logo have? **Answer:** The ID number 08723 is correct; the non-binding recommended retail price is 45.00 euros. Sources are authorised specialist retailers, e.g. the renowned online provider scription.de for high-quality writing instruments and accessories. --- **Question:** Are there Montblanc fountain pens that were used as door handles, and how often are these still to be found today? **Answer:** Such oversized Montblanc fountain pens as door handles exist and are highly sought-after among collectors, but extremely rare and correspondingly expensive. On eBay they turn up only at larger time intervals, then at high prices. The pieces are massive (presumably brass) and generally have no clip; on the back there are two fastening holes, which makes them unsuitable as a stand model. A known example was located at Kölner Gürzenichstr. 7 (today Füllfeder-Zentrale Kellner & Sohn). --- **Question:** Why is no ink-view window recognisable on the Montblanc Meisterstück 144G from the year 1952, and how can this be remedied? **Answer:** All 144s from the 1950s were made with a viewing window; a model without a window did not exist. The celluloid of the window can, however, darken strongly over the course of decades and appear dark red to almost black. Dried ink residues inside can also visually close the window. Multi-day flushing with water often brings the window better into view again; with moderate water hardness, tap water suffices; otherwise distilled water is recommended. --- **Question:** Is there a public directory of the codes on Montblanc clips for unambiguous model determination? **Answer:** A publicly accessible directory of the clip codes does not exist. The codes serve Montblanc as an internal authenticity feature and are deliberately encoded so that only the company can fully read out the information. Publication would undermine the purpose of this coding, especially with regard to counterfeits from China. --- **Question:** Why does the Montblanc 144 Doué Hematite have a screw thread on the cap, unlike the normal 144, and is posting the cap on the metal barrel during writing sensible? **Answer:** Most Solitaire 144 variants have a screw thread, since a screwed connection is more durable and all current Meisterstücks are uniformly constructed. Early Solitaire Ramses models still had a plug-on cap; due to the high barrel weight, however, this loosened easily, which is critical with precious-metal barrels. When posting the cap on the back of a metal barrel, scratching of the surface is additionally threatened, which is why this is advised against; the cap lip itself can also take damage, as is often observed with old Safety pens. Such Solitaire pieces are anyway rather jewellery pieces than robust utility devices. For writing without the cap posted, additionally, the fact speaks that the Hematite thereby does not become too rear-heavy. --- **Question:** How can in Berlin old Montblanc and other writing instruments from an inheritance (including Monte Rosa, Sheaffer, Lamy) be correctly assessed and sold? **Answer:** The pieces described are predominantly not particularly valuable utility and school fountain pens, e.g. with the Monte Rosa a school fountain pen from the 1950s. Value surprises are therefore not to be expected. In Berlin, the collectors Fritz Diesbach and Ulrich Krüner are regarded as reputable contacts for evaluation and sales advice; contact is possible via the telephone book. A professional evaluation on the spot helps to achieve realistic prices and to market writing instruments correctly. --- **Question:** Why does a Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand rollerball only start writing after "persuasion", leak or fail after a few days, and could it be down to the cap? **Answer:** It cannot definitely be due to the cap. Frequent causes are dried-up refills that have already been stored longer in specialist trade; Marathon refills do not necessarily last longer than standard refills. Start-up problems of this extent are very unusual, which is why individual factors like writing angle, imprint, paper as well as consistent closing after use are to be checked. A well-founded judgement is ultimately only possible if rollerball, refill and user are jointly assessed in a boutique. Until then, the rollerball should always be kept closed and not too strongly pressed. --- **Question:** Can the length of a Montblanc Meisterstück in millimetres be derived from the model number (e.g. 146 for LeGrand)? **Answer:** On some 146 examples the model number actually approximately agrees with the length in millimetres; however, this is no general rule and does not apply to all models or product types. Thus, e.g., the ballpoint 164 is not 16.4 cm long. The dimensions of individual models have additionally slightly changed in the course of decades, which makes the model number as a length indication additionally unreliable. More plausible is the assumption that the numbering rather orients itself on the diameter or on the length-to-diameter ratio, without giving the exact diameter. --- **Question:** How does one further disassemble the piston mechanism of a Montblanc 146 after barrel and cork seal are already unscrewed, and is the repair of a defective mechanism worthwhile? **Answer:** A completely broken rotary mechanism of the 146 can practically not be repaired in a reasonable cost-benefit ratio, since often the second sleeve at the front towards the cork seal is torn. Before further disassembly steps, first the year of manufacture should be determined and the defect precisely localised, e.g. based on photos or comparison pictures of known collector sites. On reassembly, the new cork must be set with the mechanism screwed in, since from behind there is no access; tightness is the decisive criterion. Overall, the repair counts as very elaborate; a 142 can be restored comparatively more easily. --- **Question:** Does Montblanc really no longer make really thin-writing EF nibs, or with a nib exchange is a real extra-fine line width to be expected? **Answer:** The claim that Montblanc no longer makes thin-writing EF nibs is not accurate; between M, F and EF a clear difference must be recognisable. If an exchanged nib does not write like an EF, it should be complained about and exchanged again. The perceived line thickness depends additionally strongly on the paper used: smooth test pads in boutiques as well as dipping the nib into ink during test writing make the stroke appear thicker than on usual writing paper. On normal paper, the difference to nibs of other brands is mostly significantly smaller. --- **Question:** Which model is a Montblanc ballpoint that is merely marked with "Mont Blanc - Germany" and bears no further type information? **Answer:** It is a ballpoint from the Montblanc Slim Line or SL series, recognisable by the plastic logo in the clip; not from the Noblesse range, as a frequently cited book wrongly states. The new price was then below ten DM; the model is therefore no high-quality collector's piece but is suitable as an everyday-suitable writing instrument. It can be difficult to still procure matching ballpoint refills. In literature and on relevant websites, Noblesse and SlimLine are repeatedly confused, so source statements are critically to be checked. --- **Question:** Is it possible to exchange the F nib of a new Montblanc Marcel Proust for an M nib, and what costs or restrictions are to be expected? **Answer:** A nib change is basically only possible directly at Montblanc; independent workshops do not come into question. With the Marcel Proust, however, the exchange counts according to the boutique's information as not feasible, since no replacement nibs are kept in stock. In 2002, writing instruments with high limitation numbers and F nib turned up again, but only in this one nib strength. A cost-effective alternative would be to find someone willing to undertake a private nib exchange. --- **Question:** How can two presumably older Montblanc cartridge fountain pens without further model designation be assigned to a concrete model based on the nib image, cap and serial number? **Answer:** The first pen with completely golden nib and flat ends can presumably be assigned to the Generation range or a model range around the mid/end of the 1970s; it is rather an entry-level model with correspondingly low collector value. The second writing instrument with two-tone gold nib and inscription "Meisterstück" belongs to the Classique range, presumably a 144 (recognisable by the plug-on cap). Today usually only on the 149 is the model number engraved on the cap ring; older examples often bear no visible model statement. Via the serial number engraved under the clip (e.g. CG235...), the production date can be enquired about with Montblanc customer service, which helps with narrowing down the model. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the variant Montblanc Meisterstück Ultra Black, and what are the so-called "Bespoke" nibs? **Answer:** The variant is characterised by rhodium-plated trim and clip as well as a matt surface and counts as visually particularly appealing. The nib engraving too stands out positively compared to the engravings on the body. "Bespoke" nibs designate nibs individually made for the customer, e.g. in special grinds like Soft B. Such a special nib alone weighs in at about 1,000 euros. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc Meisterstück 144 be genuine although no serial number is engraved in the clip ring? **Answer:** A missing serial number in the clip ring is on older 144s no authenticity exclusion, since Montblanc only introduced consistent numbering from a later point. Original features are, among others, the inscription "Pix" under the clip, a completely gold nib without platinum intarsia as well as a flat feed, which additionally points to an older example. The 144 was, after the relaunch of the Meisterstück Classique size, delivered either as a cartridge or converter filler. With remaining doubts, a direct picture comparison and the search for older forum discussions help further. --- **Question:** In which material variants did the Montblanc Bohème Je t'aime exist and in what price range did these lie? **Answer:** The Bohème Je t'aime existed in several versions: of black precious resin (resin), of sterling silver as well as of white gold, in each case as cartridge fountain pen and ballpoint. The precious-resin variant is a real version made by Montblanc but no longer appears on the Montblanc website today, since the series was discontinued. The white-gold version was around 11,000 euros per piece and had hearts of real rubies on the clip. Current prices for the other variants can most reliably be enquired about directly with Montblanc or in a boutique. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is an attic find that externally recalls the Noblesse range, and what value is realistic? **Answer:** The writing instrument found is a Montblanc Quickpen, an independent, inexpensive model without reference to Noblesse or Slim Line. The original retail price was DM 19.50 including a felt-tip and a roller refill. High-priced auction offers for comparable pens are completely excessive; such "moon prices" appear frequently but are rarely achieved. The Quickpen is thus no valuable collector's piece but a usable original Montblanc. --- **Question:** How can one ascertain by hallmarks and engravings whether an inherited Montblanc ballpoint with "Meisterstück" inscription is genuine? **Answer:** Indications of an original are in particular hallmarks with precious-metal specifications (e.g. 585, 750, 925 or 950) on the cap area. An engraving of the inscription "Meisterstück" on the gilded tip from which the refill emerges is, by contrast, untypical and rather indicates a counterfeit, since on a real Montblanc usually no inscription is placed there. An unambiguous judgement succeeds best based on clear detail photos of the cap rings, the hallmarks and the named engraving spots. --- **Question:** What experiences are there with Montblanc accessories like travel bottles, manicure sets and stainless-steel razors, and what possibilities for personalisation exist? **Answer:** The large travel bottle holds 170 ml, the small one 85 ml. The stainless-steel razor is compatible with Mach3 blades, so no special Montblanc blades are necessary. Travel bottles, shoe-polish and shaving accessories cannot be engraved themselves; only the product packaging can be provided with initials. The manicure set can be embossed from inside, with all embossings being done at the factory or by sending in to Montblanc. --- **Question:** Is the entry into Montblanc writing instruments with an unexpectedly acquired piece worthwhile, and how can authenticity be reliably checked? **Answer:** A reliable authenticity check is most sensibly carried out directly in a Montblanc boutique, where the fountain pen can be inspected and judged. Often the first Montblanc becomes the entry into a more extensive collection, since the appeal of such writing instruments experience-shows quickly entails further purchases. Collectors point out that the packaging also delivers hints about the age of a writing instrument. Accompanying this, original ink is often acquired, e.g. in Sepia, in order to undertake the first writing attempts. --- **Question:** Is on the Montblanc 146 "75 Years of Passion and Soul" the brilliant in the "O" of the inscription correctly twisted by 180 degrees opposite the clip, or can this be corrected? **Answer:** The brilliant should at delivery state actually not be offset by 180 degrees opposite the clip; such a position is especially with a limited edition unusual and suggests that after delivery manipulation took place. A correction is possible and can be carried out directly on the spot in Montblanc boutiques. --- **Question:** Is the purchase of a Montblanc Meisterstück 149 worthwhile for someone who writes only very rarely and predominantly fills in forms, postcards or money transfers? **Answer:** For the applications mentioned like money transfers, postcards or parcel slips, a fountain pen is actually unsuitable, since conventional ink runs with moisture and can be altered with ink killer; here a ballpoint or a fountain pen with document-proof ink is more sensible. Nevertheless, nothing speaks against acquiring the 149, since writing with ink has its own appeal and can stimulate the discovery of diary, calligraphy or handwritten correspondence. To be noted, however, is that the 149 is too large for many shirt pockets and is therefore more suitable as a stationary writing instrument at the desk; in mobile work situations, models like LeGrand or Classique are more practicable. Dryness or leakage are with proper care and regular use no noteworthy problem. --- **Question:** Why does a Montblanc pencil of the range DB 02 or DB 01 in one variant bear a star on the turning knob, in the other however not? **Answer:** Without high-quality detail pictures, the difference cannot be unambiguously explained; one possibility is that the cap on one of the pencils is missing, which on some models makes the star appear removed. There are actually Montblanc pencils (e.g. of hard rubber, with cap) on which the body itself bears no star. The DB pencils are with about 8 cm length very small and presumably designed for address or notebooks. A final judgement requires the writing instrument in hand, since photos often do not adequately reproduce such details. --- **Question:** Has Montblanc ever officially offered a black Bohème ballpoint with a white or transparent stone in the clip? **Answer:** A Bohème with a transparent stone Montblanc has offered exclusively in the model Bohème Platinum Crystal, that is, not in the black variant. With a black Bohème with a white stone in the clip, a counterfeit is therefore to be assumed. Additional indications of this are untidy transitions between cap top, clip and cap; on the original these components close flush. A definitive clarification can be made by Montblanc service. --- **Question:** Can the electronics of a laser pointer be built into the housing of a Montblanc writing instrument, and is there a sensible alternative to the DIY solution? **Answer:** A DIY conversion of a Montblanc Le Grand ballpoint to a laser pointer is technically conceivable but, among other things, due to the certifications required in Germany for laser pointers, legally problematic. As an alternative, ready laser pointers in form and look of a LeGrand ballpoint exist, e.g. the "Photon Ultimate", which have a laser-beam exit instead of the star as well as a rotary mechanism as on a real ballpoint. These are partly obtainable via international platforms, with shipping conditions and possible customs fees to be heeded. Thus a visually coherent overall picture can be achieved without modifying an original writing instrument. --- **Question:** Which costs are to be expected for the exchange of a cap on a Montblanc Meisterstück 145 via the Montblanc service, and is a repair basically sensible? **Answer:** Repairs on newer Montblanc writing instruments, including the cap exchange, can be carried out exclusively via Montblanc itself (possibly mediated by an authorised dealer). In the specific case of the 145, a price of 85 euros for the cap exchange was named by phone, which compared to the acquisition of a complete replacement pen is a sensible option. Generally, however, spare-part prices are often very high, and with some repairs, e.g. small damages on gilded rings, three-digit to high quotes are possible. Before a repair, the offered price should therefore always be compared with the costs of used writing instruments. --- **Question:** Are there besides Montblanc other manufacturers that have produced fountain pens with a brass telescopic filling system? **Answer:** The screw-telescopic system originally goes back to Luxor (H. Herborn), who developed corresponding mechanisms of hard rubber or aluminium. Reform made push-telescopic mechanisms which, however, deviate structurally. Montblanc itself did not invent the telescopic system but only contributed to the further development of the guidance; according to current knowledge, Montblanc is today the only provider with a brass telescope fitted in this form. An identical mechanism of other current brands is not known. --- **Question:** What should a newcomer pay attention to when buying a Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand, and which care and filling instructions are to be heeded? **Answer:** The first Montblanc should as far as possible be bought in specialist trade and not on the internet, since only there advice on nib width, size and handling is possible; an unsuitable nib width reduces the writing enjoyment independently of the quality of the fountain pen. With test writing it is recommended to bring one's own paper and to take one's time. Filling takes place by unscrewing, dipping the nib in the ink bottle, drawing up and wiping off excess ink at the grip section; an illustrated instruction can be found in the supplied warranty and service booklet. Royal-blue, water-soluble inks are unproblematic; other inks require regular flushing before drying out; otherwise the care is with proper use minimal. --- **Question:** Are there Montblanc fountain pens that can optionally be filled with cartridges or an exchangeable piston converter, and what size category do they fall into? **Answer:** Models like the Meisterstück Classique range, especially the 144 and 145, can be filled optionally with cartridges or a piston converter. The 144 Classique is with about 11.8 cm open or 13.5 cm closed length the second-smallest representative of the Meisterstück construction range. Writing experiences with the 144 in nib width BB are described as butter-soft and with good start-up behaviour, in connection with original Montblanc ink. The 144 has been taken from the regular programme by now but is available used in private and auction markets. --- **Question:** Is it worth repairing a Montblanc 146 with a broken-off ring on the barrel oneself, or should one leave that to a specialist? **Answer:** A self-repair of a Montblanc 146 is basically not recommended, since special tools and several years' experience are required. Especially the newer 146s are difficult to repair, so they should rather be given to the specialist retailer or directly to Montblanc. Montblanc often exchanges such parts without problem within the warranty. A simple gluing on of the broken-off ring is not advisable, because this component anchors the nib and is sealed with silicone against the housing. --- **Question:** When were Montblanc 146 fountain pens delivered in a simple cardboard box instead of in the padded clamshell box? **Answer:** Until about 1993, factory-new Montblanc writing instruments were delivered to specialist retailers in a works packaging of thin cardboard; this, however, did not serve as sales packaging but was exchanged when sold against the higher-quality gift box. Today, delivery takes place in blister packaging. Such a cardboard box is therefore an original packaging and no indication of a preceding repair. Only earlier comparable cardboard boxes were occasionally also used by service for return transport, which however allows no conclusion about the condition of the pen. --- **Question:** Is the picture collection of Montblanc fountain pens on fountainpen.de still being extended, and are submitted photos welcome? **Answer:** The picture overview is continuously being extended, and contributions by collectors are expressly welcome. Owing to strong professional workload of the webmaster, the incorporation can however take a longer time, since several hundred not-yet-posted photos are already available. Anyone wishing to contribute their own shots can send in a list of available writing instruments, after which it is decided which pictures are still needed. --- **Question:** Did Montblanc 146 fountain pens with a monochrome 14-carat gold nib exist, and are these authentic? **Answer:** Yes, real Montblanc 146s from the late 1970s exist that were delivered exclusively with a monochrome 14-carat yellow-gold nib. The absence of the bicolour nib is therefore no sign of a counterfeit. The inner mechanism (piston in metal version) as well as the imprint 4810 14K confirm the authenticity. Fastening details like the cap top screwed in from inside are also typical structural features of the period. --- **Question:** How old is a Montblanc Pix 350 mechanical pencil with the inscription Germany, and is the metal used real gold? **Answer:** The Montblanc 350 was made from 1971 to 1984 and is relatively frequently encountered. Clip and rings are not of real gold but only gilded; only models with the hallmark 585 or 750 actually contain solid gold. Until 1991, Montblanc was a normal writing-instrument manufacturer with a broad range from school supplies to the Meisterstück and positioned itself as a luxury brand only thereafter, which is why the 350 today has no very high material value. As a sentimental memorial object or as a utility piece, however, it can nevertheless be valued. --- **Question:** When is a Montblanc warranty card issued without filled-in fields for model and clip-ring number, and what meaning does it have? **Answer:** Such incompletely filled-in warranty cards often come from internal employee sales in which MB employees acquire writing instruments at special conditions and partly resell them, which is observable above all in November and December on eBay. Since Montblanc by the serial number typically captures only the manufacturing date, not the purchase date, cards without entered model and clip-ring number theoretically suit several writing instruments. Precisely for this reason they can be misused for sale together with counterfeits, especially since blank warranty cards and packagings are at times auctioned on eBay. By now, warranty cards themselves are also being counterfeited, so even filled-in cards are no reliable authenticity proof. Certainty offers ultimately only purchase from specialist trade or from known sellers. --- **Question:** What size does the Montblanc Meisterstück offered in the Lufthansa Worldshop have, and how does it compare to a Pelikan M600 or M800? **Answer:** The writing instrument offered in the Lufthansa Worldshop is a Montblanc 145 (Platinum Line Classique). In direct comparison, a Pelikan 620, for example, is somewhat thicker; in overall size, both, however, are not far apart. Anyone seeking a fountain pen roughly in the size range of an M600 to M800 will find in the 145 a comparable, slightly slimmer counterpart. --- **Question:** How can a longer-stored unknown Montblanc fountain pen together with rollerballs be unambiguously identified? **Answer:** Based on clear photos, the models can mostly be well determined: in the specific case, it is two Montblanc Meisterstück 163 rollerballs with a Sienna leather case as well as a school fountain pen which, according to information from Montblanc, is the model 422 from the Classic product family and was led between 1977 and 1984 (shop price 1984: 21 DM). For reliable identification, a look at the model overview on fountainpen.de and in case of doubt a direct enquiry to Montblanc customer service with photo are worthwhile. With forum entries, meaningful pictures in sufficient resolution should be supplied in order to avoid suppositions. --- **Question:** Does the Montblanc Meisterstück 144 exist as a cartridge fountain pen, and where can the 144 or a Noblesse Oblige be newly acquired? **Answer:** The Meisterstück 144 of the 1980s and 1990s is a cartridge fountain pen into which a piston converter can also be inserted; an earlier 144 from the 1950s was, by contrast, a pure celluloid piston fountain pen. Both the Noblesse series and the 144 have meanwhile been discontinued and are at most still to be found as collector or shopkeeper stock with smaller dealers. Buying from providers in Hong Kong or China is urgently advised against, since there counterfeits are frequently shipped, even when the photos show originals. Added to this are higher shipping costs and customs fees on foreign purchase. --- **Question:** How does one distinguish a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 from a 147, and which inks are suitable for the model? **Answer:** The main difference lies in the filling system: a 146 is a piston filler, a 147 is filled with cartridges. With the choice of ink one is not restricted to Montblanc, since Montblanc sources its inks anyway from suppliers; suitable are all inks designated for fountain pens, e.g. Pelikan 4001 or Faber-Castell. India ink and similar special inks are, on the other hand, not permitted. Ink can age but is, with dark, cool storage, usable for many decades; only with mould or visible changes should it be replaced. --- **Question:** From what period does the Montblanc Deskbase set 204 in green onyx version come, and is the model designation 204 also applicable to the fountain pen? **Answer:** The Montblanc 204 desk pen and the matching base were produced between 1954 and 1959; remaining stock was on the part of Montblanc presumably still delivered until 1961. The time span named in the Rösler/Wallrafen book until 1969 counts as not consistent, since the wing-nib fountain pens were then succeeded by models with butterfly nibs (design Albrecht Graf Goertz) and correspondingly different sockets. The fountain pen officially also bore the number 204. The rolled-gold version counts as higher-quality than today's electrolytic gildings, since it requires more craft skill. The component plugged into the pen receptacle is called a socket. --- **Question:** Has Montblanc actually auctioned together with UNICEF fountain pens and handwritten statements of celebrities via eBay? **Answer:** Yes, Montblanc has in cooperation with UNICEF carried out an eBay campaign running for about a month with celebrity autographs and used 149 fountain pens under the account montblanc_unicef_auction. The campaign was surprising, since Montblanc usually emphasises specialist-trade purchase and views eBay purchases rather critically. The charitable purpose and the high attention led to significantly increased bids, although they were mostly normal 149s. The hint of the auction was communicated via the Montblanc website. --- **Question:** How does one fill an old Montblanc 32 with ink, of what do the gold-coloured parts consist, and from what period does the model come? **Answer:** The Montblanc 32 is a piston filler that was produced approximately from 1959 to into the 1960s. For filling, the piston is unscrewed at the knob, the nib up to the grip section dipped in the ink and the piston subsequently screwed in again. The gold-coloured components consist according to current knowledge of gilded brass, that is, not of real gold. If the fountain pen draws no ink and the piston can be completely unscrewed, this indicates a defect of the piston mechanism, which generally should be professionally repaired. --- **Question:** Are Montblanc 144 Ramses II or Nikolai I genuine even without original packaging, and why do they often turn up on eBay only in simple cases? **Answer:** The 144s of the Ramses II and Nikolai I editions frequently offered in simple cases on eBay are generally genuine; counterfeits of these writing instruments are so far not known to the forum. Many collectors value the writing instrument itself and not necessarily the original box, so this is frequently missing on the second-hand market. With direct purchase at Montblanc, by contrast, no one would forgo the high-quality original packaging. Collectors must therefore decide for themselves whether the writing instrument alone or the complete packaging has priority. --- **Question:** Why does a Montblanc Meisterstück 114 cost significantly more in a duty-free shop on a Danish-German ferry line than in Germany? **Answer:** Within Europe, VAT rates vary and partly luxury taxes exist, so writing instruments in European foreign countries can be considerably more expensive, as also known from car prices. Concretely, the 114 cost in Germany 240 euros gilded or 265 euros platinum-plated, while the price in the ferry shop was 335 euros. It is thus possible that on board Danish tax rates or simply a surcharge of the on-board dealer apply. Anyone wishing to buy cheaply better acquires the fountain pen in a German boutique or with a specialist retailer like scription.de, especially since there nib widths are freely selectable and engravings are offered. --- **Question:** Why are Montblanc 146s in Bordeaux partly smaller than a black 146, and were there size changes over the course of time? **Answer:** Montblanc significantly changed the format of the 146 in 2000 and designed the model clearly larger or thicker, which was also officially advertised. Bordeaux 146s from older production are therefore actually smaller than the later black models and not identical in construction, which explains in particular the non-interchangeability of the caps. There is thus no defect or counterfeit feature but merely a design change between the production periods. --- **Question:** From when has Montblanc replaced the black inner lining of the packaging by a white one? **Answer:** The sequence is the reverse: previously the Montblanc packagings had a black inner lining, which was still to be seen in some shops until about 2006. From this time Montblanc introduced the today current packagings with white inner lining. --- **Question:** How can a silver Montblanc ballpoint for the 75-year anniversary with mother-of-pearl star, brilliant and serial number be classified? **Answer:** The writing instrument described is the Classique Rollerball Solitaire 163 in sterling silver with vermeil thread guilloche and rose-gold trim from the Limited 1924 Edition for the 75-year anniversary. The authenticity can be well checked by comparison with the documented features on relevant collector sites. Further information on this edition can be found on fountainpen.de under the Anniversary Limited Editions. From disreputable auctions in which pictures of real pieces are misused for other types of models, caution is in order. --- **Question:** Is it normal that in the barrel of a Montblanc StarWalker Doué a second cartridge rattles? **Answer:** With most cartridge fountain pens it is usual that a reserve cartridge is carried as ink supply in the barrel; exceptions at Montblanc are only the Bohème series as well as the Mozart format. On the StarWalker the second cartridge should however not rattle; an enquiry at Montblanc in Hamburg confirmed that this is no standard behaviour. Anyone wishing to avoid the effect can simply remove the reserve cartridge. If the rattling occurs permanently, the writing instrument should be complained about at the specialist retailer. --- **Question:** Can the ID number on an inherited Montblanc fountain pen be re-registered to the new owner? **Answer:** The number on a Montblanc writing instrument is a pure serial number that has no reference to the owner. Writing instruments are not registered to persons; a rewriting is therefore neither necessary nor possible. From the number, at most production-related data can be derived; the exact meaning only Montblanc knows. The inherited pen can be used without further formalities. --- **Question:** Which model is an old Montblanc rollerball from the 1980s with unclear assignment to Noblesse or Slimline? **Answer:** The writing instrument depicted is the Montblanc Quickpen of stainless steel, which was produced between 1979 and 1986. The retail price was depending on year between 14.50 and 19.50 DM. The Quickpen was delivered in an about DIN A5 sized silvery cardboard packaging with clear-plastic slider and three refills, one rollerball, one fineliner and one felt-tip refill. It is not identical with the models Noblesse or Slimline. --- **Question:** Can piston converters, e.g. from Rotring, be used in the Montblanc StarWalker? **Answer:** Even if foreign piston converters like the one from Rotring fit mechanically into the StarWalker, their use should be avoided. Montblanc has deliberately excluded the use of converters on this model, because ink residues that remain when dipping into the ink bottle in the resin grip section cannot be completely removed. The consequence are inevitably contaminations in the cap and on the fingers. Cartridges are therefore on the StarWalker the only sensible filling method. --- **Question:** Where can one find in the USA resellers or second-hand shops for older Montblanc writing instruments before 1960? **Answer:** Concrete German-language tips on sources in Miami, New York, Las Vegas or Los Angeles are hardly available. For the search for US dealers, flea markets and second-hand addresses, an enquiry in the English-language forum fountainpennetwork.com is recommended. There, posting is however restricted in some areas and only possible from a certain minimum number of contributions. Anyone not yet having a sufficient posting count can first introduce themselves in the Introductions area and there include the question. --- **Question:** Where can current sale prices and list prices of a Montblanc collection be ascertained, e.g. for household contents insurance? **Answer:** Official price lists are rarely to be found on the internet, since Montblanc deliberately does not create global price transparency, and prices vary by country. As reference points, the price list of 2010 with a percentage surcharge serves as well as the online shops of large dealers like Schacht-Westerich or Montblanc's own online shop. With Limited Editions, Montblanc avoids the publication of shop prices, since these rise in the boutiques over time; hints can be partly found in old Creations of Passion brochures. Anyone taking shop prices as evaluation basis lies generally on the safe side, because the market value of most Writers Editions does not exceed this price; with very rare pieces, auction prices achieved in the past, e.g. from Bonhams, are helpful. --- **Question:** What information is available on the Montblanc Solitaire Facets Edition and in which sizes is it available? **Answer:** The edition is officially called Meisterstück Solitaire Platinum-Plated Facet, whose body and cap are platinum-plated and show a broad cubic structure. First presented was a 146 with M nib under the number 38237; according to information from Montblanc the model was additionally offered in size 144. By now the range is available as LeGrand and Classique fountain pen as well as ballpoint, rollerball and pencil. The look with the cubic surface structure is a matter of taste and is controversially perceived. --- **Question:** Is the Montblanc Solitaire Platinum Plated Facet 8 with B nib suitable as a study companion, and is the slim variant the right choice? **Answer:** For intensive writing in studies, the resin grip area of the Montblanc fountain pens speaks, since models with a metal grip can slip more easily from the hand during longer exams. The nib strength should fit the size of the handwriting; a B nib is rather for large, an F or M nib for smaller handwritings. With the Solitaire model, weight and look of the slimmer variant often decide in favour of this construction. Advantageous is additionally that the nib can be exchanged at the specialist retailer free of charge if the chosen strength does not convince during writing. --- **Question:** How are the current gift packagings and warranty booklets of the Montblanc models 146 and 146P to be classified, and are they internationally uniform? **Answer:** The packaging type depicted has been used as standard for Montblanc writing instruments including the classic Meisterstück for about a year, however not exclusively for the 146P. These standard gift packagings are delivered by Montblanc free of charge to authorised dealers and are filled exclusively by specialist trade with the writing instrument and warranty booklet; an official sale of the empty packagings does not take place. Solitaire and higher-quality models receive deviating, independent gift packagings. From China, counterfeits of these packagings are by now also in circulation, which complicates the visual authenticity check additionally. --- **Question:** Which converters fit into an older fountain pen for which the current Montblanc converters with thread do not grip? **Answer:** Older models do not need a converter with thread like the variants today common at Montblanc; the modern converters therefore only restrictedly fit. Instead, converters without thread, e.g. from Waterman or Pelikan, can be used without problem. Before purchase, comparison of the fastening type is recommended, since the thread on vintage fountain pens does not fit. About the exact price of the individual converters, no information is available. --- **Question:** From what time does the dark-green Montblanc lever ballpoint with the designation 380 Germany come? **Answer:** The Montblanc ballpoint 380 was, according to Collectible Stars, in total produced from 1971 to 1979, with three different versions existing. The dark-green variant was only made between 1971 and 1975 and is depicted on page 73 of the standard work. Thus the pen can be relatively precisely classified temporally. For an unambiguous assignment to the respective variant, a sharp photo of the writing instrument is helpful. --- **Question:** Which ink and cleaning method are to be recommended for a Montblanc Bohème, and how does it stand with disassembled body sleeves? **Answer:** Black inks count across manufacturers as problematic and can on the Bohème more frequently lead to difficulties; a switch to blue-black or blue is recommended. With persistent problems, the visit to the specialist retailer is sensible, since an on-site check helps most. When cleaning the Bohème, it is decisive that no water reaches the mechanism. Anyone with questions about components like the front body sleeve or wishing to delve deeper into the topic can additionally use a factory visit or a local collectors' table. --- **Question:** Is it a defect if the screwed-on cap of the Montblanc 146P shows some play at the lower edge? **Answer:** The lateral play at the lower cap edge described is structurally caused and represents no defect, provided the cap overall sits firmly on the barrel. It lies within the usual production tolerance and is deliberately produced by a softer inner cap so the cap edge leaves no marks on the barrel when posting and removing. Decisive for the flawless function is that the fountain pen does not dry out with the cap screwed on and writes immediately when writing. Despite the play, on screw threads occasional scratches on the barrel can arise, which technically cannot be completely avoided. --- **Question:** Which production periods and edition sizes do the Montblanc Donation Pens (Bernstein, Menuhin, Bach) have? **Answer:** The Leonard Bernstein writing instruments were produced about 1999 to 2001, the Yehudi Menuhin pieces 2001 to 2003; official quantities are not known. The Bach fountain pen appeared in February 2001, was planned to 12,000 pieces, the ballpoint to 8,000. Unlike the other Donation Pens, the Bach models bore an individual edition number on the cap. The stated final figures were however not quite reached, since the pieces delivered at the start did not yet receive an engraving and the production ended at the availability of the clips; in total significantly less than 20,000 Bach writing instruments were made. --- **Question:** What can be the cause when a long-stored Bohème fountain pen after filling does not write? **Answer:** Most frequent cause is insufficient cleaning before storage; dried ink — especially black — can block the feed. A thorough cleaning with lukewarm water solves the problem in many cases. With a roughly six-year-old Bohème from an official specialist retailer, a counterfeit is very unlikely, since counterfeiters only after market establishment dare copies of new models. If the writing instrument despite cleaning remains dry, it should be presented to a dealer or to the manufacturer for assessment. --- **Question:** Are the Montblanc publications, e.g. "In einer Zeit rasender Geschwindigkeit" or the "Kleine Chronik des Hauses", still available? **Answer:** The book "In einer Zeit rasender Geschwindigkeit…" is not yet too old and was at least in individual boutiques, e.g. at KaDeWe, handed out on request. A direct enquiry to Montblanc is sensible; the manufacturer occasionally refers, with out-of-print titles, to specialist magazines like "Schreibkultur" and "Kult am Pult", which partly still have remaining copies. Auction platforms can also be a source. Older publications like the "Kleine Chronik" are regularly hardly still to be obtained. --- **Question:** What is known about the Solitaire Nikolai (Platinum) regarding production time, prices and authenticity check? **Answer:** The Nikolai Platinum was officially produced from 2000 to 2002 but was still for some years in sale; official quantities are not available, since it is no Limited Edition. The retail prices were in 2000 for the Classique fountain pen around 825 euros, in 2002 895 euros; currently Classique models are offered used at about 895 euros, LeGrand variants significantly higher. To the equipment belonged a special outer sleeve and an additional booklet; otherwise the scope of delivery corresponds to the other Meisterstücks. An authenticity check via the serial number is basically possible at Montblanc, ideally via a specialist retailer; a reliable value forecast, however, cannot be made. --- **Question:** What should be considered when buying a Montblanc Monte Rosa, especially from abroad? **Answer:** The Monte Rosa model 042 has a barrel diameter of 11.6 mm, a length without cap of 114 mm and with screwed-on cap of 127 mm. Gold trim can tarnish even without ink contact, which does not necessarily reduce the value. With foreign purchase, additional costs for money transfer and especially customs are to be calculated — the customs costs can reach around 30 percent of the goods value. Therefore, before a bid, a complete cost calculation should always be drawn up. --- **Question:** Where can the Galileo TV report on the creation of the "Prince Rainier III Limited Edition 81" be watched, and what added value do Montblanc's official online channels offer? **Answer:** The complete Galileo episode can be retrieved via the online archive of ProSieben as a Flash stream; there the respective current issue can be found. The German-language version too is accessible this way, not only the English variant. The official Facebook page of Montblanc offers a direct channel, but the content added value is, according to the assessment of the discussants, manageable. For more in-depth information on Limited Editions, specialist forums and boutiques are the more productive sources. --- **Question:** What is known about the old Montblanc letter cards with historical poster motifs and are they still available? **Answer:** The individually packaged greeting cards were issued about ten years ago by Montblanc and distributed via selected top dealers, with manageable success. Originally there were ten different motifs; four have for some time been sold out; the remaining six are only kept in very small remaining quantities by individual dealers "under the counter". About six years ago they were officially taken out of the programme. Meanwhile Montblanc offers new cards in ten-packs at around 29.50 euros with more modern motifs that are no longer fully printed. --- **Question:** Why does a Montblanc 146 nib give significantly under during writing and spread sideways, and what can be done about it? **Answer:** Older Montblanc nibs are generally significantly more flexible than today's and also more flexible than comparable Pelikan nibs, so a certain giving is normal. A lateral spreading, however, often indicates a bent nib, which cannot be clarified by remote diagnosis; an assessment in a Montblanc boutique or by a specialist is recommended. Excessive ink flow can also be down to the feed or to a leaking piston that draws extra air. An independent correction of the nib geometry is only restrictedly possible; in case of doubt, a nib exchange is the most reliable solution, which however can come close to the value of a new fountain pen. --- **Question:** What price is reasonable for a new, originally packaged Montblanc Ramses II 146, and how everyday-suitable is it? **Answer:** The new price was originally over 1,000 euros; on eBay, depending on condition, about 550 to 700 euros are usual; a dealer offer around 798 euros for a new, originally packaged piece counts as fair. Since vermeil surfaces scratch easily, when buying used, attention should be paid to scratch marks. The Ramses II is everyday-suitable; all writing instruments with metal surface are however somewhat scratch-sensitive. On travel, protection in a matching case from Montblanc is recommended. --- **Question:** Which model is an unusually-looking ballpoint offered as "Montblanc"? **Answer:** The piece in question is a counterfeit of a Scenium ballpoint. The workmanship looks unaesthetic and does not correspond to the originals. Such copies have no collector value and should not be further sold. An identification as an original is here ruled out. --- **Question:** Is a reduced Bohème "Noir et Noir" for 300 euros worthwhile, and how does the Jungle Eyes fit in price-wise? **Answer:** The regular list price of the Bohème Noir et Noir is around 395 euros, so 300 euros at a closing specialist retailer is a fair offer. Important is not to confuse the "Noir et Noir" with the later "Bohème Noir"; both models differ visually and were produced in different periods. The Jungle Eyes lay price-wise between about 850 and 950 euros, depending on the model size – the 114 Mozart variant was cheaper than the 144. With new writing instruments, discounts are usually small; in specialist trade the risk of being taken advantage of is low. --- **Question:** Can the production date of a Montblanc Meisterstück be ascertained based on the serial or clip-ring number? **Answer:** The production date cannot be read off the clip-ring number. Neither Montblanc nor the trade have an interest in making lying times or concrete production dates transparent. For the end customer too, this information is generally not relevant, since quality and warranty are not tied to the production date. A temporal classification is at most roughly possible via the model, the nib design and the scope of delivery. --- **Question:** Who can repair a Montblanc Slimline Noblesse 1122 if the manufacturer rejects the repair due to a lack of replacement nib? **Answer:** Since the Noblesse 1122 (1978–1980) was a model of the cheaper class and has not been produced for over 25 years, it is understandable that Montblanc no longer keeps replacement nibs. Economically, a repair is anyway seldom sensible, since a well-preserved replacement device is often cheaper to obtain on eBay than any repair flat rate. A lifetime warranty on writing instruments of this price class is also unrealistic with other manufacturers and is hardly granted even on significantly higher-quality products. Anyone nevertheless wishing to have it repaired can turn to specialised writing-instrument workshops. --- **Question:** Did the Montblanc Limited 1924 Anniversary Edition really include sunglasses? **Answer:** In the catalogue for the 75th Anniversary Edition, sunglasses with black frame, round dark lenses and mother-of-pearl star with rose-gold rim on the temple were depicted or drawn. Actually produced and sold, however, such glasses were according to current knowledge not – neither within the framework of the 1924 edition nor of the Special Anniversary Edition. Possibly they were originally planned but did not come into series. Reliable original examples have not surfaced in collector circles. --- **Question:** Which model is a gilded Montblanc rollerball with longitudinal grooves, and what is known about material and original retail price? **Answer:** It is a Montblanc Noblesse rollerball from the third and last series of the Noblesse range (not to be confused with the later Noblesse Oblige range), produced at the end of the 1990s. The material is gilded brass, with the gilding very thin and rubbing off comparatively quickly. The blank, shiny field on the cap is regularly intended as an engraving field; a hallmark or serial number does not exist on these pieces. The then retail price was about 125 to 135 DM, by which the model was significantly cheaper than the black Meisterstück rollerballs of plastic. --- **Question:** What do the engravings on a Montblanc Meisterstück with imprint "Deutsche Bahn EUR bln 6%2010" mean, and how can the value be assessed? **Answer:** Pens with such imprints are to be classified as advertising pens, that is, special productions with company or occasion engraving. A serious value statement for non-current, used writing instruments is generally not possible, especially not for advertising examples. The letter abbreviations with numbers are the regular serial numbers of the Meisterstücks, followed by the origin specification "Germany". --- **Question:** Are "waves" or deformations around the clip ring of a Montblanc writing instrument a defect or normal wear? **Answer:** A remote-diagnostic judgement is difficult; a comparison with a display piece in the Montblanc specialist shop is sensible. If a defect is actually present and the purchase is less than two years ago, the clip can be exchanged within the warranty on presentation of the receipt free of charge at the factory. Outside the warranty, the repair costs for a clip exchange move between about 49 and 79 euros, which at the new prices of the writing instruments counts as appropriate. --- **Question:** How can a fountain-pen collection be sensibly managed on the computer? **Answer:** A simple Excel sheet is generally completely sufficient for managing a fountain-pen collection. The advantage of this solution is that every spreadsheet can be individually adapted to the respective collector's piece and photos can be embedded without problem. Special management software or a CD-ROM is not necessary for this purpose. --- **Question:** Which Meisterstück model is a black-gold fountain pen with 135 mm length, serial number "X 61781150" and 14K nib? **Answer:** With the dimensions and properties mentioned, it is a Meisterstück 144. A monochrome yellow-gold nib with longitudinally ribbed nib holder points to an older variant of the model, e.g. from the 1980s. This variant differs from the later bicolour nibs but is unambiguously to be classified as a 144. --- **Question:** Is the purchase of a Montblanc wallet worthwhile, or are there more robust alternatives? **Answer:** If a wallet is regularly carried in the back pocket, even a Montblanc model rarely lasts longer than a year without visible wear. As a more long-lasting alternative, the brand Bree is named, whose soft leather adapts better to deformations. Another option is the English solution with coins carried loose in the front pocket and banknotes in a clip, which increases seat comfort and overview. Before purchase, a visit to a boutique is recommended in order to check the quality directly. --- **Question:** Did the Montblanc Unicef campaign "Sign up for the right to write" include 149 fountain pens with engraved inscription of personalities like Sarkozy? **Answer:** The campaign indeed comprised 149 fountain pens engraved with the signature of a respective personality. In total 149 persons from politics, culture and art gave a handwritten statement, which was subsequently auctioned together with the engraved fountain pen and a photo in an about 60-by-60-centimetre plexiglass frame via eBay. There is confusion risk with the 4810 packagings of Sachs, Jahn and Putman, which contain plain 149s without engraving. Whether Sarkozy was officially involved cannot be unambiguously confirmed from the available lists. --- **Question:** Of which material does the Montblanc 28 ballpoint consist, and how can it be polished up without damaging the gilding? **Answer:** The Montblanc 28, presumably from the 1970s or 1980s, consists of normal plastic, since Montblanc has only been positioned as a luxury manufacturer since 1991. A refurbishment by Montblanc itself is on this model not economically sensible. Polishes act like fine abrasive material and can quickly remove the generally very thin gilding of clips and rings, which is why one should work with fine grit and only in daylight. A counterfeit is on this model de facto ruled out, since the former market value would not have made a counterfeit worthwhile; with missing model number and inscription "W. Germany", a model of the Classic range is presumably present. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc 146 with B nib that is said to be three to four years old and "only written in" reasonably valued at 300 euros? **Answer:** How often a fountain pen was written with is largely irrelevant for the condition of the nib: gold nibs have an iridium tipping at the tip that survives many generations of intensive use without measurable change. Statements like "only written in" or "broken in" are from a collector's view rather marketing formulas. The exact age too is mostly not unambiguously ascertainable, since writing instruments are partly stored in trade for years. With B nibs, which are more frequently offered than F or EF, it is worthwhile comparing several offers and not rushing the purchase. --- **Question:** Which edition sizes and which gemstones characterise the Montblanc Artisan editions like "True Princess", "White Pearl" and "Jungle Eyes"? **Answer:** Montblanc gives no official quantities on these Special Editions, so only estimates are possible; the editions of "Jungle Eyes" and "True Princess" lie presumably below those of the Writers Edition, since the expensive pieces sold worse. Particularly rare is the White Pearl Edition, since it was never officially offered and is moreover the only Meisterstück without the three cap rings; it was initially delivered only in Germany. The stones used in the Jungle Eyes editions are: green = tourmaline, cognac = Madeira citrine, yellow = Palmeira citrine, purple = amethyst, blue = topaz; white (mother-of-pearl) and black (onyx) belonged to the Gift Collection 2004. Mozart sizes are overall rarer to encounter than the 144 sizes. --- **Question:** What significance do the model numbers like 146 or 149 have in the Montblanc Meisterstück series? **Answer:** The numbers simply denote the respective model within the Meisterstück series and differentiate size and equipment of the writing instruments, comparable to model classes of other brand manufacturers. A complete overview of the numbering together with the matching writing instruments can be found on relevant collector sites. Via the subpages linked there, further model information can also be accessed. --- **Question:** How do the Montblanc StarWalker and the Bohème differ as fountain pens, and which model is rather to be recommended? **Answer:** Both fountain pens are officially designed for cartridge operation, with on the StarWalker a converter also being usable without problem. The StarWalker counts as the more progressive writing instrument in design and material; its nib consists of 585 gold and is available in the strengths F to B. The Bohème is more classical and distinguished and has a peculiarity: the nib is turned back into the body after use, which makes it less suitable for quick notes. Which model better fits depends on design preferences and usage behaviour. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model could a pen with silver clip, ring and nib without model number be, whose star at the end piece is set lower? **Answer:** Based on the features described, an unambiguous identification is difficult. In question come, e.g., a Montblanc 320, but the clip rather suggests a model 420; then, however, the nib does not fit. Possible is a mixed construction from parts of a 320 and a 420 cap. The individual components in any case stem from the 1970s. --- **Question:** Why is there a coil spring inside the piston converter of a Montblanc Meisterstück 144? **Answer:** The coil spring in the converter is intentional and occurs regularly on Montblanc converters; it controls the ink guidance or flow behaviour. As long as the function of the converter is not impaired, there is no reason for maintenance by Montblanc service. --- **Question:** Are a dust inclusion in front of the diamond of a Montblanc StarWalker as well as pronounced scratches on the barrel of a Scenium reasons for complaint? **Answer:** If on the StarWalker actually a production defect like an enclosed dust particle in front of the diamond is present, that is within the warranty period subject to complaint at the seller; a filled-in warranty certificate is required for this. The complaint can also take place in another Montblanc-owned boutique, not necessarily where it was bought; with concessionaires this does not apply for fairness reasons. On the Scenium rollerball, abrasion of the matt lacquer by friction with clip or cap is material-typical normal and is no reason for complaint, especially since the model is for Montblanc conditions regarded as inexpensive. --- **Question:** Does the Montblanc 149 also exist from the factory with platinum-plated instead of gilded trim? **Answer:** Montblanc has produced the 149 exclusively with gilded trim; an official variant with platinum-plated or rhodium-plated trim does not exist. Pieces with silver-shiny trim therefore arise subsequently, by the originally gilded trim being rhodium-plated. Such conversions are no factory states but individual changes outside the regular model programme. --- **Question:** Which barrel diameters, model designations and nib-width abbreviations do the Montblanc pens from the 1950s and 1960s show? **Answer:** In the 1950s and 1960s Montblanc produced piston fountain pens designed by Graf Goertz in two sizes: the x2 range with a barrel diameter of 11.5 millimetres and a total length of 128 millimetres with the cap closed as well as the x4 range with 12 millimetres barrel diameter and 135 millimetres length. Three model lines existed: the Meisterstücks (No. 12 and 14) with the stylised mountain as cap ring, a second range with two cap rings (No. 22 and 24) as well as, as better school or entry-level pens, the numbers 32 and 34. Production ran from 1958/59 to 1969. With nib widths, the abbreviations F stand for fine and M for medium; further variants of the series comprised additional strengths. --- **Question:** Are a missing 925 stamp and a "W-Germany" inscription without serial number in the clip plausible on a Montblanc Solitaire with brass body and silver corn guilloche? **Answer:** This constellation is plausible: writing instruments with brass body and silver corn guilloche bear no 925 stamp, and the inscription "W. Germany" points to a production before reunification 1989. Serial numbers were standard-introduced at Montblanc only after the fall of the Wall, which is why their absence is normal on these pieces. To what extent remaining stock of "W. Germany" clips was still fitted after 1990 is not finally clarified. With a consistent description, proper photos and a reliable seller, from a collector's view little speaks against the purchase. --- **Question:** Are utopianly high retail prices (e.g. 59,000 euros) for a Montblanc 164 Demo on online auctions realistic? **Answer:** Demo writing instruments are indeed rare but achieve on eBay typically only prices between 500 and 1000 euros. Demands of around 59,000 euros are completely unrealistic and count as a brazen attempt to fleece unsuspecting buyers. Such moon prices stand in no relation to the actual collector value. --- **Question:** Since when does Montblanc use laser-engraved identification numbers on its writing instruments, and how old can a rollerball without this number be? **Answer:** Montblanc writing instruments from the 1980s and before do not yet have a laser-engraved identity engraving; these numbers were only introduced about ten years ago. Rollerballs themselves, however, only exist at Montblanc since the 1970s with the model Quickpen, and the Meisterstück programme offers rollerballs only since the 1980s. A rollerball without laser-engraved number can thus quite be two to three decades old but is no really old writing instrument in the narrower sense. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Mozart 114 with reversed colouring of barrel and cap an official model? **Answer:** A 114 variant with unusual colour or material combination between barrel and cap is as a regular factory product by Montblanc almost certainly to be ruled out. Probably original parts like cap, front part and nib were combined with a subsequently made, individual barrel. Such a writing instrument has not left the factory in this configuration. --- **Question:** Are an old piston fountain pen with imprint Student/Iona 454 and a Safety pen with Montblanc nib and imprint Rama-Post actually Montblanc writing instruments? **Answer:** The piston fountain pen described is definitely no Montblanc; the material rather looks like post-war plastic, while the form recalls the 1930s, which points to a so-called no-name manufacturer. With the Safety pen, the nib clearly comes from Montblanc, but whether barrel and mechanism are also original parts can only be clarified by inspection. Since Montblanc at that time was already a premium manufacturer and children did not count among the target group, an advertising campaign with the children's magazine Rama-Post is very unlikely; manufacturers like KaWeCo or Soennecken would come into question. --- **Question:** How is the Montblanc Le Grand pencil 167 with 0.9 mm leads correctly reloaded? **Answer:** The Le Grand pencil is basically reloaded from the front via the tip, not via the barrel. A slight play of the inserted lead can indicate that during turning too far back was turned, so the lead loses its hold. The exact instruction as well as hints on product care Montblanc provides on its website for download. Standard lead strength is 0.9 mm and noted on the loading compartment. --- **Question:** Are the Montblanc spectacle frames frequently offered on eBay together with case counterfeits? **Answer:** The spectacle frame described looks together with the case genuine; on counterfeit writing-instrument packagings the inscription or star is generally black on a white background; here the arrangement is, however, correct. An unambiguous model confirmation was not possible based on the catalogues, since spectacle frames are a sideline area. When buying such spectacles, the way via specialist trade or the Montblanc boutique is basically recommended rather than via auction platforms. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc Mozart with an 18-carat instead of 14-carat gold nib be genuine? **Answer:** A Mozart with 18-carat nib is most likely an export model destined for the French market, where fountain pens are standard-equipped with 18-carat gold nibs. On the 149 too there were corresponding differences between domestic and export versions. Based on the photos nothing speaks against the authenticity of the writing instrument. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc Meisterstück fountain pen with a completely gilded 14-carat nib, embossing Germany and without identity number be classified? **Answer:** The combination of size, gilded 14-carat nib with M embossing and missing identity number on the cap ring speaks clearly for a Montblanc 144. The imprint Germany without the addition W.-Germany points to a production from 1989 onwards. On many 144s the gilding of the ring in front of the nib is typically attacked; careful polishing improves the look but cannot restore worn-off gildings. --- **Question:** Are water or condensation drops on the nib of a Montblanc StarWalker normal? **Answer:** Condensation on the nib is a typical phenomenon when a writing instrument comes from a colder environment into a warmer room or is worn close to the body for a longer time. This also occurs on other models like 146 or 149, is unproblematic and does not impair writing. The drops evaporate by themselves after a few minutes. --- **Question:** Which Meisterstück variant is the most popular or best-selling? **Answer:** Exact sales figures only Montblanc knows; the GFK also captures only the specialist trade and not the boutiques. In German specialist trade, the model 144/145 (Classique) lies clearly before the 146, while 149 and 114 Mozart hardly turn up due to small quantities; in the boutiques the gaps are smaller, but here too the Classique leads before the Le Grand. Internationally, the 149 is significantly more strongly positioned. Collector surveys often prefer Mozart and Le Grand but are not representative of the overall market. --- **Question:** What to do if a Montblanc 146P after a nib change in the boutique starts poorly, ink stands on top of the nib and the end piece no longer closes flush? **Answer:** Ink above the nib between tip and breathing hole as well as untidy start-up mostly indicate that the nib after the change is not correctly seated. A second free exchange is generally not granted by Montblanc, so a renewed processing is sensible. Recommended is to pack the writing instrument shock-resistantly in bubble wrap and cardboard and to send with a covering letter directly to the Customer Service of Montblanc Simplo GmbH in Hamburg. --- **Question:** What price difference exists between the Montblanc Meisterstück Leather under-arm bags and the similar Platinum Leather bags? **Answer:** The Meisterstück Leather under-arm bag cost until production discontinuation some years ago about 980 DM or around 500 euros; an Australian price of 1300 AUD corresponds to about 750 euros and lies thus above the then German shop price. The visually similar but stylistically different bag of the Platinum Leather series was made by Seeger and was price-wise just over the Meisterstück variant. Both ranges have not been offered by Montblanc for about three years, which explains the different resale price and bidding behaviour. --- **Question:** Is the Montblanc Heritage Collection 1914 Limited Edition 1000 worth its money at prices between 5,000 and 7,000 euros? **Answer:** The value of a fountain pen is always subjective and is composed of the writing enjoyment as well as a hard-to-forecast resale value. Even particularly demanded models achieve on the secondary market very different prices, so an objective assessment is hardly possible. Without concrete experience values with the model, ultimately one's own gut feeling remains the essential decision basis. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is an old fountain pen with a digit in the turning-knob imprint, and is the writing instrument still everyday-suitable? **Answer:** The piece described is most likely a Montblanc 344 or 324; the exact model number is usually in the imprint on the turning knob. Both models exist in two variants; the early version visible here falls in the period 1951 to 1953. These writing instruments count as reliable and are also today still everyday-suitable. --- **Question:** Which basic data and which collector value characterise the Montblanc push pencil 1646? **Answer:** According to Collectible Stars by Jens Rösler and Stefan Wallrafen, the Montblanc 1646 was made from 1971 to 1973; it has a push mechanism, a matt-black plastic barrel with silver-plated tip, a matt-silver-plated cap as well as silver-plated clip and push head with a lead thickness of 0.92 mm. Today the model is fairly rare, since many examples were used until final wear. Near-new pieces achieve up to a maximum of about 100 euros and count primarily as a supplement to fountain pen and ballpoint, otherwise as a good utility writing instrument. --- **Question:** How does a complaint about a Montblanc StarWalker ballpoint proceed, which papers are needed and how long does it take? **Answer:** On direct shipping to Montblanc, a photocopy of the correctly filled-in warranty sheet suffices; the large original packaging need not be sent along, but a secure protective packaging is compulsory. Shipping should take place as a DHL parcel, which is by default insured up to 500 euros; higher insurance is possible. Alternatively, the specialist retailer can take over the process against reimbursement of costs; and actually, boutiques and specialist retailers use special white plastic tubes for protection of the writing instrument. Processing generally takes more than three weeks; through factory holidays between Christmas and New Year, the return can be delayed until mid-January. --- **Question:** Which small, silver-coloured Montblanc ballpoints up to maximum 11.5 cm length are available for around 350 euros? **Answer:** The Montblanc Solitaire Sterling HaWAM in Mozart size with the ID number 18178 is available via Scription for around 362 euros plus shipping and thus largely fits the requirements. Individual Mozart ballpoints from the Jungle Eyes collection are also still available but lie price-wise slightly above the limit. The requested Nikolai I in Platinum version is in this combination of size and price practically not to be obtained. --- **Question:** What can one do if the cap of a Montblanc Rollerball 163 Solitaire sits clearly too loosely on the pen? **Answer:** If the cap of a new Solitaire rollerball sits too loosely, that is a typical case for Montblanc service. If the purchase is less than two years ago and the warranty card is available, the worn-out inner cap is exchanged free of charge. Outside the warranty, the so-called service flat rate 1 applies, which for a high-quality writing instrument is nevertheless worthwhile. The simplest is to bring the pen for this to a Montblanc boutique. --- **Question:** What does the designation "Pix" on the middle ring of a Montblanc Meisterstück ballpoint stand for? **Answer:** "Pix" is a protected model designation of Montblanc and no indication whatever of a counterfeit. The inscription is found on many Meisterstück ballpoints on the middle cap ring; on newer models partly also on the inside of the clip. For model determination (164, 161 etc.), the respective dimensions are helpful. --- **Question:** Is a ballpoint offered as "Bohème rouge" on whose ring "Rouge et Noir" stands a counterfeit? **Answer:** It is not a counterfeit but the matching ballpoint for the line "Rouge et Noir". This variant was produced only for a short time and counts as a sought-after collector's piece but is price-wise so far only slightly above the standard version. Visually and functionally, the ballpoint fits well a Bohème fountain pen. Anyone preferring the actual Bohème rouge can in the collector environment attempt an exchange against a normal Bohème plus surcharge. --- **Question:** Can refill blocks for the Montblanc notebooks from the Meisterstück Collection be bought back, and are there replacement erasers for Montblanc pencils? **Answer:** For the Montblanc notebook cases from the Meisterstück Collection, replacement blocks are very well separately available; a complete purchase of the case is not necessary. The blocks are available where the case was bought too, as well as in most Montblanc sales points; the price lies in the single-digit euro range (around 3.50 euros per block). Likewise matching replacement erasers for the Montblanc pencils are available and can simply be exchanged. In the shop, these spare parts are often not openly displayed; targeted enquiry at the sales counter, however, leads to the goal. --- **Question:** How does one fill an old Montblanc No. 34 piston filler with ink if the rear rotary piston can hardly be moved any more? **Answer:** The Montblanc No. 34 is a classical piston filler, no suction filler with pipette like the old Safety models. The rear rotary piston must be movable for a complete filling process over several rotations. If it can only be moved barely, mostly the piston mechanism is dried up, and the pen should first be soaked for a longer time before further turning. Caution is in order, because the spindle of the piston mechanism can consist of plastic and easily breaks off with force application. --- **Question:** How reliably can an older Montblanc fountain pen with overlay and the matching pencil be checked for authenticity based on auction photos? **Answer:** With old Montblanc fountain pens with overlay, caution is in order, because Montblanc at the time bought the overlays from third-party providers (often from Pforzheim) and many jewellers also made unauthorised overlays. Based on auction photos, it cannot therefore be reliably said whether an overlay officially comes from Montblanc. Added to this is that with pens depicted closed, the nib cannot be judged, which further complicates an authenticity confirmation. On the accompanying pencil, the visible details mostly look unproblematic. --- **Question:** Are the pattern and the price of a Montblanc Solitaire Stainless Steel 2 ballpoint offered on eBay plausible, and were there two different versions of this model? **Answer:** The offered ballpoint looks basically like an original; the demanded price, however, lies strikingly high. With private purchases without warranty, the price should lie noticeably below the shop price; therefore patience and comparison with further offers is recommended. Visual differences to the Solitaire Platinum-Plated Facet rest mostly not on two different versions of the Stainless Steel 2 but on different lighting conditions and picture qualities. On the polished, shiny steel, the matt engraving acts differently depending on background and can feign different patterns. --- **Question:** Is a writing instrument offered as Montblanc Writers Edition Alexandre Dumas without the original signature still genuine, and which price is realistic for the Limited Edition? **Answer:** Despite initial doubts, the writing instrument fits the original version of the Writers Edition Alexandre Dumas, comparable to the reference photos on relevant collector sites. For value determination, a look at completed eBay auctions is recommended; there the prices usually fluctuate between around 280 and 460 euros; a realistic market value lies at about 310 to 320 euros. The edition of the Edition Alexandre Dumas is in total 16,000 pieces, of which 11,000 as individual pieces and 5,000 as a set. These figures are documented in the common overviews of the Writers Editions. --- **Question:** Is it normal that in the ink chamber of a Montblanc piston converter a small spring runs along loose? **Answer:** The spring inside the piston converter is series-fitted in all newer Montblanc converters and no production defect. It ensures that the ink, due to the small inner diameter, does not get stuck at one point but is constantly mixed during movement. Background is the capillarity of ink and inner converter wall. An exchange of the converter is therefore not necessary. --- **Question:** What can one do when eBay sellers use copyright-protected photos from fountainpen.de as supposed original pictures of their auction? **Answer:** Such auctions are a clear warning sign: if the pictures come from fountainpen.de, they do not show the article actually offered, and potential buyers do not know what they receive. Bidders should in such cases keep their distance. Sellers can be asked via "Question to seller" for correction but often react only late or not at all. A report to eBay for stopping the auction is possible but needs a lead time of several working days, which is why running auctions can often not be stopped in time. --- **Question:** How does one clean the cap of a Montblanc Le Grand when ink has accidentally run into it, and does water harm the cap? **Answer:** The cap can without hesitation be rinsed with clear water; damage by the water is not to be expected. Afterwards one lets it dry in the air or dries the inside with a rolled-up paper tissue. Condensation or ink residues are normal in every cap; older models even had a small ventilation hole for this. Even with changes between cold and warmth, condensation occasionally forms, which is technically unproblematic. --- **Question:** Can a green Montblanc Meisterstück from the 1930s be dated, and where does one get spare parts for a missing little star on the cap top? **Answer:** Green Meisterstücks of celluloid stem from the 1930s and are rare, because coloured models were at that time less in demand and the green celluloid was less durable. Presumably it is a model 20 or 25; the exact model number stands usually on the back of the cap and can be determined from there. A small hole on the cap is structurally a ventilation hole and no defect. For spare parts and repairs of old Meisterstücks, Horst Schrage (max@maxpens.de) is a tried-and-tested point of contact. --- **Question:** Is a ballpoint offered on eBay as Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire 925 Silver with the note "replica" for around 55 euros genuine? **Answer:** The star looks incomplete, and especially the colouring of the rings deviates from the known Solitaire Silver Thread version, which makes the ballpoint suspicious. The seller's own note of a "replica" does not make the matter clearer, since corresponding replicas in this form are not known. Hallmark "925", drop on the clip and "Germany" can also be present on good replicas and alone are no proof of an original. In sum, a purchase is not recommended; a final decision, however, must be made by the buyer. --- **Question:** How can an inherited Montblanc Noblesse pen and the matching ballpoint be more precisely dated and classified? **Answer:** A reliable model assignment and dating of the Noblesse line is hardly possible without a photo, since in the course of time several variants in different versions existed. A gold-coloured, ribbed case with Noblesse imprint on the ballpoint and a 585 gold nib on the fountain pen speaks for an older Noblesse version; the pen itself often bears no inscription. For reliable identification, photos of all inscriptions, nibs and trim should be available. Only then can year of manufacture and value be seriously assessed. --- **Question:** Where does one find Montblanc dealers abroad (Poland, Russia, Czech Republic) with online presence, and is an online purchase from authorised dealers at all possible? **Answer:** Authorised Montblanc dealers may generally not openly offer new goods via the internet, since they would otherwise no longer be supplied by Montblanc. Some dealers do carry Montblanc in their range but do not publicly show the products on their website; on individual enquiry, however, offers can be obtained by mail. Anyone who finds open online offers is dealing either with fakes or with goods from unauthorised sources. With older pieces no longer in the current programme, the requirements are less strict; in addition, many German online dealers ship on request also abroad. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is a ballpoint acquired in 1991 with metal housing? **Answer:** The ballpoint described is the Montblanc "Leonardo". This model was offered in the 1970s in various metal housings. Even if the acquisition only took place in 1991, the pen thereby classifies itself structurally and stylistically into this older model range. --- **Question:** From what time does the Montblanc advertising with the octagonal Safety stem, and is this also available in the original (e.g. coloured)? **Answer:** The octagonal Safety shown on the advertising is a very rare model and stems from the period 1924 to 1929. The advertisement itself was printed in the "Zeitschrift für Papier- und Schreibwarenhändler" of 1926; the copy is available at the Austrian National Library. Whether the advertising is elsewhere preserved in the original and in colour is not known. From a collector's view, similar octagonal Safetys had in recent years market prices around 100 to 120 euros. --- **Question:** Is a fountain pen offered as "Rouge et Noir" with three rings on the grip section and a non-retractable nib actually this edition or another model? **Answer:** Description and pictures do not fit the real "Rouge et Noir" but the "Bohème Rouge". The "Rouge et Noir" corresponds design-wise to the "Noir et Noir", has golden trim, a red stone in the clip, no ring on the grip section and a matching imprint ("Rouge-et-Noir") on the rear ring. The "Bohème Rouge" by contrast shows the typical three rings on the grip section. Of the "Bohème Rouge" there are two sizes: a small one with retractable nib and a medium one with piston converter, which represents a size and not a generation distinction. --- **Question:** Why does the office market Staples sell Montblanc refills, cartridges and ink bottles but no Montblanc writing instruments? **Answer:** Staples carried years ago, at least in Hamburg, also Montblanc writing instruments, which were offered as a discounter under the RRP. Thereupon Montblanc stopped, according to reports in the Hamburger Abendblatt, the supply of writing instruments. Refills, cartridges and ink continue to be carried, because Montblanc itself maintains an own online refill shop and the distribution of consumables is less strongly regulated. Montblanc refills also fit some writing instruments of other manufacturers (e.g. David Oscarson or Caran d'Ache), while Montblanc ink cartridges are proprietary. --- **Question:** Did the Montblanc Special Edition Greta Garbo also exist as a rollerball with a black upper part, or is such a variant a counterfeit? **Answer:** Of the Greta Garbo there officially existed three variants as fountain pen and ballpoint, however never a rollerball and no version with black upper part. A version offered as Greta Garbo rollerball with black upper part is therefore most likely a counterfeit. Even the detail of the pearl on the clip looks on such pieces often poorly attached, which confirms the suspicion. In case of doubt the writing instrument should be presented to a specialist retailer. --- **Question:** How do company engravings like an "MW" enclosed in a circle affect the collector value of a Montblanc Meisterstück from the 1950s? **Answer:** The "MW" enclosed in a circle is a known, regularly turning-up company mark whose meaning is not finally clarified. Such company engravings usually reduce the collector value noticeably, which is why experienced collectors often leave corresponding pieces alone. An enhancement can arise only if matching packaging or advertising materials unambiguously assign the piece to a known firm, comparable to the documented Warner Brothers 146. Without such context, the pen remains mostly uninteresting for collectors. --- **Question:** Do Montblanc ballpoint refills, rollerball refills and ink cartridges also fit other manufacturers' writing instruments? **Answer:** For ballpoints the answer is no. Montblanc refills are about two millimetres longer than those from Caran d'Ache, are slightly larger in diameter and have a step towards the front, so they will not even pass through the opening. Caran d'Ache refills, conversely, can be fitted into a Montblanc, but the tip then does not protrude far enough to write with the pen held at the normal angle. Both manufacturers have deliberately shaped their refills so that they do not fit other makers' pens. With Cross and Parker it was different: when their registered design protection, limited to twenty-five years, ran out, the rights were not renewed, which is why other manufacturers such as Pelikan were able to adopt these refill formats. With rollerballs it is the other way round: the standard refills from Schmidt Feintechnik, who also make the Montblanc refills, will fit. The thread on the Montblanc refill is needed only by Montblanc barrels, and its end piece is fractionally longer, so a Montblanc refill can come under pressure in another maker's rollerball and leak. Ink cartridges are the straightforward case: Montblanc uses the common standard format, so its cartridges fit every fountain pen that takes standard cartridges. Other makers' cartridges will likewise go mechanically into a Montblanc; the manufacturer advises against it, but in practice trouble is mainly to be expected when inks of very different composition meet in the feed. --- **Question:** Which Limited Editions and new products had Montblanc announced for 2014? **Answer:** The special issues announced for 2014 were a Patron of Arts edition devoted to Henry E. Steinway, founder of the piano-making firm of the same name, and a Writers Edition devoted to Daniel Defoe. To these were added a large-format fountain pen bearing the name Goliath from the Heritage line with its reference year of 1914, to be issued in 333 red and 1,000 black examples, and a Skeleton edition marking ninety years of the Meisterstück, which had been introduced in 1924. The regular range included, among other things, a Meisterstück with red gold trim, a StarWalker with mother-of-pearl and a StarWalker with a stylus for tablets. Yearly overviews of this sort come from advance information circulating months before delivery and are to be read with reservations until the official launch; limitation sizes, specification and prices are confirmed only then, and pictures usually appear in the spring of the edition year. To assign a particular piece, therefore, the engraving, the limitation number and the certificate remain what count. --- **Question:** What is the Montblanc Scenium Artist Packaging, and which artists designed the versions released in 2005? **Answer:** The Scenium Artist Packaging was gift packaging introduced by Montblanc at the beginning of 2005: a writing set from the Scenium series in an elaborately designed box whose motifs were created by well-known artists. The themes revolved around love, friendship and gratitude; the set was expressly conceived as a gift item and not as a limited collectors' edition. The first was a version by the Argentine cartoonist Guillermo Mordillo. A second variant followed in September 2005, the Scenium Artist Packaging “Jim Davis”: the creator of the cartoon character Garfield designed three different Garfield motifs exclusively for it. The series remained a matter of dispute among collectors, since not everyone could see the connection between cartoon motifs and Montblanc; and as a rule it is the pen that is collected, not the packaging. In assessing such a set, then, what matters alongside the condition of the Scenium pen is above all whether the box with the artist's motif has survived complete and undamaged. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc series were discontinued in 2005, and which Meisterstück and Bohème models were added to the range? **Answer:** In the 2005 model year Montblanc let several lines run out. The burgundy Classique writing instruments, despite rumours to the contrary, remained available: the 145 fountain pen in the nib widths EF, F, M, B, BB, OM, OB and OBB, the 163 rollerball, the 164 ballpoint and the 165 pencil with a 0.5 or 0.7 millimetre mechanism. What did go were the LeGrand and the Mozart in burgundy. The 149, the Traveller 147, the Document Marker 166 and the Sketch Pen 169 stayed in the range with gold-plated trim only; platinum-plated versions were not planned. Among the Meisterstück Solitaire, production ended for the Hematite models and for the Mozart versions in sterling silver, sterling silver Doué, vermeil and vermeil Doué; only Doué Royal and Coral survived there. Also discontinued were the gold-plated Solitaire with thread guilloche and its Doué variant, formerly in vermeil and latterly in gold-plated brass, along with the Pure Silver series. New was the Solitaire Gold&Black, gold-plated with a black lacquer inlay, as a LeGrand and a Classique fountain pen and as a ballpoint, pencil and rollerball, each also in a Doué version. It was joined by the Fibre Guilloche series with a silver cap and inlaid fibreglass strips on a plain silver barrel, though without a LeGrand fountain pen. In the Bohème range came the Doué Goldplated with a matt black body in a golf-ball finish and the Lacquer Pearl, both as fountain pen, ballpoint and rollerball, plus the Bohème Vert with platinum-plated instead of gold-plated trim as a one-off run that could not be reordered. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is a slim writing instrument of the 1980s with a plastic star set into the clip? **Answer:** Slim Montblanc writing instruments of the 1980s in which the star sits in the clip as an inserted plastic part belong to the CS series, which was also marketed under the name Slim Line. They are often taken for a Noblesse, but they form a line of their own. The series belonged to what was then called the third price category, in other words to the inexpensive Montblanc models: a rollerball cost around 50 DM in the 1980s. The coloured versions have a brass body with a matt plastic coating. The fountain pens in the series all have a gold-plated steel nib rather than a gold one, something sales listings occasionally get wrong. The collector value of the range is correspondingly modest, but its value in use is high, since the pens are robustly built and suitable refills remain a stock item in any good stationer's. --- **Question:** Was the Montblanc Sketch Pen 169 also made with platinum-plated trim, and what equivalent clutch pencils do other makers offer? **Answer:** No. The Sketch Pen with the model number 169, also sold in the trade as the Leonardo, is the large clutch pencil of the Meisterstück range and, like the 149 fountain pen, is built exclusively with gold-plated trim. Montblanc never offered a platinum-plated or silver-coloured version. Anyone after a lead holder of comparable quality with a thick lead will find one at other houses, but usually has to accept less girth. Aurora offers short, thicker pencils in coloured marbled Auroloid, though again with gold-plated trim. From Lamy comes the Scribble in the firm's spare house style, likewise with a thick clutch lead. Bexley of Ohio builds the Multipen, which also takes ballpoint refills and is available in black with chrome trim among other finishes. Faber-Castell once issued a clutch pencil in solid sterling silver as a limited edition. To these can be added the Gessner from Cleo Skribent as well as clutch pencils from Wörther and from Stefan Fink's workshop. Whether any of these alternatives is genuinely a match for the 169 is something collectors judge differently. The one regarded above all as a serious rival, and one with silver-coloured trim at that, is Delta's Dolce Vita Stout. --- **Question:** Where can you get spare parts for a Montblanc cartridge pen of the Classic series from the 1980s? **Answer:** Montblanc does not supply individual parts to private customers. Anyone wanting to replace a broken component, the clear connecting piece between the front part and the section for instance, is referred by the factory to its chargeable service, which means sending the whole pen in. For older models such as the Classic series of the 1980s, which is close in form to the 221, that is often uneconomic. In the collecting world there is no spare-parts store in the proper sense. Specialist dealers and workshops such as Tom Westerich, Horst Schrage or Lutz Fiebig do keep large stocks, but they recover their parts from broken pens themselves. Prices for a single component are correspondingly higher than one would expect of a mass-produced spare. In practice the cheapest route is therefore usually to buy a comparable pen from the same series, a defective one will do perfectly well, as a donor and to swap the part over yourself. With the widely available cartridge pens of the 1980s the supply is large enough that a donor can as a rule be had for less money than the single spare part costs. --- **Question:** Does a Montblanc Solitaire in sterling silver always have to carry the Montblanc maker's mark alongside the 925 hallmark? **Answer:** No. The International Service Certificate does say that the “925” hallmark and the Montblanc maker's mark together guarantee the authenticity of the precious material, but both marks are found only on newer pens. Older Solitaire models, and historic pieces with silver overlay all the more so, carry the fineness mark alone. The absence of the additional house mark is therefore not a sign of a fake but a sign of age. Much the same applies to the clip: older Montblanc pens carry only the country of origin, “Germany”, with no identification number, the serial number having been introduced later. A worn twist mechanism, too, is a matter of wear and not of authenticity; it can be put right by the factory service or a specialist workshop. The surest way to a dependable verdict on authenticity and servicing needs is to take the pen into a Montblanc boutique. Individual hallmarks on their own seldom allow a firm conclusion without the pen in one's hand. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is a piston filler of the 1950s with a 585 nib and only an outlined star on the cap top? **Answer:** Pens of this kind come from Montblanc's third line, which at the beginning of the 1950s was positioned below the Meisterstück and the second line: better-quality school pens and, at the same time, some of the firm's first plastic models. Their hallmark is the star on the cap top engraved merely in outline, in place of the inlaid white star. The model number is not on the nib but stamped into the blind cap at the end of the barrel. Depending on size it will usually be a 342, the smaller model, or a 344, the larger. A figure such as “140” read off the nib is almost always a misread “14C”; together with the 585 mark it denotes nothing more than the 14-carat gold nib, not the model. Three things therefore settle the identification: overall length, the imprint on the blind cap, and the form of clip and cap ring. If the imprint is missing because the blind cap has been replaced or polished away, only the measurements can decide between a 342 and a 344. --- **Question:** How do you check the authenticity and approximate age of a second-hand Montblanc Meisterstück 146 LeGrand? **Answer:** Comparing sizes helps first of all: the 146 LeGrand is the large Meisterstück, while the Classique, numbers 144 and 145, is distinctly slimmer and shorter. If a supposed LeGrand looks too small, it is usually simply a Classique and not a fake. For dating, it helps to know that Montblanc reworked the 146 again and again over the decades. Nib, cap ring lettering, trim and above all the feed were altered several times, so the shape of the feed will narrow the year of manufacture down roughly to a decade. A feed of later type in a body that looks older may point to a nib exchanged during servicing, which reduces the collector value but not the value in use. The second guide is the workmanship: cleanly cut threads, a cap ring seated precisely, even engravings and a piston that runs without juddering. Only Montblanc itself can judge authenticity bindingly, and only with the pen sent in. A 146 found at an antiques market is therefore not automatically suspect, since fakes as a rule follow current models. --- **Question:** What does the imprint “KM” at the end of the barrel of a Montblanc 344 mean, and what is such a pen worth? **Answer:** On the models of the 1950s Montblanc stamped two pieces of information at the end of the barrel: on one side the model number, here 344, on the other the code for the nib. “KM” stands for a ball nib in medium, the K denoting the ball-ground, very smooth-running tip and the M the width. “KF” accordingly means a ball nib in fine. Ball nibs are popular above all in Asia, which makes such a pen of extra interest to collectors there. The 344 belongs to the firm's third line, a superior school pen with the star outlined on the cap top. It was built in several variants, which is why the model number alone will not pin down exactly when it was made; clip shape, cap ring and nib imprint have to be drawn on as well. In price terms the 344 sits at the lower end of collectable Montblancs, at roughly 50 to 80 euros depending on condition (as of 2005). A sound piston, an undamaged nib and a cap ring free of cracks matter more to the value than which variant it is. --- **Question:** Which model is a slim white Montblanc push-button ballpoint of the 1980s, and what is it worth? **Answer:** That is a ballpoint from the Montblanc SL range, SL standing for SlimLine: a slender series of the 1980s with gold-plated trim and a coloured plastic coating, in white in this case. The SL series was positioned well below the Meisterstück and belonged to the inexpensive Montblanc writing instruments. That is reflected in the value. According to collectors the ballpoint cost around 29.90 DM at the time, which converts to just under 15 euros. The claim heard now and again in the trade that such a pen cost 80 DM new does not hold for the SL range. For an example in as-new condition, 25 euros (as of 2010) was at best the upper limit of what was reasonable. SL ballpoints are known with a matt coating. A high-gloss lacquered version is not attested among collectors, so caution is called for with one: it may have been relacquered, or may not be a Montblanc at all. In that case the things to check are the star on the cap top, the lettering on the clip and the action of the push mechanism. --- **Question:** Why will the cap of a Montblanc 149 of 1982 not fit a 149 of 1999, even though both carry the same model number? **Answer:** Montblanc has altered details of its writing instruments again and again, and the 149 is no exception; the same goes for the other Meisterstück models. Among the points reworked more than once is the cap thread, with the result that caps from different production periods do not necessarily fit one another despite carrying the same model number. This is not a defect, not a trace of repair and not a sign of a fake, but a normal consequence of so long a production run. In practice it means that a replacement cap has to come from the same period as the pen. Buy a cap blind and you risk its not engaging at all, or only stiffly; force a mismatched thread home and you will damage cap and barrel for good. Collectors' surveys exist for the 149 that list the changes to nib, feed, cap ring, piston mechanism and threads year by year. They are the most reliable aid there is for dating an example and finding parts that fit. --- **Question:** What sort of pen is the Montblanc Monte Rosa, and what does its collector value depend on? **Answer:** Monte Rosa was the name of an inexpensive range of school fountain pens made by Montblanc in the 1950s and 1960s. They came in several shapes and colours, with either a gold-plated steel nib or a 14-carat gold one. What decides the value is not so much the name as the degree of wear. Used examples in average condition changed hands for about 20 euros in the mid-2000s. Unused pens with a gold nib, on the other hand, comfortably fetched over 100 euros, and an unused transparent Monte Rosa of the 1960s brought the equivalent of just under 500 euros. One risk of confusion is worth noting: before the Second World War there was a Swiss pen brand called Monte Rosa which had nothing to do with Montblanc and was markedly inferior in quality. Pens bearing the name Monte Rosa from the house of Montblanc were not made until after 1945. With vaguely worded listings it is therefore worth checking the nib imprint and the maker's markings before paying a collector's price. --- **Question:** Does the Montblanc Hommage à Frédéric Chopin also come as a ballpoint and a rollerball, or only as a fountain pen? **Answer:** The name Chopin applies to the fountain pen alone, that is to the Meisterstück 145. It belongs to the Meisterstück Classique line, even though it is somewhat larger than the rollerball of the same range. The other instruments in the line — ballpoint, rollerball and pencil — are available in the same finish, but they do not carry the name Chopin. The range was offered both in black precious resin with gold-plated trim and in the Platinum Line with platinum-plated trim. A ballpoint with platinum-plated trim is therefore no sign in itself of a fake. Caution is nevertheless in order when buying: fakes of the Classique series in particular are plentiful, often together with counterfeit service booklets whose lettering differs from the original on close inspection. Anyone wanting certainty should buy from an authorised Montblanc dealer, or have a pen examined by an experienced collector before parting with the money. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is the ballpoint of the Collection Madame, and in which years was it built? **Answer:** The Collection Madame was a Montblanc line designed specifically for women. The ballpoint of this collection carries the model number 945 and was made from 1971 to 1975. The number is usually not on the pen itself but only on the original packaging, which makes identification difficult without the box. The model is described and illustrated in the standard work “Collectible Stars”, which covers Montblanc's writing instruments of the post-war decades. There are two reasons why little else can be found on it: pens for women long stood in the shadow of collector interest, and the pieces of the Collection Madame were everyday objects, used rather than put away. They turn up comparatively seldom in the trade as a result, without that making them high-priced rarities. --- **Question:** From when do Montblanc Meisterstück pens carry a laser-etched identification number, and can a 146 be dated by it? **Answer:** The company's internal record system on which the laser-etched identification numbers are based was not introduced until 1990. For older pens even the manufacturer cannot assign a date; an enquiry to Montblanc about a pen built before 1990 will come to nothing. The number is therefore of use for dating later examples only. Further pointers come from the imprints: the addition of “West Germany” places a pen before reunification, while “Germany” on its own suggests later manufacture. Details of the specification help as well, for instance that later 146s carry the engraving “Meisterstück No. 146” on the cap ring and are fitted with a two-tone nib, whereas older examples have a nib in plain gold. The ink window may take the form of a continuous ring or of narrow transparent stripes. Even so, a firm identification is not always possible. During transitional phases different variants ran alongside one another, and a pen that has been in for repair at some point may carry components from another production period, a clip fitted later for example. Comparisons of size remain reliable nonetheless: the 146 is distinctly larger than the 144, and the 149 in turn more substantial than the 146. --- **Question:** Why does the refill of a Montblanc ballpoint start skipping after a short time, and which refill helps in dusty surroundings? **Answer:** A line broken by white gaps almost always points to a disturbed supply of paste and not to a defect in the pen. Conventional ballpoint refills work with the help of gravity: write standing up, overhead or against a vertical surface and the flow of paste breaks off, leaving the ball running dry. On building sites there is the added problem that fine dust from the paper is turned into the ball socket and impedes the flow still further. The line width makes no difference to any of this. The remedy is a pressurised refill of the Fisher Space Pen type, which is also made to fit Montblanc ballpoints. These are pressurised with gas and write whatever their position, overhead included, and in cold or dusty surroundings. Ordinary shops hardly ever keep them in stock; supply is arranged through Standardgraph, Fisher's German distributor, which will also say which specialist retailers are nearby. Wear to the gold plating at the tip is normal with daily use and has no effect on how the pen works. --- **Question:** Is an old Montblanc piston filler with a 585 heart-hole nib but no model designation on the barrel a fake? **Answer:** No. A missing imprint is not in itself evidence of a fake. The model designation was only shallowly stamped into the barrel or cap, and perspiration from the hand, decades of use and above all later polishing gradually wear it away. On many surviving pre-war and post-war models it can only be made out in raking light, if at all. Identification therefore rests on other features: the nib stamp (585 or 14 C for 14-carat gold, together with the characteristic heart-shaped breather hole), length and diameter, the design of the filling system, the shape of clip and cap ring, and the colour and type of material. A black piston filler of this construction with a 585 heart-hole nib and an engraving on the cap belongs, according to collectors, to the family around the model 234½. Anyone wanting certainty should put telling photographs before an experienced collector or restorer: the nib from both sides, the cap ring, the end of the barrel and an overall view with a scale. A remote diagnosis based solely on the missing imprint, by contrast, is worthless. --- **Question:** Which striped Meisterstück variants were made in the 1950s, and why do silver-grey examples look greenish today? **Answer:** In the 1950s Montblanc offered the striped Meisterstück in four versions: sizes 142, 144 and 146 in fir green; the same sizes in silver grey; a pale lime green that is not faded fir green but a colour in its own right (here the 142 is not confirmed); and finally a fir-green variant with straight rather than curved stripes, so far known only in sizes 144 and 146. The 172 pencil was available to match each colour; ballpoints were not yet part of these sets. Identifying the colour calls for care. The silver-grey celluloid discolours over the decades and can then look distinctly greenish, so silver-grey pens are regularly offered as green ones — often in good faith. Fir green, conversely, fades, but never reaches the clear tone of the lime-green material. Comparing the pen in daylight and looking at the sheltered areas under the cap rim, where the original depth of colour has survived, usually settles the question. --- **Question:** Which ink cartridges fit a Montblanc Generation, and are the more expensive Montblanc cartridges necessary? **Answer:** The Montblanc Generation is a cartridge pen that takes the international standard cartridge. Any cartridge compatible with the Pelikan format will therefore fit, which covers by far the greater part of what stationers stock. Genuine Montblanc cartridges are available, but they cost many times as much and bring no technical advantage; they are only worth buying if you are fond of a particular Montblanc colour. Lamy cartridges are not an option: the firm uses a format of its own that is not compatible with the standard and simply will not go in. When changing colours it is worth flushing nib and feed through with lukewarm water first, until it runs clear. The Generation itself is a straightforward everyday pen from the entry-level range below the Meisterstück line, and it was the successor to the Classic series. It writes well enough for daily use, but has little collector value. --- **Question:** Are the feeds of modern Montblanc fountain pens still made of ebonite, and which manufacturers still use ebonite? **Answer:** According to collectors, the feeds in modern Montblanc pens are no longer ebonite but injection-moulded plastic. Anyone after an ebonite feed from Montblanc has to fall back on older pens. Unlike a number of competitors, who buy their components in, Montblanc makes essentially everything in-house. Ebonite survived longer with the Italian makers: Omas and Delta were still fitting ebonite feeds in the 2000s, and at Delta the ink channels were for a time cut by hand. Collectors value the material because it can be worked afterwards and fitted precisely to the nib, which is an advantage in restoration and when adjusting the ink flow. Its drawback is a sensitivity to light and harsh cleaning agents: ebonite turns brownish over time and should be flushed with nothing but clean, lukewarm water. --- **Question:** Can you change the nib of a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 yourself, and what does a replacement nib cost? **Answer:** With practice it can be done, but on current pens it is not advisable. Nib and feed are a tight fit in the nib housing; pulling them out carelessly bends the nib, damages the feed or cracks the section. The damage then quickly exceeds the sum you were hoping to save. Montblanc does not release individual replacement nibs to the open trade; they can only be had through the manufacturer or an authorised dealer, with professional fitting included in the price. For a gold nib for the 146 you had to reckon with something like 250 euros as at 2010 — about half what a replacement nib for a Waterman Sérénité cost at the time. It rarely makes economic sense. For that money you can often find a well-preserved 146 on the second-hand market in the nib width you want, so selling the pen you have and buying a suitable one in its place comes out roughly even. M is the standard width; very broad or oblique nibs are harder to sell on. --- **Question:** Is the Montblanc line with the 144 fountain pen and the 164 ballpoint called Meisterstück Classic or Classique? **Answer:** The French spelling Classique is the correct one. This size within the Meisterstück line includes, among others, the 144 fountain pen and the 164 ballpoint, both of which can be placed unambiguously by their model numbers. A Meisterstück variant called Classic, on the other hand, never existed. Classic is the name of a separate Montblanc series positioned below the Meisterstück line. It succeeded the 220 series of the 1970s and was in turn replaced by the Generation series. The two names need to be kept apart when identifying a pen and when buying: they stand for different price and quality classes, and that shows plainly in collector value. Listings that describe a plain pen from the Classic series as a “Meisterstück Classic” either rest on a genuine mix-up or are meant to justify the higher price. --- **Question:** Is it worth repairing a Montblanc Generation whose section is cracked and letting ink out? **Answer:** As a rule, no. The Generation is an everyday pen from the entry-level range and the successor to the model 320, which it resembles outwardly. Montblanc no longer holds spares for these series. Cracks in the plastic of the section that let ink escape while you write cannot therefore simply be cured with a new part — a workshop would first have to find an identical donor pen and strip it. The cost then far exceeds what the pen is worth. It makes more economic sense to buy a sound second-hand example and keep the damaged one for parts. If you want to save the pen for personal reasons, the best course is to ask a workshop specialising in writing instruments — Lutz Fiebig (Interpens), for example — whether the section can be replaced. Do not attempt a repair of your own with superglue: it clouds the plastic and makes it brittle, will not stand up to the stress of the screwed-in barrel in any case, and rules out any proper repair later on. --- **Question:** Can the nib of a 1950s Montblanc 342 be replaced, and what does a replacement nib cost? **Answer:** Not by Montblanc. The manufacturer keeps neither spare parts nor nibs for pens outside the Meisterstück line that have been out of production for more than ten years. A factory nib change for a 342 — a slightly superior school pen of the third series — is therefore not to be had. The usual route is through collectors and restorers who keep used original nibs in stock. A suitable nib for the 342 cost between about 50 and 100 euros in the mid-2000s. If you trade in the nib you have, experience suggests around 25 to 33 per cent will be allowed against the price, and rather less for unpopular widths. That applies particularly to an OM nib, an oblique medium, which is seldom sought after and correspondingly hard to sell on. For identifying and placing Montblanc pens made between 1946 and 1979, “Collectible Stars” by Jens Rösler and Stefan Wallrafen is regarded as the standard work; most models of those years are described and illustrated in it. It also answers the question of which models were built in a given period, which helps if you are looking for a pen from a particular year. --- **Question:** What should you do if part of the body of a Montblanc Meisterstück Doué comes away from the barrel when you open it? **Answer:** A component like that should not come loose. Barrel, section and metal fittings are permanently joined at the factory, and if the joint opens during normal unscrewing and screwing up, that counts as a manufacturing fault and not as mishandling — even if the barrel had previously been screwed shut rather firmly. Whether the parts are glued or press-fitted cannot be settled from the outside. The important thing is to leave the pen exactly as you found it and on no account to glue it yourself: traces of adhesive make a proper repair considerably harder and can forfeit any goodwill. Any ink left in the pen should be removed beforehand. The route to take is through the authorised dealer or the Montblanc boutique where the pen was bought; from there it will be sent in for repair. In comparable cases such repairs have been carried out free of charge, sometimes because the manufacturer acknowledged the fault, sometimes because the dealer covered the cost. Outside the guarantee period there is no entitlement to this, but it is always worth asking, and in any case only the workshop can give a binding figure once it has examined the pen. --- **Question:** What model number does a Montblanc Meisterstück rollerball in the slim Classique size carry? **Answer:** The rollerball in the Meisterstück Classique size is the model 163. The same size covers the 164 ballpoint as well as the 144 and 145 fountain pens, while the 146 and the 149 belong to the larger ranges. The model number is not usually marked on the pen itself, so identification goes by design and dimensions. The string of characters laser-etched on the cap ring is not a model number but an identification number. It has been issued since the early 1990s and allows no conclusion about the model, nor any reliable one about the year of manufacture. What helps instead is a comparison with a size chart of the Meisterstück models: length and diameter separate the ranges reliably, and the type of instrument — fountain pen, rollerball, ballpoint or pencil — separates the numbers within a given size. --- **Question:** Does the Montblanc 1266 of the 1970s have a gold or a steel nib, and how rare is the model? **Answer:** The Montblanc 1266 is one of the four-digit models of the 1970s and is comparatively hard to come by today. Its nib is a regular source of confusion: it looks pale and silvery and is therefore often taken for a steel nib, or for a replacement fitted later. In fact the 1266 left the factory with an 18-carat gold nib that is rhodium-plated, that is, covered with a pale layer of rhodium. A silvery-looking nib on this model is thus the correct original state and no defect. The thing to check when identifying such a pen is the stamping on the nib, which states the gold alloy — a pale nib with no alloy marking would argue against its being the original. --- **Question:** How can the damaged cap of a Montblanc from the Rubber Line be replaced when there are no spares left? **Answer:** Montblanc keeps a monopoly on spare parts: caps, cap tops and other components are released neither to dealers nor to customers, and repairs are carried out by the manufacturer alone. Trying to obtain a spare through a specialist shop or an independent workshop is therefore hopeless from the outset. With discontinued lines such as the Rubber Line there is the further problem that stocks of spares run out a few years after a series ends — at which point even the service department can no longer help. Caps from fakes are no way out; as a rule they match neither in thread nor in dimensions. The only practical course is to buy a donor pen of the same line on the second-hand market — a fountain pen or rollerball in the same finish — and take over its cap. Among collectors of older writing instruments, stripping donor pens in this way is common practice and often the only means of making a pen complete again. Economically it is defensible: a cap repair by the manufacturer would have cost well over 70 euros (as at 2017), so a used donor pen comes to much the same sort of money. --- **Question:** How can you tell whether an old safety pen with no brand marking is a Montblanc, and which books help? **Answer:** The rule of thumb is this: if the word Montblanc appears nowhere on a safety pen, there is generally no Montblanc in it either. Barrel, cap top, clip and nib all want checking. In the early twentieth century a great many firms around the world made safety pens; in Germany alone there were more than two dozen brands, of which only a few are known today and fewer still survive. A nib stamped “Warranted 14 ct” with the classic heart-shaped breather hole says nothing about origin, since nibs of that kind were bought in and used by numerous companies. A plain black cap top without a star, and an anonymous clip, likewise argue against Montblanc. Matters are complicated by the fact that Montblanc, according to collectors, also produced second and subsidiary brands that do not carry the Montblanc name; the collecting literature mentions names such as Tatra, Gedania, Reflex and Diplomat. Attributing these reliably is possible only with the relevant books — the standard work on historical Montblanc writing instruments is Jens Rösler's “Diary”, widely regarded as the most worthwhile purchase in this field. A confident identification from photographs is usually out of the question; in case of doubt an expert has to handle the pen. More often than not the answer turns out to be a pen by an unknown maker. --- **Question:** What will polish scratches out of the precious resin of a Montblanc, and can cracks be repaired at home with synthetic resin? **Answer:** For polishing fine scratches out of precious resin, Wenol has proved its worth; Montblanc itself uses and recommends this polish, and a tube lasts more or less for ever. For parts made of acrylic, Displex is a useful addition. Special precious-resin polishing wadding from the accessory trade also gives good results — a scratched Meisterstück ballpoint can be brought back to something close to new appearance with it. Expensive unbranded polishes, such as those sold by mail order for around 16 euros (as at 2011), offer no discernible advantage over the established products. Deeper damage is another matter: cracks and engraved dedications cannot be polished out. The obvious idea of filling them with a two-part synthetic resin from a craft shop, shaping it with fine abrasive paper once it has cured and then polishing it, is conceivable in theory but is not established practice among collectors, and there are no reliable accounts of it. The real difficulty lies less in the filling than in matching the colour of the resin exactly to the aged precious resin. For damage of this kind the route normally leads to a specialist workshop or — with Montblanc — to the manufacturer itself. --- **Question:** Is a Meisterstück 144 with no serial number, no “Pix” under the clip and no model number on the cap ring genuine? **Answer:** None of the three features works as a test of authenticity. Montblanc introduced serial numbers only in the early to mid-1990s; older pens carry none. The “Pix” marking on the back of the clip is likewise found on only part of the production — of two indisputably genuine examples of the same model, one may have it and the other not. And on the 144 the model number is never on the cap ring: alongside the words “Montblanc – Meisterstück” there is simply no room for it. On larger models such as the 149 the number is there, whereas on the matching ballpoints such as the 161 it often is not. The 144 is among the most frequently faked Meisterstück models, but the nib is what decides the matter: nobody has yet managed a convincing copy of a Montblanc nib. Typical fake nibs give themselves away with markings such as “Iridium point”, which Montblanc does not use. Two practical points for older pens: hairline cracks in the cap top are a common age-related fault, and used original cap crowns could be had for a few euros (as at 2007). And for unscrewing and refitting the cap crown, the best tool is a piece of PVC tubing about five centimetres long with a seven-millimetre bore; it grips cleanly and transmits enough force without damaging the cap top. --- **Question:** What did the Meisterstück Solitaire 146 in 925 sterling silver cost new, and is 290 euros reasonable for a used one? **Answer:** The Solitaire 146 piston filler with barrel and cap in 925 sterling silver is listed by Montblanc under article number 1468; the manufacturer's list price was 835 euros (as at 2006). At Montblanc, Solitaire denotes those versions of the Meisterstück with barrel and cap in precious metal rather than precious resin, the 146 being the middle of the large sizes, with a piston filling system. Measured against that, a well-preserved second-hand example from the 1980s at 290 euros is cheap; at the time such a price counted as a decided bargain, provided the pen came from a reputable source. Condition and provenance are what matter: silver barrels show wear, dents and scratches far more plainly than precious resin, the piston should run smoothly and hold tight, and the hallmark deserves checking as much as the nib. If you are unsure, look at the pen in person before parting with any money. --- **Question:** Does the cap of a Meisterstück Platinum Line Le Grand ballpoint also fit the rollerball in the same line? **Answer:** No, the parts are not interchangeable. Ballpoint and rollerball within a Meisterstück line may look very much alike, but they are fundamentally different inside. The rollerball is a pen with a screw-on cap that seats on a thread on the section. A twist ballpoint has no such cap at all: the upper part belongs to the body and carries no cap thread, and to change the refill the body is unscrewed in the middle. The impression that both pens can be “unscrewed” is therefore misleading — these are quite different threaded joints with quite different workings behind them. Anyone looking to replace a lost or damaged cap on a rollerball will get nowhere except with the cap of an identical rollerball from the same line and finish, not with parts from the ballpoint. --- **Question:** How do you spot a fake Meisterstück Solitaire Doué in vermeil, and what does Montblanc's authentication service cost? **Answer:** On the gilt silver models even good fakes give themselves away in the details. The serial number should be laser-marked, which means it looks grey and sits only on the surface; if it appears engraved and cut deeply into the metal, that argues against an original. Second, the workmanship at the cap top: on a Montblanc the transition between cap top, clip and cap is crisply executed, and grooves that are too deep or fits that are not quite true do not occur there. Third, the guilloché pattern — on the original's line guilloché it runs out in a particular way where it meets the cap top, and any deviation is a clear warning sign. Rings in a colour that does not match the rest of the gilding, silver-coloured rings on an otherwise uniformly gilt vermeil pen for instance, correspond to no catalogue version either; and an “Ag 925” hallmark on its own proves nothing. Only the manufacturer can give a binding verdict, because the fakes have become so good that you often have to hold one in your hand to recognise it — from photographs even experienced collectors frequently cannot say for certain. Montblanc examines pens sent in to Hamburg for a flat fee covering return postage and the written opinion; it stood at 61 euros (as of 2016). When buying through online marketplaces, a payment method with buyer protection pays for itself: sellers passing on a collection they have bought in often have no idea themselves that a pen is fake, and will refund the purchase price. --- **Question:** Was an unused Montblanc Friedrich Schiller at 300 euros a bargain, and where could Writers Editions be bought in the shops? **Answer:** In 2005, 300 euros was a very good price for an unused Writers Edition Friedrich Schiller fountain pen. Collectors regarded a resale at around 450 euros as realistic, and over the counter the model was hard to find below 475 euros; that figure was seen at the time as something of a price floor for Writers Editions in the shops, at least on the Vienna market. With a margin like that the purchase was worth making even if you only meant to sell the pen on again — and if you happen to like it as well, so much the better. As for where to buy: Montblanc keeps prices fixed in its own boutiques, and Writers Editions were officially not supplied to ordinary stationers. Where such shops or jewellers offered them nonetheless, the stock had come through other channels, and prices there tended to be above rather than below the original list price. Offers well under the usual level are therefore isolated cases and not the rule. Before buying, check condition and completeness: with limited editions the box, inserts and papers are part of the value. --- **Question:** Does the number 4810 on a Montblanc nib denote a nib size, and can you change the nib of a Meisterstück 149 yourself? **Answer:** The number 4810 is neither a size nor a type designation; it refers to the height of Mont Blanc measured in metres. It appears on virtually every Montblanc gold nib, from the small nib of a Mozart to the large nib of the Meisterstück 149. The 4810 imprint therefore tells you nothing about whether a nib will fit a particular model. What counts is nib size and the design of the section alone: the big 149 nib fits only a 149 section, and the nibs of the smaller Meisterstück models differ in size and seating. Changing the nib yourself is not to be recommended without relevant practice. Nib and feed are a press fit in the section; pulling them out easily snaps off the fine fins of the feed, and a nib that is not seated exactly will scratch, go out of true or flood. If you want to change the nib width, it is better to have the job done by a workshop that specialises in pens. A nib exchange at the manufacturer costs so much that it comes close to the price of a second-hand Meisterstück — which is why some collectors instead buy a used pen in the width they want and pass their own one on. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Meisterstück from the Leonard Bernstein Special Edition genuine even without a laser-etched identification number? **Answer:** Yes. On the Leonard Bernstein Special Edition neither the fountain pen nor the ballpoint was given a laser-etched serial number. On this edition the absence of an identification number is therefore neither a defect nor a sign of a fake, but standard. Later editions without a laser-etched number appeared from time to time as well, Noir et Noir and Rouge et Noir among them, while the Bohème editions that followed carry a serial number again. A missing number is thus a warning sign only on models that demonstrably ought to have one; there it usually points to a replaced cap. Montblanc will issue a certificate of authenticity after the event on request, though no longer free of charge. As of 2016 the sums quoted for this ranged from about 50 to 61 euros. Anyone buying a pen without papers should allow for that amount or take it into account in the price. --- **Question:** What does it mean when a Montblanc Writers Edition such as the Marcel Proust has no serial number? **Answer:** On editions that carry a laser-etched serial number as standard, the number sits on the cap. If it is missing altogether, that is almost always a sign that the cap has been replaced at some point. Replacement caps from Montblanc's service department either carry no number at all or one beginning with a prefixed “R”; they are not given the pen's original number. Nor should the original number be expected to be applied afterwards — if a number is issued at all, it is one with an “R”. A missing number says nothing against authenticity: a pen with a service cap is not a copy. It does tell on the collector value, though, because the pen is no longer entirely original. With a rare edition like the Proust the market value nevertheless remains considerable, but the discount against a numbered example should be reflected in the price. Before buying it is worth comparing cap and barrel closely: shade, gloss and the way the material has aged should match. --- **Question:** Why did Montblanc discontinue the vermeil Solitaire models, and how does vermeil differ from a gold-plated brass version? **Answer:** Vermeil means solid sterling silver with gold plating. The material has an unfortunate habit: after use and prolonged storage the silver tarnishes beneath the gold layer, so that blotchy discolouration shows through on the surface. Silver polish will remove it for a time, but it always comes back. This damaged the reputation of the range and was a major reason for the change: for some years now the Solitaire models with line guilloché have been made not in vermeil but in a gold-plated version with a brass core. Price and appearance stayed the same, so the changeover passed almost unnoticed; objectively the metal value changed, subjectively the sense of quality. The barleycorn versions with their grain guilloché were dropped entirely as early as 1999, in sterling silver and vermeil alike, because demand was far lower and because a similar guilloché was used for a Limited Edition marking the company's anniversary. Two parallel vermeil lines were appealing to the same buyers in any case. Gold-plated pens were generally hard to sell in Europe at that time, which is why vermeil pieces lingered in some dealers' drawers for years afterwards. For collectors this means that the vermeil versions are rarer than their visually identical gold-plated successors, and can be told apart from them by the silver hallmark. --- **Question:** What customs and import costs should you reckon with when buying a Montblanc pen in the United States? **Answer:** The supposed price advantage of buying in the United States is usually swallowed up by the import charges. As of 2005 you had to reckon on some 25 to 30 per cent on top of the value of the goods. Importantly, the charges are levied not only on the value of the goods but on the postage as well. Nor is the exchange rate applied the current market rate, but an officially fixed conversion rate, set monthly, which may diverge from the market rate by a few per cent for a while before it is corrected. On top of that come the higher transatlantic shipping costs and the cost of transferring the money; an ordinary international bank transfer is usually a good deal cheaper here than paying through a payment service. Anyone importing from the United States should add all these items up before bidding and set the total against the price in the shops at home. The rates quoted are an order of magnitude from 2005; duty rates, thresholds and procedures change, so the rules in force at the time should be checked before any purchase. --- **Question:** Which model is a slim brushed-steel Montblanc ballpoint with a gold-coloured clip and the engraving MONT BLANC GERMANY? **Answer:** The description fits a Slim Line ballpoint. The range was made in the 1970s and 1980s and was the firm's slim, inexpensive everyday model: a slender brushed-steel barrel, gold-coloured clip and push-button, the emblem inlaid at the end of the clip. To change the refill the pen unscrews at the level of the clip mounting; above the thread sits the two-line engraving with the country of origin. Spelling it “MONT BLANC” as two words is usual on pens of this period and no mark of a fake. The Slim Line sold at the time for between about 15 and 20 DM, putting it among plain everyday pens. Its collector value is correspondingly modest, and examples still turn up frequently today. Fakes are not to be expected in this range, because copying it would never have paid at those prices — pens that come to light are therefore almost always genuine, and remain perfectly usable as sturdy everyday writers. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc 139 with stress cracks in the barrel thread be repaired without losing the long ink window? **Answer:** Stress cracks in the thread of the barrel are a common form of damage on models such as the 139. Welding the cracks chemically usually fails to achieve the aim: the seam remains clearly visible and rarely stays tight for long. Replacing the complete barrel insert, the obvious alternative, has the drawback that the characteristic long dark lines in the ink window are lost. A proven alternative is a fitted thread sleeve. The cracked section of thread is cut away and a collar about 3.2 millimetres long and reduced in diameter is turned on the remaining barrel. A precisely made thread sleeve is fitted over this collar and bonded with epoxy resin under axial pressure, so that a joint is produced which will take load. On a pen with a long ink window the vertical lines are preserved over their full length, and the external joint line is barely noticeable. On pens with a short ink window the new threaded part is made to overlap by exactly the length of the window itself. The external seam then ends where the barrel turns black and opaque, and is practically invisible. The work calls for a lathe and experience with historic materials, and therefore belongs in a specialist workshop. --- **Question:** Are the three even slits in the gold-coloured tip of the Montblanc Pix 372 propelling pencil damage, or are they intentional? **Answer:** They are intentional. The three evenly curved slits in the tip are cut at the factory so that the tip can flex. Leads may be standardised, but they are subject to manufacturing tolerances; for a lead neither to jam nor to sit too loosely, some component has to take up that tolerance. In metalworking a slotted, springy sleeve end is the usual solution. The fact that several examples of the 372 show the same regular pattern of slits confirms that this is a design feature and not a fracture. A tip would be genuinely damaged if the cracks ran irregularly, extended into the barrel, or if the segments splayed apart and could be bent. As long as the lead is advanced cleanly and held firmly and the tip runs true, nothing needs doing. On an otherwise as-new piece, replacing the tip is neither necessary nor value-enhancing; if anything it detracts from originality. --- **Question:** What can be done when the push mechanism of a Montblanc Scenium ballpoint sticks and the refill will no longer retract? **Answer:** The problem has been described more than once with this model and evidently affects more than the odd example: the small brass mechanism inside binds at one point, and the refill can only be retracted with considerable force, or not at all. Repeated repairs through the manufacturer's service department have brought no lasting cure in such cases either, which suggests a design weakness in the range, though that has never been conclusively established. Before any intervention, one simple check is worthwhile: if the pen has been dropped, the opening at the end of the barrel may be distorted and blocking the movement of the refill — from the outside there is often nothing to see. If the barrel is undamaged, a very small, precisely placed amount of good-quality watchmaker's oil at the tight spot sometimes helps. Too much oil does harm, because it collects grit and creeps into the refill. If neither works, the only remedy left is to replace the complete mechanism, which on a model in this price bracket rarely makes economic sense. Push mechanisms are rare at Montblanc in any case; the great majority of its ballpoints use a twist mechanism. --- **Question:** What period does a black Montblanc 254 date from, and how do you tell the early version from the late one? **Answer:** The 254 is one of the piston fillers of the 25x series from the 1950s. There is an earlier and a later version of the model, most reliably distinguished by the ink window: the early variant has a colourless, clear window, the later one a window tinted pale blue. On a black example the early version dates to roughly 1954 to 1956, the later one to 1957 to 1959. For other body colours the periods may differ. The window variant is best judged on an empty, cleaned pen, since the tint cannot be made out while the pen is filled. The 25x models were solid everyday pens of their day and are no great rarity; they often turn up in estates. With a well-preserved nib and a sound piston mechanism they are entirely usable after an overhaul, which as a rule means a new seal and a clean-out of the feed. --- **Question:** Was the Meisterstück made as a ballpoint with a cap, and can a ballpoint refill be fitted into a rollerball such as the 163? **Answer:** The regular Meisterstück range includes no ballpoint with a removable cap: the line's ballpoints work with a twist mechanism, and the models with a cap are the fountain pen and the rollerball. A pen that looks like a 163 from the outside but takes a ballpoint refill is therefore almost always a converted rollerball. The conversion is perfectly possible, on the rollerballs of the Le Grand, Classique, Bohème and StarWalker lines. What it needs is a purpose-made adapter to make up the difference in length between rollerball and ballpoint refills. Care must be taken that the adapter does not turn out too long: if the barrel can then only be screwed onto the section under tension, the material may crack in time. Such a fracture is, for understandable reasons, not covered by the guarantee. Workshops specialising in pens will make these adapters to order; the conversion is no exotic special request but a common adaptation for customers who like the shape of the rollerball but prefer to write with a ballpoint refill. --- **Question:** Is a StarWalker Rubber without a serial number on the cap genuine, and where is the number on other StarWalker models? **Answer:** The StarWalker Rubber has no serial number engraved on the cap. That is normal for this model and no indication of a fake. On other StarWalker writing instruments the number is applied to the side of the clip, and so finely that it is barely visible to the naked eye; without a loupe and raking light you will often search in vain. Anyone who cannot find the number should therefore look there first before doubting their pen's authenticity. In general the serial number is not a consistent test of authenticity at Montblanc. There have been, and still are, models and whole editions delivered without any such marking, and conversely fakes now carry invented numbers of their own. More telling are the workmanship, the weight, the feel of the materials, the execution of star and clip, and, on fountain pens, the nib and the feed. In any case, a number that is present can only be decoded by the manufacturer itself, since the code is not publicly documented. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is a silver-coloured Meisterstück ballpoint, and what did it cost new? **Answer:** A Meisterstück ballpoint with silver or platinum-coloured fittings instead of gilt ones belongs to the Platinum Line. The model in question is the Meisterstück Classique ballpoint, number 164P; the appended P stands for the Platinum version, in which clip and rings are platinum-plated rather than gold-plated, while the body, as on the classic model, is black precious resin. The 164P is easily confused with the very similar-looking 165P twist pencil, which is chiefly told apart by its slightly slimmer body and, of course, by the lead it takes. As for price, the ballpoint stood at around 240 euros new in Germany as of 2006. Second-hand it changes hands well below that; the price is governed above all by the condition of the fittings, wear to clip and cap, and whether case and papers are complete. For actual use none of that matters, since the large-capacity refill is still available, so older examples can be kept in service without difficulty. --- **Question:** What does Vermeil mean on Montblanc writing instruments, and is it true that gold-plated brass is used instead nowadays? **Answer:** Vermeil means gilded silver, that is, a body of sterling silver with a layer of gold over it. Montblanc used this construction for Solitaire models for many years. It does have a drawback: silver tarnishes, and since the gold layer is thin and wears through over time at edges, engravings and the places where the pen is held, Vermeil instruments become blotchy and dark in use. Production was therefore changed over; the newer gold-plated writing instruments are made of gold-plated brass, which does not tarnish and stands up better to everyday use. Quite wrong, on the other hand, is the occasional claim that brass is the same thing as gold-plated copper. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, often with a small proportion of lead; the alloy of copper and tin is called bronze and is somewhat harder than brass. For buyers the distinction genuinely matters: a true Vermeil instrument normally carries a silver hallmark such as Ag 925, weighs rather more than a gold-plated brass version and is valued more highly on the collectors' market. Sellers' descriptions that run Vermeil and gold-plated brass together should therefore be read with caution. --- **Question:** Is a gold-plated Montblanc Bohème stamped FRANCE instead of GERMANY on the clip a fake? **Answer:** No, FRANCE on the clip is no argument against authenticity on a Bohème with a metal body. The metal overlays of this line were made for Montblanc in France by Cartier, according to collectors roughly between 2005 and 2010, though the exact period has never been pinned down. That is why the metal versions of the Bohème often carry FRANCE in place of the usual GERMANY. The serial number sits on the clip as it always does, so the two markings are consistent with one another. A final judgement, however, calls for detailed photographs or the pen in your hand. The gold-plated Bohème is not a limited edition but belonged to the regular range. Production was accordingly not limited in number, and Montblanc publishes no reliable figures; anyone hoping the country of origin makes the pen especially rare will be disappointed. Its second-hand value is therefore governed, as with other series models, by condition, by whether case and papers are complete, and by demand for the particular decoration and for the execution of the gemstone in the twist knob. --- **Question:** Can the production date of a Montblanc writing instrument be worked out from its ident number, and how do you establish its age? **Answer:** The age of a writing instrument cannot be worked out from the ident number. It denotes the model and the version and nothing else, which makes it most comparable to an order number in a catalogue; the same number may have been used for years on end for a model in continuous production. Placing a pen in time takes at least the serial number, which on more recent instruments is engraved into the clip or on the cap ring. Even the serial number, though, is of limited help to collectors, since the code is not publicly documented and cannot be decoded from outside. Anyone who wants to know the date of manufacture for certain has to approach Montblanc directly with the number; the manufacturer can trace it in its records. Quite apart from that, dating by features such as the nib stamping, the engraving of the cap ring, the material of the body, the filling system and the packaging will usually narrow things down to a few years, which is as a rule quite enough for a purchasing decision. On a Solitaire Vermeil, for instance, the hallmarks and the finish of the fittings will at least establish the period of manufacture. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is a fountain pen with a guilloché silver cap (Ag 925) and an 18 ct nib stamped 4810? **Answer:** A guilloché sterling silver cap with the hallmark Ag 925, combined with a black precious resin barrel, identifies a Meisterstück Solitaire Doué. Doué means that the cap alone is made of precious metal, while the barrel corresponds to the classic Meisterstück. The pattern of fine, closely spaced lines is known as a thread guilloché. Together with the 18 carat nib, which bears the number 4810 and thus the height of Mont Blanc in metres, this gives the Meisterstück Solitaire Doué Silver 146, that is to say the middle size, Le Grand. The other markings on the cap are not model indications: the combination of letters and figures is the serial number, and the remaining stampings concern the quality of the metal and the country of origin, Germany, and form part of the usual hallmarking. Cap material, pattern, nib size and overall size are therefore enough to identify it. The 146 is a piston filler, drawing ink straight from the bottle, and sits in size between the slimmer 145 and the large 149. That a boutique could not readily help is nothing unusual with older Solitaire variants. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is a slim, guilloché, gold-plated cartridge pen with a 585 nib, and what is it worth? **Answer:** A slim, fully gold-plated fountain pen with a guilloché surface and a 585 gold nib is as a rule a Montblanc Noblesse of the first series. The line was made roughly between 1978 and the mid-1980s and was positioned below the Meisterstück as an elegant everyday pen. It is filled with standard cartridges or a converter; a piston filling system it does not have. Mistaking it for a ballpoint is easy enough, since the Noblesse models are built very slim and the cap finishes flush with the body. The boutique price latterly stood, according to collectors, at the equivalent of around 138 euros. On the second-hand market the Noblesse was changing hands for between roughly 50 and 140 euros in 2012, depending on condition. What matters most for value is how well the gold plating has survived, since it wears through over the years at the cap lip, the clip and the grip area, and putting that right is scarcely economic. Technically the pens are straightforward; after a thorough cleaning of the feed and with a fresh cartridge they can usually be put back into use without further ado. --- **Question:** What is a Montblanc 333 1/2 from the 1930s worth, and what do the numbers on the end of the barrel and on the nib stand for? **Answer:** The Montblanc 333 ½ dates from the 1930s and belongs to the 3 series, the firm's cheapest range at the time. These were solidly built everyday and school pens, produced in large numbers and for that reason still turning up regularly on the second-hand market. The number stamped on the end of the barrel is the model number, the half step marking a size variant within the series. The figure on the nib, 3 ½ here, gives the matching nib size. The letter combination OB stands for an obliquely ground broad nib, which produces a markedly varied line and is sought after today. Its monetary value stays modest because of the large numbers made and lies well below that of the big models of the same period; it also depends heavily on the condition of the nib and the body. With an heirloom of this kind, using it is usually more rewarding than selling it, since the pens of the 3 series generally write very pleasantly. After a proper clean and, where necessary, a new piston seal, they make a good everyday pen. --- **Question:** How rare are a Montblanc No. 34 and the matching Pix 36 push-button pencil from the 1960s? **Answer:** Both date from the 1960s and belong to Montblanc's third and cheapest series. They were intended as solid everyday writing instruments, sold in large numbers and are still comparatively easy to find. Neither the No. 34 piston filler nor the Pix 36 pencil is therefore a rarity. Montblanc used the name Pix for its pencils; it also appears as a trademark under the clip of other instruments. The red lead is not a special version, merely the coloured lead that happens to be fitted. That far less information is to be found on the companion pieces than on the fountain pens is not down to their rarity but to where collectors' interest lies: fountain pens are clearly at the centre of attention, while ballpoints and pencils from the same series are treated as poor relations in catalogues and surveys. A matching pair of fountain pen and pencil is nonetheless more attractive than a single piece, particularly with the case still present. The instruments remain perfectly usable, provided leads in the historical diameter can be found for the pencil. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc ballpoint model 28 with its lever mechanism, and do current refills fit? **Answer:** The No. 28 ballpoint belongs to Montblanc's second line, recognisable by the two gold rings at the lower end of the cap. The refill is deployed by a lever mechanism. The model was made between 1959 and 1969 and offered in four colours: black, burgundy, dark green and light grey. With the refill, care is needed. Today's Montblanc refills do fit in terms of length with an adapter, but the refills used at the time had a thinner tip. When the manufacturer changed over to the tip diameter now standard, it offered a front section with a larger bore free of charge as a replacement part for ten years. Anyone who let that deadline pass without being given a new front section when buying refills now owns a handsome but barely usable display piece. Before fitting a modern refill you should therefore check that its tip runs freely through the bore of the front section; front sections forced open are damaged beyond repair. --- **Question:** Which model lies behind a Montblanc Meisterstück of the Anniversary Edition “75 Years of Passion and Soul”, and when was it made? **Answer:** The Anniversary Edition “75 Years of Passion and Soul” appeared in 1999 to mark 75 years of the Meisterstück line and was made for one year only. It covered the classic Meisterstück sizes, that is the Classique 145, the Le Grand 146 and the 149. Since the warranty certificates of this edition often carry no precise model name, identification has to be made from the dimensions. A fountain pen measuring about 14 centimetres overall with the cap in place and around 12 centimetres without it is a 145, which also goes under the name Hommage à Frédéric Chopin; the narrow gold ring in front of the thread of the section is another distinguishing feature. The 146 and 149 are considerably longer and greater in diameter. The anniversary edition came exclusively in black precious resin with gilt fittings. Offers of a platinum-plated version of this edition are accordingly not genuine. --- **Question:** What does the 925 stamp mean on the lengthwise-fluted cap of a Montblanc rollerball with a Meisterstück engraving on the cap ring? **Answer:** A writing instrument like that is a Meisterstück Solitaire Doué Vermeil Classique. The addition Doué denotes the combination of a cap in precious metal with a body in black precious resin. Vermeil means gilded sterling silver, which is why the cap carries the silver stamp 925 despite its golden appearance; the oval mark struck beside it is usually a maker's hallmark. The lengthwise fluting with a plain panel for a monogram engraving is the cap pattern typical of this range. A burgundy piston filler with a striped ink window and the engraving Montblanc Meisterstück running round the cap ring, by contrast, belongs to the Meisterstück Le Grand range. Each of the two may well be genuine in itself, but together they do not make a set, since they belong to different model ranges; they were never supplied as a set. A missing serial number is no argument against authenticity on older pieces, as Montblanc only later began marking every writing instrument with an ident number. --- **Question:** Why will a complete year's diary not fit a Montblanc pocket organiser in the Mini size, and which inserts fit instead? **Answer:** The rings of the size officially called Mini are deliberately narrow, so that the wallet stays flat and can be opened out and written in comfortably. A complete year's diary together with address and note pages inevitably bursts that limit; the organiser can then only be closed by force. This is no defect in the piece and no fault on the user's part, but a design decision, and one taken in the same way with other ring-binder systems of this size. The practical answer is either to put in only half a year at a time or to use a space-saving diary with a week to a page, or a month across two pages. Since Montblanc is not a maker of diary systems, its own range of inserts is thin; suitable inserts and accessories in the Mini format are offered by Filofax, with the widest choice, and by Succes. Anyone wanting to carry more on a permanent basis will have to move to a larger ring binder, and with it lose the handiness that is the whole point of this format. --- **Question:** Is the laser engraving “France” on a Montblanc Bohème with a silver or platinum overlay an indication of a fake? **Answer:** No, this imprint is correct on the Bohème models in question. According to the manufacturer, the overlays of these versions were not made in its own factory but by Cartier in France. Because a significant step in production thus took place outside Germany, the instrument carries a laser engraving with the addition France in place of the usual marking. Those affected are the Bohème variants with an overlay, so in particular the Platinum Crystal version and, on the evidence available, the models with a silver overlay as well; on the remaining Bohème models in precious resin, by contrast, a France engraving is not to be expected. A check on authenticity should therefore not hang on this engraving but on the nib, the finish of the fittings and the stone setting, and the ident number. Conversely, a seller's note about the France imprint is no reason to hold back from a purchase. --- **Question:** How can you tell whether a Montblanc StarWalker from the Metal Rubber line is genuine, and what do the enclosed papers say about authenticity? **Answer:** The nib is, and remains, the single most important point of comparison. If the engraving, the shape and the platinum plating all match a documented original of the same model, that is a strong argument for a genuine pen. The second place to look is under the clip, where the word Pix must be stamped. On the Rubber Line fountain pen the rear end of the barrel is also finished in steel colour; on fakes this end is frequently black all the way through. The fit of the rubber sleeve and the crispness of every engraving repay a close look as well. A new StarWalker comes with a service guide and an engraving voucher. Neither proves authenticity, since papers of that kind are copied just as readily as the pen itself; conversely, a missing till receipt is no mark against a pen, because Montblanc will repair one for a fee without any proof of purchase. Only the manufacturer can settle the question for good: in a boutique or through customer service a pen can be assessed reliably from its nib, its trim and its ident number. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc spectacle frame engraved Meisterstück be pinned down to a maker, a production period or an original retail price? **Answer:** Only to a very limited extent. Spectacle frames and sunglasses carrying the Montblanc emblem are licensed products, made over the years by a succession of outside manufacturers. They were sold through some of the boutiques — mostly as sunglasses — and through a handful of opticians, who also stocked the prescription frames. The range was wide, and there was never any consistent system behind the model designations. Identifying a particular frame from a description or a photograph therefore rarely works, and even the maker, the production period and the original selling price usually cannot be established after the fact. The brand owner holds hardly any documentation on these licensed products either; an enquiry will often yield no more than an approximate year of introduction, 1998 in the case of some of the frames. The Montblanc Meisterstück engraving running around the frame, the star set into a gold-coloured disc at the ends of the temples and a multi-digit number on the temple are typical features of these frames, but they are of no use for dating. --- **Question:** Can the serial number on a Montblanc's clip tell you the date of manufacture or the model line? **Answer:** The ident number lasered onto the clip, or onto the cap ring, works rather like a vehicle's chassis number: it belongs permanently to one particular pen, and the manufacturer can use it to establish when that pen was made and which country it was shipped to. The code cannot be decoded from outside, however. There is no publicly known system from which the year, the model line or the country of sale could be read off directly. If you want the production date, quote the full number to customer service; they will usually give you the month and year of manufacture. Enquiries of this kind have shown that an outsider can infer no order at all from the groups of letters and digits: pens with entirely unrelated number ranges turned out to have been bought in the same country, while the production dates returned were years apart. Dating by way of the number is therefore only possible with the manufacturer's help; the absence of a number, on the other hand, is entirely normal on older pens. --- **Question:** Was the stoneless Montblanc Bohème also made in MidSize and as a set with a ballpoint, and are dealer discounts on Montblanc permitted? **Answer:** The stoneless Bohème — the version without a gemstone in the clip — was always a standalone model in the small basic size. It was never made as a MidSize, and no matching ballpoint or propelling pencil was produced for it, so a three-piece set does not exist in this version. According to the trade, the stoneless Bohème was already out of production by around 2008, and the MidSize fountain pens with a stone in the clip had been discontinued by then as well. The BigSize Bohème was always sold as a fountain pen on its own, available only with platinum-plated trim, and no companion pieces were ever planned for it. The claim that Montblanc forbids its dealers to give any discount is untrue. The published prices are recommended retail prices; a manufacturer may not dictate the selling prices of independent retailers. Whether a discount is granted, and how large it is, is therefore up to the individual shop. When buying over the internet, though, it is worth checking whether the seller is an authorised dealer. Unauthorised sellers cannot issue valid guarantee certificates, their promises of warranty cover are worth correspondingly little, and the provenance of the goods is often impossible to trace. A discount of twenty per cent or more is not in itself proof of a fake, but it is good reason to ask searching questions about where the pen came from and how a warranty claim would be handled. --- **Question:** Why does a Montblanc with an OBB nib skip after a brief pause in writing, and how can its starting behaviour be improved? **Answer:** When a pen writes flawlessly in continuous text but, after a pause of only a few seconds, needs one or two strokes before the ink comes again, a fault is rarely the cause. With obliquely ground nibs such as OM, OB and especially OBB, the usual culprit is how the pen is held, because these grinds only lay down ink cleanly within a narrow range of angles. If you tilt or rotate the pen without noticing when you set it down again, the nib no longer meets the paper with the whole of the ground face, and the stroke comes out dry. A consciously consistent grip is the remedy here, and simply trying a different angle will soon show whether that is the problem. The state of the nib slit and the ink also play their part. Inks differ markedly in how freely they flow, so switching to a wetter-running brand can help noticeably; merely swapping one document-proof ink for another writing ink, by contrast, often changes little. If the behaviour persists, the next step is the dealer: according to the service documentation of the period, the nib could be exchanged for a different width free of charge within the first six weeks after purchase (as of 2006), so an OBB nib that proved impractical could be replaced by a B or an M at no extra cost. --- **Question:** When were the Montblanc 320 fountain pen and the 380 ballpoint made, and how do you establish what they are worth to collectors? **Answer:** The 320 fountain pen and the 380 ballpoint belong together and were made between 1971 and 1977. Dating an individual pen to the year is not possible, since pens of those years carry no date. For placing the post-war models, the standard reference is “Collectible Stars” by Jens Rösler and Stefan Wallrafen, which covers production from 1946 to 1979 with illustrations, production periods and estimated values. The figures given there should be treated with caution. Printed estimates date quickly, because the prices actually achieved fluctuate widely and depend on condition, completeness, nib width and colour. Collectors therefore work mainly from completed sales of comparable pens rather than from price lists; the real use of the literature lies in identifying the model and its production period. The original case and papers do affect the price obtainable, though with the plain plastic cases of the 1970s only modestly. --- **Question:** Why do plastic shavings build up in the threads of a Montblanc StarWalker Metal Rubber ballpoint when it is screwed open and shut? **Answer:** The cause lies in the pairing of materials. On the StarWalker of the Metal Rubber line the upper section carries a metal thread that engages a threaded plastic bore in the lower section. Every time the pen is opened and closed, the harder metal takes a little material off the softer plastic, so fine shavings collect in the metal thread and the joint gradually develops play. This affects the series as a whole rather than being an isolated faulty example, which is why collectors take a dim view of the design on a pen that cost around 285 euros at the time (as of 2006). It can be forestalled by lubricating the thread very thinly indeed. A trace of petroleum jelly or another resin-free and acid-free grease reduces the friction markedly and checks further wear; cooking oils are unsuitable, as they gum up and turn sticky over time. Apply it sparingly and wipe away any excess, so that it cannot reach the refill or the rubber sleeve. It also helps to make sure the threads engage cleanly when screwing the pen together and not to open the upper section more often than necessary. A plastic thread that is already worn out cannot be reworked; the only remedy then is to have the part replaced through customer service. --- **Question:** What does the word Pix on a Montblanc fountain pen mean, and can the cap top of current Meisterstück pens be unscrewed? **Answer:** Pix is not a model name but a trade mark of the house in its own right. Originally it stood for push-button pencils; because the name Meisterstück could not be registered as a trade mark in every country, Pix was later applied to fountain pens and ballpoints as well. A pen stamped Pix beneath the clip is therefore not a model of that name but an ordinary Meisterstück. Conversely, the absence of that stamping on a modern pen is a warning sign. The cap top is screwed in place on current Meisterstück pens too, and that same screw also secures the clip to the cap. It is no longer accessible, however, because a plastic cover sits in front of it; only on older Meisterstück pens can the star top be unscrewed. So if the cap top will not come loose, nothing is broken, and force will only damage the cap and the clip. For a basic clean, dismantling is unnecessary in any case: a piston filler is flushed by drawing in clear, lukewarm water and expelling it again, over and over, until it stays clean. --- **Question:** What is the loose metal spring in the ink chamber of a Montblanc converter for, and does it mean something is wrong? **Answer:** The loosely coiled metal spring in the ink chamber of some converters is not a defect but a deliberately fitted agitator. Its job is to keep ink reaching the feed. In standard converters without it, once a smaller quantity has been used up the ink can cling to the rear of the chamber; at the front nothing but air is then drawn into the feed and the flow dies. Because the spring follows every movement of the pen, it prevents the ink from settling in this way, and tiresome shaking becomes unnecessary. Many disposable cartridges use the same principle, though there with a small ball. In a converter a ball would be useless, because it would cover the opening to the feed and so hinder the pressure equalisation needed when the piston is worked. An open coil spring, by contrast, lets ink and air pass forward unhindered. Finding such a spring loose in a converter is therefore the normal state of affairs; it should not be removed. --- **Question:** When were the Montblanc models 22, 24 and 262 made, and are pens of that kind valuable today? **Answer:** The 22 and 24 were built roughly between 1960 and 1970; the 262 with a manifold nib dates from the middle of the 1950s. The cap ring helps with identification: the model number is stamped there, unless polishing or decades of wear have taken it away. Both series belong to a time when Montblanc was still an ordinary pen manufacturer, offering, much as Pelikan did, the whole range from the plain everyday pen up to the Meisterstück. These models were accordingly made in large numbers and still turn up regularly on the second-hand market. No great collector value attaches to them. For a guide to what a 262 is worth, the best yardstick is the prices actually achieved for the closely related 252, which comes up for sale more often. The real value of such pens usually lies in their family history and not in their market price. --- **Question:** How do you work out the resale value of a used Meisterstück 144, and does the rule of thumb about a quarter of the new price hold good? **Answer:** There is no fixed market price for common production models such as the Meisterstück 144. The only sound approach is to look at the prices actually achieved for comparable pens over a longer period; the 144 in particular, being a standard pen, changes hands so often that a fairly precise picture emerges. The prices do swing considerably: they tend to be lower over the summer months and around Christmas and the New Year, and the general economic climate makes itself felt as well. If you are not pressed for time, watch the market for a few weeks before selling. The widespread rule of thumb that a used pen fetches about a quarter of its price when new is misleading, because it sets a historical purchase price against today's shop price. Montblanc has raised its list prices several times over the years; a model costing around 350 euros as of 2008 was appreciably cheaper a few years before that. Someone who bought a pen in the late 1990s will therefore often recover almost the whole of what they paid, even after years of use. Demand for the 144 has been subdued since the larger 145 came onto the market, but then it was also considerably cheaper to buy in the first place. --- **Question:** How can you tell whether a Montblanc Meisterstück 149 dates from the early 1960s? **Answer:** Dating a 149 rests on several small details that changed over the decades. One pointer is the hallmark on the nib: the form “18 C” is regarded as characteristic of the 1960s, while other ways of stating the gold content belong to other production periods. A second is the feed, which on examples from the 1950s and 1960s has two fine lines down the centre. The gold ring at the end of the barrel is also informative: if it matches the 1950s pattern, that argues for early production. Taken on its own, none of these features proves anything, since the nib and feed may have been replaced during a repair. Only when several pieces of evidence agree does the dating become solid. Pinning a pen of this period down to a single year is not possible in any case; the usual and honest approach is to narrow it to a decade or to a production window of a few years. Direct comparison with a securely dated example is very helpful, because differences in the rings, the feed and the nib are far easier to see side by side than in photographs. --- **Question:** When were the Montblanc 251 propelling pencil and the 281 ballpoint made, and how valuable are they? **Answer:** The 251 propelling pencil was made from 1971 to 1984 and the matching 281 ballpoint from 1971 to 1979. Neither belongs to the 1950s, as is occasionally supposed; both are classic products of the 1970s, and within the Montblanc range of the day they sat in the middle of the quality ladder. Company history is the key to valuing them: Montblanc only positioned itself consistently as a maker of luxury goods at the start of the 1990s. Before that the range ran from the plain school pen to the Meisterstück, and the middle series sold in large numbers. Pens of that sort seldom appreciate to any appreciable degree; in pen collecting too, that is reserved for the handful of especially sought-after models and editions. Anyone who inherits a set like this will usually get more out of using it as an everyday writer than out of waiting for it to gain in value. The manufacturer gives reliable information on authenticity; datings of older models offered by shop staff, on the other hand, are best treated with caution. --- **Question:** What can you do if a second-hand Montblanc does not match the condition described, and what does “as new” actually mean? **Answer:** Even in a private sale the goods delivered must match the description. Where the condition differs noticeably — worn gold plating on the cap ring, a cap that wobbles perceptibly although it seats firmly, signs of corrosion on the rings, or deep scratches — the buyer is entitled to unwind the sale. The first step is a friendly but firm word with the seller; in practice most give way when the description was demonstrably incomplete. If that leads nowhere, online auctions have the platforms' buyer-protection schemes, which cover purchases up to a certain sum. The term “as new” is to be read strictly. Anything not still sealed in its wrapper picks up the faintest of marks sooner or later, even a pen bought in a boutique; visible wear, scratches or technical shortcomings are not covered by the phrase, however. With common models, returning the pen is almost always worthwhile, because re-plating or repair costs more than buying a better example. To avoid disappointment, it is better to buy used pens from a specialist dealer or at a pen show, where the condition can be checked before money changes hands. --- **Question:** What should you do if the piston unit of a Montblanc 149 has worked loose and screws out of the barrel when turned? **Answer:** In the 149 the complete piston unit is screwed into the barrel from the rear. If that joint works loose, turning the knob to fill the pen no longer drives the piston forward but unscrews the whole unit out of the barrel. The pen is not faulty on that account; the unit simply has to be seated firmly again. Doing that by hand without leaving marks is all but impossible. There are purpose-made tools that key precisely into the recesses of the piston unit and allow it to be tightened evenly. They are available from specialist pen dealers and from suppliers who concentrate on restoration, Penboard among them; wrenches exist for virtually every older and newer Meisterstück series, along with tools for pulling the nib and feed. The important things are to choose the size that matches the model and to work without force, since the barrel and its thread are made of precious resin and can crack if overtightened. Anyone who does not feel confident is better off sending the pen to a specialist workshop or to the manufacturer's service department. --- **Question:** What nibs do the Montblanc models 30, 31 and 32 have, and how do you remove crystalline deposits from them? **Answer:** The 30, 31 and 32 belong to Montblanc's inexpensive third series and were intended as plain everyday and school pens. All three carry a steel nib; on the 31 and 32 it is also found gold-plated, on the 30 never. A gold nib is therefore not to be expected on these numbers, whatever the length of the barrel or the shape of the pen. If the nib shows a crystalline, pimpled coating, that is crystallised ink residue and the beginnings of corrosion. It can only be removed very gently, and only with the nib taken right out: unscrew the pen at the middle, then push the nib and feed out of the section from the rear. The seals must not be damaged in the process, as they are brittle on pens of this age. Expect any gold plating to suffer during cleaning, or to come away altogether. If the coating does not interfere with writing, the better decision is usually to leave the nib untouched. --- **Question:** Which numbers belong in a Montblanc service guide, and where is the serial number on the pen? **Answer:** The service guide provides for two different numbers. What Montblanc calls the ident or model number is the article number — 146 in the case of the Meisterstück LeGrand. The individual number, by contrast, means the serial number of the particular pen; it is applied by laser engraving on the ring of the clip and, on newer pens, begins with two letters. In practice many dealers leave the individual-number field blank or enter the article number there instead. That is not a mistake: for proof of guarantee, the date of purchase, the model name and the shop's stamp or sticker are enough. The serial number, laborious to read even with a loupe, is only needed if a claim actually arises, and that applies to a small proportion of the pens sold. A service booklet showing the model number under the individual number is therefore no sign of a tampered-with or inauthentic pen. Conversely, the laser engraving on the clip ring is one of the features regularly consulted when authenticity is being checked. --- **Question:** Was the Montblanc 72 ever made entirely in rolled gold, or is such a pen an 82 with a swapped cap? **Answer:** The model 72 is a fountain pen in black — more rarely coloured — plastic with a gold-plated cap. No version of this number was made entirely in rolled gold; the all-gold counterpart within the same series is the model 82. A pen finished throughout in rolled gold whose cap ring bears the number 72 is therefore very probably an 82 with a swapped cap. The fact that the cap sits neatly and that the barrel looks a little smaller than on a comparison pen is no argument against this: the fountain pens in this series were built in two sizes, which can be read off the second digit of the model number, while the ballpoint and the propelling pencil were offered in one size only. Caps from neighbouring sizes and finishes can therefore be interchanged, and such mixtures are common on used pens. A special run for foreign markets can never be ruled out entirely as an explanation, but it is unlikely here. For a collection the rule is plain: a made-up pen is worth considerably less than an original one whose barrel and cap belong together. --- **Question:** What is the Montblanc 002, a very small propelling pencil with an engraved star, and when does it date from? **Answer:** The 002 is a particularly small propelling pencil which, according to collectors, dates from the 1920s and early 1930s and remained on sale into the middle of the 1950s. It was generally meant to accompany a notebook or pocket diary, slipping into the loop on the spine; hence the short length and the slim diameter. The star on the cap top tells you which line it belongs to. An inlaid white star indicates the superior version, whereas a merely engraved star points to a pencil belonging with Montblanc's simpler third series. Both variants existed side by side, so an engraved star raises no question of authenticity; it simply reflects a different price bracket. On pencils of this age, the leads sold today often no longer fit, either in diameter or in length. Dealers specialising in historic writing instruments stock replacements; leads of the right thickness can occasionally also be cut to length at home. --- **Question:** Can the cap of a Meisterstück 144 be posted while writing without damaging the pen? **Answer:** Posting the cap on the end of the barrel is perfectly safe; the pen comes to no harm. Over time a faint band of wear may appear on the precious resin where the cap sits. It is barely visible and can be polished out if it bothers you. In any case, wear tends to show up elsewhere first, at the threads and on the cap, simply from screwing it on and off so often. The only real consideration is balance. On the larger models a posted cap shifts the centre of gravity noticeably backwards, which many people find uncomfortable. On the slimmer, lighter 144 this matters far less, and for large hands the pen is often simply too short unposted. So anyone wanting to use an inherited pen should not be put off. A fountain pen suffers far less from regular use than from lying untouched for years with dried ink in the feed. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc models are a red Meisterstück 164 and a gold 1876, and how does an engraving affect the value? **Answer:** The 164 is the ballpoint of the Meisterstück line and has been in production for decades; coloured versions such as the red one typically date from the 1990s. The model 1876 is a gold-coloured writing instrument made between roughly 1971 and 1975. Very slim black-and-gold pens with a narrow clip can often be assigned to the Noblesse line, though a firm identification calls for examining the piece itself, since photographs render imprints, hallmarks and transitions poorly. An engraved dedication or company anniversary reduces the collector value considerably. An engraving can only be removed by taking off material, which damages the contour and the gold plating and is impossible altogether where the plating is thin; attempting it yourself is not advisable. If you need a binding valuation, for probate or for insurance, go to a dealer who specialises in Montblanc. Stefan Wallrafen, among others, offers appraisals; the pens have to be sent in, and the valuation is chargeable. --- **Question:** Does Montblanc have a factory outlet, and can you negotiate on price in the boutiques? **Answer:** Montblanc runs no factory outlet in the true sense; there is no factory shop at the Hamburg site open to the general public. At times individual boutiques have held special end-of-year sales, to which customers were invited personally. Negotiating in the boutiques, on the other hand, is certainly possible, above all on stock that has been sitting in the shop for a long time. Older editions still in the display case years after their release are, in practice, more likely to be let go at a discount; in 2005, for instance, pieces from the 1924 edition launched in 1999 could still be had at a substantial reduction. With current releases and sought-after Limited Editions there is far less room for movement. There is also an internal sales channel that turns up on accompanying paperwork as a “special operation for special stock”. Exactly what lies behind it has never been fully established; the obvious guess is that it handles surplus stock, items withdrawn from the collection and corporate business. Private customers have no access to this channel, and it has nothing to do with special sales to end users. --- **Question:** Is it normal for the piston knob of a Montblanc 146 to turn almost a full revolution before the mechanism engages? **Answer:** Noticeable free play in the piston knob is inherent in the design and not a sign of wear. On a 146 some 340 degrees, almost a full turn, is normal before the piston actually begins to move. On older models the dead travel is greater still; on a 149 from the 1950s it can run to several complete turns. The reason lies in the construction: the first turns release the knob from the thread at the end of the barrel, and only then does the piston mechanism itself engage. The two movements are deliberately kept apart so that thread and piston are not driven at the same time and the difference in resistance stays perceptible. There is nothing to adjust here, as the mechanism offers no means of adjustment; a second-hand pen is therefore not worn out on this account. Cause for concern arises only when the piston becomes stiff, will not move at all, or ink leaks into the barrel – at that point the seal is due for renewal, which is a job for a workshop. --- **Question:** Why does the refill of a Montblanc Noblesse ballpoint no longer retract after the pen has been taken apart, and how do you put it right? **Answer:** If the refill still extends but no longer springs back into the body when pressed again, the cause usually lies not in faulty reassembly but in the compression spring. It tires over the years, or gets squashed and bent while the pen is being dismantled; it is then too short to trip the catch reliably. The cure is to draw the spring out carefully to its original length – after that the click mechanism will as a rule work dependably again. When reassembling, the order of the parts and the alignment of the cam track are decisive; fitted the wrong way round in relation to its guide, the mechanism produces exactly the same symptom. Since the individual parts are small and apt to ping away, it pays to work over a shallow tray. Force is never needed: if something will not go, a part is in the wrong position. Should the spring be broken or permanently deformed, replacements are available from dealers in writing-instrument spares; the manufacturer's service department will also replace small parts of this kind. --- **Question:** Why does a Montblanc Solitaire in the fine-grain finish carry no 925 hallmark, and does that make it a fake? **Answer:** A missing silver mark points not to a fake but to the material used. Vermeil means gold-plated silver, and only those versions carry the 925 hallmark. Solitaire models were, however, also made in gold-plated brass, for which no hallmark is prescribed. If there is no stamp on the plain engraving panel, what you have is not a vermeil but a gold-plated Solitaire in brass – a regular production model, not an inferior copy. The designation fine-grain describes only the guilloché pattern on the body, not the base material. The wording “W. Germany” dates the piece to before 1990. Origin stickers still surviving on barrel or cap are a matter of taste: if you want to use the pen, adhesive residue comes off quite safely with a little lighter fuel on a soft cloth. If the piece is destined for the collection, the original sticker is more of a plus and should be left where it is. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc Bohème in 925 silver offered as a one-off, with a worked-over engraving panel and no star, be genuine? **Answer:** Montblanc never made the Bohème in this form. Where a piece is described as a one-off, a personalisation or hand-workshop work and at the same time shows a roughened or scratched engraving panel together with a missing cap star, it is not a factory version but a production model reworked after the fact by its owner or by a third party. The white star belongs on every Bohème and is never left off at the factory; Montblanc executes engravings cleanly and by machine, not as a coarsely worked-over surface. Interventions of this kind add nothing to the value, they are damage. They reduce the collector value substantially and are to all intents and purposes irreversible, since the affected parts could only be replaced outright. Advertising copy in a sales listing is no substitute for provenance: what counts is whether the piece matches the documented production specification. In case of doubt, only Montblanc itself can give a binding opinion on authenticity and factory specification. --- **Question:** Does a Montblanc nib with no star or lettering on the nib face mean the nib has been swapped? **Answer:** No. Not every genuine Montblanc nib carries the emblem familiar from the catalogues on the nib face. In the simpler ranges of the 1960s and 1970s in particular, sparsely marked nibs were fitted that show little or no engraving beyond the gold designation. On those models such a nib is the correct factory fitment; a missing emblem is therefore evidence neither of a later nib swap nor of a fake. The uncertainty usually arises because model surveys mostly illustrate Meisterstück models and more recent ranges, all of which carry the more elaborate nib engraving. In judging an inherited or second-hand pen, then, what matters is comparison with photographs of exactly the same model from exactly the same period, not a glance at today's range. In any case, whether a nib belongs to a pen shows less in the imprint than in whether nib and feed sit cleanly in the section without a gap. --- **Question:** How are repairs to limited Montblanc writing instruments such as the Voltaire handled, and what does an edition number prefixed with an S mean? **Answer:** Limited Montblanc writing instruments may be repaired only at the factory in Hamburg; boutiques and independent dealers merely take them in and pass them on. Charging is by flat rate, and those rates apply to limited editions as well. Where no body parts have to be replaced, the cost stays within bounds: around 2005 a repair of this kind came to between 49 and 79 euros, depending on whether the pen was handed in at a Montblanc boutique or at an independent dealer, who passes on handling, carriage and insurance costs. With limited editions there is always one body part, a different one from model to model, that is not available as a spare. This is deliberate, so that no additional examples can be assembled from spare parts and the limitation is preserved. If the part bearing the limitation number, usually the cap, is replaced, and provided it was made as a spare at all, the pen is given a new edition number prefixed with an S for Service. It gets expensive when India ink has been used instead of fountain-pen ink: it destroys the piston mechanism and may call for a new barrel, which in the case of a limited edition may no longer be obtainable at all. A piston knob that has been twisted off points to a seized piston and is in every case a matter for the factory. Around 2005 some 500 euros was a fair price for a Voltaire in sound condition. --- **Question:** Can a converter be fitted to a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 or 149, or is the 147 Traveller the better choice for heavy writers? **Answer:** The 146 and the 149 are piston fillers: the filling mechanism is built permanently into the barrel, so a converter can neither be fitted nor would it serve any purpose. The 147 Traveller, by contrast, is a cartridge pen that can be run with a converter if preferred. What speaks for the piston filler in heavy use is its far greater ink capacity, which means refilling less often. And anyone wanting to use unusual or coloured inks that are not sold in cartridges will find a piston filler hard to avoid in any case. What speaks for the cartridge pen is its indifference to changes in air pressure: it leaks less readily on flights, which is what the name Traveller alludes to. The choice is thus less a question of quality than of use. If a 149 does draw ink when filled but gives it straight back up, leaving ink in the barrel and on your fingers, the piston mechanism is no longer sealing; usually the seal or the piston is worn. This is a common wear item on older pens and is put right by Montblanc or by a workshop specialising in writing instruments. --- **Question:** How can a cracked piston guide sleeve in an old Montblanc 149 be repaired when the filling knob will not come free? **Answer:** When the central guide sleeve of the piston assembly in an older 149 cracks or breaks, the guide lug no longer runs in the sleeve's longitudinal slot. The mechanism then twists on itself instead of driving the piston along its axis, and the pen no longer draws ink. Repairs normally start at the piston knob, which sits on the piston on a left-hand thread and usually comes free with a forked tool and gentle warming. If it has been glued as well, warming, an overnight bath in penetrating oil and ultrasound often achieve nothing, and sawing it off destroys a part that is next to impossible to obtain. In that case the answer is to reinforce the sleeve from the outside. A brass ring with a stepped bore is slid over the free end of the broken sleeve; a collar about 0.5 millimetres high bears against the sleeve axially, and the ring is bonded in place with epoxy resin. So that the ring will pass over the seat of the cork seal, that seat is first reduced in diameter and then brought back to its original dimension by the stepped bore. The width of the ring is dictated by the piston in its retracted position; around 0.3 millimetres of axial play stops the piston jamming at the end of its stroke. That restores both the anti-rotation function and the full piston stroke without sacrificing the glued-on filling knob. --- **Question:** Where can you find information on the internal construction of Montblanc fountain pens and as complete a survey of the models as possible? **Answer:** Montblanc does not release technical documentation to the public. Detailed photographs and drawings of the individual parts do exist, but they stay in the internal domain of the factory and its authorised dealers. How the twist mechanism of a Bohème or the innards of a special edition are actually put together can therefore only be worked out from pictures of dismantled examples that collectors and workshops occasionally publish, such as those of a stripped-down 146 from the 1950s. Taking an intact pen apart yourself is not to be recommended: many joints are press-fitted or glued and cannot be separated without special tools and without damage. On the models themselves, Rösler's collector books are the standard work. They contain an almost complete survey of the models produced and, in the appendix, systematic compilations of shapes, caps, cap rings and clips that also help in identifying unknown pieces and in recognising fakes. A complete list of every writing instrument ever made, issued by the manufacturer, does not exist; even the collector literature expressly claims no more than to be nearly complete. --- **Question:** What is the Montblanc Meisterstück 145 Special Anniversary Edition of 1999, and what is the difference between a Special Edition and a Limited Edition? **Answer:** The Special Anniversary Edition appeared in 1999 to mark 75 years of the Meisterstück and was made in that one year only. Compared with the standard model it had a specially designed nib, an additional ring on the cap and more elaborate packaging; a CD came with it. The premium was modest, around 20 euros at the time. So it really is a Special Edition and not a relabelled standard model. To be distinguished from this are the 145s that Montblanc has repeatedly sold with something thrown in, sometimes a Chopin recording, sometimes a CD by Plácido Domingo or Lang Lang. These are ordinary production pens; the extra served to boost sales and does not turn the pen into a special edition. The names Chopin and Mozart likewise stand not for editions but for sizes: Chopin means the 145, Mozart the smaller Meisterstück models. A Special Edition and a Limited Edition are two different things. A Special Edition is limited only in time; how many were made remains unknown. A Limited Edition is limited in number, and the size of the run appears on the pen itself, in a form such as 0123/1924. Where such numbering is absent, it is not a Limited Edition, whatever the box or the sales blurb may imply. --- **Question:** What period does a Montblanc piston filler with the cap engraving 242 F and a 14C 585 gold nib date from, and where was it made? **Answer:** The model 242 was built from 1950 to 1954 and, like every Montblanc writing instrument, came from the works in Hamburg. The marking on the cap end is to be read in two parts: the number identifies the model, the letter after it the nib width, F standing for a fine nib. The imprints 14 C and 585 on the nib denote the same material in two notations, namely 14 carat gold with a fineness of 585 parts per thousand; that was the firm's usual nib alloy in this period. Value depends far less on age than on condition. What counts is a piston mechanism that runs freely and seals, a body free of cracks, undamaged cap rings and an undamaged nib with its iridium tip intact; it also matters whether nib and pen belong together. Replaced parts, nibs reground after the event and cracks in the material push the price down appreciably. A dependable assessment can therefore only come from examining the particular pen, not from the model number alone. --- **Question:** Do a serial number on the clip and a Germany engraving prove that a Montblanc ballpoint is genuine, and how can authenticity be established beyond doubt? **Answer:** No. Serial numbers, country markings such as Germany and other engravings are no proof of authenticity, since they can be imitated just as readily as the pen itself; fakes routinely carry complete numbers and imprints. Conversely, older originals have no serial numbers at all, as Montblanc has only been allocating them since the early 1990s. The only telling evidence is the execution as a whole – shape, fittings, rings, clip, surface finish and writing unit – compared against a reliable model survey. A combination of colours or materials that never existed in the edition concerned rules out an original, even if the mechanism and the overall look seem right at first glance; that applies, for example, to pieces modelled on a Muses Edition but turning up in a silver-and-gold combination that was never made. The question can only be settled bindingly by the manufacturer. Montblanc accepts pens for examination, usually for a handling fee, and then issues a legally binding statement. This is particularly advisable where a purchase is to be unwound. Nor is provenance as a gift from a business contact any proof of authenticity, since that is precisely the route by which copies often enter circulation unnoticed. --- **Question:** What does it cost to have a dirty Montblanc Meisterstück 144 cleaned and overhauled, and how does the factory service work? **Answer:** Montblanc charges for repairs at fixed flat rates. For cleaning and overhauling a used Meisterstück with no parts replaced, the lowest band was charged in 2012, shown on the invoice as flat rate 1, at 42 euros including VAT and return carriage. Higher figures, and amounts up to about 130 euros are quoted, apply to work in which components have to be replaced or the body and fittings refinished. What is binding is always the estimate the factory draws up after inspection; the work is only carried out once that amount has been paid in advance, so the repair can still be declined after the quotation. The pen is best sent straight to the service department in Hamburg. Handing it in at a dealer or a boutique is possible, but lengthens the journey and may incur additional handling and carriage costs. Doing the job yourself soon reaches its limits: if ink has stood in the pen for years, even a bath of several weeks in water is often not enough, because dried residues are lodged in the feed and on the piston seal. A typical sign of this is a pen that only writes while you wind the piston forward and push ink through by hand. --- **Question:** How do you get a Montblanc 144 that has lain unused for years, with a seized converter, working again, and what should you look for when buying second-hand? **Answer:** Dried ink is the commonest reason why a cartridge pen left standing for a long time no longer works. If the converter will not turn, leave it for about an hour in hand-warm water; the piston will then almost always free itself and the residues can be rinsed out. Nib, section and feed are then flushed through until no more colour shows on a paper towel, since old ink sits deep in the channels of the feed. Hot water and solvents are to be avoided, as they attack precious resin and glued joints. If the converter seals again afterwards, there is no need to replace it. When buying a used 144, two points above all need settling: whether the nib is straight and unbent, and whether the precious resin is free of cracks, which form by preference at the cap lip and at the threads. Dirt and dried ink, by contrast, are not defects but a matter of a little patience. In classified ads, 144s from the 1980s occasionally turn up under the wrong maker's name because the seller does not know the model; the cap star, the engraving on the cap ring and the nib settle that reliably. In 2014 one such pen, in good external condition, changed hands for 20 euros, well below the going rate at the time. --- **Question:** What causes a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 to skip when writing quickly, and how can it be cured? **Answer:** Skipping at speed is not normal on a 146. As a rule the cause lies with the nib, the feed, the paper or the way the pen is held. On the nib the problem shows up as misalignment: the tines do not lie exactly level with one another, one sitting slightly higher, and the film of ink breaks when the pen is moved quickly. A specialist dealer or the factory service will correct this by careful bending; on a newly bought pen an exchange is also worth considering. In the feed, old dried residues slow the flow, and here a thorough flush or a complete clean does the job. Conversely, brand-new feeds need a certain running-in period before the flow becomes even. As for paper: lightly sized, absorbent paper such as plain copier paper soaks up a great deal of ink and makes the flow look meagre; on better-sized writing papers, Clairefontaine for instance, the impression often disappears. That leaves the writing grip: oblique nibs in the widths OM, OB and OBB write cleanly only at a particular angle and skip if the pen is held differently. Many writers never get on with them, which is why Pelikan, for one, dropped such nibs from its range. Before exchanging a pen, then, it is worth checking which nib designation is stamped on the nib face. --- **Question:** What period does a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 with an unribbed ink window date from, and which ballpoint and pencil go with it? **Answer:** A 146 with a continuous, unribbed ink window typically dates from the 1980s. The nib gives a further pointer: two-tone nibs, that is gold nibs with a rhodium-plated panel, only appeared at Montblanc at the start of the 1990s. If a pen from the 1980s has such a nib, it was fitted later, usually in the course of a repair at the factory. That is not a defect and does not affect use, but it should be taken into account when valuing the pen as a collector's item. Matching companion pieces were available in the 1980s in one size only, namely the ballpoint now listed as the Classique 164. Since the 146 has borne the name LeGrand, Montblanc has offered companions of the same size: the 161 ballpoint and the 167 propelling pencil. If you are after a set of fountain pen, ballpoint and pencil that looks all of a piece, take those two; if you prefer the slimmer shape in the hand, stay with the 164. In period terms the 164 is in any case the better match for a pen from the 1980s. --- **Question:** How durable is the rubberised surface of the Montblanc StarWalker Rubber Line in everyday use? **Answer:** The rubberised surface of the StarWalker Rubber Line is reckoned unproblematic in everyday use. There was isolated criticism of the rubber compound on the earliest production runs; Montblanc revised that compound several times, so that no complaints worth mentioning have come to light on later examples. Pens from the first years of production show at most minor scuffing on edges and cap after years of regular use, while the coating remains sound elsewhere. Wholesale peeling or a sticky surface is not the rule where the pen is stored sensibly. Ballpoints, rollerballs and accessories such as key fobs from the Rubber Line likewise survive prolonged heavy use without conspicuous marks. To be kind to the surface, keep the pen on its own in a case and away from solvents, greasy skin creams and sustained heat, since rubberised finishes react more sensitively to these than precious resin or metal. Light wear on an older piece is normal and in itself no grounds for complaint. --- **Question:** Until when did Montblanc stamp the model number 146 into the cap ring, and how precisely can a pen be dated by it? **Answer:** The model number stamped into the cap ring is a dating feature, though a blunter one than is often assumed. The “146” stamp was used until roughly the end of the 1990s; it is therefore no evidence whatever of manufacture in the 1970s, it merely puts an upper bound on the period. When further models such as the 147 and the 166 came along during the 1990s, marking by number was dropped. The same applies to the Solitaire variants, which were first supplied with the number in the ring and later without it. A Meisterstück 146 or a Solitaire of that size with the number stamped therefore dates from before this marking was phased out, a pen without the stamp from after it. For a closer placing, other features have to be brought in: the form of clip and cap ring, the engraving and alloy of the nib, the design of the ink window, the shape of the feed and the material of the body. Combined with dated catalogue illustrations, this will usually narrow things down to a window of a few years. --- **Question:** What did the Montblanc Anniversary Edition “75 Years of Passion and Soul” cost on release, and what prices does it fetch now? **Answer:** The Anniversary Edition “75 Years of Passion and Soul” was issued to mark 75 years of the Meisterstück and thus belongs to the firm's anniversary releases, which appeared in limited numbers and with special appointments. By collectors' accounts the issue price was around 845 euros. In the collector trade the edition was changing hands at some 1,000 to 1,250 euros as of 2012, well above the issue price. Figures of that sort are no more than indications, however: what is decisive is the state of preservation, completeness with original case, certificate and papers, and the question of whether the pen has been used and filled with ink. Unused, complete examples regularly fetch a good deal more than carried pieces without their accessories, and individual auction results cannot be generalised into a firm market value. Anyone looking to sell or to insure is better guided by several results for comparable pieces over a longer period. --- **Question:** Does a converter fit a Montblanc Meisterstück Le Grand 146, and how do you get hold of spare parts for the piston mechanism? **Answer:** The Meisterstück Le Grand 146 is without exception a piston-filling pen. You turn the piston knob at the rear end, the piston travels down, the nib is dipped in the ink, and winding back fills the barrel. A converter is neither necessary nor suitable for this; there is no Le Grand version into which a converter unit could be fitted. The 147 Traveller in the same range is, conversely, a pure cartridge pen, and no converter fits that either. If the barrel of a 146 visibly ends at a thread and the mechanism is missing altogether or has broken off, that is a fault, not a missing accessory. As a matter of policy Montblanc does not supply spare parts to customers, partly to prevent complete pens being assembled from components. A damaged or missing piston mechanism can therefore only be replaced through the factory's customer service or through a workshop specialising in Montblanc. The sensible course is to send the pen in and have an estimate drawn up first. Replacing a piston mechanism is a routine job and has in practice cost a good deal less than the figures of several hundred euros sometimes mentioned; only with the estimate in hand can you decide whether repair makes sense in relation to the market value. --- **Question:** How do you spot fraudulent Montblanc online shops, and what can be done about offers of that kind? **Answer:** There are hundreds of sites on the web that appear to offer the entire Montblanc range at a fraction of the usual prices, under German domains as much as under every other suffix. The tell-tale signs are missing or incomplete company details, an implausibly wide range with three-figure quantities in stock for practically every item, prices far below market level, and a domain that cannot be traced in the relevant registries. What sits behind them is almost never a dealer but a fraudster: goods ordered are never delivered, payment details are harvested, or malware is distributed. The same racket runs in electronics and fashion. In legal terms there is little to be done about such sites, since the operators stay anonymous and the domains are short-lived. About the only useful step is to pass the address on to the manufacturer, who can act against the misuse of its trade mark. Anyone who wants to buy safely goes to an authorised dealer or a boutique; anyone looking for a better price is far better served by the established auction platforms with their buyer-protected payment routes. The old rule of thumb still holds: if an offer looks too good to be true, something is wrong with it. --- **Question:** May authorised Montblanc dealers sell older collector's pieces above list price, and what does the price tell you about the pen? **Answer:** The price quoted by the manufacturer is a recommendation and nothing more; what a pen actually sells for is the dealer's decision. It is therefore not unusual for specialist shops, and even Montblanc boutiques, to offer long-standing stock well above or well below that recommendation. Prices run above it above all for sold-out Limited and Special Editions that are traded as collector's pieces: a Frankfurt shop had a Writers Edition Proust ballpoint ticketed at 1,000 euros in 2006. They run just as far below it when remaining stock is cleared; the last pieces of the Jungle Eye Collection in the Hamburg boutique were reduced by 60 per cent at the time. Dealers are equally free to part with items of their shop fittings, such as the duplicate inkwell sets properly intended for display on the premises; one such set was offered for 295 euros in 2006. For buyers the message is this: a price above the recommendation says nothing about authenticity, age or quality, only something about how the dealer reads demand. With editions that are out of production it is worth checking current collector's prices; with current stock, the valid price list. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc with the barrel of a 136 and the cap of a 244 be original, and what does that mean for its value? **Answer:** A combination like that is not an original state but a pen assembled from the parts of two, known among collectors as a “frankenpen”. The barrel of the 136 belongs to the Meisterstück line of the 1930s and 1940s, the cap shape of the 244 to the 1950s, so there are some fifteen to twenty years between the two parts. Such pairings usually came about because the original cap had broken or been lost and whatever fitted reasonably well was put on in its place. The barrel can be identified from its shape and imprint, the cap from its shape, cap ring and clip; proportions that do not match at the joint, and a cap that does not sit flush, are further pointers. To a collector such a pen is worth appreciably less than one preserved in its original form, and it should always be described explicitly as a composite when sold, all the more so if the nib is damaged into the bargain. Anyone wanting to make the two pens whole again will find matching caps, barrels and nibs most readily at collectors' fairs and by swapping with other collectors. Celluloid bodies call for care: polish only very gently, and remember that the cork seal of the piston dries out in long storage. Collectors therefore keep it damp with distilled water now and then; the better long-term answer is to have the seal renewed by a specialist workshop. --- **Question:** Is the Montblanc StarWalker fountain pen a cartridge pen and nothing else, or can a converter be fitted as well? **Answer:** The StarWalker fountain pen leaves the factory as a cartridge pen. A piston converter can be retrofitted to some of the versions, though not Montblanc's own converter: that one is too thick for the StarWalker's slim barrel. Individual converters from other makers with a smaller diameter will go in, and only trial and error will establish which converter fits which version. On some StarWalker versions the design deliberately rules out fitting a converter at all. In everyday use there is a good deal to be said for the cartridge in any case. Filling a converter means dipping the pen into the ink past the section, and the StarWalker's fluted section picks up ink that lodges in the grooves and is hard to remove completely; the result is stained fingers while writing. Anyone unwilling to give up bottled ink does better to refill empty cartridges with a syringe, which avoids dipping the section altogether. --- **Question:** Can the date of manufacture of a Montblanc Meisterstück be established from the serial number? **Answer:** No. The serial number Montblanc stamps into the clip ring follows an internal code that has never been published. Only the manufacturer can decipher it; collectors cannot derive a production date from it, and enquiries to customer service do not as a rule yield the year of manufacture either. Anyone wanting to pin down the period has to work from design features. The most telling of these are the filling system, the form of the clip and cap rings, whether a model number is stamped into the cap ring, the execution of the star in the cap crown, the engraving and the alloy of the nib — 585 or 750 gold, in one colour or two — and the material of the body. Set against the collectors' literature, in which the models are arranged by production period, these will usually narrow things down to a window of a few years. It becomes exact to the year only where a receipt, a guarantee card or a dated dedication engraving survives. --- **Question:** Were Montblanc Solitaire writing instruments in the Le Grand size also made as rollerballs or ballpoints? **Answer:** In the Le Grand size the Solitaire models were made above all as fountain pens. Rollerballs existed too, but only until 2002 and not in every Solitaire finish; they are documented for Sterling Silver and for Vermeil among others. Ballpoints and propelling pencils, by contrast, were never offered in this size. A gold-coloured Solitaire rollerball in Le Grand size is therefore perfectly possible, a ballpoint of the same size is not, and an offer of one should give a buyer pause. One case remains unresolved, that of the Stainless Steel range: when the series was first presented in the trade press, a rollerball in Le Grand size was pictured, yet it appears in none of the later catalogues and hardly anyone has ever seen one. It was presumably planned but never went into production. Before buying, then, it is worth checking size and finish against period catalogues and measuring the length, because the difference between Classique and Le Grand is easily missed in photographs that offer nothing to judge the scale by. --- **Question:** How do you identify the model range of a Montblanc from the 1970s and 1980s when no number is engraved on it? **Answer:** On many Montblanc pens of those years the model number appears nowhere at all; it was primarily an internal order number and is stamped into the cap ring on only some of the models. Identification from a verbal description alone therefore rarely succeeds. What does work is comparison with pictures: length and diameter, the shape of the cap, the form of the clip, the colour of the fittings, the filling system — cartridge pen, piston filler or push-button filler — and the execution of the nib together give a picture that can be matched to a model range. For the models of the 1970s and 1980s the collectors' literature, above all the standard work “Collectible Stars”, offers an almost complete survey; without a reference of that kind one gets nowhere. A visit to a collectors' meeting or fair also helps, since a pen can there be compared directly with known examples. In placing a pen it is worth remembering that until the early 1990s Montblanc served the whole market, from the plain school pen up to the Meisterstück, and only afterwards concentrated on the upper end. Many pens of that period are well made yet fetch low collector's prices, so that a restoration often does not pay for itself. There are no spares stocks for models decades old; in case of doubt a donor pen has to be stripped. Where a nib leaks or no longer starts, a thorough flush with water is worth trying before any thought of repair. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model has a brushed aluminium cap, a wire clip ending in a plastic ball and a plastic thread? **Answer:** That description fits the Montblanc “Turbo” of the 1970s, a plain school and everyday pen. Its hallmarks are the cap and the rear part of the barrel in brushed aluminium, the star on a hemispherical plastic mount at both ends, an unshaped clip of round wire ending in a plastic ball, and a stainless steel nib. The Turbo took standard cartridges, and an ordinary converter could be fitted as an alternative. The weak point in the design is the joint between section and barrel: the plastic thread of the section screws into the metal part and strips easily if the pen is opened often, which is why faulty examples are common. Models of this kind are explained by the company's history. Until around 1991 Montblanc covered the entire range from the very cheapest school pen up to the Meisterstück, and only then positioned itself exclusively as a maker of high-quality writing instruments. A Turbo is accordingly not a Meisterstück and never bore comparison with one, whether in material, nib or finish. On the second-hand market these mass-produced models are correspondingly cheap. Even simple 1970s models with a gold nib, a 121 for instance, were changing hands for around 20 euros in 2011, so that a replacement in good condition is usually a better bet than a repair. --- **Question:** Is there a reliable list of features by which a genuine Montblanc Meisterstück can be identified beyond doubt? **Answer:** No honest list of the “an original always has this feature” kind can be drawn up. Fakes are revised continually and take over precisely those features by which originals used to be identified with confidence. That applies, for instance, to the “Pix” imprint under the clip of ballpoints, long regarded as a dependable mark of authenticity and now to be found on fakes as well. Such a list would therefore feign a certainty that cannot exist where fakes are concerned. The reverse approach makes more sense: collect the known marks of fakery and check a pen for deviations in finish, weight, the feel of the materials, engraving, fit and design, ideally in direct comparison with a pen of the same line known beyond doubt to be genuine. Differences in marking are not automatically suspicious: that a ballpoint additionally carries “Pix” while a rollerball does not is perfectly normal, since “Pix” is a traditional Montblanc designation for ballpoints. The execution of the threads likewise varies between lines and years of manufacture and proves nothing in itself, one way or the other. Anyone who needs certainty, before an expensive purchase or with an inherited pen, should have it appraised by the manufacturer; only there can authenticity be established bindingly. --- **Question:** Were Montblanc ballpoints given away as promotional gifts, with a newspaper subscription for instance, and how should such pens be regarded? **Answer:** Yes. Until the early 1990s Montblanc had as broad a range as the other large German makers and produced everything from the plain school pen to the high-quality writing instrument. Ballpoints in the lower price brackets were correspondingly widespread and were used as advertising vehicles too. Montblanc ballpoints are known carrying the imprints of newspapers and magazines, among them the masthead of a national daily. That pens of this kind were handed out as an incentive for a subscription is the obvious inference, but in the individual case it can hardly be documented now. Later on there were again comparatively inexpensive series intended from the outset for corporate customers: the pens of the Scenium range were expressly conceived as a corporate gift, yet were also sold through the trade in the ordinary way. To collectors, promotional versions are a mixed blessing. A company or newspaper imprint markedly reduces the value of an ordinary model, but it also turns the pen into a document of its time, and for collectors interested in the brand's earlier position in the market that is precisely its appeal. An imprint of this kind is not in itself any indication of a fake. --- **Question:** What can be done when the lower sheets of a Montblanc organiser slip as it is closed and the punched holes wear through? **Answer:** The trouble arises with ring-bound organisers in A5 and A6 when the block of inserts is too thick, or when the sheets are not sitting centrally as it closes: the bottom pages no longer slide back, the cover pushes them outwards, the punched holes tear through and plastic dividers get bent. Three things help. First, do not overfill the block; from the diary insert only the months actually needed and keep the rest separately. Second, hold the organiser upright for a moment as you close it, so that the sheets hang down and settle towards the middle of their own accord, and only then fold it shut. Third, plastic dividers slightly wider than the inserts are a great help: they enclose the block like a wrapper and protect the punched holes in the paper. Before closing, pull the rear, wider sheet back outwards and fold the block over onto the front sheet; nothing then needs straightening from the outside. Dividers of this sort also have reinforced holes with a little play and do not wear out themselves. Holes that have already torn can be secured with self-adhesive reinforcement rings; badly damaged inserts are best replaced. Suitable inserts are available in the same format from other suppliers as well as from Montblanc itself. --- **Question:** Is it normal for the piston knob of a Montblanc Solitaire to turn almost a full revolution without resistance? **Answer:** A certain amount of free play is deliberately built into the piston mechanism. Once the blind cap has been released nothing happens at first; only after not quite a full turn does the mechanism take hold perceptibly and the piston begin to move. This idle phase prevents the piston from being operated unintentionally and ink from being forced into the cap or the section. It occurs whatever the ink level and is not a defect. What does need checking is the blind cap itself, the head of the piston mechanism. It must tighten down far enough to sit securely and not turn of its own accord in use. If it can no longer be tightened, or spins on without reaching a stop, there is a fault. On a pen less than a year old that is plainly a matter for complaint, to be handled through the dealer or the factory service department. Attempting a repair yourself is not advisable: the mechanism is easily damaged in the process, and any warranty claim is lost. --- **Question:** How do you get a Montblanc fountain pen that has been stored dry for decades writing again without damaging it? **Answer:** A pen that has gone unused for a long time will as a rule fail to start because dried ink has blocked the feed and the slit of the nib. Before any treatment, establish what the body is made of. On models in plastic or precious resin, as they have been since the 1960s, patient soaking is usually enough: unscrew the section with nib and feed and stand it nib-down in a glass of lukewarm water for several hours, or overnight where the crust is heavy, keeping the filling mechanism out of the water. Afterwards rinse with clean water until no more colour comes away. With piston fillers you can instead draw water in and expel it again several times over. An ultrasonic bath speeds the cleaning up, but should be used only briefly and without heating. Older celluloid bodies call for caution. Celluloid does not take prolonged soaking: it can lose colour and gloss and warp, and the cork seal of an old piston filler suffers equally. Such pens should be cleaned only briefly and, if possible, dismantled, though better still by a workshop specialising in old writing instruments. If the nib stays dry after thorough cleaning, or ink seeps out at the section, the feed or the seal is damaged and nothing short of a proper repair will do. With an inherited pen carrying a dedication engraving that is almost always worth having done, whatever the bare collector's value. --- **Question:** What period does the Montblanc Carrera series date from, and what are the fountain pens and propelling pencils of the range worth? **Answer:** The Carrera series was made by Montblanc between 1971 and 1979. These were school pens, that is, inexpensive entry-level models, priced at the time a little above the comparable Pelikan school pens. It does happen that an unused example surfaces from old shop stock decades later: pens like these are traded as “new old stock” and fetch somewhat more than used ones, though that does not alter when they were made. In placing them it matters that Montblanc positioned itself consistently as a luxury-goods maker only from 1991. Before that the range, much as at Pelikan or Lamy, covered everything from the school pen to the Meisterstück. A Carrera is therefore not a luxury product merely because it says Montblanc on it. Prices are correspondingly low: the range was mass-produced, supply is still plentiful and the circle of interested buyers small, because to many collectors the 1970s are still too recent. Propelling pencils from the series were fetching some 30 to 45 euros in 2015. Collectors report that Carrera fountain pens could still be had for under 20 DM in the 1990s, so the level has roughly quadrupled since. A Carrera makes a perfectly good everyday pen; as an investment it is no use at all. --- **Question:** What period does a Montblanc set of a 284 ballpoint and a fountain pen with a 585 nib date from, and what do the numbers mean? **Answer:** Ballpoints of the 284 range and the fountain pens that go with them date from the 1970s. On these pens the model number is engraved in the cap ring, and the 585 hallmark on the nib denotes a gold content of 14 carat. Sets of this kind belonged to the better everyday range rather than to the Meisterstück line: Montblanc positioned itself as a pure luxury-goods maker only from 1991 and until then produced the whole spread from the school pen upwards. The collector's value is accordingly limited; as working pens they can be used every day with a clear conscience. Care is needed when the number on the cap ring cannot be matched to any known pen. Over the decades caps were frequently swapped, or replaced after a breakage with one from another model, so that cap and barrel no longer belong together. If the number leads nowhere, it is worth checking against the related lines of the same years, the 224 as a piston filler and the 224P as a cartridge pen for instance. For writing, a cap from another pen makes no difference; on sale it reduces the value. --- **Question:** Which Meisterstück model is a Montblanc fountain pen measuring about 12.5 centimetres without its cap? **Answer:** A Montblanc fountain pen measuring about 12.5 centimetres without its cap is as a rule a Meisterstück 146, which Montblanc sells under the name LeGrand. Capped, the model comes to around 14.5 centimetres. Since catalogue and dealer figures almost always quote the closed length only, a pen without its cap has to be identified from the length of the barrel, the diameter, the ink window and the piston knob. For comparison: the 149 is markedly larger in both dimensions and has a noticeably thicker barrel, while the Classique 145 is clearly slimmer and shorter. The number and width of the cap rings and the lettering on the nib give further clues. If a replacement cap is being sought, identifying the model exactly is crucial, since the caps of the different sizes are not interchangeable: threads, diameters and ring widths all differ. Replacement caps can be had through the Montblanc service department and from dealers specialising in old writing instruments, though for the older years of manufacture not always at short notice. --- **Question:** Which models were there in the Meisterstück Solitaire Stainless Steel I line, and why was it superseded by Steel II? **Answer:** The Meisterstück Solitaire Stainless Steel I line has been out of the range since the 2000s and can now be found only on the collectors' market. In the Classique size there were the fountain pen, the ballpoint, the pencil in 0.7 and in 0.5 millimetre lead, and the rollerball; in the larger LeGrand version only the fountain pen was offered. The smooth, unengraved stainless steel surface is held to be the treatment that appeals most to the purists among Montblanc collectors, but in daily use it was extraordinarily sensitive: every fingerprint showed at once. Since Montblanc builds its pens expressly to be written with and not for the display cabinet, the series was reworked. The successor line, Steel II, was given a laser engraving on the surface yet, unusually, kept the identification numbers of its predecessor. The two series therefore cannot be told apart by the number, only by eye. A related alternative in design terms, with a similarly smooth and likewise very rare surface, is the Black Pearl range. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc pen stamped W-Germany and carrying no identification number be dated? **Answer:** The stamp “W. Germany” or “W.-Germany” on the cap ring marks a pen out as a product of the period before 1990, made in the Federal Republic before reunification. After that the “W” for West was dropped, and the engraving has read simply “Germany” ever since. The reverse does not follow: “Germany” on its own is no reliable proof of a recent pen, since both spellings already occur side by side in the 1980s. A second dating feature is the individual identification number, which Montblanc has laser-etched onto its pens only since about 1990. If it is missing altogether, that too argues for an older pen, and equally so whether the pen is a fountain pen, a ballpoint or a rollerball. For a finer placing within that span, only the shape, the number and width of the cap rings, the lettering on the nib and the mechanism will take you any further. With production models an exact year cannot as a rule be established without a receipt; dating to the decade is both usual and honest. --- **Question:** Why do the box and the guarantee certificate of old Montblanc sets so often fail to match the pen lying inside? **Answer:** Where case, lifetime guarantee certificate and pen do not belong to the same date, the explanation often lies in Montblanc's service practice of the 1960s and 1970s: when an expensive repair was due, the firm would offer the customer the chance to trade the old pen in against a current model, setting the estimated repair cost against the purchase price. Many customers took the offer up but kept the old box and the old papers. Hence the cases and guarantee certificates of, say, a Meisterstück 744 of the 1950s that still turn up today with a considerably later pen inside. A typical case is the 1246P cartridge pen, built only between 1974 and 1977. In the old case with its rolled-gold papers it looks more valuable than it is, for it belongs to the ordinary everyday range rather than the top of the line. In valuing such a set, then, what counts is always the pen itself and not the packaging. The original case and papers keep their appeal if the model that belongs with them can be tracked down later. Reliable figures are in any case possible only when the condition can be judged with the pen in hand. --- **Question:** Why does the cap of an old 1930s Montblanc turn yellow-green when polished and smell sharp afterwards? **Answer:** Caps and barrels of Montblanc pens from the 1920s to the 1940s, the model 334 for example, are as a rule made of hard rubber. The material is deep black to begin with, but oxidises slowly under the influence of air and light and takes on a brown to olive-green tone in the process. The discoloration goes deep and cannot simply be polished away. Aggressive polishes and solvent-bearing polishing wadding attack hard rubber further: the colour shifts towards yellow-green and the material then smells sharply of plastic. First aid is to rinse the chemical off with water, but only briefly, since prolonged contact with water also promotes oxidation. Soaking for hours does more harm than good. On metal parts, a propelling pencil with an electroplated surface for instance, the same polishing wadding is usually harmless, which readily leads to false expectations. For hard rubber and other historic materials a mild polish such as Wenol is regarded as the right choice; collectors report that it is used at Montblanc itself. Polishes for acrylic, Displex among them, suit only current pens in precious resin and will destroy old surfaces. Many collectors deliberately leave well alone in any case, because an even patina is part of the character of an old pen, and a body lightened by polishing will darken again in time regardless. --- **Question:** Is a silver Montblanc ballpoint with a grain guilloche genuine if it carries only 925 and Germany and no identification number? **Answer:** A sterling silver ballpoint with a grain guilloche that carries no more than the 925 hallmark and the country marking Germany is in all likelihood an original from the 1980s. The fine grain guilloche was a common surface on the silver Solitaire pens at the time, alongside the better-known line guilloche with its continuous lengthwise lines. The absence of an individual identification number gives no grounds for suspecting a fake; it is a sign of age. Montblanc began laser-etching a number onto its pens only around 1990. As to the country marking, both forms occur on pens of that period, “Germany” and “W. Germany”, and no mark of fakery can be inferred from that either. A final judgement calls for sharp photographs of the clip, the inlaid star, the ring engraving and the mechanism, since the clip of all things gives copies away most reliably. If nothing there stands out and the hallmark and weight of the silver body are as they should be, there is nothing to argue against an original. Minor wear reduces the value far less than it does on collector's pieces in precious resin, because silver parts can generally be restored. --- **Question:** How do you tell the black Montblanc 320 and 221 fountain pens apart by their cap rings and nib markings? **Answer:** On the plain black Montblanc fountain pens of the 1970s, the number of cap rings is the most important distinguishing feature. A single ring engraved “MONTBLANC GERMANY” marks the simpler specification; together with a plain 585 nib this is as a rule a 320, made between 1971 and 1977. Two cap rings indicate the better version; if the nib additionally carries the Montblanc logo and the marks “14k/ct” and “585”, that points to a 221, in production from 1971. The collectors' sources disagree about when production ended: for the 221 both 1979 and 1988 are given, with the line continuing in modified form into the early 1990s. Dating to the decade is therefore sounder than dating to the individual year. Both models belong to the everyday range of the years before Montblanc reinvented itself as a luxury brand. They are solidly built working pens with a gold nib, but they fetch only modest prices on the collectors' market. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc models are a ballpoint with one cap ring and a fountain pen with two, engraved W.-GERMANY? **Answer:** Both pens belong to the Classic series, which Montblanc ran as its everyday range in the 1970s and 1980s. The ballpoint with only one ring comes from the entry-level line and carries the number 380, later 13280. It was built from 1971 to 1986 and in 1985 cost the equivalent of a good 15 euros. The fountain pen with two rings belonged to the better-appointed version of the same series and has a 14-carat gold nib. As a piston filler it ran under the number 221 from 1971 to 1988 and in 1988 cost the equivalent of around 40 euros. From 1988 it was continued as a cartridge pen with a piston converter under the number 13121 and built until 1991; by the end its price stood at just under 100 euros. The engraving “W.-GERMANY” on the centre ring confirms a date before 1990; an individual identification number was not yet usual in those years, so its absence is nothing to worry about. Both models are modestly valued by collectors, but as working pens they have a reputation for being exceptionally tough and still make good everyday companions. --- **Question:** How can a faulty Montblanc 1266 be put back in order when the manufacturer no longer stocks spare parts? **Answer:** Montblanc's service department no longer holds spare parts for writing instruments of the 1970s such as the 1266. Sending one off to Hamburg in such cases usually means getting it back unrepaired, so the cost, the waiting time and, where it is shipped from abroad, the risk of losing it altogether can all be saved. These models can be repaired nonetheless, because the mechanism and the section are the same as those of the plain black Montblancs of the same years. Anyone able to lay hands on a suitable donor pen has the necessary parts in front of him. That is precisely the speciality of the independent workshops and dealers in old Montblancs, who keep stocks of such parts and will fit them. It therefore makes sense to look for a workshop within reach rather than send the pen halfway round the world. In Japan, Eizo Fuji in Tokyo is a well-known address for Montblanc models of the 1970s; in Germany several workshops specialising in vintage pens take on work of this kind. Before placing an order it is worth weighing the outlay against the value, since the plain production models of those years are not high-priced collectors' pieces. --- **Question:** What did the Meisterstück LeGrand 146 of the Platinum Line cost in 2010, and was it worth buying abroad? **Answer:** In 2010 the shop price in Germany of the Meisterstück LeGrand with platinum-plated trim, that is the 146 of the Platinum Line, was 510 euros including 19 per cent VAT. Prices abroad were higher at the time: in Dubai the same model was asking the equivalent of around 580 euros. Buying in Germany was thus the cheaper course even for customers living abroad, all the more so since buyers resident outside the European Union can reclaim the VAT on leaving. At that price this came to more than 80 euros, bringing the pen down to a good 430 euros in effect. The condition is that the export papers are made out at the time of purchase and stamped at the airport before departure, for which enough time should be allowed. The boutiques in the transit areas of the larger airports carry the standard Meisterstück models as well. This list price is a useful yardstick when placing second-hand examples, since used pens have always changed hands well below the price of a new one. --- **Question:** What does a replacement cap for a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 cost, and what rights does a buyer have when a crack has been concealed? **Answer:** A crack in the cap of a Meisterstück 146 is not a write-off. In 2007 Montblanc's service department in Hamburg charged a flat rate of 49 euros for a new cap; a written estimate can be requested and serves at the same time as evidence to put to the seller. Set against second-hand prices of a good 100 euros at the time for a complete pen, replacement is well worth it. If the damage was concealed at the time of sale, the buyer has the usual warranty rights against a commercial seller: he can demand that the defect be put right, that is repair or the supply of an undamaged cap, or he can ask for a reduction in the price. With a private seller, by contrast, warranty is usually excluded effectively, provided the defect was not fraudulently concealed. The right terminology helps as well, since it makes descriptions and complaints unambiguous: a pen has a cap and not a lid, the ring at the lower edge of the cap is the cap ring, and the grip at the front is the section. --- **Question:** What lies behind the Montblanc Jungle Eyes collection, and how does it relate to the Gift Collection of 2004? **Answer:** The Jungle Eyes did not originally belong to the Gift Collection at all, but to a jewellery collection of its own, which Montblanc probably brought out around 2002 and which is regarded as the successor to the Fairy Tale collection. Success was modest, and the series was correspondingly short-lived. Fountain pens and ballpoints were offered in the small Mozart size and in the Classique size, listed under the numbers 114 and 116 and 144 and 164 respectively. According to dealers' paperwork, and without guarantee, the list prices were about 545 euros for the 114, 435 euros for the 116, 595 euros for the 144 and 495 euros for the 164. What characterises them are the set coloured stones, mostly synthetic versions of citrine and tourmaline. The original collection ran to five colours: blue, yellow, green, red and violet. The remaining stock was later carried over into the Gift Collection of 2004, where it was worked up into new pens using different body parts; white and black stones were added, sold as Mother of Pearl and Onyx. The Jungle Eyes Onyx belongs to this late group. Distribution was tightly restricted: the Jungle Eyes were sold through the then still small number of boutiques and a handful of jewellers, the Gift Collection exclusively through selected boutiques in Germany and there for a few months only. The pieces are correspondingly scarce today. --- **Question:** Were Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire fountain pens ever fitted with single-tone platinum-plated 18-carat nibs? **Answer:** No. Fountain pens of the Meisterstück Solitaire line were supplied throughout with two-tone 18-carat gold nibs, that is with the familiar interplay of a yellow-gold ground and rhodium-plated decoration. That holds for versions such as the Solitaire Carbon Steel and the Solitaire Doué Signum as well; single-tone platinum-plated nibs are not known on these models. Single-tone, fully platinum-plated 18-carat nibs were used by Montblanc on other lines, among them Bohème models of 2004. Anyone finding such a nib on a Solitaire should therefore consider whether it was swapped at some later point. Changing a complete nib unit presents no technical difficulty on the Meisterstück models and is common enough after a repair; on a collector's piece, however, it detracts from originality and hence from the price achievable. --- **Question:** Why do older and newer nibs of the Meisterstück 149 differ in the way the platinum inlay is executed? **Answer:** The two-tone gold nib of the Meisterstück 149 has been decorated in different ways over time. On one older version the body of the nib is yellow gold towards the edges, while only the central area around the slit is platinum-plated. A more recent treatment takes its cue from the historical Montblanc nibs, on which a narrow silver-coloured band was laid into the yellow gold as an inlay. The widespread suspicion that the later variant saves platinum on grounds of cost does not hold up, according to collectors. A narrow, cleanly defined band is if anything more laborious to produce than plating the whole middle of the nib. The change was therefore a matter of design and is to be understood as a nod to the early nibs. The decorative variant plays a minor part in the value of a 149; what count are condition, year of manufacture, nib width and completeness. Anyone choosing between several versions is best guided by his own taste and, above all, by how the nib writes. --- **Question:** Which model is a Meisterstück Classique Gold-Coated with the ident number 106514, and what is the spring in the converter for? **Answer:** The Meisterstück Classique with gold-plated trim and the ident number 106514 is the 145 fountain pen, the smallest model of the classic Meisterstück range below the 146 and the 149. Montblanc once listed this model under the name Chopin; the name was later dropped in favour of the plain size designation Classique. The small coil spring lying loose inside the clear piston converter is not a fault but deliberate. It breaks the surface tension of the ink: without it, ink can cling to the rear end of the converter as the level drops, so that the pen stops writing although there is still a supply in it. There are converters without this spring as well; they are more prone to the problem. Current models do carry a serial number, it is merely placed discreetly: it is laser-engraved into the upper ring at the clip and consists of a sequence of letters and digits. Only Montblanc itself can read and trace this marking; for owners and collectors it serves above all as a mark of authenticity and identification, not as a date of manufacture. --- **Question:** Why do collectors prefer Montblanc pens whose certificate or service booklet has not been filled in? **Answer:** The service booklet supplied with the pen need be neither filled in nor stamped by the dealer. The guarantee does not depend on it but on the proof of purchase: keep the receipt and you are just as well covered should the pen need attention. A stamp therefore brings the buyer no additional advantage. For collectors, on the other hand, it is the untouched overall impression that counts. A blank booklet makes a set look as new and ties it to no particular dealer, no particular date and no particular first owner. On unused pieces passed on as mint, that increases demand and with it the price achievable. Conversely, a completed booklet can be useful, since it documents the year of purchase and the provenance, which is a help in judging authenticity, particularly on models that are frequently faked. There is no official explanation from the manufacturer for this collectors' preference; it rests on market habit. Anyone who means to use his pen himself has nothing to lose from a dealer's stamp. --- **Question:** How is a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 filled correctly, and is ink left standing in the feed afterwards normal? **Answer:** To fill, the piston knob is wound out as far as it will go, the nib then dipped about three-quarters of the way into the ink and the knob wound fully back in. Six to eight drops are then allowed to run back into the bottle, so as to flush surplus ink out of the feed. Only then is the pen lifted out of the bottle, nib upwards. A distinct drop left standing in the hollow at the beak-shaped end of the feed is normal and no sign that the filling went wrong. Anyone bothered by it dabs nib and feed from above and below with an absorbent, lint-free paper tissue. Wiping the nib on the rim of the ink bottle is not the done thing among collectors: it tends to spread the ink rather than take it up, and needlessly brings the soft gold nib into contact with a hard glass edge. On a two-tone nib, polishing leather should be avoided as well, since it can gradually rub through the light platinum plating. --- **Question:** Did Montblanc make a model No. 84 and a push-button filler No. 15, and what does an imprint such as “KX 125” on an early pen mean? **Answer:** The number 84 is a Montblanc designation that really was sold as such and no mark of a fake, even if the neighbouring 82 is far better known. The Montblanc push-button filler with the number 15, from the early 1920s, likewise existed. An imprint reading “KX 125”, by contrast, is not documented and probably rests on a misreading: the candidates are a size marking such as 12.5 or, more likely, the model number 126. The lettering itself is a further aid to dating, since the name Meisterstück was only stamped on from 1924 onwards. A pen carrying that imprint therefore cannot date from 1921, as is occasionally claimed of such pieces. The early Montblanc numbers are on the whole only patchily documented, so any attribution should always be checked against the nib, the filling system and the design of the cap as well. --- **Question:** Why does the cap ring of a Montblanc Ramses II carry the imprint “Meisterstück No 146” while the Nikolai does not, and why do the dimensions differ? **Answer:** Both pens are built on the Meisterstück 146, but they come from different phases of production. With the introduction of the 147 the 146 was slightly enlarged, because two cartridges had to fit into the barrel of the 147 and the sizes across the line were brought into line with one another. Since that change the cap rings no longer carry the model number; older pieces still bear the words “Meisterstück No 146”. A pen with the number on the cap ring thus dates from before the 147, one without that imprint from after it. Of the two special editions mentioned, both built on the 146, the Ramses II is accordingly the older model, which explains its slightly shorter cap and slightly shorter barrel. Small differences in dimensions are nothing unusual at Montblanc in any case: the 146 and the 149 were both altered in their measurements several times over the decades, and even individual special series vary in the size of their bodies. Nothing about authenticity can be inferred from this. --- **Question:** How can you tell that a rollerball offered as a Montblanc 145 “Chopin”, packaging and all, is a fake? **Answer:** The model designation alone gives such listings away. The number 145, colloquially known as the Chopin, denotes the fountain pen of the Meisterstück Classique line. A rollerball with that number never existed; within the Meisterstück line Montblanc lists rollerballs in the Classique and LeGrand sizes under numbers of their own. Checking whether the combination of model number and writing system on offer ever existed at all will expose many fakes from the description alone. The packaging and papers are telling too. A black star on a white box does not match Montblanc's presentation, and the Service Guide enclosed with fakes frequently contains a spelling error, such as “writing in struments” in place of “writing instruments”. Another common feature is a star in the cap top cut too sharply and too angularly, whereas the original shows softly and evenly rounded points. Where several such oddities come together, the pen is best left alone. --- **Question:** How do you work out the value of a second-hand pen collection, and what routes are there for selling it? **Answer:** The only figures that count are the prices actually realised for comparable pieces in comparable condition, not the often far higher sums asked in current listings. Anyone who takes such fantasy prices as his basis will overvalue his collection every time. Condition, the completeness of box and papers, and the question of whether a pen has been used, make a considerable difference. For individual high-value or hard-to-place pens there are valuations to be had for a fee, for instance from the circle around the standard work “Collectible Stars”; they are only worth it on correspondingly expensive pieces. When it comes to selling, convenience stands against proceeds. Dealers take pens on commission or buy them outright and keep a share for doing so, which as at 2010 was around 25 to 50 per cent of the value, at times more. In return, the photographing, describing and handling fall away, and good contacts can speed a sale up. Selling yourself, through an auction platform or at collectors' fairs, brings in more but means documenting every piece properly. Without telling photographs, an accurate description of condition and an idea of the price, no buyer will come forward, and if one does, then only with a hefty discount for the risk. --- **Question:** Why does something rattle in the barrel of an unused Montblanc Writers Edition Kafka, and does the pen need repairing? **Answer:** The noise almost always comes from the converter. In its ink chamber lies a small, loose metal spring, which moves with the pen and makes sure that the ink flows reliably down to the feed instead of clinging to the wall. In a dry pen that has never been filled, it knocks audibly back and forth when shaken. That follows from the way the converter is built; it is not a fault and no reason to send the pen in, let alone to open it up. Springs of this kind are found in practically every modern converter, other manufacturers' included. Pens with a true piston mechanism have no need of one, since there the piston itself travels through the reservoir; a piston filler accordingly rattles not at all. A rattle therefore says nothing about the quality of the pen, only about which filling system is fitted. --- **Question:** What refill widths are there for Montblanc rollerballs, and can a ballpoint refill be fitted instead? **Answer:** Montblanc offers its rollerball refills only in the line widths F and M; a broader version is not part of the range. Anyone wanting to write a heavier line must therefore change writing system, to a ballpoint with a broad refill, say, or to a fountain pen with a nib width to match. Ballpoint refills do not fit a rollerball. The two systems differ so markedly in length, diameter and the shape of the tip that the refills cannot be exchanged for one another, and the mechanism or cap construction of each body is matched to its own system. Whether suitable rollerball refills exist from other suppliers has never been settled; with ballpoints such alternatives certainly did exist, among them Fisher Space refills in a version for the Meisterstück. If in doubt, a specialist dealer will try a refill in the pen before you buy. --- **Question:** Was the Montblanc Carrera also made as a piston filler, or is there usually a converter in a pen of that kind? **Answer:** Montblanc built the Carrera both as a cartridge pen and as a piston filler, so both versions are original. The cartridge pen is by far the more common, and supposed piston fillers usually turn out to be precisely that, with a piston converter fitted. The two can be told apart with a glance inside the barrel. A converter sits loose where the cartridge would otherwise go and can be pulled off the nipple, in some cases with a certain amount of force; the pen can then be filled with standard cartridges as normal. A true piston filler, by contrast, has the filling mechanism built permanently into the barrel and is operated by a knob at the end of the barrel which cannot be removed. The tightness of the converter puts many owners off, but it is nothing to worry about as long as it is pulled straight and not at an angle. --- **Question:** Can a ballpoint refill be fitted into the body of a Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand 162 rollerball? **Answer:** In principle the conversion is possible. With a properly made adapter, a Montblanc ballpoint refill can be fitted into the body of the LeGrand rollerball, since the ballpoint refill has different dimensions from the rollerball refill and needs supporting inside the barrel. Ready-made adapters are not part of the accessories range; they have to be made up individually. In practice the solution seldom convinces. The rollerball is a capped model: every jotted note means unscrewing the cap, putting it down and finding it again, in the course of which it is easily lost, while the body, once set down, can roll off the desk, which leads to cracks in the precious resin. A twist ballpoint of the LeGrand line is a good deal handier in daily use and therefore the more sensible choice if one is going to write with a ballpoint refill anyway. The reverse course, putting a rollerball refill into a capless ballpoint body, is out of the question in any case, since such refills dry out and leak without a cap. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Scenium without the clip imprint “Germany Pix” a fake? **Answer:** No. Montblanc has confirmed on enquiry that Scenium pens were made for a time without the PIX stamp on the clip. That is remarkable in so far as the line only came on the market at the end of 2003, so the variation appeared within a few years of production starting. Two ballpoints of the same series bought one after the other can differ on this point without there being anything wrong with either. The imprint “Germany Pix” on the clip is therefore no use as a sole test of authenticity, in either direction: it is missing on documented originals, and conversely imprints can be imitated by forgers. To judge a pen one should draw on the finish, the feel of the materials, the execution of the star, all the engravings and the mechanism, supplemented by the receipt and any accessories that have survived. --- **Question:** Do current Montblanc rollerball refills also fit older models such as the Slimline and the Carrera? **Answer:** Yes. Nothing in the construction of Montblanc's rollerball refills has changed over the years apart from the thread. The refills available today can therefore be used in older rollerballs of the Slimline and Carrera lines, even though those models left the range long ago. In practice it is the only source, since refills from the period can no longer be had and would have dried out after so long in storage in any case. With ballpoints the case is different: there the diameter of the refill tip was increased in the 1970s, so that bodies from the 1960s will no longer take today's large-capacity refill. Before looking for a replacement it should therefore be established whether one is dealing with a rollerball or a ballpoint; the two are often confused among the slim models of those years. --- **Question:** How do you date a Montblanc Meisterstück 142 of the 1950s, and why is its ink window red rather than yellow? **Answer:** The ink window of the 142 was originally a transparent yellow and on many surviving pieces now looks reddish to brownish. This discoloration comes from decades of ink in the pen, which gradually stains the material. It is a normal sign of age and no indication of a part replaced later or of a fake. The small holes in the cap are original too: they serve to let air escape, a design by no means every manufacturer adopted. An exact year of manufacture cannot be determined on these models, though they can be placed roughly within the decade. One pointer is the feed: a flat feed indicates the early 1950s, a round one the end of the decade. The other is the stamping around the star on the nib. If it is ribbed, that argues for the early 1950s; if it is smooth, for the late ones. Both features are expressly no more than rough pointers and should be weighed together. --- **Question:** Where do you find a replacement for the feed sleeve of a Montblanc 146 damaged while unscrewing the nib? **Answer:** Montblanc releases spare parts neither to end customers nor to independent workshops, so a sleeve for the feed cannot be obtained through the normal channels. And even with a part from a donor pen to hand, what is generally missing is the special silicone sealant with which the sleeve is bedded leak-tight into the ink reservoir. Without that sealant the pen leaks inside the barrel, so repairing it oneself leads nowhere. The sensible route is the manufacturer's own service, which charges flat rates; the lowest service rate stood at 39 euros in 2005 and the work took a few weeks. As a precaution, the nib unit of a 146 should only ever be turned with light pressure and never with tools. If dried ink has seized it, a long soak of the section in water helps far better than forcing it round, in the course of which the collar of the sleeve breaks off. --- **Question:** Can other makers' refills or rollerball refills be fitted in a Montblanc StarWalker ballpoint? **Answer:** The StarWalker twist ballpoint is designed around Montblanc's own ballpoint refill, which differs in length, diameter and tip shape from the usual standard refills. Suitable alternatives from other manufacturers are not documented; standard refills from the stationer's, from Schneider for instance, will not simply drop in. That a refill out of a promotional ballpoint slides in mechanically does not mean it is intended to. Anyone going to a specialist dealer should take the pen along with its existing refill and have the dimensions compared. Least suitable of all are rollerball and so-called capless refills. They hold thin, free-flowing ink and dry out within a few days in a body without a cap; that accounts for refills which stop writing after a short time without actually being empty. The ink also runs out as soon as the extended tip meets fabric, leather or anything else. Rollerballs have a cap for precisely this reason, and capless models have a mechanism that prevents the tip being advanced by accident. The differing dimensions of the refills are deliberately chosen so that the systems cannot be interchanged. Anyone wanting to use a different writing system should reach for the appropriate body; the StarWalker is available as a liner and as a capped rollerball as well. --- **Question:** Was the Montblanc lapel pin in the shape of a 149 nib a promotional gift or an accessory sold in the normal way? **Answer:** The lapel pin in the shape of a Montblanc nib belonged to the regular accessories range and could be bought in the shops for some years; a promotional gift it was not. It disappeared from the range long ago and was certainly no longer available from the second half of the 2000s onwards. It can therefore only be acquired second-hand. Opinions differ as to how scarce the piece is. Some regard it as decidedly rare, yet several examples are to be found in individual collections, so a great rarity should not simply be assumed. One should therefore be slow to attribute a particularly high value to a chance find; what count, as always, are condition, above all surfaces free of scratches, and the presence of the original box. --- **Question:** How do you recognise a gold-plated Montblanc twist ballpoint of the Noblesse line, and what is its body made of? **Answer:** A slim, fully gold-plated twist ballpoint by Montblanc will as a rule come from the Noblesse line and not from the Meisterstück line; what settles the attribution above all is the shape of the clip. The body is brass with a rather thin layer of gold plating, which marks very easily and on used pieces often appears worn through at the clip, the cap rim and the middle of the barrel. Such wear follows from the way the pen is made and is no indication of a fake. The Noblesse was built in several successive series, at least three of them, differing in clip, cap ring and proportions. Which series a given piece belongs to can only be established by close comparison with documented examples; this attribution matters more to collectors than to the pen's usefulness. In none of its versions is the Noblesse a Meisterstück; the line was positioned as slimmer and less expensive. --- **Question:** Is a 1980s Montblanc 146 with a single-colour 14-carat nib already a LeGrand, and where do the differences in size from the 161 come from? **Answer:** A pen like that is simply a Meisterstück 146. The name LeGrand came in only during the 1990s, when Montblanc reorganised the sizes within the line: the barrel of the 147 Traveller had to be lengthened so that two cartridges would fit, and the 146 was brought into line with it. Only in that context did the remaining LeGrand writing instruments appear — ballpoint, propelling pencil, rollerball and document marker in the matching size. Before that there was no such correspondence. The ballpoint that went with the 146 in those days was the 164, which was not yet called Classique either. There is nothing odd, then, about a LeGrand ballpoint 161 measuring just under 148 millimetres and so coming out a few millimetres longer than an eighties 146 at around 142 millimetres; it is no sign of a wrong or foreign part. The diameter of about 15.5 millimetres is the same on both. The single-colour 14-carat nib likewise fits that production period. --- **Question:** Does the plastic Montblanc tube a pen is offered in prove that the pen is genuine? **Answer:** No. These plastic tubes are not retail packaging at all; they serve solely to send writing instruments to and from repair. One will therefore be in circulation for no better reason than that a genuine pen was once sent in for service, and any other pen can be slipped into it afterwards. As evidence of authenticity they are worthless; originals are supplied in a case or in the familiar outer box. What counts is the pen itself. The cruder fakes from Far Eastern production, which cost a euro or two new in their country of origin, give themselves away unmistakably to anyone who knows what to look for: the star, the clip, the engravings and the standard of finish. It also helps to name the writing system correctly. If a rollerball is being offered as a ballpoint and the model cannot be traced in the Montblanc range at all, that is a clear warning sign. A seller's tale of the pen having once been repaired in a Montblanc shop is no substitute for proof. --- **Question:** Why will today's large-capacity refills not fit a Montblanc ballpoint of the 1960s, and what can be done about it? **Answer:** Montblanc ballpoints of the 1960s already took the then-new large-capacity refill, but its writing tip was of smaller diameter than today's. In the 1970s the tip diameter was increased for the sake of a better writing performance. The front section of the older bodies therefore has a collar that narrows the bore, so that a current refill will go in only a few millimetres. For about ten years after the changeover Montblanc supplied replacement front sections free of charge, then stopped, on the assumption that no old ballpoints were still in use. That is why pens with too narrow a bore are surfacing again today, having lain unused for decades. Drilling the bore out is not to be recommended. The early plastics have lost most of their plasticiser and have grown brittle, and the surprisingly long brass core carries the frictional heat, so that the material distorts and usually cracks. The better answer is an adapter for a thick Euro-standard refill from Schmidt or Schneider: the writing tip of these fits the old front sections, while the rear end of the refill has to be adapted. Adapters of this kind used to be made up by collectors such as Jürgen Kuhse in Cologne for a small fee. The same thick Euro-standard refill can also be used in the so-called Ballograph Montblanc ballpoints of the 1950s, if its plastic end is cut off and filed round. --- **Question:** Which model is a Montblanc Bohème twist ballpoint with a guilloché barrel and an onyx in the clip? **Answer:** This version is a Bohème Doué from the group with light-coloured precious metal, and Montblanc lists it under the ident number 08586. Its distinguishing features are the guilloché barrel with a lattice pattern, the platinum-plated front section and the platinum-plated cone with the white star inlaid, rings that are likewise platinum-plated, and a clip set with an onyx. The refill is advanced by a twist mechanism. The engraved number on the clip, in a form such as “CD1042800 France”, is not the model number and is of no help in identification; a pen is placed by its specification, that is by material, decoration, the colour of the trim and the stone in the clip. The Bohème line was offered over many years in a great many variants, so that pens which look all but identical may differ only in the colour of the stone, the type of guilloché work or the colour of the trim. Comparison against a model listing is therefore essential. --- **Question:** Was the Meisterstück Solitaire LeGrand rollerball made in stainless steel as well, and in which versions was it actually supplied? **Answer:** A LeGrand rollerball with a stainless steel finish was pictured in a trade journal in 1999, but it never reached the shops. Montblanc did not introduce the Stainless Steel series until around 2000, so for 1999 there is no evidence of a stainless steel LeGrand rollerball at all. Anyone offered such a pen should examine it with corresponding scepticism; why the prototype in the photograph never went into production is not known. According to collectors, the Meisterstück Solitaire LeGrand rollerball was only ever supplied in vermeil with line guilloché, in vermeil Doué with a burgundy barrel, in sterling silver with line guilloché, in sterling silver Doué, and as the Ramses II and the Nikolai I; for the Nikolai I no platinum-plated version is known. Whether the silver and vermeil versions were also made with a grained guilloché has never been settled. --- **Question:** Does the Montblanc Arturo Toscanini carry a serial or limitation number, and when did Montblanc writing instruments start to be numbered? **Answer:** With Montblanc, a missing number is not in itself a mark of a fake. Special Editions and Limited Editions in particular often carry neither a serial number nor a consecutive limitation number. The Arturo Toscanini has neither; all that appears on the upper cap ring is the country of origin, Germany. A seller who looks and finds no number is thus describing the pen accurately. Serial numbers in the cap ring, which every recent Montblanc now has, only came into general use around 1990, and they reached the special editions issued in support of music and the arts later still. Collectors count the John Lennon and the Bach among the first pens in that series to carry a serial number, and the Brahms has one too. Whether individual earlier issues such as the Leonard Bernstein were already numbered has never been settled — as a Special Edition the Bernstein was in any case not limited and so not numbered through. The converse also holds: a number that is present proves nothing, since serial numbers and certificates are now forged as well. --- **Question:** How can the ink-clouded ink window of a 1950s Montblanc 149 be made clear again without taking the pen apart? **Answer:** The early 149s of the 1950s have a long celluloid ink window, which takes on colour from the ink over the years. As long as it is a matter of deposits on the surface, patient soaking will help: fill the pen right up with clean water using the piston, leave it to stand, and change the water every few weeks. It is a business of months, but in many cases it brings a clearly visible improvement, and it calls for neither tools nor dismantling. Where the ink has eaten into the celluloid, the damage is permanent. Windows in that state look evenly stained, often dark red; here even prolonged soaking achieves nothing, and the ink level stays unreadable. Harsh cleaners, solvents, alcohol and mechanical polishing are all strongly to be avoided, because celluloid reacts badly to them and can go dull, crazed or brittle. Anyone who does not feel confident about taking the pen apart should not attempt it: pens of this period are glued and press-fitted, and a broken barrel is far harder to replace than a cloudy window. --- **Question:** Who made the plain, brushed-matt two-colour twist ballpoint that Montblanc sold in the 1980s? **Answer:** This inexpensive brushed-matt two-colour twist ballpoint was part of the Montblanc range from the early to the middle 1980s, but it was not made in-house; it came from an outside supplier. It belongs, then, not among the Meisterstück pens but among the plain everyday writing instruments Montblanc still carried before it repositioned itself as a luxury brand. That also explains why it scarcely appears in the model listings collectors normally use. When Montblanc pared the range back to the Meisterstück lines, the machinery was sold to Lamy. Lamy went on making the same two-colour ballpoint with an unbrushed stainless steel body until after 2000; its final selling price there was under 20 euros. For the Montblanc version this means that it is an interesting document of the company's product history but not a sought-after collector's piece, and its market value is correspondingly low. --- **Question:** Was the Montblanc Bohème made as a four-colour ballpoint, and is a red Bohème ballpoint a limited edition? **Answer:** Montblanc never built a Bohème with a four-colour refill. The ballpoints of this line work without exception with a single standard refill; listings that promise a multi-colour mechanism are either describing a different model or are simply mislabelled. The words Limited Edition, applied to a red Bohème ballpoint, are as a rule sales talk too. The red Bohème was a regular catalogue model, not a limited run; it was merely taken out of the range at some point and was no longer available in 2016. A model being discontinued makes it neither a Limited Edition nor automatically more valuable. Genuine Limited Editions are announced as such by Montblanc and documented; visible numbering on the pen itself, however, is not obligatory, since special and collector's editions in particular often carry no number at all. --- **Question:** What is a Montblanc Noblesse Oblige rollerball worth, and how do you establish the value of an inherited Montblanc? **Answer:** No fixed figure can be put on a Noblesse Oblige rollerball, but experience shows it to be well below what heirs or recipients of a gift expect of the Montblanc name. The Noblesse does not belong to the Meisterstück line; it is one of the plainer everyday writing instruments built in large numbers. An unused example complete with case, original box and a guarantee certificate from 2006 makes little difference to that. The background lies in the company's history: Montblanc repositioned itself as a maker of luxury goods only in 1991. Before that the range ran from the inexpensive school fountain pen up to the Meisterstück, much as Pelikan's did. The brand name alone therefore says little about what a pen is worth; what matters is the model, its age, its rarity, its specification and its condition. A sound estimate is gained by following, over a period of some weeks, the prices comparable pens actually fetch, not the prices they are offered at. Paid valuations by third parties frequently cost more, with everyday models of this kind, than the pen itself is worth. If no sale is planned, the best thing to do with the rollerball is simply to use it from day to day. --- **Question:** Will a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 fit the Montblanc quiver and the Traveller case, and what are the latter's loops for? **Answer:** The quiver from the Montblanc accessory range, an Italian piece of leatherwork, takes even a 149 without difficulty, so a 146 sits in it with room to spare. Anyone looking for something sturdier than the flat cases is well served by it. The quiver was later dropped from the range and could be found for a while afterwards as residual stock at specialist dealers. The Traveller case will take a 146 as well: it is cut for the 147, and that pen matches the 146 exactly in its dimensions. One widespread misunderstanding concerns the loops on the inside — they are meant solely for the Traveller's ink cartridges, not for writing instruments. Since Montblanc has carried a whole series of different cases over the years, it is worth trying one at the dealer's with your own pen before buying; only then can you judge whether the pen sits firmly enough without jamming as it is drawn out or picking up scratch marks in time. In price the Montblanc cases are on a level with comparable makers — leather cases from Graf Faber-Castell, for instance, are no cheaper. --- **Question:** Now that the Montblanc Meisterstück 144 Classique is out of production, is it likely to rise appreciably in value? **Answer:** No. The 144 Classique, the small Meisterstück that runs on a cartridge or a converter, was built in very large numbers over several decades and discontinued around 2000. The end of production alone creates no scarcity: the second-hand market is amply supplied, and prices have moved at a modest level for years. With writing instruments, increases in value arise almost entirely from rarity — from a small edition, a special version in precious metal, an unusual nib grind, or a historically significant model in good original condition. Mass-produced models such as the 144 fall into none of these categories, however well regarded they are as everyday pens. A collection of ordinary Montblanc pens is therefore no use as an investment; anyone looking for a return is better served by the conventional forms of investment. Collecting should be done for the pleasure of the object — and on that score the 144, as a classic, certainly belongs in any Montblanc collection. --- **Question:** On a Montblanc 24, how is the press-fitted inner tube with the piston thread removed when the thread at the piston knob has broken off? **Answer:** On these small post-war Montblanc piston fillers the inner tube carrying the piston thread is not screwed in but press-fitted into the barrel. It can therefore be neither unscrewed nor prised out; force will as a rule damage the barrel. For the dismantling there is a special tool which clamps the piston knob and then allows tube and barrel to be drawn apart along their axis — the principle is that of a puller for roller bearings. Without this tool the repair can hardly be carried out sensibly. A pen with a broken piston thread therefore belongs with a workshop that specialises in old Montblanc piston fillers, where both the puller and the right spare parts are to hand. Makeshift solutions using parts from other models rarely answer: a piston knob from the larger 34 will screw into the 24, but it does not finish flush there and leaves a gap of several millimetres. Whether the upper barrel sections with the ink window are interchangeable between the models 22 and 24 has never been settled and should be checked before any parts are bought. --- **Question:** What is a Montblanc Pix 72, from what period does this push-button pencil date, and what lead diameter does it need? **Answer:** The Pix 72 is a post-war push-button pencil, made by Montblanc in large numbers, and as a sturdy everyday pencil it remains entirely usable today. It works with leads of 1.18 millimetres — an old size that has nothing to do with the 0.5 and 0.7 millimetre fine leads in common use now. Replacement leads in that diameter are still offered for historic push-button pencils, and the mechanism itself usually works reliably even after decades. Because it was so widely sold, the model is not a rare one for collectors, and that is reflected in the price. Versions with an unusual barrel material or with a precious metal overlay are rated more highly. A striking, pearlescent surface, though, can be neither confirmed nor placed without seeing the pencil, since alongside genuine special versions there are also later refurbishments and barrels from other pens. Reliable identification calls for good photographs, or for showing the pencil to an experienced collector or specialist dealer. --- **Question:** How do the Montblanc Classic and Generation series differ, and what age-related faults are typical of these cartridge pens? **Answer:** Classic and Generation are two consecutive series from the second line that Montblanc kept below the Meisterstück pens — clearly below them in quality and in price, but perfectly good everyday writing instruments for all that. The Classic is the predecessor of the Generation. The surest way to tell the two series apart is the cap top: on the Classic it finishes flat, on the Generation it is bevelled towards the clip. They are frequently confused with the older model 320 of the 1970s, which has a differently shaped grip section and a ring at the end of the barrel that Classic and Generation lack. On both series the body is made of a comparatively soft plastic and not of precious resin. It therefore picks up marks of use more quickly, and as it ages the plasticiser evaporates. The result is fine hairline cracks in the grip section, typically in the two side indentations above the nib. They let ink escape and leave inky fingers as you write. A grip section cracked in this way can hardly be sealed for good, which is why it is precisely this area that repays close inspection before buying. --- **Question:** Are internet shops that offer new Montblanc writing instruments at strikingly low prices trustworthy? **Answer:** No. Websites offering Montblanc pens far below list price and in a wide choice are almost without exception fraudulent. They exist in their thousands, disappear after a short time and reappear under a new name. Order from one and no goods will arrive; hand over card details as well and you must expect them to be misused. Some of these sites distribute malware into the bargain. The typical signs are extremely low prices, an implausibly complete range including editions that sold out long ago, product photographs copied from other websites, and invented customer reviews and testimonials. Often there is no dependable information about the company's address or about the right of return, or payment in advance is the only method accepted. New Montblanc stock can be had reliably only from authorised specialist dealers and from the manufacturer's own boutiques. The larger collectors' forums keep running lists of known fraudulent sites; a look at one of these before ordering saves money and trouble. --- **Question:** How is it that individual online shops offer Montblanc writing instruments below the recommended retail price? **Answer:** Montblanc sells its writing instruments through a tightly managed network of authorised specialist dealers and its own boutiques, and sets great store by the recommended prices being observed. Open online selling well below that level is not something the manufacturer wants. Offers of that kind, experience shows, come from dealers clearing residual stock or trading outside the intended distribution channels; such ranges usually vanish from the shop in question after a while, because Montblanc regulates who is supplied. A low price therefore does not necessarily make a seller disreputable, but it is reason to look at him more closely. What should raise doubts is a shop that also lists pens not available through the ordinary trade at all. The Solitaire Diamond, for instance, priced at the time at around 107,500 euros including VAT, is made only to order and sold exclusively through the boutiques; no dealer keeps such a writing instrument in stock. Anyone wanting to buy online does best to choose an established specialist dealer and, in case of doubt, to ask the manufacturer whether the seller is authorised. --- **Question:** What did the Montblanc Solitaire 1497 in 750 gold cost, why was it replaced by a two-tone version, and what is it worth today? **Answer:** The 1497 is the solid gold version of the 149: a Meisterstück piston filler in 750 gold with line guilloché, and thus the largest variant in the range made in solid gold. Its final shop price was exactly 4,950 DM, just under 5,000 DM. The figure of around 10,000 DM sometimes quoted for this model does not refer to the line guilloché version. The reason for the change was of the firm's own making. With the introduction of the Solitaire writing instruments in vermeil in 1992, a finish came into the range with virtually identical guilloché work at an incomparably lower price. To set the solid gold pens apart from it, Montblanc switched to a two-tone version with a matt white and yellow gold surface in a herringbone pattern. This cost almost twice as much and so reached the price region of 10,000 DM. A dependable market price can be derived only from what pens actually sell for, not from asking prices. For a 1497 in as-new condition, collectors reported in 2007 that around 2,500 euros was the upper limit of what experienced buyers were prepared to pay; the lower limit is in every case the bullion value of the gold alone. --- **Question:** How can the various generations of packaging for the Montblanc 149 be told apart, and do the pens themselves differ technically? **Answer:** Technically the 149 remained practically unchanged over a long period: examples from the late 1980s to the 2000s correspond to the current model, so the packaging is no indication of quality or specification. Anyone who means to use the pen can buy the cheaper option without hesitation. That does not hold for markedly older pens from the 1950s and 1960s, where the piston seal and the celluloid parts need checking for age. The black boxes were used from the late 1980s until 2006; there then followed, with a gradual transition that depended on demand for the individual nib widths, the new packaging introduced around the company's centenary in 2006. Throughout, the 149 had its own box, larger than that of the other writing instruments. Packaging of the standard size is therefore an indication that pen and box do not belong together. The black 149 box should also contain a bottle of ink with the special 149 label and blue-black ink; a bottle with the ordinary standard label has been put in later. This special packaging was never limited. There were, besides, standard 149s in limited packaging, for instance in aid of Unicef. --- **Question:** Was there ever a collaboration between Montblanc and Tiffany & Co., and how should Meisterstück pens with a Tiffany engraving be regarded? **Answer:** Montblanc did supply writing instruments to Tiffany & Co., as other makers did, and Tiffany then added its name or logo to the barrel or the clip. This marking was not commissioned by Montblanc and was done without its approval. The dispute that arose from it ended with Montblanc ceasing to supply Tiffany; there was accordingly never any official co-operation between the two houses. Among collectors such pens are, like all Montblancs with a name engraved or an advertising imprint added after the event, of little appeal. Engravings are regarded as collectable at most where they can be shown to have been carried out by Montblanc itself. A Tiffany imprint therefore does not increase the value of a Meisterstück; if anything it reduces it — even though examples of the kind are regularly talked up at auction as a special rarity, and do have a certain charm as curiosities of their period. --- **Question:** Will the rollerball refills of the Meisterstück LeGrand 162 and the small Meisterstück 163 each fit the other model? **Answer:** No, the two types of refill are not interchangeable. Montblanc lists its rollerball refills expressly in a LeGrand version and a standard version: the LeGrand refill belongs in the 162, the ordinary one in the smaller 163. Neither will work in the other's place, because the refills differ in their dimensions, particularly in diameter, and in the wrong body they either jam or fail to seat securely. Anyone who comes by larger quantities of the standard refills cheaply therefore gains nothing for a LeGrand, and conversely, leftover LeGrand refills cannot be used up in the small Meisterstück. When buying replacements it pays to read the designation on the packet closely — colour and line width alone are not enough. In case of doubt the old, used-up refill gives the most reliable answer, since its shape and length can be compared directly. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc leather case suits a fountain pen and a push-button pencil of LeGrand size? **Answer:** Over the years Montblanc has carried numerous leather cases in different lines, among them two- and three-pen cases that will take two writing instruments of LeGrand size without difficulty. For a pair consisting of a fountain pen and a push-button pencil the Sienna series was long the classic choice, and the Florence line was popular too. Both series were taken out of the range, but could still be had from specialist dealers as residual stock for a considerable time afterwards; it is therefore worth asking even when the current catalogue no longer lists them. One detail for collectors: on the older cases the star was set on a gold ground, on the more recent ones only platinum-plated. Anyone wanting trim to match the pen already owned should look at this before buying. In price the leather cases started at about 75 euros in 2006, with no upper limit for the more elaborate versions. Since the compartments are cut to different widths from series to series, it is in any event advisable to try the case at the dealer's with your own pen. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc Meisterstück 144 carry a serial number in the cap ring, and until when was the model made? **Answer:** Yes. Montblanc began around 1990 to mark its writing instruments with a serial number in the upper cap ring. The 144, the small Meisterstück, went on being built well beyond that point and was not discontinued until around 2000. A serial number on this model is therefore no argument against the identification; it merely dates the pen to the period after 1990. Older 144s without a number are just as original. Conversely, a serial number is no proof of authenticity, since numbers, certificates and papers are forged as well. Authenticity can in any case be judged only to a limited extent from photographs; more reliable is an examination of the pen itself, in which the nib, the feed, the engravings, the cap ring, the standard of finish and the weight are considered in direct comparison with a known original, or at an authorised specialist dealer's. --- **Question:** Did Montblanc supply ballpoints with no star in the push-button, or has the logo fallen out of such pens? **Answer:** A missing star in the push-button is as a rule a defect and not a feature. The logo is a separately made part glued into a recess; when the adhesive gives way, it is lost. That is easily checked: if the push-button shows a recess, possibly with traces of adhesive, a star originally sat there. A smooth, continuous surface with no recess, by contrast, would point to a factory version. Listings that advertise such a pen as a rare variant are to be treated with caution as long as there is no evidence of who is supposed to have supplied it that way. No premium for rarity is justified, all the more so since a workshop can replace the star. Before buying at a distance it is advisable to ask for a sharp close-up photograph of the push-button. Montblanc writing instruments without a star have nonetheless existed: for particular markets, above all for deliveries to Arab countries, the logo was in some cases altered or left off. That practice, though, affected the design as a whole; a pen with the star present on the clip but removed from the push-button does not fit the pattern. --- **Question:** Is an older Meisterstück such as the 144 in burgundy suitable for daily use, or does that reduce its collector value? **Answer:** The Meisterstück 144 in burgundy is a long-discontinued colour variant of the small piston filler, but as a regular production model it was built in large numbers and is not therefore considered rare. In any case the collector value of an older Montblanc arises less from its age than from rarity, condition and completeness: the original case, the guarantee booklet and the receipt often weigh more heavily than the colour variant itself. Use can depress the price noticeably above all with unused, fully boxed pens, because a section of collectors looks for nothing else. An example that has already seen ink need not, then, be spared. Anyone who wants to use writing instruments rather than invest in them simply reaches for whichever pen writes better; Meisterstück pens of the 1980s and 1990s are in no way behind current models in everyday use, and either can be overhauled by the factory service if need be. The sentimental value of a pen — the first Montblanc of one's own, an inheritance — is untouched by all this, and for the owner usually counts for more than any market price. --- **Question:** How did the list price of the Montblanc Meisterstück 149 develop from the 1950s into the 2000s? **Answer:** For the large piston filler Meisterstück 149 the following guide prices can be documented from dealers' brochures and price lists: in the middle to late 1950s it cost around 90 DM, in the middle to late 1960s about 110 DM, in the early to middle 1970s around 150 DM, in the early 1980s about 320 DM, and towards the end of the 1980s around 420 DM. The price list for 2000 gives 811.67 DM, equivalent to 415 euros; in 2001 it was 425 euros, and in November 2003 the shop price stood at about 460 euros. In nominal terms the price thus rose roughly tenfold between the 1950s and 2003, with the sharpest jump falling in the 1980s. Anyone looking for earlier prices has to rely on contemporary catalogues, advertising brochures and dealers' price lists, since the manufacturer publishes no continuous record of prices. For the early years of the brand, reprints of the 1930s catalogues, which likewise contain prices, are available from specialist dealers. --- **Question:** In which colours and line widths does Montblanc offer refills for the Meisterstück Classique and LeGrand rollerballs? **Answer:** For rollerballs of the Classique size, that is the model 163, Montblanc refills come in four colours — blue, black, red and green — but only in the M width. In F only blue and black are available. For the larger LeGrand rollerballs the range is confined to blue and black, again in M and F. It should be borne in mind that the LeGrand refills write appreciably broader than those of the Classique series: a LeGrand M lays down a line closer to a Classique B, and a LeGrand F closer to an M. The refills are made by Schmidt Feintechnik, a supplier who offers a distinctly wider range of colours under its own name. These outside refills cannot simply be used, however: their rear end is shaped rather differently and is longer, and they lack the thread by which the Montblanc refill is screwed tight in the barrel. Without modification they therefore will not fit the Classique rollerballs. This describes the position as of 2007; the choice of colours may have changed since. --- **Question:** How old is a four-colour Montblanc slide pencil in Alpacca with a lead store under the cap, and who made it? **Answer:** Multi-colour slide pencils of this construction — four coloured leads in a metal body, plus a cap top that screws off to reveal a tube holding spare leads — were in the Montblanc range from the 1930s onwards, and similar designs were built over several decades. The material mark Alpacca on the clip, that is nickel silver, a copper-nickel-zinc alloy containing no silver at all, narrows the date of manufacture to the 1930s through 1960s. Pencils of this kind were not made in the Montblanc works themselves but to Montblanc's order by the firm of Fend, a supplier specialising in pencil and lead mechanisms. That does nothing to alter their originality, but it does explain why their construction and mechanism differ from the company's own fountain pens. For valuation there is no price list: what counts is the condition, the completeness and the free running of the four slide mechanisms, together with the prices comparable pencils actually fetch. Metal pencils of this sort are regarded as solid everyday items and do not reach the price level of contemporary Meisterstück fountain pens. --- **Question:** How can you tell what a Montblanc Solitaire with line guilloché is made of, and when did it carry the 925 hallmark? **Answer:** The Solitaire writing instruments with line guilloché changed both their base material and their markings several times over their production life. The early versions of the 1980s carry no hallmark. From 1992 they were made in vermeil, that is in gold-plated sterling silver, and accordingly received the 925 hallmark on barrel and cap. From about 2004 this hallmark disappeared again, because gold-plated brass was once more used as the base material in place of sterling silver. The hallmark is thus the decisive distinguishing feature: where 925 appears on barrel and cap, the pen is genuine vermeil. Where it is absent, the pen is either an early one from the 1980s or a later version on a brass base — which of the two can only be settled from further features such as the shape of the clip, the engravings and the packaging. The difference in material is reflected in the price as well: collectors report the list price of the early version at the time as around 1,200 DM, and later about 1,800 DM. Before buying it is therefore worth a look at the hallmark, ahead of any negotiation over price. --- **Question:** Should the white star on the cap of a Montblanc be aligned so that one point sits directly over the clip? **Answer:** That is indeed the intention: one point of the star is meant to line up exactly with the clip. Montblanc attaches a good deal of importance to this alignment, and even applies it to the star set into the floor of its boutiques, which turns one of its points towards the entrance. In series production, however, the rule is by no means reliably observed. Because the cap top carrying the star is screwed into place, the final position depends on where the thread comes to rest; stars sitting off-line are therefore a regular occurrence, occasionally even on limited editions. A star at an angle is thus neither evidence of a fake nor a defect that devalues a pen, but simply a manufacturing tolerance. Equally, perfect alignment is no proof of authenticity. Anyone with doubts about a particular piece should go by features that actually carry weight – the finish of the cap ring and the engravings, the material, the nib and the mechanism – and not by where the star happens to sit. --- **Question:** When was the Montblanc No. 24 made, what is it worth, and is there any harm in carrying on using it? **Answer:** The Montblanc No. 24 is one of the two-digit production models that sat below the Meisterstück line; on these pens the model number is usually found on the cap ring. Collectors date it to the 1960s. It is a solid everyday fountain pen of its day, sold in large numbers, and its valuation is correspondingly modest: these models do not fetch top prices, and are worth considerably less than contemporary Meisterstück pens. There is no fixed benchmark, because the price depends heavily on condition. A cap free of deep scratches, a smooth and leak-tight piston mechanism, an undamaged nib and a barrel without cracks are what make the difference; light marks of use on the cap reduce the value only slightly. A pen like this can be judged reliably only against prices actually achieved for comparable examples. As long as the mechanism and nib are sound, there is no reason not to keep writing with it – experience shows that regular use does a fountain pen more good than years of lying idle with dried ink in the barrel. --- **Question:** How can a fake Meisterstück Solitaire Platinum-Plated Facet be told apart from the original? **Answer:** The most telling feature is the depth of the facet pattern. On the original the grooves are cut noticeably deeper and produce a crisply drawn, even relief that breaks the light sharply. Copies, by contrast, look flat and soft; the pattern appears rolled on rather than cut. The second reliable indicator is the section: on copies the shape, the length and the transition to the barrel differ visibly from the original, and the front part often looks too stubby or too little tapered. To assess a pen on offer, compare it directly with the manufacturer's official product images or with a piece known to be genuine, using photographs taken from a comparable angle. On this model, discrepancies in the depth and regularity of the guilloche and at the joins between section, barrel and cap are the most dependable clues, because a metal surface can be judged comparatively well even from photographs. If doubts remain, only submitting the pen to the Montblanc service will settle the question of authenticity for good. --- **Question:** What counted as a fair price for a used Montblanc Octavian around 2009, and what should a buyer look out for? **Answer:** The Octavian is one of the sought-after Montblanc limited editions and has consistently changed hands in four figures, even second-hand. As of 2009, a complete example in flawless condition at 2,500 euros was regarded among collectors as a bargain; the figure then quoted as the lower benchmark for a good piece was closer to 2,700 euros, and considerably higher asking prices were also to be seen on the market. The fact that a pen is no longer sealed and has already seen ink does little to depress the price of this edition, as long as it is undamaged. Completeness is decisive: besides the pen itself, the original case, the outer box and the accompanying papers all belong to the package, and with limited editions in particular missing paperwork tells on the price more than it does with production models. There is no official price list for the second-hand market; market value follows solely from sales actually concluded. Anyone looking to buy should therefore follow offers and hammer prices for a few weeks and read every price figure against the year it dates from, since the level for limited editions can shift considerably. --- **Question:** Why does the barrel of a Montblanc Meisterstück 164 ballpoint take on a reddish tinge in places at the lower end? **Answer:** Two different things need to be kept apart here. An even reddish-brown sheen that shows up only against the light is normal and comes from the material itself: the black precious resin of the Meisterstück line is not completely opaque and lets light through with a wine-red cast. This is not a defect, and certainly not a sign of a fake. Patchy, irregular discolouration at the lower end of the barrel, on the other hand, usually comes from ink residue. Ballpoint refills can leak under sharp changes in temperature and release small amounts of paste; this settles inside the barrel and at its end, where it forms a film that looks reddish in the light. Careful polishing with a soft cotton cloth, lightly dampened, will deal with it. Harsh cleaners, acetone and high-strength alcohol are to be avoided, as they leave the surface of the precious resin dull and can attack engravings. If the film keeps returning, the refill should be replaced and the pen no longer left lying in the sun or in a hot car. --- **Question:** Is a little axial play between barrel and cap section normal on a Montblanc Meisterstück 164 twist ballpoint? **Answer:** A minimal amount of lengthwise play between barrel and cap section is inherent in the design of these twist ballpoints and is not a defect. Press the barrel towards the cap and it will move by well under half a millimetre, then spring back of its own accord to where it started, without sticking in any position. The cause is the twist mechanism in the cap section, which needs a certain tolerance to extend and retract the refill and is not built free of play. The same behaviour is found on other examples in the range. There is no need to send the pen in for service on this account. Quite different are a clearly perceptible wobble across the long axis, an audible click, or a refill that no longer extends and retracts reliably: that points to a damaged or worn mechanism and belongs in expert hands, since Montblanc does not supply individual parts and repairs go through the factory service. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc 149 with Japanese maki-e lacquer work an official model from the manufacturer? **Answer:** Pens with elaborate maki-e lacquer work built on a Meisterstück 149 turn up on the collectors' market from time to time and are often impressive pieces of craftsmanship. As a rule they are not factory models: a production pen is decorated after the fact by a lacquer artist or a specialist workshop and then sold as a one-off. The same is done with models from other makers, Pelikan fountain pens among them, which are offered in comparable form. For classification this means that such pieces belong to no official Montblanc edition, carry no edition number from the firm and cannot be traced in the manufacturer's catalogues or price lists. Their value rests on the quality of the lacquer work and the name of the artist who carried it out, not on any limitation by Montblanc. Anyone buying such a piece should ask for evidence of where the decoration came from and check the pen beneath it separately for originality, since the layer of lacquer conceals many of the features one would otherwise go by. --- **Question:** Was the small Meisterstück Mozart also made as a Solitaire vermeil with a line guilloche, and how large was the production run? **Answer:** The Mozart, the smallest format in the Meisterstück range, was indeed available as a Solitaire with a line guilloche in vermeil, that is, gold-plated sterling silver. Later the same version was offered with gold-plated copper as the base metal. As this is a regular production model and not a limited edition, there is no edition size: for standard writing instruments Montblanc publishes neither quantities nor exact production periods. The range was built over many years, and pens of this kind could still be found in the specialist trade at the end of the 2000s. The simplest way to tell whether a version is still current is to see whether it is listed in the manufacturer's current collection. The strikingly tapered shape of the rear end of the barrel is not peculiar to individual versions but follows from the design: on every Mozart the cap has to screw onto the back, because without the cap posted the pen would be too short for most hands. Collectors' websites are far from showing every variant, so the absence of a photograph says nothing about whether a particular version exists. --- **Question:** What does the Masterpiece engraving on the cap ring of a Montblanc 144 mean, and is a painted-on star or a clip without a number cause for suspicion? **Answer:** The ring engraving Masterpiece in place of Meisterstück marks an export model: for sale outside the German-speaking countries the model name was translated. A 144 with this engraving and the model number stamped on the piston knob at the rear dates from the 1950s and is therefore a genuine third-series pen. A painted-on star, by contrast, argues clearly against authenticity. Into the 1950s, Montblanc pens of this series carried no inlaid, solid star in the cap top, but merely the engraved outline of a star, which was never filled in with colour or painted. Where a star has simply been painted on, the pen is a fake. A missing number on the clip ring, however, is nothing to worry about. Clip ring numbers were introduced only later; older Montblanc pens simply do not have them and are no less genuine for it. As a test of authenticity this feature is consequently of use only for pens made after it was introduced. --- **Question:** How does the Montblanc service charge for repairs, and can spare parts such as a broken piston mechanism be had separately? **Answer:** Montblanc does not supply spare parts to end customers. A faulty pen has to be handed in complete at the service centre, which carries out the repair; individual components such as a blind cap, a piston knob or a broken piston drive cannot be obtained on their own. In return, charging is uniformly regulated and applies worldwide, so that every boutique and service point works to the same rules. Billing is based on two flat rates: the first covers servicing and maintenance without the replacement of parts, the second all repairs going beyond that, regardless of how many parts have to be replaced or which ones. A broken piston drive therefore costs no more than a minor fault. The flat rate for pens in precious resin is lower than the one for Solitaire models in precious metal. The repair also includes a new feed, while the nib is usually retained; what comes back is a thoroughly overhauled pen. This describes the position as of 2005; for the flat rates currently in force it is best to ask the service department directly. --- **Question:** How long has the Montblanc 147 Traveller been in production, and how can an individual pen be dated from the markings on the clip? **Answer:** Collectors put the launch of the Traveller, model number 147, at around 1997; there is no documented introduction date. To place an individual pen in time, the markings on the clip and clip ring are the thing to go by. The word Pix on the back of the clip was used from about the year 2000; on more recent pens Made in Germany appears in its place. If neither is present and the clip ring carries only the country of origin, Germany, together with a number, the pen dates from before that. A further clue is the way the number on the clip ring has been applied: on older examples it is engraved, on later ones lasered. Taken together, the two features allow a rough dating to within a few years. Montblanc publishes no serial number list for production models from which the exact year of manufacture could be read off, so this approximation is as far as one can get. --- **Question:** Where can a worn nib on a 1960s Montblanc fountain pen be replaced or reworked? **Answer:** For the plain production models of the 1950s and 1960s, recognisable by the two-digit model number on the cap ring such as 21 or 31, Montblanc no longer keeps replacement nibs; as a rule the factory service is no longer an option for these pens. The work is done instead by dealers and nib workshops specialising in vintage writing instruments. In the German-speaking countries Interpens and Maxpens are among the well-known addresses; they carry suitable nibs from old stock and rework existing ones. Before placing an order it is worth asking whether the existing nib can be saved: a worn or unevenly run-in tip can often be reground, which costs less than a replacement and preserves the pen's originality. Financially, the matter deserves a sober look, because on the two-digit models proper nib work can amount to a substantial share of the market value. Where a pen has personal associations, experience shows that this counts for nothing. An estimate in advance is advisable in any case. --- **Question:** Which anniversary editions did Montblanc bring out in 1999 for the 75th anniversary of the Meisterstück, and how large were the editions? **Answer:** To mark the anniversary of the Meisterstück, introduced in 1924, Montblanc brought out several special models in 1999. The Special Anniversary Edition was not limited, but was made in 1999 alone and is therefore defined solely by its production period. Alongside it came the Limited Anniversary 1924 in an edition of 1,924 pieces, a figure pointing to the year the Meisterstück was introduced. The smallest and rarest version is the Limited Anniversary 75, at just 75 pieces, taking up the number of years being celebrated. According to collectors, the 1924 series comprised not only writing instruments but also watches and leather goods, so that whole sets could be put together. Because of the small numbers involved, particularly in the edition of 75, the limited versions surface on the collectors' market only rarely, and reliable price series can hardly be compiled for them. The unlimited Special Anniversary Edition, having no set edition size, is likely to be met with more often, but is just as clearly delimited by its single production year of 1999. --- **Question:** Can the nib of a Montblanc Meisterstück 149 be exchanged for a broader one or ground broader? **Answer:** A fine-writing nib can be broadened by grinding only within narrow limits, because the material to do it with is not there: line width comes from the iridium tip at the point of the nib, and material once removed cannot be put back. Regrinding alone will therefore not turn an F or EF nib into a B; at best half a width grade can be gained, along with a smoother, less scratchy feel. The proper route leads through a nib workshop: specialists can fit a new, larger iridium tip and then grind the nib to the width required. That is the only way to achieve a substantial increase in width without replacing the nib itself. Alternatively a suitable replacement nib can be sourced; specialist pen dealers and spare-parts suppliers carry individual Montblanc nibs, though there is no organised exchange for nibs. Whichever route is taken, bear in mind that a broader nib lays down more ink: on absorbent paper the writing may feather or bleed through as a result. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the Meisterstück Solitaire Silver Barley introduced in 2009, and what did the fountain pen and the ballpoint cost? **Answer:** The Meisterstück Solitaire Silver Barley joined the collection in 2009. Its defining feature is a fine, barley-like guilloche on sterling silver whose pattern recalls the Mammut Solitaire of 2006, together with a mother-of-pearl star in the cap top. What made the series notable above all was that it brought the first ballpoint in the larger LeGrand size to be offered in precious metal. A LeGrand rollerball in precious metal had existed before, but no corresponding ballpoint. On its introduction the range was priced at the upper end of the regular collection: the fountain pen cost 1,950 euros at the time, the LeGrand ballpoint 950 euros. As it is not a limited edition, neither production figures nor an end of production were published. On the second-hand market the value of silver models of this kind depends heavily on the state of the surface, because scratches in the fine guilloche are almost impossible to remove and, while tarnished silver can be cleaned, the recesses of the pattern stay dark. --- **Question:** Which ink cartridges fit a Montblanc Carrera, and does it have to be the original Montblanc cartridge? **Answer:** The Carrera is a cartridge pen and takes the short standard cartridges sold everywhere, such as those offered by Pelikan among others. Montblanc's own cartridges fit as well, but cost considerably more without anything changing in the way the pen writes. The choice is thus purely a question of price and preference; more important than the brand is that the ink is fresh and the pen is used regularly. If the pen is being brought back into use after a long break, flush it through with lukewarm water beforehand until no more ink comes out, then let the nib and feed dry before the new cartridge is fitted. Dried ink in the feed is the commonest reason why a pen that has been stored for a long time refuses to start. The Carrera belonged to the plain range of the 1970s that Montblanc ran alongside the Meisterstück at the time; it has no collector's value worth mentioning, but as a sturdy everyday fountain pen it is entirely serviceable. --- **Question:** Is water behind the piston of a Montblanc 146 after flushing normal, and what does a stiff piston mean? **Answer:** No, that is not normal. The piston seals off the ink chamber; behind it, that is on the piston knob side, no liquid belongs. If water collects there after flushing, either the piston seal is no longer tight, or the pen was held too deep in the water for too long, so that moisture worked its way past the seal. Standing moisture in the barrel attacks the mechanism in the long run and should therefore not simply be accepted. A stiff piston points in the same direction: the seal has dried out or hardened and no longer slides. Forcing the knob round at that point risks breaking the piston mechanism, which is far more involved to repair than renewing the seal. Both cases belong in expert hands, that is with the factory service or a workshop specialising in writing instruments, where the seal is replaced and the mechanism regreased. On a Meisterstück only a few years old, a leaking piston is normally a matter for the guarantee or for goodwill. Until the repair, leave the pen open to dry out completely and do not fill it again. --- **Question:** What did the ballpoint of the Montblanc Anniversary Edition 1924, model 161, cost when it appeared? **Answer:** The Anniversary Edition bearing the year 1924 appeared in 1999 for the 75th anniversary of the Meisterstück. The matching ballpoint is listed under article number 75202 and cost the equivalent of around 250 euros in 1999, or just under 490 DM. A complete example with case and papers accordingly ranks higher on the collectors' market than a bare pen without accessories. As a general rule, the special and anniversary editions of those years were offered only marginally dearer than the corresponding production models; collectors report that in Deutsche Mark days the premium was often no more than about 20 DM. A special edition is therefore not automatically an expensive rarity, and the original retail price says little about what a pen is worth today. That depends above all on condition, on whether the packaging is complete, and on how sought-after the particular edition is. --- **Question:** How can the risk of a fake be reduced when buying a Montblanc fountain pen on eBay, and what should be done if one arrives after all? **Answer:** A commercial seller with several thousand positive ratings who sells against an invoice showing VAT separately is comparatively safe: anyone systematically dealing in fakes will sooner or later be found out at that volume of business. A residual risk remains nonetheless. What tells you something are the usual yardsticks of the specialist trade, applied to buying online: are questions answered knowledgeably and promptly, are the service booklet and papers included, is there a right of return, and is the seller content for the pen to be examined by an authorised dealer? The reaction to that last question alone is revealing. The most important rule is to buy only what you understand. On some models, the StarWalker in precious resin and certain Bohème versions among them, good fakes cannot be told from the original in the mostly mediocre auction photographs; such pieces are better bought from the specialist trade. It should also be reckoned with that condition descriptions often turn out too flattering, and that when buying second-hand one can virtually never choose the nib width, since by far the greater part of pens are offered with an M. Anyone who prefers EF or F will either pay a premium for it or have to have the nib changed later. Anyone who has received a fake should approach the seller first and point out that selling counterfeits is not permitted in Germany; more often than not the pen is then taken back. If payment was made through a payment service, there is the further possibility of invoking buyer protection. --- **Question:** When was the Montblanc 181 ballpoint made, and is it a rare collector's item? **Answer:** The 181 ballpoint was made between 1971 and 1976. It formed part of the broad production range of those years and was turned out in large numbers, for Montblanc was still a full-line manufacturer at the time, making everything from the plain writing instrument up to the Meisterstück; only from 1991 did the firm position itself exclusively as a maker of luxury goods. The model accordingly still turns up frequently on the second-hand market, prices are low, and an equivalent replacement is easily obtained. There is therefore no collector's value worth mentioning, though as an everyday pen the 181 remains perfectly usable. One striking feature is the rather small, short clip compared with later models, which grips poorly in a pocket; lost or mislaid examples are correspondingly common in this series. --- **Question:** Why does a used Montblanc fountain pen write more and more erratically over time, and what can be done about it? **Answer:** The cause can never be established with certainty at a distance, but three things regularly come into question. First, residues: a pen that has stood unused for a long time or has been written with the same ink for years builds up deposits in the feed that slow the flow. The remedy is a thorough flush with lukewarm water, overnight if need be, done regularly and not only once things start to stick. Second, the nib: if it does not sit properly on the feed or is slightly bent, the two tines are no longer level with each other and the pen skips as the stroke begins. Third, the ink: flow characteristics differ considerably between brands, and simply changing ink can cure sluggish writing. As a rule of thumb: if flushing brings only brief improvement and the flow then deteriorates again, the cause lies with the nib and feed rather than with dirt. Straightening a nib belongs in expert hands, because the slit between the tines can hardly be judged with the naked eye and clumsy attempts damage the iridium tip. Very broad nibs on older pens also lay down a great deal of ink by their nature, and it dries slowly; that is a property of the nib and not a defect, but it makes writing at speed hard going. --- **Question:** Where can an inherited Montblanc collection be appraised by an expert, and is such a valuation worth having? **Answer:** Only very few specialists in Germany offer formal appraisals of writing instruments; the name regularly mentioned is Stefan Wallrafen. The fee is usually based on the value established and comes to around ten per cent of it, with a minimum charge per pen. The practical consequence follows from that: a valuation is worth having only for genuinely high-value individual pieces, early safety pens, rare editions or solid gold versions for instance. For a mixed collection of common models the fees exceed what the pens are worth. In the ordinary case the method usual among collectors is the better one: identify each piece first by model, year of manufacture and specification, then compare it with prices actually achieved for comparable examples in comparable condition. What counts here is the condition of nib and body, whether the filling system works, any cracks, and whether case and papers are complete. A formal valuation is needed chiefly where a value has to be proven to a third party, to an insurer, say, or in the division of an estate. --- **Question:** Is there still a claim under the Montblanc guarantee if the guarantee card of a pen bought online has not been filled in? **Answer:** The Montblanc manufacturer's guarantee requires proof. What is intended for the purpose is the guarantee card in the service booklet, filled in and stamped by an authorised dealer. If both the stamp and a proof of purchase are missing, there is no claim under the guarantee. If an invoice at least is available, the chances are considerably better; that is no guarantee in itself, though, since with a pen not obtained through an authorised dealer or a boutique the manufacturer may refuse to honour the guarantee. In practice the decision often goes in the customer's favour, but it is not something to rely on. This must be kept apart from statutory warranty rights: these are owed by the seller, including a commercial seller online. Anyone buying online from a trader should therefore always insist on a proper invoice and keep it together with the service booklet. In private sales the warranty is routinely excluded, leaving only the manufacturer's guarantee, and then only where it can be evidenced. For second-hand buying this means that a completed service booklet and a proof of purchase are a solid factor in the value of a pen, not a formality. --- **Question:** What should be watched for when buying a Montblanc safety pen from the 1920s, and what prices does a set with a pencil fetch? **Answer:** The safety pens of the early numbered series, a Safety No. 1 for example, and the matching twist pencils such as the No. 10 date from roughly 1920 to 1929. The bodies are generally of black hard rubber, which discolours and grows brittle over the decades. When buying, the main things to look for are therefore cracks, especially at the cap lip and around the turning knob, and an undamaged iridium tip on the nib; re-tipping a point that has been worn down or broken off is laborious and expensive. A good question to put to the seller is what exactly he understands by marks appropriate to the age, since in listings that phrase covers everything from light use to serious damage. It should also be reckoned with that after so long the seals of a safety pen will practically always need renewing before the pen can be used again. These restoration costs have to be added to the purchase price when comparing one offer with another. As a guide to the price level: a set consisting of a Safety No. 1 and a matching pencil, in condition appropriate to its age, changed hands in 2014 for 343 euros including postage. --- **Question:** What does the appended G in the designation of older Montblanc Meisterstück pens mean, as in a 146 G? **Answer:** The G stands for gold. The reading one occasionally hears, that it stands for glatt, the German for smooth, and refers to a smooth surface on the cone, is wrong. The letter thus describes a trim variant of the model in question and not a series of its own; a 146 G is a 146. Not every example carries this addition in its imprint, which is why the absence of the G on its own should not be taken to indicate a different version. Imprints on the cone and the piston knob are, moreover, often rubbed away by decades of use and barely legible in unfavourable light; viewed under raking light they will usually reappear. Anyone wanting to identify an inherited piece with confidence should therefore draw on further features, above all the hallmark on the nib, which gives the gold content as 585 for 14 carat or 750 for 18 carat, and the shape and number of the cap rings. --- **Question:** Where and how can a Montblanc writing instrument be engraved, and what should be borne in mind? **Answer:** Engraving is handled through the authorised specialist trade and the boutiques. An engraving in one of the standard typefaces on offer can often be carried out on the spot; if handwriting is to be reproduced, however, the pen has to be sent in to Montblanc, which takes correspondingly longer. When a new pen is bought, the dealer will often include the engraving free of charge as a voucher; otherwise it is charged for. For pens not bought new from the dealer in question, proof of provenance is sometimes asked for, such as a stamped receipt or a completed service booklet. Practice is not uniform, which is why it is worth asking at the boutique or at one's usual dealer; in principle any specialist dealer can arrange an engraving. Bear in mind that an engraving cannot be undone: a personal dedication as a rule reduces the resale value noticeably, whereas an old engraving in period style on a pre-war piece counts as part of its history and is less of a drawback. --- **Question:** How is a Montblanc Meisterstück 144 recognised, and can its slip cap be posted on the back while writing? **Answer:** The 144 is the slim fountain pen of the Meisterstück line and can be identified by its cap alone: it has a slip cap without a thread, whereas the larger Meisterstück pens screw shut. So if there is no cap thread on the barrel, that is a reliable pointer to the 144. Pens of more recent production also carry a laser-engraved serial number on the cap ring; it is one of several marks of authenticity, but it does not replace an examination of the finish, the imprint and the nib. As of 2012, used examples were changing hands for around 100 euros, which was considered cheap at the time. Posting the cap on the end of the barrel is a matter of taste and does the pen no harm, as long as no force is used. The cap should be pushed on far enough to sit firmly; if it will not hold and keeps slipping off while writing, it has merely been laid on loosely. Many nevertheless do without on the 144, because posting the cap makes an already slim pen tail-heavy and unsettled in the hand. --- **Question:** Are older Montblanc Solitaire pens such as the 164 Vermeil made of sterling silver, while comparable newer Meisterstück pens are made of brass? **Answer:** That is correct. The older Solitaire versions were made in 925 sterling silver, with gold plating on top of that in the vermeil version. Comparable models in current production are of gold-plated brass instead. The difference is easy to see on a used piece that has not been freshly polished: silver tarnishes over time, first in the recesses of the guilloche and at the joins with the rings, where slight discolouration appears. A soft cloth will take it off again. For the buying decision this comes down chiefly to weighing the value of the material against the upkeep. The older silver pieces have to be polished up regularly; the newer brass versions are easier to look after but hold no precious metal. Tarnishing, incidentally, affects not only silver but also the gold-plated surfaces of older series such as Nikolai and Ramses. A further point in favour of older pieces is the surfaces themselves: certain patterns, the barley guilloche among them, are no longer made and can be had only second-hand. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc Meisterstück pens can be filled with ink cartridges, and what should be considered as regards size? **Answer:** Within the Meisterstück line, the models laid out as cartridge pens are the small 114, the slim 144, the 145 and the 147 Traveller. The large 146 and 149, by contrast, are piston fillers and draw their ink from the bottle. Anyone who sets store by being able to change a cartridge quickly while out and about is well served by the first group, but forgoes the wide choice of bottled inks. More important than the filling system, when buying, is the size. The 144 is very slim and sits unsettled in a large hand; it is in a sense the counterpart to the 149, the biggest and thickest model in the range. Since barrel diameter, weight and nib width have a considerable bearing on writing comfort, a pen should be taken in the hand and tried out before it is bought. That applies particularly to second-hand buying: a pen won at auction whose size or nib width does not suit one's own handwriting tends to end up unused, and changing the nib afterwards costs extra. --- **Question:** Why is the diamond pattern on the Montblanc Meisterstück Carbon Steel uneven, and is that a manufacturing flaw? **Answer:** It is not a flaw but a property of the material. The surface is made of genuine carbon fibres, and the diamond pattern arises from the way they are woven. In the process the individual diamonds inevitably come out less than perfectly uniform; small gaps in the pattern, edges very slightly out of line and differences in sheen are part of it, and are found on the factory's own photographs and on display pieces too. A perfectly regular diamond pattern is, on the contrary, an indication that no genuine fibres were used at all, merely a carbon look of the kind common on instrument panels and trim in the motor industry. Working genuine carbon fibre is so demanding that it is otherwise undertaken chiefly where there are technical requirements behind it, in motorsport, for instance, and in aircraft and shipbuilding. A slightly irregular pattern therefore speaks for the pen's authenticity and is no ground for complaint. --- **Question:** What does Montblanc's factory service cost, and is a pen sent in repaired or simply replaced? **Answer:** Montblanc settles most service work on a flat rate that bears no relation to the particular fault. As of 2008 that flat rate stood at 59 euros for a ballpoint with a broken cap and for a propelling pencil with a faulty lead mechanism; in both cases the pen was replaced outright. Changing a nib from B to F came to 39 euros and likewise ended with the 146 in question being swapped for a new one. Changing the nib width is thus perfectly possible, and cheap set against the price of a new pen. What matters here is the consequence of that practice: instead of repairing a pen, the factory service will often hand back an equivalent new one. For a pen in daily use that is convenient and inexpensive, but for a collector's piece it is a real problem, because everything original disappears with it, the old nib with its tip worn in to the owner's hand, the imprint and the patina of years. For older or rare pens a specialist repairer who preserves the original parts is therefore the better choice; for current models the factory service is the straightforward option. Anyone sending a pen in should establish beforehand whether it will be repaired or exchanged. --- **Question:** Where is the model designation to be found on an old Montblanc piston filler, and is a professional valuation worth the money? **Answer:** On the old piston fillers the model designation appears as an imprint on the piston knob at the end of the barrel. The numbers found there, 132, 134, 136, 138 or 139, denote the classic series of the 1930s to the early 1950s. Decades of use often leave the imprint rubbed away and all but invisible under direct light; hold the barrel at an angle to a raking light and it will usually become legible again. The hallmark on the nib, the size of the pen and the design of the cap rings all help to confirm the identification. Only once the model is settled can a value be put on the pen. The usual approach among collectors is to compare prices actually realised for similar examples in similar condition, with cracks, the working of the piston, the state of the nib and its iridium tip, and completeness all being decisive. Valuations for a fee are certainly on offer, but in many cases they cost more than the pen is worth; they are therefore worth considering only in exceptional cases, for a very rare piece, say, or where a value has to be documented for an insurer. --- **Question:** Are Montblanc pens supplied in flat boxes with a clear window, rather than in the black case, fakes? **Answer:** No. Alongside the familiar black case lined with white velvet, Montblanc also uses smaller, flat boxes with a transparent lid. This packaging is intended for sale at airports and on board aircraft, where bulk and weight matter. It looks a good deal plainer than the standard packaging and for that reason regularly causes doubt, but it is genuine factory packaging. It turns up most often with models that are typical travel goods, such as ballpoints from the Solitaire line or the Tribute to the Mont Blanc version. In any case packaging is of only limited use in judging authenticity, since boxes and paperwork can be obtained separately and are counterfeited just as the pens are. Far more telling are a service booklet filled in and stamped by the dealer, a receipt and, above all, the pen itself: the crispness and depth of the imprints, the execution of the star in the cap top, the fit of cap and threads, and the engraving of the nib. --- **Question:** Is there a converter for the Montblanc Meisterstück 147 Traveller that will draw ink from a bottle? **Answer:** No. Montblanc never provided a converter for the 147, and technically it would not work in any case: the barrel holds a cartridge carrier that guides the cartridge and takes up the space available, so a converter can be neither seated cleanly nor filled properly inside it. The 147 Traveller is a cartridge pen pure and simple. Anyone unwilling to give up a particular bottled ink usually falls back on the makeshift familiar among collectors, refilling an empty original cartridge with a blunt needle or a fine syringe; it works, but it is fiddly and never quite clean. The more obvious answer is to use a piston filler such as the 146 for bottled inks and to carry the Traveller as it was intended, on the road and on cartridges. --- **Question:** What is a counterfeit Montblanc fountain pen worth, and may one sell it on if it comes from an estate? **Answer:** A pen identified as a fake has no collector value at all. Such pieces change hands in China for something between about 50 cents and one euro; what a previous owner paid for it has no bearing on its worth. That disposes of the question of price, and of the model as well, since fakes often carry entirely invented names or mix together features from several different series. There is also the fact that selling counterfeits is not permitted in Germany. That holds even where the pens were bought or inherited in good faith and are to be offered expressly as copies; listing them invites a claim from the trade mark owner. Pieces from an estate can therefore be neither sold nor sensibly valued. If there is any doubt about an inherited pen, have it examined before selling, most easily at a boutique or an authorised dealer; experienced collectors will usually spot the common fakes from the imprint, the star and the nib alone. --- **Question:** Did the Montblanc 147 leave the factory with a silver cap, and can replacement caps for the 146 and 147 be bought separately? **Answer:** A silver cap with gold trim on a black barrel is a factory specification and not something put together after the event: the pen was sold as the Traveller Doué. Doué and Solitaire caps of this kind cost more than the black caps with gold rings, which makes swapping one for an ordinary cap a poor bargain. The 146 and the 147 are close relatives and differ chiefly in their filling system, the one a piston filler, the other a cartridge pen. Montblanc does not sell caps separately. A replacement is supplied only against the defective cap being sent in. The reason is that counterfeiters would otherwise get hold of genuine spare parts and could fit fakes with original components. What can be done is to exchange an existing Solitaire or Doué cap for a standard one, though there is a charge for it. Buying a cap second-hand calls for caution, because the threads are not the same across all years of production. Collectors report that the 146s of the 1980s had a different cap thread, so that a damaged cap meant the body being changed along with it; the second-hand market accordingly throws up examples with an old nib but a later cap and a later body. Caps of more recent production ought to fit the 147, but there is no guarantee of it, so it is worth trying one on before buying. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc StarWalker in unusual packaging with a leather pen tray a fake? **Answer:** Not necessarily. Montblanc regularly supplies its dealers with special packaging for promotional purposes. Years ago these were leather cases of their own; later they were complete sets of pen and tray. Such extras never appear in the regular catalogue and are therefore not to be found by searching the internet either, which readily raises the suspicion of a fake. That a leather tray of this sort carries only the name and no emblem is normal for promotional items. Anyone who bought from a long-established stationer can as a rule assume it is a genuine promotional extra. The converse holds just as firmly, however: a flawless-looking box is no proof of authenticity, since packaging and paperwork are counterfeited and traded separately as well. What counts in any assessment is always the pen itself, supported by a completed service booklet and a receipt. --- **Question:** Why is there no B refill for the Montblanc Mozart ballpoint, and which short model takes the large-capacity refills? **Answer:** The little Mozart ballpoint, listed by Montblanc as the Hommage à W. A. Mozart, takes only the short standard refill of type M21. These refills come in F and M, but not in B. The reason is their small capacity: a broad ball lays down so much ink that a refill this short would be written dry in no time. Anyone after a short pen that will take a fat, large-capacity refill should look at the ballpoints of the Bohème line. They are compact too, but they hold the high-capacity refills and, thanks to their greater diameter, sit noticeably better in the hand. That makes the Bohème usable for longer stretches of writing, whereas the very slim Mozart is really a pen for short notes and for carrying in a jacket pocket. --- **Question:** What does the date printed on a Montblanc ballpoint refill mean, “Apr 10” for instance? **Answer:** Montblanc marks its ballpoint refills with a month and a year. Precisely what this signifies has never been settled; it is generally taken to be a date of manufacture or a best-before date, and certainly not an expiry date after which the refill becomes unusable. The company's inks carry such a date too, even though experience shows they keep unchanged over very long periods. In practice that means a refill can be written to the last without hesitation, even if the printed date is long past. Only when the ink has dried out and the line is no longer even does it need replacing. Age alone is no reason to discard a refill that still has ink in it. For dating a pen, on the other hand, the refill date is useless. Refills are consumables and get changed several times over the years, so they are routinely younger than the ballpoint itself. To establish the age of a piece you have to go by the model number, the engraving on the clip and the style of the fittings. --- **Question:** Which model does the blue speckled Montblanc box belong to, and can the pen be identified from it? **Answer:** The blue speckled outer box is not tied to any one model. Through the 1980s and the early 1990s it was the standard packaging in which every Meisterstück was delivered, from the ballpoint to the large piston filler. Neither a particular model nor a catalogue number can therefore be deduced from the box alone. It does allow one conclusion all the same, and that concerns the period: a pen found in this packaging points to a delivery within those years, provided box and contents demonstrably belong together. Conversely, the right box is no proof of authenticity, since packaging is often passed on separately and later paired up with whatever comes to hand. Empty boxes are indeed traded, but on their own they fetch very little. They add to value chiefly as part of a complete set of pen, box, outer carton and papers; such a set reliably makes more than the sum of its parts. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is a fountain pen marked Caressa 422, and when was it made? **Answer:** The Caressa 422 is a school pen from Montblanc's range of the 1970s. It belongs not to the Meisterstück line but to the plain everyday segment that Montblanc sold for decades alongside its high-grade pens, much as Pelikan did. At the time the range ran from the cheap school pen up to the large piston filler of the Meisterstück series; only considerably later did the company concentrate on the luxury end of the market. For valuation that means school pens of this kind are worth little in money terms; they turn up comparatively often and are not among the collectors' rarities. As pens to write with, on the other hand, they are frequently still faultless, since construction and mechanism are robust and simply made; after a thorough flush with lukewarm water many examples will write on without further ado. The stamped model number is the most reliable guide to identification, as these series are easily confused from the outside. --- **Question:** How large and how heavy is the Writers Edition F. Scott Fitzgerald fountain pen compared with the Charles Dickens and the Meisterstück 146? **Answer:** The fountain pen of the Writers Edition F. Scott Fitzgerald measures 139 mm capped and 121 mm uncapped; it weighs 28.5 g complete and 17.7 g without the cap. In its dimensions it thus corresponds closely to a Meisterstück 146, though the cap is a little longer and more bulbous. The Charles Dickens is distinctly larger and heavier: 149 mm capped, 130 mm uncapped, at a total weight of 43.2 g and 28.2 g without the cap. In diameter the Fitzgerald looks somewhat more substantial at the barrel than the Dickens, yet the two are equally thick at the section, so the writing hand notices hardly any difference, though the weight is another matter. Anyone set on a pen that is emphatically large and heavy is therefore better served by the Dickens, which plays more in the league of the 149; in bulk the Fitzgerald sits with the 146. The weight of the cap is worth allowing for as well: on the Dickens some 15 g of the total is cap, on the Fitzgerald just under 11 g, so that both pens become markedly top-heavy when posted and are usually written unposted. --- **Question:** Was the Montblanc Meisterstück 149 also fitted with a 14-carat nib, and from what period do those examples date? **Answer:** Yes, for a long time the 149 was supplied with 14-carat gold nibs. According to collectors, the change to 18 carat throughout coincided with the alteration in nib design: older nibs show a large platinised centre, later ones only a narrow platinised band. That change is dated to the early or mid 1990s, though not documented to the day. Fourteen-carat nibs are accordingly found on examples from the 1980s and before. The dating is not purely a matter of chronology, however, since the fineness also depended on the country a pen was destined for. Pens for the French market, for instance, always had 18-carat nibs, so older 149s with 18 ct turn up there as well. A 14 ct nib is thus no defect, and certainly no cause to doubt authenticity; it is a mark of age. In dating a 149 it should be considered together with the nib design, the cap-ring engraving, the feed and the form of the piston mechanism, since only the combination of these features allows a dependable placing. --- **Question:** Are Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire pens engraved “France” instead of “Germany” rarer or more valuable? **Answer:** Most Meisterstück pens carry the laser engraving “Germany” on the clip. A French marking is no anomaly, however: the caps and bodies of certain editions, notably various Meisterstück Solitaire versions and some Bohème editions, really were made in France. Montblanc does not manufacture every part itself but can draw on numerous production sites within the Richemont group, to which Cartier also belongs. For a time the Solitaire sleeves were produced in Pforzheim as well. Such pieces are accordingly fewer in number than the line's total output, but that does not make them rarities; where the metal parts were made has no discernible effect on collector value. The claim that French-made parts are finished to a “higher” standard is wishful thinking too: every supplied part has to meet the same quality requirements, and the overlays made in France are in no way inferior to those from German production. Listings that turn the “France” engraving into particular rarity or a price premium therefore have nothing to support them. --- **Question:** What does the 925 stamp on a gold-coloured Montblanc Meisterstück Le Grand rollerball mean, and which model is it? **Answer:** The 925 hallmark denotes sterling silver. A gold-coloured pen bearing it is therefore, as a rule, gilded sterling silver, that is to say vermeil. Montblanc lists such versions under the name Solitaire: what you have is a Meisterstück Le Grand whose metal sleeve is executed in silver or vermeil. Two variants are common, namely pieces made entirely in precious metal and versions in which only the cap is silver or vermeil while the body is black precious resin. Where the hallmarks sit shows which parts are involved. For establishing a value, the bare metal content is of little help. What counts are the prices actually realised for comparable pieces in comparable condition, that is, completed sales and not asking prices. The state of the gilding, scratches on the sleeve, completeness of box and papers and a mechanism in perfect working order all weigh far more heavily than the silver. --- **Question:** Where do the marks and fine scratches on the steel surface of a Montblanc Bohème Steel come from, and can they be removed? **Answer:** Marks and scratches on steel surfaces are no sign of a fault in the alloy or in manufacture. The dull patches that seem to appear out of nowhere are almost always residue from perspiration on the hands; they come away with a soft, dry cloth. If they remain visible despite careful polishing, the next step is the dealer the pen was bought from. Fine scratches, by contrast, are unavoidable on polished steel and appear even under exceptionally careful handling. The same thing is familiar from wristwatches on steel bracelets, whose folding clasp shows a dense web of fine scratches after only a short time however carefully it is treated. Simply laying the pen down on the desk pad, slipping it into a jacket pocket or letting it touch other objects inside a protective sleeve is enough. What stands out is that it is chiefly the exposed, smoothly polished surfaces that suffer, while the areas around the clip and the centre ring lie more sheltered and stay flawless for longer. The same goes for other models with steel bodies, such as the Solitaire versions in Stainless Steel or Hematite. Refinishing by a workshop is possible, but it usually only pays when a piece is to be sold. --- **Question:** Is a steel nib stamped “Iridium” with a stag logo, fitted to an old Montblanc piston filler of the 32x series, original? **Answer:** No. A steel nib marked “Iridium” with an animal logo, often a stag or deer within a circle, did not come from Montblanc. It is an off-the-shelf replacement nib of the sort once fitted by repair shops and stationers when the original nib had been damaged. The original nibs of these series are gold and carry the Montblanc marking with the fineness. A nib swap reduces collector value considerably, but it does not necessarily spoil the pen as a writer, since many of these replacement nibs write perfectly well. As to identifying the model itself: two gold-coloured cap rings, a tapered piston knob ribbed on the outside and an amber to brown ink window point to the piston fillers of the 32x series from the 1940s and 1950s. The 322 and the 332 are easily confused; placing one with certainty calls for a comparison of the whole pen both capped and uncapped, since length and proportions are what settle the matter. --- **Question:** Is the book “Montblanc CS1” a new edition of the “Montblanc Diary & Collector's Guide”, and what other standard works are there? **Answer:** No, “Montblanc CS1” is not a new edition of the older standard works but a book in its own right. It appeared in 2014 and covers the years 1908 to 1947, that is, the early history of the company and its models. The abbreviation picks up on “Montblanc Collectible Stars”, which collectors know as CS2. The third reference in common use is the large-format grey volume “The Montblanc Diary & Collector's Guide”. The titles complement one another, because they cover different periods and have different emphases. There is also a Montblanc book published by Danish collectors that has been available for some time. For identifying and dating older models, printed works of this kind remain the most reliable source, since they record catalogue illustrations, model numbers, nib variants and production periods systematically. Information scattered about the internet, by contrast, is often fragmentary and of uneven quality. --- **Question:** Did Montblanc produce Meisterstück ballpoints with a burgundy upper half and a black lower half as a factory item? **Answer:** No. Montblanc never offered two-tone pens of this kind, a burgundy upper half from the Le Grand range with a black lower half from the Classique range. Where a ballpoint turns up in this combination, two pens have been taken apart and their halves fitted together. The claim one occasionally reads, that the conversion was carried out “by Montblanc itself”, is untrue; factory specials of this sort do not exist. That the parts go together at all is down to the threads being similar across the model ranges. It by no means follows that the result will work: Le Grand and Classique differ in length and internal dimensions, so the twist mechanism often fails to engage cleanly because refill and guide do not match. Anyone considering such an offer should make a point of testing the mechanism for faultless operation and should pitch the price at the less valuable of the two halves. As a collector's item a hybrid like this counts for nothing. The sequence of numbers and letters with the country of origin on the clip says nothing about whether the parts belong together, since it relates only to the upper half. --- **Question:** In which colours and line widths are Montblanc ballpoint refills made, and is a brown refill available? **Answer:** Montblanc's refill range runs to black and blue in F, M and B, and to red and green in M only (as of 2008). A brown ballpoint refill is not among them and was not in the range earlier either; there is thus no factory answer for that colour. Anyone who still wants to write in brown must fall back on refills from other makers. Bear in mind that Montblanc uses a refill of its own shape and dimensions, so not every refill sold over the counter will go into the twist mechanism without modification. Since the range changes over the years, it is also worth checking the current choice of colours and widths with a dealer or at a boutique before ordering. The refill has no bearing on collector value. It is a consumable, and a refill that is not original does nothing to diminish the worth of a Meisterstück. --- **Question:** Which model is an inherited Montblanc ballpoint numbered 281, and what is it worth? **Answer:** The Montblanc 281 is a ballpoint made between 1971 and 1979. The model number is normally stamped on the pen itself and is thus the surest guide to identification. Examples of this series are commonly met with and belonged even at the time to the inexpensive part of the range. The explanation lies in the company's history: only from 1991 did Montblanc position itself consistently as a maker of luxury goods. Before that the range stretched from cheap school pens through everyday ballpoints to the Meisterstück, and the plain models were made in large numbers. The 281 is therefore worth little in money terms, far less than the name on it might suggest. As a sturdy everyday pen, on the other hand, it remains entirely serviceable; a new refill is usually all it takes to put it back into use. If there is any doubt whether the refills sold today will fit the old body, a specialist dealer should check, as refill formats have changed over the decades. In such cases the sentimental value of an inherited pen usually far exceeds its market value. --- **Question:** Why does a sterling silver Montblanc Meisterstück carry several 925 stamps and additional symbols such as a pair of scales? **Answer:** Multiple hallmarks on a silver pen are normal and no indication of a fake or of parts cobbled together. The various marks say essentially the same thing, namely that the piece is sterling silver of 925/1000 fineness. Since the European countries use different symbols for this, makers who supply several markets apply several marks accordingly. So one typically finds side by side the plain numerical mark 925, a maker's mark and an assay mark that is either country-specific or recognised under the Hallmarking Convention. A pair of scales with the fineness figure belongs to this group; other countries use animal or head symbols that are hard for the layman to read. To these is added the laser engraving on the clip with its identification number and country of origin. On the silver Meisterstück versions, the guilloché Solitaire models for instance, this combination is the rule. Where the hallmarks are missing altogether, on the other hand, caution is called for. --- **Question:** What can be done when the cap of a Montblanc Noblesse comes off too easily and no longer holds securely on the barrel? **Answer:** On the many Noblesse variants the cap pushes on and is held by friction alone. If it comes to pull off too easily with time, that fit has worn loose, which is ordinary wear. The grip cannot be adjusted, and with these models a repair is as a rule not worth it, because the labour and the hunt for spare parts come to more than the pen itself is worth. The most practical course is to pick up a second example cheaply as a donor and take its cap. Used Noblesse pens come up for sale regularly, often at prices well below the cost of a workshop repair. It is important to look for the same variant, as diameters, fittings and finishes differ from one version to another and a cap from elsewhere will otherwise sit just as badly. Until a replacement is found, the pen should not be carried loose in a pocket: a slack cap comes off unnoticed, and the unprotected nib is easily damaged in the process. --- **Question:** What are the approximate lengths and diameters of the Montblanc Meisterstück models 149, 146, 145, 144 and 114? **Answer:** The following approximate measurements apply to the Meisterstück range as it has been since the shapes of the 1950s were taken up again. The 149 piston filler measures 145 to 147 mm capped, with a cap diameter of about 16.5 mm and a barrel diameter of 15 mm. The LeGrand size takes in the 146 piston filler, the 147 Traveller cartridge pen, the 162 rollerball, the 168 Document Marker, the 161 ballpoint and the 167 propelling pencil; these run to about 145 mm in length with a cap diameter of 15 mm and a barrel diameter of 13 mm, the ballpoint to 148 mm and the pencil to as much as 150 mm. Before the Traveller was introduced the 146 was shorter, at about 142 mm. The Classique size is distinctly slimmer: the 144 converter pen, the 163 rollerball, the 164 ballpoint and the 165 propelling pencil measure 134 to 136 mm with a cap diameter of about 12 mm and a barrel diameter of 10.5 mm, while the 145 Chopin comes out slightly larger at about 138 mm long, 13 mm and 11.5 mm. The smallest size consists of the 114 Mozart cartridge pen at about 114 mm together with the 116 ballpoint and the 117 propelling pencil at about 106 mm, each with an 11 mm cap and a 9 mm barrel diameter. The figures were taken without callipers and are meant as a guide to relative size. --- **Question:** What do the nib designations EF, F, M, B, BB, OM, OB and OBB on fountain-pen nibs stand for? **Answer:** The letters denote the line width: XXF stands for the very finest grade, EF or XF for extra fine, F for fine, M for medium, B for broad, BB for extra broad and BBB or 3B for the broadest version of all. A leading O means an obliquely ground nib, so OM, OB and OBB are oblique nibs in medium, broad and extra broad. A K stands for a ball tip, a D for a particularly hard manifold nib. Beyond that there are special grinds such as stub, italic, music or zoom, and rare special widths such as O3B or BBXXX. The actual line width depends on the maker and shifts further with the paper used and the pressure applied, which is why width designations from different brands are only comparable up to a point. EF and F suit a small hand, B or BB are better for signatures, while M is regarded as a sound compromise. It is worth writing with the pen at a specialist dealer's before buying, if possible on the paper it will later be used on. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc editions count as particularly rare, and what prices were being asked for them around 2008? **Answer:** The editions regarded as particularly rare are those made in runs of fewer than about a hundred pieces. According to collectors these include the Skeleton versions in runs of 75 and of 333, the Sakura in 88 and 333, the Qing Dynasty in 88, the Charlie Chaplin in 88, the Karajan in 95 and the Brandenburg Gate in 89. The Patron of Arts Edition appears in the smaller run of 888 pieces, the Writers Edition in far larger numbers. With pieces of this kind market prices have little to do with the former shop prices, because there are more willing collectors than there are pens. In 2008 a fountain pen from the Hundertwasser edition was offered in the trade at 17,000 euros and a Brandenburg Gate at 15,000 euros, while a Skeleton from the run of 75 was valued at some 50,000 euros; a Skeleton from the run of 333 changed hands at auction for around 6,000 euros and in a direct sale for about 12,000 euros, and a Copernicus from the run of 888 was offered at 6,000 euros. More common editions, by contrast, often fail even to regain their original shop price. --- **Question:** What can be done when the refill of a Montblanc Meisterstück twist ballpoint does not come out far enough? **Answer:** The first thing to establish is how much of the refill tip is meant to show at all: on the Meisterstück 164 twist ballpoint the tip projects only about 3 mm from the opening, whereas with other brands it is 4 to 5 mm. That sparing appearance is inherent in the design and is not a fault. If too little really does come out, unscrew the ballpoint, take out the refill and push it into the opening of the front section from the front. If it will not go through, the small metal-rimmed opening has been bent, usually after a fall. It can carefully be opened up again with a mandrel or a pair of pointed scissors, which saves a repair costing around 50 euros. If the refill passes through without difficulty, the fault lies in the twist mechanism. Spare parts for current writing instruments are held only by the manufacturer itself, so the route then runs through a specialist dealer or the service department; mechanisms of older years generally do not fit newer bodies. --- **Question:** How are Montblanc's Noblesse and SlimLine series told apart, and what did the Noblesse I cost in the shops? **Answer:** The two ranges are often confused, dealers included. The surest distinguishing mark is the end of the clip: SlimLine writing instruments always carry a plastic star mounted there, Noblesse ones do not. The SlimLine sat below the Noblesse, was considerably cheaper and had no genuine gold nib; it is considered neither rare nor worth collecting. The Noblesse of the first series, the Noblesse I, by contrast has a 14 carat gold nib. Its last shop price was 98 DM. Valuations on the collectors' market are correspondingly modest: a used example from 1978 without box or papers was offered in 2010 first at 55 and then at 45 euros, which measured against the former shop price was still thought too much. The slim design stayed in the range for a long time, so pieces from the late 1970s are no rarity. --- **Question:** What should be watched for when buying an old Montblanc 144, and what sets it apart from its successor, the 145? **Answer:** The 144 converter pen has two well-known weak points. Its cap is a slip cap and is prone to cracks at the cap lip; in time, too, it no longer closes reliably. At the front by the nib sits a gold-plated ring which can break down under constant contact with ink. The cap lip, wear on the cap rings and the condition of that ring should therefore all be checked. The official successor is the 145, the Hommage à Frédéric Chopin, which matches the 164 ballpoint well in size and is regarded as more robust. The price of old examples depends almost entirely on condition, and beyond that on rare nib widths and on whether all the parts are original. The 144s of the 1950s were frequently on offer in 2006 and ranged from well under 100 to about 120 euros. The version with a flat cap top from around 1961 counts as a transitional model and turns up less often; whether that makes it worth more was a point on which collectors did not agree. --- **Question:** How is a solid gold Montblanc 149 Solitaire from the 1980s recognised, and what was it worth? **Answer:** The solid gold 149 of the 1980s is listed under the number 1497. It carries the fineness mark 750 for 18 carat and the figure 4810 on the nib, and its surface is covered with a fine thread guilloche. It is precisely that guilloche which makes it look at first glance like the gold-plated and the vermeil versions, so that it offers little as a status object and is comparatively little sought after among collectors. In the shops it cost the equivalent of just under 4,000 euros at the time. The solid gold 149 offered new around 2006 stood at a little over 10,000 euros and is not comparable with the older piece; listings that equate the two are misleading. On the second-hand market expectations in 2006 diverged widely: unused examples were offered at 6,800 euros and used ones at online auctions at close to 7,900 euros, while at collectors' fairs pieces lay on the tables for under 2,000 US dollars and still found no buyer. --- **Question:** Over what period was the Montblanc 220 SP made, and what does its platinum-plated version amount to? **Answer:** The 220 SP was made from 1971 to 1977. It has a matt brushed black body, platinum-plated trim and a 14 carat gold nib with a rhodium-plated surface. Rhodium-plated or platinum-plated nibs are not made of rhodium or platinum but of ordinary yellow gold with a very thin coating; gold-plated or platinum-plated caps, clips and rings are likewise no more than plated. The precious-metal content therefore plays no part in the value. The 220 was not a Meisterstück but a standard writing instrument a step above the school pens, and it was built in large numbers; exact production figures are not known. The SP version turns up about as often as the 220 and the 220 P and so commands no premium. Around 2011 ordinary 220s changed hands at online auctions for 25 to 95 euros depending on condition, and a 220 SP in very good condition was sold by a dealer for 125 euros. Asking prices of 140 to 160 euros were considered too high, especially as a Meisterstück LeGrand 146 could already be had for that. --- **Question:** Why is a Montblanc fountain pen better bought from an authorised dealer than through online marketplaces? **Answer:** Gold nibs are ground in by hand and therefore vary even within one and the same nib width; only in a shop can you check before buying whether a particular pen suits your hand. It is worth taking along your own everyday paper for the test, since the coated paper laid out in the trade gives a different feel. Buying from an authorised dealer brings the manufacturer's warranty and, in the early days, usually a free nib exchange should the width turn out not to suit after all; sellers on auction and mail-order platforms are as a rule not authorised dealers, and there only the statutory warranty applies. Discounts of about five per cent can be negotiated in the specialist trade. On price levels in 2013: the Meisterstück 146 was listed at 560 euros, while a used 146 Platinum Line could be had second-hand for around 250 euros; fountain pens wear out hardly at all and can be polished. As regards the range, it should be borne in mind that the Donation Pens, the Johannes Brahms for instance, correspond to the 146 in size, and that the Franz Kafka is strictly speaking not a piston filler but has a permanently fitted converter. --- **Question:** How is the market value of an old Montblanc Meisterstück worked out, a green-striped 144 G for instance? **Answer:** Only prices actually realised count, not asking prices, starting prices or hoped-for prices, since anyone can name a figure. As a guide for 2009: a striped 146 changed hands for 800 euros, and the smaller striped models 142 and 144 lie well below that. Without a precise description of condition and telling photographs any valuation is guesswork, since with old writing instruments in particular it is the condition that sets the price. The prices charged by recognised restorers are no yardstick either: anyone parting with a refurbished piece with a guarantee and a certificate achieves considerably more than a private seller. Conversely, when buying from an unknown source one should set aside about 30 per cent of the purchase price for restoration. Figures from the manufacturer, too, should be treated with caution; Montblanc at one time published collector prices of its own for Patron of Arts writing instruments, which were not borne out in the trade and later vanished from the website. --- **Question:** Which historical model do the Montblanc Hemingway and Golden Dragon 2000 editions go back to? **Answer:** Both editions take up the shape and proportions of the Meisterstück 139 of the 1930s, which collectors regard as the epitome of the classic Meisterstück form. What has been carried over above all is the cigar-shaped silhouette and the characteristic clip; on the Hemingway it is executed in the manner of a tie clip. What divides opinion about this edition is less the shape than the strong colouring, which is not to every collector's taste. On price levels: an unused Hemingway ballpoint with case and white outer box changed hands in 2005 for 630 euros; on the American market, prices in dollars for comparable pieces were appreciably higher. --- **Question:** Did Montblanc make rulers and highlighters, and what did the 167 propelling pencil from the LeGrand line cost? **Answer:** Montblanc offered rulers as part of the Bohème collection. They have a holder permanently attached and are thus purely desk accessories, not meant to be carried about; at auction in 2005 they stood at around 111 euros. Highlighters, collectors report, existed only as the model 166 in black with gold-plated trim, more rarely in burgundy; a platinum-plated version is not documented. The LeGrand line, which matches the Meisterstück 146 in size, includes the 167 propelling pencil. The platinum-plated 167 P cost 215 euros in the specialist trade in 2005 plus just under 7 euros postage, less three per cent for payment in advance, and was available as a matter of course from any Montblanc dealer. --- **Question:** What did Montblanc's leather care set cost, and under what number could it be ordered? **Answer:** Montblanc's leather care set carried the identification number 02756 and cost about 13 to 15 euros in the middle of the 2000s. Ordinary stationers as a rule did not stock it and in some cases had not even heard of it, because they carried no Montblanc leather goods and so could not readily obtain the set either. It was reliably available in the Montblanc boutiques, which usually had it in stock; an authorised specialist dealer could order it in. Anyone looking for accessories of this kind is therefore best advised to ask directly at a boutique and quote the identification number. --- **Question:** What is a Montblanc set of the 224 fountain pen and the 284 ballpoint, and how is the 585 hallmark to be read? **Answer:** The 224 fountain pen and the 284 ballpoint were made by Montblanc between 1971 and 1973. They do not belong to the Meisterstück range but to the company's second, cheaper everyday series. The imprint gives the brand, the country of origin and the model number; the hallmark on the nib reads 585 and stands for 14 carat gold. There is no such sequence as 858; it rests on a misreading. The caps of the fountain pen and the ballpoint are merely gold-plated on this model and therefore cannot carry a precious-metal hallmark; Montblanc never made a precious-metal version here. Collector value remains modest even for unused pieces, because the series is neither part of the Meisterstück family nor genuinely historical and turns up cheaply at flea markets and fairs on a regular basis. As an everyday fountain pen with a matching ballpoint, on the other hand, such a set takes some beating. --- **Question:** What did the Montblanc Meisterstück 146 and 149 cost new in the shops around 2007, and what were used examples worth? **Answer:** New from a specialist dealer, the 146 LeGrand piston filler in the platinum-plated version stood at around 330 euros in 2007, provided the dealer gave the 20 to 25 per cent discount common at the time; the larger 149 cost about 520 euros new. The second-hand market lay well below that: 170 to 190 euros were being asked on auction platforms for as-new 146s, at a collectors' fair an as-new example changed hands for 150 euros, and a 146 together with a 144 could be had with a little patience for 220 to 250 euros. What decides the valuation of used Meisterstück pens is condition and year of manufacture; examples from the 1980s fetch appreciably less than current models, collectors report. Asking prices above the price when new cannot be achieved on the collectors' market, and listings without a photograph, experience shows, meet with no response. --- **Question:** In what sizes was the Montblanc Solitaire Ramses II available, and how well does the vermeil surface stand up to everyday use? **Answer:** The Solitaire Ramses II was made as the 114 Mozart cartridge pen, as the Classique 144 with the article number 20144 and as the LeGrand 146, with a matching ballpoint and propelling pencil. The line was already out of production by the middle of the 2000s. Complete sets of fountain pen, ballpoint and propelling pencil were offered in 2007 at around 1,700 euros, individual fountain pens at about 450 euros (Mozart), 500 euros (Classique) and 800 euros (LeGrand) according to size. The vermeil surface, that is gilded sterling silver, stands up to everyday use perfectly well and takes daily writing in its stride. A writing instrument of this kind should, however, be carried in a case of its own rather than loose in a pocket, so that it does not get scratched. Caution is advisable when buying second-hand, because heavier signs of use are readily passed over in auction descriptions and worn pieces are offered as new. --- **Question:** What mechanisms did the Montblanc Noblesse ballpoint have, and what did it cost in the shops at the end? **Answer:** The first series of the Noblesse ballpoint initially had a rocker mechanism: pressing the top pushed the refill out, pressing the clip drew it back in. Because this clip mechanism proved too prone to failure, it was replaced during the production run by the usual push mechanism, in which the refill is moved solely by the button on the top. The Noblesse line is frequently confused with the SL line, in sales listings as well; they are two separate ranges. Among the Noblesse versions were an all-steel model with a gold-plated clip as well as silver-plated and platinum-plated variants with a striped guilloche. The all-steel version with the gold-plated clip last cost 49 Deutsche Mark in the shops in 1992; on the collectors' market around 2010 it was hard to find under 100 euros, even though ballpoints otherwise attract little attention from collectors. --- **Question:** Which versions made up the Montblanc dragon series of 2000, and what did the most elaborate piece cost on release? **Answer:** For the Year of the Dragon Montblanc brought out a series of four versions in all in 2000. Besides the plainly finished Golden Dragon of the 2000 vintage, these comprise the Imperial Dragon, which according to collectors was supplied both with a sterling silver clip and with a solid gold one, and a top version set with brilliant-cut diamonds. Its launch price in 2000 was 11,000 euros. The smallest limitation in the range is known among collectors simply as the 88, after the number made. Within a few years of release, the sums asked for the elaborate versions on auction platforms were well above the issue prices. Depending on maker and model, dragon motifs appear on the barrel, on the nib or on the clip; other brands have issued such pieces too. --- **Question:** How do the Montblanc Meisterstück 144, 145 and 147 differ, and what was a used 144 worth around 2007? **Answer:** The Meisterstück 144 Classique is a piston filler and the smallest and cheapest Meisterstück; because of the huge numbers made it is considered of little collector interest, which does not make it inferior. It was discontinued and replaced by the very similar 145 Chopin, which is slightly larger, has a screw cap and is more carefully finished. The 147 Traveller, by contrast, is a pure cartridge pen with no piston and no ink window, which makes it distinguishable from the 146 in photographs; on the 146 the ink window is often only visible against the light, but the model number is on the cap ring. A used 144 in faultless condition cost around 100 euros in 2007, which was regarded as reasonable; damage to the barrel, cap or clip, or a nib that needs replacing, soon undoes that price, though. The commonest damage is hairline cracks in the cap, which come from pushing the cap on too roughly. A used replacement star crown could be had for a few euros at the time, whereas the factory service charged around 50 euros. All Meisterstück pens in the Solitaire range have an 18-carat gold nib. --- **Question:** Until when was the Montblanc Meisterstück 144 Solitaire in silver made, and which guilloche is the rarer one? **Answer:** The Meisterstück 144 Solitaire in silver was discontinued in 1998. It was offered with two surface patterns: the widespread thread guilloche and the markedly rarer grain guilloche, also known as barleycorn. Like all Solitaire models it has an 18-carat gold nib; case and sleeve, service guide and engraving voucher were part of the delivery. Even years after production ended, remaining stock turned up in clearance sales at stationers, though mostly in the vermeil version. A silver piece in as-new condition changed hands among collectors in 2007 for around 305 euros including insured postage, which was considered a fair price. Almost all the pieces on offer have an M nib; fine widths such as EF are hard to find on the second-hand market. --- **Question:** What is the blind cap of a Montblanc 326, and why should its markings match the nib fitted? **Answer:** The Montblanc 326 is a push-button filler. The cap screwed onto the push button at the rear is properly called the blind cap. On this model it is marked, namely with the model number 326 and the nib width, M or OB for instance. Blind cap and fitted nib should therefore agree if a piece is to be true to the original. Single blind caps are hard to come by, because they are easily lost in use and are correspondingly rarely offered on their own. Anyone wanting to put a discrepancy right is therefore usually better off changing the nib than the blind cap: nibs in the common M width are far more plentiful for this size of pen than a matching blind cap. Alternatively, a cheaply acquired 326 in poor condition will serve as a parts donor. --- **Question:** Where do you get replacement nibs for a Montblanc Carrera of the 1970s when the factory no longer supplies them? **Answer:** For the Carrera, which Montblanc made in the 1970s, the house holds no spare parts any more; an enquiry to the manufacturer in 2010 was answered in exactly those terms. Nibs are therefore only to be had on the second-hand market. The dealers and restorers specialising in old writing instruments, who can also be met at pen shows, have proved reliable sources; those named around 2010 included Maxpens, Penboard and Interpens. That route even turned up a nib in the rarer OB width at the time. Single Carrera nibs also surface in internet auctions now and then. Anyone with patience buys a faulty pen of the same model at auction and uses it as a parts donor. On old models nibs are generally the hardest part to obtain, because they are the most frequently damaged. --- **Question:** How do you clean a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 before first use, and what do you wipe the nib with? **Answer:** Ordinary tap water, cold to lukewarm, is enough; additives such as washing-up liquid have no place in a fountain pen. Hot water is to be avoided because it damages the piston seal. Distilled water is only needed where the tap water is very hard. You draw the piston up and empty it several times until the water stays clear; the front end may also stand in a water bath for a longer period, since on newer models the piston mechanism is made of plastic and comes to no harm. A lint-free cloth is suitable for wiping nib and body after filling; a paper tissue serves the purpose just as well and can be thrown away afterwards. As for prices: in the closing-down sale of a specialist shop the 146 fountain pen and the 164 ballpoint together cost 550 euros with a 30 per cent discount (as of 2011). --- **Question:** What is a Montblanc 744-N in 585 gold, and what price was realistic for it in 2011? **Answer:** The 744-N is the gold version from the Montblanc 74x range of the 1950s. The body is hallmarked 585 in several places and additionally carries the model number 744-N. Dedication engravings are common on these gold models, because they were readily used as company or anniversary gifts; an engraving such as “Allianz Leben 1958” does date the piece, but it reduces its collector value. Shallowly cut lettering can be polished out. As for price: an asking price of 3,500 euros was regarded as wildly excessive in 2011, with serious bids at around 700 euros. Montblanc customer service will identify models on request from photographs sent in; no market value can be derived from such information, however. --- **Question:** How can the plain Montblanc piston fillers of the 1960s be identified from their cap rings? **Answer:** In the 1960s Montblanc carried three versions of plain piston fillers, each of them in two sizes; these include the model numbers 12/14, 22/24 and 32/34. The versions can be told apart above all by the cap ring: one has a single narrow ring, a second two narrow rings, the third a broader ring with two stylised mountain peaks opposite one another, reminiscent of a bishop's mitre. Anyone who knows the ring pattern and the size can therefore assign a piece to a model number fairly reliably. These basic models were widely sold and are still regularly offered at collectors' fairs today, so an equivalent piece can be found without much trouble. Names and advertising engravings were commonly applied to the barrel at the time, not to the piston knob, where they would have remained invisible. Tracking down an original piece with a particular engraving is practically hopeless; an engraving can, however, be cut afterwards if a template is available. --- **Question:** How do you tell the Montblanc Noir et Noir from the regular Bohème, and was there a propelling pencil to go with it? **Answer:** According to collectors, the early Bohème version with the ring engraving Noir et Noir and the identically styled Rouge et Noir appeared only as fountain pens and as ballpoints; no matching propelling pencil was built. Anyone looking for a pencil in the same style therefore turns to the regular Bohème Noir, which as a running edition covered every form of writing instrument and was available through specialist retailers. The Bohème Noir propelling pencil cost around 230 to 255 euros in 2006. The two variants can be told apart reliably by the cap ring: the Noir et Noir has only one broad ring, whereas the regular Bohème has an additional narrow ring above and below the broad one. --- **Question:** Does a personal commemorative engraving on a Montblanc Meisterstück 149 raise its value to collectors? **Answer:** As a rule it does not. Engraving a Meisterstück 149 is a standard service and can be carried out in any number; a commemorative reference therefore makes the pen neither rare nor a Limited Edition, even though only a few pieces will carry the same wording. For collectors of classic Montblanc pens an engraving of this kind tends to reduce the value, because it alters the original condition. The engraving can be worth something at most to enthusiasts of the subject concerned, for instance with dedications to a ship, a club or an anniversary. Anyone wanting to part with a piece engraved in this way will therefore find buyers in that group rather than among Montblanc collectors. --- **Question:** How does the Montblanc Bohème differ from the Meisterstück 144, and how durable is the twist mechanism of the retractable nib? **Answer:** The Bohème is a cartridge pen with a retractable nib which, once the cap has been removed, is wound out of the barrel by a twist mechanism. Nib and feed correspond largely to those of the Solitaire versions of the 144 of the day, and there is hardly any difference in the way they write; against the plain black or burgundy 144, the Bohème counts as the better appointed. It was offered in numerous variants, among them Platinum Crystal, Marron in red gold and a version in black stingray leather, each with a coloured stone on the cap. No failures of the mechanism are known; shortly after the first variants were introduced the steel used for it was changed, and since then it has been regarded as trouble-free, even in daily use over many years. Its weak point is reckoned to be the exposed thread of the twist mechanism, in which dust collects. The Bohème is one of the small formats, but is larger than the Mozart, and its length makes it a good travelling pen. The 144 is very slim; as a rule of thumb for ergonomics, the section should be about the diameter of the little finger of the writing hand. --- **Question:** What does the engraved serial number of a Montblanc pen reveal about the model, the date of manufacture and the intended market? **Answer:** The multi-digit combination of letters and figures carried by modern Montblanc pens is a serial or production number. It permits no conclusion about the model: neither the range nor the specification can be read from it, and there is no publicly available key to it. Internally the manufacturer can use the number to establish when the pen was made and which market it was intended for; for the owner it says nothing. The only way to identify a model is therefore through shape, dimensions, fittings and cap ring, together with a comparison against the manufacturer's model surveys. A ballpoint or fountain pen carries no further numbers as a rule; the serial number is the only individual marking. --- **Question:** What is the best way to sell an inherited collection of several hundred fountain pens, piece by piece or as a whole? **Answer:** Valuation comes before selling. The value of a fountain pen depends decisively on its condition, which makes informative photographs and a realistic price expectation of one's own indispensable. Anyone who offers a collection without a price and without pictures regularly receives very low bids only: buyers have an interest in buying cheaply, and without illustrations it remains an open question what faults the pieces have. Selling individual pieces through an auction platform as a rule brings in more than parting with the whole lot, but it costs time. Anyone who finds the effort too great can place the collection with a professional pen dealer on commission; specialist collectors' marketplaces on the internet also take offers of this kind. With limited editions, the original box and complete papers noticeably raise the price achievable. --- **Question:** Under what motto did Montblanc celebrate its centenary in 2006, and what printed company history is there for it? **Answer:** Montblanc celebrated the company's centenary in 2006 and placed the anniversary year under the motto Soulmakers for 100 Years. It was accompanied by an elaborate presence on the internet with accounts of the craftsmanship and the history of the firm, and by anniversary writing instruments whose most striking design feature was a diamond set into the cap top. The printed company history available is the Kleine Chronik des Hauses Montblanc by Kurt Grobecker, published in 1989. By the centenary it was already more than sixteen years old; no anniversary volume of the company's own appeared to accompany it, so that Grobecker's account remained the authoritative source from the company's own circle for the early history of the firm. --- **Question:** When did Montblanc move the slots in the nib holder of the Meisterstück 149 from 6 and 12 o'clock to about 4 and 8 o'clock? **Answer:** The nib holder, the component that carries nib and feed inside the section, changed its side openings on the Meisterstück 149 in the course of production. Older holders have the slots at the twelve and six o'clock positions, later ones at about four and eight o'clock. The feature is therefore useful for roughly dating a pen and also helps to spot parts fitted later as replacements. The exact date of the change has not been conclusively established. Collectors report that examples from 1999 already have the slots at four and eight o'clock, as do all later pieces from the years 2011 to 2015. The change must therefore have taken place by the end of the 1990s at the latest. --- **Question:** How is the Montblanc Meisterstück 146 LeGrand specified in the Platinum version? **Answer:** The Meisterstück 146 LeGrand in the Platinum version, catalogued as the 146 P, has barrel and cap of polished black precious resin with the white Montblanc star inlaid in the cap top. In place of the gold-plated furniture of the standard version it carries three platinum-plated cap rings with an embossed inscription and a platinum-plated clip into which an individual number has been applied. It fills by piston filler; the nib is a 14-carat gold nib with platinum decoration and was available in the usual nib widths. As to the second-hand market: an example bought in January 2007, used only a few times, free of any signs of wear and complete with its case, changed hands in a private sale in 2009 for 150 euros. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the Montblanc StarWalker Red Gold introduced in 2012, and how do the StarWalker nibs write? **Answer:** In 2012 Montblanc added the Red Gold version to the StarWalker range: a metal body with a red-gold-coloured coating, the fountain pen listed by the maker under article number 106867. The line sits in the range as a modern-looking alternative to the Meisterstück. Collectors who have used them report that the nibs of the StarWalker fountain pens are decidedly rigid: they have no flex and give barely at all under pressure, so the line stays uniform. Anyone who values soft, yielding nibs with line variation should bear that in mind and, if at all possible, try the pen before buying. --- **Question:** How common is a Montblanc Safety No. 2 with the Simplo imprint, and can a missing cap be bought as a replacement? **Answer:** Safety pens bearing the size figure 2 are among the more frequently surviving Montblanc models of the 1920s; it is above all the very large and the very small sizes that are scarce. Characteristic features are the Simplo and Original Montblanc imprints on the barrel, the repetition of the size figure on the rear knob and on the nib that screws out, and the marking 14 Carat for the gold of the nib. Simplo Filler Pen Co. was the original company name, later dropped in favour of Montblanc. Spare parts for pens this old are hard to come by; auctions and collectors' fairs remain the usual sources, and patience is needed. With caps there is the added difficulty that in those days each cap was individually fitted to the thread of its own pen. A cap from an identical model will therefore not necessarily fit and may have to be re-worked. --- **Question:** Was there ever a white Meisterstück from Montblanc, and which series do pale-coloured Montblanc pens come from? **Answer:** There has never been a white Meisterstück. The Meisterstück line was made in black precious resin, to which are added the Solitaire versions in precious metal; pale body colours are no part of this range. Anyone who sees a white or beige pen of Meisterstück-like shape, in a size between the 145 and the 146, is therefore in all probability looking at a piece from a different range. The likeliest candidates are the Generation and Noblesse series, which were made in pale tones with gold-coloured furniture. Conversely, a pen expressly offered as a white Meisterstück is reason to examine the inscription and the model number with particular care. --- **Question:** Is the designation Meisterstück LeGrand correct for the 149, and how did the internet discount offers of 2005 come about? **Answer:** At Montblanc, LeGrand denotes a size, namely that of the 146 piston filler and the matching ballpoint pens, propelling pencils and rollerballs. The 149 is the larger flagship model with an 18-carat gold nib and is not listed as a LeGrand. Dealer descriptions such as Meisterstück LeGrand Fountain Pen 149 are therefore wrong; they arise because on selling platforms the title and description are entered by third-party sellers themselves. The discounts shown are likewise to be read with caution. In 2005 the goods came not from the manufacturer but from dealers selling through the marketplace function of the large platforms, where they were not allowed to advertise their own businesses. On this reading the reduction displayed refers to a comparison price the seller has entered himself, not to any price fixed by the manufacturer; Montblanc did not sell directly through such platforms at the time. --- **Question:** What does the description reversible mean on the belts in Montblanc's Classic line? **Answer:** The Montblanc belts listed as reversible are just that. The leather strap is finished black on one side and brown on the other. The buckle can be released, turned round and fixed again, so that a single belt can be worn in either colour and chosen to suit whatever else is being worn. They were sold in, among others, the Classic line of the leather range, which sits alongside the writing instruments in the boutiques. --- **Question:** Are Montblanc's leather cases made in-house or by an outside manufacturer? **Answer:** According to collectors, Montblanc has its own leather-goods production, which goes back to the firm of Seeger that it took over; cases, folders and bags are thus not made by suppliers changing at will. Even so, the market contains pen cases from other suppliers that closely resemble the Montblanc Siena case in shape, type of leather and even in name, differing only in details such as an additional magnetic closure. Whether such parallels point to a shared production or merely to imitation of a successful model has never been established. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is a silver-plated fountain pen with a gold-coloured clip and a 750 nib? **Answer:** A silver-plated Montblanc fountain pen whose barrel end, clip and the surround of the emblem are picked out in gold belongs to the Noblesse II range. The Noblesse is the slim, straight-sided range that ran alongside the Meisterstück and was offered in, among other finishes, a silver-plated version. Despite the comparatively modest range, the nib is gold and is stamped 750 as well as 18 K/ct. In quality the Noblesse ranks below the Montblanc ranges on sale today; it is to be regarded as a solid everyday pen, not as a flagship of the brand. --- **Question:** What lies behind it when the same serial number of a limited Montblanc edition turns up both at a dealer and in an auction? **Answer:** Limited Montblanc editions carry an individual number engraved on them, 1947 out of a total of 4810 pieces for example; the frequently used limitation figure of 4810 alludes to the height of the mountain in metres. The same number can therefore appear on one pen only. Anyone who finds it at the same time in a dealer's display case and in an auction listing is almost never dealing with a fake, but with a seller who has taken over someone else's photographs, or with a dealer who sells online as well. Borrowed product photographs are nonetheless a warning sign to be taken seriously. Anyone who uses them cannot possibly own the piece shown in that form; in individual cases nothing at all, or a fake, was delivered in the end. Before buying it is therefore advisable to ask for the seller's own pictures of the actual pen on offer. --- **Question:** When did Montblanc bring out a smartwatch in the Summit, and what platform did it run on? **Answer:** Montblanc presented its first smartwatch, the Summit, in 2017. It ran on the Android operating system for watches; in this the brand followed other makers of expensive watches which already had connected models in their ranges. The Summit took its place among a group of technology- and fashion-led products that also included protective cases for smartphones and motorcycle helmets. Among collectors the move met with reservations. A luxury product lives by remaining usable for a long time, whereas electronic devices are obsolete within a few years and software support has a limited life. The concern was above all about the dilution of a brand image that otherwise rests on timeless usefulness. --- **Question:** How can the age of a Montblanc Meisterstück 164 be determined, and can a lost clip be replaced? **Answer:** The Meisterstück 164 is the ballpoint pen in the Classique size and was in the range without a break for decades. The age of an example therefore cannot be deduced from the model number alone; dating is possible at best via the serial number, and only the manufacturer can give that information. A lost clip can be replaced through the Montblanc service; the price of this spare part has to be obtained from them as well. Whether the replacement is worth it before a sale depends on the market price: the 164 is traded frequently, and where second-hand prices are low the cost of obtaining the part can exceed whatever extra it brings in. --- **Question:** How can a piece of celluloid broken out of the rear barrel end of a Montblanc Meisterstück 139 be repaired? **Answer:** Old celluloid grows brittle over the years. Any radial stress — from a threaded joint between barrel and filling unit that sits too tightly, for instance — then drives hairline cracks onwards until a shell breaks away at the rear end of the barrel. That is the typical cause of damage on a Meisterstück 139. A proven repair shortens the barrel by ten millimetres at the rear and turns it down as far as the start of the ink window to a shoulder reduced by 0.8 millimetres in diameter. Over this shoulder goes a newly made hard-rubber sleeve, pushed on as a sliding fit and secured with epoxy resin. The thread, 36 turns to the inch, is then cut into the rear end of the sleeve, and with slight radial play between the thread flanks so that no fresh stress can build up in the celluloid. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire Silver Fibre Guilloche, and when did it appear? **Answer:** The Meisterstück Solitaire Silver Fibre Guilloche came into the Montblanc range as a new model in 2005. It combines fibreglass with a guilloché overlay in 925 sterling silver and thus belongs to the Solitaire line, which executes the Meisterstück with overlays in precious metals and other materials. Collectors took the view that the model was meant to replace the Solitaire Pure Silver. That change was regarded critically at the time, since the plain solid-silver version was thought likely to be in greater demand. --- **Question:** Where does the Montblanc Pix 283 fit in, and how rare is this short pencil? **Answer:** Pix is the name Montblanc uses for its pencils. The Pix 283 is a short, stubby version in the format of a waistcoat-pocket pencil and thus considerably smaller than the slim, longer Pix models offered to go with writing sets. Among collectors the 283 counts not as an everyday item but as decidedly scarce; the short formats sold in smaller numbers and have survived less often than the standard lengths. For valuation, what matters besides the model number is above all a working mechanism, an undamaged clip and a legible engraving. --- **Question:** Until when was the Montblanc Meisterstück 164 in bordeaux part of the regular range? **Answer:** The Meisterstück 164 ballpoint is the Classique size and was listed in bordeaux as well as in black. Collectors report that this colour was phased out in the early 2000s; by 2003 at the latest it could no longer be had from the regular range. Individual boutiques still had remaining stock years afterwards, elsewhere in Europe too, and sold it at the usual prices, so it was worth asking around the specialist trade for longer than one might expect. When buying second-hand, check that the pen is complete: auction lots frequently lack the case and the guarantee booklet, which reduces both the value and the ability to trace where the pen came from. --- **Question:** How long is the Montblanc Meisterstück 149 with the cap posted? **Answer:** The large Meisterstück 149 piston filler is usually quoted at an overall length of about 6¾ inches, roughly 17 centimetres. That figure is for the pen with the cap posted, which is how the model is normally written with. Capped, collectors give the 149 as just under 15 centimetres, with a barrel diameter of about 1.6 centimetres. That makes it the largest model in the Meisterstück range and considerably more substantial than the 146 and the smaller 145. The measurements are also useful when assessing an offer, because copies frequently get the proportions wrong. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc models come into question for a slim cartridge pen with a brushed metal barrel from the 1970s and 1980s? **Answer:** For slim cartridge pens of that period with a brushed metal barrel, the star in the cap top and the brand name engraved on the nib, three ranges come into question above all: the Turbo, the SlimLine and the Noblesse. All three were sold as slim everyday pens alongside the Meisterstück and differ in the shape of the cap, in the clip and in the transition to the section. A firm identification is only possible with the pen in hand, or from sharp photographs of the cap top, the clip and the nib. Slim metal pens of those years look much alike from one maker to the next, so models by other brands are regularly taken for Montblancs. --- **Question:** How did UBS assess future market growth for high-quality writing instruments in 2011? **Answer:** A study of luxury brands from the perspective of the financial markets, published in Marketing Review St. Gallen in 2011, reports the UBS expectation that the market for high-quality writing instruments would grow by around three per cent over the medium term. That forecast was below the figure for watches and jewellery, but above the one for clothing and interiors. This assessment contradicted a study reported in Wirtschaftswoche a few years earlier, which assumed a shrinking market; no reason for the difference was given. What is documented for those years above all is that Montblanc, according to the annual reports of its parent company Richemont, grew markedly, while a good many competitors lost ground. --- **Question:** Is it normal, as the factory built them, for the upper and lower halves of a Montblanc StarWalker ballpoint not to sit flush? **Answer:** No. As supplied, the parts meet flush. A visible step or gap at the joint almost always means that a component is missing, usually the front cone, which is a separate part. In second-hand listings this is often buried away in the description, while the photographs barely show the defect at all. If a bent clip comes on top of that, a repair is rarely worth it. Spare parts for ballpoints are hard to come by, and the cost of a cone and a clip soon exceeds what the pen is worth, quite apart from the fact that both faults point to rough handling. --- **Question:** Which Meisterstück ballpoint is the proper counterpart to the 149 fountain pen? **Answer:** In size terms the counterpart to the Meisterstück 149 piston filler is the 161 ballpoint. The 164 belongs to the smaller Classique format and therefore goes better with the 145 and 144 fountain pens. The 116 is the smallest ballpoint in the range and is both shorter and appreciably slimmer. The numbering of Meisterstück writing instruments follows no single logic across all the types; it assigns shape and size within each type separately. Anyone putting a matching set together should therefore go by the measurements rather than by the sequence of numbers. --- **Question:** What model numbers does the Montblanc MonteRosa carry, and how do the two versions differ? **Answer:** Collectors date the MonteRosa to the early 1950s, when it appeared as a plainer piston filler below the Meisterstück range and was widely used as a school pen. The factory designation is 042 for the version with a steel nib and 042 G for the one with a gold nib; the added G thus stands for the gold nib and is the only difference in the designation. Since the two look almost identical from the outside, what settles the matter when buying is a look at the nib. The gold-nib version is generally rated more highly among collectors. The model name follows Montblanc's usual practice of naming its cheaper ranges after mountain peaks. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc StarWalker rollerball be converted to take a ballpoint refill? **Answer:** No. At Montblanc the rollerball and the ballpoint are separate models with different internals. The ballpoint refill is too thick for the rollerball barrel, so the conversion founders on the diameter alone. On top of that the construction differs: the StarWalker rollerball has a removable cap, the ballpoint a twist mechanism in the barrel. Anyone who wants both kinds of writing therefore needs two pens. Montblanc offers its own refills for the rollerball in various colours and line widths; they are replaced complete, as topping them up is not provided for. --- **Question:** Why does the cap with the star emblem sometimes stick on the Montblanc Meisterstück 161, and how is it freed? **Answer:** On the Meisterstück 161 ballpoint the cap carrying the star is not pushed on but screwed to the barrel on a thread. When it sticks, it has usually been done up too tightly, or dried dirt is jamming the thread. It should therefore be released solely by unscrewing it gently anticlockwise; pulling does not help and damages the thin threaded collar in the precious resin. Grippy rubber matting or strips of soft leather improve the purchase without scratching the gold-plated parts; pliers are unsuitable. The fact that the front section with the refill unscrews easily says nothing about the cap, as the two joints are independent of each other. If the cap stays put, a trip to a repairer is safer than applying more force. --- **Question:** Since when has Montblanc sold directly through its own online shop, and what was available there at first? **Answer:** Montblanc changed its sales strategy in 2012 and opened its own online shop on the company website; until then sales had run exclusively through boutiques and authorised specialist dealers. The range remained narrow at first and consisted mainly of current series and Special Editions, while current Limited Editions were reserved for the shops. At the same time, the corporate and business-customer pages still showed versions that had long since been discontinued, such as the Meisterstück 149 with the older nib whose centre was fully platinum-plated, or the Meisterstück 144, which was already out of production. Illustrations on a maker's own pages are therefore of only limited use as evidence of which version was genuinely available at a given date. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc ballpoint range has a lever mechanism, and in what versions does it come? **Answer:** Montblanc ballpoints on which the refill is operated not by a push button or a twist mechanism but by a lever on the barrel belong, according to collectors, to the 780 series. Within the Montblanc range this construction was confined to a few series, which makes the lever a useful first identifying feature. The series was made in numerous colours and with different trim, polished as well as matt. Anyone looking for further examples of the same construction is therefore better guided by the model number than by colour or trim, since the same basic shape occurs in very different guises. --- **Question:** Has Montblanc ever held discounted sales events, such as charity sales or boutique private sales? **Answer:** Discounts are the exception at Montblanc, but they have occurred in two forms. In December 2004 a charity sale was held at the leather goods works in Offenbach, at which mainly discontinued lines were sold off at heavy reductions, watches, leather goods, sunglasses and accessories as well as writing instruments. A Solitaire Hematite Steel LeGrand cost 480 euros there instead of 680. It was not a fixture, however; the following December there was no sale. More regular are the private sales held by individual boutiques, to which registered customers are invited. Around 2006 the discount on writing instruments was about 30 per cent. Anyone hoping to catch one is best advised to get onto the customer list at their nearest boutique. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc writing instruments could be had for 60 to 80 euros in 2007, and could they be engraved? **Answer:** New Montblanc goods started at around 230 euros for a ballpoint in 2007. The only current model in the 60 to 80 euro bracket was the Scenium, available from well-stocked specialist shops and from the boutiques. There was no fountain pen in this line, and the Scenium is comparatively slim, having been designed for the pen loop of a personal organiser; it is not regarded as a classic. Otherwise only older pens came into consideration at that budget, above all the 1970s fountain pens numbered 12, 22 and 32 in the small size and 14, 24 and 34 in the large. At the time they were easy to find second-hand within that price range, often in good condition, and they can be engraved without difficulty. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is a slim, silver-plated writing instrument from the mid-1970s likely to be? **Answer:** Slim, silver-plated Montblanc pens from the mid-1970s almost always belong to the first Noblesse series. The line was offered in several finishes; the silver-plated version cost between 145 and 175 DM at the time. The Noblesse stayed in the range over several series that resemble one another outwardly. A closer identification is therefore only possible from the shape of the cap, the clip and the imprint, and by comparison with the price lists of the relevant years. Assigning these pens to the Meisterstück number ranges is misleading, tempting though the slim shape makes it. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc writing instruments were available in solid gold, and until when were they made? **Answer:** Montblanc listed solid gold versions under the model numbers 1149, 1169 and 1179; these are the large variants. There was also a solid gold version in the smaller Mozart size, combining white and yellow gold, which was offered as a fountain pen, a ballpoint and a pencil. Collectors put the end of production at around 2005. The year of introduction and the retail prices of the day have not been settled conclusively. Reliable figures are most likely to be found in printed price lists and dealer catalogues from the years of manufacture; freely available sources on these models are scarce. --- **Question:** Since when has Montblanc offered the Meisterstück 149 and the 147 with platinum-plated trim as well? **Answer:** Since 2015 the two large Meisterstück models have also been available in platinum-plated form: the 149 piston filler and the 147 have since been supplied, as an alternative, with light cap rings and a light clip instead of gold-plated trim. Until then the Platinum line was available only on the smaller models in the range, which is why collectors had been expecting the extension for some time. The version with red gold trim remained in the range alongside it, so that both models have since been offered in several trim variants side by side. The differences concern the finish and the trim alone; barrel, filling system and the choice of nibs stay the same. --- **Question:** Does a ballpoint refill contain ink, or is it some other writing medium? **Answer:** A ballpoint refill holds no liquid ink but a thick, paste-like colourant based on oils and resins. It does not dry out inside the refill and is transferred to the paper in a thin layer by the ball. Break a refill open and the difference is obvious at once: the paste is extremely hard to get off your fingers. Fountain pen ink, by contrast, is thin and largely water-based; the two media cannot be substituted for one another. Differences between manufacturers lie mainly in the viscosity and the colourants of the paste, and hence in how the pen feels to write with. Whether a refill fits a particular pen, on the other hand, is decided solely by its format. --- **Question:** Who was the Montblanc Great Characters Edition of 2015 dedicated to, and when did it reach the shops? **Answer:** The Great Characters Edition 2015 was dedicated to John F. Kennedy. Word of the subject got about in collectors' circles in the autumn of 2014 and was confirmed shortly afterwards; the series reached the shops around September or October 2015, accompanied by an event in Berlin. The Great Characters series appears at irregular intervals and honours outstanding figures of the twentieth century. It is to be distinguished from the older Writers Edition, which is devoted exclusively to authors, and each issue comes in several versions, from the unlimited Special Edition to tightly limited variants with elaborate precious-metal work. --- **Question:** What does the engraving MEISTERSTÜCK PIX on a Montblanc ballpoint mean, and what model number does the LeGrand size carry? **Answer:** Pix is an old Montblanc trade name that originally stood for propelling pencils and later appears as an engraving on the barrels of Meisterstück ballpoints and pencils. The engraving therefore only establishes that a pen belongs to the Meisterstück line, not what size it is. That follows from the shape: the twist ballpoint in the large LeGrand version carries the number 161, the smaller Classique the 164; an added P denotes, according to collectors, the platinum-plated version of the Platinum line. The sequence of letters and digits stamped on the clip is the serial number, which Montblanc has allocated since the early 1990s. It places a pen in time, but on its own it is no proof of authenticity, since fakes are given numbers too. --- **Question:** Do the nib and feed of a 1940s Montblanc 146 fit a 146 made from the 1980s onwards? **Answer:** The feed cannot be carried over. The 146s built from the 1980s onwards have an additional step, or rather a recess, at the rear end, so the old celluloid part will not seat there. The nib fits only after a fashion. A complete swap of old for new is thus out of the question. In any case nib and feed form a matched pair: the bearing surface, the air channels and the curvature of the nib are all set to one another. Put an old nib on a new feed and the ink is no longer carried properly, which shows up as an irregular flow. With vintage pens, then, repairing the existing feed is the better course than fitting modern parts. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model lies behind the number 1128, and from what period does the first Noblesse series date? **Answer:** The model number 1128 belongs to a fountain pen from the first Noblesse series, which Montblanc brought out in the 1970s. The Noblesse was positioned below the Meisterstück range: a slim barrel running straight through, clean lines and a comparatively small gold nib. The four-digit numbers of the 1100 group distinguish the individual versions within the series. Further Noblesse generations followed later, among them the Noblesse Oblige of the 1990s. The early models are valued as everyday pens on account of their gold nibs and change hands on the collectors' market for a good deal less than the Meisterstück models of the same years. --- **Question:** In Montblanc's 75 Years of Passion and Soul series, how do you tell the Limited Edition 1924 from the Special Edition? **Answer:** Both versions appeared in 1999 for the 75th anniversary of the Meisterstück range, introduced in 1924; the edition size of 1924 refers to the same date. The Limited Edition carries the limitation number in the form 0001/1924 on the side of the cap, near the top, and is plated in red gold on nib, rings and clip; its nibs are 18-carat gold throughout. The unlimited Special Edition was made for one year in unrestricted numbers, has yellow gold trim and no number. Hence the general rule at Montblanc: every Limited Edition carries an individual number together with the total edition size; where that is missing, the pen is a Special Edition. On the smaller sizes such as the 145 the cap ring reads only 75 years of Passion, because the full wording 75 years of Passion and Soul would not fit there; on the packaging it appears in full. That a model occurs with both a 585 and a 750 nib is nothing unusual at Montblanc: the 18-carat nibs were not originally intended for the German market but turn up here regularly. --- **Question:** What do the Montblanc Meisterstück numbers 144, 146, 162 and 164 stand for? **Answer:** The numbers indicate the size and the writing system within the Meisterstück range. The 146 is the piston filler in the medium LeGrand size, the 149 the large Diplomat. The 162 is the rollerball in LeGrand size, the 164 the twist-action ballpoint in the smaller Classique format. The 144 is the slim piston filler in Classique size; it was built into the 1990s and then replaced by the 145, which is designed as a cartridge pen with converter. Besides black, the 144 came in Bordeaux among other colours. The model number alone says nothing about the year of manufacture, since most of these models were produced over decades. The clues for dating lie instead in the serial number on the clip, the hallmark on the nib and the design of the cap ring and cap top. --- **Question:** What did the Montblanc StarWalker set with cartridge case contain, and what did it cost from specialist dealers in 2006? **Answer:** The set comprised a StarWalker fountain pen in the ordinary version, a leather cartridge case and six ink cartridges. In 2006 it cost 335 euros from German specialist dealers and came in a strikingly large gift box measuring roughly 50 by 30 centimetres. The combination was not to be found in the usual online shops at the time, which points to a special pack for the high-street trade; sets of this kind often appeared in individual countries only, or for a single selling season, and do not feature in the regular catalogues. For any later valuation, completeness is decisive: if the case or the original box is missing, the set is worth no more than the fountain pen on its own. --- **Question:** Which old Montblanc model is a fountain pen with a snake clip whose nib is wound out of the barrel? **Answer:** A nib that can be wound in and out identifies the pen as a safety pen, a design Montblanc built from the 1910s into the 1930s. A knob at the end of the barrel screws the nib and feed out of the barrel, which doubles as the ink reservoir; with the nib extended the cap cannot be fitted. Short caps and the clip shaped as a snake are characteristic of these early years; besides black hard rubber, matt and marbled bodies occur. A gold nib that has been bent, or whose tines have been sprung apart at the front, can be straightened, but the work belongs in expert hands: without experience the iridium tip breaks off or a tine tears. Repairs of this kind are undertaken by nib grinders and restorers who specialise in old writing instruments. --- **Question:** Can the rollerball refills of the Montblanc Meisterstück Classique also be used in the larger LeGrand? **Answer:** No. The rollerball refills for the two Meisterstück sizes are not interchangeable: they differ in diameter, so the refill intended for the Classique does not seat securely in the LeGrand. When buying replacements one should therefore look for the refill made for the particular size and not go by the word rollerball alone. This is no isolated case: Classique and LeGrand differ not only in outward appearance but also in their accessories and spare parts. If in doubt, compare the old refill with the new one before taking the pen apart. --- **Question:** Where can one buy a Montblanc as a gift without any risk of getting a fake, and where are long sold-out Limited Editions still to be had? **Answer:** Safe from fakes are the Montblanc boutiques and the authorised specialist dealers; there one gets new stock with a guarantee and a Service Guide whose dealer's stamp later documents the original purchase. Auction platforms offer no such security, and it is precisely the common Meisterstück models that are faked in large numbers. With Limited Editions it is worth going to a specialist retailer: individual shops still have editions in stock that sold out in the boutiques long ago, some of them in a treasure room of their own where the pieces can be viewed by appointment before purchase. Since the mid-2000s the name collectors mention above all in this connection is the Bremen specialist shop Dörrbecker. When buying, check that the pen is complete in every detail, and with sets that the limitation numbers on all parts match. --- **Question:** What did Montblanc hand out to its customers as a Christmas present in 2007, and how long have these tins been around? **Answer:** As a Christmas gift, customers in the boutiques received in 2007 a tin in 1920s style filled with chocolates, together with a greetings card. It was not a one-off extra: earlier issues of these tins had already been presented with pictures and a detailed text in Montblanc newsletter 1/2005, so the series was continued over several years. For collectors, promotional items of this kind belong to the fringes of a Montblanc collection. They carry no model numbers and can be placed only by their year of issue and their design; where they are documented at all, it is in the company's customer magazines and newsletters. --- **Question:** What is the white Meisterstück Tribute to the Mont Blanc, and when did it come onto the market? **Answer:** The Meisterstück Tribute to the Mont Blanc is a special version of the Meisterstück executed in white, which Montblanc brought out in the summer of 2011; it was unveiled on 21 June 2011 at the Hamburg boutique on Neuer Wall. The pen has a white body and a fine engraving of the snow-covered summits of Mont Blanc, and is meant as a homage to the highest mountain in the Alps, to which the brand owes its name and its white star emblem. White bodies are the exception on the Meisterstück. The regular line is black, so pale versions almost always point to a special or anniversary series. --- **Question:** Which production areas are there at Montblanc's Hamburg site, and what is made in them? **Answer:** At Montblanc's Hamburg headquarters, development, manufacture and brand management are brought together under one roof. Factory tours for collectors' groups took in four areas: the Artisan atelier, where strictly limited miniature series and exclusive one-off pieces are made, the design department for the various product lines, nib production and the company's own Montblanc museum. There is also an academy area for events. Photography was permitted on such visits except in the sections that need particular protection. The showroom of the Artisan atelier displays examples from the small series, among them writing instruments from the special editions for Charlie Chaplin and for Prince Rainier III. For the company's centenary in 2006 – Montblanc traces its origins to a foundation in 1906 – a largely English-language corporate film was produced and shown to visiting groups. --- **Question:** Was the Meisterstück 146 LeGrand also made with an 18 K nib, and what are the dimensions of the piston filler? **Answer:** The Meisterstück 146 LeGrand piston filler was supplied with both 14 carat and 18 carat gold nibs. A nib hallmarked 4810 and 18 K is therefore no indication of an inconsistent or counterfeit pen. According to collectors, the alloy depended on the period of manufacture and the market: 585 nibs (14 C) were standard on the German market for a long time, while export versions and later production carry 750 nibs (18 K). The dimensions help with a rough identification. Closed, the 146 measures around 145 millimetres and the barrel is about 13 millimetres thick; that places it between the smaller 145 and the large 149. An ink window in the rear part of the barrel shows the ink level. --- **Question:** How large is the edition of the Writers Edition Agatha Christie in vermeil, and what was being asked for it in 2006? **Answer:** The Writers Edition Agatha Christie, which appeared in 1993, exists in several versions. Alongside the sterling silver version, a vermeil version limited to 4,810 pieces was made, that is, gilded sterling silver. The distinguishing feature of the series is the clip shaped as a snake with red stones for eyes. In 2006 the collectors' trade was asking around 3,800 euros for the limited vermeil version; higher asking prices also occurred. That was no bargain at the time; the prices were within the usual range for this edition. Because the vermeil variant is traded far less often than the silver version, price guides frequently give no usable comparison figures for it. --- **Question:** What does the engraving Laiton on the inside of the clip of a Montblanc Solitaire in 925 silver mean? **Answer:** Laiton is the French word for brass. The stamp on the inside of the clip does not name the material of the pen but the base metal of the clip itself: it is made of gold-plated brass, while the cap and barrel of the Solitaire models in question are of 925 sterling silver. It is thus purely a material marking and neither a defect nor a sign of a fake; according to collectors it was dropped on later production. Together with the stamp W-Germany, which points to manufacture before German reunification in 1990, a pen marked in this way can be dated roughly. Numbering on the clip is usual on Solitaire versions and is in itself no proof of a limited edition. --- **Question:** Which group did Montblanc, Dunhill and Montegrappa belong to, and did Dunhill go on making writing instruments? **Answer:** In the 2000s Montblanc, Alfred Dunhill and Montegrappa all belonged to the Richemont group and thus stood under one roof. This is part of a wider development in which long-established pen brands were taken over by financial and luxury-goods groups and their products came to resemble one another; the same process can be seen particularly clearly at Parker and Waterman. In the group's annual reports Montblanc and Montegrappa were listed as makers of writing instruments, whereas for Dunhill only leather goods and accessories were named. Dunhill nevertheless kept writing instruments in its range, among them the Sidecar and Sentryman models, though with a far narrower selection and fewer variants than Montblanc. The link with the Japanese maker Namiki, from which the lacquered Dunhill-Namiki fountain pens derive, also remained in place. The nibs of the more recent Dunhill models are regarded as comparatively stiff. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc be checked for authenticity by its serial or identification number? **Answer:** No. A serial number is of very limited use in judging a pen. There is no publicly accessible register in which numbers could be looked up, and most copies carry a number of their own, either invented or taken from a genuine pen. The presence of a number therefore proves nothing in itself. The reverse holds just as well: not every genuine pen carries a serial number. According to collectors, Montblanc writing instruments have only been numbered as a matter of course since about 1990; older pieces left the factory without a number. A missing number is therefore no sign of a fake. The only reliable test is an examination of the whole pen: finish, weight, nib hallmark, the run of the threads, the lettering and the cap ring must all agree with one another. --- **Question:** Which variants of the Montblanc 744-N are there, and what does the 585 hallmark on the fountain pen and pencil mean? **Answer:** Two versions of the Montblanc 744 were made, and they can be told apart by the nib; according to collectors the suffix N denotes the later, second variant. The production periods given in the literature usually refer to this second version, so a pen with the earlier nib can be taken to be of earlier manufacture. Both variants were available with a gold overlay (rolled gold or doublé) and in solid gold. The hallmark 585 on cap or barrel stands for 14 carat solid gold and thus marks out the rarer and more valuable version; gold-plated pens do not carry this hallmark. For valuing a set consisting of a fountain pen and a twist pencil, the prices actually achieved at auction for comparable pieces are the only reliable guide, since condition, the completeness of the case and the choice of material all have a strong effect on the price. Dealers specialising in writing instruments will buy outright or sell on commission. --- **Question:** In which body colours is the Montblanc ballpoint No. 8 documented, and did it also come in green? **Answer:** The standard collectors' literature on Montblanc, above all the catalogue by Jens Rösler and Stefan Wallrafen, lists the No. 8 ballpoint in grey only. Collectors have nevertheless come across green examples. Whether these are a regular colour variant not recorded in the catalogues, a small special series or a pen made up from parts of different models has never been settled. Where a colour departs from the literature it is therefore worth looking closely at cap, barrel and push-button: if the shade, the ageing and the shape of the individual parts do not match, a later assembly is the likely explanation. For placing older Montblanc writing instruments by model number, production period and version, the catalogue named is the usual work of reference. --- **Question:** How do the Meisterstück 145 and 146 differ in filling system, size and handling? **Answer:** The Meisterstück 145, sold as the Classique and for a time also under the name Chopin, is a cartridge pen. It takes standard cartridges and, with the converter supplied, can equally well be filled from the bottle. At around 140 millimetres long and with a slim barrel, it is the smaller and lighter of the two models. The 146 LeGrand, by contrast, is a piston filler with a built-in piston and an ink window; cartridges cannot be used in it. Closed it measures about 145 millimetres, is noticeably thicker and heavier and suits large hands and longer stretches of writing. For an average-sized hand the 145 is a fitting choice, not least because the converter leaves one free to switch between cartridge and bottle. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc Special Edition followed the Greta Garbo edition, and how does it differ from a Limited Edition? **Answer:** After the Greta Garbo Special Edition of 2005, Montblanc dedicated a Special Edition to Marlene Dietrich as well; it was announced at the end of 2007. Both belong to the writing instruments with which the house honours figures from the world of film. At Montblanc a Special Edition and a Limited Edition are not the same thing. A Limited Edition appears in a fixed number of pieces, which is engraved on the pen together with the individual number, for example 1234 out of 4810. A Special Edition carries no such numbering; it is limited not by quantity but by production period, and is then dropped from the range. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc series does a particularly slim twist ballpoint with a matt surface and two refills belong to? **Answer:** A strikingly thin ballpoint with a twist mechanism and a matt, silver-coloured surface belongs to the Montblanc Slim Line. Under this name Montblanc carried for years a range of emphatically slender writing instruments which stands clearly apart from the Meisterstück programme in diameter alone. There are Slim Line ballpoints that take two short refills in different colours, usually black and red. Short refills from other makers can also be fitted as replacements; pens bought second-hand therefore often contain refills of another make, which says nothing about whether the pen itself is genuine. --- **Question:** What does it mean if a Montblanc Meisterstück P164 is delivered in a flat clear-lidded box instead of the black presentation case? **Answer:** Flat packaging with a transparent lid comes from the airlines' in-flight sales and air-mile programmes. Montblanc writing instruments have been sold through these for years; the box is smaller and lighter than the usual presentation case, but the instructions and guarantee papers are included. This packaging is no indication of an older model or of a fake. The model designation itself reveals the specification: the 164 is the Meisterstück ballpoint in the standard size, and the P in front of it stands for the Platinum Line, that is, for platinum-plated rather than gold-plated fittings. --- **Question:** How do the hand-made and the machine-made sheets of Montblanc's Meister-Bütten writing paper differ? **Answer:** Meister-Bütten writing paper came onto the market in two versions. The hand-made sheets carry a single watermark, centred horizontally and set in the upper part of the sheet vertically, and have a torn deckle edge on all four sides. The machine-made paper has two watermarks, each of them the logo with the words Meister-Bütten beneath it; the first sits to the right horizontally, the second below it and offset to the left of centre. Here only one edge is torn, the other three are cut. The laid texture of the machine-made paper corresponds closely to that of the hand-made version, which is why the edges and the watermarks remain the surest distinguishing features. According to collectors, both are regular products and not imitations. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the Montblanc Étoile, introduced in 2008 and aimed at female customers? **Answer:** The Étoile came onto the market in 2008 as a line that Montblanc addresses expressly to female customers; it was offered as a ballpoint and as a rollerball, among other forms. The proportions are slimmer than on the Meisterstück, and the section in particular is noticeably thinner. Its most conspicuous feature is the cap top: it carries the Montblanc star set with a diamond, much as on the StarWalker. Together with the flowing transitions between barrel and section, this makes for a more modern design language than that of the classic Meisterstück, which is conceived to be timeless. --- **Question:** How can the year of manufacture of a Montblanc Meisterstück Le Grand 162 rollerball be established? **Answer:** More recent Meisterstück writing instruments carry a serial number engraved on the clip. With this number Montblanc's customer service can state the date of manufacture of the individual pen; for pens bought second-hand this is the most reliable way of dating them. External features are only a rough guide. According to collectors, the cap ring of older examples shows the words Montblanc Meisterstück alone, while later ones also carry the model number 162; likewise the word Pix appears on the underside of the clip only on later series. A missing model number or Pix stamp therefore speaks for an older pen rather than against its authenticity. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc models lie behind the numbers 144 and 172 from the 1950s, and how is their value established? **Answer:** The number on the barrel is the model number. The 144 is the small piston filler from the Meisterstück range of the 1950s; the nib engraving 4810 with the marks 585 and 14C identifies the gold nib as 14 carat, and the letter M gives the nib width. The ballpoint 172 dates from the same period; according to collectors the added letter L denotes the longer version. Current price lists are of no use in valuing such pieces, since they give shop prices for new goods. A pen loses that retail price the moment it leaves the shop; the only figures that count are the prices actually achieved for comparable examples in comparable condition. --- **Question:** Can Montblanc cartridge pens such as the 147 Traveller or the Meisterstück 144 be filled with a converter? **Answer:** On the Meisterstück in the 144 size, including the sterling silver Solitaire versions, a Montblanc converter can be fitted in place of the cartridge without any difficulty; the pen then draws its ink from the bottle. On the 147 Traveller this is not possible. There the cartridge holder doubles as the threaded part onto which the cap screws, and the metal ring at the upper end of the Montblanc converter is too bulky. The 147 is thus tied to cartridges. Whether slimmer converters from other makers will fit has never been settled; any attempt should be made only with a converter that goes in without force. --- **Question:** In which years was the Montblanc Titano made in grey under the number 17100? **Answer:** According to the manufacturer, the Titano model was built in grey under the number 17100 only briefly, namely from 1987 to 1988. This short production run explains why almost no material on the pen is to be found: it appears neither in the usual collectors' surveys nor with any regularity in the trade. The number 17100 is an article number from the Montblanc range and not a serial number. According to collectors, the Titano is one of the plainer everyday pens of those years, the kind Montblanc carried alongside the Meisterstück range as school and everyday models; no definitive classification has been made to date. --- **Question:** Do the sterling silver Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire pens carry a silver hallmark, and where is it placed? **Answer:** Yes. The sterling silver Solitaire versions are hallmarked; the marks sit at the end of the cap on the smooth band that is left free of guilloche. Besides the maker's mark, the fineness 925 is as a rule to be found there. If the hallmark is missing from this spot, that is reason for a closer examination. Over the years the silver Solitaires were offered with various surface patterns, among them the Silver Fibre Guilloche pattern, which was available as a ballpoint among other forms. The guilloche covers cap and barrel with the exception of precisely that smooth band which carries the hallmarks. --- **Question:** Was the Montblanc Meisterstück 149 ever made as a Bordeaux version with a gold-plated cap? **Answer:** No. A 149 in Bordeaux with a gold-plated cap never existed; offers of the kind almost always rest on a confusion with the 146 or the 144, which were sold in Bordeaux and in doué versions with a metal cap. Of the 149 itself, collectors report only two Solitaire variants in the regular range: Solid Gold and Solid Platinum, that is, the versions made wholly of precious metal. Otherwise the large piston filler is listed in black precious resin with gold-plated fittings. If a 149 is offered in a different colour or with an unusual cap, particular caution is called for. --- **Question:** Will Montblanc alter production parts such as the plastic ring on the section of a Meisterstück at a customer's request? **Answer:** Montblanc does not carry out individual modifications of this kind on production models. The front ring that finishes the section is part of the design of the particular pen and varies from model to model: on the 144 it is of metal, on the larger Meisterstücke of plastic. Exchanging it for a platinum-plated part is not provided for. Special versions have nevertheless existed. According to collectors, a dealer in Asia had a Custom Collection produced some years ago in which Meisterstücke were set with precious stones; there are also one-off pieces made for prominent customers. Both came about through separate commissions and not through the regular customer service; the price of such pieces lies far above that of the production models. --- **Question:** What suggests that a Montblanc rollerball on offer for which no matching model can be traced is a fake? **Answer:** If a pen on offer cannot be matched to any model made by the manufacturer, and if no evidence at all can be found for its shape, its decoration or its designation, that is a strong indication of a fake: copies often follow no genuine original but mix features from different series. Counterfeits of this kind come mostly from Chinese production and cost only one or two euros there around 2011. Their workmanship is correspondingly poor. Bids of 40 to 50 euros, such as these pieces attract at auction, bear no relation to what is being bought; a bid already placed should be withdrawn while that is still possible. --- **Question:** From when until when did Montblanc list the StarWalker in the Rubber & Metal version? **Answer:** The StarWalker variant with a rubber sleeve and metal fittings, sold as Rubber & Metal or RubberLine, was according to collectors available from 2005 at the latest and remained in the range for about a decade. It was still on offer in 2013 and was phased out in the course of 2014. The exact year of introduction has never been settled, because Montblanc kept adding material variants to the StarWalker line introduced in 2003 and withdrew them again without any fixed end to the run. It is not a limited edition but a regular production version, so there is no edition figure. The ballpoint in this series is a twist ballpoint with the emblem typical of the line, floating in the transparent cap top. --- **Question:** From what period does the Montblanc Pix 36, a propelling pencil with a push-button mechanism, date? **Answer:** The Montblanc Pix 36 was made from 1961 to 1970. It is a propelling pencil in which a push-button at the top end advances the lead. Pencils of this period carry neither a serial number nor a date; the model number on the centre band or on the barrel is therefore the decisive feature for dating. At Montblanc, Pix has been the name for pencils with a push mechanism since the 1930s and was carried on over decades and across several series, so that the individual versions can be told apart only by their number and by shape, clip and the colour of the fittings. --- **Question:** How does the Montblanc 147 Traveller differ from the 146, and was it also made with an ink window? **Answer:** The 147 Traveller is the cartridge version of the large Meisterstück format. Outwardly it follows the 146, but it works not with a piston but with a cartridge carrier in the barrel; it also has a feed designed for cartridge use and a gold-plated threaded insert at the end of the barrel. With the pen opened up, identification is therefore unambiguous, even though cap, clip and cap rings match those of the piston filler. An ink window is not part of the standard 147, since it would not show how much is left in a cartridge in any case. Individual pens with an ink window in the barrel, outwardly therefore like a 146, have been described among collectors and are ascribed to the early days of the series; this variant has not been conclusively explained. --- **Question:** How can you tell whether a Montblanc leather case is of older or of more recent manufacture? **Answer:** The most reliable indication of age is the stamping on the back. Older cases carry, beneath the Montblanc emblem, the centred word Hamburg as well; on later production the place name is omitted and the emblem stands alone, which is documented for pieces sold in the boutiques in the 2000s. Two further differences support the classification: on the older cases the emblem on the front sits in the leather without a metal rim around it, while on the newer ones it is framed. In addition, the recess in the leather that takes the pen's clip and protects it is cut narrower on the older versions. None of this yields an exact year of manufacture, but it does allow a case to be assigned to an older or a more recent series; the features have been observed on cases of the Siena range. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc novelties were presented in the spring of 2004? **Answer:** In the spring of 2004 Montblanc showed several novelties. Among the writing instruments, the Magical Black Widow marked the return of a Skeleton Edition: the surface of the fountain pen is designed as a spider's web, and the edition size amounts to a mere 88 examples, so that the model remains out of reach for most collectors. From the Meisterstück line came a second version of the Stainless Steel, the cap of which was partially roughened with a laser and therefore bears a chequerboard pattern. At the Geneva watch fair Montblanc also presented a chronograph of the StarWalker range. Likewise new was a Sport Flyback limited to 999 pieces: the delivery includes a bracelet of steel and a second one of alligator leather, and the dial was altered in comparison with the regular Flyback model. --- **Question:** Which Bohème and StarWalker variants and which perfume did Montblanc announce in the summer of 2004? **Answer:** Four new variants of the Bohème were announced for the second half of 2004, their barrels to be made not of precious resin but of leather. The StarWalker range, which until then had been offered in black and as the RubberLine, was to be extended towards the end of the year by a version in a shade of blue, the StarWalker Cool Blue. To match it, a perfume bearing the name Presence Cool came onto the market on 1 July 2004. The composition takes up, among others, notes of Granny Smith apples, sandalwood, bergamot and patchouli. The fragrance was expressly positioned as a complement to the StarWalker Cool Blue and shows how consistently the brand was even then being carried beyond the writing instrument into other product worlds. --- **Question:** What material are more recent Montblanc Meisterstück pens made of, and why is it suited to writing instruments? **Answer:** More recent Meisterstück pens consist essentially of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), which depending on the context is also referred to as precious resin, acrylic glass or Plexiglas. Added to this are undisclosed additives which give the material its characteristic depth and lustre. PMMA is particularly suited to high-quality writing instruments because it is comparatively scratch-resistant and chemically resistant, including to ink and to the perspiration of the hand. To be distinguished from precious resin are the materials of older writing instruments, above all celluloid and ebonite. They react quite differently to care and polishing products, which is why methods that work on precious resin must on no account be transferred to vintage models. --- **Question:** What was the Montblanc mini ink bottle of 1991 made for, and which fountain pens is it suitable for? **Answer:** The mini ink bottle was created in 1991 exclusively for the Japanese market. It was not available separately in the shops, but formed part of a special packaging for fountain pens of the Generation line. The bottle is not suitable for the large Meisterstück pens, because the immersion depth is too shallow: the nib cannot be dipped far enough to fill the piston properly. In direct comparison with a regular Montblanc ink bottle, the difference in size is pronounced. Collectors should therefore regard the little bottle above all as a packaging accessory of the Generation line and not as a working ink bottle for large piston fillers. --- **Question:** How are the barrels of the Montblanc writing instruments made of precious resin produced? **Answer:** At the beginning stands the mixing of the precious resin. Various additives, which are not disclosed, give the material its particular depth and its characteristic lustre. The finished resin then passes to the moulding shop, where the basic bodies of the writing instruments are produced by injection moulding. Quality control begins immediately after the injection moulding; the blanks are inspected before they are processed further. After that they go to the lathe and are brought into shape there. In this area too, manual work determines the result at a number of working steps, even though at first glance the hall is dominated by machines. Up to assembly the parts are checked again and again and any defects are rectified. --- **Question:** What tests do Montblanc writing instruments undergo in the test laboratory of the Hamburg factory? **Answer:** A random sample is taken from every production run and subjected in the test laboratory to far harsher tests than the ongoing inspection at the workstations provides for. For a part of these trials, transparent demonstrators are used, on which it can be observed how the ink evaporates inside the writing instrument and at which points condensation forms. In a pressure chamber, fountain pens are exposed to differing air pressure conditions, with which a flight in an aeroplane, for example, can be simulated. In climatic chambers the materials are exposed to severe temperature fluctuations; the writing instruments are frozen there or exposed to very high temperatures. Finally, on the writing robot the nibs undergo long-term tests with various writing positions and characters. Only nibs that neither blot nor scratch in the process pass this test. --- **Question:** What does the Montblanc museum at the company's Hamburg headquarters show? **Answer:** The museum at the Hamburg headquarters presents the company chronicle and sets out the history of the company from the founding years to the present day in words and pictures. What is shown above all are original historical writing instruments, together with pieces from special editions and one-off commissions. A further focus is formed by the current Writers Editions and the Patron of the Arts editions. Of particular interest to collectors are the old writing instruments as well as the reconstruction of old workbenches, which makes the manufacturing of earlier times vivid. In 2004 the museum was a fixed part of the factory tours and could be viewed following the tour through production. --- **Question:** How do product development and toolmaking proceed at Montblanc, and which materials are tested? **Answer:** At the beginning stands product development, in which new models are designed and constructed on the computer. New materials are repeatedly tested there as well. In 2004, for example, a piece of mammoth tusk lay ready for examination; the material proved not to be suitable for writing instruments. One centrepiece of manufacture is toolmaking. Here all the moulds and tools are produced with which the writing instruments are later made. Machines and working steps correspond to what is familiar from the optical and precision engineering industries; every hundredth of a millimetre is decisive. A further characteristic is the flexibility of production: the workstations can be converted to new models within a short time. On the whole the operation has the character of a manufactory rather than that of mass production. --- **Question:** Since when has the long-established Bremen house of Dörrbecker sold writing instruments by Montblanc? **Answer:** The Bremen stationery house Dörrbecker was founded in 1861. It has stocked Montblanc writing instruments since 1909, that is, only one year after the founding of Montblanc in 1908. The house was thus the first Montblanc customer outside Hamburg. Pelikan writing instruments have belonged to the range since 1929. This long association explains why the shop, besides having a Montblanc boutique of its own, also stocks older editions that have long been unobtainable in the rest of the trade, and why it has become an established address for Montblanc and Pelikan collectors. --- **Question:** Which sizes and versions of the Montblanc safety pen are regarded as particularly rare? **Answer:** The safety pens made by Montblanc were built in several sizes designated by numbers. The rarest size is probably held to be the Safety No. 12. Such a piece was to be seen both at the Cologne collectors' meeting in March 2004 and at the meeting in March 2005, on each occasion as a single, much-noticed example, and among collectors it is traded as a pronounced rarity. Besides the size, the version determines the rarity. Octagonal body shapes and elaborate metal overlays are particularly sought after: an octagonal Safety No. 2 with a gold overlay was in 2005 among the pieces that attracted the greatest attention in Cologne. Anyone interested in safety pens will find such variants practically only at the large international collectors' meetings, where they are shown individually and mostly for one day only. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc fountain pens were regarded as particular rarities at collectors' meetings in the mid-2000s? **Answer:** The coloured Montblanc fountain pens of older construction count as outright rarities; to see four such pieces side by side was an exceptional case at the Cologne collectors' meeting in 2004. Also singled out there was a new Montblanc 149 in the demonstrator version, which is considered extremely rare. In 2005 a particularly well-preserved Montblanc 139 and a striped 144 were among the highlights on offer. A special form in its own right is the Montblanc Carrera with piston mechanism. Only a few examples of this model were built with a piston filling system, which is why such a piece counts among collectors as a remarkable find. More widely sought after, but far less rare, are Montblanc writing instruments from the 1960s and 1970s; in 2005 they formed a focus of the offering in their own right and were in demand above all in the afternoon. --- ### Vintage pens / oldies **Question:** How do you identify an old Montblanc Meisterstück with the imprint 'D.R.P.' and the nib markings 4810/M/250? **Answer:** The pen described is a Meisterstück 139, clearly recognisable by its size and the two silver cap rings. The missing '139' engraving is not unusual. The combination with a steel nib (instead of one marked 'G' for gold) and a long ink window points with high probability to a production between 1940 and 1943 — during the war steel nibs were used due to a gold shortage. The market value lies, depending on condition, between roughly 700 and 1,700 euros; well-preserved pieces can also be traded above that. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc Meisterstück model is a 135 mm long pen with a 14k/585 gold nib, the inscription Mont Blanc Meisterstück on the cap ring and W-Germany on the cap? **Answer:** From the dimensions, several Meisterstück models come into consideration: a 149 would be clearly larger, a LeGrand 146 likewise, so only the Classique 144, the Hommage à Mozart or the Hommage à Chopin remain. In favour of the 144 Classique speak the length of about 135 mm, a single-coloured gold nib type and the single gold ring directly in front of the nib. A missing model number on the cap is not an exclusion criterion, as not all Classique models bear such marking. For safe identification, collectors recommend comparison with the detailed model overviews on fountainpen.de as well as close examination of detail photographs. --- **Question:** Which model is a round Montblanc writing instrument hallmarked silver 900, with four sliders and a separate lead reservoir under the cap? **Answer:** What is described is a four-colour pencil, probably from the 1930s, in which different leads can be advanced alternatively via four sliders and the lead reserve is stored in the rear container under the screw-off cap. Collectors point to illustrations of similar models in the Rössler book on Montblanc, in which, however, no clear model numbers are documented for these early four-colour pencils, since Montblanc did not consistently work with model numbers at the time. An angular variant is shown on fountainpen.de under old-30er-4-colour-pencil; round versions with a circumferential clip ring are rarer but contemporaneously documented. An exact value statement is not possible without photo and condition assessment; collectors recommend posting good detail pictures on the forum and consulting the relevant collector literature (Rössler, Tischler). --- **Question:** How can the market value of a Montblanc pneumatic-push fountain pen from the 1920s be determined? **Answer:** A reputable valuation requires precise model identification on the basis of detail photos as well as a condition assessment; general blanket statements are not to be expected from a collector forum, since the forum does not replace a professional valuation. Anyone who has no relation to older writing instruments and wishes to sell the piece reaches the broadest collector circle through eBay and thus a market-near price; the listing should contain a detailed description with clear pictures. A dealer offer of 160 euros lies in the lower range for a 1920s push-filler but, depending on model, condition and nib quality, can be appropriate or clearly below. --- **Question:** Which ink and which models are suitable for getting started with collecting antique Montblanc fountain pens, and what about repairs and replacement nibs? **Answer:** For older writing instruments, exclusively water-soluble ink such as Pelikan 4001 royal blue is recommended, since other inks can clog the feed or discolour the material; red inks are particularly aggressive. As entry-level models the Meisterstücks 142, 144 and 146 from the 1950s are suitable, as well as the models 252, 254 and 256, which are uncomplicated and everyday-suitable and mostly cost under 400 euros. Repairs are carried out by specialist restorers like Horst at maxpens.de or Penleo; Montblanc itself can replace some parts but not remake nibs, since for that its own moulds would be required. When buying, attention should be paid to nib width, the existing iridium tip and cracks in caps. Push-fillers leak more quickly, which is why piston pens are more everyday-suitable. --- **Question:** Is the Astoria fountain pen offered an original, and what price would be appropriate? **Answer:** Astoria is a brand historically connected with Montblanc; Astoria nibs are original and models from the 1920s and 1930s do exist. A safe assessment is only possible from clear pictures of the section, feed and blind cap. In the concrete case, an atypical section, unusual imprint and atypical blind cap argue against Montblanc/Astoria; the piece could rather originate from Osmia. Often no-name pens with Astoria nibs and subsequent engravings are passed off as valuable pieces. Damage such as hairline cracks, chips and discolouration should also be checked. With uncertainty and a price in the four-figure range, the purchase is advised against. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Astoria — brand overview (fountainpen.de): https://www.fountainpen.de/astoria-en.htm --- **Question:** Can tarnished gold plating, e.g. on the clip of an MB 14, be cleaned again or re-plated? **Answer:** Real gold practically does not tarnish, since extreme chemical conditions like aqua regia would be needed for that; hand sweat and everyday environment do not attack gold alloys. What appears as tarnish is mostly worn-off gold plating through which the darker carrier material like brass shines through. Polishing in this case removes still more of the thin gold-plating layer and should be avoided. For freshening up slightly tarnished gold alloys, silver-cleaning wool is suitable; gentler are care cloths for gold or pearls. Re-plating presents itself as a solution and should be done by a specialised firm. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model corresponds to a Safety with 16 cm length, 1.5 cm diameter and 14-carat nib with imprint MB 12? **Answer:** It is presumably the 12 Safety, the largest Montblanc writing instrument ever built. The nominal barrel diameter is, however, 16 mm. Counterfeits of this model are not known, but adventurous repairs and restorations with body parts newly turned from old materials are. In top condition 12 Safeties are traded in the USA for several thousand dollars. --- **Question:** How do you correctly clean and reactivate a stuck Montblanc 149 from the 1950s with dried ink? **Answer:** First it should be cautiously tried to turn the cone; if this does not work, professional repair is advisable (e.g. via Maxpens.de or the repair section on fountainpen.de). Important is to turn only at the cone, not push or pull. If the piston can be moved, the pen can be filled with distilled water; on rare 1950s models caution is warranted, since celluloid softens with prolonged water contact (max. two to three days soaking). The cork mostly has to be renewed; occasionally, however, it swells back. For polishing Wenol is suitable; dried ink in the sight window can often be dissolved with patience and ultrasonic. --- **Question:** What do the engravings 'S-S' and 'P' on the nib of a Montblanc 136 from wartime mean, and how is the material to be classified? **Answer:** The 'P' stands for palladium, which during wartime was temporarily used for nibs due to strict gold-trade restrictions. Palladium belongs to the platinum group but is an independent metal; at that time it was more frequent than gold and not subject to coinage. The nibs were partly made solid from palladium, partly only palladium-plated; the source situation on this is inconsistent. The meaning of 'S-S' is not conclusively clarified; one suspicion is the abbreviation for 'Stöffhaas-Spezialgeschäft'. Since shortenings of the barrel were usually marked with 'K', a 136 deviating in length could have been subsequently shortened or the mechanism exchanged. The bicolour nib was developed in the early 1930s by Montblanc and Kaweco jointly to save gold. --- **Question:** How do you identify and repair an old Montblanc Meisterstück Safety pen (model 20) with a chipped hard-rubber cap? **Answer:** The piece in question is a Meisterstück Safety pen model 20 of hard rubber, one of the most common early models. The cap is by design the most vulnerable component; turning a new cap lip from old material is laborious and economically hardly worthwhile, since the collector value of a complete model 20 is not exceptionally high. On Safety pens, after filling, the nib is retracted before the cap is screwed on so that no ink emerges. The sealing surface lies at 45 degrees on barrel mouth and cap top; if both are undamaged and the cap is firmly screwed on, the pen is tight. For cleaning an ultrasonic bath is suitable. The cap edge can alternatively be turned in silver if hard rubber is hard to obtain. --- **Question:** How is a Montblanc Pix-o-mat 935 (4-colour ballpoint) to be dated, which refills fit, and may the writing instrument be disassembled? **Answer:** The Pix-o-mat 935 dates from the late 1960s and was made by Fendt for Montblanc. It uses standard D1 refills available at any stationery shop (LAMY, Schneider, Schmidt); Montblanc obtains its D1 refills from Schmidt but offers no green or red variants and charges roughly twice the price. The refill change is done exclusively by pulling out and inserting through the front opening; the writing instrument itself must on no account be opened, since reassembly will then no longer succeed. A binding price list for such vintage pieces does not exist; eBay auctions provide rough indications of current market values. --- **Question:** Is Penboard.de a trustworthy source for an old Montblanc No. 22, and what ink does this piston pen tolerate? **Answer:** Penboard.de counts among collectors as a reliable platform, since the dealers represented there are recognised in the collector scene and the writing instruments are delivered in flawless condition. With the Montblanc No. 22 no special caution about ink is needed, since the barrel is made of plastic and cannot discolour; conventional black or blue inks are unproblematic. The 22 was produced from 1960 over about a decade and a half in many variants (colours black, red, green, grey; as piston pen and as cartridge version 22P). For a comprehensive model overview the book 'Collectible Stars' by Stefan Wallrafen is recommended. The model's soft, pleasantly writing nib is appreciated. --- **Question:** How should one react if a historical Montblanc 324 from the 1930s has been lost during a repair by Montblanc, and how can the value be realistically estimated? **Answer:** In value determination one must distinguish between asking prices and actually achieved sales prices; real sales prices of a 324 with gold nib often lie around 90 euros, for coloured or rare variants higher. The assumption that an 18C gold nib alone is worth 150 euros is unrealistic; the material value lies clearly below. As orientation, the guide on value determination written by the collector Axel ('penparadise') is recommended, which most collectors follow. The collector should negotiate soberly with Montblanc and not make excessive demands but justify the realistic market value with comparable concluded auctions. --- **Question:** Which repair work is typical on an inherited Montblanc 744 N Rolled Gold with stuck piston after 20 years' storage, and what does such a thing cost? **Answer:** A piston stuck after long storage is usually cleaned in an ultrasonic bath, possibly equipped with new seal and piston mechanism; a price of around 73 euros is appropriate for proper cleaning and standard servicing, since the workload is the larger cost share. A 'ultrasonic examination' in the medical sense does not exist on pens; what is meant is always the ultrasonic bath as a cleaning method. In general nibs are the most vulnerable component and on roughly 50-year-old writing instruments practically no longer obtainable as a spare part; bent nib tips should therefore be carefully adjusted by experienced workshops. --- **Question:** What role did the Pforzheim firm Sarastro play as supplier for Montblanc and other writing-instrument makers? **Answer:** Sarastro was based in Pforzheim until its bankruptcy in 1986 (with branch works in France) and produced under its own name and as a supplier overlays and silver- or gold-coated pens for several brands, including until the end for Montblanc; corresponding pieces are marked with an 'S'. The firm described itself in the 1920s as a maker of pocket-use articles (everything of metal). A complete listing of overlay variants or systematic documentation of supply relationships does not exist publicly. Pens under their own name Sarastro are today rare. --- **Question:** What does the symbol of a horizontal, mirror-image '1' behind the nib width (e.g. 'M-') on the nib of a Montblanc 149 Masterpiece from the 1950s mean? **Answer:** This sign marks a left-hander nib; in combination, designations like 'ML', 'OL' or 'MOL' arise, with MO being understood as the left-hander variant of an OM nib. Such left-hander nibs are rare collector examples, since the tipping grind is often only recognisable under strong magnification; on smaller nib widths (e.g. FL) the difference from a normal nib is barely visible. The grind is slightly bevelled so left-handers can write without tilting. Such nibs occur both in 149 and in 146 models from the 1950s. --- **Question:** Can nib and feed be removed oneself on a Montblanc 144 Bordeaux from the 1990s, and are longitudinal lamellae on the feed model-correct? **Answer:** On the 144 Classique from the 1990s longitudinal lamellae on the feed are correct and no indication of a counterfeit or modification. The removal of nib and feed is not possible without special tools and special materials and should only be carried out by Montblanc itself or an experienced specialist. To clean contaminations from the feed, an ultrasonic bath with simultaneous 'blowing through' is suitable, which also reliably removes smaller solid particles without disassembling the pen. With eBay purchase general caution applies; well-rated suppliers and realistic prices, however, reduce the counterfeit risk; original certificates are no reliable authenticity proof, since they can be enclosed independently of the writing instrument. --- **Question:** How can writing instruments from an attic find — including a Montblanc Meisterstück L139, a suspected Parker 51 and an Omega — be identified and assessed? **Answer:** The 139 is a variant with long sight window and steel nib, which marks it as a war model; war models are less valuable than regular 139s with gold nib but still count as collectable. The unknown pen No. 2 was identified as a cheap pen of the 1950s without collector interest, No. 3 as a Kaweco Omega 650, No. 4 as a Parker Aerometric of the second generation from 1949 with Lustralloy cap. For detailed questions on the Parker 51 the forum penexchange.de is recommended. Before sale it depends on the target group whether to restore: dealers prefer unrestored, end collectors restored pieces. --- **Question:** What do the various gold stamps and hallmarks like 333, 585, 750, 10K, 14KT, 18KT or 18K.T. on writing instruments mean? **Answer:** The number stamps mark gold alloys: 333 = 8 carat, 585 = 14 carat, 750 = 18 carat. They state the fine-gold content. Additional hallmarks provide hints on age and origin. Important: a hallmark (always struck deeper) is to be distinguished from a pure model designation (engraved inscription) — for example a Montblanc pencil model called '10K' existed. As a standard work for determination, Jan Divis: 'Goldstempel aus aller Welt' is recommended. Logos and stars were earlier also stamped into hard rubber and celluloid. --- **Question:** Which models are involved in an inherited set of Montblanc fountain pen, pencil refill, pen-roller and cases with imprint 'W.-Germany'? **Answer:** The writing instruments date from the time before reunification (before 1989), recognisable by the marking 'W.-Germany'. They are a Meisterstück 144 Solitaire Silver grain guilloché (fountain pen or 147), a Meisterstück 161 Le Grand ballpoint and the matching Traveller case. The cases are: red = Florence, black with cartridge holder = Traveller, black small = Sienna. On gold-plated parts two variants are distinguished — Vermeil (gilded silver, hallmark '925') or gold-plated brass (without hallmark); if the 925 hallmark is missing and only 'Germany' stands on the pencil, it is brass vermeil. For value determination, consultation of the corresponding product pages on fountainpen.de and comparison of concluded eBay auctions were recommended. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 144 (Classique predecessor): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-144-en.htm --- **Question:** Which model is a green-marbled Montblanc fountain pen with the inscriptions 'III. MONT BLANC III.' and 'SIMPLO ORIGINAL', and how is it correctly cleaned? **Answer:** It is a button-filler pen (no piston pen) of the third Montblanc price series, produced between 1932 and 1934, presumably in size A; the letter often stands on the blind cap. Originally, a teardrop clip and an 'a' nib belong to it, although the current nib dates from the 1950s and was exchanged. The malachite-green colour, undiscoloured, is rare and value-determining. The star on the cap of the third price series was, by construction, only white at the edge, and the two opposing holes in the cap are ventilation bores. For cleaning use only clear, cold water without solvent additives and do not soak for several hours, since hard rubber otherwise oxidises; light-protected storage is advisable. --- **Question:** Which models are involved in two Montblanc Meisterstücks of 585 gold acquired in the 1960s/1970s, and how should one handle nib swap and ink? **Answer:** The first piece is a Meisterstück 744 (production 1951 to 1956); on imprints 585 or 750 on cap, body, clip and end cap it is solid gold, otherwise gold-plated; an initial engraving reduces the collector value. The second piece is a Meisterstück 132 from the 1930s to 1940s, with possibly a subsequently applied overlay; only pieces with imprint 'Montblanc' or 'S' (for Sarastro/Pforzheim) count as official and collector-coveted overlays. Nibs of old gold pens Montblanc itself cannot exchange; corresponding orders go to external specialists like Horst Schrage. For old writing instruments the water-soluble Pelikan 4001 royal blue is recommended as the most uncritical ink, since black and strongly pigmented inks can discolour the ink window. --- **Question:** Did Montblanc have a model No. 37, or is an old school pen with blue-transparent cartridge holder a 31? **Answer:** Model number 37 at Montblanc was not a fountain pen but a ballpoint; the school pen described is therefore to be assigned to the cartridge variant of model 31, even if the addition P at the cap ring is missing — it was not engraved because piston and cartridge versions have identical caps. A blue-transparent plastic insert at the barrel end is exactly the recognition feature of the cartridge version. After thorough cleaning with clear water a converter from Pelikan or Waterman fits; today's Montblanc converters by contrast have a modern thread that may not fit. A factory overhaul is not economically worthwhile for this model (service flat fee from around 250 euros), while own repair or a parts donor are significantly cheaper ways. --- **Question:** How can a small Montblanc safety pen with retractable nib be identified and assessed? **Answer:** It is a Montblanc Safety from the 1920s in size '0' — the second-smallest build of the time (smaller was only the '00'/Baby model). The model size is engraved on the nib. Such Safeties were at the time often individualised with precious-metal overlays by goldsmiths or jewellers; the overlay therefore typically does not come from Montblanc itself. For value determination, comparison with currently running eBay auctions of similar pieces is recommended, since collector prices depend strongly on preservation state and overlay quality. The regular eBay marketplace (not Kleinanzeigen) offers international reach for achieving market-appropriate prices. --- **Question:** Is a concrete Montblanc model a Noblesse or a Slimline, and where do the differences lie? **Answer:** Distinguishing between Noblesse and Slimline is not trivial; even standard literature like 'Collectible Stars' delivers in part contradictory attributions. Slimline is the cheaper variant and ranks below the Noblesse, equipped with gold nib; the piece in question was rather assigned by collectors to the Slimline. On the question whether the Noblesse ever existed with steel nib, no final sources exist. Functionally there are hardly differences — both models write excellently, so the correct designation is primarily relevant for collectors. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc Architect's Pen (patent 1924), and how rare are complete examples? **Answer:** The Architect Pen is a piston pen patented in 1924 that supplies a ruling pen with drawing ink via a thin tube; the piston mechanism counts as technically more mature than on the first regular piston pens. Complete examples with original packaging, instructions and cleaning needle are very rare and hotly coveted in collector circles. Of the 'Norma' (variant with funnel nibs) only a few examples are also known. Collectors with larger holdings typically own four or more Architect Pens; the patent specifications supplement the documentation. --- **Question:** How can an old Montblanc Masterpiece 744-N set with 585 gold housing be valued, and can an engraving be removed? **Answer:** For value determination, a guide established among collectors is referenced. High-quality 744-N sets can, in intact condition, achieve four-digit amounts; a personal engraving, however, reduces the value clearly. Subsequent removal of an engraving is theoretically possible (by filling with gold) but in practice barely feasible, since the surface cannot be restored without visible traces. Before sale a professional overhaul is recommended, since long-unused writing instruments often show sealing and mechanism problems. --- **Question:** Which inks are suitable for old fountain pens (especially vintage models with cork seal)? **Answer:** In principle only water-soluble inks should be used in old fountain pens. Royal-blue Montblanc ink is unobjectionable for historical fountain pens with cork seals — reports of 'eaten-up' cork seals can mostly be traced to already pre-damaged material, not the ink preparation itself. Bordeaux-red Montblanc ink has, by contrast, in individual cases caused problems with old seals and is to be used with care. Pelikan royal blue (4001) counts as a tried and very compatible ink for vintage pens. Iron-gall inks and strongly colour-saturated specialty inks are to be avoided in old writing instruments. --- **Question:** Which fountain-pen model could an old piece with the inscription 'Iridium Tipped' be? **Answer:** The inscription 'Iridium Tipped' alone does not allow brand attribution, since many makers used this notation. Ric Lei was first suspected, a less known historical maker whose safety models occasionally appear at shows and on eBay. Attribution to Kaweco also came into consideration, since the company history produced similar models. For safe determination, inscriptions on barrel and nib, dimensions and the filling system should be checked and matched with image material from specialised sources. --- **Question:** Where do you, as a beginner, get a functioning old Montblanc fountain pen (models 22/24/32/34) at defensible prices, and what should be paid attention to? **Answer:** For beginners with small budgets eBay is basically usable, provided the pictures are clear and nibs do not appear bent; prices in very good condition lie mostly in the low three-digit euro range. At specialised dealers prices are higher, in return with checked condition and partly warranty. Nib designations like 'OM' or 'OB' mean oblique (slanted) and enable calligraphic effects, although these arise more from nib-slit work than from pure slanting. The hyphen '-' in model designations indicates older pieces, partly made of celluloid; in everyday life these are easy to care for but should not be subjected to strong pressure or falls. --- **Question:** How can on an unrestored Montblanc Meisterstück 136 originality and components (cap, star, nib, barrel) be reliably assessed? **Answer:** Missing model engravings on the closing cap or end piece are no compelling indication of counterfeit — collectors know originals without corresponding lettering, presumably from Monday-production. Steel nibs were not exclusively fitted in the 136 during the war; here too there are legitimate variations. Decisive are overall proportions, ink window, piston mechanism and material; in case of doubt an experienced restorer like the named specialist should give an assessment. A new cork is often due on old 136s and is unproblematically obtainable via specialists. --- **Question:** Are there original Montblanc 146s with 136 nibs or 149s with 139 nibs, and does this affect the value? **Answer:** Such transitional combinations actually occur: on model changes, Montblanc occasionally fitted remainders of predecessor nibs in the successor models, so e.g. early 149s with 139 nib or 146s with 136 nib turn up in collections. Feeds were partly later exchanged in service for the round models from the 1950s. Such a combination mostly does not increase value, since it is not model-faithful; some collectors even rate the mix as value-reducing. More frequent are, however, subsequently swapped wrong nibs on the market, which is why on purchase special caution is warranted. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc four-colour pen with the inscription 'Walzgold' on the cap an original? **Answer:** Such a four-colour pen corresponds to a model made by Fendt for Montblanc in the 1960s and counts as genuine. 'Walzgold' (rolled gold) denotes a gold plating common at the time and is no indication of a counterfeit. For a sale, specialised collector forums, auction platforms or collector shows offer themselves. A prior assessment by an expert eases a realistic price estimate. --- **Question:** Were there genuine Montblanc 146s with the nib of a 344, or is this tinker work? **Answer:** In the 1980s Meisterstück nibs were monocolour and not bicolour with platinum coating — this information alone, however, allows no authenticity proof. The front section of a 146 never had the shape of a 246, so corresponding photos point to a 'bastard' from parts of various models. In some auctions pictures of various pieces were also mixed, which causes confusion. A 146 with 344 nib is not known as original delivery; caution is warranted when buying such 'marriages'. --- **Question:** How can a fountain pen with three-tone nib, metal piston mechanism and pressure-equalisation ribs without matching cap be identified as a Montblanc 149? **Answer:** The combination of three-tone nib, metal piston mechanism and pressure-equalisation ribs points to a 149 not among the oldest. A 139 cap does not fit by shape; the cap should be screwable on completely. Missing model imprint on the turning knob and unusually flat grip-section edge are no compelling exclusion criteria, since Montblanc had different transitional versions. For restoration, experienced collectors are recommended who can swap or sell matching caps from their own holdings. --- **Question:** How are an inherited Montblanc Safety Baby Email Rose and a Rouge et Noir to be assessed, and what can be done with them? **Answer:** Both pieces count as very rare and highly interesting for collectors, even with not perfect preservation state. Discolourations and wear reduce collector value but do not make the pieces uninteresting, as long as the housing is intact. Recommended is to keep the pieces, before any sale have them assessed by a specialist and possibly cleaned. Only then can a realistic price be achieved; value and demand are generally constant or rising. --- **Question:** Can the washed-out white Montblanc logo on the cap of an old 342G be refilled in a boutique? **Answer:** Collectors confirm that the logo engraving was originally factory-filled in white or gold, so a restoration corresponds to the original state. Outpatient refilling is generally carried out via boutiques or specialised engravers, similar to name engravings. As a DIY solution the white 'Neocolor II Wax Oil' pencil by Caran d'Ache is recommended, also suitable for gold fills. The original originality is not impaired by it; decisive is clean execution. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc 252 be dated, safely cleaned, polished, and which materials were used? **Answer:** All 252s have an ink window (typically blue on the younger variant); if it is not recognisable, this is mostly due to old, dried ink and dissolves after thorough flushing. The material is plastic, not celluloid — unlike the 142, 144, 146 and 149 of the 1950s. Cleaning is done with lukewarm water through repeated filling and emptying of the piston; build-up attempts or vinegar additives should be dispensed with. For polishing, Wenol or alternatively Displex (from mobile-phone shops) is suitable; gold platings on rings and clip must not be treated too strongly. The 252s have no serial number; they were intended as high-quality everyday-use devices. --- **Question:** Where do you find information on Montblanc Stylographic Pens (drawing and Indian-ink pens, e.g. model 432), and how do you store such vintage models? **Answer:** Information on Montblanc stylo models is rare, but a contact is collector pages like maxpens.de, although individual model attributions there are to be taken with caution because front parts are sometimes exchanged and designations are wrong. Key source is the Montblanc Diary, helping in identification. If the stylo has a cork-seal filling mechanism, it should always be stored filled with distilled water so the cork does not dry out and become brittle. --- **Question:** What does a non-closing gap on the turning knob of a Montblanc Meisterstück No. 14 mean, and how can it be remedied? **Answer:** An open gap on the turning knob is not normal and mostly indicates a torn spindle or an over-turned or pulled-out mechanism. A repair requires special tools for disassembly; without these one rather causes additional damage. Such tools are made by some northern German professional restorers as replicas; with some skill an own tool with matching diameter can also be made. As an expert in southern Germany, Sandro Rudolf (Dr.Ink) near Heidelberg is recommended. --- **Question:** How are various vintage Montblanc models (including 138, 146, safety pens, No. 2 lever fillers) to be classified, and should they be restored? **Answer:** The pieces mentioned are partly very rare vintage models; a No. 2 lever filler is regarded as a particular highlight. Hard-rubber pens and old safety pens are basically still usable for writing, but are too precious for daily use. Restorations such as fitting new seals are possible, but not mandatory; many collectors deliberately leave old writing instruments their patina and intervene only minimally. Loose cap rings on a 146 do not necessarily have to be tightened; interventions should be restrained to preserve originality. --- **Question:** What are the special features of the Montblanc models No. 31, 32 and 34, and are counterfeits known? **Answer:** The models No. 31, 32 and 34 are similar to the 43 and have so far hardly been covered on the main fountainpen.de pages; collectors are dependent here on contributions from other owners with photos. Counterfeits of these specific models are not known; with other vintage Montblancs (e.g. MonteRosa) fakes can usually be recognised by the nib. Montblanc Blue-Black ink is generally considered unproblematic; regular cleaning with filtered water after emptying the piston is sufficient, since the additive contained in the ink counteracts the more aggressive effects of iron-gall ink. --- **Question:** Is a fountain pen with retractable nib and Montblanc stars an original? **Answer:** The writing instrument offered is definitely not a Montblanc product but a tinkerer's piece on which stars have subsequently been mounted. A retractable nib in this form does not exist in the Montblanc model range. One should not be unsettled by such offers; an expert assessment helps to reliably identify such counterfeits. --- **Question:** Where can one obtain spare parts, in particular clip springs, for the old Montblanc PIX 172 propelling pencil? **Answer:** Replacement clip springs and similar small parts for the PIX 172 are officially not available from Montblanc, since Montblanc generally does not release spare parts. Collectors swap or sell such parts from their stock or scrap damaged pencils as parts donors. Important to know: the narrow longitudinal slot in the metal tip area of old pencils is structurally present and not a defect. A hairline crack in the black plastic body, especially at the transition to the metal tip, is, on the other hand, a real damage and reduces the collector value. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc Meisterstück model is a black fountain pen with Pix engraving, 14K/585 nib, screw closure and serial number beginning with VU? **Answer:** Based on the description alone, the model cannot be unambiguously assigned, since the features mentioned apply to all Meisterstücks. With additional photos, collectors identify the pen as a Meisterstück 145, which has been produced for around 15 years and is therefore not considered old. The small additional spring in the piston converter is structurally present in order to overcome adhesion forces in new converters and to ensure continuous ink flow to the feed. Before first filling, a water rinse is possible but not strictly necessary. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 145 (Classique): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-145-en.htm --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is an older fountain pen offered on eBay, and is the price reasonable? **Answer:** Collectors identify the piece offered as a Bastard, that is, a pen assembled from parts of various models and eras. The cap probably comes from a 234 of the pre-war period (celluloid with a hard-rubber cap top), the barrel, however, from a post-war 244. Owing to the poor image quality and the meagre description, a more precise determination is not possible. The piece is at most suitable as a parts donor and is to be valued at no more than 50 euros; the asking price is significantly excessive. For serious purchases, established dealers such as Horst-Max Schrage (maxpens.de) are recommended. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc Meisterstück L129 be sold and realistically valued, and is restoration sensible? **Answer:** Quoted asking prices of up to 8000 USD are only asking prices and say nothing about actual sales prices, since the target group for such rare pieces is small and well-funded collectors are predominantly outside Germany. A restoration is not cheap; many collectors prefer the unrestored original condition, others a near-mint appearance — that is a matter of taste. For serious mediation and valuation, renowned experts such as Horst-Max Schrage (maxpens.de) and Lutz Fiebig (interpens) are recommended, who can be reached personally on the Pen*Port in Hamburg, among other places. A first bid of 2500 euros was assessed in the specific case as a good offer. --- **Question:** How do the Montblanc Safety models No. 12 and No. 12 1/2 differ? **Answer:** Contrary to appearances, the 12 is significantly larger than the 12 1/2. The early Safeties from 1920 to 1929 bore the designations 00, 0, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12, with 00 (Baby) being the smallest and 12 the largest. From 1930 the models were renamed: 1 became 12 1/2, 2 became 15, 4 became 17 1/2 and 6 became 19 3/4, without the form changing; on the nib the M replaced the number. The 12 1/2 thus corresponds to the original size 1 and is a very small Safety. From photos without scale, the sizes cannot be reliably recognised, since the proportions are similar. --- **Question:** Is the cap of a Montblanc 333 1/2 from 1938 actually made of malachite or of another material? **Answer:** The green cap is not malachite (a real mineral) but celluloid with the Montblanc-internal designation "PL". This variant was used in the simpler 3-series only very rarely and at the start of the war, since PL had until then been reserved for the Meisterstücks. In Jens Rösler's book, designations such as malachite, lapis or citrine are used throughout for the celluloid colours, not for the materials themselves; real mineral materials were only used in the Solitaire models through modern grinding and binding techniques. A combination of coloured and black celluloid on one writing instrument was unusual at Montblanc; metal/celluloid or metal/plastic combinations only exist after the Second World War. --- **Question:** What can be said about a Montblanc 246G in marbled brown tigers-eye decor with a Boehler steel engraving? **Answer:** It is the then top model of Montblanc from the late 1950s, sold in a period when Meisterstücks 142, 144 and 146 were also being produced in striped celluloid. The colour designation is tigers eye; another rare variant is PL (platinum-lined). The model also comes in the smaller sizes 242G and 244G; the size-6 in particular is regarded as very sought-after. The pen mentioned was made between 1950 and 1954. A Boehler steel engraving indicates a special-order piece. --- **Question:** What does an unusual marking (a zero with a propeller- or gamma-like sign over it) on the turning knob of a Montblanc 144 Meisterstück from the 1950s mean? **Answer:** An engraving in this arrangement and form on the blind cap of a Meisterstück is unfamiliar to collectors and is not described in the relevant literature (Rösler, newsletter). An unambiguous assignment of the imprint to a specific nib variant (e.g. nozzle or ball nib) has so far not been possible. Photos of the turning knob and of the nib are helpful, since the unusual stamp could possibly be assigned to a special nib version. --- **Question:** Is a restored Montblanc 134 with steel nib suitable as an everyday fountain pen, and what must be considered with cork seal and ink? **Answer:** A restored 134 is well usable as an everyday fountain pen, provided cap and barrel are undamaged; one should write a little more carefully than with modern models. With writing instruments made of celluloid, only water-soluble blue ink (e.g. Pelikan 4001 royal blue) is recommended, since other inks can attack the material. The cork seal must not dry out: with regular use this is unproblematic; with longer non-use, the fountain pen can be filled with water or ink so that the cork swells; new corks boiled in paraffin are largely insensitive to shrinkage. When carrying it, ink can occasionally leak at the grip section (more strongly with the 124 than with the 134). Compared to gold nibs, there are no special care instructions for the steel nib. --- **Question:** From what period does a Montblanc safety fountain pen with stamp "Simplo – Original Montblanc", nib engraving "4 / 14 K" and greenish-discoloured barrel date? **Answer:** These Safety models typically come from the mid- to late 1920s. The barrel is made of hard rubber, which turns greenish over time; originally the writing instrument was black. The cap top is usually made of casein. If a cap part, on the other hand, still appears deep black, this points to a later replacement. Clips were an extra on these models, which is why many Safeties were delivered without a clip. A definitive evaluation only succeeds through an expert like Horst Schrage (maxpens.de), who can restore the device. --- **Question:** How can one tell whether a Montblanc 144 or 164 is genuine, especially if no serial number is present on the clip ring? **Answer:** A missing serial number is no proof of a counterfeit: only newer writing instruments bear a serial number; pieces from the 1980s and earlier have none, and some more recent special models (early Scenium, Rouge-et-Noir, Noir-et-Noir) too come without a serial number. A practical authenticity feature on Meisterstücks made of precious resin: when shining through the barrel or cap with a halogen spot, a reddish shimmer becomes visible. Detailed identifying features together with picture comparisons can be found on the fakes page of fountainpen.de; in case of doubt, an expert assessment based on meaningful photos is advisable. --- **Question:** Did the Montblanc 333 1/2 already exist in the 1930s, and what does the "1/2" designation mean in the model numbers? **Answer:** The 333 1/2 actually existed in the 1930s (according to Rösler produced 1937–1948, already included in the 1936 catalogue); it was made in black, blue and green and often has a flat cap top with engraved star. The model designation should be stamped on the turning knob. Distinction from the 334 1/2 succeeds primarily via the nib size (3 1/2 or 4 1/2). The "1/2" ending was originally a price indication: with Safety models the model number corresponded to the retail price in Reichsmark (e.g. Safety No. 12 1/2 = 12.50 RM). In the 1930s the designation was then continued in marketing as a hint at a half-step better; models with intermediate steps are particularly rare today and accordingly in demand. Especially coloured 333 1/2 variants achieve high prices and should be assessed before purchase by an experienced collector. --- **Question:** Which manufacturer is behind writing instruments with the inscription "STANDARD 18. KR." and richly decorated gold overlay? **Answer:** The brand designation "(Standard)" in brackets was used by a company that produced safety fountain pens; possibly it was a predecessor company of Standard-Matador in Wuppertal-Elberfeld. The construction with the designation "18 KR" alternatively points to an Italian origin — unusual are e.g. two eyelets, one on the cap and one on the rotatable barrel end, which is atypical. The gold overlays could come from an Italian jeweller; the basic body can come from any manufacturer. Without nib engraving and further clues, the brand cannot be unambiguously assigned. --- **Question:** Where can one find lists with the original retail prices of old Montblanc fountain pens from the period 1945 to 1980? **Answer:** Comprehensive public lists for this period hardly exist; reliable sources are old original catalogues with price lists, which are occasionally offered on eBay. Online, only a few catalogues can be found, e.g. a Montblanc price list from 1973 on caprafico.com or in discussions on fountainpennetwork.com. A complete collection has so far not existed; the formation of a working group for systematic recording was suggested among collectors but not implemented. --- **Question:** How does one classify an old Montblanc Safety with imprint "4M", octagonal overlay (585 hallmark) and heart nib? **Answer:** The engraving "4" on the turning knob identifies the model as Safety No. 4; the trailing "M" denotes the original nib width. A nib with the designation "20" actually originates from the 20 Meisterstück and corresponds to nib size 2, so on model 4 with this nib there can be an inconsistency — possibly it was subsequently exchanged or the nib visually fitted afterwards. For unambiguous identification, dimensions (diameter at the grip section, length without cap with retracted nib) and any hallmarks on the overlay (e.g. "S" for Sarastro) are decisive. For maintenance and restoration, Horst Schrage (maxpens.de) is recommended. --- **Question:** Are the nibs of the Montblanc models 12, 22 and 32 interchangeable, and how does one repair a damaged nib on a 32 with the appearance of a 12? **Answer:** The nibs of models 12, 22 and 32 are largely identical in form and largely compatible; they differ, however, in material: the 12 has 18-carat, the 22 14-carat gold nibs, the 32 generally gilded steel nibs. A repair of a damaged nib seldom pays off financially — cheaper is the purchase of another 32 as a parts donor. Fitting a gold nib from a 12 or 22 into a 32 is also possible. The first port of call for used nibs is Maxpens (Horst Schrage). --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc click ballpoint be identified that is said to come from the early 1950s and was presented together with a 142 fountain pen in a leather case? **Answer:** Push-button ballpoints were only produced at Montblanc from the late 1960s; a model from the early 1950s is therefore ruled out, even if the accompanying 142 fountain pen actually comes from the 50s. An overview of the numerous later models can be found in the book Collectible Stars. For a concrete determination, a visit to a writing-instrument get-together is recommended, e.g. the monthly meeting in Hamburg, where collectors keep corresponding folders with comparison pieces ready. --- **Question:** Which early Montblanc safety pens, lever fillers, compressor fillers and eyedroppers are regarded as particularly rare and where can they be obtained? **Answer:** In the collecting focus are old pieces such as Safeties with overlay (outside Italian production), lever fillers, compressor fillers, eyedroppers as well as coloured Meisterstücks from the years 1924 to 1938. Particularly sought-after and hardly offered are the rare coloured 23x and 33x models from the 1930s, while the 12x Meisterstücks are mostly not for sale. Trading among collectors is common in this segment. Pictures and background can be found in the book Fountain Pens of the World by Andreas Lambrou. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc Safety pen No. 25 with a golden snake on the clip an original piece? **Answer:** The Montblanc No. 25 is a common safety pen from the 1920s and 1930s in two variants: an early one without and a later one with cap bands. Golden snakes on the clip are not entirely unknown, but extremely rare and, in the specific case discussed, very probably a later jeweller's addition; the seller himself accordingly designates the element as an add-on clip. The claim that the No. 25 is the largest Montblanc Safety ever built is incorrect. With safety pens, a personal inspection is essential, since only that allows the tightness to be checked. --- **Question:** Which leads fit the Montblanc Pix 72 propelling pencil and how can the poorly working press mechanism be made workable again? **Answer:** The Pix 72 needs pencil leads of 1.18 mm diameter; these are still available today from Yard-o-Lead via the Filofax trade or from Caran d'Ache; an inexpensive offer also exists at memo.de. Coloured leads in this thickness are de facto only obtainable via collector exchanges. With a finicky ejector, the centring claw can be carefully cleaned with a bent-open small paperclip, since abrasion accumulates in the grooves of the claw over time. Spare parts for defective mechanisms are no longer kept by Montblanc. --- **Question:** How does one restore and repair a Montblanc 146 from the 1950s with a celluloid body, damaged clip and broken screw thread? **Answer:** The narrow cap ring of the 50s models is correct by design. For gilding the clip and refurbishing old writing instruments, Tom Westerich (penboard.de) and Lutz Fiebig (interpens.de) are tried-and-tested points of contact; local goldsmiths can also gild clips. When polishing the body, restraint is required, since only a thin black layer is applied to the celluloid and excessive polishing causes the yellowish celluloid to show through. With a break of the body at the screw thread, one should not undertake one's own glue attempts but contact specialists like Horst Schrage (maxpens.de), who can also renew defective cork seals. On planes, old pens with lamellar feeds are problematic, since they easily leak. --- **Question:** Were there genuine demonstrator models of the Montblanc 244, and can celluloid be deliberately lightened or made transparent through sun exposure? **Answer:** Real demonstrators of the 244 looked different: a piece had been milled out of the body so that one could look directly inside. Examples that have become transparent arise through excessive polishing, which removes the black outer layer. The two-colour appearance of some bodies comes from ink-induced discolouration of the celluloid; originally the material at undiscoloured spots was yellow. Ink windows of the 50s and 60s Meisterstücks were originally striped with internal stripes and a yellowish base tone; the lighter the window, the less the pen was used, which significantly increases the collector value. Wilfully altering old pieces is advised against, since the vintage character is thereby lost. --- **Question:** In which original packaging was the Montblanc 149 with silver rings from the 1950s delivered? **Answer:** The 149 with silver rings, produced from 1952 onwards, was delivered in various cardboard boxes (presentation boxes), typically in the largest variant used at the time. In the 30s and 40s Bakelite boxes were still common; in the late 50s, boxes of celluloid and covered hinged boxes followed. In the early 50s, that is, fitting the early 149 with flat feed, simple cardboard boxes were used, which were primarily intended as gift packaging and one-time transport. Anyone who valued a more exclusive case could acquire separately available leather etuis; proper presentation cases by Montblanc only came up later, when the 149 already had lamellar feeds. --- **Question:** Where can one find a Montblanc ballpoint from the "Eleventh Finger" series as a replacement for a stolen heirloom? **Answer:** The "Eleventh Finger" series was an advertising claim by Montblanc for ballpoints whose centre of gravity was clearly at the tip and which therefore lay particularly well in the hand. They existed exclusively as ballpoints in gilded version in price ranges from about 4.95 to 30 DM; solid-gold variants did not exist. Since ballpoints are usually used as utility objects until end of life, the search is difficult; the best chances are offered by collectors' meet-ups and fairs, where ballpoints are often offered along at low prices. --- **Question:** How old is a Montblanc ballpoint whose refill is extended via a side lever in the clip? **Answer:** It is presumably the Montblanc 215, which was produced between 1957 and 1959. The model number is usually stamped on the barrel band and should be checked for confirmation. As a refill, a Ballograf refill is also suitable. For value determination, reference is made to Axel's forum article on the value determination of Montblanc writing instruments; as a market price around 30 euros is mentioned, comparable to the Pix 276. --- **Question:** How is a Montblanc 134 with a foreign stainless-steel nib and imprint "DRP 652405" to be classified in time? **Answer:** It is not a fountain pen from wartime production; the short cap top of celluloid as well as the refurbishment by Lutz Fiebig speak for a dating around 1950 to 1952. The stainless-steel nib found is definitely not a Montblanc original, since Montblanc always fitted its own nibs; it was subsequently exchanged. The rear engraving "OBB" actually points to a broad oblique gold nib, which confirms the later nib alteration. With very good condition one should be critical: a yellowish, striped ink window is a more reliable sign of low use than a polish-shiny body. Repairs including new cork seal are reliably carried out by Lutz Fiebig. --- **Question:** Until when were Montblanc 144s with a flat feed produced? **Answer:** By "flat" are meant the hard-rubber feeds with small longitudinal lamellas, which were fitted in the pre-war series as well as in the 14X celluloid fountain pens until about 1955. In the mid-1950s they were replaced by the more rounded feeds with transverse lamellas, which are used to this day in slightly modified variants. The Wedding Pens of the early 1990s, contrary to a widespread view, also already have the rounded transverse-lamella feeds, not the flat ones. --- **Question:** What do the additional characters instead of a hyphen between "Montblanc" and the model number on the cap ring of a Montblanc 344 mean? **Answer:** Such additional characters are not engraving errors but were factory-present and are also found on further models of the 3 series from the same production period. The reference to the "white star" in collector literature does not relate to the cap ring but to the fact that the 3 series, in contrast to its predecessors, bears a white star instead of an engraved star in the cap top. There were also variants entirely without a star, which were produced for the Islamic market because Montblanc at that time feared confusion with the Star of David. These models are otherwise identical in construction and bear the regular model numbers in the usual places. --- **Question:** How does one identify a Montblanc lever filler without clear type designation, with a striped green ink window and nib reading "4810 14 CT"? **Answer:** The features described point, depending on size, to a Meisterstück 132 or 134, not to a 234 1/2. The window colour is originally yellow; green, orange or red discolouration arises through ink and use of the cellulose window. The imprint inscription "Montblanc Meisterstück" is typical of post-war models, while pre-war and wartime models partly bore no imprint at all. Ventilation holes in the cap are found on all pens up to the 50s and are not a distinguishing feature. A reliable identification requires photos and dimensions. --- **Question:** Which model and production period is an old Montblanc with lever-fill mechanism, imprint "Simplo Original Montblanc 4FF" and heart shape on the nib? **Answer:** It is not a Safety, but a Montblanc Lever Filler model No. 4, produced between 1922 and 1929. With the Safety, the nib is extended and retracted via a turning knob at the barrel end; with the lever filler, the lateral lever presses via a small plate on a rubber sac. It is not a Meisterstück, since this series carries 18-carat nibs and the cap engraving "Meisterstück" or "Masterpiece" as well as model numbers from the 20/25-45 range. A detailed description can be found in the book "Fountain Pens of the World" on page VII of the appendix. --- **Question:** From which period does the Montblanc ballpoint 315 date, and what value is realistic in heavily used condition? **Answer:** The Montblanc 315 was made in 1958-1959. Value statements are basically relative and strongly dependent on the condition of preservation; with clear abrasion marks, the achievable price is only around 15-20 EUR, since unused pieces from the 1950s are also frequently available. Suitable replacement refills are available through the specialist trade. --- **Question:** Is a cap without ring engraving a Montblanc 252, and what approximate value is to be set? **Answer:** Collectors report that the model designation on the Montblanc 252 (small variant of the 25x series from the 1950s) is on the turning knob, while the cap ring then remains blank and only the Montblanc inscription stands on the cap. The models can be classified in time on the basis of engraving position (cap ring or turning knob) and ink-view window (blue or white); for this, the Montblanc Diary by Wallrafen/Rösler is a recommended reference. The value depends strongly on supply, demand and above all condition and cannot be flat-rate quantified. Serious research in the specialist literature obviates many direct value questions. --- **Question:** Which fountain-pen model with rotary mechanism is a light, faded piece with imprint "4M", and how is such a fountain pen filled? **Answer:** It is a so-called Safety fountain pen made of hard rubber, on which the nib is extended from the body via a rotary mechanism; the imprint "4M" means model size 4 with medium nib (M). The production period typically lies between 1920 and 1935. For filling, the fountain pen is held vertically, the nib turned out so far that it is about half visible, and the ink is filled in directly above the nib area; afterwards the nib is fully extended for writing or retracted again for closing. With old examples, the internal seals are often porous, so that the pen leaks; writing with such pieces is therefore often refrained from. Further details can be found at richardspens.com. --- **Question:** Which variants of the Montblanc 149 existed in the course of production (materials, nibs, lettering), and over which periods? **Answer:** The first 149s were equipped with silver rings; in the course of the decades, the body material was changed: first celluloid, later simple plastic and finally "Montblanc precious resin" on an acrylic basis. The nibs were initially made in 18 carat, in between reduced to 14 carat and later changed back to 18 carat; correspondingly, the inscription also changed from "18 c" to "18 k". A concrete overview with all data is difficult to compile; a helpful article can be found at pentrace.com (penbase, article id 405). For final clarification, a direct enquiry to Montblanc can also be useful. --- **Question:** Which model is a green-striped Montblanc fountain pen with 14C-585 nib, about 13 cm long and a cap band, presumably from Spain? **Answer:** It is a rather rare piece from a series that the Spanish Montblanc distributor in the 1950s had produced in Spain in their own management with permission from Hamburg. The models existed grey-, brown- and green-striped in sizes 2 and 4, i.e. as 342 and 344. Background were high import duties and delivery difficulties from Germany; in some countries (also Denmark, Italy) complete in-house productions or assemblies from supplied spare parts were partly carried out. The quality of these Spanish Montblancs, however, did not correspond to the German minimum requirements. --- **Question:** Is a flea-market find with Montblanc inscription a real Montblanc ballpoint or a counterfeit? **Answer:** It is a counterfeit that apparently leans on the Limited Edition Jules Verne. Indications are a clip reminiscent of metal-processing components, an end piece not true to the original with a star placed on top, as well as a "vapour-deposited" MB inscription on the middle ring including "Meisterstück" — a combination that Montblanc never produced. More than 2-10 euros should not be spent on such a piece. --- **Question:** Which model is a red Montblanc fountain pen with small dimensions, and what price is to be expected today? **Answer:** It is a Montblanc SlimLine from the 1980s with gilded steel nib; until the early 1990s, Montblanc also produced cheap everyday and school fountain pens. The original prices were low (rollerball at the time about 19.80 DM, fountain pen somewhat above). The matching white ballpoint (see fountainpen.de) was previously between 4.95 and 30 DM; a black ballpoint with the model number on the cap ring (presumably 380, 1971-1979) moves price-wise in a similar range. Current market prices can best be ascertained via eBay searches but are generally low. --- **Question:** Is an old Pelikan fountain pen with a golden body, 14C OF nib and Pelikan logo an original Pelikan or a jeweller's/goldsmith's work? **Answer:** Collectors report that Pelikan in gold existed exclusively in the 100 variant, but not in model 100N; a golden 100N is therefore not pure factory production. If, however, the gold body bears the Pelikan logo, it is a licensed refinement that could not have taken place without permission from Pelikan. In the collector scene, such pieces appear under the designation "Mä(e)nner overlay", named after the goldsmith Mä(e)nner, who among other things made Pelikan overlays; analogously, Sarastro produced overlays for Montblanc. Despite the refinement, it remains a beautiful and usable Pelikan. --- **Question:** Can model information and replacement caps be found for an Astoria safety pen with the marking "Astoria 4 14 Karat"? **Answer:** Since Astoria fountain pens were never sold in large numbers, the procurement of spare parts — especially caps — is extremely difficult, significantly more difficult than even at Montblanc. An attempt is worthwhile with specialised dealers and repairers, e.g. Horst Schrage (maxpens.de), Lutz Fiebig (interpens.de) or Tom Westerich (penboard.de). Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Astoria — brand overview (fountainpen.de): https://www.fountainpen.de/astoria-en.htm --- **Question:** How does one repair an old Montblanc Meisterstück 138 (seal, cap, star, nib determination), and how can the originality of the nib be ascertained? **Answer:** The 138 is a rare and beautiful piece; a professional cleaning as well as a piston exchange are without problems possible via repair specialists (linked under the menu item "Repair" on fountainpen.de) and mostly priced reasonably. Cap and turning knob should originally be black, but the hard rubber oxidises over time and can appear brown-greenish; here too the repairer can restore the surfaces. The hole at the top of the cap prevents condensate formation and is structurally normal; the missing star can if applicable be remade, which is, however, elaborate. The 138 had three nib variants: 18-carat bicolour gold, monochrome steel and bicolour palladium; a two-tone nib with the markings 4810, Montblanc M star, curved P and 245 is most likely an original nib. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc Safety No. 1 in gold with unusually combined features (e.g. missing star on the cap and a fitted Astoria gold nib) count as an original mixed model or prototype? **Answer:** Collectors do not classify such pieces as prototypes. More likely is either a subsequently inserted spare part (nibs frequently broke and were replaced by other contemporary nibs like an Astoria) or an assembled pen with barrel and cap from different models, since Montblanc never delivered writing instruments with mixed brand markings. A combination of round barrel form and octagonal cap also speaks against factory originality. A missing star and unknown model variants are, however, no unambiguous counterfeit indication, since before the Second World War many models existed and Montblanc's own pattern department was destroyed in the war. A reliable assessment is only possible through inspection in person. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Astoria — brand overview (fountainpen.de): https://www.fountainpen.de/astoria-en.htm --- **Question:** Did Montblanc have a stylus variant of the push-knob model No. 15 without model-number engraving, and are unmarked pieces from this series usual? **Answer:** This stylus version actually existed and was, according to current sources, made around 1934; in the Rösler Diary it is missing between positions 4 and 5 on page 79. Stylus pens of this early model line mostly bore no numbers on the blind cap, while the pen holders always had a model number; an unnumbered pen holder would accordingly be a converted stylus. Exceptions are, however, documented, e.g. a stylus No. 15 with engraving as well as an unnumbered 17.5 with silver overlay. Since end pieces were often interchangeable, individual mixed forms are not ruled out. A complete model listing of Montblanc does not exist; the Rösler Diary, too, has gaps. --- **Question:** How can discolouration on a Montblanc Meisterstück K 122 of hard rubber be treated, and how high is the collector value of this model? **Answer:** On the K 122, the K stands for short; it is the smallest Meisterstück of this series. The steel nib is mostly a wartime replacement nib, since the original gold nib was often given to the so-called war donation. The filling system used a rubber sac behind a pressure spring; this is, after such a long time, hard or disintegrated and should necessarily be replaced; otherwise damage threatens. The brownish discolouration is a natural ageing of the hard rubber through escaped sulphur and can only be polished by significant material removal, e.g. with Wenol; a patina is regarded as appropriate. The 122 is significantly rarer than current models, but as a small Meisterstück not as valuable as the larger sister models; market guidelines are provided by observation of online auctions. --- **Question:** Did Montblanc produce writing instruments under the sub-brand name Cyclop for the Berlin firm Ferd. Ashelm? **Answer:** Ferd. Ashelm was a Berlin business-book factory that no longer appears in supplier directories after 1945. The writing instruments offered under the name Cyclop were presumably not made in-house but bought in; whether stemming from Montblanc production cannot be established from a catalogue alone, since many manufacturers at that time made extremely similar products. A reliable assignment requires the piece in hand and the inspection of the mechanism. Montblanc did not make comprehensive office articles like glue or stamps; the additional articles in the Ashelm catalogue stem from in-house production. A complete reliable list of Montblanc sub-brands does not exist; the listings circulating on the internet are to be used with reservation. --- **Question:** Can a vintage Montblanc 222 hard-rubber piston filler with a cap without inscription be original, or is the cap exchanged or counterfeit? **Answer:** An early Chinese copy is unlikely. More likely is that the inscription has, through decades of use and the sulphur migration typical of hard rubber, completely disappeared; with a professional restoration, remains of the embossing might reappear. A cap exchange or an old repair is also not to be ruled out. Montblanc itself classified the pen in an email statement as a possible 204 with correction to 201 from the 1930s, but not as a 222; caps without engraving are not known there. Experienced collectors rather advise against sending in to Montblanc service with old pieces, since the competence for vintage models there is limited and repairs can be very expensive; specialists like Lutz (interpens.de) are better suited for restorations. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc 32 with a striking nib and grip section original, or has it been assembled from parts of other models? **Answer:** With the piece described, presumably a parts assemblage exists. The nib depicted is a so-called butterfly nib, which typically belongs in the 22, 12 or a standard 32; gold versions with 14K mostly stem from the 22, 18K versions from a Meisterstück 12. The body shows the form of a 32 for a D nib with a free-standing nib, the only known variant with this geometry. A gilded steel nib of this form is therefore no rare special model but, in the assessment of experienced collectors, also stems from another 32. --- **Question:** How are older, presumably gilded Sheaffer fountain pens from an estate to be classified, and where can the market value be assessed? **Answer:** Sheaffer is not among the price-strongest vintage brands; older Sheaffers with a gold-electroplated marking therefore lie price-wise rather moderate. Market prices can be well observed via auction platforms like martiniauctions.com. Since these writing instruments write very well, it is also being considered to keep one of the duplicates instead of selling. --- **Question:** Is it worth repairing a Montblanc No. 22 with missing rings on the viewing window and a broken ink window, and who carries out such work? **Answer:** Montblanc itself no longer offers free repairs or spare parts for such old models. A tried and tested solution is the purchase of another No. 22 as a parts donor via eBay. Alternatively, specialised workshops like Horst Schrage (maxpens) or Interpens are available, who professionally restore such vintage pens. --- **Question:** Which refills fit the old Montblanc ballpoints with lever mechanism from the 1950s and 1960s? **Answer:** The lever mechanism in the clip was a pure Montblanc construction and ran in many variants from 1956 to about 1968. In writing instruments of this early generation, today's Montblanc refills no longer fit; instead, Ballograf refills can be used, which were anyway fitted at the factory at that time. Alternatively, the somewhat thicker standard refills of Schmidt or Schneider can be adapted by cutting off the plastic end and filing it round. Models produced from about 1970 to 1989, on the other hand, take today's Montblanc refills without problem. --- **Question:** What does the letter G in the engraving "138 G" on the blind cap of a Montblanc 138 mean, and where is the nib width usually noted? **Answer:** The letter G after the model number does not denote a nib width but particular surface properties, patterns or materials (analogously to PL or S). The nib width is normally engraved on the opposite side of the blind cap. On the 138, "G" was widespread as a standard designation of the pre-war and early post-war pens but does not occur on every example. Gold nibs were no rare exception on the 138. --- **Question:** Does a Montblanc 1866 in 925 silver with the marking "1970 5 KM" exist, and are there counterfeits of the Montblanc Carrera? **Answer:** Of the Carrera no counterfeits are known, since it is a comparatively cheap school fountain pen whose reproduction is not economically worthwhile. A missing inscription on the cap is therefore no indication of a plagiarism but rather of normal wear. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model from the 1970s is a fountain pen with unusually shaped plastic around the nib? **Answer:** Based on the cap form below, the pen can be identified as a Montblanc 121, which was produced from 1971 to 1976. In contrast to the visually similar 221, the lower cap end differs on the 121. It is a solid everyday writing instrument that is neither particularly rare nor particularly valuable but offers long-standing joy in writing. --- **Question:** From what period does a Montblanc 161 mechanical pencil with a doubly tapered ring date, and does this model belong to the Meisterstück range? **Answer:** The 161 with the characteristic pointed ring (form of a mountain as the symbol of the Montblanc) was produced from 1971 to 1973 and corresponds visually to the 151. The 6 in the model number identifies the Meisterstück range and means that 1.18 mm leads are used. In quality, the Meisterstück pencils and ballpoints of the second and third series of the 1960s and 1970s differed mainly through different surface versions; alongside stood the simpler mass models like Noblesse, Monte Rosa, Carrera and Caressa. --- **Question:** Do body, end pieces and nib of a Montblanc 333 1/2 with designation "B" and ribbed rings reliably stem from the same production period? **Answer:** The body of the 333 1/2 with ribbed rings is a wartime model from about 1942 to 1944, when even Meisterstücks were no longer made with the usual rings; the pen itself is original in this case. Discolouration between body (celluloid) and end pieces (hard rubber) is normal due to the materials. The feed is also original Montblanc and matches the production period; the nib, on the other hand, is unambiguously not by Montblanc and was inserted later. --- **Question:** Does a 334 1/2 nib fit into a Montblanc 236, or is this nib size faulty? **Answer:** A 334 1/2 nib does not belong in a Montblanc 236. Originally, a size-6 nib is fitted in the 236, which is significantly larger. Even if the smaller nib appears visually fitting, it is a later exchange. Replacement nibs in the correct size can most likely be procured via specialist dealers or the second-hand market. --- **Question:** How rare and valuable is the Montblanc 97 lever ballpoint in 14K guilloché from the 60s, and which refill fits in? **Answer:** The Montblanc 97 is not extremely rare but a high-quality collector's piece from the 1960s. Realistic market prices, depending on condition and engraving, are about 160 to 250 euros; dealer offers of 1,600 euros or more are utopian. A normal Montblanc large-capacity refill often does not fit, since the tip opening is smaller and an additional sleeve sits in the cap; suitable refills are e.g. Schmidt 1011 refills. The 585 hallmark stamped multiple times confirms the solid-gold housing. --- **Question:** Is it worth having an old Stöffhaas fountain pen without nib and with a stuck push button restored? **Answer:** With a Stöffhaas remnant without nib and with a stuck push button, a restoration is generally not worthwhile. Especially cap and nib are often taken from such pieces as spare parts, so that only a residual value of about 5 to 10 euros remains for the parts box. A professional restoration significantly exceeds this material value. --- **Question:** How does one remove sticky-tape adhesive residues from an old Montblanc Meisterstück (presumably 132/134/138) made of celluloid and hard rubber, without damaging the embossings? **Answer:** On old Meisterstücks, the barrel typically consists of celluloid, the other parts of hard rubber. Hard rubber can carefully be rubbed with olive oil; light spots thereby become darker and the appearance evens out. Polishing reliably removes adhesive and discolouration residues but can also wear off fine embossings like nib-width statements or model designations. Anyone wishing to avoid the risk should hand the writing instruments over to a specialist (e.g. Horst Schrage, maxpens.de), who can gently freshen them up. --- **Question:** In what period was the Montblanc 31 piston filler produced, what type of nib does it have and what is it worth? **Answer:** The Montblanc 31 was made from 1961 to 1966 and is fitted with partly gilded steel nibs, that is, not with gold nibs. For value determination, collectors refer to the relevant forum articles on school and middle-class models of this era; concrete market prices vary strongly according to condition and completeness. --- **Question:** What does the 'S' before or after the fineness stamp (e.g. 'S 900' / '900 S' or 'S 585' / '585 S') on old Montblanc writing instruments mean? **Answer:** The 'S' stands for 'Sarastro', the master responsible for overlays at Montblanc at the time. He was allowed to apply his mark to writing instruments whose overlays were particularly high-quality executed. Such hallmarks are found on pencils and fountain pens that Montblanc produced in Germany between the two world wars. The marking is today regarded as a quality indication for the workmanship of the precious-metal coating. --- **Question:** What is a brown ring on the inside of a Montblanc 146 cap, and is this a structural feature or a repair indication? **Answer:** The brown ring is a brass ring fitted at the factory, structurally introduced to remedy the known problem of loose cap rings. Over time the brass oxidises and takes on a brownish colour. Closely viewed, the brass shimmers through the patina, and on light scratching the metallic surface is recognisable. It is therefore neither a repair nor a defect but an original component. --- **Question:** How does one deal with an inherited scratchy Montblanc Meisterstück 142, and which ink and repair possibilities are recommendable? **Answer:** The 142 is the smallest Meisterstück of that time and consists of celluloid, which can be discoloured by certain inks; an ink window that is no longer yellow is an indication of this. A self-repair of the nib with sandpaper is risky, since the iridium tipping is quickly ground off and the nib is then unusable. Replacement nibs for the 142 from the 1950s are hardly available in the trade; a repair is therefore difficult and should at most be carried out by a specialist. Since nibs can be ground in to the previous owner, it can be worthwhile acquiring a new matching nib instead of getting used to the old one. --- **Question:** Which refills fit a Montblanc Quickpen, and are old models like the 342 still repairable? **Answer:** In the Montblanc Quickpen, fineliner refills by Schmidt Feintechnik fit if a paper ball is inserted as a spacer at the back in the barrel; the spring-loaded fineliner refills made by Schmidt for Montblanc also work. For the Montblanc 342 (third series), Montblanc no longer keeps spare parts, since these writing instruments were not designed for a lifelong repair supply. With defects on old models like the 342 or 32, a repair is therefore problematic and only possible via specialised repairers with a stock of spare parts. --- **Question:** How can the authenticity of an inherited Montblanc ballpoint from the 1980s without a serial number on the clip be ascertained? **Answer:** Older Montblanc ballpoints from the 1980s often bear no serial number on the clip but only engravings like Germany on the upper and Mont Blanc Meisterstück on the lower ring. From the imprint and the design, the model can be identified, here for example as model 164 with corn guilloche. A missing serial-number code is therefore no indication of a counterfeit but normal for the age. --- **Question:** Does a Montblanc push filler from the time of the Reichsdeutsche Füllhalterfabrik exist with nib engraving Exekutiv and eagle? **Answer:** Without pictures, such an unusual constellation cannot be seriously judged, since Montblanc has indeed produced many models, but a combination of green-marbled push filler with the inscription Reichsdeutsche Füllhalterfabrik Niederlage Wien and eagle nib engraving is not commonly documented. Collectors recommend critical examination and research of the sources from which corresponding information stems. A verification without photo material and original piece is not possible. --- **Question:** Which Bordeaux or brown inks are suitable for a Montblanc 144 from the 1950s with cork piston? **Answer:** Bordeaux inks exist from Montblanc, De Atramentis, Waterman (remaining stock) and Visconti, as well as a multitude of brown tones. With old fountain pens with cork piston (e.g. 144 from the 1950s or 139), however, caution is advised: certain inks, especially Montblanc ink itself, can attack the cork piston. Reliable here is traditionally Pelikan Royal Blue. With writing instruments with modern plastic piston this problem does not exist, so coloured inks can be used unhesitatingly. --- **Question:** Do Montblanc Meisterstück 146 G from the 1940s exist, and what residual value is to be expected with a defective piston? **Answer:** The Montblanc 146 was only produced after the Second World War from 1951; a 146 G from the 1940s therefore does not exist. Corresponding eBay offers with dating to the 1940s are wrongly described. With a defective piston seal, a repair through specialists is possible but partly expensive; the market value depends strongly on original condition, completeness and nib condition. --- **Question:** How is an older Montblanc to be classified that cannot be unambiguously assigned either to the models of the wartime or to those of the 50s/60s? **Answer:** In the described case it is not a uniform Montblanc but a combination of two brands. Cap and nib come from the Montblanc 334 1/2, while the body comes from a Pelikan 500 from the 50s. Such hybrids arise when someone assembles a usable one from two damaged writing instruments. For this reason no comparable models can be found on the internet. As an everyday writer, such a mixed piece can nevertheless give good service. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc desk set (e.g. 204 or 222) is it on the basis of the photos provided, and is the cap of the fountain pen made of gold? **Answer:** It is a Montblanc desk set 204, made between 1970 and 1975. The cap consists not of gold but of gilded brass. For an unambiguous identification, assessment based on photos is necessary. --- **Question:** How can the value of a Vintage Montblanc Rouge et Noir with nib number 2 in visually good condition be determined? **Answer:** An objective, fixed value does not exist with vintage writing instruments; the market value fluctuates considerably and depends strongly on the actual condition of preservation. A serious evaluation based on the unsharp photos provided is not possible, because decisive aspects like the state of the iridium tipping, the function and originality of the filling mechanism cannot be judged. A German-language guide to value determination of writing instruments can be found in the community fountainpen.de. A condition described as only externally good corresponds rather to a normal condition and does not justify a premium markup. --- **Question:** Is the depicted Montblanc Carrera rollerball genuine, and do the Montblanc refills made today fit it or is an adapter needed? **Answer:** The model shown is an original; counterfeits of the Carrera are not worth the effort for counterfeiters, since it is a simple school writing instrument and no luxury product. Until 1991 Montblanc was a normal writing-instrument manufacturer with the whole spectrum from cheap school to Meisterstück level. On the question of refills, the information circulates that current Montblanc refills may fit under certain circumstances; otherwise an adapter is available; it is recommended to test this practically with an existing refill (e.g. from a StarWalker rollerball). --- **Question:** Is the 25 Meisterstück still a Safety, and why does the model designation change from numbers like 1-12 to 25 or 45? **Answer:** Safety does not designate a model but a filling mechanism with an extendable nib. The numbers 00 to 12 stand for the Safetys for the size of nib and housing and do not denote Meisterstücks. From 1924, Meisterstücks and also other models (12.5 / 15 / 17.5 / 25 / 45) were named with their then retail price in Reichsmark as model number. A 25 Meisterstück could therefore be made as a Safety but also as a button, lever or compressor filler; decisive is always the combination of model number and filling system. A more detailed account can be found in the Montblanc book by Jens Rösler. --- **Question:** How is the inside of the Montblanc 144 constructed, and what changes has the model undergone in the course of its production? **Answer:** The 144 exists in two basic variants: the original version of the 50s from celluloid with piston filling mechanism and the version reissued from the 80s of resin as a cartridge filler, initially without platinum intarsia on the nib. The 80s variant existed in Bordeaux and black with gilded clips and rings; a platinum-plated version of the regular 144 has never existed; the platinum trim was only introduced with the successor 145. Today the 144 is only offered as a Solitaire, there then also with platinum-plated surfaces. The flexible nibs characteristic of the 50s are no longer produced in this form today, which is regarded as the main cause for different writing feel between old and newer examples; the choice of the suitable nib, however, remains strongly dependent on individual writing posture. --- **Question:** What does the suffix -N mean on the Montblanc Meisterstück 742-N, and how can the current value of a well-preserved example with original gold nib be estimated? **Answer:** The Montblanc 742 was made from 1951 to 1956. The N stands for the wing nib used in this period; the 742 also existed before with a normal nib. A flat-rate value estimate is not seriously possible; it depends strongly on the concrete condition of preservation and the condition of the nib. A guide to evaluating writing instruments can be found in the community fountainpen.de. --- **Question:** Should a Montblanc Meisterstück No. 14 have two gold rings at the ink-view window, and is a repair worthwhile with a missing ring? **Answer:** In the standard work by Rösler/Wallrafen, only one ring is depicted on the No. 14; however, variants are quite conceivable in the course of production. A professional repair is generally not worthwhile with these writing instruments from the 60s, since the costs exceed the value; rather the purchase of another example is recommended. Sometimes suitable spare parts can be obtained from collectors for a small contribution; for this, however, a photo of the area in question is helpful. --- **Question:** How can one sell a Montblanc Meisterstück L25 with the inscription D.R.P. 508058 and what value does it have? **Answer:** The L25 is the longer variant; the rarer K25 achieves higher prices, so the value of an L25 is to be set somewhat below it but nevertheless clearly above that of usual pre-war Meisterstücks. For the sale eBay is very well suited, since there one reaches the most collectors; alternatively collectors' meet-ups can be used, whose dates can be found e.g. via collectiblestars.de. A professional value determination is by current state hardly still offered, and the effort would only pay off with very high-quality pieces. For price-finding, the observation of comparable eBay auctions is best suited. --- **Question:** When was the Montblanc 1497 (149 Solitaire Solid Gold) introduced - 1983 or 1987? **Answer:** The correct chronology is: first presentation 1982, market launch 1983, which can also be substantiated by an entry in the Guinness Book of Records from 1983. Deviating datings like 1987 or 1988 in individual publications obviously rest on errors or sources copied from each other. The model 1497 with thread guilloche was offered until 1992 and then succeeded by the model 1499 with bicolour fishgrate pattern. Only at Pentecost 1992 was the designation Meisterstück Solitaire introduced within the framework of the New Dimensions event. --- **Question:** What value does an about 40-year-old fountain pen with the cap inscription 333 1/2 M and a 3 1/2 nib have? **Answer:** Such pieces mostly achieve on eBay prices between 50 and 100 euros, depending on condition also below or above. The sentimental value of an inherited fountain pen, however, cannot be objectively quantified and should stand in the foreground for the heir. Anyone wanting to ascertain the actual market value can list the piece on eBay and observe the bidding behaviour. --- **Question:** Is the Montblanc 234 1/2 with glass nib offered on eBay as 'unique vintage' genuine? **Answer:** Most likely the piece is a counterfeit; in particular the snake is not original, and the location of the seller (Bulgaria) has for years been a typical source of such vintage fakes. Even though Montblanc historically did produce models with glass nibs (e.g. a variant documented in the 1936 catalogue), such nibs are today easily bought for a few euros and fitted into fakes. Generally, with old writing instruments from Eastern Europe, at Penbid and at auction houses that despite warnings auction fakes, greatest caution is advised. Buyers have paid for such plagiarisms partly over 1,000 USD, which underlines the necessity of thorough research and advice. --- **Question:** Can one use a converter instead of cartridges in the Montblanc Generation, and which one fits? **Answer:** The Generation can basically also be filled with a converter, but the current Montblanc converters do not fit. Suitable are universal converters of other manufacturers like Pelikan or Faber-Castell, that is, all standard converters without manufacturer-specific cartridge format (e.g. Lamy or Parker). Since the mechanical fit can nevertheless be tight, it is advisable to take the pen to a writing-instrument specialist shop and select a suitable converter on the spot. --- **Question:** Was the Montblanc No. 124 with completely guilloched reservoir and turning knob produced in parallel to the smooth variant, or is it a transitional model? **Answer:** The fully guilloched variant with continuation of the cap thread guilloche on the barrel was made only briefly, essentially in 1969, and offered in parallel to the variant with smooth barrel; it is therefore actually an independent, cheaper version between pure metal version and simple 124. The models existed with gilded as well as solid silver cap, the latter with rhodium-plated white-gold nib. The variant with smooth barrel and thick feed was after that still produced until about 1974/75. Overall, the guilloched version is rare and regarded as an interesting collector's piece. --- **Question:** Which vintage fountain pen from the time before 1950 is suitable as an inexpensive entry piece, and should one choose a piston filler or Safety? **Answer:** Anyone who only collects the piece can quite reach for a Safety, since this offers a special mechanism. If the pen is also to be used, however, a piston fountain pen is more suitable for everyday use. As inexpensive entry models, the Montblanc 134 or the 234 1/2 are recommended; the latter especially in the luxury variant with tie clip has a well-writing nib. Important is, when buying — e.g. on eBay — to pay attention to functionality; in particular the cork seal often has to be renewed. --- **Question:** Which refill fits a Montblanc 215 ballpoint, and can the nib be freely chosen at the refill entry? **Answer:** In the 215 from the 1950s belongs a Swedish Ballograph refill, since Montblanc at that time, lacking its own ballpoint production, used such refills as bought-in articles; the standard refills supplied by Montblanc today often do not fit. The nib is part of the writing instrument and not of the refill, so it is not arbitrarily exchangeable. Sensible is to take the ballpoint together with the existing refill to a specialist shop and have a suitable refill, e.g. by Schneider, fitted there. --- **Question:** What value do several Montblanc vintage fountain pens (3 x 31, 342, 344g) in mediocre condition, partly with bent nibs and engraved caps, have? **Answer:** Without a photo and concrete defect description, hardly a serious price statement can be made. The models mentioned are widely common, so corresponding spare parts can often also be obtained cheaply; experienced collectors pay for such parts overall rather under 35 euros including shipping. Thus the pieces have above all a spare-parts character and are mainly interesting for collectors, dealers or self-repairers. With rare vintage Montblancs, nibs alone are significantly more expensive. --- **Question:** Did the Montblanc Meisterstück 149 also exist from the factory with a 14-carat, two-tone nib? **Answer:** Yes, earlier 149s were actually delivered with two-tone 14-carat nibs (585); the today widely common 18-carat nibs are only the later construction. The imprint '4810 / M / 14k / Montblanc / 585' in connection with yellow-gold outer and platinum-plated inner surface fits an original 149 nib of this period. An overview of the various nib variants can be found in relevant Pentrace articles. A wrong nib or cap is therefore not necessarily to be assumed, provided the other inscriptions (e.g. 'Meisterstück Nr. 149' and 'Germany') are consistent. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 149 (Grand Format): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-149-en.htm --- **Question:** How does one fill an old golden Montblanc safety pen with retractable nib, in which only the rotary wheel for extending and retracting the nib can be moved? **Answer:** This model is a Safety fountain pen whose functioning differs basically from later piston fillers. A sensible help requires at least photos of the writing instrument; without a visible model, general instructions are hardly usable. On the basis of meaningful photos, the concrete mechanism can then be identified and the pen properly filled. --- **Question:** How large were the Montblanc Meisterstück models 142, 144, 146 and 149 from the 1950s in comparison to today's versions? **Answer:** The 50s versions are somewhat smaller than today's counterparts; the difference moves in the range of a few millimetres. Concretely reported dimensions: 149 from the 50s about 14.3 cm closed and 12.9 cm from the turning-knob end to the nib tip, versus 14.6 cm and 13.1 cm on the current 149. The 142 from the 50s measures about 12.5 cm closed and 11 cm opened; the 146 around 13.5 cm closed and 12 cm opened; an older 144 about 13 cm closed and 11.3 cm opened. The values are to be understood as guideline values, since tolerances and transitional series can differ. --- **Question:** How can a piece of fluff trapped in the ink chamber of an old Pelikan 342 be removed, and is professional disassembly worthwhile for this? **Answer:** On the 342, often first the feed together with the nib can be carefully pulled out; subsequently the chamber can be thoroughly rinsed; with success, the piston mechanism does not have to be further disassembled. A complete disassembly requires suitable tools and is not trivial – in the specific case the unscrewing succeeded with a coincidentally available tool. Economically, sending to a specialist like maxpens.de hardly pays off with a 342, since market prices for used examples are around 10 euros and the postage alone exceeds the value; exceptions are rare features like a music nib. Alternatives are to leave the fluff, to acquire a replacement 342 or to seek help at a collectors' meet-up. --- **Question:** Is a 20- to 30-year-old, used Montblanc cartridge filler still suitable as a reliable everyday pen on a budget of around 100 euros? **Answer:** Older fountain pens can basically be used without problem in everyday life; the rumour of writing in a gold nib is unfounded, since the nib tip consists of iridium and does not wear off. With Montblanc, however, it is to be noted that the brand has only positioned itself as a luxury-goods manufacturer since 1991 and before that – similarly to Pelikan or Lamy – covered the entire range from simple school fountain pen to expensive typewriter. An older Montblanc is therefore not automatically high-quality, which is why model and condition are to be heeded. As equivalent alternatives, older Pelikan or Lamy models come into question, which in the mentioned budget often offer solid used writing instruments with a gold nib. --- **Question:** What characterises a Montblanc No. 32 with a free-standing nib and 'D' marking, does this model belong to the Meisterstück series and what explains the hardness of a D nib? **Answer:** The No. 32 is not a Meisterstück but part of the third series and thus settled two steps below the Meisterstück. The marking 'D' designates a very hard, inflexible carbon-copy nib; with it one could press so vigorously while writing that simultaneously a carbon copy could be generated via carbon paper. D nibs were increasingly displaced by ballpoints in the 1960s. The nibs were mostly made of solid gold (in this case 14 C); the high stiffness results from a correspondingly dimensioned and more strongly executed nib body, not solely from the material. --- **Question:** How can a more than 70-year-old, presumably gilded fountain pen without brand marking — only clip stamp 585 and weight 32 g — be reliably assigned to a manufacturer? **Answer:** An unambiguous brand assignment is hardly possible with old gold pens without manufacturer or nib marking, since before the Second World War there was a very large number of mostly nameless producers. Often body blanks or whole pens were additionally fitted by jewellers with individual gold overlays, which has displaced the original brand name. From the clip form alone nothing unambiguous can be derived; comparable clips are found with Astoria and numerous other manufacturers. Recommendable is presentation of the piece at a collectors' fair, e.g. in Hamburg, where the direct assessment has significantly more meaning than an assessment from photographs. Anyone wishing to preserve the piece can have a suitable gold nib fitted and thus create a long-term usable writing instrument. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Astoria — brand overview (fountainpen.de): https://www.fountainpen.de/astoria-en.htm --- **Question:** In what price range does a Montblanc 322 Black & Pearl with defective push mechanism move, and where could the defect lie on a writing instrument of this construction? **Answer:** The price range for a vintage model like the 322 Black & Pearl reaches, depending on condition, from about 100 to 1,000 euros; it depends on overall condition, housing damage, signs of use, discolouration, originality, previous repairs, mechanical defects and rarity. At auctions the individual bidding behaviour and the number of serious interested parties additionally come in. For a reliable estimate, meaningful photos are necessary. The push mechanism of older Montblanc models of this type generally rests on an ink sac; a defective, hardened or leaking sac is a plausible and generally repairable cause of failure. --- **Question:** What is known about the writing-instrument brand EBOS and does a Montblanc pen of ebony exist? **Answer:** The brand EBOS is unknown to experienced collectors, so no reliable statements about history or model range can be made. A Montblanc pen of ebony was never made; the corresponding description of the family piece is therefore incorrect; the material must be another. --- **Question:** Which model and which value are to be assigned to an old Montblanc pen with 585 gold nib? **Answer:** It is a Montblanc 1124, made between 1976 and 1980. The value of such models can only be roughly estimated and depends strongly on condition and nib width; corresponding comparison offers can be found in relevant collector forums. Important is the historical context: only from 1991 has Montblanc positioned itself as a luxury-goods manufacturer; before that the product range reached from the cheap school pen to the Meisterstück. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is a cartridge filler with the inscription 'Montblanc Germany' and without a type number? **Answer:** Based on the description, the cartridge-filler models 320 or 320P come into question. An unambiguous assignment is not possible without sight of the grip section and further detail pictures; more meaningful would be shots from a suitable perspective. The designation 'Montblanc Germany' on the lower cap ring is typical for this series. --- **Question:** Is a Meisterstück with corn-guilloched body, two-tone 14C-585 nib (4810/M) and unused engraving plate a Montblanc 742, and in which variant? **Answer:** The Montblanc 742 existed in the production period 1951–1956 in two variants: 'rolled gold' (gilded) and 'solid gold' (solid 585 gold). The solid-gold variant is unambiguously recognisable by the 585 hallmarks on cap, clip and body; if these imprints are missing, the gilded rolled-gold variant is present. A serious value statement is only possible after assessment of the piece, since condition and completeness decisively determine the price. General guidance on establishing a value is given in the collector literature. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc 146 with a completely golden nib be classified in time and how can its authenticity be checked? **Answer:** A nib made entirely of gold typically speaks for a model from the 1980s. A reliable authenticity and condition assessment, however, is only possible based on meaningful photos of nib, cap ring, clip and body. Aids for posting pictures are available in the relevant forum guides. Value statements from eBay auctions are without precise condition check only very restrictedly reliable. --- **Question:** Can a Montblanc fountain pen with 14-carat nib, '246' embossing on the end cap, green viewing window and hard-rubber parts be identified as model 246? **Answer:** The features mentioned, especially the '246' embossing on the end cap, the green viewing window, the hard-rubber components and the white star, speak for a Montblanc 246 from the 1940s, made of celluloid. The correct clip embossing reads 'MONT BLANC'. Especially in wartime, on the 246s various components from the available stock were combined, so e.g. clips can deviate without this fundamentally impairing the authenticity. A ball clip is in this context no special variant. --- **Question:** Did exclusively Montblanc safety fountain pens have a safety pin in the cap, or did comparable constructions also exist on other brands? **Answer:** The safety pin in the cap is not exclusively attributable to Montblanc but was also fitted by other manufacturers. Its function consists in preventing a deformation of the nib if with the cap closed the rear blind cap is turned and thereby the nib is moved. For the concrete brand assignment of an octagonal Safety, detail photos or the assessment by an experienced specialist on the spot helps further. --- **Question:** How can the value of two Montblanc Slimline writing instruments found in the attic from the period 1978–1982 be determined? **Answer:** A reliable value determination takes place based on an established guide that is used as a standard for older Montblanc writing instruments. Since Slimline models are regularly offered on eBay, the current market value can be determined by comparison with completed auctions, with the condition of the auction pieces being compared with one's own piece. Flat-rate fixed prices do not exist for older Montblanc writing instruments. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc rollerball model is a pen on which the inserted star at the barrel end is missing, and is a spare part available? **Answer:** It is most likely a 'Noblesse I' from the 1970s. On the barrel end, what is missing is not a closure but only the inserted Montblanc plastic star typical of these models, whose loss frequently occurs. An original spare part is not regularly available, since Montblanc does not release individual parts; replacement can only be obtained via other 70s donor models from flea markets, which economically, however, seldom pays off. --- **Question:** Did Montblanc in the 1950s really make Meisterstücks of real tortoiseshell, and how are the materials of that time to be compared? **Answer:** Montblanc did not produce Meisterstücks of real tortoiseshell in the 1950s; tortoiseshell inlays are known from the 1920s by other manufacturers like Waterman. The models 244 and 246 designated in the literature as 'tortoiseshell' or English 'tigereye' consist of celluloid; the designation thus describes only the colour scheme. These celluloid Meisterstücks are regarded as rare, technically high-quality in writing and superior to many modern models. For repair it is however to be noted that the mechanism was partly glued with mastic and a piston exchange on the 146 is only possible via the mouthpiece; greened or discoloured examples are frequent. --- **Question:** How high is the approximate price of a well-preserved Montblanc No. 22 from the period 1960–1970? **Answer:** As a rough orientation, a price range of about 20 to 30 euros is named; a binding guideline price, however, does not exist for older Montblanc writing instruments. The actual value determination takes place based on the concrete condition as well as current comparison offers, especially completed eBay auctions. --- **Question:** How can model, year of manufacture and authenticity of a Montblanc Meisterstück acquired at a flea market be determined? **Answer:** On the end piece of the pen the model number is generally located, by which the model can be unambiguously identified. In the specific case it is a Meisterstück 102G from the last Safety series, produced between 1936 and 1937. The coding reads 1=Meisterstück, 0=safety pen, 2=smallest size of the series, G=high gloss. Nib, clip and cap fit; the hard rubber is, however, due to age matt and discoloured, and the seals are likely no longer to function. A value estimate can be made based on comparable market prices. --- **Question:** Which manufacturer is an octagonal Safety pen with the barrel inscription COLUMBUS 18KT and a gold nib signed with MONTBLANC 4 14CT? **Answer:** It is not a Montblanc but a Safety pen of another manufacturer; only the nib comes from Montblanc. The pen is likely to come from Italy or Germany; based on the turning knob, German origin seems more likely. An unambiguous model assignment is not possible based on the features mentioned. Despite unclear origin, it is a beautiful Safety pen that with service can be made writable again. --- **Question:** Is a Safety pen with the cap inscription THE ROYAL FOUNTAIN PEN, NEW YORK U.S.A. and a nib with SIMPLO PEN CO. a Montblanc or a sideline product? **Answer:** Without a photo, especially of the mechanism, a reliable statement is not possible. The inscription suggests that either pen or nib are pieced together, that is, a wrong pen with the right nib or vice versa is present. The nib with the designation SIMPLO PEN CO. is interesting as a hint of the early brand phase of Montblanc. A definitive classification is only possible based on clear pictures. --- **Question:** Did the Montblanc 234 1/2 with only one cap ring also exist in combination with an older clip instead of the tie clip? **Answer:** A single cap ring rather points to a cap sleeve of a 3 model (e.g. 324) that could be transferred to later models. An unambiguous statement on the originality of the configuration presupposes a photo and clarification of which earlier clip is meant (teardrop or Danish clip). A mixed assembly from different model generations is thus more plausible than an original factory configuration. --- **Question:** What does the embossing M N or M.-N. on the turning knob of older Montblanc models stand for? **Answer:** The embossing M.-N. stands for Montblanc-Niederlage, that is, the historical designation for a Montblanc branch. It is thus an origin or distribution mark and not a model or nib statement. --- **Question:** Is ink leakage at the turning knob of a Montblanc Safety pen acquired on eBay a typical phenomenon, and how can it be remedied? **Answer:** Ink leakage at the turning knob is a frequent problem with old Safety fountain pens and is no serious defect but results from ageing of the cork or rubber seal. With some luck, the seal saturates anew with ink and seals again; pre-filling with water can also let the cork swell up. Experienced collectors report that the majority of their Safety stock required restoration, which is why it is recommended to have the seal in case of oddities replaced or to renew it oneself. The phenomenon is no authenticity, but an ageing problem. --- **Question:** What does the addition N after the model number of a Montblanc Meisterstück mean, e.g. on the 644 N? **Answer:** The appended N marks on older Meisterstücks the version with wing nib. Models without N are, by contrast, equipped with the classic Meisterstück nib. The distinction is well comprehensible based on the nib illustrations in relevant overviews (e.g. at Maxpens or Penboard). --- **Question:** From what period does an old box of Montblanc royal-blue ink in a cardboard barrel come? **Answer:** Royal-blue Montblanc ink in original cardboard packaging with glass barrel is usually dated to the 1950s. A more precise temporal narrowing-down is possible by collectors based on label variants and glass form or based on relevant literature. --- **Question:** How can an older gold-coloured Montblanc ballpoint with the inscription 'No. 88' and lever mechanism on the clip be identified and supplied with refills? **Answer:** It is the Montblanc 88, a gold-plated ballpoint that, according to Collectible Stars (page 59), was produced between 1961 and 1970. By contrast, the 98 consists of solid gold and was made in 14- and 18-carat variants. The standard work Collectible Stars is available via collectiblestars.de and provides further details. Original refills for the 88 are no longer delivered by Montblanc; alternative refill options have to be procured via collector sources. --- **Question:** Which model is an inherited Montblanc multi-colour ballpoint, and why does it carry the Montblanc logo although it comes from Fend? **Answer:** It is presumably a Montblanc 60-series multi-colour ballpoint. These pens were not made by Montblanc itself but by the firm Fend in Pforzheim, which held the patent on the four-colour mechanism; Montblanc sourced the pens and had them labelled under its own name. There existed various variants with different refill counts, depending on Fend production. Such commissioned manufacture was and is common in the industry; even today, mechanisms and accessories are often bought in. For more detailed information, the Fend expert Dirk Barmeier (Penexchange) is a suitable contact. --- **Question:** How is a clogged Montblanc click pencil 251 made workable again, and how is it correctly filled with leads? **Answer:** Basically, Montblanc pencils can be filled from the front by operating the mechanism and pushing the lead in. If a lead remains stuck in the barrel or the mechanism can no longer be pushed through, this indicates a jammed lead piece that must be carefully removed. Since the forum has not been actively maintained since 2007, an additional enquiry in the active Penexchange forum is worthwhile, which also covers pencils and mechanism topics. The standard leads available in 60 mm are generally suitable for such models. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc fountain pen Simplo No. 0 with the nib hallmark 'Simplo 0 14k' be identified and assessed in value? **Answer:** It is the Montblanc No. 0, a historical model from the early days of the brand; the digit denotes the size and stands for the second-smallest version (smaller was only the 00). Such early Simplo pieces are regarded as impressive and valuable. An eBay search helps only restrictedly with this model rarity; meaningful value statements are provided by experienced collectors. For a well-founded evaluation or a fair sale, an enquiry to Horst Schrage (max@maxpens.de), known for fair purchase offers, is recommended. --- **Question:** What should be considered when buying a used mechanical typewriter from the build year 1960 regarding ribbons and function? **Answer:** With mechanical typewriters from the 1960s, strike differences are to be expected that arise with a soiled or jammed typebar segment and can be remedied through a service; later golfball typewriters do not have this problem. Ink ribbons are not generally standardised but, depending on the model, still available in specialist trade. Before purchase of a concrete model (mentioned was e.g. a Privileg 160T), research on spare-parts supply and, if applicable, cleaning/service of the mechanism by an office-machine mechanic is worthwhile. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is an old writing set in a leather case with the imprint linea bianca, and did this model have a gold nib? **Answer:** The set corresponds to the Montblanc Slim Line series from the 1970s/80s, recognisable by the star on the clip; the leather case with the imprint 'linea bianca', however, presumably does not come from Montblanc itself. Slim Line models had exclusively gilded steel nibs, never real gold nibs – a frequent confusion with the externally similar Noblesse series, which had real gold nibs. The value of the Slim Line models is limited; comparison values are best ascertained via current auctions, with the search term 'Montblanc' broadly set and the exclusion principle used. A chargeable value determination is offered e.g. by Stefan Wallrafen. --- **Question:** What is known about Ric Lei Safety fountain pens from Leipzig, and can a crack on the hard-rubber body be repaired? **Answer:** Ric Lei was founded by a former Montblanc employee (Richter) in Leipzig and produced qualitatively high-grade writing instruments in the style of a Montblanc octagonal Safety with heart-hole nib; detail information on the brand is rare and predominantly documented in collectors' forums. Hard rubber cannot be reliably glued; a cracked component must be newly made. For such repairs, reference is made to specialised workshops, e.g. Horst from maxpens.de. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc models Meisterstück 12 and No. 38 from the 1960s? **Answer:** Both models were made between 1959 and 1968. The Meisterstück 12 is the smaller Meisterstück fountain pen with piston filler and so-called butterfly nib; the No. 38 a ballpoint (not a rollerball) of the third line below the Meisterstück range. In black standard colour both models are relatively frequently preserved and accordingly not particularly valuable; collector prices reach especially deviating colour versions. --- **Question:** What does the 'S' in the mountain imprint on the cap of the first Montblanc Meisterstück edition (25) mean? **Answer:** The 'S' in the broader mountain imprint of early Meisterstücks stands for 'Simplo' and refers to the company history: Montblanc emerged from the Simplo Filler Pen Company and later operated as Montblanc Simplo GmbH. In the later Meisterstück generations this 'S' was dropped; likewise the nib engravings were changed from '18 ct' to '4810' and cap rings supplemented. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc Meisterstück model bears the embossing D.R.P. 652405 as well as 4810/M/250 on the nib? **Answer:** The nib inscription correctly reads 4810 (not 1810); this figure marks the height of Mont Blanc and is standard on Meisterstück nibs. For an unambiguous model determination based on the D.R.P. number and the imprint details, a photo is necessary. The further discussion was moved into a separate thread. --- **Question:** Why are historical Montblanc Safety fountain pens often falsely offered in trade and on eBay as 'compressor', and what should be considered when buying? **Answer:** Safety fountain pens and compressor fountain pens have different filling systems; a movable, extendable nib is unambiguous identification of a Safety pen and rules out a compressor. Even employees of regular specialist shops often do not know historical writing instruments sufficiently, which is why wrong information frequently occurs, on which sellers then rely. Collectors should therefore check models themselves or verify via relevant collector forums and specialist literature. Additionally, secondary defects like wrong nib or wrong cap sleeve can further reduce the value, which is why high prices for such pieces are mostly not justified. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc model is a Meisterstück with 'Hermes' engraving, nib inscription 4310/140/585 and warranty slip 13 400? **Answer:** It is a Meisterstück 144 from the 1950s with a promotional embossing 'Hermes' (promotional gift to business customers, no reference to the brand Hermès or Hermes abrasives). The nib engraving reads 4810/14C/585 (height of Mont Blanc and gold content); the model emerges from the number on the piston end (142, 144, 146 or 149); on the turning knob of the piston, often the nib width is noted (e.g. OBB). The dating to the 1950s takes place on the basis of the celluloid material and the non-melted-in, loosely sitting cap rings – from the 1960s the bodies consist of plastic with melted-in rings. The 144 was produced from 1949 to 1960; the model numbers 13 400 and 13 200 from the 90s warranty papers therefore do not fit this fountain pen. --- **Question:** What do the engraving "universo" and the abbreviation "PL" on a Montblanc 432 Stylo mean? **Answer:** "universo" is most likely an individual promotional or gift engraving, as was usual on Montblanc writing instruments as corporate gifts; an official register of such engravings does not exist. The abbreviation "PL" does not denote the material but the colour or the celluloid of body and cap (platin-lined) and has nothing to do with platinum as metal. The 432 is a stylo, that is, a writer without nib, with a steel tube and a silver rod inside that controls the ink supply via capillary action. Stylos offered the advantage that document-proof inks could also be used, which would have gummed up a fountain pen. --- **Question:** How is a Montblanc Meisterstück with 14ct gold nib (star with 35) and moving piston mechanism to be classified, whose description turns out scant? **Answer:** The writing instrument described is apparently a so-called Bastard, that is, an assemblage of at least three not-matching parts. The cap presumably comes from a 136, the nib from an even older model and the barrel probably from a 246. In this constellation, the components are only usable as spare parts, but not as a complete, original-true collector's piece. --- **Question:** Has Montblanc produced writing instruments without the characteristic star on the cap? **Answer:** Yes, such writing instruments exist. They were made for the Arab market, since the star there evoked unwanted associations; therefore the trademark was modified or omitted. Examples are found already in the 50s and 60s. In Germany these variants turn up only rarely, e.g. on eBay. On the value, the absence of the star has, by collector experience, no significant influence; for some collectors such pieces are even particularly interesting. --- **Question:** Which model is an old Montblanc with 14C/585 nib, flat feed and no inscription on the turning knob, presumably 334 or 334 1/2? **Answer:** Based on the features, a mixed model is likely present: the cap probably comes from the 334 1/2, the body from the 344. Two cap rings point to a cap of the second price series, while clip and cap crown (engraved instead of white-inlaid star) are to be assigned to the third series. The components thus do not belong to a uniform original model. --- **Question:** How is a Montblanc fountain pen without model number in the cap ring, with a gilded steel nib without 585 hallmark to be classified? **Answer:** The writing instrument is officially not a 221, since the 221 always had a particular gold nib. An early model of the "Generation" 13100 can also be ruled out, since these had a model number in the cap ring and also a gold nib. The "Classic" line or older writing instruments from the third series come into question; the latter, however, had only one cap ring. The missing 585 hallmark unambiguously points to a gilded steel nib, which supports the classification as a cheaper model. --- **Question:** How does one fill an old Montblanc Masterpiece 642 with piston mechanism that has been unused for decades, and which ink is suitable? **Answer:** With a writing instrument so long unused, ink residues almost always block the piston mechanism. It is urgently recommended to entrust the writing instrument to an expert who can properly make the mechanism workable. The plastic housing of these early Montblancs has lost plasticisers over the decades and is brittle, so it easily breaks with force application. Filling or disassembling oneself the fountain pen should therefore not be done. --- **Question:** What did a Montblanc 144 cost in the early 50s? **Answer:** In the year 1958, the shop price of the Montblanc 144 was 45 DM. --- **Question:** Are the small holes on the closure cap of a Montblanc 342 normal, or do they indicate a counterfeit? **Answer:** The holes on the cap are normal, structurally intended air holes for pressure equalisation and must be present. Counterfeits of the 342 are unknown, since the model is price-wise unattractive for counterfeiters; imitations primarily concern fountain pens with overlay or coloured celluloid. For checking older writing instruments, a detailed comparison of the nib with further models of the same series as well as specialist literature like Collectible Stars is recommended. --- **Question:** Which model could the unknown fountain pen be? **Answer:** Based on the available hints, the pen was estimated as a Montblanc 34 or a 32. The exact assignment depends above all on the length of the fountain pen, since these two models differ from each other in dimensions. An unambiguous identification is only possible with concrete dimensions. --- **Question:** How old is a Montblanc Pix push pencil really, and how is its preservation condition to be evaluated? **Answer:** The push pencil Pix was made from 1935 to 1950 and is thus rather between 70 and 80 years old, not older. On the example described, on the push button the cover as well as the clip are missing; the piece is therefore incomplete. Comparison photos of a complete pencil of this type can be found on fountainpen.de under old-72-mechanical-pencil.htm. --- **Question:** Which writing instrument is an expensively auctioned supposed Montblanc vintage piece? **Answer:** The piece is not a Montblanc but an extremely rare coral-red Pelikan, which explains the high auction price. Only the clip comes from Montblanc; the nib is from an unknown manufacturer. It is therefore an assembled pen whose value is based solely on the rare Pelikan housing. --- **Question:** What background information is there on the writing-instrument brand Goldring, whose clip bears this inscription? **Answer:** The brand Goldring was a rather small German manufacturer; corresponding works existed in Leipzig and in Bühl. Before the Second World War, in Germany thousands of writing-instrument manufacturers existed, so smaller brands like Goldring are only difficultly assignable. For a more precise determination, photos of the writing instruments are helpful. Supplementary information can be found occasionally on eBay. --- **Question:** Can an old Montblanc lever filler with heart-hole nib, star marking 6 and Simplo imprint be more precisely dated and identified based on the description? **Answer:** The fountain pen is most likely genuine; heart-hole nib, feed and barrel imprint speak for a manufacture towards the end of the 1920s. The cap seems somewhat shortened, and also the lever appears not to be original, since the correct lever had the Montblanc star engraved on the round lever end. Regarding the stated size 6, it is a comparatively rare model. A definitive determination requires further detail photos, especially of the barrel end and any further engravings. --- **Question:** Can a gilded Safety filler with the inscription "ASTORIA FABRICAT" be an Astoria or Montblanc-Astoria filler? **Answer:** Without a picture, the exact assignment can hardly be made. Astoria, however, made alongside Safety models also lever fountain pens in different sizes, among others in size 1, partly also with overlay. A designation "Montblanc-Astoria" could not be clarified; for a reliable determination photos should be consulted. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Astoria — brand overview (fountainpen.de): https://www.fountainpen.de/astoria-en.htm --- **Question:** What does a minus sign after the nib width (for example "B-") on an old Montblanc 149 from the 1950s mean? **Answer:** If the sign really looks like a minus, there is no unambiguous explanation for it. If the sign rather looks like a small "L", it is a special left-hander nib with a one-sided flattened tipping. A detailed overview of nib markings and their meanings can be found in newsletter No. 1 of 2005. --- **Question:** Is an old Montblanc fountain pen offered on eBay with an untypical clip a real Montblanc, and if so which model? **Answer:** The fountain pen is a real Montblanc; the unusually designed overlay, however, does not come from Montblanc but from the Stuttgart jeweller MAENNER. MAENNER refined in the 1930s writing instruments of various brands (Montblanc, Pelikan and others) with silver or gold work and supplemented partly matching pencils with the same overlay. These pieces were officially distributed via the field staff and stationery dealers of the brands and delivered in original cases, in whose lid lining "MAENNER Stuttgart" stood. Such refinements are sought-after collector pieces today. --- **Question:** How high is the sale value of an inherited Montblanc Hemingway fountain pen in used but good condition? **Answer:** For a serious value statement, two points are decisive: whether it is the ballpoint or the fountain pen and whether the original packaging and the special service guide are present. Both have a considerable influence on the achievable price, since complete sets are traded significantly higher. In the specific case, it is a fountain pen without packaging and without service guide; a concrete price range cannot be finally stated for this. --- **Question:** Can a leaking Montblanc 242G with a dried-out cork seal be repaired oneself, or is it sensible to use only the nib further? **Answer:** A 242G is collector-wise not particularly valuable; the gold nib, on the other hand, is very beautiful; if the writing tipping is missing, the nib is, however, unusable. A self-repair is not recommended for laypersons, because work on the old material can quickly lead to a total loss. Montblanc itself no longer repairs these old models due to a lack of spare parts; restorations are taken on exclusively by specialised restorers, who have to demand corresponding prices. A proper restoration is worthwhile above all with culturally and historically more significant pieces; on the 242, it is economically to be weighed. --- **Question:** Does a black Montblanc mechanical pencil No. 10 K from the year 1935 exist, and how rare is it? **Answer:** Mechanical pencils with the model number 10 K were made at Montblanc between 1925 and 1939. In black hard-rubber version they are not a particularly rare collector's piece, unlike the variants in silver or gold, which are significantly rarer. A fixed price of 400 euros for the black model is therefore ambitious and not justifiable by rarity. --- **Question:** How can inherited writing instruments like a supposed Meisterstück 144 and a ballpoint 164 be identified and which sale prices are realistic? **Answer:** A reliable model determination is not possible without meaningful pictures; descriptions and comparisons with the model pictures on the homepage, however, help with prior assignment. For value determination of relatively young writing instruments, forums are not the right place; the real market value is most likely ascertained by an eBay auction with a starting price of 1 euro, since higher starting prices experience-shows lead to lower closing prices. As a guideline, a Meisterstück 164 including papers and original packaging was sold on eBay for 135 euros; a LeGrand ballpoint typically lies at 180 to 200 euros. Prerequisites are good photos and a correct description based on the model specifications. --- **Question:** What total length does a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 from the 1980s have? **Answer:** A 146 with monochrome golden nib, which usually indicates a manufacture between about 1987 and 1992, shows a total length of 14.2 cm. This value matches already documented dimension specifications on Meisterstück writing instruments since the 1980s. --- **Question:** How can an older push-button fountain pen with the inscription "4810 Montblanc Meisterstück" and a barely legible DRP number be unambiguously assigned to a model? **Answer:** For identification of a push-button Meisterstück from this era, especially the model number on the turning knob at the rear end is decisive, e.g. 20, 25 or 30. Dimensions like length and diameter alone do not suffice for a reliable assignment. If the number on the turning knob is no longer legible due to signs of use, the exact model determination can experience-shows fail even with a magnifier. Inscription, nib engraving and brand name on the cap merely confirm the rough belonging to the Meisterstück range. --- **Question:** Are there affordable alternatives for the repair of a Montblanc 244 with a disintegrated cork seal if the Montblanc quotation lies at around 310 euros? **Answer:** The price set by Montblanc is high but can be explained by warranty service as well as the effort for procurement of the no-longer-used cork seals. Significantly cheaper are generally specialised independent repair workshops and experienced collectors who offer such restorations. With comparable result, the effort with these specialists, and thus also the price, is mostly considerably lower. --- **Question:** Are the Montblanc models 254 and 24, which do not appear on relevant collector sites, nevertheless independent versions? **Answer:** Both models are documented in collector literature: the Montblanc 254, similarly to the 252, was made between 1954 and 1959 in various versions; the Montblanc 24 was produced parallel to the 22 between 1960 and 1970. For further research the search functions of collector forums like penexchange.de are recommended, even if there search terms like "Montblanc 24" are partly ignored due to too-frequent occurrence. Collectors' meet-ups, e.g. get-togethers in the Pforzheim region, offer additional possibilities for knowledge exchange. --- **Question:** Is there a matching mechanical pencil (Pix) for the Montblanc 244? **Answer:** A Pix belonging directly to the Montblanc 244 is not known. As a visually fitting supplement, a model 272 with identical clip comes most likely into question. --- **Question:** How can a damaged vintage Montblanc 139 be repaired whose rear end shows a crack and a worn thread? **Answer:** A Montblanc 139 with a cracked sleeve and broken-out thread can be saved through a special repair by shortening the barrel and reducing it in diameter in order to install a new sleeve with stepped bore and thread. In the case described here this was implemented in so-called Hemingway style with a red hard-rubber sleeve; a visually original-true variant in black would alternatively be possible. The method counts as suitable to make heavily damaged vintage models functional again and is visually accepted by the owner, provided the effort is fully documented. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc ballpoint designated as Solitaire Vermeil without a hallmark be dated and classified materially? **Answer:** A piece without a precious-metal imprint is no real vermeil (gilded silver) but merely gilded brass; even real solid-gold writing instruments always bear a corresponding hallmark (585 or 750). The absence of a serial number and the sole engraving Germany point to a model from the time before 1991, since Montblanc only introduced serial numbers from this year. It is therefore an older version of the Solitaire Korn in gilded brass. This information can be confirmed by the relevant Solitaire Vermeil Korn overview on fountainpen.de. --- **Question:** How does one remove on an old Montblanc 333 1/2 the press-fitted piston mechanism, and where does one get a matching vintage nib size 4 1/2? **Answer:** The piston mechanism of the 333 1/2 is mostly glued or welded in, so loosening with heat and pliers or driving out through a thin brass tube does not in many cases lead to success; a special procedure or a workshop visit is then necessary. In the specific case the removal succeeded ultimately only with luck. For replacement nibs in old sizes, the search on eBay Germany is recommended, where such vintage pieces are frequently offered in non-functional condition and accordingly cheaply, so the nibs can be removed for further use. --- **Question:** How does one classify an old Montblanc Safety pen from family possession with octagonal form, and what is it worth? **Answer:** The piece described is an octagonal Montblanc Safety No. 2 with OB nib; the engraving 20B refers to the nib width OB. The fountain pen is very similarly to be classified as the documented Astoria No. 02 Octagonal Safety Filler. Cracks basically reduce the market value significantly but are emotionally hardly relevant for family heirlooms. Comparable octagonal Safetys are regularly traded on eBay and lie in market value significantly above that of a damaged Meisterstück 14, which is economically classified rather as a parts donor. --- **Question:** Is the high price for the collector's book by Jens Rösler on the Montblanc Diary and Collectors Guide justified? **Answer:** The price for the book rises since years approximately half-yearly by around 50 euros, since the work is out of print and only available in limited numbers. It counts among collectors as a standard reference and nearly indispensable reference for pre-war Montblanc writing instruments. Owing to supply and demand, prices around 200 euros are by now seen as appropriate. Anyone who already owns a copy is well served; everyone else should regard the acquisition as long-term sensible. --- **Question:** Does an allegedly deviating mechanism justify a premium for a Montblanc 342 from 1950 offered as a prototype? **Answer:** The designation prototype is, with a 342 of usual look, generally not justified; it is mostly a normal series example. Writing instruments with an untypical component mix are at Montblanc no rarity, especially from wartime, and do not lead to a value increase. On the contrary, a deviating mechanism rather indicates a tinkered piece and reduces the value. High price demands of individual sellers say nothing about the real market value but bet on uninformed buyers. --- **Question:** Does the most recently observed price decline of Montblanc Meisterstücks from the 1950s explain itself through a trend? **Answer:** The prices on the collector market for vintage Meisterstücks fluctuate considerably and can only restrictedly be traced to individual trends. By way of example, a 139 brought about a year ago around 4500 USD, while current prices lie significantly lower; even a 149 with silver rings lost significantly in value within a short time. The collector market behaves in this respect similarly to the stock market, with partly not understandable up and down movements. Trend statements should therefore be regarded with caution. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc button filler without star emblem on the cap and without nib inscription be classified? **Answer:** The single cap ring points to the inexpensive 3xx series, whose star is merely engraved into the cap top. The form speaks for a production period from the 1930s. Nib and possibly feed could have been exchanged in between, and whether cap and barrel belong together is not unambiguously to be clarified without inspection. Unlike the designation suggests, the body does not consist of plastic, since plastics only became common in writing instruments in the 1950s. --- **Question:** How can a disintegrating casein star on a Montblanc push filler of size 6 from the 1930s be conserved or replaced? **Answer:** With a disintegrating casein star, in the short term a covering with cold enamel helps in order to stop further decay. The self-manufacture of casein as a replacement material is occasionally discussed; corresponding recipes exist; their practical suitability, however, is unclear and would have to be tried out case by case. For a professional restoration, contact with specialised restorers like maxpens.de is recommended. A pure polish, as is usual with intact stars, should be avoided on damaged casein stars. --- **Question:** How can a Mont-Blanc fountain pen found in an old garage be classified and is a sale worthwhile? **Answer:** The piece is likely a Mont Blanc 17.5 with push-button mechanism from the 1930s, which is far too good to throw away. Before a sale, it is recommended to observe the price development of similar writing instruments over some weeks on eBay in order to gain a realistic classification. There is no hurry; keeping it or a later, well-prepared sale are more sensible than a hasty disposal. For a value statement, it is additionally helpful to obtain further information on the model and its preservation condition. --- **Question:** Which older Montblanc models (1940–1970) with a flexible gold nib are suitable for beginners with a budget under 150 euros? **Answer:** An unambiguous recommendation does not exist, since the individual writing behaviour varies strongly. Worthwhile is a look at models from the 40s and 50s, alongside the classical Meisterstücks also the cheaper variants of the second price series like the 24x, 25x and 34x ranges, whose nibs count as particularly soft. Before purchase it should be decided whether a free-standing or a partly hooded nib is preferred, as usual in the 50s to 70s. A BB nib grade can also write very softly; a try-out or specialised sources help with the choice. --- **Question:** How can a leaking Meisterstück 25 (Safety pen) be re-sealed? **Answer:** For the repair new seals are needed; a competent point of contact is the workshop of Max Schrage (maxpens.de), which fits the seals professionally. If the nib after cleaning slips back during writing, this is mostly because the seal does not show the necessary radial preload. With the installation of a new, correctly preloaded seal, both the leakage and the nib problem can be remedied in one step. A self-repair is, without experience with Safety pens, not recommendable. --- **Question:** Does the Pelikan ballpoint K400 have a thread of plastic or of brass, and is a plastic version original? **Answer:** The Pelikan K400 exists both with plastic and with brass thread; both variants are original versions. The change to the brass thread took place presumably at the end of the 1990s or the early 2000s. A plastic thread is therefore no indication of a repair, an assembly from parts or a confusion with the 200. Both variants are found on auction platforms. --- **Question:** Must an original Montblanc 234 1/2 necessarily have a nib with the designation 4 1/2, and what does the 1/2 in the model designation mean? **Answer:** According to the reference "Collectible Stars", the 234 1/2 was built not only with a gold nib but also with a steel nib, although only in the normal version and not in the luxury variant. A 585 gold nib is thus one but not the only original configuration. The designation 1/2 is part of the model system and does not necessarily allow conclusions about a specific nib inscription. For a final authenticity judgement, nib inscription and model variant must be considered together. --- **Question:** From what period does the Montblanc 334 with the barrel engraving "D.R.P. angem." come? **Answer:** The Montblanc 334 was produced in the years 1935 to 1936 and is thus the immediate predecessor of the better-known model 334 1/2. The designation "D.R.P. angem." stands for "Deutsches Reichspatent angemeldet" (German Reich patent applied for) and is typical for writing instruments from this period. Information on the internet is rare on this model, since it was only briefly made. --- **Question:** Why do the decorative rings on a Montblanc Meisterstück 142 loosen, and how can the defect be remedied? **Answer:** The body and cap materials of older Meisterstücks consist of celluloid, which shrinks over the course of decades. As a result, the placed decorative rings come loose and can rotate or even fall off. A repair with adhesives like Uhu is not recommended. Instead one should turn to a specialised restorer for vintage fountain pens who can professionally re-fix the ring. --- **Question:** Is a Montblanc 144 with a completely smooth hard-rubber feed without grooves an original, and does it actually come from the 1970s? **Answer:** The piece described is an original 144 from the 1980s, not from the 1970s. The variant with a completely smooth feed without grooves was actually delivered in this time and is not unusual. Authenticity problems therefore do not exist. The frequently demanded price of around 219 euros is, however, ambitious; used older 144s are available on the market already from about 80 euros. --- **Question:** How can beginners assess the appropriateness of prices for vintage fountain pens, e.g. on eBay? **Answer:** As orientation aid the book "CollectibleStars" is recommended, which delivers not only rough price ranges but above all also assessments of the rarity of the individual writing instruments. The rarity is often the more important indication for realistic market prices than the pure price specification. Important, however, is that all statements presuppose a good preservation condition; damages or strong wear reduce the value significantly. The book is available via relevant collector sites and also directly at collectors' meet-ups. --- **Question:** How can the model number of an inherited Montblanc Meisterstück be determined, and can an engraved name engraving on the clip be removed? **Answer:** An existing engraving on the clip can be most safely removed by exchanging the engraved spare part for a new one. Polishing is possible but mostly leaves a visible dent and is therefore not to be recommended. For model determination, comparison with overview pages on the classical Montblanc Meisterstücks is worthwhile, which list all common models together with pictures and dimensions. A realistic sale price can only be named after exact model assignment and condition evaluation. --- **Question:** Did Montblanc have a calendar pen, and what is known about it? **Answer:** Montblanc bought in at the end of the 1950s to the early 1960s a calendar pen and offered it in combination with a pocket calendar or notepad in a leather sleeve. As refill, a 3/4-length seamstress refill was used, which today is no longer regularly available. The pen is therefore a rather rare collector's object from this era. --- **Question:** What is an extremely slim Montblanc pencil with rotary mechanism and about 5 mm diameter, and is it to be classified as a PIX? **Answer:** A very slim Montblanc pencil with rotary mechanism at the end part is no PIX but a rotary pencil. The designation PIX was originally reserved exclusively for push pencils before Montblanc used the name for other products for reasons of brand-protection law. There are additionally significantly smaller rotary pencils than the piece described. --- **Question:** Which model is an inherited Montblanc fountain pen from the 1940s to 1950s with an elaborate overlay? **Answer:** Provided the nib is provided with the embossing 4810, everything points to a Montblanc 144 from the 1950s. The additionally present silver or precious-metal overlay was not made by Montblanc itself but by the firm B&E and applied subsequently. --- **Question:** Is a vintage gold-coloured Montblanc fountain pen with the nib embossings 4810, M, 140, MONTBLANC and 585 genuine, and what collector value does it have? **Answer:** The writing instrument described corresponds to an original Montblanc from the late 1950s; due to the size it is presumably a 744 rather than a 742. Counterfeits of old vintage models are extremely rare and stem, if present, mostly from no-name vintage nibs that are visually easily to distinguish. This model is quite of interest for collectors and counts as a good everyday writing instrument; a concrete value statement can only be derived via realised sale prices of comparable examples. --- **Question:** Where can information be found on model name, production time and collector value of an old Montblanc mechanical pencil and rotary fountain pen from before 1944? **Answer:** For detailed model, dating and value information on vintage Montblanc writing instruments, The Montblanc Diary and Collectors Guide by Jens Rösler is the central reference. The book covers, among other things, rotary pencils and rotary fountain pens from the pre-war period and enables a well-founded identification. --- **Question:** Why does a Montblanc 234 1/2 sometimes have a brownish-discoloured end cap over the turning knob? **Answer:** On Montblanc writing instruments of this time, housings are made of celluloid and end pieces of hard rubber. Hard rubber tends in the course of years to discolouration into brownish, which explains the colour difference between barrel and end cap. The discolouration is thus no defect but material-typical. --- **Question:** From what period does the Montblanc PIX No. 16 push pencil come, and how is it to be classified? **Answer:** According to the book Collectible Stars, the Montblanc PIX No. 16 was made between 1960 and 1970. It is an everyday model that is comparatively simple to find and has no pronounced rarity status. --- **Question:** Did the Montblanc No. 94 also exist in solid white gold, and what does the unusual hallmark 580 instead of the usual 585 mean? **Answer:** A white-gold variant of the No. 94 (around 1965) counts as very rare and is not documented in the relevant Montblanc book either. The hallmark 580 instead of 585 is in the jewellery area unusual but occurs on some historical gold alloys. That corresponds to a gold content of about 13.6 carat instead of the usual 14 carat (585). Such pieces count as rarities that even experienced collectors have so far not encountered. --- **Question:** How can an old Montblanc push pencil of 585 gold with the engraving "M-W-E" be identified and dated? **Answer:** Based on a pure description, a 585 gold pencil by Montblanc can hardly be identified, because several models exist in 585 gold. For a sensible estimate, clear photos should be posted. An engraving like "M-W-E" is mostly an individual initials or company engraving and no model marking. A dating to the 1950s or 1960s appears plausible but should be verified picture-based. --- **Question:** Did the Montblanc Carrera ballpoint also exist with a cap, or only with a click mechanism? **Answer:** The Montblanc Carrera ballpoints were made exclusively with clip-lever mechanism; a variant with cap did not exist in this model range. Anyone seeking a classical Montblanc ballpoint with cap must therefore switch to other model ranges. --- **Question:** Over what period were the Montblanc Meisterstück 94 and the matching 95 made in solid 750 gold? **Answer:** According to collectors, the 94 fountain pen and the matching 95 second instrument in solid gold were made between 1960 and 1970, so a pen carrying either number can be dated to the 1960s. Two-digit model numbers are typical of the Montblanc range of those years. The 750 hallmark denotes 18 carat: the body is solid gold, not merely gold-plated or covered in rolled gold. Versions such as these were the top of the range at the time and were produced in far smaller numbers than the precious resin models, which is what makes them sought-after collector's pieces today. No reliable information exists on the original packaging, the accompanying papers or the recommended retail prices of the day; these questions remain unsettled. What counts in placing a particular example, then, is above all its state of preservation, the soundness of nib and mechanism, and legible hallmarks. --- **Question:** On an octagonal Montblanc safety pen with a gold overlay, how do you tell whether the overlay is original? **Answer:** On the octagonal safety pens the size number — 2 or 4, for instance — appears both on the hard-rubber knob at the end of the barrel and on the gold nib; short and long versions were made. Whether the overlay is solid gold is revealed by the hallmark: if it carries no fineness mark such as 585, it is gold plate rather than gold. The cap is the key to attributing an overlay to its maker. One of the facets of an original Montblanc overlay is engraved with the old Montblanc signature and the mountain motif in the centre. If that is missing and the cap lip instead carries a marking such as “Montblanc 18 k.r.”, collectors take the overlay to be of Italian manufacture and not made by Montblanc itself. A fitted clip also deserves a close look: if its shape does not match the pattern of the overlay, it has almost certainly been added later. Discolouration and greying of the hard rubber, particularly at the end of the barrel, are the rule on these pens and can be dealt with professionally. The mechanical condition — above all the spindle of the extension mechanism and the seal — can only be judged with the pen in hand, never from photographs. Properly restored, such a safety pen remains well worth collecting even with a later clip, though the price should be correspondingly lower. --- **Question:** On a Montblanc 146 from the 1950s, is it normal for the ink window to remain visible when the cap is screwed on? **Answer:** Yes. On many 146s a narrow strip of the ink window stays visible with the cap fully screwed on. The length of the window was altered several times over the production years, so pens of different vintages differ on this point. A visible edge of the yellowish window about a millimetre wide is therefore no sign that the cap is not seated properly or that cap and barrel do not belong together. Cracks in the cap, common on pens of this period, are another matter. They usually run from the cap lip to the first ring and appear when the material shrinks over the pressed-in metal ring and comes under stress. Left untreated, such a crack widens further every time the cap is screwed on and off. It belongs in the hands of a workshop that specialises in old writing instruments; home repairs with glue reduce the collector value considerably and can scarcely be put right afterwards. --- **Question:** What does the stamped “D” on the nib of a Montblanc 32 stand for, and was the pen delivered that way? **Answer:** On Montblanc nibs the “D” usually stands for Durchschreibfeder, a manifold nib: an exceptionally hard, barely yielding nib for writing carbon copies. On some examples of the 32, though, that reading does not square with the evidence. The nib so marked writes comparatively flexibly, and the breather hole sits appreciably further from the tip than it does on true manifold nibs, where it moves up close to the point. The shape of the tip, too, departs from the familiar picture on the 32, where a pointed cut-out leaves the 585 hallmark visible. Despite these discrepancies, collectors regard such pens as having left the factory in this form; several examples are known in collections and have been judged original by experienced collectors. Precisely what the “D” denotes in this context has never been settled. A later modification or nib change need not therefore be assumed, though in an individual case it cannot be ruled out entirely. --- **Question:** Why does the Montblanc 644 come with both an open nib and a winged nib, and does that have anything to do with export models? **Answer:** The 644 was built from 1952 to 1959. During that period the winged nib — a nib with wings splayed out at the sides that rest on the section — replaced the open nib used until then. Collectors date the first pens with winged nibs to the autumn of 1955, though the changeover was gradual, since parts and pens already made were sold off first. Both nib forms can therefore be found on bodies bearing the same model number, without either pen being wrong. The difference has nothing to do with special export versions; it is purely a matter of date. For dating a 644 the nib form is thus a useful but only rough guide: an open nib points to the first half of the production run, a winged nib to the years from about 1955/56 onwards. A pen can be placed more precisely if further features are brought in as well — the cap ring, the shape of the clip and the design of the ink window. --- **Question:** On a Montblanc such as the 744 N, how can you tell whether the body is solid gold or merely rolled gold? **Answer:** The hallmarks decide it. On a pen with a solid gold body every gold part carries its own fineness hallmark — clip, cap and barrel each separately — usually marked 750 for 18 carat or 585 for 14 carat. Where such a mark is missing, the part in question is not solid gold but gilt or plated. In short: what is gold is also stamped. Rolled gold and doublé versions carry at most a maker's or material marking instead of a fineness figure. Since the surfaces of the two are hard to tell apart in good condition while the metal value differs enormously, always look for the stamps yourself before buying rather than relying on a description that merely says “gold”. The pattern of wear gives a further clue: on plated pens the gold layer rubs through in time at the cap lip, the clip and the edges, letting the base metal show through, whereas solid gold simply dulls evenly. --- **Question:** What is known about the Montblanc 221, which Montblanc itself calls the M 221 FP Classic, and when was it built? **Answer:** The 221 is a piston filler from the simpler Classic range. According to the standard reference “Collectible Stars” it was made from 1971 to 1979. In its certificates of authenticity Montblanc lists it as the M 221 FP Classic. It is a standard pen of those years, built in large numbers and correspondingly common on the collectors' market. Two things follow from that. A strikingly low price is no indication of a fake with this model, merely a reflection of how widespread it is. And there is no collector value in prospect that would justify an elaborate restoration. As a pen to write with, on the other hand, the 221 is rewarding: the piston mechanism of this range is simply built, spare parts are easy to come by, and an overhaul with a new seal is routine work for a specialist workshop. --- **Question:** How do you open an old fountain pen, a Stöffhaas for instance, in order to replace the worn cork on the piston? **Answer:** On most old piston fillers the way in is through the section: it unscrews, after which the piston is accessible from the front. The difficulty lies in the joint, because section and barrel are sealed with shellac. The pen must therefore be warmed carefully at the rear end of the section, and only just enough for the shellac to soften without harming the material of the body. Celluloid and the early plastics in particular will warp or go dull if the temperature rises too far. Without practice, experience shows, the first few pens come to grief at this stage. On pens with a blind cap at the rear end and a built-in, converter-like filling system the mechanism may be arranged differently; without identifying the model exactly, no reliable advice can be given on the right approach. With a pen whose flexible nib is still in good order it is therefore wiser to leave replacing the cork seal to a specialist workshop than to damage the body at the first attempt. The cost of such an overhaul is as a rule well below the value that an undamaged body represents. --- **Question:** Which model is an old Montblanc fountain pen in hard rubber with a 4 on the nib and on the end of the barrel? **Answer:** A pen like that is a Montblanc Safety No. 4 from the 1930s. On a safety pen the nib is wound out of the body by turning the knob at the end of the barrel and drawn fully back in again for closing; the cap is then screwed down tightly so that the ink, which stands free in the ink chamber, cannot leak out. The figure on the nib denotes the nib size, so size 4 here, which is a common middling size. The same number is usually repeated as an imprint on the rear end of the barrel, so that nib and body confirm one another. The body of these models is made of hard rubber. Under the influence of light and sulphur this material discolours over time from deep black to brown or greenish brown; such a patina is normal and is not counted as a defect. It is striking, though, when body and cap have darkened to different degrees: if the cap stays deep black while the barrel is clearly discoloured, experience suggests the parts did not start out together. The conclusion is not inescapable, since parts stored differently can also discolour unevenly. --- **Question:** What does the number 250 on the nib of an old Montblanc fountain pen mean, and how do you tell a 139 from a 136? **Answer:** The number 250 on the nib is not a model number but a marking Montblanc used on steel nibs; quite why that particular figure was chosen has never been settled. Pens with nibs of this sort typically date from the war and the immediate post-war years, when gold was barely to be had for civilian production. On these pens the model number is not on the nib but usually appears as a three-digit figure on the end of the barrel. If it is missing there, the model has to be determined from the shape, the size, the cap trim and the filling system. For telling the large pre-war and wartime models apart, the cap trim is a useful feature: according to collectors, only the 139 had silver-coloured rings, while the smaller 136 was finished differently. Then there is sheer size, the 139 being much the larger and heavier pen. A 139 with a steel nib is an interesting document of its time and nothing to take exception to, but collectors rate it below the same model with its original gold nib. When buying, bear in mind that steel nibs of those years frequently show traces of corrosion. --- **Question:** What period does a Montblanc ballpoint of the Noblesse line date from, and can the year of manufacture be narrowed down from the original packaging? **Answer:** The ballpoints of the Noblesse line were made from the late 1970s into the early 1980s. The engraved lettering on the upper part assigns a piece unambiguously to that range. A year-by-year attribution cannot be read off the instrument itself, since Noblesse models carry no dating. The original packaging provides a usable clue, as it was changed several times over the production period. Boxes in the fashionable brown of the 1970s belong to the earlier examples; a different, later box design points to manufacture in the early 1980s. If a piece still comes in its original box, it can at least be roughly placed this way; without the packaging one is left with the whole production period. --- **Question:** Could a Montblanc 244 G have been built as early as 1948 or 1949, or do these pens date only from the 1950s? **Answer:** The 244 was already in production in the late 1940s; it did not appear only in the 1950s. The standard reference on post-war production, “Collectible Stars” by Jens Rösler and Stefan Wallrafen, lists two variants of the model: an early one dated to 1948/49, and a second whose manufacture ran until 1954. A seller's statement that a 244 G was made in Hamburg between 1948 and 1949 is therefore perfectly plausible in principle. The exact years are not given consistently across the literature, though, and since the pens carry no date themselves, dating an individual example comes down to placing it by its shape and fittings. Anyone who wants certainty will have to compare the pen with the illustrations and descriptions in the relevant collectors' literature. The suffix G denotes the trim variant, not the year of manufacture, and on its own says nothing about when the pen was made. --- **Question:** Is it normal for the nib of a Montblanc safety pen to be wet with ink every time it is wound out? **Answer:** Yes — it follows from the design and is not a fault. In a safety pen the nib and feed are drawn down into the barrel, where they sit directly in the ink supply. That is intentional: it keeps the feed permanently wetted, so the pen starts writing the instant the nib is wound out. A nib coated with ink is therefore normal behaviour for this construction, and the film disappears after a few strokes. If you prefer a clean nib, there are two things you can adjust. First, do not fill the barrel right to the top, but only far enough that the retracted nib is not standing wholly in the ink. Second, storage is decisive: a safety pen kept lying flat spreads the ink along the whole length of the barrel and so over the nib as well, whereas one stored upright with the nib uppermost stays markedly cleaner. That is why these pens used to be carried clipped into a pocket. A lower fill level combined with upright storage solves the problem in practice, with no need to alter the pen itself. --- **Question:** What can be done if an old Montblanc 342 with a steel nib still delivers ink only erratically after flushing? **Answer:** In a pen that has been stored for a long time, an irregular ink flow is nearly always a question of cleaning rather than of the nib. Dried ink encrusts the fine channels of the feed over the decades, and even a night in a glass of water does not always dissolve such deposits completely. Repeated flushing with lukewarm water is the answer, with a drop of washing-up liquid if need be, until the water stays clear. Hot water should be avoided, as it attacks the feed and the seals. If the flow is still too sparse afterwards and the slit looks very tight, it can be opened carefully by easing the two halves of the nib a fraction apart with the fingers. The smallest of adjustments will do, and the tips must afterwards sit at exactly the same height and meet cleanly. Pliers are not needed for this and readily do permanent damage to an old nib. If neither step brings results, the cause often lies in a hardened piston seal or a distorted feed — both of which a specialist workshop can put right. --- **Question:** How is a black Montblanc Meisterstück 30 safety pen from around 1930 dated? **Answer:** The cap bands, the nib and the clip are what count. The Meisterstück with two cap bands came onto the market in 1929 and was supplied at first with a different nib and without a clip; the nib of the familiar version only appeared from 1930. Three kinds of clip have to be distinguished: the slip-on clip, the ball clip and the teardrop clip. The ball clip was usual until about 1931 and the teardrop clip followed it, both forms being available at extra cost. A clip from the second price class fitted to a Meisterstück is not original. The standard reference for Montblanc writing instruments before 1950 is the Montblanc Diary by J. Rösler together with the second volume by Rösler and Wallrafen; information from boutiques and figures given in lists on the internet, by contrast, have repeatedly proved unreliable. As to value: a black hard-rubber safety pen counts as a comparatively ordinary piece, being neither colourful nor made of precious metal. Even unused and with box and papers, the realistic upper limit in 2008 was around 1,300 to 1,800 euros; signs of use, worn engravings or a bent nib bring the price down. A premium for patina, of the kind usual with vintage cars, is unknown in the pen market. --- **Question:** How can you tell whether a Montblanc Meisterstück 744 is solid gold, and when was the model made? **Answer:** The Meisterstück 744 was made between 1952 and 1956, and the still exposed nib is characteristic of those years. Several versions appeared under the same model number, differing in the shape of the nib and in the guilloche and supplied in solid gold (585), in rolled gold or in 900 silver. A version in 750 gold is not documented, though collectors do not rule one out for the French market, where 14 carat does not count as real gold; such a pen would then have had an 18 carat nib as well. Montblanc has hallmarked solid precious-metal surfaces on writing instruments since 1912. If the 585 hallmark is missing from cap and barrel, the pen is accordingly not solid gold but gold-plated. A test at a jeweller's is superfluous, since it would be possible only by cutting out a sample of the material and would leave a visible notch. In the hierarchy of the 1950s the gold 149 and the solid gold 744 stood at the top. Around 1,000 euros were being asked in 2005 for a well-preserved solid gold example and at most half that for the gold-plated variant; a hairline crack in the ink reservoir reduces the value by the cost of the repair. --- **Question:** What can still be repaired on a historic Montblanc 333½ with a leaking cork piston and a broken feed? **Answer:** A Montblanc 333½ from the 1930s can be brought back to full working order even with several faults. In one restoration in Hamburg such a pen was given a complete service, a new cork seal and a new feed; the nib, which was bent and compressed at the tip, was straightened, every surface was polished, and even a crack in the cap was no longer visible afterwards. Two causes of such damage are typical. If ink leaks out at the rear by the piston knob after filling, the cork piston or its seal has dried out; cork-sealed piston fillers should therefore not lie unused in a case for years but be used regularly. The feed of old pens is brittle as well: anyone trying to pull nib and feed without practice will easily snap it off. Neither is a reason to give up on a piece with history. --- **Question:** How can you tell how heavily a Montblanc Meisterstück L 139 has been used, and what determines its value? **Answer:** There are at least four variants of the L 139, and their prices differ considerably; a valuation without pinning the variant down exactly is therefore worthless. What also matter are the nib width and the condition of the nib — ball nibs command noticeable premiums — as well as the colour of the ink window. The ink window is made of celluloid and was originally a clear yellowish. Ink stains the material over the years: a window still nicely yellow points to a pen that has seen little use, one discoloured red to dark red to heavy use. The colour of the window thus has a decisive influence on collector value. When buying, you should therefore always ask to be shown pictures of the nib and the ink window. --- **Question:** Does a Montblanc cap fit an Astoria safety pen, and how do you replace a damaged cap? **Answer:** Astoria changed the cap thread over time: depending on the production period it matches Montblanc's or differs from it. The simplest test is therefore to screw on a Montblanc cap of the right size. If it fits, the prospects of finding a replacement improve considerably, because a Montblanc cap without an imprint is, by collectors' reckoning, about ten times easier to find than an original Astoria cap. On safety pens the cap is the part that breaks first, and thus the most sought-after spare part of all. An alternative to searching is repair: experienced restorers turn missing cap lips from original material on the lathe and fit them to the existing cap almost invisibly. With a cap whose logo top is intact, this route is nearly always worthwhile. --- **Question:** What features does the Montblanc 236 of the 1930s have, and what price did one fetch in 2005? **Answer:** The 236 is one of the Montblanc piston fillers of the 1930s and works with a telescopic piston that still functions perfectly on well-preserved pieces to this day. The barrel carries the model number 236, the nib width and the note D.R.P. with patent number 652405; the cap is set with two narrow rings. On this model the nib is steel and shows a 6 in the Montblanc star — the last digit of the model number denotes the nib size. Versions with a steel nib are priced well below their gold-nibbed sister models. A very well preserved example with its original cardboard box was offered for 230 euros in 2005 and, after negotiation, let go at around 180 euros. --- **Question:** How do the gold-overlaid Montblanc Meisterstück 92 and 94 differ, and when were they made? **Answer:** The Meisterstück fountain pens No. 92 and No. 94 with an overlay of 14-carat gold, that is 585 gold, were made between 1959 and 1969. They differ solely in the length of the barrel: the 94 is somewhat longer, but otherwise the two are built identically. The gold overlay shows the characteristic fine vertical lining. Because production ran out at the end of the 1960s, the models no longer appear in later range overviews, which makes identification difficult for owners. Collector value in 2006 was up to 450 euros for an unused piece with no signs of use; examples with visible wear generally changed hands for considerably less. --- **Question:** What did a well-preserved Montblanc 139 cost around 2007, and what should be watched for when buying an original example? **Answer:** According to collectors, prices for a very well-preserved original 139 stood at about 1,300 to 2,000 euros around 2007, with a tendency to fall; as early as 2004, 2,000 euros apiece was being asked for good examples. An unrestored piece with a steel nib and a long ink window was valued at 700 to 1,700 euros in this period. Pens of this kind hardly ever surface in the open trade; collectors' fairs and regular collectors' gatherings are the most promising route, since vintage collectors bring their holdings along. When buying, the condition of the nib is decisive: nibs on which the iridium tip has gone are a common fault and easily overlooked from the outside. Spare parts for the 139 are practically impossible to obtain, which is why made-up pieces are in circulation. Since 149 caps fit a 139 barrel, hybrid pens of this sort are no rarity and are not in original condition. The latest form of construction is the 139 in celluloid with a metal piston mechanism. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the Montblanc 32 piston filler, and where do examples with a company engraving on the cap come from? **Answer:** The 32 is one of the plain piston fillers that Montblanc offered below the Meisterstück range in the 1950s and 1960s. It is the smaller version of the otherwise identical 34; within this range each pair of numbers stands for two sizes of the same specification, which is why the 32 does not stand out separately in any model survey. Its characteristic features are the black body, a blue-tinted ink window and a gold nib in 585 gold. Pens of this class were everyday writing tools and were often handed out as advertising or company gifts with a firm's name engraved on the cap; one documented example carries the masthead of a daily newspaper and was in daily use from the late 1950s to the late 1960s. Engravings of this kind often allow a rough dating by way of the first owner's employer or the occasion. --- **Question:** How can a Montblanc Safety No. 1 Short be recognised, and why does the hard rubber of old safety pens turn brown? **Answer:** A small octagonal safety pen with a size 1 nib corresponds to the No. 1 Short illustrated in the Montblanc Diary, which dates it there to the years 1924 to 1929. Its nib is stamped Montblanc, with the size 1 in a circle and the gold mark 14 C; in the cap sits the safety pin, which must be present for the pen to be complete. Larger safety models show the inscription MONT BLANC with the outline of the mountain on the cap, a faintly stamped model number on the knob and details such as MONT BLANC 14 C 585 on the nib. The black hard rubber of these pens yellows towards brown under the influence of light and air. The part of the barrel that was covered by the closed cap stays black; this difference in colour speaks for a piece that has aged over decades and survived in original condition. Most examples still work; they begin to leak at the old seals, whose replacement is part of normal restoration. Well-preserved safety pens of this kind changed hands among collectors at about 275 euros apiece in 2005. --- **Question:** How can a yellowed or brownish fountain pen in hard rubber be made black again? **Answer:** Hard rubber, also known as ebonite, discolours under the influence of light and air to brownish or greenish-yellow, because sulphur comes to the surface. This sulphur bloom sits only in the topmost layer and can be taken off mechanically: apply an ordinary fine-grained cream cleaner and rub and polish with a cloth until the black comes through again — the cloth shows clearly how much yellow material is being removed. The part is then cleaned thoroughly with a soft brush or an old toothbrush. Because the material dries out under this treatment, it is lightly greased at the end and polished up with a ball of cotton wool. The patina on yellowed Montblanc stars can be taken off in the same way. The procedure is laborious and removes material: imprints, engravings and sharp edges can suffer under it, and experienced restorers are divided over polishing agents and method. --- **Question:** What sort of range was the Montblanc Carrera, of which there were ballpoint pens and propelling pencils around 1970? **Answer:** The Carrera is one of Montblanc's inexpensive ranges. The company, which today presents itself as a maker of luxury goods, once produced perfectly ordinary everyday pens as well; the Carrera series was expressly intended for schoolchildren and was sold at a correspondingly low price. Alongside fountain pens the range included ballpoint pens and propelling pencils, and pieces from 1970 are documented. A detailed survey of the Carrera writing instruments and their variants is given in the collectors' book “Collectible Stars”. --- **Question:** What features does a Montblanc Meisterstück 136 carry, and what do additional imprints such as “S.-S.” on the feed mean? **Answer:** The 136 piston filler of the Meisterstück range has a long ink window, a single cap ring and the imprint MONTBLANC MEISTERSTÜCK on the cap and the cap top; to this is added the abbreviation DRP for Deutsches Reichspatent, which points to early production. On these pens the model number and the nib width are stamped not into the nib but into the feed. Besides these, additional letter abbreviations such as “S.-S.” are occasionally found on the feed. They occur on only some of the Meisterstücke; their meaning has never been settled among collectors, and so far no conclusions about age, place of manufacture or the party who ordered the pen can be drawn from them. --- **Question:** Which nib belongs on a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 from the 1950s, and how is it hallmarked? **Answer:** The early 146s of the 1950s carry a single-colour gold nib without the platinum inlay that became usual later; the two-tone nib appeared only in later production. These early nibs are noticeably softer and give perceptibly as you write. The hallmarking follows a fixed pattern: at the top the number 4810, alluding to the height of the mountain, below it the letter for the nib width within a circle whose edge on older pens is milled rather than smooth, below that the gold markings 14C and 585 and the Montblanc name. According to collectors, a single-colour, soft 585 nib with this hallmarking speaks for original condition rather than for a replacement nib fitted later. --- **Question:** What is a Montblanc Monte Rosa, and how can the various versions be placed? **Answer:** The Monte Rosa was a plainer range positioned below the Meisterstück, which Montblanc sold as a school and everyday pen. Its specification and ambitions are accordingly lower than those of the top models; as a collector's item a Monte Rosa can therefore be had comparatively cheaply, and it is occasionally mistaken for one of the brand's better pens. There were several versions. The earliest have a steel cap, while later series are made throughout in the same material as the barrel and are common in a number of colours. The cap is thus the first thing to look at when dating a pen. --- **Question:** Was the fountain pen Der Kimmelstiel by M. Kimmelstiel & Co a sub-brand of Montblanc? **Answer:** No. The Hamburg firm of M. Kimmelstiel & Co acted as a dealer and distributor, not as a subsidiary or sub-brand of Montblanc. The correct name of the pens is Der Kimmelstiel, and it is documented in the specialist literature. Listings that present such pens as a Montblanc sub-brand rest on a misreading of the imprint. The dates tell against the attribution as well: the pens carry a patent notice from 1903 and thus date from before Montblanc was founded in 1908. They were made by Moore, a manufacturer that had already been in business for several years. The early Montblanc pens accordingly took their lead from this filling system, and not the other way round. --- ## Other ### Montblanc in the press **Question:** At the signing of Cologne's Golden Book in 1963, who lent whom the Montblanc fountain pen, Adenauer to Kennedy or the other way round? **Answer:** The scene dates from June 1963, when John F. Kennedy signed the Golden Book of the city of Cologne during his visit to Germany and one of the two statesmen handed the other his fountain pen. Montblanc's own records, among them the company chronicle, state that it was Konrad Adenauer who lent the American president his Montblanc. The press still carries the opposite version, in which Kennedy came to the chancellor's aid after the latter had searched his breast pocket in vain; it was put about, among other places, in a newspaper report marking the company's centenary in 2006. The surviving photographs of the occasion support Montblanc's account, since they show Adenauer passing the pen across. The question is nonetheless not finally settled, as both versions are second-hand. An American president reaching for a German fountain pen was in any case nothing unusual: collectors report that Richard Nixon, too, used a Montblanc, a 144 in vermeil with a fine-grain guilloche. --- **Question:** Is Montblanc a Swiss brand, and what is the story behind the Nicolas Rieussec watch presented in 2008? **Answer:** Montblanc is not a Swiss company. It was founded in Hamburg in 1906 and still has its headquarters and its pen production there. Its parent company, however, is the Swiss luxury goods group Richemont, and watch production is based in Switzerland as well, which is why media reports repeatedly describe the brand, wrongly, as Swiss. In 2008 Montblanc presented the Nicolas Rieussec, its first watch with a movement made in house; the line is named after the inventor of the chronograph. Reporting on it regularly confuses two terms: a chronograph is a watch with a stopwatch function, whereas a chronometer is a watch whose rate deviation has been tested in several positions and confirmed by a certificate. The Nicolas Rieussec carries no chronometer certificate, which says nothing about how accurately it actually runs. The certification procedure is elaborate and expensive, which is why even well-known manufacturers do without it and instead specify in-house tolerances of around five seconds' deviation a day, figures that at least match the testing standards. A missing certificate is therefore not a defect in quality. --- **Question:** How can you recognise the writing instruments Montblanc issued for its centenary in 2006? **Answer:** Montblanc celebrated its hundredth anniversary in 2006; the ceremony was held on 11 January 2006 at the Laeiszhalle in Hamburg. For the anniversary year the company issued a series of writing instruments carrying one unmistakable feature: in place of the usual white star in precious resin, the cap top holds a diamond designed and cut specially for Montblanc in the shape of the Montblanc star. The cut, with its 43 facets, was protected worldwide for the brand, and the stones were selected in the colour grade Top Wesselton. The anniversary pieces spanned several price brackets, from very elaborate and correspondingly expensive editions to models within reach of collectors on a smaller budget. Nor did the star diamond remain confined to 2006: it went on to become the distinguishing feature of Montblanc's upmarket lines, where it likewise replaces the resin star in the cap top. Placing a piece reliably therefore calls for the model designation, the numbering and the papers as well as the diamond, since the diamond star on its own is no proof that a pen belongs to the anniversary year. --- **Question:** What did a new Montblanc Meisterstück 149 cost in 2007, and was it available then with platinum-plated trim? **Answer:** In 2007 the Meisterstück 149, the large piston filler of the range, sold for roughly 480 to 520 euros in German specialist shops. The higher figures circulating in press reports at the time generally refer to special versions with precious-metal bodies, to auction results for historic pieces, or simply to careless research. The price is not explained by the material of the body, since the 149 is made of black precious resin and not of metal. What determines it is the hand-ground and run-in gold nib, the piston filling mechanism and the depth of manufacture. The classic version has gold-plated trim; a version with platinum-plated trim, of the kind the Platinum Line offered on the smaller Meisterstück models, was not available for the 149 at that time. Prices of this sort always have to be read against their year: the list price of the 149 has risen considerably since the 2000s, and second-hand prices can lie well below or well above it depending on condition, vintage and nib width. --- **Question:** Why has Montblanc offered no inexpensive fountain pens since the 1980s, and what follows from that for older models? **Answer:** Montblanc was founded in Hamburg in 1906 and was present in the mass market well into the 1980s: alongside the expensive Meisterstück pens, plainly appointed school and everyday fountain pens came off the line. When the company reoriented itself towards the luxury segment, management laid down the rule that there should be no Montblanc fountain pen costing less than 150 Deutsche Mark. The inexpensive series were discontinued, and the range narrowed to high-priced writing instruments, later joined by watches, leather goods and accessories. For collectors this has two consequences. First, the plain, affordable Montblanc models almost all date from before that turning point; they are vintage items today, mostly with a piston or cartridge filling system and with nibs of gold or steel, and some of them change hands on the collectors' market for considerably more than their original shop price would suggest. Second, the strategy explains why there are virtually no cheap new pens from the brand after the 1980s: a supposedly as-new Montblanc offered strikingly cheaply is therefore almost always a fake. --- **Question:** Who was Norbert Platt, and how did he shape the direction of Montblanc and of its parent group Richemont? **Answer:** Norbert Platt joined Montblanc from Rollei in 1987 and ran the company as managing director. Under his leadership Montblanc made a wholehearted move into the luxury market and grew from a pure maker of writing instruments into a supplier of lifestyle goods: watches, leather goods, jewellery and perfumes were added to the range. The brand image that has defined Montblanc since the 1990s is essentially his work. In September 2004 it was announced that Platt was moving to the top of the parent group to take up the post of chief executive officer. Montblanc belongs to the Swiss luxury goods group Richemont, which also brings together Cartier, IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre. The Rupert family holds a capital stake of around ten per cent in it but controls more than half of the voting rights through a share class of its own; Johann Rupert, who had previously run the group as chief executive officer himself, announced the change. No successor was named at first for the management of Montblanc. --- **Question:** Does Montblanc adjust nibs to individual customers' wishes, and can a scratchy nib be reground at home? **Answer:** Montblanc runs a nib workshop within its own customer service department, which tunes nibs to the individual writing style; what is adjusted is above all line width, grind and ink flow, in other words the position and shaping of the iridium tip in relation to the way the pen is held and how hard the writer presses. In the mid-2000s this department was headed by Wilfried Ross. As matters stood then, the service was open in principle to every customer and was not restricted to bespoke work; the cost and the turnaround time can be had from customer service or through a specialist dealer who sends the pen in. A nib that is only slightly scratchy can also be smoothed at home. The usual method is very fine abrasive paper or micromesh, on which the nib is moved with light pressure in the normal writing position, a little at a time and with frequent test writing, since material once removed does not come back. With old and valuable nibs, with tines that are bent or sitting unevenly, and with slits that have sprung open, a specialist workshop is the safer route, because there the alignment of the tines is corrected first and grinding follows only afterwards. --- **Question:** Who received the German Montblanc Arts Patronage Award in 2004, and what is the prize awarded for? **Answer:** The Montblanc Arts Patronage Award, known in German also as the Montblanc Kulturpreis, has honoured private patronage of the arts since 1992. It is awarded annually in several countries at once; in 2004, alongside the German award, nine others went to patrons from China, France, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain and the United States. The German prize for 2004 went to Klaus F. Naumann, an art dealer, expert and collector of East Asian art. He had made possible the conversion and refurbishment of the Museum of East Asian Art in Berlin, given the museum a large part of his own East Asian collection and enabled a Japanese tea room to be installed. The award is of interest to collectors not least because Montblanc takes up the same theme in its Patron of Arts series, each issue of which is dedicated to a historical patron of the arts. The company itself keeps a complete list of the award winners since 1992; it is the most reliable source when a pen or a certificate is to be assigned to a particular award year. --- **Question:** How long has Montblanc been making watches, and how is the company's watch production set up? **Answer:** Montblanc took up watchmaking in 1997, against considerable scepticism at the time, since a maker of writing instruments was held to lack credibility in watches. Within a few years the company nevertheless established itself as a watchmaker to be taken seriously; this rested on tight quality control intended to match the standard set by the pens. Responsibility lies with Montblanc Montre S.A., based in Switzerland. It occupies a villa built in 1906 and extensively converted in the years after it was acquired; the year of construction happens to coincide with the year Montblanc was founded. In the early 2000s some 40 people worked there. The layout is unusual, as production and administration are not strictly separated but in many places divided only by glass walls. There are more parallels between a watch and a fountain pen than at first appears: both are precision-made objects for everyday use, long-lived and repairable; both were written off as obsolete in the 1970s, when the quartz watch and the ballpoint dominated the market; and both have enjoyed a sustained revival since the 1990s. --- **Question:** What was behind the Montblanc book project with Candace Bushnell and the fountain pen set with 4,800 diamonds? **Answer:** For a marketing campaign in 2004 the author of “Sex and the City”, Candace Bushnell, was allowed to write a single sentence in a leather-bound book of 2,000 otherwise blank pages. The pen used for it was worth 125,000 dollars and set with 4,800 pavé diamonds; the book was then to be continued by other women. Behind it lay the markedly masculine character of the brand at that time: the classic 149 and 146 appealed above all to men, and collecting too was firmly in male hands — women made up about eight per cent of the subscribers to a German-language collectors' newsletter in 2004. With leather goods and the Bohème series, by contrast, the company was deliberately aiming at female customers. From the same period comes the Montblanc book “In einer Zeit rasender Geschwindigkeit brauchen wir Dinge, die uns innehalten lassen”, which was not sold through bookshops but given away free in the boutiques and, because of its weight, not sent out by post. --- **Question:** How much paper is used up in running in a single Montblanc gold nib? **Answer:** Running in each individual nib takes around 20 metres of paper, the equivalent of about 67 A4 sheets, all of them filled by hand. The figure comes from a Montblanc press release of January 2006, put out for the company's centenary and taken up by the specialist press. For the same occasion Peter Lindbergh produced a series of black-and-white photographs continuing the sequence Helmut Newton had taken for the 75th anniversary of the Meisterstück. The accompanying texts of the time also contain errors, however: the Writers Editions Marcel Proust and Miguel de Cervantes were said to have been made in a run of only 4,810 pieces. That figure, which refers to the height of Mont Blanc in metres, belongs to the Patron of Arts editions, whereas the Writers Editions appeared in far larger runs. --- **Question:** Who took charge of Montblanc International in 2004, and what market strategy lay behind it? **Answer:** In October 2004 Wolff Heinrichsdorff became the new head of Montblanc International. At that point the company saw China as the most important future market for sustained growth, and business policy accordingly centred on building up distribution in Asia. Closely bound up with this was a second aim: the fight against counterfeits was to be given considerably greater weight. Fake writing instruments were appearing in large numbers precisely in the Asian growth markets, so that for Montblanc brand protection and expansion were two sides of the same strategy. --- **Question:** How much was the Montblanc literature prize worth in 2004, and who received it on the sixth occasion? **Answer:** The Montblanc literature prize was awarded for the sixth time in 2004. Ten writers worked on the set theme “So viel Zeit muss sein”; the award went to Moritz von Uslar. It was presented by the firm's then new marketing director, Gabriele Wrede. The prize money took the form of a cheque for 4,810 euros. The sum echoes the height of Mont Blanc in metres, the figure Montblanc has carried on the nib of the Meisterstück since the 1920s and which recurs in numerous editions and limitation sizes of the house. --- **Question:** How many points of sale did Montblanc have around 2004, and how much gold did production consume in a year? **Answer:** The company's history begins in its founding phase in Hamburg around 1908, when it traded as the Simplo Filler Pen Company. Around 2004 the brand was represented in some 8,000 points of sale and around 70 boutiques of its own worldwide; the president and chairman at the time was Norbert A. Platt. The gold consumption of the entire production was then put at around 600 kilograms a year. The most elaborate product is the Meisterstück 149, whose many individual steps make it particularly difficult to manufacture. Support for the arts was part of the firm's self-image even then, among other things through its collaboration with the Hamburger Kunsthalle and its backing for the Philharmonie der Nationen. --- **Question:** How did Montblanc fare as part of the Richemont group during the luxury slump of 2003 and 2004? **Answer:** Montblanc belongs to the luxury goods group Richemont. After years of annual growth rates of 15 to 30 per cent, the luxury market began to stumble at the start of the 2000s — a weak economy, SARS and the Iraq war all depressed demand. Exclusive shops were closed, production sites merged and staff cut. Montblanc came through those years comparatively well, thanks among other things to several new products; other group brands such as Cartier were hit harder by the downturn. To put the industry figures in context: in the luxury goods trade profit margins of around 30 per cent were considered normal and an EBIT of 20 per cent already a weak result, whereas food retailing works on one to two per cent. For watch manufacturing it was reported at the time that a quartz movement fitted to a watch costs only about ten francs to buy in. --- **Question:** Which diamond-set Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire Royal pens were presented in the press in 2003 and 2004? **Answer:** In the early 2000s the Meisterstück Solitaire Royal was the summit of the Montblanc range. One version in white gold was set with 4,654 black diamonds and was presented in the winter of 2003 as the Solitaire Royal Black in the Financial Times magazine How to Spend It. For a further version, set with some 4,800 pavé diamonds, a price of 125,000 US dollars was quoted in 2004. Montblanc used these pieces deliberately in its advertising: for a book project the author of Sex and the City was allowed to write a single sentence with such a pen into a leather-bound book of 2,000 blank pages, a piece of staging by the company's marketing department. --- **Question:** How did the sales of the Richemont group develop up to 2004, and how did the pen brands fare? **Answer:** The Richemont group, to which Montblanc belongs, reported an eight per cent fall in sales for the past financial year in 2004; operating profit fell far more sharply, by 46 per cent. The reasons given were the SARS epidemic, the Iraq war, the strong euro and the expansion of production and distribution. The pen brands ran against the group trend: Montblanc and Montegrappa gained four per cent over the same period. Within the group, the writing instruments business was thus holding up more steadily at the time than the other luxury divisions. --- **Question:** Who won the Montblanc literary prize in 2004, and how large was the prize money? **Answer:** The Montblanc literary prize was awarded in 2004 from 11 to 13 May at the Hotel Louis C. Jacob in Hamburg. It went to Moritz von Uslar for the short story Ein freier Abend, which he had written on the theme set by the jury, So viel Zeit muss sein. The prize money came to 4,180 euros. The competition was one of the cultural activities with which the company underlined its connection with the written word. Whether the stories submitted or awarded prizes in that and earlier years were ever published in book form has not been conclusively established. --- ### Other **Question:** Where can one source high-quality letter paper and visiting cards on laid paper with steel-engraved or lacquer printing? **Answer:** For steel engraving in Germany, Hannovera in Hanover and a workshop in Basel are recommended as good and comparatively reasonably priced suppliers; about 100 cards with first and last name cost roughly 150–200 euros. On real laid paper, steel engraving is considered the stylistically appropriate print; lacquer printing is criticised as an inferior alternative. Another option is blind embossing (also called die embossing) at a long-established print shop that still works with hand-set letterpress; a small desktop embossing press for monograms is also feasible. Druckerey.de is mentioned as a further source — they do not offer steel engraving but other techniques and a sample portfolio that can be ordered (10 euros, credited against a first order). Local bookbinders and print shops can often arrange contacts with steel-engraving craftsmen as well. --- **Question:** How can fakes of S. T. Dupont lighters be identified on eBay? **Answer:** Counterfeits now reach very high quality, so even experienced buyers are deceived. Estimates suggest about 90 percent of eBay listings are fake; certain serial numbers (e.g. 05D06A8) point to fakes. Anyone wanting an original should choose only auctions explicitly advertised as "Original S. T. Dupont" — "original packaging" alone is not enough. In case of doubt, contacting the manufacturer directly or informing the buyer is recommended. Very detailed identification markers are documented in a multi-page discussion in a specialised collector forum; if in doubt, even well-faked pieces are worth at most about 40 euros. --- **Question:** Which paper is particularly well suited to a Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand 146 in terms of even ink flow and clean script? **Answer:** Collectors name as proven all-rounders Zanders Classic and Zanders Gohrsmühle, which among heavy writers are regarded as clearly better than the Rössler papers (e.g. Paper Royal) and are available as a glued block or as a writing pad. Clairefontaine is also recommended as very well suited to fountain pens and reasonably priced. For notes, simple 5 mm grid pads are good; on finer papers like Edelleinen by DFW visible feathering of the ink can occur. Anyone wanting to test several papers in parallel can have a selection sent by the Papierunion's paper consultancy in order to determine the suitable behaviour with one's own ink-and-nib combination. --- **Question:** Can a fountain pen be built completely by oneself, and which components are bought in? **Answer:** Self-building a fountain pen is basically possible; nib and feed are usually bought from the firm Bock, since the manufacture of these components requires considerable experience and special tools. Barrel, cap, mechanism and closures can be made on a lathe from suitable materials such as precious resin, acrylic, hardwood or metal. Anyone wanting to develop an independent filling system finds a practical reference, e.g. in the Bulk Filler system (Conid/Fountainbel), whose developer realised his own patented principle after several years of self-building. Due to the high artisanal and technical effort, self-builds are rare; collectors advise long learning periods and orientation toward established Bock nibs in order to ensure writing quality and ink flow. --- **Question:** How are the market chances of a new TWSBI piston pen DIAMOND from China to be assessed, and should the pen be fully disassemblable? **Answer:** In the entry price segment around 35 euros there are already established competitors like Pelikan, Lamy, Kaweco and Online, so a clear differentiation via target group, marketing and added value is decisive. Other Chinese brands like Duke find it hard going on the German market. The names TWSBI and DIAMOND are criticised as not very catchy for the target group of pupils and students. Full disassemblability for cleaning and maintenance is hardly relevant for end customers and carries the risk that laymen cause damage; for dealers, however, it can be of interest for spare-parts stocking. As added value, individualisation via interchangeable modules such as grip segments, writing modules with various line widths or gold nibs presents itself. A grey demonstrator would be desirable as a visual highlight. --- **Question:** Which inexpensive digital camera is suitable for detail shots of writing instruments, e.g. serial numbers and engravings? **Answer:** Most digital cameras have a macro or super-macro mode that allows shots from about 1 to 3 cm distance; however, perspective distortions occur and the camera's own light is shadowed. A better but more expensive solution is an SLR with macro lens, possibly with ring flash, e.g. the Olympus E-330 with a flip LCD and matching macro lens for around 200 euros. From about 4 megapixels resolution is sufficient for all practical applications. Recommended makers in the entry segment are Olympus and Nikon, in the mid and upper segment Canon. Older bright compact cameras like the Sony F-707 have also proven themselves. As information sources, digitalkamera.de and dpreview.com are mentioned. --- **Question:** Which black fountain pen up to 75 euros is suitable as a reliable writing companion for Abitur exams? **Answer:** Recommendable models in this price class are the Pelikan M200, the Cleo Scribent Chiffre 05 and the Aurora Style; Faber-Castell also offers suitable models. With cartridge pens (e.g. Waterman) it should be noted that mostly only cartridges of the respective maker fit. Piston pens can be filled with any common ink and hold significantly more ink than a standard cartridge. A new nib should be broken in before important exams, since getting used to it takes time. The Cleo Chiffre 05 is particularly praised for its slim, elegant shape and good writing behaviour. --- **Question:** Are fountain pens (piston or cartridge pens) allowed in carry-on luggage on flights since the tightened security regulations of 2006? **Answer:** Fountain pens and ballpoints are unproblematic in carry-on luggage and are usually not objected to at security. Even large quantities (up to about 100 writing instruments) were carried along on Penshow trips to Rome; only opening of the cases was needed. The ink filling level was not paid attention to. Even ink bottles were inspected more closely but allowed through, provided they stayed under the general liquid limits. Precautionary, transport of the pen empty or emptying before take-off is recommended to avoid pressure differences and leak risks. --- **Question:** Which blotting paper is suitable for an old blotter rocker, and are there matching formats for non-Montblanc models? **Answer:** Montblanc offers special blotting paper with rougher surface that absorbs ink faster than usual blotter paper; it is pre-cut for Montblanc blotter rockers but can also be used for similarly sized rockers in width and trimmed in length if needed. For deviating formats, A5 blotter pads from stationery trade (e.g. with ten sheets) can be used and individually trimmed, which is significantly cheaper. Important is sufficient absorbency of the paper so that ink residues do not smear. --- **Question:** Are cartridges or converters for old Geha cartridge pens still available? **Answer:** The Geha cartridges sold by Pelikan today no longer fit into old Geha cartridge pens, and converters have not been produced for more than ten years. Without an old original cartridge from which a makeshift converter could be tinkered, such a pen practically remains a display piece only. The problem is not limited to Geha: even big brands like Waterman have changed their cartridge system and gradually discontinue supply with converters and cartridges of older models. Polyethylene, the material of the old cartridges, cannot reliably be glued, which makes self-build difficult. The case illustrates the general risk of proprietary filling or consumable systems. --- **Question:** What experiences exist when buying fountain pens from non-EU countries (especially USA) regarding customs, import VAT and effort? **Answer:** On deliveries from the USA, from a goods value of around 22 euros, import VAT (19 %) and from 150 euros additionally customs duty apply; often the parcel is held until personal collection at customs, which means a time effort. Sometimes a shipment is not declared and comes through directly, but this is luck. The weaker euro reduces the price advantage additionally. Anyone wanting to avoid the effort better waits for an equivalent offer within the EU. As a price guide on used Meisterstücks, about half the new price applies; ended eBay auctions provide realistic market values. --- **Question:** Which sealing wax is suitable for home use, and which properties distinguish high-quality from inexpensive products? **Answer:** Cheap sealing wax sooths strongly, becomes matt and delivers no clean impressions; collectors therefore advise higher-quality products, e.g. from siegelshop24.com (around 8 euros per stick for 30–40 seals) or from Landolt-Arbenz in Zurich (about 15 euros for 20 cm). Important is that the stick has no central wick, since such waxes soot when burning and melt unevenly. For application the stick is held over a burner and the wax dripped onto the paper several times rotating before the seal stamp is pressed on. Notary-supply mail-order houses sometimes presuppose that the buyer is actually a notary. --- **Question:** Which basic literature and aids should collector novices use before posting frequently recurring beginner questions on Montblanc writing instruments? **Answer:** For beginners particularly the standard works on Montblanc are recommended, e.g. the books by Jürgen Lehmann. --- **Question:** Which makers produce nibs for high-quality fountain pens — especially the frequently encountered nibs with the engraving 'Iridium Point Germany'? **Answer:** Montblanc makes its nibs itself. The most important German nib supplier is the firm Bock; many brand makers like Faber-Castell and earlier also Pelikan have nibs made there, which is why Bock counts as a 'hidden champion'. Whether the nibs with the engraving 'Iridium Point Germany' come specifically from Bock is not unambiguously clarified. In general, steel nibs can technically write just as well as gold nibs; gold nibs are softer in writing feel due to the material. --- **Question:** Why was the forum changed to a new software, and which problems or advantages does that bring? **Answer:** The change occurred compulsorily, since Joomlaboard was no longer being developed and outdated software poses a considerable security risk through hacker attacks. The new software offers more security; individual functions like the RSS feed or avatar pictures had to be reworked after migration. The number of posts remains visible; evaluative forum ranks, however, fall away. --- **Question:** How can forum rules and image protection be designed so that information researched in the forum is not misused for eBay sales without compensation? **Answer:** It was discussed putting the forum rules prominently at the beginning of the forum and visually highlighting them, which was subsequently implemented. To protect photos provided by the forum from unauthorised reuse on eBay, the majority spoke for a clearly visible diagonal watermark in the middle of the image, since small or discreet watermarks can easily be cropped out. Mass post-processing of the existing image stocks is only realistic via specialised batch-processing software. In the background was the wish to preserve the forum as a place of mutual collector exchange and not as a free research source for fast sales. --- **Question:** Is there a relevant collector market for an unused gold-plated Lerche roller blotter from Solingen? **Answer:** Writing-instrument collectors are only marginally interested in desk accessories like roller blotters, so the target group is small. Comparable un-gilded Lerche models are offered on platforms like penexchange.de for around 25 euros and find barely any response there. Gold platings are also wafer-thin and do not significantly influence material value. Such pieces are not extremely rare — if not from Lerche, then from other brands — and compete with numerous substitutes like blotter rockers. A sale via eBay or penexchange.de is possible, but often more rewarding is keeping it as a memento. --- **Question:** Which beginner pen with ergonomic grip and fine nib is suitable for a second-grader on whom normal Lamy models write too broad and too wet? **Answer:** For school beginners the typical learning pens with knobbly ergo grip are still recommended, since children's hands deliberately should not handle slim writing instruments; a Mozart or a 1950s flex pen is therefore unsuitable, since steel nibs are more stable and everyday-suitable. Vintage writing instruments also bring ink-flow risks in everyday use. Concrete recommendations for cartridge pens with ergonomic grip and F nib are limited in the range around 50 euros; preferable is a test in a larger stationery specialist shop (e.g. Schreibmayr in Munich). The Rotring Initial is also named as a good but in trade hardly available variant; in the Penexchange forum a separate section on school pens with further experience reports exists. --- **Question:** Are the German-language Montblanc forums still needed, and how should one deal with declining maintenance of fountainpen.de? **Answer:** The forum operator sees the declining maintenance as a result of shifted private and professional priorities and an intensified collecting focus on old Montblanc pieces; advertising or a handover of the platform are excluded, since the project is purely hobby-driven. The collector community is also changing: many formerly engaged members no longer collect or no longer Montblanc-focused. Despite recent weaknesses, fountainpen.de remains the most important German-language contact point for Montblanc collectors; collectors largely react rejectingly to a shutdown and insist on the value of a German-language forum alongside FPN and Penexchange. Discussed are also questions of whether two German-language forums are needed and how recent Montblanc marketing decisions (e.g. on the 100-year anniversary or the model history of the 149) affect collecting interest. --- **Question:** May pictures from the fountainpen.de website be reused on one's own private internet pages? **Answer:** No, reuse is not permitted. The photos on fountainpen.de are exclusively intended for the own website; an unrestricted authorisation to use is not granted, not even in individual cases. Background: on eBay numerous counterfeits are advertised with foreign original photos, which is why image rights are consistently protected. International enforcement is, however, complicated; this does not justify exceptions. Anyone needing image material must enquire directly with the respective maker or rights holder or take their own photos. --- **Question:** Is the Montblanc boutique on Vienna's Graben actually closing or only relocating? **Answer:** It is not a closure but a relocation within the same street. The old boutique at Graben 17 ceased sales on 24.02.2007, while at the end of April a new Montblanc Flagship Boutique opened at Graben 15. Economic background of such location changes are typically very high rents in this area. Repairs and intermediate trade are handled during the transition period via an intermediary on Kärntnerstraße. --- **Question:** Does the Collegium Aureum Scriptorum (CAS) still exist, and what use is membership? **Answer:** The CAS is still active; chairman is Dirk Barmeyer, who essentially carries the club organisationally alone. The annual membership fee is, by statutes, 35 euros for active and 50 euros for passive members. Members get access to organised events like factory tours (e.g. Montblanc, wood-pen maker Fink) and workshops generally exclusively open to members. The web presence has meanwhile been renewed; patience on enquiries is sometimes needed due to the slim personnel set-up. --- **Question:** Which writing-instrument shows are there in the Cologne area, and what focuses do such events have? **Answer:** Information on the collector show in Cologne can be found at collectiblestars.de. Focus of the relevant shows lies typically on old or historical writing instruments; newer Limited Editions are rather rarely to be found there. Anyone looking for current collector editions is dependent on direct contacts to boutiques or specialised dealers. As a contact in northern Germany, additionally Axel's shop in the Bremen/Hamburg area is recommended. --- **Question:** Which problems does the McAfee SiteAdvisor cause when calling smaller websites, and which legal and technical implications does that have? **Answer:** The SiteAdvisor only shows pages quickly that have been previously tested by McAfee; smaller homepages often do not load at all or only after several minutes, by which users are de facto denied access to untested content. It should be noted that a blocking or delaying of content without consent can be legally problematic (reference to § 206 (2) StGB). This is variously seen as a foretaste of further-reaching concepts like fee-paying page releases or hardware-side programme control (keyword NGSCB / Fritz chip). The simplest remedy is uninstalling the SiteAdvisor; McAfee reacts after complaints and also offers phone support. --- **Question:** Does Montblanc offer factory tours for collectors in Hamburg? **Answer:** Earlier there were regular factory tours, e.g. before the Pen Port in Hamburg, organised via the CAS. On direct enquiry with Montblanc it has meanwhile been communicated that there are no tours for the general public any more. As an alternative Pelikan offers corresponding factory tours. --- **Question:** From what age do collectors typically start collecting fountain pens? **Answer:** Entry ages range from about 8 (special-model cases) through 17–20 as a widespread span up to 25–26; age itself is, by collector opinion, largely irrelevant. Decisive are less biographical barriers than financial means and one's own aspiration, which may quite well include long-term goals like a Carnegie 4810 or a Jules Verne. Coveted Limited Editions are often quickly sold out and rise rapidly in price (Jules Verne from about 900 euros); new Writers Editions at 700 euros are felt as overpriced, so many young collectors expand to brands like Cartier, S.T. Dupont or inexpensive models like Waterman Phileas. --- **Question:** Are there official screen wallpapers around Montblanc? **Answer:** Official Montblanc wallpapers do not exist; available are only Montblanc screensavers on CD that can be obtained via Montblanc specialist dealers. Collectors have put together their own desktop wallpapers and slideshows from existing product photos (e.g. from fountainpen.de), e.g. with image-editing programs like Photoshop. Own shots of individual writing instruments like the Meisterstück 169 Leonardo Sketch Pen are also used for this purpose. --- **Question:** What was the reason for the one-day outage of fountainpen.de? **Answer:** The outage was caused by a so-called flooding attack: from numerous IP addresses non-existent files were called millions of times, which overloaded the web space. Such attacks can hardly be repelled in the short term; the provider blocked the most active IP addresses, after which traffic slowly normalised. Through the attack the operator's free quota was exceeded, which caused additional costs. Within the forum community a donation option was discussed to support the admin's effort. --- **Question:** Which literature and sources explain construction and function of a fountain pen? **Answer:** As a basic work the volume 'Fountain Pens, Repair and Restoration' by Frank Dubiel is recommended, available via eBay or Penboard.de. Supplementary online sources like maxpens.de with a disassembly depiction of the 146, the OMAS guide for piston pens and penexchange.de offer detailed information on construction, components and function. Cautious own disassembly of individual models (e.g. a Bohème with glued thread sleeve) grants additional insights but is, due to partly very fine threads and adhesive joints, associated with risk. --- **Question:** Which tips are there for photographing fountain pens with a DSLR? **Answer:** Decisive is not primarily the camera model but sufficient and above all indirect lighting. Recommended are daylight lamps that produce diffuse light and avoid hard shadows and strong gleam points on metal and lacquer surfaces. A built-in flash is mostly too hard and should be avoided; halogen lamps or daylight work better. As underground and background, white paper is suitable, also arranged laterally as an improvised lightbox. Even compact cameras with macro mode deliver usable results, so lighting remains the essential factor. --- **Question:** What experiences exist with Lamy ink regarding ink flow, and should inks of different makers be mixed? **Answer:** Lamy ink is generally regarded as reliable, but is in experience somewhat thinner than Pelikan or Montblanc. Reports of failing ink flow, where the converter has to be turned a little, are known with some fountain pen / feed combinations; Pelikan 4001 generally does not show such behaviour. Different ink brands should not be mixed, since chemical reactions and flocculation can occur. Comparative measurements of viscosity and surface tension of common branded inks provide insight. --- **Question:** Is it worth buying the volume "Schriftstücke" by Pedro Corrêa do Lago from Gerstenberg Verlag? **Answer:** Collectors judge the large-format book as extremely informative and impressive; it contains autographs from seven centuries and gives a good overview of handwritings of famous personalities. The book, weighing more than two kilograms, is a heavy illustrated volume. While the original price of around 59 euros was felt to be high, the work has meanwhile been significantly reduced by the publisher and is available second-hand from about 39 euros in as-new condition antiquarian. As supplementary reading on the same subject, the work "... mit Brief und Siegel" by the State Archive Administration of the GDR is mentioned. --- **Question:** How is the book "Füllfederhalter" by Juan M. Clark to be evaluated, and is it suitable as a reference work? **Answer:** The book is the German translation of a French original from 2001 and has the unusual format 14.5 x 14.5 cm. As a reference work, it is predominantly judged critically: the descriptions remain superficial, the sorting of the models is inconsistent (modern and 1920s models stand unordered next to each other), and on the photos the nib imprints are not recognisable. Anyone, on the other hand, looking for a pure picture book to leaf through and to orient oneself about classics like the Waterman Patrician will find usable material here. The original price was high, but the book is much more cheaply available second-hand and in the remainder section. --- **Question:** Are the sets of Pelikan and Cross (Cross Verve Platinum, Pelikan 250) offered in the Karstadt anniversary brochure for "125 Years Karstadt" really bargains? **Answer:** Both sets are discontinued models: the Cross Verve Platinum is a higher-quality model with 18-carat bicolour nib, with an RRP of around 435 euros (fountain pen) or 185 euros (ballpoint); the former retail price of 620 euros stated by Karstadt, on the other hand, is not comprehensible and problematic under competition law. The Pelikan 250 set in dark blue was discontinued by Pelikan. The price reduction to 199 euros (Cross) or 99 euros (Pelikan) appears plausible considering the RRP, but the stated crossed-out prices are partly misleading. --- **Question:** Which metal (yellow gold or platinum/silver/white gold) do collectors prefer for the trim of their fountain pens? **Answer:** The choice is predominantly a matter of taste and is closely connected with personal colour type: spring and autumn types tend to warm gold tones, summer and winter types to cool white metals. With black Meisterstücks, yellow-gold trim is often preferred; with silver-heavy models like the Kafka, gold elements would seem out of place. Writing behaviour also influences the choice: heavy writing instruments with massive metal sleeves tire faster during long writing, which is why lighter models like the Doerrbecker Quintessenz or the StarWalker RubberLine are regarded as more everyday-suitable. Heavy devices like the ST Dupont Olympio Large are more suitable for signatures. --- **Question:** To what extent does a collectors' forum risk losing its character through increasing sales offers from outsiders, and how could this be curbed? **Answer:** Forums are only of limited suitability as a sales platform, since regular collectors know the market prices well, and exorbitant prices are hardly achieved here. In other forums, sales are only allowed from a certain number of posts or after manual approval, which is an effective measure against purely sales-oriented new registrations. Overall, the impression prevails that brazen offers do attract attention but are rarely successful in the collector environment. --- **Question:** What is behind the article on writing culture in the Rheinischer Merkur and which materials such as galalith are mentioned therein? **Answer:** The article in the Rheinischer Merkur arose after a detailed conversation with a collector during the Landpartie exhibition at Burg Adendorf near Bonn and is aimed at the more discerning readership of the paper. Background information on fountain-pen materials including galalith is provided by the book Schreibgeräte sammeln by Dietmar Geyer on pages 127 to 131. Galalith is a historical plastic made of casein, which was used in the construction of writing instruments before the spread of celluloid and modern resins. --- **Question:** How does one identify an old Parker Vacumatic nib as Oblique, and which modern fountain pens and nib widths come into question as a replacement for a Gothic handwriting? **Answer:** A visibly obliquely ground Parker Vacumatic nib is most likely an Oblique variant, presumably OM. Gold nibs are individually ground in, which is why with a replacement only extensive test writing provides meaningful insights. Pocket-suitable models are basically all modern fountain pens, preferably not made of metal in order to avoid scratches from keys; as a smaller classic, the Montblanc Mozart 116 is suitable. Special grinds such as Italic Oblique or Fine Italic, e.g. via mrpen.co.uk, offer interesting options especially for tabular and mixed-script needs; further explanations can be found at nibs.com. --- **Question:** Are proprietary ink-cartridge formats sensible or do they harm the consumer and writing culture? **Answer:** The position of the proprietary advocates argues that manufacturers are entitled to sell their own accessories for their products, and that standard formats can lead to quality problems. Counter-positions see proprietary cartridges as a declaration of war on the customer that unnecessarily restricts the choice of ink; piston fillers or converter systems that allow free choice of ink are therefore preferred. A pragmatic stopgap was formerly the refilling of empty cartridges with syringe and cannula, as was usual e.g. with Geha pens. --- **Question:** Which letter paper is suitable for fountain pens with a broad nib if the writing image on structured laid paper is unsatisfactory? **Answer:** There is not the one ideal letter paper; writing feel and writing image depend on nib width, writing angle, pressure, ink and writing direction. Tried and tested are Gohrsmühle Bütten as well as Conqueror in the variant Smooth Satin CX22, ideally in cream; on these papers the pen glides silently and the writing image remains clean. Structured laid paper can be problematic with broad nibs. Conqueror bright white seems to some collectors too much like copy paper; ribbed variants can again cause writing problems. --- **Question:** Which stationery shops and addresses for high-quality writing instruments are there in Budapest? **Answer:** The first address in Budapest is Váci Utca; further points of contact are Kossuth Lajos Utca, Rákóczi Út and Múzeum Körút. Specific shops change frequently, since many long-established shops give way to trend shops. When asking, the Hungarian terms "írószer" (stationery) and "töltőtoll" (fountain pen) help. A Montblanc boutique was at the time of the discussion in planning near the opera. --- **Question:** Does a separate customer card with services exist for Richemont or Montblanc collectors, and what advantages does it offer? **Answer:** Montblanc had the "Club 4810" with a VIP club card, which granted members, among other things, an annual welcome gift, a free maintenance or cleaning of a writing instrument, a replacement leather strap or a battery change for a Montblanc watch as well as a free engraving. Admission was not open to everyone; the club has been on hold and was to be continued in revised form, with new admissions suspended. A group-wide Richemont Owners Card does not yet exist; an introduction would conflict with existing brand-specific club programmes. Handwritten Christmas greetings Montblanc only sends to selected persons, not generally to club members. --- **Question:** What contents and highlights does the new Montblanc writing-instrument brochure offer, and what does the UNICEF special packaging of the 149 cost? **Answer:** The brochure shows all standard models including Stainless Steel II, both variants of the Meisterstück Royal 146, Karajan, Bohème (also with leather surface and gemstone), Scenium and StarWalker, but without prices. The highlight is the UNICEF cooperation with elaborate special packaging, including a plexiglass case with engraved Goethe verses in his handwriting. The 149 in special packaging costs about 690 EUR, which means a surcharge of around 230 EUR. How high the donation share paid to UNICEF is not communicated in the brochure; with earlier Donation Pens, this was openly disclosed. --- **Question:** Which aid is best suited for drying ink: roller with blotting-paper roll or rocker? **Answer:** The classic blotting rocker avoids the typical problems of the roller, whose blotting-paper roll often comes loose and adheres poorly. With the rocker, only the inserted blotting paper has to be changed from time to time, which is uncomplicated in everyday use. --- **Question:** Which letter paper and envelopes are suitable for high-quality fountain pens, without felting up the nib? **Answer:** Tried and tested are papers like "Zanders classic", Gmund papers as well as the range of briefpapiere.de and atramentis.de (Jansen). Important is a closed, low-fibre surface, so that the nib is not clogged by detaching fibres. Since the suitability is subjective and writing-style-dependent, the rule is: try out instead of just reading. --- **Question:** How does one best photograph writing instruments (fountain pens, ballpoints) for appealing, high-resolution shots? **Answer:** Collectors report that camera quality is secondary at small image formats; from about 5 megapixels a good compact camera suffices as well as an SLR (e.g. Canon EOS 400D with standard lens 17-55 mm). More important is a tripod, which allows high aperture values for depth of field without camera shake, as well as manual focus and a delayed shutter release, so that one is not reflected in the pen. The lighting should be indirect (daylight or energy-saving lamp on the ceiling), no flash, since this reflects and makes dust visible; table lamps produce a yellow cast, white paper in front of them a blue cast. As a base, structured white paper is suitable; for fixing the writing instruments, white tack. --- **Question:** What can the cause be when the forum system reports new private messages but the inbox shows none? **Answer:** It was a technical problem on the side of the hosting provider: the server on which the forum database runs was briefly overloaded by traffic from other websites and unreachable for a fraction of a second, while a private message was just being sent. A safety mechanism reacted incorrectly, so that the message was apparently addressed to all users at once but could not be displayed correctly in the mailbox. After a manual intervention by the administrator, the system functioned normally again. --- **Question:** How is an avatar picture in the forum profile correctly uploaded and displayed beside the posts, if activation causes problems? **Answer:** After selecting the image file via "Browse", the button "Upload" must necessarily be pressed in order for the avatar to be activated; the image is restricted to a maximum of 80x80 pixels and 80 kB. If too large an image is uploaded, it can happen that the original image is not overwritten when one tries to replace it, which appears as a bug in the system. In such cases, the image can be sent by email to the administrator, who then embeds it manually. --- **Question:** How does one find the right nib width, how does one improve one's handwriting, and does a Montblanc writing instrument suit one's own style? **Answer:** The right nib width can only be determined through extensive testing with one's own paper at the specialist retailer, since the writing feel is very individual; Montblanc additionally offers an acclimatisation or exchange period after purchase. Handwriting is mostly shaped at school and changes only to a limited extent later; through practice with calligraphy books, however, something can be specifically improved, although in the hectic everyday note-taking the effect remains limited. Whether a particular writing instrument suits one's own style is ultimately subjective and a question of personal taste. --- **Question:** How does the karma rating system work in the forum, and where does the term come from? **Answer:** With the karma function, posts of other users can be rated by thumbs up or down, in order to highlight quality rather than mere post count. Per user only one rating is possible every six hours so that careful weighing takes place. Terms like Expert, Gold and Platinum Boarder were removed in the course of this. The designation karma comes from the forum software used and was not specifically chosen; a renaming would be programming-wise elaborate. In open-source environments, such Far-Eastern-leaning identifiers are anyway widespread. --- **Question:** Why is an uploaded avatar image displayed in the profile but not in the forum community? **Answer:** The forum uses the software Mambo with modules from various third-party providers (forum SimpleBoard, MyPMS, member list), which do not consistently communicate with each other. Therefore the profile picture must be deposited separately for SimpleBoard and MyPMS. Beta versions of a unified profile module already exist, but a switch is only sensible with an established standard. Until then, the multiple creation of the avatar is the only solution. --- **Question:** Which problems occur with the private-messaging system (MyPMS Pro) in the forum, and is a system change planned? **Answer:** With increasing database size, MyPMS Pro no longer functions reliably; problems arise especially when users want to delete old messages. There were already three larger incidents in which at least one message was lost. Because of the pop-up problems, some users prefer direct email communication; however, publishing clickable email addresses harbours spam risks. A switch to a Joomla-based environment is planned in the medium term; whether a PMS system will continue to be offered is open, since commercial solutions cause costs. --- **Question:** Are fountain pens like Montblanc or Graf von Faber-Castell really suitable as an investment, as a Welt am Sonntag article suggests? **Answer:** Increases in value occur practically only with a few, anyway already high-priced limited editions; the broad market is not affected by this. Collectors warn of an oversaturation through ever more and ever more expensive special models in ever smaller editions, since potential collectors are thereby discouraged from building up a sensible collection; Omas and in part Montblanc are mentioned as examples of risky brand policy. Speculative buyers and dealers can distort the market, but a parallel functioning lovers' market remains realistic. The article cited is criticised in content as superficial, e.g. through the mixing of Writers Editions and Patron of the Arts; brand emphasis appears editorially arbitrary. Writing instruments should be bought primarily out of joy in the object and in writing, not as an investment. --- **Question:** Which good writing-instrument specialist shops are there in Munich, Nuremberg or Regensburg for viewing and test writing various brands? **Answer:** In Munich, alongside the Montblanc boutique, especially Schreibmayr in the Fünf Höfe is recommended; there Mrs Kühnen is available for sound advice. Complementarily, the Munich fountain-pen fair by Gerhard Baur (annually, 2007 on 7 July) offers an opportunity to view a broad brand variety and get into conversation with collectors. --- **Question:** How can writing instruments outside the common models be found and test-written if local specialist retailers only carry the standard range? **Answer:** In many regions the specialist retailers' range is strongly restricted; special editions or brands like Cartier are hardly available in stock. Good dealers order models on request without obligation; however, it is unfair to have a writing instrument ordered only for inspection without intent to buy. More practicable are visits to specialised dealers in larger cities, the visit of collectors' fairs or ordering via established mail-order dealers. Warranty stipulations of individual brands (e.g. only to use their own ink) are in practice an additional obstacle. --- **Question:** Which problems occur with the PMS system (private messages) of the forum, and is a changeover planned? **Answer:** The PMS system was temporarily unavailable but could afterwards be restored. A migration to a new system is planned; users should in the meantime back up relevant messages by email. A wish from the community is the possibility to disable receiving private messages generally, since attachments cannot be sent anyway. --- **Question:** Where can one obtain high-quality desk accessories like leather trays or storage cases? **Answer:** For leather trays, El Casco (black leather, DIN A4) is recommended. Solid-wood accessories are offered by Edwood with models like the Morbier Bois tray. Sources are specialist shops for office furnishing, stock clearances of insolvent dealers or online auctions like eBay; a nationwide Edwood dealer is not known, which is why enquiries directly to the manufacturer or to sellers are worthwhile. --- **Question:** Which international magazines for writing-instrument collectors are recommendable, and is Stylophiles still available as a printed edition? **Answer:** Stylophiles long counted among internationally active collectors as the reference magazine for writing instruments and convinced especially through the high-quality pictures by Bill Riepl; today, however, it no longer appears in printed form. Pen World International has a significantly higher circulation (ten- to twentyfold), but is regarded as weaker in quality; due to stronger advertising customers, Pen World has established itself economically better. Mary Burke earlier worked with Andreas Lambrou at Classic Pens and belongs to the relevant collector scene. --- **Question:** Are striking writing instruments appropriate in everyday professional life and in public, or should one fall back on more discreet pieces? **Answer:** Collectors use in everyday office life the respective preferred piece but pay attention in meetings with externals to a rather restrained choice. Even more striking pens like the Waterman Charleston or Montblanc 145 can be used without problem; only unusually designed pieces like the La Bohème with retractable nib regularly attract comments, which however mostly turn out positive. For users of simple plastic ballpoints, every brand pen already appears striking. --- **Question:** Is a printed or scanned colour chart for Atramentis inks available and at all meaningful? **Answer:** A colour chart for Dr. Jansen inks exists and was occasionally scanned and made available; however, newer special inks like Cervantes are missing from it. The expressiveness is limited, since depending on fountain pen, nib width and ink flow the perceived colour varies strongly. Online solutions are possible, provided consultation with the ink manufacturer is held; an official, complete colour chart of the manufacturer is not consistently available. --- **Question:** What contents does the again online-placed collector website community-fountainpen.de offer? **Answer:** The website is a collection of specialist articles on writing instruments grown over many years, e.g. on care, book reviews, cleaning and model history. It has been technically newly set up after a longer offline phase and is now accessible again. Particularly mentioned are the detailed book reviews, which offer collectors noticeable added value. --- **Question:** Which paper is suitable for fountain pens and how can it be recognised before purchase? **Answer:** Decisive is whether the paper is sized: sized paper has a smooth surface, lets the ink rest on top and prevents bleeding and showing-through; examples are Clairefontaine writing pads. Non-sized or open-pored paper (typical copy or laser-printer paper) absorbs ink like blotting paper. Higher grammages from about 100 g/m² mostly deliver significantly better results with a fountain pen than 80 g/m² standard paper. Notes like 'inkjet-suitable' on the packaging are a vague indication but do not replace one's own writing test. --- **Question:** What significance does writing with the fountain pen have today in everyday school life, and how does one judge initiatives to promote good handwriting? **Answer:** Initiatives that bring writing with the fountain pen back more strongly into teaching (e.g. at a Scottish school) are seen as a positive counterweight to the general neglect of writing education. Observers report that many teachers themselves hardly know how to handle the fountain pen correctly, and writing culture as a whole has lost importance. Others argue that good handwriting can only be sensibly conveyed when basic reading and writing competences are present. Examples from England additionally show how clearly neglected writing culture in the long term affects the legibility of handwritten texts. --- **Question:** What effects does the forum update have on layout and operability? **Answer:** The update was primarily a security patch; visible layout changes like a switch from tree structure to a flat post display as well as coloured bars next to user names came up alongside. The options can be further fine-tuned by administrators; not all effects (e.g. the coloured bar) were retained in every configuration. Additionally, the user interface was more strongly Germanised and the permissible size of embedded pictures increased. --- **Question:** Which online dealers for writing instruments are recommendable, and why do buyers increasingly fall back on internet mail order? **Answer:** Recommended is among others Rolf Thiel with his shop missing-pen.de because of a broad selection and positive experiences. In stationary trade, even common models like the Pelikan M205 or certain Parker and Moleskine products are often not available, since smaller dealers can hardly keep the full range. Collectors report that online buying is often faster and more reliable than local retail, which further reinforces the trend to internet buying. --- **Question:** Which improvements were made to the forum, and which functions were newly introduced? **Answer:** Within the framework of a forum update, private messages (PM) as well as a coloured status bar were introduced. Owing to problems with the new forum software, a fallback to the predecessor version 1.0.2 was subsequently made; the new functions however remained. Additionally, the possibility was discussed to allow profile views only to logged-in users in order to enable contact via email. --- **Question:** Which writing instruments offer, instead of the typical mixed-material construction (e.g. silver/gold/platinum on a black barrel), a uniform precious material for barrel and cap? **Answer:** Recommended are the Cross Townsend models Lapis and Jade, on which barrel and reservoir are made of the same semi-precious-stone material. These models are regarded as visually higher-quality than comparable Montblanc pieces. Original prices were around 425 euros for the fountain pen, 249 euros for pencil or ballpoint and 299 euros for the rollerball. They are no longer being produced and are only obtainable used. --- **Question:** What affinity exists between the collecting of paperweights and fountain pens, and which collecting objects are treated in investment sections of reputable newspapers? **Answer:** Collectors often have several parallel collecting areas; frequently affinities develop between related topics like writing instruments, paperweights (especially paperweights of crystal glass, e.g. by Caithness in Scotland) and similar. In the investment sections of reputable newspapers like Financial Times Deutschland, such collecting objects are increasingly discussed as an asset class, similarly to Limited Editions of writing instruments. Paperweights can achieve collector prices in the four- to five-figure range. --- **Question:** How can pictures of an old Montblanc writing instrument be uploaded in this forum to enable a model determination? **Answer:** When composing a post, below the input window is the option Attachments and other options, through which photos can be uploaded. For a model determination, the post should be placed in the appropriate technical section of the forum. --- **Question:** Why have, since the last forum software update, all postings of a section been permanently displayed as unread, and how can the problem be circumvented? **Answer:** The phenomenon seems browser-independent (tested with Konqueror, Mozilla, Opera in several versions) and is also not remedied by renewed logging in and out. A workaround consists in switching the display via the filter function show last 4hrs/24hrs to 24 hours, 48 hours or a week, in order to find newly added posts in a targeted manner. A pure solution through a browser change or browser update brings no improvement. With the admin, an error message with screenshots should be submitted, since the problem could not be systematically reproduced in this form. --- **Question:** Which salutation or which quotation is suitable for a letterpress-printed gentleman's card with a centred name, to be used for personal occasions like thanks, invitations or regrets? **Answer:** As universal, somewhat less formal salutations, e.g. With best recommendations, In best friendship or With friendly greetings are suitable. A fitting short quotation (e.g. by Mary Catherine Bateson on the topic of continuity and retrospect) can also be a versatile alternative. Stylistically it is to be noted that classic gentleman's cards with centred name are intended exclusively for personal handing over, not for sending; cards for sending bear the name usually at the top left and manage without an address. Anyone wanting only a single card format should be aware of the corresponding stylistic compromises. --- **Question:** How does one behave with a professional eBay seller who refuses to accept the return of a Montblanc Edgar Allan Poe and claims an alleged crack on the grip section that supposedly was not present before shipping? **Answer:** With payment via PayPal, buyer protection can first be applied for; PayPal freezes the money and decides after hearing both sides. In the procedure, all relevant facts should be documented extensively and supplementary comments submitted later. In parallel, it is sensible to ask the seller for a concrete damage description and with this information to contact Montblanc in order to check a possible repair option; with older Limited Editions like the Poe, however, spare parts are very scarce. Disputed points (smoker's smell, crack, ink residues) can subsequently hardly still be unambiguously clarified, which weakens the buyer's position as soon as the writing instrument is already returned. Generally, eBay is not consistently trustworthy even in the professional area; with future transactions, a more detailed entry documentation (photos, written defect notice) should take place for security. --- **Question:** Which notebooks and papers are well suited for daily use with fountain pens, since Moleskine standard paper has proved unsuitable? **Answer:** Recommended are above all products by Clairefontaine, whose paper is well sized and also suitable for nibs with strong ink flow and is offered at fair prices. An alternative within the Moleskine world is the Folio collection, whose thicker, presumably acid-free paper bleeds through significantly less and is thus better suited for archiving. Generally, it is recommended to test several paper types, since suitability depends strongly on the respective nib-ink combination. --- **Question:** What should forum users heed regarding a planned maintenance of the forum software, and what known follow-on problems occur thereby? **Answer:** During the maintenance, the forum is unreachable for several hours; in the specific case, a software update was simultaneously carried out. After the update of the forum software (Joomla/Simpleboard), in the column 'Last Post' in every section the default value 1970/01/01 01:00 appeared without an author name, because the field 'moved' in the table mos_sb_messages was set to NULL. This can be remedied with the SQL command UPDATE mos_sb_messages SET moved = 0 WHERE moved IS NULL or by setting the column to 'NOT NULL' with default value 0 in phpMyAdmin. Before such interventions, a backup of the table is recommended; alternatively, the problem also disappears section by section by itself as soon as a new post appears. --- **Question:** How are Montblanc watches to be evaluated qualitatively, and what experiences are there with service and models? **Answer:** The Montblanc watch collection covers a broad span from everyday models of the Sport collection up to manufacture movements in the high five-figure price range and is in workmanship and feel predominantly positively judged, comparable to the brand's writing instruments. Popular complications like the Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph are described as technically impressive but thick and heavy and are therefore not ideal for daily use. A practical disadvantage is the diminishing dealer network: for a battery change with subsequent guarantee of water resistance, the watch must sometimes be sent directly to Hamburg, which causes additional costs. Anyone considering a Montblanc watch should therefore prefer mechanical movements to avoid future battery changes. --- **Question:** Is Tom Westerich (Penboard) still reachable if he does not respond to emails? **Answer:** Tom Westerich is, according to information from several forum users, still active in Hamburg; with 'Prime Style Marketing' and personal contacts it was confirmed that he has not permanently moved to Italy. With absent email response, it is recommended to contact him by telephone, since he occasionally also acts under the pseudonym 'Dr. Ink'. Communication and availability questions can thus generally be quickly clarified. --- **Question:** Can writing instruments be sensibly combined with other high-quality accessories like watches, shirts, shoes or suits, without this becoming financially unlimited? **Answer:** A colour and stylistic coordination of writing instrument, watch and clothing is possible and leads to a coherent overall picture, without one having to acquire an own jacket for every pen. Practically, the effort is limited because the selection of wearable colour and material combinations in classic business attire is anyway manageable and one writing instrument fits several outfits. Anyone using several writing instruments in parallel, e.g. for notes and signatures, on the other hand often pays less attention to detail coordination. Individually designed cases can additionally round off the overall picture. --- **Question:** What are the backgrounds and consequences of a hacker attack on a Joomla-based forum software, and what measures are to be recommended after an update? **Answer:** Hacker attacks on such communities mostly use automated scripts that scan the web for certain Mambo/Joomla installations and then specifically compromise PHP or layout files. Favouring are a not quite current software version, a generic mass host without CMS-specific hardening as well as the high spread of the system. After an attack, a timely complete update to a current forum software is sensible, although private messages in the new system may under certain circumstances be lost and should be saved in advance. Encrypted-stored user data were not affected in the specific case; in future a specialised Joomla host as well as consistent care of all dynamic files (PHP, CSS) are recommended. --- **Question:** Which shape and inscription are sensible for an embossing pliers or embossing press for private paper, and where are reputable sources? **Answer:** Usual are both round and angular embossing motifs; often the initials suffice, optionally supplemented by the name, in a classical English handwriting. The blind impression is typically placed at the bottom right on the letter sheet, while the signature stands on the left. Pliers suffice for standard papers up to about 100 g/m²; with stronger paper (e.g. Conqueror 120 g) it can still just be used; for thicker qualities massive presses are preferable. As sources, Dreher Solingen (dreher-solingen.de) for presses and pliers, druckerey.de for individually printed letter cards and siegelshop24.com for seals and sealing wax are named; a small gilded press with a wooden foot costs including engraving about 90 euros. --- **Question:** Why does a pop-up message about a new private message appear in the forum although the inbox is actually empty? **Answer:** It is a known technical problem of the existing forum software (Mambo); the pop-up message is in such cases erroneously triggered without a message actually being present. A repair is not worthwhile on the old system, since a switch to Joomla is imminent; with the migration the forum should become more stable and clearer. Until the changeover, the pop-ups can thus be ignored. --- **Question:** Which German-language magazines on the subject of writing instruments exist, and how can the English-language Pen World be obtained from Germany? **Answer:** On the German market, 'Kult am Pult' and 'Schreibkultur' are the central magazines; they were originally produced for specialist trade but can now also be subscribed to by end consumers. 'Pen Plus' no longer exists. 'Kult am Pult' is available in well-stocked station bookshops, usually in print runs of ten to fifteen copies per branch; the reporting is broadly scattered, often promotionally shaped and treats inexpensive and high-priced writing instruments with the same tone. The financial viability of the magazines rests primarily on advertising revenue. The English-language Pen World is not regularly in trade in Germany and must be directly subscribed to. --- **Question:** Which link collections to writing-instrument manufacturers and collector websites are particularly recommendable for the expansion of an existing link list? **Answer:** Sensible entry points are the manufacturer websites with their own history sections, e.g. Pelikan and Montblanc, as well as specialised collector sites like collectiblestars.de with overview to Angloamer and Rifka. For the German-speaking collector scene, the DMOZ directory in the area 'Freizeit – Sammeln – Schreibgeräte' offers a curated overview. The link list of the community can be supplemented by anyone with contributions of further relevant web pages, provided these are not spam-like and offer added value for collectors. --- **Question:** Which letter paper in cream tone and with a basis weight of about 100 to 120 g/m² is particularly well suited for writing with a fountain pen without bleeding through? **Answer:** Tried and tested are Zanders Gohrsmühle, e.g. available via Staples, as well as Zanders Classic. The – today only rarely available – Montblanc letter papers are also highly valued and are partly still obtainable via eBay. Anyone searching outside classic standard papers will find numerous special varieties in the most varied cream tones and grammages at Gmund. Generally, attention is to be paid to high material density, light cream tone and low absorbency, so that the ink rests saturated without flooding. --- **Question:** What does the new website of the C.A.S. (Collectors Association for Writing Instruments) offer and which functions are particularly useful? **Answer:** The new website enables a fast online registration; a membership confirmation takes place partly within a day. For new members there is additionally the chance of an Aurora 88 in the CAS edition. Event registration too — for example for trips like Copenhagen — works via the site. The club magazine can be read online; an archive of older issues, however, is still missed. The link list on the site is regarded as needing improvement, since the division into categories seems partly unsystematic. --- **Question:** How can the sale value of a larger collection of hardly used Waterman and Parker writing instruments (including Man 100 Harlequin, Sérénité, Carène, Laureat, Expert, Sonnet) be reputably ascertained? **Answer:** An independent value determination is most pragmatic via current market prices of comparable pieces, e.g. auction results and selling prices of comparable pieces. A professional valuation by individual collectors or experts is possible but is, for writing instruments of this segment, due to comparatively high expert costs, in most cases not worthwhile. Since only the case of the Sérénité is preserved, realistic discounts compared to complete sets are to be calculated especially for the other pieces. --- **Question:** Where can one buy the Montblanc Meisterstück 149 Helmut Jahn Edition Set cheaply, and which accompanying papers belong to it? **Answer:** The offered set was acquired within the collector community for 300 euros and assessed as a good price for this edition. Special certificates or special papers do not, according to the recollection of those involved, belong to the scope of delivery of the Helmut Jahn edition; only the usual packaging was included. A separate certificate of authenticity beyond the usual Montblanc inserts is accordingly not to be expected. --- **Question:** Is collecting old writing instruments a typical age-related phenomenon? **Answer:** Collecting old writing instruments is not evaluated as an age-related phenomenon but as an expression of a conscious connection to craft, history and personal biography. Especially in uncertain times, many people seek support in the tried and tested and associate with vintage pieces memories of their own youth. Even in younger collector circles, interest in classic fountain pens is widespread, so there is no correlation with age. --- **Question:** Can an already reground gold nib be reground broader again? **Answer:** A broader nib can theoretically be achieved by grinding the iridium tipping, e.g. from EF to F. The leeway, however, is very small, since with too much material removal the iridium tipping is damaged or removed, which makes the nib unusable. For larger changes, e.g. a return to a clearly different nib width, mostly a new nib is anyway the more economical solution. --- **Question:** Which German-language specialist magazines on the subject of writing instruments and writing culture exist? **Answer:** As relevant periodicals, especially 'Kult am Pult' and 'Schreibkultur' are to be mentioned. The respective current issues are available in well-stocked station bookshops; otherwise via the publisher or specialised specialist trade. Further articles and link collections can be found in relevant fountain-pen forums like penexchange or community.fountainpen.de. --- **Question:** Why is the forum software so slow after the update and which functions are no longer available? **Answer:** The performance problems and display errors lie neither in the browser of the user nor in a single platform: they have been confirmed by several users under Safari, Opera and Firefox. Functions like correctly formatted quotations (BBCodes) and access to certain pages like the forum rules are faulty after the update. For time reasons, the operator hands over the technical administration of the website to a firm that should remedy these problems step by step. --- **Question:** Is the Zoomify function for picture enlargement a sensible extension of the forum website? **Answer:** The function is basically evaluated as sensible, since it eases the recognition of fine details on high-resolution photos. A prerequisite is a high-quality starting image, which is why Zoomify cannot be universally used. The display additionally requires a current Flash Player and a modern browser; with older browsers like Netscape, display errors occur. --- **Question:** Which ink bottles without gold-coloured trim are alternatively available to the Montblanc models? **Answer:** A broad selection of ink bottles from various manufacturers, including Montblanc models without brass trim, is offered by the Dutch mail-order company La Couronne du Comte. One of the desired models recalls the Montblanc Sign-it Gold ink bottle, which was publicly advertised about ten years ago. Anyone rejecting gold-coloured trim and valuing moderate prices will find sensible alternatives there. --- **Question:** Which contents and background information does the commemorative publication on the 75-year jubilee of the Bremen paper shop Dörrbecker of 1936 offer? **Answer:** The commemorative publication on the 75-year jubilee of the firm G. A. Dörrbecker, written by Henny Durlach, first illuminates the history of the Bremen Sögestraße as today's main shopping street. From page 18, the founding of the paper shop by G. A. Dörrbecker, excerpts from the takeover contract, the respective economic situation as well as the rise of a 15-year-old apprentice to later co-partner are recounted; since then the company is run by the Hübener family. A continuation appeared in 1986 on the 125-year jubilee under the title '125 Years of Life, Work and Trade in the Sögestraße' by Hermann Gutmann; it contains the commemorative publication of 1936 as a facsimile print. --- **Question:** How is one to deal with negative karma ratings in the forum and is a deregistration because of this justified? **Answer:** The karma system is expressly not intended as a means for excluding or punishing individual members but should as an anonymous quality indicator stimulate reflection on one's own posts, especially with regard to tone. A deregistration because of decreasing karma is therefore not the intended result. New members are granted sufficient time to settle in, since at the beginning even clumsy questions are normal. A friendly and binding tone is demanded as the basis of forum operation. --- **Question:** What basic data and what market availability does the Montblanc No. 32 show for young collectors? **Answer:** The Montblanc 32 was produced in the 1960s, about from 1961 to 1970, and was available in numerous colour and nib variants and partly with metal cap. Since Montblanc at the time, alongside Meisterstücks, also made cheaper school and everyday fountain pens in large numbers, the 32 is still well and inexpensively procurable via eBay, provided no special variants are sought. Gold nibs were in this time also widespread on simpler writing instruments; the pure material value of modern gold nibs moves in the range of 15 to 20 euros. --- **Question:** Which desk pads are recommended for use with fountain pens? **Answer:** Preferred are leather pads, which make the writing feel considerably more pleasant. The original Montblanc writing pad cost some years ago about 360 to 380 euros; today around 400 euros are to be reckoned with. In practice, the use often competes with a notebook placed centrally on the desk, so a smaller notebook variant can be helpful in order to create room for the pad. --- **Question:** Are older piston fountain pens like a Pelikan 140 suitable for everyday use, or is there an increased leakage risk? **Answer:** Provided the piston filler is in a properly overhauled condition, it is unproblematically everyday-suitable; even Montblanc Meisterstücks are regarded in this respect as uncritical. With very old writing instruments, however, the cork seal can be in need of renewal, which should be enquired about when buying. Pelikan has used plastic seals since 1946, which are significantly easier to maintain and less susceptible than cork seals; a Pelikan 140 is therefore well suited for daily use. Problems mostly arise only with damaged grip sections (e.g. hairline cracks), which are generally not repairable. --- **Question:** Where can comprehensive price lists or specialised forums on S. T. Dupont lighters be found? **Answer:** Via the contact person passed on by private message, further information can be obtained. As a public source, the Italian collector site pens.it with rough guideline values for Dupont lighters was recommended, although Italian prices can deviate from German ones. A dedicated German-language S. T. Dupont lighter forum was not named. --- **Question:** What basic data does the children's book 'Wenn ein Füller zaubern kann...' have and what comparable books with cursive writing exist? **Answer:** The book 'Wenn ein Füller zaubern kann...' by Horst H. Jork appeared in 1985 in 1st edition in the Engelbert publisher (Balve/Westfalen) as part of the PEB children's and youth book series and comprises 61 pages in good handwriting. In this handwriting get-up, numerous children's and youth books were produced at the time. Currently books in complete handwriting have become rare; a still well-known example today is the 'Hare Felix' series with handwritten letters. --- **Question:** How can contact be established with Axel or with Scription after the sale of Dörrbecker? **Answer:** The relevant email address is the one given on the website penparadise.com. Scription is, after the sale of the shops and a professional time-out, currently not reachable; enquiries or orders are answered neither currently nor in the future. --- **Question:** Which Montblanc promotional articles are worth collecting, and which are not mentioned in the report on fountainpen.de? **Answer:** There are collectors who specifically gather Montblanc promotional articles. In the report, among others, the praline tins of metal are missing, which Montblanc traditionally gave away before Christmas and which occasionally turn up on eBay. These tins are also promotional articles and no regular retail products. --- **Question:** Which are currently the most expensive writing instruments on the market? **Answer:** As the most expensive writing instrument, the Aurora Diamante with a price of around 750,000 euros is named. In the evaluation it should be considered that 'teuer' in the literal sense means that something costs more than it is worth; terms like 'wertvoll' or 'hochwertig' are factually more apt. --- **Question:** Why has the Montblanc forum fallen asleep, and is a continuation to be expected? **Answer:** Since 2007, there are no longer time capacities to actively maintain the forum, which is why the website also remains at the old state. Visitor numbers currently still lie at around 1500 to 2000 per day. Users' needs have changed; content discussions recede in favour of other formats. Despite reduced activity, the website remains as a resource. --- **Question:** What contents does the report 'Der elfte Finger' in Welt am Sonntag about the fountain-pen specialist Julia Gusano offer, and are the collector statements mentioned therein accurate? **Answer:** The article portrays Julia Gusano in Madrid and contains historical background on fountain pens, illustrations of her workshop as well as references to historical pieces like the Montblanc Safety 12 with nib prices around 600 euros. The quantities mentioned in the report, however, are to be put into perspective: the claim that only six examples of the Montblanc Safety 12 are still known is, according to collector assessment, incorrect, as is the value statement of 16,000 euros felt to be sensationalist. An illustrated online version with additional background texts appeared in parallel under an alternative title. --- **Question:** How does the forum deal with questions that do not belong to the topic of writing instruments, e.g. on acquaintance with Cubans in Germany? **Answer:** The forum is aimed at writing-instrument collectors; off-topic questions contradict the forum guidelines and are moved by the administrator to the section 'Miscellaneous'. Content-wise, there is no strict restriction, provided a reference to the collector community exists; however, correct categorisation of posts is binding. --- **Question:** Can in the forum one's own photos be offered as desktop wallpapers for download? **Answer:** An open upload possibility does not exist, since webspace, technical administration and copyright questions must be clarified. Submitted photos can after coordination by email with confirmation of one's own authorship be sent to the administrator and after review be manually embedded. Owing to the voluntary maintenance, however, publication can occur delayed. --- **Question:** How are the German and English Wikipedia articles on Montblanc to be evaluated in content, and should forum members contribute to them? **Answer:** The German Wikipedia entry on Montblanc International GmbH offers a compact overview and milestones, while the English article ('Montblanc pens') is clearly capable of being expanded. Topics like the change of model ranges (early celluloid series, Generation, Bohème, StarWalker), the takeover by Richemont, the gold-nib production, the piston system and the Atelier Artisan could be supplemented. Since Wikipedia is open, anyone can supplement contributions; references to existing overview pages should be retained. The Montblanc Museum, which is mentioned in some contributions, is located in the Hamburg plant and is accessible within the framework of factory inspections. --- **Question:** What is an ebonite feed and where do its advantages and disadvantages lie compared to feeds of plastic? **Answer:** Ebonite is hard rubber, a natural rubber cross-linked through high sulphur shares, which is coloured black through soot additions. Modern feeds mostly consist of polyamide (Nylon, Delrin) and are produced by injection moulding, while ebonite feeds have to be mechanically cut. Ebonite shows better adhesion properties for ink, which is why enthusiasts prefer traditionally made ebonite feeds. A precisely constructed plastic feed can, however, be functionally equivalent or even superior; decisive remain the precision of lamellas and capillaries. The appeal of the ebonite feed thus also lies in the craft demand and in the image. --- **Question:** Does eBay really offer a telephone service hotline with personal contact persons? **Answer:** Yes, eBay has introduced a customer service with a telephone hotline (01805 - 626 000), which is secured via a customer-specific service PIN. On call, users are identified by name based on the eBay account name. The service is initially in a test phase in which only selected users have access; an extension to all members is planned. A prior verification of the email (e.g. via the My eBay inbox or by forwarding to spoof@) is advisable in order to exclude phishing. --- **Question:** How are the properties of the Waldmann Pocket in sterling silver/black to be assessed regarding filling, nib and writing behaviour? **Answer:** The Waldmann Pocket in black/sterling silver 925 is a compact cartridge fountain pen with plug-on cap; a converter does not fit due to the short inner barrel length. The nib is a steel nib by Schmidt (Iridium Point), available in M. In practical testing, the pen shows a regular, saturated ink flow, no start-up difficulties even after longer non-use or open storage and lies well in the hand despite the slim barrel when written with the cap posted. Dimensions: 12 cm closed, 13.5 cm with the cap posted. --- **Question:** What does the positive business development of the Swatch Group say about the situation of the luxury sector and about the collector segment? **Answer:** The Swatch Group makes its profit above all in the luxury segment with brands like Breguet, Glashütte Original, Blancpain or Rado, while the brand Swatch itself loses market share in the low-price area against competitors like Fossil or fashion brands (Esprit); a spin-off or rebranding was even considered. The positive group development is therefore no unambiguous indicator of an upturn in the classical luxury market. For collectors, the example shows how strongly collector numbers and values depend on the economic development of the brand: with Swatch, collector prices of formerly sought-after pieces have fallen significantly. --- **Question:** When was the TV report on Stefan Fink and his workshop in the magazine K1 Journal aired on Kabel 1? **Answer:** The report on Stefan Fink, originally announced for 6 September 2005, was postponed by Kabel 1 at short notice by around four weeks. As the new broadcast date in the magazine K1 Journal, Friday, 28.10.2005 at 18:45 was named. --- **Question:** Are the Manufactum upper-school exercise book and the folded letters offered there suitable for writing with a fountain pen? **Answer:** On the upper-school exercise book itself, no experience values are available. The folded letters bleed strongly when written on with a fountain pen, so the ink looks ugly on the outside-visible address area. For a presentable inscription, ballpoint, pencil or roller is therefore recommended. The paper of the folded letters is thus not fountain-pen-suitable. --- **Question:** How should one best store a collection of writing instruments: in collection folders or in a wooden case? **Answer:** Both storage forms are possible; in practice, experienced collectors combine various storage forms like boxes, folders, showcases and trays. Important is that the writing instruments are protected from mechanical damage and light. Hints and articles on proper storage can be found in relevant specialist articles. Providers like penboard.de offer suitable boxes at moderate prices, although not always with a glass lid. --- **Question:** What consequences does the sale of the shops have for the future business area of the provider? **Answer:** In future, exclusively writing instruments of limited editions of various manufacturers from earlier years will be offered; new goods will no longer be carried. The occupation with historical Montblancs will continue to be pursued. Beyond this business announcement, no substantial further factual information is known. --- **Question:** How is the hair-fine nib slit produced in Montblanc nib manufacture? **Answer:** The nib slit arises through hair-thin parting discs with which the nib is cut in a fine-mechanical step. This information comes from a factory-inspection report in the Fountainpen newsletter No. 5, which contains details on nib manufacture at Montblanc. --- **Question:** Where can one obtain the collector's book The List on Montblanc writing instruments, and how is its quality to be assessed? **Answer:** The book is as a reference work, despite some weaknesses, unique; criticised, however, are the partly disproportionate illustrations and the mediocre picture quality, which can give laypersons a wrong impression of the writing instruments; an improved new edition is planned but temporally still open. Source is mostly Regina Martini, who offers the book regularly in her eBay auctions. Most recently the price was around 12.50 euros plus postage. Alternatively, Mrs Martini can also be enquired about directly. --- **Question:** What factual information was given on the C.A.S. collectors' get-together on 25 February 2007 in Dortmund? **Answer:** The C.A.S. collectors' get-together took place on Sunday, 25 February 2007, from 14:00. The venue was the restaurant Zum Franziskaner, Düsseldorfer Str. 21, 44143 Dortmund (telephone 0231/586 21 18). In the restaurant, the possibility existed to take a lunch at one's own expense, although the kitchen was closed between 15:00 and 17:00. In total, eleven collectors took part. --- **Question:** What background and sources are there on the mentioned online video about fountain pens? **Answer:** The video stands in connection with an article from the customer magazine of Deutsche Bank in the November issue, in which investment possibilities in the area of writing instruments are reported. Mentioned in it is also the work of the C.A.S.; the magazine used photos made available by the C.A.S. The corresponding report can be read as a PDF on pages 34 to 37 of the corresponding issue. --- **Question:** How does one correctly reply in the forum to a post, so that the reply is properly assigned to the original entry? **Answer:** In order for a reply to be correctly sorted under the corresponding post, the reply button must be used, which stands directly under the respective post. There, at the bottom right, are the buttons Reply and Quote. If, instead, a button above the post is used, the reply can be sorted incorrectly. --- **Question:** Of which stainless steel does the Montblanc 144 Solitaire Stainless Steel actually consist, and how is the alloy composed? **Answer:** The material used is the standardised stainless steel 316 L, which with only 0.03 percent carbon counts as exceptionally low in carbon; the L in the name stands for low carbon. Vanadium is, contrary to some older descriptions, not contained. The typical composition reads around 17 percent chromium, 12 percent nickel, 2.5 percent molybdenum, 2 percent manganese, 1 percent silicon as well as the rest iron. Steel grades are identified internationally via material numbers, whereby the DIN designations are the clearest and can be looked up in relevant material tables. The webpage on the 144 Stainless Steel was corrected after this hint. --- **Question:** What is the Montegrappa Peace Pen and why is it regarded as record-breaking? **Answer:** Montegrappa has presented with the Peace Pen a fountain pen of platinum with large diamonds. The announced retail price of 1,000,000 US dollars makes it a candidate for the Guinness Book of Records. By comparison, classical models like a Meisterstück 144 or 164 seem price-wise negligible. A large view of the piece was viewable via the Vogue Gioielli website. --- **Question:** When and where does the CAS collectors' get-together Dortmund take place in April 2005? **Answer:** The second CAS collectors' get-together 2005 took place on 10 April 2005 at 14:00 (lunch from 13:00) in the restaurant "Zum Franziskaner" at Düsseldorfer Str. 21, 44143 Dortmund. The kitchen of the restaurant is closed between 15:00 and 17:00. Registrations and queries were possible via the email address Fuellhalter2004@yahoo.de. A short report on the meeting was subsequently published under the section "Sammlertreffen". --- **Question:** What are the adjustable nibs from an old architect's compass set and what were they used for? **Answer:** They are ruling pens that were dipped in India ink and used with a wooden grip for technical drawing. Without a wooden grip, they can be fitted to a compass in order to draw precise circles of nearly any line thickness. The nib is always drawn diagonally over the tracing paper, which is why taking up too much India ink must be avoided, since otherwise unsightly blots can arise. Such devices belonged to the standard equipment in the architecture training of the 1970s. --- **Question:** Why does a link to the picture gallery of the 45 Meisterstück on fountainpen.de not work, although the menu was allegedly corrected? **Answer:** The original link contained an error; correctly it reads old-30er- instead of old-20er. Even after correction on the server, it can take 24 to 48 hours until changes are visible to all users. The reason for this are proxy servers e.g. of Telekom, which cache static web pages and thereby deliver buffered between server and end user. In the meantime, many browsers therefore still display the old or faulty version of the page. --- **Question:** Is the tendency to stage the ballpoint as an art object also transferable to fountain pens, and which artists are known to work with fountain pens? **Answer:** While the ballpoint is increasingly taken up as material of modern art projects (e.g. in exhibitions like "The Biro Limited Edition"), the fountain pen remains so far largely untouched. Artistic work with the pen, however, plays a role: architect Helmut Jahn uses, according to Montblanc Chronicle, always a good dozen Montblanc fountain pens for designing his buildings and executes his sketches with brown sepia ink. Such original drawings now achieve high prices on the art market, which underlines the importance of the pen as an artistic tool. --- **Question:** What consequences does the ECJ ruling on the distribution of luxury articles have for online dealers and collectors, and how is it evaluated? **Answer:** With the ruling, the ECJ strengthens the rights of branded-article manufacturers by recognising the luxurious aura as an essential quality feature. Thus manufacturers may more strongly steer the distribution of high-quality brands, by which online trade and especially discount or third-party platforms can be restricted. Collectors see this critically, because tendencies emerge that manufacturers want to push back the trade of own second-hand goods, and platforms like eBay as a marketplace are endangered. In the discussion, an eBay petition for restriction-free online trade was therefore also supported. The complete ruling text the ECJ provides under the file number C-59/08. --- **Question:** Why can private messages suddenly no longer be opened or displayed in the community's PMS system, although the inbox reports full mailboxes? **Answer:** The problem occurs regularly when the shared email storage fills up because many users do not delete old messages. It is therefore asked to manually remove no-longer-needed messages so that the system works smoothly again. Additionally, the current PMS system is no longer up to the increased usage volume, which is why a replacement by a new system has already been announced, whose availability however is still pending. Until then, the PMS function should only be used restrictedly. --- **Question:** What is the auction of nibs in favour of press freedom by Reporters Without Borders about? **Answer:** Reporters Without Borders auctioned between 19 and 29 October 2006 six high-quality fountain pens with handwritten dedications by prominent writers, actors and journalists on eBay in the section "Stars & Charity". Patronages were taken over, among others, by Julia Jentsch, Ulrich Wickert, Marietta Slomka, Henning Mankell, Harry Rowohlt and Reinhold Beckmann. The campaign was supported by Pelikan, Faber-Castell, Cleo, Waterman and Parker. The proceeds went to the worldwide engagement of the organisation for freedom of the press and opinion. --- **Question:** Which German-language, private and non-commercial collector websites with well-founded contents on the subject of writing instruments are recommendable? **Answer:** Recommended are especially maxpens.de, the site by Werner Rüttinger (ruettinger-web.de) as well as top-pens.de by Gerhard Baur. For specialised topics, waterman-kirkel.com (Volker Köhl, Waterman) and bleistiftsammler.de are insightful. An extended overview can also be found in the Open Directory Project under the section Schreibgeräte as well as in the link collection of the forum. Decisive is that the site really conveys collector information and does not primarily serve own trade. --- **Question:** Is it normal that the rotary mechanism of a new Montblanc Bohème noir fountain pen scratches when extending the nib? **Answer:** A scratching noise when extending the nib is on the Bohème not normal and mostly indicates ink residues in the rotary mechanism. If the fountain pen was only recently bought (within the warranty period), an exchange at the seller is recommended. If a careful cleaning does not help, the device should be sent to service at Montblanc. --- **Question:** How can manufacturer, age and value of a fountain pen with gilded 18-carat overlay and an unknown brand name be determined? **Answer:** The unknown brand name and the construction of the overlay point to Italian production; an unambiguous assignment is, however, difficult without further sources. Hints from collector circles refer to the book by Jens Rösler, in which some small brands are described as sub-brands of known manufacturers like Montblanc. An exact dating and value estimate is only possible through direct comparison with similar Italian jewellery pens, which is why an enquiry in Italian collector forums is worthwhile. With private manufacture without traceable maker, the value remains above all a material one (gold content of nib/overlay) as well as an emotional one. --- **Question:** Which internet sites offer extensive information around exclusive writing instruments like the Aurora Umberto Nobile? **Answer:** A comprehensive information source on the hobby is the website kulturgutschrift.de, which provides numerous articles on various writing instruments and editions, including the Aurora Umberto Nobile. The site counts as a valuable supplement for collectors, since well-researched contributions on brands and models are not frequently to be found. --- **Question:** What was said in the Welt am Sonntag interview "Schreiben tut der Seele gut" by Dr. Manfred Lamy, and which writing instruments were presented with prices? **Answer:** The interview with Dr. Manfred Lamy under the title "Schreiben tut der Seele gut" appears in print significantly more concise and less substantive than his other statements; presumably numerous passages were editorially shortened. The complete conversation is not available in the online version but only appeared in the print edition of Welt am Sonntag. In the print version, additionally, writing instruments with prices are depicted, including OMAS Doctor's Pen 2010 (around 1650 euros), Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of the Year (around 2200 euros), Caran d'Ache Secret Journey III (around 8500 euros), Lamy Dialog 3 (around 200 euros), Namiki Rabbit in Moonlight from the Emperor's Collection (around 8400 euros), Montegrappa Alfa Romeo (around 700 euros) and the Montblanc John Lennon Special Edition (around 680 euros). --- **Question:** Is a research enquiry of the marketing chair of TU Berlin on the topic of communities serious, and should one participate? **Answer:** The enquiry counts, after telephone consultation with the responsible person, as serious and is therefore recommended for participation, presumably within the framework of a diploma thesis. Universities are with scientific studies dependent on volunteers outside the student circle. The survey is anonymous, and for scientific surveys the guidelines of the ADM e.V. apply, according to which data may only be further processed anonymously and no conclusions about individuals are permissible. Sensitive questions, e.g. on salary, can be skipped without consequences. --- **Question:** Why was forum registration temporarily switched to manual approval? **Answer:** Owing to a SPAM wave with temporarily 20 to 50 new registrations per hour, the registration was supplemented so that not only an email confirmation but additionally manual approval by the webmaster is necessary. Reading without registration remains possible; only posting requires the check. With very high registration volume (in an example about 300 registrations per day), it can happen that regular registrations are also accidentally rejected; in such cases one should turn by email to the webmaster. The measure is temporarily set up and will be loosened again as soon as the spam pressure subsides. --- **Question:** What significance does the 2006 stamp block with writing instruments by Cleo Skribent as motif have? **Answer:** Nowadays stamps can also be created by private providers with self-chosen motifs, so writing instruments by Cleo Skribent as motif are no peculiarity of the state post. Such stamps are above all suitable as individual promotional gifts for companies. In the postal sector, in recent years several private service providers like Turbo P.O.S.T., PIN AG and Westdeutscher Post Service have come on the market with their own stamps. The actual collecting appeal of such stamp editions is manageable. --- **Question:** Why was the Unicef banner removed from the Fountainpen website? **Answer:** The banners were always displayed free of charge and brought the operator no income. The reason for removal was demands of third parties to supplement the imprint by a VAT number, since a commercial activity was falsely assumed. Instead of banners, references to Unicef campaigns will in future take place editorially, e.g. via links. The website is expressly non-commercial, and the imprint was adapted to the requirements of the MDStV. --- **Question:** How is a writing instrument with built-in camera function (e.g. Hyundai Silver Eye) to be classified in data-protection terms and practically? **Answer:** Devices with inconspicuous camera function raise considerable data-protection questions, since secret recordings are not permitted in many situations. Comparable are smartpens like the Livescribe models, which however primarily serve audio recording and digitisation of notes and are usually used with the consent of conversation partners. The Hyundai Silver Eye is unlikely to establish itself on the market, especially since successors with higher resolution like the Golden Eye already exist. Users should in any case check whether corresponding recordings are legally permissible. --- **Question:** How is the article "Gewinnbringende Edelfedern" of "Welt am Sonntag" on investment in writing instruments to be evaluated? **Answer:** The article is in the collector community predominantly seen critically. Especially the quantities named are regarded as misleading, since they do not correctly reproduce the actually produced amounts. Writing instruments are as a pure investment only conditionally suitable; collecting-technical and personal aspects stand in the foreground. Sound information is to be found rather in specialised collector circles and specialist publications than in general business sections. --- **Question:** What book recommendation is there on the 250-year history of Faber-Castell? **Answer:** Recommended is the jubilee book "Faber-Castell Since 1761 – Die illustrierte Geschichte einer Bleistiftdynastie", which appeared on the occasion of the 250-year company jubilee 2011. On Amazon, the book can be browsed online beforehand, which conveys a good impression of the contents. It is suitable both for collectors and for historically interested persons around the topic of pencil and writing culture. --- **Question:** When and where does the next CAS collectors' get-together take place in January 2005? **Answer:** The first CAS collectors' get-together of the year 2005 took place on 30 January 2005 from 14:00 (lunch from 13:00) in the restaurant "Zum Franziskaner", Düsseldorfer Straße 21, 44143 Dortmund. Participating were six collectors, of whom several from the first acquaintance meetings as well as newcomers from the forum and the personal circle of acquaintances. Registration ran via the organiser's contact address. Further information on the regional collectors' meet-ups can be found on the association page. --- **Question:** Is a price of around 2,900 euros for a Montblanc Hemingway fountain pen realistic? **Answer:** Almost 3,000 euros are predominantly assessed as clearly excessive; realistic depending on condition appear about 1,500 to 1,800 euros, in individual cases also less. With an absolutely shop-new, sealed example in the original packaging, collectors in private sale can however quite call up 2,900 euros and more, especially with auctions with competing collectors. On eBay such peak prices are rarely achieved; at the same time fraud risk and authenticity problem are higher there. Overall the edition with 20,000 pieces was comparatively large, which should be reflected in the pricing. --- **Question:** Is it unusual that Montblanc writing instruments on eBay can be financed by instalment payment? **Answer:** Instalment financing is widespread on eBay for many high-priced auction articles and is nothing special for Montblanc writing instruments. The seller thereby receives his money immediately; the buyer pays in instalments to the financier. An instalment payment is, however, always more expensive than direct purchase and must be serviced until repayment. Anyone who cannot directly afford a writing instrument should therefore refrain from financing. --- **Question:** Which changes does the update of the forum software of the Fountainpen forum bring with it? **Answer:** During the about 30-minute maintenance, the forum was raised to a more recent software version, above all to close possible security gaps. On the layout only minor changes were made; new are, among others, additional buttons, e.g. a direct link to the forum rules. Functionally, the forum remains largely unchanged usable for users. In terms of content, no posts are lost thereby. --- **Question:** How is the "Welt am Sonntag" report "Die echten Edelfedern" on investment in writing instruments to be evaluated? **Answer:** The contribution is assessed as superficial and partly outdated – for example, the group affiliation of brands is no longer correctly represented, since Omas at the time of publication had for some time no longer belonged to LVMH. In terms of content too, the statements on quantities and value developments are partly inaccurate. Writing instruments are as an investment object only conditionally suitable and should be acquired primarily out of collector interest. Sound information is to be found rather in specialised collector circles. --- **Question:** Is it reputable on eBay auctions to demand a fee per line of information about a fountain pen? **Answer:** The procedure described is assessed by experienced collectors as disreputable and does not correspond to the usual practices among collectors. Added to this is that on eBay it is forbidden in an auction to refer to one's own website. Often such offers are less real collector service than an advertising measure for one's own books or websites. Collectors support each other in relevant forums typically free of charge. --- **Question:** Why are source references to the web address embedded in forum photos and what effect does that have against unauthorised picture use? **Answer:** Since photos of the forum page were repeatedly used without permission by third parties in online auctions, source references are copied directly into the pictures, while the copyrights remain with the photographer. Platforms like eBay generally automatically delete auction photos with embedded web address, so the unauthorised use practically resolves itself. Anyone who has contributed their own photos and is not satisfied with the concrete form of the watermark can request individual adjustments. --- **Question:** How can one judge whether an old ink bottle with glass body and supposed silver fitting is really antique? **Answer:** Real historical silver overlays always bear a hallmark; if this is missing, the authenticity is questionable. On the market many artificially aged ink bottles are in circulation that are only between just under 20 and 30 euros worth. Even high-quality photos do not always allow reliable distinction between original and replica. --- **Question:** Why do old pen mechanisms dry up after a short time, and where can feeds be procured or repaired? **Answer:** A too-fast drying mostly goes back to insufficient ink flow, whose cause typically lies in the feed or in a wrong nib position. Classical repair businesses generally work on nibs and mechanisms, not on feeds themselves. Feeds and nibs are, among others, made by the firm Bock, which is a suitable contact for corresponding enquiries. --- **Question:** What is to be made of a Montblanc Royal Black Diamond set with brilliants at a Christie's auction? **Answer:** Even when achieving twice the estimate price, such a piece still counts as a bargain, although taste varies strongly; some collectors feel the fully brilliant-set fountain pen to be overloaded. The stones are throughout real brilliants in Top Wesselton quality with 56-facet cut and were set by hand into the solid-gold housing. The final price of around 20,000 USD stands in clear disproportion to the pure material and workmanship value and is in collector circles felt to be surprisingly low. --- **Question:** Can a short waiting time between consecutive posts be set up in the forum to avoid double postings? **Answer:** The forum is based on a combination of Joomla and Fireboard, so only functions can be used that this software already brings. An own programming of individual features is therefore not possible; a switch of the forum software would moreover endanger the valuable stock of old posts. Suggestions like a minimum pause between postings are collected and can in future be presented to a programmer responsible for the community. --- **Question:** Is a connection of this forum to the Tapatalk app for iOS and Android devices possible or planned? **Answer:** A Tapatalk connection is technically basically possible via a plug-in but fails due to costs and effort: the forum is operated as a non-commercial hobby and already causes annual middle three-digit euro amounts. Plug-ins are additionally for security reasons generally used restrainedly. With an anyway planned update of the forum software in the coming months, it should be checked whether a Tapatalk integration is sensibly implementable. The connection is, however, not assured. --- **Question:** When does the CAS collectors' get-together take place in Dortmund, and what is discussed at the meeting? **Answer:** The CAS collectors' get-together in Dortmund took place on 3 December 2005 from 12:00 in the Franziskaner; the originally planned second date on 4 December was cancelled for lack of replies. Attending were eight collectors; the atmosphere was described as informal and informative. As the next meeting, February 2006 was already envisaged, at which everyone should bring duplicate, incomplete or defective writing instruments in order to make them functional again together. Possible dates would be the weekends 4/5 or 11/12 February 2006; the lighting conditions in the restaurant should still be improved for this. --- **Question:** Why does the regular VAT rate apply to Montblanc writing instruments and limited collector editions and not the reduced art rate? **Answer:** Which products are subject to the reduced VAT rate is conclusively regulated in Annex 2 of the VAT law; writing instruments are not listed there, so they are generally taxed at the regular rate. Limited editions too are tax-wise classified as writing instruments and not as artworks. From the tax-law view, such pieces can however in a professional context count as "work tools" and thus be deducted via income tax, e.g. via multi-year AfA depreciations. Thus a part of the higher VAT can in the individual case be compensated again, provided the tax office recognises the professional use. --- **Question:** Which books make good introductory reading on collecting, caring for and the mechanics of fountain pens? **Answer:** There is hardly any literature written specifically for beginners in pen collecting, but the usual standard works cover the ground well enough. On construction, function, cleaning and care, “Füllhalter für Kenner” by Hans Heger is regarded as particularly useful; Lamy once handed the book out against a voucher when a higher-grade pen was bought, which is why it turns up comparatively often second-hand. An inexpensive way in is “Füllfederhalter” by Jonathan Steinberg, which by the mid-2000s could be had used for a few euros. Also suitable is “Füllfederhalter – Ein Sammlerbuch” by Regina Martini, which in 2005 was being offered as remaindered stock for 4.99 euros instead of a good 20 euros. The standard work on the fountain pens of roughly 1900 to 1940 is by Andreas Lambrou. It is comprehensive but forbiddingly priced for a newcomer; cheaper is Lambrou's paperback edition in the Heyne Ratgeber Antiquitäten series (ISBN 3-453-05442-3), which cost around 20 euros in 2005. Almost all the relevant titles have long been out of print in the book trade. The search therefore runs through second-hand booksellers and the large second-hand book portals on the internet, where, with a little patience, the books regularly surface well below their original retail price. --- **Question:** Which writing instruments are used for entries in the Golden Book in German cities? **Answer:** For entries in golden books and visitors' books, most German municipalities traditionally reach for the Montblanc Meisterstück, usually the large 149. The company's own records, among them the “Kleine Chronik des Hauses Montblanc”, note such occasions, including the signing of the Golden Book of the city of Gelsenkirchen by Pope John Paul II. Benedict XVI, too, signed with a Meisterstück, presumably a 149, during his visit to Cologne in August 2005. There are, however, exceptions with a local flavour. In Weimar, collectors report, a Friedrich Schiller pen from the Writers Edition 2000 is kept ready. Of Hanover it is persistently said that signing there has always been done with a Pelikan, for obvious reasons; that has never been conclusively established. Such sets are part of the repertoire outside town halls as well: in the presidential suite of the Hotel Adlon in Berlin, the visitors' book was laid out at the time with a pen stand holding a 149 and a matching blotter. There is no binding rule about which pen is to be used; the choice rests with the city or institution concerned. The pieces actually used are correspondingly rarely documented and can usually be identified only from press photographs of the occasion. --- **Question:** Who was Thomas De La Rue, what writing instruments did his company make, and which postage stamps commemorate it? **Answer:** Thomas De La Rue (1793–1866) came from the Channel Island of Guernsey and founded the De La Rue company in London. It first made its fortune printing playing cards and later secured the English monopoly on the production of postage stamps and currency, not only for Britain but for numerous other countries as well. In the 1880s the firm began developing and manufacturing fountain pens, the best known of them the Onoto. According to collectors, pen production was given up at the end of the 1950s. Detailed accounts of the company and its writing instruments can be found in Andreas Lambrou's “Fountain Pens” and in Giorgio Dragoni and Giuseppe Fichera's “Fountain Pens: History and Design”. Guernsey has honoured its famous son twice with stamp issues. The second set appeared on 27 July 1993 for the bicentenary of his birth, in a printing of 113,000 sets of five stamps; between them the designs — banknote, fountain pen, printing press, postage stamp and playing card — cover the firm's entire range of products. Writing instruments turn up on stamps elsewhere too: in Germany, the first issue of the special series “Für die Briefmarke” of 12 October 2000 shows a fountain pen and a pencil beside an addressed envelope with a stamp lying ready. --- **Question:** Are limited edition fountain pens any good as an investment, and how dependable are the collector prices quoted in investment magazines? **Answer:** Investment magazines return to pen collecting at regular intervals, always from the angle of appreciation, and back up their case with a handful of outliers. An article of February 2006, for example, listed the Pelikan Blue Ocean at a shop price of 400 euros at the time and a collector price of 1,200 euros; for the Faber-Castell Pen of the Year 2003 the same piece quoted a premium of around 25 per cent over the price when new. Figures of this kind need to be read with caution, because they usually reflect the asking prices of individual dealers rather than sums actually realised. Over the same period a Blue Ocean in fact fetched nearer 270 euros, less than it had cost in the shop. Only a small number of editions enjoy a sharp rise in value in a short time; the great majority of limited writing instruments lose value the moment they are bought and take many years to reach their original price again, if they ever do. The sensible course for a collector, then, is to choose a pen for its design, its finish and the way it writes, and to regard any rise in value as a side effect rather than the point of the purchase. --- **Question:** How long has the Meisterstück 149 been in production, and why do contradictory statements circulate about the model's age and the company's anniversaries? **Answer:** The Meisterstück 149 came onto the market in 1952. Claims that the model has been in the range unchanged for 85 years are wrong; they come from a 2009 piece in the company's own online magazine and probably rest on transposed digits — 58 years was meant. The word “unchanged” applies only to the basic shape, too: the nib, feed, rings, cap lettering and materials have all been altered several times over the decades, which is precisely what makes dating individual examples possible at all. Similar inconsistencies surround the company anniversaries. Montblanc celebrated its centenary in 2006, taking 1906 as the year of foundation. At the same time there is an eightieth-anniversary rollerball dated 1988, which would count from 1908. Which date was taken as the basis in each case has never been settled — the firm traded under a different name in its early years, and the founding, the trade-mark registration and the change of name fall in different years. Advertising statements about anniversaries and model ages should therefore be used only with caution when placing a collector's piece; catalogue documents and the features of the pen itself are more reliable. --- **Question:** Why will a goose quill cut at home usually refuse to write, and which feathers are suitable? **Answer:** Everything turns on where the feather came from. Only quills the bird has shed naturally while moulting are of any use, not feathers that have been plucked. In a moulted feather alone is the base of the quill hardened enough to take a clean cut and to let the cut tip hold its shape. A plucked quill is far too soft: it will write a few letters at best, and within days the tip splays apart like a swallow's tail, even if nothing further is written with it. Suitable quills from goose, swan, pheasant or other birds can be bought ready-prepared from specialist calligraphy suppliers; one well-known address is Andy Schenk's Scriptorium in Basel. The cut follows the same logic as a metal nib, with a slit down the middle and a cleanly defined writing edge, and has to be recut regularly in use. If you cannot get hold of suitable quills, the alternative is a glass pen, which needs no recutting and serves well for the occasional piece of writing in ink. --- **Question:** What connects the Greif works in Goslar with the flights of the airship Graf Zeppelin? **Answer:** The Greif works in Goslar, known for office equipment and writing instruments, are tied to the history of airship travel through their founder. Joseph Braun, who styled himself founder and senior partner of the Greif works, took part in four flights altogether and set down his impressions in writing. The accounts appeared as private printings and were distributed above all as gift books to the firm's customers: “Mit dem Luftschiff Graf Zeppelin nach Island” of 1931, “Mit dem Luftschiff Graf Zeppelin nach Pernambuco” of 1931, “Mit dem Luftschiff Graf Zeppelin nach Rom” of 1933 and “Erste Fahrt des Luftschiffs Hindenburg nach Nordamerika” of 1936. From his travels Braun sent numerous postcards to customers and friends, which he signed with his position at the Greif works appended and which are sought after today above all by philatelists. For collectors these printings are hard to come by. Printed matter from the Greif works turns up regularly in the antiquarian trade, but scarcely ever the four travel accounts themselves, since they were never sold through bookshops and appeared in small numbers only. The link between pen makers and enthusiasm for the Zeppelin was later continued in promotional pens; collectors report that around 2000, for the centenary of the first flight in July 1900, a “Zeppelin pen” appeared with a matching ballpoint, a cartridge pen that will also take a converter. Who made this anniversary version is not reliably recorded. --- **Question:** How do the Montblanc Meisterstück Classique 144 and 145 Chopin differ from one another? **Answer:** Both belong to the Classique line, the 145 bearing the addition Hommage à Frédéric Chopin to tell them apart. It is a few millimetres longer than the 144 and is thus a model in its own right. The most conspicuous outward difference is at the cap: on the 145 the first decorative ring does not sit flush with the cap opening but about three millimetres above it, and it is as wide as the third ring. More important in use is the closure: the 144 has a slip cap which no longer closes firmly the longer it is used, whereas the 145 has a screw cap. The 145 was planned from the outset as the successor to the 144; the two deliberately ran alongside each other for some years so that dealers would not be left with devalued stock. Because the 145 clearly outstripped the 144 in numbers, the 144 was taken out of production around 2005, though at first it survived in the Solitaire versions. The 147 Traveller is unaffected by the question of size: in its dimensions it corresponds to the 146 LeGrand. --- **Question:** What did Cross and Pelikan writing sets cost in the special offers of German department stores in 2007? **Answer:** Department stores repeatedly offered good writing instruments at prices well below the level of the specialist trade. In a Karstadt leaflet from 2007 a set of Cross Century II fountain pen and ballpoint cost 59 euros; a set of Pelikan 250 fountain pen and ballpoint, which from the picture in the leaflet came with a bottle of ink and a case, cost 99 euros. Both offers expressly applied in the branches only and could not be had through the online shop. When valuing older sets it should be borne in mind that promotional prices of this kind were considerably below the list prices of the specialist trade at the time and are therefore of only limited use as a yardstick. --- **Question:** Which luxury goods groups did the pen brands Montblanc and Omas belong to in the mid-2000s? **Answer:** In the 2000s the major pen brands were divided between competing luxury goods groups. Montblanc belongs to the Swiss Richemont group; the Italian maker Omas belonged at the time to the French group LVMH, Richemont's direct competitor. How strongly the business in good writing instruments depends on the fortunes of the luxury sector as a whole is shown by LVMH's interim figures for the first half of 2004: revenue rose by eight per cent to 5.7 billion euros, and a rise of twelve per cent in operating profit was expected. After the weak years at the start of the decade this was taken as a sign that the segment was recovering. --- **Question:** How did Pelikan manufacture at the Peine-Vöhrum plant in the mid-2000s, and how many M 400 fountain pens were made there each month? **Answer:** Pelikan's pen production was based at the Peine-Vöhrum plant in the mid-2000s. Works tours took in the making of the binde of the M 400, nib production and the manufacture of the simpler writing instruments, alongside the production of paint boxes, ink pads, erasers and ink cartridges. About 2000 M 400s were made a month at that time. Tours were held several times a week and, if booked in advance, were open to individual visitors as well. At that point Pelikan was making its nibs itself, having previously bought them in from the firm of Bock. The spread within a given nib width had been wider since then; according to the factory, however, this was not reflected in any increase in complaints. October 2006 also saw the start there of the third issue in the Seven Wonders of the World series, The Temple of Artemis, available from 2 October 2006 at a selling price of 2,750 euros. --- **Question:** Who ran Montblanc as chief executive before Jerome Lambert, and what marked the terms of Lutz Bethge and Norbert Platt? **Answer:** Jerome Lambert took over the running of Montblanc in 2013. He came in as an outside manager from the watch manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre, which like Montblanc belongs to the Richemont group. His predecessor was Lutz Bethge, who had headed the company for several years. Before Bethge, Norbert Platt stood at the head of the firm. He is credited above all with the repositioning of the brand: first from pen manufacturer to supplier of luxury writing instruments, and then to broadly based lifestyle supplier with watches, leather goods and jewellery. Because the successor appointed in 2013 came from the watch business, the change prompted collectors to ask what rank writing instruments would hold in the range in future. --- **Question:** How can you tell on a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 of the 1950s that it was intended for export? **Answer:** On Meisterstück piston fillers of the 1950s the engraving on the cap ring points to the intended market: if the ring carries the English word “Masterpiece” instead of “Meisterstück”, the pen was destined for export. Export pieces of this kind are reckoned comparatively rare in the German-speaking collectors' market. A 146 of this period is made of black celluloid, not of the precious resin used later, and carries a two-tone 14 carat gold nib; one dated example is a pen from 1955. Three points are decisive in judging the condition of such pieces: cracks in the celluloid, scratches on the body and brass showing through the gold plating on the fittings. If all three are absent and the piston works perfectly, the condition counts as very good to almost as new. --- **Question:** Was the Frankfurt Paperworld still worth a visit for collectors of fine writing instruments in the middle of the 2000s? **Answer:** For collectors of fine writing instruments the Paperworld paper and office trade fair in Frankfurt am Main had lost its importance by 2006. The relevant brands no longer exhibited there: neither Montblanc nor Cross, Sanford with Parker, Waterman and Rotring, Aurora, Visconti, OMAS, Montegrappa, Cartier, Dunhill or Sheaffer. Essentially only Pelikan, Lamy and Faber-Castell remained. The collectors' fairs have been more rewarding ever since; the large ones, suitable for newcomers as well, were the events in Cologne, Tilburg and Hamburg, with further dates in Rome, Berlin and Munich. Paperworld itself is a trade fair open to registered trade visitors; private enthusiasts needed a ticket, which was considerably cheaper in advance than at the door. --- **Question:** What was the opening bid for the Montblanc Centennial Automatic Chronograph at the Emirates auction in 2006? **Answer:** To mark the brand's hundredth anniversary Montblanc issued the Centennial Automatic Chronograph in 18-carat gold in 2006. One example came up in an auction held on board the airline Emirates in the spring of 2006; bids could be made until the end of May, and the opening price was 65,000 US dollars. The lot also included a visit to the Montblanc watch manufactory at Le Locle in Switzerland. The proceeds of the sale went to children in need. The piece shows that Montblanc marked its anniversary year not with writing instruments alone but with expensive timepieces as well. Le Locle has been the home of Montblanc watch production ever since the brand moved into watchmaking. --- **Question:** Who is regarded as the inventor of the modern pencil, and what is his manufacturing process based on? **Answer:** The modern pencil is credited to the French officer and engineer Nicolas-Jacques Conté (1755–1805). In 1795 he developed a process in which ground graphite is mixed with clay, formed and then fired. The proportion of clay controls the hardness of the lead; the grading of pencil leads still rests on this principle today. Before that, leads were made from sawn pieces of natural graphite, which left production dependent on a handful of productive deposits. The name Conté survives as a brand of drawing crayons. Crediting the invention to one man is a simplification, though: by the common account, Joseph Hardtmuth in Vienna was working on a comparable clay-and-graphite process at the same time. --- **Question:** Is the book Friedrich Sonnecken. Sein Leben und sein Werk a new edition of the company history of 1950? **Answer:** No. The title is a reprint of a biography of the entrepreneur dating from 1923, not a new edition of the anniversary volume 75 Jahre F. Soenneken Bonn 1875-1950. Both books deal with the same subject but differ considerably in content and do not replace one another; anyone working on the company's history needs both. The dates in the title of the anniversary volume refer to the founding of the firm in 1875. The spelling of the name varies in the literature between Soennecken and Sonnecken; the same house is meant in each case. --- **Question:** What range did the treasure chamber of the Bremen firm Dörrbecker carry in 2004? **Answer:** In 2004 the business was divided into three rooms: a Montblanc boutique, the main part of the shop and the so-called treasure chamber (Schatzkammer). More than 3,500 writing instruments from 35 brands were stored in the safe, among them Visconti, Pelikan, Graf von Faber-Castell, Montegrappa, Lamy and Kaweco. All Jannsen inks were also available, as well as papers, organisers and further accessories; a separate area was dedicated to Graf von Faber-Castell. In the treasure chamber all the writing instruments of the Writers Editions were displayed as sets of fountain pen, ballpoint pen and pencil, together with all the fountain pens of the Patron of the Arts Editions in both versions, that is, in the edition size of 4810 and in the edition size of 888. Further display cabinets showed all the writing instruments of the Anniversary Edition 1924 and one fountain pen from the Anniversary 75 series. More than 200 different limited fountain pens from all the major brands were permanently on view there, supplemented by almost all the Pelikan Limited Editions of previous years. --- **Question:** What is the Scryption museum in Tilburg, and what is shown there for collectors of writing instruments? **Answer:** The Scryption in Tilburg is a museum devoted to writing instruments. On display are numerous old writing instruments, among them Montblanc pens, together with historic shop counters from stationers and old workbenches that show manufacture as it once was. The collection is complemented by a large number of typewriters and an extensive collection of erasers. The building is small and easy to take in and can be viewed in a manageable amount of time. The Tilburg Pen Show took place annually in the rooms of the museum, in the year 2004 on 24 September. It is small in comparison with other collectors' fairs; with about 15 dealers, considerably more time remains for conversation than at the large events. --- **Question:** When and where did the 16th International Fountain Pen Collectors' Meeting in Cologne take place, and how was admission arranged? **Answer:** The 16th International Fountain Pen Collectors' Meeting was held on Saturday 27 March 2004 in the clubhouse of the Ruder- und Tennisclub Germania in Cologne; it was organised by Stefan Wallrafen. Admission was arranged in two stages: from 10 a.m. the professional collectors gathered first, while the general collecting public was not admitted until 1 p.m. By that time a long queue had already formed in front of the entrance, and in the hall it was barely possible to move about freely. Proceedings ended early. Around two hours after the afternoon opening the first sellers cleared their tables, and by 4 p.m. the last collectors had packed up as well. Only then was there time for more extensive conversations with the exhibitors. The meeting is international in character: cars from the Netherlands and Belgium stood in the car park, and Swiss, English, American and Chinese visitors met in the adjoining restaurant. Anyone wishing to view the pieces at leisure should allow for the fact that the crowds are at their greatest in the early afternoon. --- **Question:** How was the first Munich fountain pen fair on 10 July 2004 at the Residenz organised? **Answer:** The Munich fountain pen fair was held for the first time on Saturday, 10 July 2004, in the historic rooms of the Residenz. The organiser was Gerhard Baur, who had prepared the rooms together with his family: setting up tables, cutting tablecloths to size and providing proper lighting had continued into the night before the fair. 12 noon was announced as the official time of admission for visitors; in fact, people were let in earlier. On payment of the entrance fee, every visitor received a small bottle of Schreibmayr Königstinte ink as a welcome gift. Every vendor had a name plate standing on the table, so that trading partners from online dealing could also be identified in person. The fair was internationally attended: besides German collectors, participants came from the Netherlands, Italy, Croatia, Austria, Switzerland and the USA. Many travelled in as early as the Friday and met in the evening at an inn to talk shop; others came in the morning and drove back again in the evening. The event was advertised with leaflets and a specially designed postcard, which were laid out in Munich stationery shops. From the outset the fair was not intended as a one-off event; a continuation was already planned. --- **Question:** What is offered at a pen show besides the writing instruments themselves, and in which price ranges? **Answer:** At pen shows, goods in very different price categories are laid out. Many sellers put a so-called rummage box on the table, in which older fountain pens are to be found from around 10 euros upwards; that was the entry price at the Munich show in July 2004. The exclusive and expensive pieces, by contrast, are rarely laid out openly, but remain safely kept in a box or in a bag under the table and are shown only on request. Anyone looking specifically for high-quality items must therefore ask and not merely look. The range on offer also includes the entire environment of the writing instrument: tools for fountain pen repair, cork seals and spare parts as well as boxes, promotional material and collectables extending as far as ashtrays. The original boxes form a collecting field of their own that receives little attention. Some are elaborately and artistically designed, others bear merely the name of the fountain pen. A systematic listing or specialist literature on these boxes was largely lacking in 2004. --- **Question:** What did admission to the International Fountain Pen Collectors' Meeting in Cologne in 2005 cost, and how did the day proceed? **Answer:** The 17th International Fountain Pen Collectors' Meeting, organised by Stefan Wallrafen, was held on 5 March 2005 once again in the clubhouse of the Germania rowing and tennis club in Cologne; the date regularly falls at the beginning of March. Admission was staggered: until 1 p.m. it cost 30 euros, after that only 3 euros. Despite the high morning price the hall was already well filled before 1 p.m., and with the inexpensive afternoon opening hundreds of further collectors then streamed in. The course of the day follows a fixed pattern. From about 9 a.m. the exhibitors set up their tables, official admission was at 10 a.m., and in fact the first collectors were already pressing into the hall at around 9.45 a.m. Immediately afterwards there was haggling and buying, frequently even before the goods had been fully unpacked; only after the first wave was there time for conversation. From 3 p.m. the first sellers departed, by around 4 p.m. the event was over, and the exhibitors traditionally met afterwards for a meal together in the adjoining restaurant. The weather has a noticeable effect on such a meeting: in 2005 the clubhouse lay deep in snow, some participants had to fall back on the railway and could therefore bring fewer writing instruments with them than usual. --- ## Other manufacturers ### Vintage pens / oldies **Question:** How can an old fountain pen with a damaged nib be identified and repaired? **Answer:** Without a clear brand mark, identification is possible from the nib, the clip, the section and the barrel end; close-up photos of these areas help. A small, partially hidden nib points for instance to a Parker or a French make, while a blind cap at the barrel end qualifies that. Repairing a broken nib is very expensive; it is usually cheaper and more sensible to find an intact original nib of the same model and fit it. A list of repair specialists is on fountainpen.de; for nib-only work nibs.com is an address. With pre-war pens the feed and nib can often be carefully pulled out from the front. Markings like "14K"/"585" on the nib confirm gold quality; concrete dimensions help the repairer find suitable replacement nibs. --- **Question:** What can be said about an old fountain pen marked "Aristokrat"? **Answer:** Aristokrat was a German manufacturer in Nuremberg, as the marking "Ges. Gesch." attests; in the 1950s the founder's piston pens were sold by direct sales in offices and authorities. Models existed in sizes roughly matching the Montblanc Mozart, as well as larger variants with 18-karat gold nibs. Based on the materials used, the model is dated to the late 1930s. The brand has no significant collector value; a well-preserved piece typically reaches only about 10 euros on eBay. Such pens lend themselves well to practising disassembly and polishing. --- **Question:** Who produces the modern Kaweco Sport fountain pens, and does the original company still exist? **Answer:** The original 'Heidelberger Federhalter-Fabrik Koch, Weber & Co.' no longer exists; the trademark rights and production of the modern Kaweco Sport fountain pens lie today with Gutberlet. The historical Kaweco already had compact, cylindrical safety pens for ladies, officers and sport travellers in its programme by 1911, made of guilloché or marbled hard rubber and in special editions of silver, tula or Toledo. Today's Sport models are a homage to this classic design, but the brand's economic significance is no longer comparable with the pre-war period. --- **Question:** Which refill fits a Montblanc lever ballpoint No. 18 from the 1960s, whose original giant refill is too slim for the giant refills sold today? **Answer:** The thicker giant refill commonly sold today no longer fits directly into the Montblanc No. 18 from the 60s, since the writing tip of the ballpoint was designed only for the slimmer first-generation giant refill. Collectors report that authorised Montblanc specialist dealers and the boutique offer an adapter with which current giant refills can be used in younger lever ballpoints (e.g. No. 782); on the model 18 this adapter does not help, however, due to the still slimmer tip geometry. In the 1970s, after the change to the thicker writing tip, Montblanc offered free replacement tips for around ten years; this programme has been discontinued for decades. The only practical solution that remains is therefore usually to search for old stocks of the old giant refill or for an original replacement tip via collector channels. --- **Question:** What is known about Knips Patent Pencils and their connection to De La Rue & Co. and a Nuremberg firm? **Answer:** Knips Patent Pencils are high-quality mechanical pencils made in the 1930s, with De La Rue & Co. acting as 'Sale Distributors for the British Empire'; actual production took place in Germany with a sourcing name based in Nuremberg, whose role as maker or distribution partner is not conclusively documented (cf. Stephen Hull's book on Onoto). The pencils were offered in five colours plus black and are characterised by an unusual click mechanism with two opposing pressure points which, alternately pressed, advance the lead. Octagonal versions in celluloid in different shades are particularly sought-after; condition and function of the click mechanism are often still flawless on the surviving examples. The pieces are rare and are actively but sporadically offered on the collector market. --- **Question:** Why was the Parker Vacumatic discontinued, and is a present-day purchase sensible for everyday use? **Answer:** The Vacumatic was replaced by the simpler and more robust Aerometric system, which was used from the 1950s also in the Parker 51; the Vacumatic system did have a larger ink volume but was more maintenance-intensive. Repair requires special tools to open and a rubber diaphragm, only obtainable in the USA; many restorers refuse the repair; in Vienna it is reliably carried out at Penleo (Leo Grahofer). Restored Vacumatics can be used for about 20 years after professional servicing. Everyday use of an unrestored piece is advised against. Material and writing quality are excellent, the nibs mostly rigid, the feed very good, the leak resistance better than with the Parker 51. As a modern replacement with similar design the Visconti Wallstreet or the Manhattan with High-Vacuum Powerfill mechanism is recommended. --- **Question:** What should be considered when buying a glass-nib fountain pen, and where are modern glass nibs available? **Answer:** Glass nibs are breakage-prone, and replacement is hard to obtain. Historical glass-nib fountain pens were produced mainly between the late 1920s and mid-1940s, e.g. as safety or push-fillers; at Montblanc there were corresponding models like 442 and 444, today rare and expensive and able to cost around 500 euros. No-name glass-nib pens are available much more cheaply on eBay in the single-digit euro range. Modern glass nibs are supplied by Dr. Franz-Josef Jansen on de-atramentis.com from about 8 euros. Glass nibs were earlier used for document-proof inks that would clog usual nibs and feeds. With glass-nib pens the maker Haro is only reachable via the second-hand market. --- **Question:** What information can be found on three old fountain pens (Koh-I-Noor Astra No. 14, an '-R-' from France and a Lamy Ratio) regarding origin, age and value? **Answer:** Since the forum primarily focuses on Montblanc, information on side brands here is sparse. Collectors report that most collectors specialise in a few main brands like Montblanc, Pelikan or Namiki, and brands like Koh-I-Noor, Lamy or French bakelite pens are therefore barely documented. The Lamy mentioned is likely a Lamy 27 from the 1950s. For more detailed information the Penexchange forum is referred to, which covers a broader brand spectrum. --- **Question:** Which brands and makers are involved in a safety pen with 'Mercedes New York' nib and a silver four-colour pencil with DRGM stamping? **Answer:** The safety pen is with high probability a Mercedes (brand founded 1920); the characteristic script-style nib engraving, the notched feed and the somewhat larger cap-top diameter are typical features. Mercedes at first obtained its nibs from the USA, since nib production in Germany was initially mastered only by Kaweco (from 1913) and Soennecken. The four-colour pencil could be an early Fendt of Pforzheim, since Fendt developed and early patented the slide mechanism for multi-colour pencils; Montblanc also had multi-colour pencils made at Fendt up into the 1970s. The imprint 'Schloss F. Kahleis, Cöthen' could indicate a specialist dealer. --- **Question:** How is an Osmia Safety with '18 KTS' stamping and striking overlay to be classified, and how is Osmia rated as a historical maker? **Answer:** The overlay of the Safety described looks typically Italian and resembles those found on many Italian Safeties of various brands (also Waterman and Montblanc). Osmia, strengthened from the 1930s onward by licence production of Parker models, was later taken over by Faber-Castell and withdrawn from the market in the late 1950s. In the early years Osmia did make high-quality writing instruments, e.g. the celluloid pens with cap top in cloisonné enamel, which counted among the European top class. Sarastro, by contrast, produced exclusively top goods. A clear attribution of the specific Safety would only be possible by inspecting the base model under the overlay. --- **Question:** What is known about the maker RIC LEI (Richter Leipzig) and its Safety pens? **Answer:** RIC LEI stands for the Richter brothers from Leipzig, whose writing-instrument manufactory collectors rate as qualitatively above average. The brand, however, sold significantly below the prices of the competition, which proved economically unsustainable in the long term; a strong marketing department and sufficient capital were missing. The company disappeared, by collectors' knowledge, before or during World War II from the market. Octagonal Safeties without company logo corresponding to the construction of the RIC LEI pieces are also known. --- **Question:** Which maker is behind an old gold nib with ibex emblem above three mountain peaks and the imprint 'IRIDIUM'? **Answer:** The emblem with the ibex before three mountain peaks belongs to the nib maker Peter Bock of Heidelberg, who exclusively produced nibs and not complete pens; from the nib alone the pen's maker can therefore not be deduced. Such Bock nibs were used in numerous standard pens of various brands and are found in steel as well as gold versions. They count as robust and good writers but do not reach the writing properties of high-quality gold nibs. The initially suspected DISCUS of Bonn is also a historical maker (aluminium body, before WWII), but the ibex nib itself is not originally linked with DISCUS. --- **Question:** What can be found out about the Austrian school pen of the brand 'Tempo' (imprint 'M CHROMA EXTRA') from the 1940s? **Answer:** Tempo was an Austrian writing-instrument maker (Vienna firm Gerspacher) that in the 1920s to 1940s produced numerous standard pens, also push fillers, in various colours. A comprehensive documentation or catalogue of Tempo does not exist; only the Vienna restorer Leo Grahofer (grasshopper.at) has documented some on the brand and is the central contact point for questions and restorations (cleaning, new piston). A short mention is also in the Penkala book by Miroslav Tischler in the chapter on Austrian makers. Original nibs usually carry the imprint 'Tempo'. --- **Question:** Which maker and which filling mechanism could be involved in an old fountain pen with Indian-head engraving 'Hugh!', noble chrome nib and screw-spring/knurled-screw mechanism? **Answer:** The mechanism recalls a vacuum system in the style of Parker's Vacumatic; a precise attribution to maker, country and year is, however, difficult, since a converted mechanism also seems possible. On old vacuum pens the inner rubber tank is almost always dried out and mostly no longer fillable. Research in specialist literature (Steinberg, 'Füllfederhalter, Das illustrierte Lexikon für Sammler') led the owner to Parker's patent of 1832, in which by means of piston and rod in the barrel ink was pressed to the nib — the first documented self-filler. A treatment with creep oil loosened stuck parts; the mechanism here consists of piston rod, cork seal and screw spring with knurled screw. --- **Question:** Where do you get well-founded information on model designations, production period and value of mint Brause piston fountain pens from an attic find? **Answer:** Collector forums like community-fountainpen.de or penexchange.de are not designed to deliver sales information for free, because no commercial interest is to be served there. Anyone needing the market value or exact model data on such finds should turn to a recognised expert like Stefan Wallrafen (collectiblestars.de), who researches and estimates against fee. Before such a commission, weighing whether the expected sale proceeds even justify the research costs is worthwhile; often this is not the case. --- **Question:** Which makers and which age can be determined for an old silver pencil with '900' hallmark and for a Wahl-Eversharp pencil? **Answer:** The angular pencil with the '900' hallmark is a typical Pforzheim piece from the time before 1900, whose housing is of solid 900 silver and whose clip shape is characteristic for this region; engravings were at the time still done by hand. With silver-cleaning agent the pencil can be made to shine again. Wahl Eversharp is a tradition-rich US brand whose production was discontinued about 40 to 50 years ago. In the USA there is a larger collector circle for it; to continental Europe these writing instruments — except for England — were barely exported, which is why they are rarely encountered here. --- **Question:** How does filling an old Fabula safety pen with retractable nib work? **Answer:** The pen is a safety of the brand Fabula (maker Aura GmbH, Munich), presumably from the 1920s. With this construction principle the nib is retracted by the twist mechanism so that filling is done via the front opening with a pipette — not via the rear end. Before first ink use it should be checked with water whether the writing instrument is still tight; on leakage the cork seal must be renewed. With nib retracted, the closure mechanism seals the opening, so the ink stays inside. --- **Question:** How can an old pen with Asian characters, rubber-bag filling and the inscription 'Parker 1/10 12 K Gold Filled' be identified? **Answer:** It is an original Parker 51 in 12-carat gold-filled cover with East Asian engraving, no copy. Exact identification succeeds via the embossed 'PARKER 51' inside and the typical engraving guide for filling. Asian copies of the Parker 51 are widespread, which is why such finds are first uncertain. The translated characters yield, in combination with the logo, a meaning like 'extent' and 'jade/gemstone' and indicate a special marking. The Parker 51 line counts as very robust and can be operated with nearly any common ink. --- **Question:** How do you classify an old Montblanc ballpoint with model number '36 501' temporally and value-wise? **Answer:** The ballpoint described is likely to correspond to a model 281, made between 1971 and 1979. For value determination there is an established guide widely used in collector circles, especially providing comparison with current eBay auctions. Decisive for the price are preservation state, completeness (packaging, replacement refills) and any engravings, which reduce value. --- **Question:** How rare is a Pelikan 100 (not 100N) with grey-marbled binde, and where can it be professionally restored? **Answer:** While the Pelikan 100N occasionally turns up in grey, the grey variant of the older 100 is significantly rarer and barely documented in standard literature. With nib damage and leaking feeds, restoration at specialised workshops like Tom Westerich (penboard.de), Lutz Fiebig or Werner is recommended. Repair costs can exceed market demand; sale to a collector or specialist dealer is usual as alternative. Professional reworking preserves collector value significantly better than own interventions. --- **Question:** Is a gold pen with the nib inscription 'Watermann' and hallmarks with lions actually a Waterman? **Answer:** Hallmarks with lions point to manufacture in Great Britain; in connection with the nib inscription it is presumably a jeweller's work on Waterman base and not a direct factory production by Waterman. Such pieces are conceived as safety pens and are filled manually by unscrewing the nib; drawing up is not possible. Restoration is mostly not possible, since the gold cover fully encloses the mechanism and excludes opening. Sellable as pure collector's pieces they are nonetheless. --- **Question:** How do you fill a Parker Vacumatic, and what distinguishes its mechanism from ink-sac or piston pens? **Answer:** The Vacumatic has neither ink sac nor piston but works with a plunger and a diaphragm (rubber membrane) and an air tube in the barrel. On pressing the plunger air is displaced through the air tube; on letting it slide back, a vacuum arises that draws in the ink via the feed. Precondition is that nib and feed stand fully in the ink and any breather hole is covered when pumping so the vacuum can build up. The system was used by Parker from about the late 1930s onwards. --- **Question:** How can an unmarked, capless piston pen with 14K gold nib, lion's-head hallmark and blue ring and green spindle be assigned? **Answer:** Clearly identifying the piece from the description is not possible. The construction (piston mechanism, sight window, feed with Pelikan-like longitudinal grooves) speaks for German post-war production from the 1950s; the 14K gold nib excludes a pure cheap article. It is recommended to bring the piece to a collector show (e.g. Ofenwerk Nuremberg) where several experts can assess it. The lion's-head hallmark is a usual gold-content stamp and does not necessarily come from Rupp/Heidelberg. --- **Question:** Which brand is behind an unmarked vintage writing instrument that bears an embossed M on the cap or clip end? **Answer:** It is highly likely a Matador, a former German writing-instrument brand. Original Matador nibs carry the inscription 14K 585 Matador and an M in the circle; the M mark is found, depending on model, on the cap top or in the clip end. Qualitatively Matador counts as average but is valued for its beautiful celluloid colours. --- **Question:** How can the production year of an inherited Montblanc Meisterstück No. 35 with 18-carat gold nib be determined? **Answer:** The Meisterstück No. 35 was presumably produced from the late 1920s to mid-1930s. An important indicator is the filling type: if the model has a small lever in the middle of the barrel, that indicates dating to the late 1920s; without lever and with a turn-retractable nib, everything speaks for the 1930s. Such models were originally filled with a pipette, which today can also be elegantly done with a small syringe. For a more precise classification, meaningful photos of the pen are helpful. --- **Question:** Where can one find information on an old Kaweco Colleg (model 55A SM, around 1930)? **Answer:** A comprehensive source of information on Kaweco models is the publication on gutberlet.com (KAWECO_history). For direct exchange with specialists and viewing of comparable pieces, a visit to the Hamburg collectors' fair is recommended, where experienced Kaweco connoisseurs are present. In addition, special CDs with model overviews exist for further research. --- **Question:** Which brand and which manufacturer are behind the DUROLL fountain pen, which resembles a Parker Duofold of the 1920s? **Answer:** DUROLL is a Parker Duofold licensed replica, comparable to numerous similar models that were produced in the 1920s and 1930s in Germany, England and Italy. In Germany, for example, Osmia in Heidelberg held a corresponding licence. Research has shown that DUROLL was manufactured under the FABULA brand by the company AURA GmbH in Munich. Munich was at that time a centre for several smaller fountain pen manufacturers. --- **Question:** Is a set of Coronation writing instruments in red, white and blue offered on eBay an authentic historical piece? **Answer:** The offer appears repeatedly and is classified by experienced collectors as doubtful, especially because the modern Cartier box included does not match the supposed historical provenance. Comparable authentic Coronation sets from 1953 (e.g. listed at fountainpenemporium.com) show the colours red-white-blue in reference to the Union Jack. A bargain price of around 200 euros would only be justified if authenticity is beyond doubt; the make-up of the specific offer rather suggests scepticism. --- **Question:** Is there information on the French fountain pen manufacturer Mor (or Mor's) from Paris? **Answer:** The brand Mor or Mor's from Paris is not listed in standard literature (e.g. in the Lambrou book). It can be assumed to be a smaller French manufacturer; in the early 20th century (around 1925) many small workshops existed whose brand names are hardly documented today. Detailed historical information about the manufacturer cannot be ascertained. --- **Question:** Did the Pelikan 400 from the 1950s really come with grey caps, or are these faded black examples? **Answer:** In the standard literature (Dittmer & Lehmann, "Pelikan Schreibgeräte", p. 67) no grey caps are documented for the 400, which is why it is plausible that it is a faded, originally black cap. A special edition in grey is not documented. For more precise assessment, a Pelikan expert (e.g. Werner) can be consulted. --- **Question:** How can an inherited Montblanc safety pen from the 1920s with overlay and heart-shaped hole in the nib be identified and classified? **Answer:** A serious evaluation is not possible without inspection or meaningful photos, so collectors always ask for pictures. Safety pens by Montblanc from the 20s with a gold overlay are well known as jeweller's commissions and can be valuable, but an assignment to specific designations like Sarastro requires reliable image material. --- **Question:** Which manufacturer is behind a colourful ballpoint, bought in the 1980s, with a striking pattern whose cross-section is reminiscent of the Montblanc logo? **Answer:** It is not a Montblanc, but the Parafernalia Flirt from the family of the Italian brand Parafernalia. Montblanc writing instruments in the 70s and 80s, even in the entry class, always bore classic forms as well as the logo and brand name; if these markings are missing, the writing instrument is not a Montblanc. Further information can be found on the manufacturer's site parafernalia.com. --- **Question:** How can a supposedly golden Kaweco fountain pen from the 1940s with 585 stamp and WARRANTED nib be classified and evaluated? **Answer:** Kaweco collecting is a niche field, which is why information is best obtained directly from today's manufacturer Gutberlet. The expert answer from there points to inconsistencies between the clip outer diameter and housing, which should not normally occur on a high-quality gold housing, which can indicate a later clip exchange. Gold overlays of such pens generally did not come from Kaweco itself but from jewellers, often from Pforzheim. A serious evaluation requires sharp, detail-rich photos. --- **Question:** How can a Swan Self Filler in Grey Marbled be classified by age? **Answer:** The Swan Self Filler in Grey Marbled dates temporally from around 1940. Often the section on these models does not sit correctly in the housing, which can usually be corrected without intervention on the fountain pen itself. Swan fountain pens of this era are characterised by striking designs and particularly pleasantly flexible nibs, which makes them popular among collectors. --- **Question:** Where can one obtain the book "Der Kugelschreiber – Prêt-à-porter der Schreibgeräte" by Werner Meier? **Answer:** The book apparently contains no publisher's reference in the imprint and is not easy to find either via Amazon or via usual antiquarian booksellers. More promising is the search in specialised internet antiquarian booksellers like ZVAB or Eurobuch. Even there, however, the hit rate is not certain; some collectors have struck lucky, others not. --- **Question:** How can an inherited A.W. Faber pen 922 EF and a Faber-Castell pencil be classified and dated? **Answer:** The Faber model series 922 was produced in various variants and colours; grey is rather rare, black the more common version, and there were size variants like the 994. The plastic housing speaks for production from the mid-1950s onwards. Clip and rings are gilded, not solid, since no hallmark stamp like 585 is present; the gold nib, on the other hand, is real gold, the material value, however, low. Special collector literature on Faber-Castell is hardly available; a direct enquiry to Faber-Castell customer service is recommended. --- **Question:** How does one change the nib of a Parker 75 Sterling Cisele and where does one get replacement nibs? **Answer:** The nib of the Parker 75 is only plugged into the grip section and can be removed without problem by simultaneous pulling and turning along the longitudinal axis, without anything being damaged. Replacement nibs are difficult to obtain today; common standard widths are often sold out, and one frequently only finds exotic widths at high prices, e.g. via US eBay. An alternative is the purchase of a defective 75 for cannibalisation; here attention must be paid to the matching feed, since various variants existed. Repairs and nib exchange are offered, among others, by Thomas Watkinson as well as the Kontor SchreibTischKultur in Münster. --- **Question:** How can one tell whether a silvery-looking vintage pen is actually made of silver? **Answer:** Decisive is the hallmark on the clip or barrel: if it says "900" (or another common silver hallmark), it is real silver. If, on the other hand, "Alpaka" is stamped, it is silver-plated nickel-silver alloy (copper-nickel-zinc) and not a precious metal. A more precise determination is only possible with knowledge of the concrete hallmark. --- **Question:** Who can repair an old Eversharp fountain pen with a defective ink sac in the Paderborn area? **Answer:** Specific repairers in the Paderborn area are not known among collectors. The first port of call should be a local writing-instrument specialist shop, which usually forwards to a specialised repairer; the writing instrument then mostly has to be sent in. The collector pages refer under "Web links – Repair" to further addresses. Horst Schrage of maxpens.de is also recommended, who, although specialised in Montblanc, generally also works on other historical fountain pens. --- **Question:** How is a Parker Jack-Knife Safety 20 Lucky Curve made of hard rubber with button filling classified and assessed in the collector market? **Answer:** Old Parker models are only collected to a limited extent in Germany; more specialised information sources and collectors can be found at fountainpennetwork.com. With a button filler with hardened button, the ink sac is typically also destroyed and should be replaced before renewed use. A reliable value statement is not possible without a sound market comparison; the piece is in any case worth collecting. --- **Question:** Who was the manufacturer of the writing instruments with the clip inscription "Partner" from the 1920s? **Answer:** The brand "Partner" is unknown in the relevant German collector environment; in the 1920s to 1940s, thousands of smaller manufacturers existed, of which today only a fraction is documented. Confusion with Parker is, with a "Partner" imprint with classic 20s typography, ruled out, especially since Parker eyedroppers were mostly clipless and provided with an additional patent note. Promising for further research are forums like penexchange.de or fountainpennetwork.com. Material collector values are with such unknown brands mostly low. --- **Question:** How does one fill an old Parker 51 with the engraving "PLATINUM" and how can the ink level be recognised with a discoloured sac? **Answer:** The Parker 51 uses an ink sac that on old examples is often darkened, so that the ink level can no longer be read. Replacement sacs are available e.g. via cathedralpens.co.uk, but likewise consist of black material and therefore allow no viewing window. For detailed information on model variants, filling and repair of the Parker 51, reference is made to the Fountain Pen Network (fountainpennetwork.com), which has extensive articles on this model. --- **Question:** How does the filling mechanism of old French fountain pens like "Stylox Pulseuir M 190" or "Stylomine 303V" work, and where can specialist information be found? **Answer:** The model "Stylox Pulseuir M 190" largely corresponds to the Stylomine 303V described in the book "Füllfederhalter" by Andreas Lambrou (Heyne Verlag, translation Stefan Wallrafen) by the company Y. E. Zuber in Paris; a sectional drawing in the book serves for identification. The mechanism works with an internal rubber sac and an ink window in the barrel. Cleaning and disassembly take place via a water bath in which stuck parts are loosened. With old pieces from the 1950s, the rubber sac is often porous, which leads to leaks; spare parts, especially sacs, are generally no longer available, since the manufacturers no longer exist — such fountain pens are therefore in fact handled as one-off pieces. Talcum powder in the housing originally served to prevent the sac from sticking to the outer wall. --- **Question:** Which converters and cartridges fit a Sheaffer Targa Slim 1005 S, and where does one obtain replacements? **Answer:** For the Sheaffer Targa Slim, original Sheaffer Slim cartridges are intended, of which remaining stock is partly still offered in online trade. A tried and tested point of contact for converters and matching spare parts is Rolf Thiel (missing-pen.de), who also stocks older Sheaffer items. --- **Question:** Where can one obtain replacement refills for very old, non-standardised ballpoints? **Answer:** For ballpoints from times before the refill standard, matching replacement refills are today only difficultly obtainable, since manufacturers at that time often used their own solutions. A point of contact is the forum at penexchange.de, where many ballpoint users are active and possibly know sources or adapter solutions. --- **Question:** Where do counterfeit Montblanc pens with a real star, which keep cropping up in online auctions, come from? **Answer:** Counterfeit old Montblanc writing instruments often come from south-eastern Europe, especially from Serbia and Croatia. The counterfeiters mostly use no-name bodies or defective original parts and combine them into their own creations, which are then offered with elaborate stories about origin (e.g. allegedly from museum holdings). The phenomenon is increasingly observed in the international arena (e.g. FPN), which is why with old writing instruments in particular special caution is warranted. --- **Question:** Which model is a fountain pen with the inscription 'A.W. Faber Castell 963F' and nib signature 'Osmia Supra 14K 585'? **Answer:** Faber-Castell took over the Osmia works in the 1950s and 1960s, which is why models with combined brand features were produced in this period. The pen mentioned is such a transitional/combination type, the pen with Faber-Castell inscription and a 14K Osmia Supra gold nib. For value orientation and model determination, reference is made to relevant forum articles. --- **Question:** Did a Pelikan 400 with a completely grey cap exist, or is it an unusual variant? **Answer:** An M400 cap in completely grey is not known among collectors; the grey variant documented by Rüttinger has a black cap. For a sound piece of information, a direct enquiry to Werner Rüttinger by email or via the Penexchange forum is recommended, since he has very broad Pelikan expertise. --- **Question:** Which manufacturer is behind a piston filler with the lateral engraving Westminster, presumably from the 1940s/50s? **Answer:** Westminster is, according to the available sources, a sub-brand of Montblanc and is listed, among others, on penexchange.de under Die Klassiker / Viele Namen - Ein Hersteller as well as at collectiblestars.com under Brands A-Z. In the book Penkala by Miroslav Tischler, Westminster also appears in the section Other Stationery Manufacturers in the World. The firm Westminster existing in the United Kingdom has nothing to do with this, since it has existed only for a few years. For a concrete model determination, it is recommended to additionally post the photos on penexchange.de, where such pens have already been covered. --- **Question:** Which model and which year is an inherited Cross fountain pen? **Answer:** The writer looks like a Cross Century. With a total length with cap of around 13.5 cm and a weight of 27 to 30 g it is a Century II; with a weight of around 16 g, the classic Century. On the Century II the cap overlaps the body, while on the Century cap and body abut flush. More in-depth model and dating information can most likely be found at fountainpennetwork.com. --- **Question:** What is known about the historical mechanical-pencil set Friwo-Gold 521 by the firm Fritz Wortmann from the 1930s? **Answer:** The set was made by the firm Fritz Wortmann in Hessian Wetter and contained hexagonal mechanical pencils with colour-coded twist knobs for different lead types, including pencil, copy, ink, red, blue and green leads. The pencils are about 13.5 cm long, weigh around 10 grams and were offered individually or as a garniture in a leather case for five pencils. Ink leads were actually widespread at the time, and the plain design, based on wooden pencils, was similar with many manufacturers of the era, by which Friwo pencils can hardly be visually distinguished from other brands like Montblanc. The firm today belongs to the many forgotten stationery manufacturers. --- **Question:** What value do unused nibs and pen parts from the 1950s and 1960s, e.g. by Kaweco, have, and how can they be marketed? **Answer:** Such unused nibs and pen parts are primarily spare parts and thus only interesting for a small, very specific collector and repairer circle. A flat-rate value statement is therefore difficult; the achievable price depends strongly on whether someone is currently looking precisely for these parts. As the most practicable marketing path, an auction on eBay is named, ideally with good detail photos and exact labelling specifications. --- **Question:** Which manufacturer and which type is an old piston filler with the embossing 'DUROLL' and a steel nib 'Edelstahl Prima' from the years before 1960? **Answer:** Visually the fountain pen has nothing in common with Montblanc but belongs to the large group of contemporary Parker Duofold copies of celluloid and hard rubber, produced in the 1920s to 1940s by numerous manufacturers. A Parker, however, it is not. For a more precise assignment, an enquiry to relevant Parker collectors, e.g. via penexchange.de, is recommended, where corresponding models are documented in threads on Duofold variety. The nib with embossing 'Edelstahl Prima' and hand-in-circle mark also speaks for a simple branded pen of this era. --- **Question:** How does the colour of celluloid change on a Montblanc 144G over time, and how is the condition of preservation to be classified? **Answer:** Ink discolours the celluloid in the course of use; originally grey pieces change accordingly. This discolouration cannot be reversed. It is a usual ageing state, neither particularly good nor particularly bad but typical for pens of this era. --- **Question:** What can be done about an increasingly loosening closure cap on a Rotring Initial Silver? **Answer:** The problem is known and arises through wear of the plastic material inside the cap. A real repair solution does not exist, since Rotring no longer produces the Initial and replacement caps are hardly available. A practical way out is the procurement of further Initial pens via the second-hand market, on which such models were phase-wise available cheaply, in order to use an intact cap from them. --- **Question:** From what period do the models Montblanc 344G and Pix 172 come, and which engraving variants exist? **Answer:** Of the 344, according to the standard work Collectible Stars, three variants exist: the 344G from the years 1951 to 1953, the 344 from 1954 to 1956 as well as a later version from 1957 to 1960. On the second variant, the star on the cap is merely outlined. The Pix 172 was produced between 1951 and 1958. An originally white-filled engraving can be worn off through use, so it no longer appears coloured today. --- **Question:** Which inks are suitable for a Sheaffer White Dot Triumph Sentinel from 1949, and is special treatment necessary after long idle time? **Answer:** For historical Sheaffer models, exclusively water-soluble, non-sticking inks should be used; classic Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue and blue Faber-Castell ink are regarded as unproblematic. Pigmented or strongly coloured inks (black, red, iron-gall) are to be avoided, since they can attack the material. Before first putting it into operation, thorough flushing with tap water is recommended; regular flushing keeps the pen permanently functional. --- **Question:** What is a set of the brand Markant with several metal nib tips, a plastic pen with metal clip and accessory parts? **Answer:** The description points to a drawing pen or India-ink pen set for architects and technical drawers, on which the metal tips serve different line widths. An unambiguous assignment, however, requires photos. With classical calligraphy, such sets have nothing to do. --- **Question:** How are simple inherited pen holders without brand marking to be classified historically and materially? **Answer:** The pieces depicted are classical pen holders, that is, no fountain pens, and apparently brand pieces without identifiable manufacturer. A concrete determination or value statement is therefore hardly possible. The sentimental value as a memorial piece remains untouched. --- **Question:** What barrel imprint does a safety pen of the French brand Gold Starry No. 62 carry, and what does the gold hallmark tell you? **Answer:** Gold Starry was a French maker whose safety pens rarely turn up outside France. The barrel of such a piece carries the imprint MANUF.re FRANCAISE, beneath it, centred, the wording GOLD STARRY with a star, and MARQUE No. 62 DEPOSE. The number denotes the model, DEPOSE points to the registered trade mark. The two decorative rings are gold and carry a Paris hallmark used between 1847 and 1919 for small gold objects. It guarantees no more than a minimum fineness of 750/1000 and therefore allows only a rough dating, not the determination of a year of manufacture. Safety pens of this construction can as a rule be restored and then put back into everyday use. --- **Question:** What is known about the Berlin brand Goldfink, and can a safety pen with Escella on the barrel carry a Montblanc nib? **Answer:** Goldfink was a Berlin brand of fountain pens. The signature on the pens reads Füllfeder-Industrie Goldfink, Berlin W 8, Friedrichstraße 74, together with the addition “gesetzlich geschützt”; among the products were small safety pens with a nib that winds out. Little more has come down to us about the firm than this address, which places the pen in the period before 1945. Safety pens of other brands with a nib clearly marked Montblanc do occur, for instance a pen with Escella on the barrel and a Montblanc nib in size 1. The nib alone, however, does not establish who made the pen: in the safety era nibs were bought in and traded, and repairs frequently meant they were swapped. What counts for attribution is the barrel signature, the cap imprint and the construction; the origin of such mixed pieces often cannot be settled beyond doubt. --- ### other manufacturers **Question:** Is buying a higher-end pen (e.g. Cross Apogee, Montblanc) worthwhile for heavy writing during a degree, or was it a mistake? **Answer:** Initial dissatisfaction with a new high-end pen is usually not a wrong purchase but a question of getting used to it and of the surrounding conditions. High-quality gold nibs react sensitively to paper quality: recycled paper with short fibres or rough sorts noticeably slow the nib, while the often glossy demo paper in shops distorts the writing feel. With start-up and ink-flow issues a cleaning often helps. An M, F or B nib should work fine on usual quality paper; a settling-in time of weeks is normal. Push-on caps are seen critically over time, as they can become loose or split; screw caps and a protective sleeve are more practical for daily use. Cross gives a Lifetime Warranty on its products, although long-term lacquer experience with the Apogee series is scarce. --- **Question:** How do collectors arrange their desks, and which brands and accessories are combined? **Answer:** Among collectors the spectrum reaches from minimalist and sober through to deliberately aesthetic "Gesamtkunstwerk" arrangements. Frequently named brands for desk accessories are Montblanc (Meisterstück leather desk pad, notepads, business-card holder, A4 portfolio), El Casco (leather trays, pen cups, table butlers), Versace/Rosenthal and Edwood. Heavy desks are recommended to be supplemented with black leather lines or gilded accents, and brands combined consistently in style. Several voices point out that an over-full desk distracts from actual work — a functional, tidy setup is often the better solution. Beautiful pen cabinets or collector boxes can put prominent pieces in the spotlight without overloading the workspace. --- **Question:** Montblanc Meisterstück 145 or Caran d'Ache Léman — what should you look for in a three-piece writing set (fountain pen, ballpoint, pencil)? **Answer:** Both brands deliver high-quality writing instruments; in a side-by-side test at a dealer testers found the Caran d'Ache Léman M nib to be finer and better suited to small handwriting than the somewhat broader-falling Montblanc M. In general, Montblanc nibs vary in line width and ink flow due to manual finishing; a nib test or exchange within the swap period is recommended. For everyday writing a moderate weight is comfortable — very light pens lead to cramping, very heavy ones cause fatigue. The Montblanc 145 (Chopin/Classique) is regarded as suitable for daily use, blot-free and popular; anyone who values a somewhat more flexible nib should consider alternative makers such as OMAS. Ultimately the individual writing feel at the dealer decides. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Montblanc Meisterstück 145 (Classique): https://www.fountainpen.de/c-montblanc-meisterstueck-145-en.htm --- **Question:** Which fountain pen in the 100–200 euro range can be recommended for everyday use? **Answer:** Around 100 euros two models stand out: the Lamy 2000 (piston filler with gold nib, very solid technology and good finish) and older Pelikan models such as the Tradition M 250 or the M200/M205, optionally with 18 K gold nib; Pelikan 252, 254 or 256 are also recommended. Important before buying is to test different sizes and nib widths in the hand at a dealer — F is generally regarded as well suited for everyday use, but preferences are individual. At 200 euros the field opens up considerably (Aurora 88, Faber-Castell, Caran d'Ache Madison, etc.); the personal writing test remains decisive. With used pens, condition and trustworthy sources are worth looking at. --- **Question:** What is known about the old writing-instrument brand 'Weltpen'? **Answer:** Welt Pen was a brand of the Berlin company Schmieglitz & Co. GmbH, which produced several models such as the Wep, Extra and Zep as well as a 'Meisterstück' (also known as 'Dicke Berta' — even larger than a Montblanc 139). Stylistically, some pieces took on elements from the competition, e.g. the cap band of the Waterman Patrician for a ladies-format set. The company suffered greatly from World War II and was liquidated in the early 1950s. Online sources about the company are barely findable, so the knowledge comes primarily from collector circles. There is no connection with the Dutch supplier of the same name. --- **Question:** Which fountain pen is suitable as a higher-end entry-level pen after Lamy/Pelikano, without immediately stepping into the high-priced Montblanc class? **Answer:** Collectors strongly recommend having several models demonstrated and writing extensively in a well-stocked specialist shop before buying, since nib width and feel act very differently for each individual. Recommended entry-level addresses include the Schreibkultur shop of Ingrid Janik in the Leipzig Mädler-Passage and the Faber-Castell shop of the same owner. In the mid-price segment around 50 euros, models such as the Faber-Castell Ambition Edelharz or a Lamy Studio are good candidates; above that begins the world of Pelikan, while Montblanc's pricing only starts where Lamy and Pelikan already end. Important when test-writing is to check both the nib width and the size and balance of the barrel, since a too small or too large pen will be unpleasant even with a perfect nib. --- **Question:** How are the Japanese makers Nakaya, Sailor, Pilot/Namiki and Platinum to be assessed in terms of quality, nib widths and sourcing options? **Answer:** Japanese writing instruments from Pilot/Namiki, Sailor, Platinum and especially Nakaya are regarded by collectors as outstanding in quality and function and are partly perceived as superior to European and American models. Nakaya sells its pens exclusively by direct sales via email, makes them to customer specifications (e.g. tamenuri lacquer work) and ships worldwide; on imports into the EU value-added tax and import duties apply. With nib widths it should be noted that Japanese designations run narrower than European ones: F corresponds roughly to EF, M corresponds to F, so true B or even BB widths from Japanese makers are rare. By contrast, makers such as Nakaya offer truly flexible nibs and on request even flexible stubs as well as music nibs, which are barely available in Europe any more. Collectors recommend paying attention to a suitable nib grade when ordering and being aware of the longer delivery times and possible customs formalities. --- **Question:** What is known about the new Bulk Filler fountain pen system from Conid (Fountainbel/Francis) of Flanders? **Answer:** The Bulk Filler system developed by Francis and produced by Conid is based on a positive-displacement filling principle that uses the maximum ink capacity in a small space and was introduced on the first production batch with 60 demonstrator models. Clip, cap closure screw, filler knob, cap ring and threaded ring are made of titanium in the final version. Detail pictures, sourcing and pricing information are available on conid.be and in the detailed English-language presentation in the Fountain Pen Network forum; orders and price enquiries run directly via werner@conid.be. --- **Question:** What is to be known about the Reform brand and its writing instruments, and why is there so little literature on it in German-speaking countries? **Answer:** Reform was a brand of the Mutschler firm of Heidelberg-Handschuhsheim, which most recently mainly acted as a supplier to other writing-instrument makers and ceased operations a few years ago. The Reform fountain pens, both piston and cartridge fillers, are regarded among collectors as technically and qualitatively high-class, but in German collector literature they are barely documented; in Tischler's Penkala the firm is listed in the appendix list of stationery makers. More detailed information can be found on hanskress.de (kress3.htm and kress-innenseite2.htm). In the USA and Thailand unused Reform pens are now traded for up to 25 US dollars, while at German flea markets they are often available for around 1 euro; the relevant knowledge in the USA comes mostly from German sources. --- **Question:** Which makers and models does the area of GDR writing instruments comprise, and where can collector information be found? **Answer:** The variety of GDR writing-instrument makers is significantly greater than commonly assumed; one dedicated collector has gathered nearly 100 makers in the area of the former GDR; further ones probably exist. Well-known brands include, among others, Markant and Heiko, e.g. the Heiko from the late 1980s with hooded nib. A consolidated list with makers, types and production years does not currently exist, since source material both on the internet and in books is thin. A regular collectors' regulars' table on GDR fountain pens takes place in Dresden. Exchange between collectors runs predominantly via personal contacts and forums. --- **Question:** What happens with a customs hold on transfer, and what should be considered when importing branded goods and leather goods? **Answer:** Customs in such cases checks both the authenticity of the branded goods and compliance with the species protection law on animal hides like crocodile or ostrich. Both can mean retention of the goods and a criminal procedure. If both points are clarified, the goods are valued and import and value-added tax (together about 20 per cent) are levied on the estimated value. For crocodile and alligator leather a CITES species protection certificate is mandatorily required, which must be applied for before export; subsequent application is not possible. Even with proven genuine branded goods the shipment is not released without CITES papers, and an administrative offence may be imposed. The buyer bears the risk alone, since these requirements often do not emerge from the article description. --- **Question:** Which brand and history stand behind the old fountain pen Rifka? **Answer:** Rifka stands for Rheinisch-Westfälische Füllhalterfabrik Gebrüder Wippenhohn, founded in 1926 in Bonn; due to strong competition there, e.g. from Soennecken, the company moved to Westphalian Greffen (city of Harsewinkel, district of Gütersloh). The roots go back to a 1924 GmbH of head teacher August Schlickmann, who wanted to develop a fountain pen with metal pin instead of gold nib and a wooden holder with ink tongue under the design-protection name Fix. The own writing-instrument production was unsuccessful; the company took Pelikan products and other brands into its range and turned into a wholesaler. In altered form the firm still exists today. --- **Question:** Which current fountain pens have flexible nibs as seen in calligraphy videos? **Answer:** Truly flexible nibs are practically no longer made today; the nibs shown in calligraphy videos are usually 80 to 100 years old, and machine-made modern nibs are throughout hard. Asian makers like Sailor offer special calligraphy nibs. Flexibility is determined by gold content (21 carat is softer than 18 or 14 carat), grind and shape of the nib. Anyone seeking a flexible pen is dependent on the second-hand market, e.g. via fountainpen.de or penboard.de, or must ask in specialised trade for flexible nibs. --- **Question:** How does the OMAS 360 write compared with classics like the Montblanc 149 or Pelikan M1000, and does the hand tire with a light pen? **Answer:** The OMAS 360 stands out through its cotton-resin housing, which has different haptics from precious resin, and through a comparatively low weight. Collectors report differing experiences: heavy writers find too light pens tiring in the long term, while light writers manage with the 360 even over several A4 pages without problems. Current hard nibs require a certain writing pressure; otherwise the pen runs dry. The celluloid variant of the OMAS 360 has a particularly warm haptic but is, due to price (around 800 euros) and the flammability of the material, only conditionally recommendable. --- **Question:** What is a well-preserved Pelikan 140 worth? **Answer:** Collectors estimate for a very well-preserved Pelikan 140 about 20 to 30 euros. The exact price, however, depends strongly on the concrete condition and can only be roughly estimated from verbal descriptions. A blanket value statement is therefore of little use. --- **Question:** Is a guilloché Graf von Faber-Castell a good choice as a gift fountain pen, and which ink should be used? **Answer:** The Graf von Faber-Castell line counts as a high-quality choice with top quality and a solid image. Since the models have a Bock feed designed for German ink manufactories, any ink from German makers can be used; as writing colour washable royal blue is recommended. As alternatives further exclusive brands like OMAS (Paragon, celluloid models) come into consideration, convincing through light natural materials and elegant finish. When trial-writing in the shop it is recommended to bring one's own paper, since the shop paper is often very smooth and distorts writing behaviour. --- **Question:** Which piston pen with screw cap up to a mid price range is recommended for professional everyday use? **Answer:** Genuine piston mechanisms are primarily offered by Montblanc, LAMY, Pelikan, Aurora and OMAS. Recommendable models are the LAMY 2000 (although without screw cap), the Aurora 88 or Aurora Optima (with reserve-tank function and screw cap), Pelikan Souverän models and Faber-Castell pens. With hybrids like the Cleo Chiffre 05 or smaller Fabers it should be noted that they sometimes only work with a converter. EF nibs tend, depending on the model (e.g. LAMY 2000), to skip. Anyone naming a screw cap as an exclusion criterion rules out the LAMY 2000 and should focus on Aurora or Pelikan. --- **Question:** Which model is an acquired Duke pen, which cartridges fit, and how do you correctly maintain it? **Answer:** Duke is a Chinese maker (website: dukepen.com); the model described is the 929 Fountain Pen with 22-carat gold tip. Maintenance is limited to occasional flushing with lukewarm water, which is fully sufficient on normal pens. The converter is simply slid into the pen and filled by dipping the nib into the ink bottle. Nibs practically never need to be changed, since steel and gold nibs outlast generations; the iridium tip on gold-nib tips is virtually wear-free. Duke counts qualitatively as a low-budget brand, clearly below Pelikan or LAMY. --- **Question:** Where can Élysée writing instruments of the Vernissage series (ballpoints and pencils) still be obtained? **Answer:** Élysée pencils and ballpoints of this series are only sporadically available. Scription temporarily carried a fountain pen Edition 1 and a ballpoint Edition 2 (mint condition); pencils and rollerballs were originally not offered in this line, but contrary to earlier information complete 4-piece sets of the No. 1 edition do exist. Further research via Penhero.com brings picture material but no sources; pieces occasionally turn up at online auctions. --- **Question:** Where can Chinese fountain pens, e.g. by Hero, be obtained in Germany, and how is their quality to be assessed? **Answer:** Hero is a Chinese maker whose quality level is in the lower to mid market segment; the models, however, range from simple school pens to quite elaborate designs. A closed overview of all Chinese writing-instrument makers does not exist, since many makers deliberately do not appear publicly. At the Frankfurt Paperworld numerous Chinese suppliers with partly high-quality-looking pens are regularly represented; in Germany the models are by contrast hard to obtain and are mostly sourced via Asian online dealers. Especially the Hero 'replica' of the Parker 51 is regarded as a legitimate collector's object. --- **Question:** How do you distinguish the Pelikan models M200 and M250, and do their nibs also fit larger models like the M400? **Answer:** M200 and M250 are identical in housing and differ only in the nib; both consist of the 'cheaper' plastic with weakly gilded applications, while from the M300/M400 higher-quality materials are used. Theoretically the 250 and 400 carry the same feed; in practice over the decades, however, different feeds were fitted. When transferring a 250 nib into a 400 housing only the nib without the old feed should therefore be taken over, since the old screw-thread feeds, despite similar construction, do not reliably hold in newer housings. Transferring into 200 or 250 housings is also possible by the same rule; in doubt an experienced specialist helps. --- **Question:** How do you open a Lamy twin pen to change ballpoint refill and pencil mechanism? **Answer:** On the Lamy twin pen, ballpoint refill (small) and pencil lead holder can usually be pulled out at the front and replaced with new refills/leads. At the back under the cap is the eraser. On older variants the pen must be unscrewed in the middle; thereby first a container turns out; on careful further turning, the inner workings become accessible. --- **Question:** What experiences exist with inexpensive, hand-made pens from Indian production (e.g. Rajan, Brown Speckled), and are they everyday-suitable? **Answer:** Indian pens like the Rajan 'Brown Speckled' are obtained via suppliers like Andy's Pens (UK) and convince with appropriate value; shipping from England usually takes a few days. The supplied steel nib (F) is rigid, rather inflexible and can scratch a bit at first but can be smoothed with fine sandpaper. Workmanship weaknesses like broken-out spots at the hard-rubber clip transition can also be camouflaged with sandpaper. A known weakness of older Indian models is the tendency to 'ink soup' (ink leak in the cap area), which can be regarded as an essential knockout criterion. Overall these pens are suitable for experiment-friendly collectors who can live with smaller reworkings. --- **Question:** How is the quality of Chinese fountain-pen brands like Jinhao and Baoer to be assessed compared with established makers like Pelikan, Montblanc or Parker? **Answer:** Collectors report that Chinese pens at prices between 1.63 and about 5 euros seem surprisingly substantial, are well-finished and deliver an appealing script; the nibs, however, tend to be somewhat stiffer. They are mostly obtained directly from China via eBay dealers, often even shipping-cost free. The Taiwanese TWSBI Diamond also counts as a well-finished alternative with detail solutions that more expensive makers do not offer. For price-conscious beginners or for experimenting these brands are rated as attractive. --- **Question:** How is the English Onoto Magna 261 fountain pen to be assessed regarding workmanship and writing quality? **Answer:** Collectors rate the Onoto Magna 261 as a really large-dimensioned and very appealing fountain pen; nib and presumably also feed come from the renowned maker Bock, which leads to expectations of high writing quality. After several weeks of daily use it is described as a reliable and pleasant writer. Notable is the historical connection to the Channel Island of Guernsey, the birthplace of the company founder Thomas De La Rue. --- **Question:** Which maker is behind the brand 'WAFCO' on an old black piston pen in senior format with Bock nib? **Answer:** WAFCO stands for the Gustav Walter Füllhalterfabrik in Schriesheim. Piston filler mechanism and Bock nib clearly point to a German maker of the pre-war period; many of these manufactories did not survive WWII. As an additional identification feature, the barrel carries an embossing with an eagle. A variant in celluloid (light pearl) with hose filling and screwed-in pressure mechanism is also known; workmanship and Christmas-tree feed speak for high-quality artisanal work. --- **Question:** Which causes come into question on a Faber-Castell Classic fountain pen with too strong ink flow and a loose, push-out feed in the section, and are Pelikan cartridges compatible? **Answer:** Pelikan cartridges generally also fit in Faber-Castell pens and are now and then used without problems. If the feed can be pushed out of the section, the Faber-Castell service is mostly responsible — a simple forceful reinsertion can negatively affect ink flow. If the nib scratches, the cause lies not in the feed but in bent nib tines; that can often be put right locally by a writing-instrument dealer or by sending in to Faber-Castell. --- **Question:** Is the no-longer-produced brand élysée (last under Staedtler) collectible, and are its writing instruments still available? **Answer:** Whether a fountain pen is collectible remains a personal decision; some collect known brand pieces without intent to use them; others appreciate limitations. élysée writing instruments are still available on secondary markets, e.g. ballpoints of the Vernissage and Impression Limited Editions; in regular trade they are barely to be found. --- **Question:** How can an OMAS Extra from the 1990s be properly disassembled, sealed and polished, and which material notes are to be observed? **Answer:** The OMAS Extra consists of the in-house cotton-based Cotton Resin and is therefore scratch-sensitive; polishing succeeds best with Wenol or a fine polish with small grit, in a pinch even with toothpaste. The inscription 750 on the nib denotes 18-carat gold. For renewed sealing silicone grease is used, as for example pen makers like TWSBI include with their devices or as obtainable via specialist dealers like penboard.de or US suppliers (Goulet Pens); critical sealing point is especially the feed. To clean old sealant, alongside detergent ultrasonic bath, WD-40 has also proven itself. Exact build data can be most reliably determined by direct enquiry with OMAS. --- **Question:** How is the Conklin Mark Twain Crescent Demonstrator equipped, and what idiosyncrasies does its filling system have in everyday use? **Answer:** The Conklin Crescent Mark Twain Demonstrator is limited to 1,898 pieces (in remembrance of the founding year of the Conklin Pen Company) and consists of hand-polished, transparent acrylic resin; there is a black and a rose-gold trim variant. The pen works with the classic Crescent filling system in which a half-moon ring compresses the inner rubber sac; a locking ring on the body secures the mechanism against unintentional pressing. In the USA the black demonstrator edition is traded at around 250 USD and coloured versions at around 165 USD. In a case the pen fits, with care, into common single-pen cases, but the half-moon ring has some play and can press ink into the cap on awkward stowing; for permanent transport it is therefore only conditionally suitable. --- **Question:** Which information, photos and documents exist on the Pforzheim firm FEND and its significance for writing-instrument makers? **Answer:** FEND was founded in 1899 in Pforzheim and made, among other things, in the 1920s and 1930s, the overlays for Montblanc, which is documented in Lambrou (Fountain Pens of the World). FEND is known above all for multi-colour pencils with slide and pendulum-feed mechanism (magic mechanism), which Parker and other brands also had made at FEND, first with pencil/coloured-pencil leads, later with ballpoint refills. Up to the 1960s FEND also produced fountain pens that were innovative in design and nib shape and presumably inspired Mario Bellini for the Lamy Persona. With the death of the last owner shortly before or after the 100-year company anniversary, FEND disappeared from the market; patent hints can be found, among others, in the Montblanc catalogue of 1936 (page 38); original patents can be inspected at the patent office. --- **Question:** Was there an official Graf von Faber-Castell Cassette No. 1 in solid sterling silver, and is a US offer for 3,500 USD credible? **Answer:** A Cassette No. 1 produced limitedly in solid sterling silver never existed; the brand name Graf von Faber-Castell did not yet exist in the stated 1980s. The US offer is just a normal Cassette No. 1 with merely silver-plated lid and sharpener; only the pencil extender could be of silver. The pencils are not limited but only consecutively numbered (serial number like AA 683), and proofs like hallmark or limitation certificate are missing. The claimed contract production for Koh-I-Noor/Montblanc is not plausible, since Montblanc would not have allowed distribution of further products via Koh-I-Noor. The price of 3,500 USD is therefore grossly excessive. --- **Question:** What experiences exist with pens of the Delta brand, especially with the Jubilee and the Dolce Vita? **Answer:** Reports are split. With modern Delta models partly massive ink-flow problems up to writing unsuitability are reported; older pieces like the Delta Jubilee (lever filler, 18-carat nib, ink hose renewable if needed) count, by contrast, as on a par with the writing quality of a Montblanc 146 or 149. The Delta Dolce Vita also convinces in everyday use through reliable starting and clean writing behaviour. Overall Italian brands count as more design-bold and colourful but workmanship-wise more vulnerable than German standard brands; an experienced Delta dealer with working service is therefore recommended before purchase. --- **Question:** What characterises the Fotografica Pen by S.C. Lucht und Probst, and how does the integrated Stanhope lens work? **Answer:** The Fotografica Pen is a twist ballpoint modelled on a Leica, produced in an edition of 500 unnumbered examples and not reproduced, since Stanhope lenses are no longer available. The Stanhope lens is in the twist knob: pull off the knob, hold it in front of the eye and look against a bright light source; the image lies inside the lens system (selection from 23 motifs). The piece is delivered in a plain gift box together with a leather case (Bereitschaftstasche of full-grain cowhide, walnut brown) that protects the writing instrument all around; however, the pen should not be anchored in the case with the clip, since the leather surface can be damaged that way. --- **Question:** Which Waterman fountain pen from the 1950s needs a special filling mechanism, and how can matching cartridges or converters be obtained? **Answer:** The model is the Waterman 'CF' from 1953, produced until the late 1970s in various versions. The CF needs special cartridges or a hose converter, since Waterman in the 1980s changed the filling mechanism and today's usual cartridges no longer fit. If old cartridges can still be found, they can in a pinch be refilled by hand with a syringe (e.g. obtainable from the family doctor). For deeper research, the Waterman specialist Volker Kirkel is referenced, who advises collectors in detail. --- **Question:** How are the writing instruments of the manufacturer Achim Velte ('Style of Writing'), especially the edition 'Himmelsscheibe von Nebra', to be assessed? **Answer:** Collectors report consistently positive experiences with the writing instruments of Achim Velte: workmanship is highly praised; the designs count as substantial and exceptional. The edition 'Himmelsscheibe von Nebra' is particularly highlighted as successful. Velte also makes individualised pieces to customer wish, arising as single pieces or in small series. Due to high collecting affinity, lovers often reach for several examples of the same line; the design of some models is perceived as more feminine, which is why it finds less attention in some men's collections. --- **Question:** How are Sailor fountain pens (e.g. model 1911) to be assessed in writing and quality terms, and where can they be sourced? **Answer:** Sailor fountain pens are not officially distributed in Germany, which complicates procurement; sourcing routes lead via specialised dealers like missingpen or via online shops in England, Malaysia and other markets. Model 1911 (also in 'Forrest Green' or dark blue) is offered with gold nibs in 14, 21 or higher carat strengths. On first unpacking the visual impression can disappoint given the price (around 300 euros for a 1911); the writing feel is, however, after some familiarisation described as very pleasant — especially the nib variety counts as a strength of the brand. Original papers and shipping duration are to be considered on overseas purchase. --- **Question:** From when was the Faber-Castell Classic Ebony line offered platinum-plated, and how high were the list prices of the silver-plated variant? **Answer:** The Classic Ebony line is today predominantly known in the platinum-plated version, although a silver-plated variant existed in the past and can correspondingly tarnish. Current list price for the fountain pen in platinum-plated version is around 420 euros. Silver-plated pieces are visually more appealing but more care-intensive, while platinum-plated variants are tarnish-resistant. Detailed data on the exact change of coating variant and list prices of the rollerball version are not conclusively documented. --- **Question:** Who repairs an OMAS 360 Grande with defective piston filler when the maker itself refuses repair? **Answer:** OMAS, by experience from the forum, refuses repair of older 360 Grandes citing missing spare parts, which makes the service situation appear critical. As an alternative, experienced pen restorers or specialised workshops familiar with Italian piston pens come into consideration who, if needed, source spare parts from donor devices or in-house manufacture. Users report that OMAS pens are valued for their flexible nibs and workmanship, but the service shows long processing times and repair refusals on models taken out of the programme. An enquiry with renowned specialist restorers is therefore the most practical way. --- **Question:** Is the Pelikan 250 set at Galeria Kaufhof worthwhile in price and quality? **Answer:** The Pelikan 250 set was offered at Kaufhof at a strikingly cheap price and counts as a good everyday writing instrument. From the 250 line Pelikan fits a 585 gold nib; from the 300 line a bicolour nib. Size-wise the M250 corresponds to the M400, although the 400 is somewhat more exclusively finished. The nib breaks in softer after a short familiarisation and offers very good value for the money offered. --- **Question:** How can refills be changed or the lead reservoir refilled on the Pelikan mechanical pencil 450? **Answer:** Pelikan uses, like many makers, a pencil mechanism by Schmidt Feintechnik. To refill the reservoir, the housing is unscrewed in the middle; if this cannot be opened, the piece was presumably glued by the previous owner. In this case only filling with single leads from the front remains. Cautious disassembly by an expert can restore the original function, provided the bonding can be loosened. --- **Question:** Which Delrin variant of the CONID Bulkfiller (Flattop or Streamline) is preferable, and which basic data does the model have? **Answer:** The Bulkfiller is offered in two versions of black brushed Delrin (POM): Flattop and Streamline, each produced in an edition of 100 pieces. Delrin is nearly unbreakable and lies pleasantly in the hand; the size corresponds to a Pelikan M800; the ink volume is about 2.5 ml and so considerably more than on the M800. The Streamline version has a modified titanium clip, a convex-shaped logo on the cap top and an ink window in the grip section. Among collectors the Flattop version is mostly preferred; a final recommendation depends on individual preference. --- **Question:** Where do you get replacement nibs for Rotring fountain pens (e.g. Initial)? **Answer:** Rotring belongs to the Sanford group; the contact in Germany is Sanford GmbH, Schnackenburgallee 43, 22525 Hamburg, tel. +49 800 8 500 500, where the service centre for Parker, Waterman, Papermate and Rotring is based. Collectors report that on direct enquiry even individual nibs (especially for inexpensive models) were sent against invoice by post; otherwise sending in the pen is usual. --- **Question:** What were writing instruments with twisted glass nib used for, and how are they handled when writing? **Answer:** These glass nibs are dip nibs: ink creeps along the spiral glass turns upward and is released downward when writing, so an astonishingly long writing per filling is possible. The ink is not filled into the barrel — a tight barrel is by design. The writing feel resembles a clip-on steel nib, is rather hard and unyielding but clean and better than a quill. They exist in many colour variants, partly also with celluloid holder and pop-on glass nibs; replacement nibs are today only difficult to obtain. Glass nibs are occasionally sold at the glassblower's. --- **Question:** Who is the new owner of Montegrappa, after the brand no longer belongs to Richemont? **Answer:** Richemont sold Montegrappa at the end of June 2009; the Italian Aquila family or the former owner company Elmo & Montegrappa S.p.A. has reacquired the shares; Richemont retains around 10 %. In Germany Aratrum GmbH (Hemslingen) takes over distribution and service and additionally runs brands like Kaweco, Tibaldi and Marlen. During the takeover phase, delivery delays and a temporarily unreachable web presence occurred; collectors report that Montegrappa goods temporarily disappeared from trade. Strategically Montegrappa focuses more strongly on limited editions and is since then with continuous growth, new product range (including watches) and prominent brand presence (ambassador Sylvester Stallone, appearance in The Expendables 2) again firmly on the German market. --- **Question:** What to do if a Cartier Pasha skips and does not write fluently, although it has already been cleaned in an ultrasonic bath? **Answer:** Likely causes are a nib width unsuitable for the hand position or unsuitable paper; standard problems like skipping and starting problems are documented many times. Cartier offers no slant/oblique nibs: M and F nibs are round-ground and also usable for crook-writers; B nibs are flatter and unfavourable for such writers, because the nib then runs on an edge, scratches and ink flow breaks off. A nib specialist (e.g. Stift Leo) can regrind sharp edges. On the 149, an oblique nib is recommended if needed. A universally correct nib hold does not exist; one adjusts individually to each pen; ball nibs are thereby the least critical. --- **Question:** Is it normal that on an Aurora pen ink collects in the cap and on opening the fingers turn blue? **Answer:** Ink in the cap is possible across makers; Aurora counts overall as a very good brand. By construction, feeds with pronounced lamellae (e.g. on Montblanc) hold back excess ink better than models like Waterman Sérénité or Parker Duofold. Triggers are often shocks during carrying in the bag, pressure and temperature fluctuations (e.g. aircraft, winter between indoors and outdoors) and carrying with nib down; affected are different models depending on maker. Remedy is provided by regular cleaning of the cap, e.g. monthly; if the problem persists, a defect on the pen is likely. --- **Question:** Which contents and what aspiration does the book 'KAWECO – Gutberlet crossing Kaweco' on the history of the Kaweco brand have? **Answer:** The book documents on around 192 pages in landscape format (about 30.3 × 21.7 cm) the Kaweco history from founding to the present, bilingually German and English. Known collectors from the German-language forum were involved as advisors; many information and photos so far only circulating in collector circles are first bundled. Available it is at Mostwanted Pens. Anyone expecting a complete reference work of all Kaweco models ever produced will, however, not be fully served. --- **Question:** How do collectors rate the younger Pelikan Limited Editions like the Blue Planet? **Answer:** The younger Pelikan Limited Editions, including the Blue Planet, are felt by many collectors as taking getting used to and design-wise too similar to the Hercules. Classics like Gaudi or Daedalus-Icarus count as more successful and are partly still available via stocks, while newer models are deliberately no longer taken into stock by dealers. Pelikan finds it harder than Montblanc in distributing the Limiteds internationally. Criticised are above all the high prices, often regarded as excessive in relation to what is offered; some older LEs like Pyramids of Giza or Hercules find approval, however. --- **Question:** What is the Collegium Ars Scribendi (CAS), and what role does it play for Pelikan collectors of the Originals of their Time series? **Answer:** The Collegium Ars Scribendi (CAS) is a collectors' association founded in 1996 around high-quality writing instruments, whose members receive preferred access to special editions and joint edition sets. Information about the association can be found at cas1996.de. The Pelikan Originals of their Time series comprises several models issued in parallel (1931 with 18-carat gold band, 1935 in green and blue celluloid, 1931 in white gold doublé, 1931 with Toledo band) with different limitations, which can especially be collected as a set with identical edition numbers. --- **Question:** How old is a green-black marbled Reform fountain pen with cartridge filling? **Answer:** A cartridge-capable Reform fountain pen cannot date from the 1950s, since cartridges only became standard later; the model is therefore to be classified as later. For more precise dating and model identification, an enquiry to specialised dealers like penexchange.de is recommended. A not quite fitting cartridge type indicates manufacturer-specific cartridge formats, which may need to be checked. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of the Year 2004, and how are the amber rings to be assessed? **Answer:** The Pen of the Year 2004 is the third limited fountain pen of the series and has a platinum-plated barrel with five amber rings over translucent brass, an amber cabochon in the cap top and an 18-carat bicolour gold nib. With the amber colour there are strong natural variations: very light, almost milky-white amber is often used, while darker, yellowish stones are regarded as particularly noble; the customer generally has no influence on this. The retail price was around 2,200 euros. Predecessors were the olive-wood pen of 1991 (230th company anniversary) and the snakewood Pen of the Year 2003. --- **Question:** How can a small hole on a Pelikan nib be recognised, and which Pelikan Souverän is recommended for a new purchase? **Answer:** The model described is likely to be the grey marbled M200; replacement nibs for this are easily available from specialist retailers or from specialists like Rolf Thiel (missing-pen). Small worn spots on the nib usually arise mechanically, e.g. from frequent use with a steel ruler; a localised rust spot is regarded as very unusual. Among the Souveräns, M405, M605, M625 and M805 differ mainly in size and price, with the M405 being too small for many, while the M805 is very well manageable. Since the nibs are hand-ground, an extensive test write in the shop with one's own paper is strongly recommended. --- **Question:** How old is a writing instrument of the brand Melbi with a screw-out 14-carat nib, and are all gold-coloured parts made of gold? **Answer:** Melbi was a writing-instrument brand introduced by Friedrich Merz (Merz & Krell) in the 1920s; the name is a coinage from the initial letters of the family name Merz and the place name Bieberau. Pen holders, steel nibs, fountain pens and propelling pencils made of wood, metal, hard rubber and plastic were produced. Melbi was positioned as an inexpensive brand; in general, only the nib is made of gold, while the clip and rings are usually only gold-plated. A more precise dating of the model is hardly possible based on mere descriptions. --- **Question:** What experiences are there with writing instruments of the brand Montegrappa? **Answer:** Collectors report predominantly positively about Montegrappa: the writing image is praised, the writing instruments lie pleasantly in the hand, and the 18-carat nibs initially require a short break-in phase. A complete renovation of a silver case including a new nib was carried out without complication by Montegrappa itself. Models like Reminiscenz, Sophia or Roma Aeterna are regarded as high-quality; concrete statements about the quality of more recent models were not possible. For sourcing, reference is made to the forum penexchange.de. --- **Question:** Which ink cartridges and converters fit into an Elysee fountain pen? **Answer:** Elysee fountain pens use standard cartridges; therefore all commercially available standard cartridges and corresponding standard converters fit without problem. Only Lamy, Parker, Sheaffer, Dupont and Cross have their own proprietary sizes. Montblanc cartridges have a slightly different shape but also fit into all fountain pens with standard cartridge intake. Today's Montblanc converters, on the other hand, have had a thread for a good ten years, which is why their suitability for other brands is restricted. --- **Question:** What writing instrument is an approximately 15 cm long combination of fountain pen and ballpoint without manufacturer's marking apart from a tiny "Germany" on the cap? **Answer:** Such combo writing instruments with fountain pen and ballpoint were already available before the First World War, e.g. from Waterman; currently Diplomat or Visconti offer comparable models. The piece described comes design-wise from the 1970s and was probably made by Mutschler in Heidelberg; visually appealing, quality rather inferior. To change the ballpoint refill, this can usually be pulled out from the front, if necessary with pliers; with some models, a screw closure also had to be released from the inside, e.g. with the then popular combinations with digital watch in the upper part. --- **Question:** What is a fully transparent Pelikan 400 worth, and when was it produced? **Answer:** It is a demonstrator of the Pelikan 400NN from around 1956 to 1962, originally produced only in small numbers for demonstration and advertising purposes — in contrast to demonstrators issued today in larger series. There was also a green-transparent variant. Demonstrators are sought-after collector pieces today and achieve higher prices in good condition than the regular green-striped or tortoise-coloured 400NN. Reliable values, however, only result from realised auction prices, not from desired or asking prices of individual sellers. --- **Question:** What experiences are there with the handmade fountain pens by Stefan Fink from Hamburg? **Answer:** The writing instruments by Stefan Fink are handmade unique pieces that could be assessed during a visit to the workshop at the Hamburg fountain pen fair. They lie very well in the hand, feel like worry stones and have an exclusive gold nib. As expected, these pieces are correspondingly high-priced. The fountain pens are commercially available, among others, from Tom Westerich (penboard.de). --- **Question:** Which fountain pens under 350 euros are suitable as a poppy, monochrome red or yellow second pen with piston filling alongside a Montblanc 146? **Answer:** Collectors point to colourful models like the Kaweco range Blues, Tango, Samba and Mambo, which, however, only offer converter systems with low ink capacity and are placed below a Meisterstück 146 in quality. As a high-quality alternative with striking colours, Conway Stewart is mentioned, whose revived English models are available in many special colours. The Faber-Castell Pen of the Year 2008 in satinwood is also brought into play as a yellowish, high-quality candidate. With the desired brands Omas and Aurora, one has to reckon with significant price differences depending on the model. --- **Question:** Which leads fit into an old Welt Pen 4-colour pencil and how does its lead feed work? **Answer:** For the Welt Pen 4-colour pencil, lead and coloured-pencil leads with 1.8 mm diameter are most likely required. Ballpoint refills are unlikely, since Welt Pen disappeared from the market before the spread of 4-colour ballpoints. The pen should under no circumstances be opened, since reassembly hardly succeeds. Coloured leads in 1.8 or 1.9 mm are practically no longer regularly available today; only pencil leads in this thickness are still available from some manufacturers. --- **Question:** Which high-quality fountain pens with a wooden barrel are recommended as a first acquisition and how easy to care for are the woods used? **Answer:** Frequently mentioned are Faber-Castell models with Pernambuco or ebony, the Caran d'Ache with rosewood, the Waterman Sérénité Wood, newer wooden fountain pens by Omas as well as writing instruments by Cartier and Stefan Fink. Manufacturers usually use specially selected wood that is largely insensitive to sweat and stains. Price-wise, Faber-Castell is the cheapest entry, while Omas and especially the models by H. Fink, with prices from around 700 euros, are significantly higher. For targeted advice on Omas, the dealer Tom Westerich (penboard.de) is recommended. --- **Question:** Who still repairs Elysee fountain pens after the brand was taken over by Staedtler about ten years ago and production discontinued? **Answer:** Since Elysee has not been produced for about ten years, the legal successor Staedtler usually no longer keeps spare parts; a direct enquiry to Staedtler is nevertheless worth a try. Alternatively, the path to specialised independent fountain-pen repairers is worthwhile, who also work outside the manufacturer's service chain with old parts and self-made fabrications. --- **Question:** How is the Parker IM Blue to be evaluated as a beginner's fountain pen and which alternatives exist under 40 euros? **Answer:** Today's fountain pens generally write reliably across brands, so individual feel, weight and ink flow are more important than the brand. In the area below 40 euros, Pelikan, Lamy, Faber-Castell Loom, Kaweco and Online are recommended; complementarily, a look at used writing instruments on eBay is worthwhile. From online buying without test writing it is advised, since the writing feel should be judged personally; for example, a metal grip section with sweaty hands can be unpleasantly slippery. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the new Kaweco AL Sport Roh model, what does it cost, and is it recommendable despite the smooth grip section? **Answer:** The Kaweco AL Sport Roh is in the trade from 1 October 2012 and costs about 67 euros; due to high demand the delivery time was initially seven to ten working days. The raw aluminium surface proves pleasingly scratch-resistant, even when carried together with keys in trouser pockets. As a point of criticism, users mention the very smooth grip section, which can be uncomfortable during longer writing but is unproblematic for short writing. Overall, the fountain pen is regarded as a recommendable model of the AL Sport range. --- **Question:** How suitable is the Pelikan M205 Duo with marker ink as a highlighter substitute and what alternatives exist? **Answer:** The Pelikan M205 Duo is known as a concept and quite usable for marking purposes. Anyone who already owns several M200 models can fall back on alternative luminous inks, e.g. the Namiki Pilot fuyu-gaki mandarin ink. Special marker inks from the ink booklets by Michael Richter (available on Penexchange and Fountainpennetwork) are also an option. Thus it can be prevented that other valuable fountain pens have to be loaded with aggressive marker ink. --- **Question:** How does one prevent the barrel of a plug-on cap fountain pen like the Aurora Optima from coming loose by itself in the inside jacket pocket? **Answer:** Collectors report that the problem occurs especially when driving, through repeated movement, fastening the seat belt and getting out. It has proven helpful to carry the pen by clip exclusively in the narrow, shorter left inside pocket of the jacket, not in the wallet pocket. With plug-on cap constructions, the risk is basically higher; models like the Bohème or a Pilot Capless are safer here. Bent clips can in many cases be bent back without disassembly. --- **Question:** What is to be made of the own writing instruments that Degussa today offers under their name? **Answer:** Degussa, historically known as a nib manufacturer, today has writing instruments produced under its own name. The pieces are regarded as visually appealing but quite expensive. Comparable solid-silver models like the Waldmann Commander made of 925 sterling silver are even higher in price. Collectors point out that such silver fountain pens are often too heavy for prolonged writing and therefore do not suit every writer. --- **Question:** Is ink leakage on the underside of the nib of a new Lamy 2000 normal? **Answer:** Ink leakage on the underside of the nib is not typical on the Lamy 2000; mostly the problem does not occur. It is recommended to turn directly to Lamy customer service in Heidelberg, which is predominantly judged positively. More common, on the other hand, are ink deposits at the tip, against which regular cleaning of the cap helps. On planes, the Lamy 2000 is unproblematically usable. --- **Question:** How are the gilded desk accessories of the Spanish brand El Casco to be classified? **Answer:** El Casco accessories consist of steel that, after polishing, is coated with two layers of nickel, two layers of copper and finally two or five layers of 23.4-carat gold. Stapler and hole punch are regarded as classic and harmonious in design; on dark desks they look particularly attractive. The tape dispenser, on the other hand, is felt to be stylistically not quite fitting, since it appears more angular and modern than the otherwise rather rounded pieces. Since November 2003, El Casco has additionally distributed two leather collections. In Germany, distribution is via Dr. Gold KG, whose website offers extensive product views. --- **Question:** What information is there on the Lamy 67P, and what is it worth today? **Answer:** According to information from the manufacturer, the Lamy 67P was produced in the 1970s, presumably between 1971 and 1976, with a then retail price of about 10 DM; an alternative Lamy statement dates it to the 1960s, which is not unambiguously clarified. It takes standard cartridges; earlier, Pelikan and Montblanc cartridges also fitted, but the connection was changed later. The model has hardly any collector value; it was a simple school or utility pen. --- **Question:** Is the "Perfect Pencil" by Graf von Faber-Castell, limited to 99 pieces, worth the asking collector's price? **Answer:** The list price was then around 9,000 euros; the high value results from the cap of solid white gold with three larger diamonds. Collectors evaluate the price-performance ratio critically and prefer, for comparable money, several Montblanc Limited Editions instead. The regular, non-limited "Perfect Pencil" with or without integrated sharpener, on the other hand, is appreciated as a pleasant and successful collector's piece. --- **Question:** Who knows or owns fountain pens of the brand Helina (Breslau or GDR period)? **Answer:** Helina is known only to a small collector circle; a collector from Dresden owns a Helina fountain pen as well as several classical two-colour ballpoints, but does not have the pen for sale, since GDR writing instruments are his primary collecting area. For a targeted search for GDR fountain pens and also for the older Breslau Helina models, the forum penexchange.de is recommended, which has an active circle of GDR writing-instrument collectors. The Breslau predecessors are very rare; a photo of such a model is known, although the piece is in the USA. --- **Question:** Is the Omas Cinema Limited Edition worthwhile as a collector's piece, and how is its market price to be evaluated? **Answer:** The Omas Cinema is formally similar to the regularly available Arte Italiana Celluloid Pearl Grey, whose new price was around 800 EUR. Measured against this, typical eBay auction prices in a comparable range can be reasonable. With limited editions by Omas, an increase in value is less certain than with some Montblanc Limited Editions, since there are significantly fewer Omas collectors. A general guarantee of value stability for limited writing instruments does not exist. --- **Question:** Where can one find information on Cartier writing instruments and their Limited Editions? **Answer:** Reliable sources on Cartier writing instruments are scarce. Cartier is not an independent writing-instrument manufacturer but has various contract manufacturers produce, which is why model information is often missing or incomplete. Limited Editions do exist, but a systematic collector treatment as with Montblanc does not. Many pieces are sold rather as a sideline assortment in jewellers, which additionally narrows the source situation. --- **Question:** Which elegant fountain-pen models up to 150 EUR (cartridge, B or M nib) are recommendable? **Answer:** Among collectors the Cross Apogee is repeatedly recommended; it is available in many noble designs and has a white-gold nib. Cross nibs tend to come out somewhat finer than with other brands (F corresponds rather to EF of Montblanc) and write harder, which can bring advantages to experienced writers. The comparatively high weight is a matter of taste and should be tried out at the specialist retailer. Alternatively, comparison with Pelikan and Lamy at the stationery specialist shop is worthwhile. Warranty statements vary over the years and should be enquired about specifically when buying. --- **Question:** Which manufacturer or which model is behind an advertising fountain pen with the embossed designation "solid 675", presumably from the 1980s? **Answer:** Presumably the fountain pen comes from the 1970s; in this period there was a comparable design from numerous manufacturers, mostly as inexpensive entry-level fountain pens. Since no manufacturer designation is present, it is a no-name product that cannot be unambiguously assigned. For further research, reference is made to the forum penexchange.de. --- **Question:** What market value does an S.T. Dupont Limited Edition Napoleon Gold (2003) fountain pen have, and how does one sell them sensibly? **Answer:** S.T. Dupont is less in demand among collectors than strong brands like Montblanc, Pelikan or Nakaya, so that the achievable resale value is limited. Binding valuations are generally very expensive and often stand in no sensible relation to the market value. Generally, writing instruments lose much of their value already on leaving the shop; only a few gain value over time. Recommendation: either use yourself or, for value determination, list on an eBay auction starting at €1, since there the largest interested circle is reached. --- **Question:** Which Sheaffer model is a fountain pen with a gilded steel nib that seems to be neither a Targa nor another known line? **Answer:** The Sheaffer described with gilded steel nib is not a Targa but a simpler model of the Sheaffer Fashion range, as a comparable piece from a Brussels sale of 1994 shows. An identification from memory is, however, only possible with reservation; a photo of the nib eases the determination considerably. --- **Question:** What can be the cause of a new Omas MoMA nib in M scratching despite generous ink flow, and how does the model write generally? **Answer:** A scratching nib is not typical of Omas models; collectors report that M nibs of this manufacturer generally write softly. Possible cause is a slight offset of the nib tines; in such cases, exchange at the dealer is recommended, which experience shows uncomplicatedly delivers a new nib. The typical ink flow of Omas fountain pens is, through the ebonite feed, very saturated, which can produce small ink puddles at line crossings at the start; after a few pages this usually settles. On some papers like Moleskine, the nib can additionally feather. --- **Question:** Which online shops or manufacturers deliver high-quality desk accessories of leather like writing pad, quiver, bowl and note box? **Answer:** Recommended are especially Lesny (schreibgeraeteaufderbruecke.de) because of its broad range and procurement possibilities, as well as the Swiss shop Landoldt Arbentz on Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse, which also delivers to Germany. For demanding handmade accessories of Arizona full-grain leather, the family business Ludwig Kopp in Offenbach (trademark LK) comes into question, which delivers via selected specialist retailers; a dealer directory is available on request. The latter pieces lie, however, in the upper price segment. --- **Question:** Who currently makes the writing instruments of Davidoff (e.g. Velero collection), and where do the nibs come from? **Answer:** Davidoff has, according to forum reports, parted from Omas about two years ago, since the quality did not correspond to its requirements. The current writing instruments are made in France; the concrete manufacturer is not publicly named. The 18-carat nibs come from a German nib manufacturer and are regarded as very soft and pleasant in writing behaviour. In German premium specialist trade, the new Davidoff models are selling well. --- **Question:** Is it worth switching from the Lamy Studio with steel nib to a Lamy with 14-carat gold nib as the first gold-nib pen? **Answer:** Collectors report that after switching to a gold nib the writing feel is felt to be significantly softer and more pleasant, so that a return to the steel nib seldom comes into question. Even when switching from an unsatisfactory Cross to a Lamy with gold nib, the improvement was described as noticeable. Recommended therefore is the investment in a gold nib as soon as writing frequency and demand justify this. --- **Question:** Are there custom-made cases for extensive writing-instrument collections of various manufacturers and sizes? **Answer:** Custom cases are often made by local leather workshops at moderate prices but cannot be found supraregionally. In wholesale, a high-quality 20-piece leather case in DIN A5 format is available for 89 euros including shipping, which corresponds to about 4.45 euros per writing-instrument slot; it accommodates pens up to the size 146 without problem; a 149 also fits in if a slimmer piece finds room next to it. The leather is soft and very high-quality processed. --- **Question:** Which Japanese writing-instrument brands and inks are particularly recommendable on a trip to Tokyo? **Answer:** Recommended are above all the Japanese brands Nakaya, Danitrio, Pilot/Namiki, Dunhill (made by Pilot) and Sailor with their matching accessories; Nakaya and Namiki pens count among the highest-quality writing instruments worldwide. With inks, the Pilot inks are regarded as particularly successful. A comprehensive point of contact for detailed questions and sources is fountainpennetwork.com. --- **Question:** How can a ballpoint offered as a Montblanc 164 be identified as vermeil, solid gold or gilded brass model? **Answer:** Vermeil pens have a silver body with gilding and bear at the bottom on the engraving field the imprint "925". Solid Gold models are correspondingly hallmarked. If any precious-metal imprint is missing, it is the gilded standard variant with a brass base. Similar aids for model determination of other brands exist for Waterman, e.g. for identification of an Expert II Smart GT Blue. --- **Question:** What to do if a loose inner part (cap) rattles in the barrel of a Cross Century II and cannot be permanently pressed firm? **Answer:** The rattling described comes from an originally glued inner cap at the upper barrel end that has come loose. Own repair attempts with a screwdriver do not last permanently. Cross grants on its writing instruments a very far-reaching (in fact lifelong) warranty; the device should therefore be sent in to Cross service or a specialist retailer. Usual processing time is around three weeks; the customer generally bears only the shipping postage. --- **Question:** Which characteristics distinguish the Sailor Professional Gear in yellow, and what does the nib designation 'HB' mean? **Answer:** The Sailor Professional Gear in yellow is, with about 12.8 cm length and around 13 mm body circumference, settled in the middle class, comparable to a Pelikan M600 in length and an M800 in diameter. It is usually delivered with a converter and a bottle of Sailor Jentle ink. The designation 'HB' is not finally clarified; it could stand for a nib width between M and B or describe hardness or flexibility of the nib. Sailor also uses designations like 'HM'; in practice, however, the writing behaviour above all counts. --- **Question:** Where can a lost Bordeaux Pelikan piston filler (M200/M250) still be obtained as a replacement? **Answer:** Bordeaux Pelikan M200/M250 with 14-carat gold nib are no longer offered new by Pelikan but crop up regularly on the second-hand market (e.g. eBay) and can also be obtained via specialised providers like Richard Binder. With an exchange, attention is to be paid to identical nib width; a nib written in over years can however seldom simply be replaced by another. Often it is therefore more sensible to address the loss openly and select a new fountain pen together. --- **Question:** What does the new book 'Onoto the Pen - De La Rue and Onoto Pens 1880-1960' by Stephen Hull offer for collectors of English writing instruments? **Answer:** The work written by Stephen Hull was first sold on 2 October 2016 at the London Writing Equipment Show and comprises 416 pages in the format 21.5 x 28 cm at almost 1,800 g weight. It comprehensively treats the history of the company Thomas De La Rue and its famous Onoto writing instruments. English brands like De La Rue/Onoto are significantly harder to find in Germany than Montblanc or Pelikan, so the book represents an important reference for collectors of this line. It can be obtained via englishpenbooks.co.uk. --- **Question:** How does the Sailor 'Togi' nib write, and which Sailor special nibs are suitable for a very soft, flexible writing experience? **Answer:** The Togi nib by Sailor is described as sensationally soft and slightly flexible; it glides pleasantly and delivers a saturated ink flow. A clearly recognisable variation between cross and downstroke, as actually announced (broad cross stroke, narrow downstroke), users in practice hardly perceive. As a particularly interesting special nib, additionally, the Zoom nib counts, which produces clearly different line widths depending on grip. Overall, Sailor nibs are characterised by very high writing quality. --- **Question:** What characterises the historical Onward lever fountain pens, and how are they classified in the collector landscape of English writing instruments? **Answer:** Onward was a model name of the English firm Thomas De La Rue; the best-known was Onoto. The lever fillers are with around 10.6 cm closed length comparatively small and significantly rarer to encounter in Germany than Montblanc or Pelikan. Collectors have built up De La Rue/Onoto collections with dozens of examples, which is regarded as remarkable given the difficult procurement in Germany. Anyone wishing to enter must mostly search specifically abroad or with specialised providers. --- **Question:** How large is the Delta Dolce Vita Oversize compared to a Montblanc 149? **Answer:** The Delta Dolce Vita Oversize lies in its dimensions very close to the Montblanc 149; specifically, the 149 is only about 0.8 mm longer. In direct photo comparison, both models appear nearly equally large, although perspective distortions can easily arise through different positions to the camera. The Dolce Vita Oversize is thus well suited as an alternative for writers seeking a 149-typical format. --- **Question:** Are writing-instrument sets of fashion brands like Pierre Cardin made in-house, and must gilded pens (18K Gold Plated) bear a hallmark? **Answer:** Gilded writing instruments need not bear a hallmark, since this is intended exclusively for solid precious metals and guarantees a certain precious-metal content. With fashion brands like Pierre Cardin, the pens are not produced by the brand owner himself but on commission of established writing-instrument manufacturers. The term Gold Plated designates a gilding, that is, a thin gold layer on a base carrier material, which is why no material guarantee through a hallmark is needed. --- **Question:** What experiences are there with the online writing-instrument dealer Scription when buying high-quality fountain pens and rollerballs? **Answer:** Collectors report consistently very good experiences with Scription, both with first orders and with complaints. Even with complaint cases, e.g. in case of defects through the manufacturer like Pelikan, the handling has gone tip-top and customer-oriented. The service is also described by regular customers as perfect and accommodating, regardless of the customer's residence. --- **Question:** How can unknown older fountain pens (e.g. Pelikan M400, Ibis by Günther Wagner) be identified and their value determined? **Answer:** For identification of old writing instruments like the Ibis by Günther Wagner, online sources like penexchange.de can give support. A professional valuation by experts is possible but expensive and mostly not worthwhile, since the writing instrument has to be sent in. For an initial estimate, photos and dimensions (cap length, barrel length, total length) often suffice, which can be posted in collector forums. With the green Pelikan model, an assignment, e.g. to the M400, is possible based on the dimensions. --- **Question:** Are Montegrappa Reminiscence writing instruments fully made of solid silver, including the grip section? **Answer:** The completely solid-silver Reminiscence writing instruments including the grip section still come from the time when the Aquila family was the owner of Montegrappa. After the takeover by the Richemont group (to which Montblanc also belongs), construction and materials were partly changed, so later models are no longer consistently made of solid silver. --- **Question:** How does one find out to which manufacturer historical fountain-pen brands like Kondor, Schul-Freund, Mein Stolz or Student belong? **Answer:** An overview of manufacturers and their sub-brands is offered by penexchange.de/klassiker/untermarken.shtml; complementarily, the manufacturer info on colectiblestars.de by Stefan Wallrafen and Jens Rösler is helpful. For the brands mentioned Kondor, Schul-Freund, Mein Stolz and Student, however, no unambiguous assignments are present in either list. --- **Question:** Are OMAS fountain pens of natural resin really more susceptible to scratches than celluloid models, and which repair possibilities exist? **Answer:** OMAS designates natural resin and celluloid as identical, but the material is conspicuously soft and quickly picks up scuffs and scratches, especially on large smooth surfaces. On faceted writing instruments this is less noticeable. Earlier problems with tarnishing rings are said to have meanwhile been remedied. The repair time of up to six months, however, is regarded as problematic, which is why some dealers no longer carry OMAS. --- **Question:** How does one proceed if an old Pelikan 140 after a nib change at a specialist retailer has a crack in the grip section and loses ink? **Answer:** A DIY repair is not recommended with a crack in the grip section. Whether Pelikan still repairs older models like the 140 or keeps spare parts is to be enquired about directly at the Pelikan consumer service. Additionally, the Penexchange forum can be a sensible point of contact, since many Pelikan specialists are active there. Regarding the evidence situation vis-à-vis the dealer, it is advisable to file a complaint as promptly as possible; after a long time, enforcement becomes difficult. --- **Question:** What justifies the price of from GBP 600 for a Matania pen stand made of hand-rolled brass, and what limitation and distribution features exist? **Answer:** According to the manufacturer, only 96 pen stands are made worldwide; four craftsmen need about ten months for this quantity; the first goes in each case to the secretary of the English Queen; further buyers come from state circles; delivery takes place in a handmade oak box with a calligraphically designed certificate. The high price thus explains itself less from the material value (brass) than from the built-up brand prestige, the strict limitation and the stated production duration. On request, Matania also makes from an extra charge of approx. GBP 3,500 individual special productions. From a collector's and user's perspective, the price-performance ratio is predominantly evaluated as not appropriate; the piece is rather to be seen as a curiosity for an upscale specialist clientele. --- **Question:** Is a Graf von Faber-Castell tray of alder wood with embedded sharpener recess, five pencils with silver crowns and a band a rarity, and when was it produced? **Answer:** The writing-instrument tray with embedded sharpener recess comes from the period around the year 2000 and was taken out of the programme again due to moderate sales figures. It was sold at the time only as a set with pencils and a silver-plated sharpener (today's variant: platinum-plated). Occasionally, trays without content were sold individually in the trade. It is therefore not a designated rarity but rather a scarcity. The variant with silver or today platinum-plated side cheeks has later returned in a reissue. --- **Question:** Which Pelikan model is an unspecified old fountain pen currently being restored? **Answer:** Based on the description, it is likely a Pelikan from the 1970s, which is neither particularly valuable nor regarded as a collector's piece. For more precise model determination, a specialised Pelikan community like the Penexchange forum is recommended, since there more Pelikan collectors are active. --- **Question:** Where can a Pilot Falcon and a Pelikan M400/M600 (or M605) be reliably bought, ideally from the same dealer? **Answer:** For Pelikan models, Rolf Thiel via missing-pen.de is recommended, who can procure the entire Pelikan range and offers good service. The Pilot Falcon is carried by German dealers only restrictedly; one option is penstore.at, although with sometimes long delivery times. Alternatively, many order directly from overseas or pay attention to hints from relevant forum threads for current sources. For Pelikan entry-level models, papierfischer.de or Galeria Kaufhof partly offer good conditions, although with smaller selection. --- **Question:** How can the model of an about twelve-year-old Waterman set of fountain pen and pencil be determined in order to find the matching ballpoint? **Answer:** A model determination is hardly possible without a photo, so comparison with collector sites like waterman-kirkel.com is recommended, on which numerous Waterman models are depicted. In the specific case, after picture comparison it turned out to be the model Expert, so a targeted search for the matching ballpoint can now be made. --- **Question:** In which price class do Astoria fountain pens move, and what distinguishes the brand? **Answer:** The standard models move price-wise comparable to or slightly above the Montblanc Writers Editions, while Limited Editions, depending on material, fall significantly more expensively; concrete prices are best enquired about directly with the manufacturer Horst. Astoria goes back to a former Montblanc designer who became self-employed with the claim of building an ideal fountain pen and who is valued in the collector scene through his repair work. The design picks up the tie clip from models from the 30s and from the Meisterstücks of the 13x range, which is a matter of taste. The advertising on fountainpen.de takes place out of conviction and without financial reward. Related pages on fountainpen.de: • Astoria — brand overview (fountainpen.de): https://www.fountainpen.de/astoria-en.htm --- **Question:** Which high-quality, much-usable fountain pen with piston filling system is recommendable up to 150 euros? **Answer:** In this price class the selection of gold-nib models is narrow; with Montblanc one will not strike lucky there. A very good alternative is the Pelikan M400, available via dealers like Rolf Thiel from about 175 euros and filled with a piston filling system from the ink bottle. The Waterman Charleston is also recommended, a precious-resin pen with 18-carat gold nib and screw-on cap (list price 155 euros, online significantly cheaper). Generally, advice in the specialist shop is recommended, since high-quality pens in this budget are individual pieces. --- **Question:** From what period does a Pelikan Ibis with hard-rubber cap and celluloid body date, and how can the model be precisely classified in time? **Answer:** The Pelikan Ibis was introduced on 15 October 1936 as the successor of the Rappen and officially produced until 20 January 1954. A gold nib speaks for post-war production: gold nibs existed domestically from 1950, abroad already from 1949. A more precise temporal classification succeeds via the dimensions, because the post-war pens are some millimetres longer than the examples made immediately after market introduction. The product range of the Ibis is overall confusing, so for a reliable classification comparison dimensions from collector literature are helpful. --- **Question:** Who makes the Kaweco Sport offered at Manufactum as a 'revived classic', and is it the same one as via other sources? **Answer:** The current Kaweco Sport is made at the firm Gutberlet; Manufactum has been sourcing the same pen for a long time and frequently sells it as a set of fountain pen and ballpoint. Other sources like ka-we-co.de are pure online shops that also market the same writing instruments. The advertising as 'reissue' thus refers more to the marketing than to an actually new production line. --- **Question:** Which Waterman model is a fountain pen with the nib engraving 'Waterman Paris 18K – 750' and 'Waterman France' on the grip section? **Answer:** The writing instrument comes from the Waterman series 'Etalon', which was offered in different finishes (often gilded). Information and pictures can be found on the official Waterman pages (waterman.com or waterman.de), which catalogue the model range. The Etalon line has by now been largely superseded in the range but is still available, especially in French specialist trade. --- **Question:** What value do a fountain pen and a rollerball by Cesare Emiliano of sterling silver with gold accents have, and where can they be reputably assessed or sold? **Answer:** Cesare Emiliano is a smaller Italian brand from the Turin region that still produces; in the German-speaking area it is little known, so market prices there are mostly only restrictedly reliable. Online research yields prices between around 25 and 120 US dollars, depending on condition and model. For a more precise classification, a high-quality photo and a comparison with the current Italian Cesare Emiliano catalogue help (models like Orion, Hercules, Scorpius or Phoenix come into question); for a broad international resonance, the forum fountainpennetwork.com is additionally recommended. As a pragmatic sales strategy, an eBay start from 1 euro with proper photos is named. --- **Question:** Which nib width is behind the Aurora nib engraving '14 K / 585 / Aurora / *5 T VO', and is an Aurora nib an elastic everyday alternative to a Montblanc OM nib? **Answer:** At Aurora, the nib width is usually not stated on the nib itself but in some versions on the feed; from the imprints mentioned (14 K / 585 / Aurora / *5 T VO), the width can therefore not be unambiguously derived. Here, a query to the seller or a check of the feed helps most. Aurora nibs are basically regarded as well everyday-suitable, although especially elastic, obliquely ground nibs (e.g. OM) are rarer in the range and should be specifically sought. --- **Question:** What does the new Conid Bulk Filler concept with exchangeable body sleeves and the Streamline Demonstrator offer, and how can these be acquired? **Answer:** Conid (Fountainbel) has extended its Bulk Filler range by models with exchangeable body sleeves, including a variant with sleeve of 925 sterling silver. Complementarily, the 'Streamline Bulk Filler Demonstrator' is offered as a limited edition with 60 numbered examples. A detailed evaluation of the Bulk Filler is provided by a test report by Fountain Pen Geeks (fpgeeks.com, 2013). Prices, technical details and pre-orders run directly via Conid in Antwerp (werner@conid.be), where additionally factory visits are possible. --- **Question:** What characterises the ringless Sailor special editions of 2016? **Answer:** Sailor took up the much-expressed wish for a plain, classically formed fountain pen without cap ring in the medium standard format and in 2016 brought out two limited editions: in the first half year 'Black with silver trim Ringless' and in the second half year 'Black with ruthenium trim Ringless'. The ringless cap orients itself on the historical line of the brand and emphasises a reduced, minimalist design language. The concept finds among lovers of plain writing instruments — comparable e.g. with the Platinum 3776 Jin Shin Black Dragon — express appeal. --- **Question:** How is the Limited Edition presented for Pelikan's 75-year jubilee evaluated regarding design, mechanism and price-performance ratio? **Answer:** The jubilee edition is predominantly seen critically among collectors: visually it is at heart a demonstrator with engraved '75' on the black cap, whose appearance hardly stands out alongside models like the Blue Ocean. The highlight named is the golden mechanism, which however is not particularly elaborately designed. The asking price of over 7,000 euros is evaluated as significantly excessive; many collectors regarded 300 to 400 euros as more appropriate. The choice of the edition number 04 for all advertising pictures is also felt to be clumsy, because the 4 in the Asian context is associated with death. --- **Question:** Where on the internet does one find reputable information to estimate the current value of one's own writing instruments (e.g. Pelikan Blue Ocean, Cross, Elysée or Montblanc)? **Answer:** Flat-rate online valuation tools for collector writing instruments do not exist. Realistic indications are provided by completed eBay auctions of comparable models as well as prices of specialised dealers and collector sites. For rarer models like the Pelikan Blue Ocean, it is additionally worth consulting relevant collector sources that already contain information on market values. --- **Question:** How can the service experiences of Lamy be compared with those of other manufacturers like Waterman/Sanford for a nib exchange? **Answer:** Lamy reacts on nib exchange even after several years often very accommodatingly, with free nib exchange and return shipping and short turnaround times of a few days. Sanford as a service partner for Waterman is by comparison significantly slower, because the writing instrument goes to France for processing, but is regarded as very engaged and customer-oriented; enquiries are recognised after brief name mention, and special requests are processed even outside the usual working hours. With Waterman the selection of nib widths is, however, limited, so very fine nibs (below F) are not available. In sum, Lamy is perceived in service as above-average fast and generous. --- **Question:** How can an Omas 360 be disassembled, and what should be considered in the reassembly? **Answer:** On the Omas 360, many components are glued, which complicates disassembly; moisture, however, softens the adhesive bonds sufficiently, so that the pen can be largely non-destructively disassembled. The piston rod is connected via a pin with the turning knob; even if the pin is not completely straight, the reinsertion mostly succeeds without problem. The measure is only recommendable if the fountain pen is anyway defective – e.g. leaking between grip section and body – and even experienced repairers do not offer a solution. The reassembly thereafter generally causes no major problems. --- **Question:** How is the quality of a Graf von Faber-Castell fountain pen in sterling silver, especially the nib, to be evaluated – also compared to the Montblanc 149? **Answer:** The Graf von Faber-Castell writing instruments are regarded as high-quality finished and correspond to the premium claim of the brand; Porsche Design writing instruments are additionally also made at Faber-Castell. The nib feels somewhat 'stiffer' compared to the 149, which is not to be evaluated negatively but should be tried out in the shop. With fine nib widths, in combination with Montblanc ink, start-up problems can occur, presumably because of the adhesion properties of the converter plastic; with Lamy ink these problems did not occur. A silver-plated or solid-silver body brings higher weight and quickly takes on hand warmth; solid silver pens can be recognised by the double ribbed cap-top ring; complained start-up problems Faber-Castell rectifies, according to experience, without complaint and free of charge. --- **Question:** Is it normal that a Diplomat Traveller in everyday school use leaves blue fingers at the grip section, and how does one proceed with small cracks at the grip? **Answer:** Even cheaper fountain pens should not cause blue fingers; emerging ink at the grip section indicates a problem that falls under the warranty case. With visible cracks at the grip, one should primarily turn to the dealer – with an online purchase e.g. via Amazon, a complaint is generally uncomplicated. Alternatively, the fountain pen can within the framework of the two-year warranty be sent directly to Diplomat customer service; repair or exchange of the defective grip section are usual in such cases. Via the dealer path, the handling mostly proceeds faster. --- **Question:** How can a simple vintage pen with the nib embossing 'dh FRANCE / F' be identified, and is there a realistic chance of obtaining a replacement cap? **Answer:** The writing instrument is a simple, inexpensive no-name fountain pen from the 1970s. 'Daniel Hechter' is conceivable as a possible licence name but was not an own manufacturer, only a licensor. The chance to still find a matching replacement cap for a writing instrument of this price class is extremely small, since the spare-parts supply even with branded manufacturers of this segment is usually discontinued at the latest ten years after end of production. Pragmatically, the loss is therefore mostly occasion to look around for a higher-quality replacement with long-term secured spare-parts supply, e.g. a Montblanc Meisterstück. --- **Question:** What characterises the brand Waterman historically and material-wise, and where are reliable sources of information on the brand history? **Answer:** Waterman is regarded as a central manufacturer in the history of the fountain pen; a sound introduction is offered by the English-language Wikipedia article on Waterman pens, supplemented by overviews of general writing-instrument history e.g. at inventors.about.com. Critical aspects of brand development too – e.g. on 'Waterman Scandals' – are documented via specialised collector sites like kamakurapens.com. In the German-speaking area, Stefan Wallrafen has between May 2004 and October 2005 published a five-part series on Waterman in the magazine 'Schreibkultur'; no longer available issues can be enquired about at the publisher. --- **Question:** Which sources exist in Germany — especially in the Hamburg area — for writing instruments of the rather exotic brand ACME? **Answer:** ACME is opened up via the dealer directory of the manufacturer itself; the official website acmestudio.com offers under 'retailers' a corresponding list. In the German market, ACME is only very restrictedly represented and largely unknown in classic stationery specialist trade; sourcing via promotional-articles dealers is conceivable but not typical. For a concrete source in Hamburg, direct contact with the manufacturer or a dealer listed in the directory with shipping is recommended. --- **Question:** Which models and technical data does the Sailor Special Edition 'Professional Gear Slim – Cosmos' and its follow-up issues comprise? **Answer:** The small series, appearing irregularly since 2015, comprises 800 to 1,000 examples worldwide each and is dedicated to various cosmic motifs, including Starburst Galaxy (2015), Purple Cosmos (2017), Red Supernova (2019) and Blue Dwarf (2020). A later issue 'Blue Green Nebula' is transparent, equipped with a 14-carat gold nib and gold-plated accents, while the earlier models carry 14-carat rhodium-plated gold nibs. Body material is throughout acrylic precious resin (PMMA resin); the filling system uses cartridge or converter. The dimensions are in each case about 123 mm with cap, 110 mm without cap, 10 mm grip-section diameter and 18 g weight. --- **Question:** What experiences exist with the Aurora 88 in the piston version, and should one with a preference for very broad nibs rather choose the B or the BB width? **Answer:** Aurora's B nibs write broadly, saturatedly and in character similarly to those of Pelikan; they are suitable for a vigorous but well-controllable line. The BB nibs come out very sharply ground and yield a clearly more calligraphic, more strongly varying stroke that presupposes precise guidance of the nib. Anyone coming from OMAS B nibs and seeking a comparable saturated ink flow at everyday-suitable writing position is generally better served with the Aurora B nib than with BB. A BB is rather intended for stylistically pronounced writing. --- **Question:** How can the model of a Heiko fountain pen with purple marbling and glass nib be identified? **Answer:** The model number would typically be engraved on the pen itself, often on the cap opposite the 'Heiko' logo. With many GDR writing instruments, however, a model designation was entirely omitted, so an unambiguous assignment is not always possible. A comprehensive literature on GDR fountain pens does not exist according to current knowledge. --- **Question:** What experiences are there with writing instruments of the brand S.T. Dupont, e.g. Fidelio or Olympio? **Answer:** With the ballpoints, the writing behaviour hardly differs from other brands, since it is essentially determined by the refill; outstanding writing properties are therefore not to be expected. The finishing quality of the housings is, however, with S.T. Dupont exceptionally high; especially the China-lacquer surfaces count among the highest-quality lacquers on the market. Anyone valuing material and finishing thus receives with Fidelio or Olympio a qualitatively high-grade product. --- **Question:** From what period does the Lamy 27 come and which special features does this model have? **Answer:** The Lamy 27 appeared, according to manufacturer information, in 1952 and is regarded as the first streamlined fountain pen with hooded nib made in Germany. Until 1958, twelve different model variants were offered, whose components were partly exchangeable among each other. The short nib with 585 stamp is typical of the series. More detailed information can be found in Andreas Lambrou's book 'Füllfederhalter' in the German translation by Stefan Wallrafen. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the Sheaffer 100 Special Edition 'Three Friends of Winter' from 2011? **Answer:** The Sheaffer 100 Special Edition 'Three Friends of Winter' from 2011 takes up East Asian symbolism and comprises fountain pen, rollerball and ballpoint, which were sold individually. The Sheaffer 100 range is settled in the lower price segment but shows, with its slightly bulgy form, good ergonomics and writing comfort. The edition is, compared to the better-known 'Holiday Edition', less widespread. Background information on the motif 'Three Friends of Winter' is offered by the corresponding Wikipedia entry as well as the lexicon page of the East Asia Institute. --- **Question:** Are Rotring Rapidographs from the 1960s and 1970s interesting as collector's objects and which technical peculiarities do they possess? **Answer:** Rotring Rapidographs were primarily conceived as technical drawing tools; their special feature lies in being fillable with India ink via a piston, which was indispensable before the CAD era for building plans and tracings. The pens are regarded as susceptible to failure: they often start with difficulty, gum up through drying ink and react sensitively to too firm pressure. A dating to the 1960s/1970s seems plausible. To what extent they are classified as worth collecting beyond the technical use is judged inconsistently among collectors. --- **Question:** Where are the collector's books 'Collectible Stars' and 'The Montblanc Diary & Collectors Guide' available? **Answer:** 'Collectible Stars' is regularly offered on eBay and can also be obtained directly from co-author Stefan Wallrafen (collectiblestars.de, eBay account 'st.wa.') as well as via the shop of Tom Westerich (penboard.de), on request with dedication. The 'Montblanc Diary & Collectors Guide' is harder to find; it also turns up at irregular intervals on eBay, in antiquarian bookshops or with collectors with duplicates, with prices of up to 250 euros for unused copies being usual. From making photocopies is expressly advised against because of copyright violations. As another standard work, 'Fountain Pens of the World' by Andreas Lambrou is recommended, available via Amazon or directly from the author. --- **Question:** How is the quality and collecting potential of the Italian brand Ferrari da Varese to be assessed? **Answer:** First user experiences with the Lady Classica Mini (cartridge filler and ballpoint) are positive: no start-up problem, no failures and a brisk, saturated ink flow. The model range comprises high-quality writing instruments of solid silver and real horn, whose designs, however, are judged very differently. On collecting potential, no reliable statements are available. --- **Question:** Which ink capacity does the CONID Bulkfiller demonstrate through the writing stunt with the complete novel 'The Great Gatsby'? **Answer:** Within the framework of a bachelor's thesis by two students of the Thomas More University, the entire novel 'The Great Gatsby' with 47,049 words was written down on 261 pages within 24 hours with a CONID Bulkfiller. For this, only 2.5 tank fillings were necessary, which impressively demonstrates the high ink capacity of the filling system. A desirable continuous display of the ink level or a final overview of the fully written pages did not, however, take place. The action served as a marketing demonstration of the brand CONID. --- **Question:** What are small black-grey dots on a sterling-silver writing instrument and how are they professionally removed? **Answer:** Sterling silver, in contact with skin oil, sweat and air, forms deposits that first appear as small dark dots; this tarnishing is material-typical and on non-sealed surfaces unavoidable. Pure cleaning cloth often does not suffice; more effective is wool soaked with silver-cleaning agent, which leaves a fine film easily removed with a soft cloth. Exactly this procedure is also applied by the Faber-Castell service, which for Graf von Faber-Castell generally works free of charge except for postage and shipping insurance. Sulphur-containing ambient air (e.g. industrial regions) considerably accelerates the deposit formation. --- **Question:** Which writing instrument up to 100 euros is suitable as a gift, preferably silver-coloured and with detachable cap? **Answer:** Current Pelikan Special Editions like 'Berlin' or 'Chicago' lie price-wise significantly above 100 euros and are only very restrictedly to be found cheaper on the secondary market. As a recommendation in the named budget the Rotring Initial counts, a high-quality and plain fountain pen with good finishing. Concrete experiences with the Diplomat Lady Edition 2006 are not available. --- **Question:** Where in northern Germany, ideally in the Hamburg area, can individually made leather products, e.g. leather covers for college pads, be obtained? **Answer:** Concrete northern German manufactories were not named. As an alternative, the Italian firm Pineider was mentioned, which offers high-quality A4 pad covers (pineidershop.com); they are cheaper than Montblanc Heritage but lie above the price level usual for US standard products of about 70 USD. Anyone seeking a cheaper solution generally has to research further, since corresponding mass goods with proper quality are only restrictedly available in Europe. --- **Question:** Will the Pelikan M205 in the transparent colourless version be regularly available in Germany? **Answer:** Pelikan has decided not to sell the model in Europe for the time being; officially it is initially reserved for the US and Japanese markets. Via group orders from the USA, the pen can nevertheless be procured. Occasionally similar transparent M205s have been spotted in German shops, e.g. at Karstadt in Hannover; unambiguous identification, however, is difficult. --- **Question:** How is the writing quality of the steel nibs of Waldmann fountain pens to be assessed, and which nib manufacturer is fitted? **Answer:** The writing behaviour does not depend on the material of the nib but primarily on the iridium tipping, the nib grind as well as the construction of the nib and the feed; steel and gold nibs can therefore write similarly well. Waldmann uses nibs by Bock and, according to more recent reports, increasingly also by JoWo; both manufacturers deliver nibs of equally high quality. Bock steel nibs are also found at Montegrappa and Faber-Castell. A noticeable difference between Bock and JoWo is in everyday use hardly perceivable. --- **Question:** Is the new CONID website by now fully functional, especially the how-to-fill video? **Answer:** After initial problems with the how-to-fill video, the video was revised and is since retrievable. The website is thus functionally usable; feedback via the blog is requested by the provider. --- **Question:** Which Sheaffer model is an unknown auctioned pen? **Answer:** Based on the auction pictures, the fountain pen can be identified as a Sheaffer Targa in Classic Size, presumably model 1005. A comprehensive overview of the Targa models with illustrations can be found on sheaffertarga.com, where the precise determination can be further secured. --- **Question:** Is the brand name Sheaffer correctly spelled or does the variant Shaeffer exist? **Answer:** The correct spelling is Sheaffer; deviating spellings like Shaeffer are typos and were in the case mentioned corrected. --- **Question:** Is it normal that on the Delta Dolce Vita Oversize the silver ring between the black end cap and the orange body can be rotated? **Answer:** No, the silver ring should not be rotatable on the body or the cap; on flawless examples it sits firmly. A loose, rotatable ring indicates a workmanship defect or damage and should be checked by the dealer or manufacturer. --- **Question:** How is the Conklin Mark Twain Crescent Filler in the model 'Zebra' to be classified technically and in writing terms? **Answer:** The Zebra is part of the reissue of the Mark Twain Crescent Filler series and is turned from a solid acrylic-resin block and hand-polished. It is a sac filler with the characteristic crescent push button together with safety ring; closed it measures about 14.3 cm and weighs about 32 grams. Fitted is a black stainless-steel nib, here in strength M, combined with a sprung clip. It lies balanced in the hand, writes immediately and without failure and tolerates also longer lying open without drying out. --- **Question:** Does the Waterman Sérénité in wood also exist as a rollerball or ballpoint? **Answer:** With the black Sérénité variant, the nib unit is exchangeable for a ballpoint or rollerball module; the barrels are not model-specifically fixed. It is therefore likely that this is also possible with the wood version; a direct enquiry to the manufacturer is recommended in order to clarify it bindingly. --- **Question:** How is a bulk-filler prototype of polycarbonate with embedded quail-egg shells optimally implemented in design terms, especially regarding ink-view window and shell distribution? **Answer:** For a better feel, it is recommended to place the eggshells more densely so that a three-dimensional effect arises through overlaps and the partial transparency does not seem 'undecided'. Instead of a continuously semi-transparent body, a clearly delimited ink-view window (densely above, running out towards the viewing window, or a separate small window) is visually more coherent. A screw cap on the filling grip requires a diameter-reduction step on the thread part, which is structurally a disadvantage. Hints on processing eggshell surfaces are also offered by Horst from maxpens.de, who has extensive experience with this technique. --- **Question:** How rare is a DEF nib (Durchschreibefeder, extra fine) on a Pelikan 400NN, and does it influence the resale value? **Answer:** Durchschreibefedern (D nibs) on Pelikan 400NN are not exceptionally rare and occur regularly on the market. The nib variant alone has experience-shown only small price influence, since the majority of collectors prefer soft nibs; a noteworthy premium can only be achieved if a buyer specifically searches for a hard nib. On sale, the DEF characteristic should nevertheless be stated in order to specifically address interested writers. --- **Question:** How is the quality of the Sailor 1911 fountain pens with 21K Togi and Music Nib nibs to be assessed? **Answer:** The Sailor 1911 models offer outstanding writing quality; especially the 21K Togi and Music nibs deliver a characteristic and very pleasant writing image. In overall impression, the writing instruments, however, appear rather plain; the housing of firm, acceptably scratch-resistant plastic does not stand out visually strongly from standard products, which is why the haptic 'wow effect' compared to some other brands is smaller. A pre-ordered nib adjustment (e.g. via Mottishaw) can further improve the writing impression. --- **Question:** Is a manufacturer like Parker allowed to use three cap rings, or is this design trademark-protected for Montblanc? **Answer:** Protected by trademark law for Montblanc is only the special combination of two narrow rings and one broader middle ring, but not three equally strong rings. Manufacturers with their own historical production of such ring combinations (e.g. Aurora, OMAS) may use these again in reissues. With the Parker Duofold, three cap rings already existed when Montblanc still used single- and twin-ring caps; an objection by Montblanc is therefore not possible. --- **Question:** Which fountain pen in the range 100–150 euros is suitable as a replacement for a Pelikan IBIS Günther Wagner that offers a somewhat grippier surface and a stable, pressure-resistant nib? **Answer:** Recommended is the Pelikan M200 as a successor replica in this price class with classical appearance and good nib stability. The M200 with DEF nib offers an extra-fine carbon-copy nib that tolerates strong pressing – suitable for a pressure-rich, fast writing image. Pelikan nibs are overall stable, so even with a vigorous writing style no problems arise. More in-depth Pelikan-specific recommendations can be found additionally in specialised Pelikan forums. --- **Question:** Which brand model is a school pen from 1992 with a vividly red cap (with name plate), silver nib, grip section with notches, light wooden barrel and red end ball? **Answer:** The description fits the Lamy school writing pen (Lamy ABC), a classical model of the Lamy writing-learning system with ergonomically notched grip section, exchangeable name plate on the cap and wooden barrel. Further information on the model and the writing-learning system can be found on the Lamy website. --- **Question:** Why does a Sailor 1911 with ink-sac filling smear the fingers when writing, and what role does iron-gall ink play? **Answer:** Possible causes are hairline cracks in the front part, a defective sac converter, damaged seals, an operating error or too deep a grip in which the fingers touch the nib corners. Iron-gall ink should be flushed out immediately, since it is unsuitable for many fountain pens and on drying can destroy the feed; in such cases only an exchange of the feed helps. Since with other writing instruments no problem occurs, grip errors are unlikely; the front part should be checked for visible hairline cracks. --- **Question:** Do Centrograph fountain pens come from the former Eastern Bloc, and can they be restored? **Answer:** The manufacturer Centropen was based in Czechoslovakia; whether a concrete Centrograph piece actually comes from there cannot be reliably said without pictures. A restoration is generally not possible, since these fountain pens had an accordion tube as ink reservoir, which today is practically no longer procurable. --- **Question:** How are the writing instruments of the brand Diplomat, specifically the Diplomat Excellence set, to be classified qualitatively? **Answer:** Diplomat writing instruments are regarded as solid and well finished. The barrel is, compared to a Montblanc 146, somewhat thinner but lies roughly in the range of the Meisterstück Classique. Anyone preferring slim forms will be well served here. Detailed experience reports can be found in collector forums like penexchange.de. --- **Question:** Which fountain pen in the range around 150 euros is suitable for daily, long writing in training, and how does one choose between models with steel or gold nib? **Answer:** Today's fountain pens from the middle price segment technically all write at a comparably high level, which is why the decision strongly depends on subjective factors like ink flow, nib width, feel and look. Manufacturers like Lamy, Pelikan and Graf von Faber-Castell offer very good workmanship as well as reliable service. It is recommended to try out the models oneself before purchase and to bring one's own everyday paper in order to check the ink flow and nib width realistically. Ultimately, gut feeling decides, since with none of these models can one go significantly wrong. --- **Question:** What can one do if a Pelikan fountain pen has too strong an ink flow and smears the paper? **Answer:** Frequently the problem lies in the ink used, since some types dry very slowly and tend to smearing; a switch to another ink, e.g. Montblanc or Jansen, can here provide significant remedy. Alongside, dried ink residues are a typical cause that glue up the feed and produce an irregular flow. A thorough flushing of the fountain pen with distilled water helps in many cases. On newer Pelikan models, the nib together with feed can be unscrewed and soaked overnight in a water glass, by which stubborn deposits are loosened. --- **Question:** Which reputable sources for high-quality Montblanc pens as a birthday gift are there on the internet? **Answer:** Recommendable online sources for Montblanc writing instruments are the official Montblanc website with direct ordering possibility as well as the dealers fuellhalter.de, onlinehandel-AS.de and especially missing-pen.de from Rolf Thiel. The latter is classified as very recommendable. On the mentioned site liebl.exklusives-schreiben.de, no own experiences were available, so no evaluation could be given on it. --- **Question:** Which corporate colours did Soennecken use between 1910 and 1925 for the packaging of its writing utensils? **Answer:** A uniform corporate colour cannot be evidenced for Soennecken in this period; the available historical documents are often only available in black and white. Soennecken used various colours for different products, apparently without a recognisable system, and also printed the company inscription in different colours on the packaging. A systematic colour code for the nib boxes or distribution packagings is therefore not handed down. Since Soennecken today belongs to the brand group Branion and no own company museum exists, detailed information is difficult to obtain. --- **Question:** Where can one have an old Pelikan ballpoint repaired if the stationery dealer can no longer perform this? **Answer:** For repairs of old Pelikan ballpoints, the forum penexchange.de is a suitable point of contact, since numerous Pelikan collectors and accordingly relevant specialist knowledge are to be found there. Specialised collectors often know repairers who can also restore older models. --- **Question:** How high was the original new price of the Cartier Art Deco Dandy? **Answer:** The Cartier Art Deco Dandy had at sales start a new price of 810 euros. The model is now sold out and is regarded as a comparatively sought-after collector's piece within the Cartier writing instruments. On the current collector price, however, no concrete information is available. --- **Question:** How can stains on the gilded clips of Cross writing instruments be removed without damaging the pen? **Answer:** Cross writing instruments have a lifetime warranty that also covers the free refurbishment of stained or damaged clips. The simplest way is therefore to send the pen directly to Cross or to have it sent there via the specialist trade with a small processing fee and postage reimbursement. Own polishing attempts are not necessary and bear the risk of damaging the surface. --- **Question:** What experiences are there with fountain pens by Nakaya? **Answer:** Nakaya fountain pens are described as very good writers. An ordered variant without clip in Tamenuri lacquer becomes somewhat redder in the course of time and develops its own patina. Photos often only insufficiently reproduce the actual colour character of such lacquers. --- **Question:** Is a writing set offered as "Opera de Paris" a known brand or rather an advertising article without collector value? **Answer:** The set offered is no renowned brand product but an advertising article of a no-name manufacturer, presumably from Chinese production with the model name "Opera de Paris". The fountain pen is at most equipped with a gilded steel nib, so neither high-quality nor worth collecting. Optically the set may appear appealing; for writing it counts as unsuitable. Even the seller himself conceded on enquiry that they are merely simple promotional utensils. --- **Question:** How can an older celluloid piston fountain pen with Bock Heidelberg nib and the marking "LM" be unambiguously identified? **Answer:** Bock nibs were fitted in a multitude of writing instruments, so the nib alone allows no assignment. Until the end of the Second World War, there were several hundred manufacturers in Germany, of which most are unknown today. If the fountain pen itself bears no unambiguous manufacturer marking, an identification is hardly possible; the letters "LM" also do not necessarily help further. An additional point of contact for such enquiries is the forum penexchange.de. --- **Question:** Did the Pelikan 140 exist in two different sizes, or can an apparently larger example be a mixed construction? **Answer:** The Pelikan 140 was made from 1955 to 1963 in a uniform size; the total length of about 12.5 cm named in collector sources is consistent. A significantly longer example with 13.1 cm and a deviating piston mechanism or feed is therefore no "large 140" but generally a barrel from the 400 range, on which a 140 cap was subsequently placed. The concrete 400 barrel can, based on the feed, probably be dated to the 1970s. The identification of Pelikan models is overall due to frequent parts combinations confusing. --- **Question:** Are there suitable converters for the Caran d'Ache Ecridor XS, and how strict is the requirement to use only original cartridges? **Answer:** For the compact fountain pen Ecridor XS there are no suitable converters, since the construction height needed for the filling mechanism would reduce the ink volume unreasonably. The section is also specially shaped, so only original Caran d'Ache cartridges fit precisely. In practice, cartridges of other manufacturers (e.g. Visconti) can partly also be used without problems, but with deviating dimensions there is a risk of leakage and ink stains. Anyone wanting to be on the safe side uses the manufacturer's original cartridges. --- **Question:** What experiences exist with fountain pens of the brand Danitrio, especially with models with Maki-e lacquer decorations? **Answer:** Concrete experience reports on Maki-e models by Danitrio are only restrictedly available; available are experiences with an eyedropper fountain pen with Tamenuri finish, which corresponds to the typical size (Mikado) of the Danitrio Maki-e models. The procurement took place via internetpens.net (Bevin Cheng), with advice and service being positively highlighted. Statements on the price-performance ratio of the actual Maki-e models, however, remain open. --- **Question:** How can inherited fountain pens and mechanical pencils with silver body without recognisable brand be classified, and can defective filling mechanisms be repaired? **Answer:** A judgement of model, manufacturer and value is hardly possible without pictures, since construction and filling system (e.g. removable overlay, ink tank, converter) cannot be reconciled without inspection. It is therefore recommended to post detail photos of the writing instruments so construction and filling system can be precisely determined. Only on this basis can statements be made on the quality, on the potential value and on sensible repair routes for the no-longer-rotatable converters. --- **Question:** Is a Pelikan depicted on the internet a vintage model or a modern reissue? **Answer:** The piece shown is most likely the Pelikan M200 Retroset, which appeared as a reissue some years ago. It is thus no real vintage version but a modern reedition in classic design. --- **Question:** How can a 30-35 year old Parker set consisting of ballpoint and fountain pen be identified? **Answer:** The set described is a Parker Classic ballpoint and a Parker 75 fountain pen, which despite similar guilloche embossing come from two different model series and thus do not form a matching set. The Parker 75 was produced from 1964 for over 30 years and belongs to the most frequent Parker writing instruments; the Parker Classic has been made since the early 1970s and partly until today. An exact age can hardly be determined from general pictures, but a range of 30 to 35 years is quite plausible. The housings are only gilded and not of solid gold. --- **Question:** Did the old Pelikan models Ibis and Rappen have flexible or rather stiff nibs? **Answer:** With the nibs of the old Pelikan Ibis and Rappen models there is no uniform picture; depending on the example, they can turn out flexible or rather stiff. A flat-rate statement is therefore not possible. For more detailed assessments, an enquiry in a specialised Pelikan forum is recommended. Hints like the nib size and the inscription 585K Gold help with model assignment; among the typical construction count individual narrow cap rings, a green ink window and hard rubber as material. --- **Question:** What information can be found on the fountain-pen brand Wende? **Answer:** Wende fountain pens existed that were filled by means of a push button from behind via a pipette rubber sac. The size corresponded roughly to a Montblanc 146; the material was presumably brown Bakelite, and the nib consisted of gold. On the cap, USA was engraved, without thereby an unambiguous origin being secured. The filling system was at the time even in stationery shops little known. --- **Question:** How is the new Pelikan Limited Edition Temple of Artemis from the 7 Wonders range to be assessed in design terms? **Answer:** The edition counts overall as interestingly designed, although the striking gold capital is felt to be too large and dominating. Positive to highlight is that Pelikan has given the edition its own form and not again used the indeed beautiful but widespread Souverän form as base. The design of the Pelikan LEs of recent years is otherwise partly felt to require getting used to. Concrete price information is not available. --- **Question:** Is a silver-plated cassette with high-fine pocket pencils No. 1 by Graf von Faber-Castell still available and which price is reasonable? **Answer:** The silver-plated cassettes are currently only offered with normal pencils, no longer with the fine pocket pencils. The collector value of the empty box itself is around 40 euros; individual boxes without pencils are now and then traded on eBay. Compared to the former shop price, a purchase at the current market price generally represents an advantage. The box hardly has a value-increasing effect on the contained pencils; the price counts as appropriate. --- **Question:** Can current nibs be fitted to a Pelikan M250 from 1991 instead of the existing BB nib? **Answer:** Whether current Pelikan nibs fit a M250 from the build year 1991 cannot flat-rate be answered, since construction details can vary over the years. For reliable information, contact with a designated Pelikan expert, e.g. via the website rüttinger-web.de, is recommended. Alternatively, the question can be asked in a specialised Pelikan forum. Both routes experience-shows lead to competent answers on nib compatibility. --- **Question:** Is there a German dealer that distributes current Conklin fountain pens? **Answer:** A specifically Conklin-specialised German dealer is not known, which is why the brand is frequently sourced via American providers. At martiniauctions.com, Conklin writing instruments are occasionally offered. Alongside, full-range providers like Albrecht Schroeder carry a broad brand spectrum from Aurora to Yard-O-Led; a telephone enquiry or contact via the web form can be worthwhile. A systematic source for current Conklin models in Germany, however, is missing. --- **Question:** Where does one obtain a matching converter for the Sheaffer Connaisseur? **Answer:** Matching converters for the Sheaffer Connaisseur are available from the specialist trade of Rolf Thiel (missing-pen.de). There the article is listed in the online shop and can be directly ordered. A self-adaptation of other converters is not necessary. The Sheaffer models count among collectors as very recommendable. --- **Question:** What can be the cause of a striking smell reminiscent of vomit on the Faber-Castell Castell 10 from the 60s/70s? **Answer:** Such a striking smell is not normal and does not occur on most fountain pens. Most frequent cause are ink residues, e.g. from mouldy ink; a thorough cleaning with water is therefore the first step. If that does not help, the material processed itself can be the cause, since other writing instruments too can smell unpleasant due to material. To cover, a scented ink can if applicable be used; if the smell remains permanently, material ageing as cause is likely. --- **Question:** Are the nibs of the older Montegrappa Espressione (with silver fittings) of steel or of gold, and how can this be checked? **Answer:** On the older Espressione models, by experience, it is 18-carat gold nibs; steel variants are not known in this range. Gold nibs are basically marked by an imprint with the gold specification, which here however can be missing. For checking, a direct comparison with documented originals or an assessment by a specialist is recommended. Without an imprint a final residual uncertainty remains, but a steel nib is on this model very unlikely. --- **Question:** Can a Parker Duofold Special with inscription "GEO.S.PARKER-PEN-MADE IN U.S.A PATENTED" be a counterfeit? **Answer:** The pen is a vintage Parker that was presumably made before 1945, in the 1930s, in the USA. Counterfeits of historical Parker writing instruments of this construction have so far not turned up, so the authenticity risk is low. The housing consists of celluloid; the nib is solidly made of gold. To be noted is that the Vacumatic filling technique is hard to repair in Europe, since corresponding special knowledge and tools are seldom available. --- **Question:** To whom can one turn to have the value and age of old Pforzheim ballpoints with brand names like "Sarastro" or "Admiral" assessed? **Answer:** For the evaluation of such older ballpoints, an enquiry to Dirk Barmeyer offers itself, e.g. via the platform penexchange.de. The collector community for such ballpoint brands is small, which correspondingly affects the market value. If anyone can give well-founded information, it is most likely this specialist. --- **Question:** Which fountain pen in the price range around 150 euros with a piston filling system is suitable for a rather small handwriting? **Answer:** Waterman drops out due to the stated criteria, as does a Pelikan, whose models in this price class tend to fall too small for the requirements. The Lamy 2000 is a recommendable choice for the described usage purpose. The often heard myth that an EF nib has a worse ink flow than an M nib does not apply; decisive are matching ink (e.g. Lamy Royal Blue) as well as the care condition of the fountain pen. With small handwriting, practically only EF, F or MK come into question; a test in a well-stocked specialist shop with qualified advice is sensible. --- **Question:** Which Sheaffer model is a fountain pen with a characteristic nib, and how is it filled? **Answer:** Based on the nib form, much speaks for a Sheaffer Crest. This model can be supplied with ink both via cartridges and via the for Sheaffer typical rubber-sac filling system. Which variant concretely is present can only be shown by inspection of the inside of the barrel. --- **Question:** Which Cartier model is a writing instrument with a gilded cap? **Answer:** A first, non-binding assessment points to the model Le Must de Cartier with gilded cap. A reliable identification is however not possible based solely on a photo. Further detail shots, especially of engravings and thread, can be helpful for a more precise determination. --- **Question:** Which beautiful Slimline fountain pen under 200 euros is suitable for the loop of a notebook? **Answer:** A suitable option is the vintage Montblanc Slimline fountain pen from the 1970s to 1980s, which is significantly under 200 euros and in format fits well in a notebook loop. Compared to this, modern writing instruments like the Montblanc Mozart are priced higher, while the Kaweco Sport series is frequently felt to be too thick. --- **Question:** How is the limited Montegrappa Bicentenario Giuseppe Verdi collection to be assessed? **Answer:** The series is dedicated to Verdi for the 200th birthday and accordingly limited to 1813 examples, divided into 350 fountain pens, 650 rollers and 813 ballpoints. The cap bears a laser engraving of the Verdi portrait and his signature; the fountain pen is equipped with a rhodium-plated 18-carat gold nib; shop prices are at 675 euros for the fountain pen, 475 euros for the roller and 400 euros for the ballpoint. The design is perceived as elegant and stylish; laser engravings remain a matter of taste but are particularly well suited for reproducing faces and signatures. --- **Question:** Is a plainly designed Parker Duofold with a sober cap end and narrow clip ring a counterfeit or a particular original model? **Answer:** Such plain Duofold models are no counterfeits but correspond to the 1987-introduced Duofold of the first new generation. The restrained design with sober cap end, thin clip ring and uncontoured nib embossing is characteristic and often led to authenticity doubts. Parker corrected these weaknesses between about 1994/1995 with a model revision. Via the date code embossed on the pen, the exact year of production in this period can be determined. --- **Question:** How should a Cartier fountain pen marked Plaqué Or G be assessed, and what resale value do Cartier writing instruments have? **Answer:** Cartier is not a pen manufacturer in the proper sense; it has its fountain pens, rollerballs and ballpoints made by suppliers and sells them mainly through jewellers rather than through the specialist pen trade. Interest among classic collectors is correspondingly slight; the pieces are traded as jewellery accessories rather than as collectors' items. The markings help to place a pen. Plaqué Or G denotes a guaranteed gold plating, that is, a gold-plated metal version and not solid gold; the additional number on the ring is a production or serial number. A stamp reading 18 K 750 on the nib or the nib ring, by contrast, indicates genuine 750 gold, but it applies only to the part stamped in this way and not to the whole pen. On resale, steep discounts are to be expected. Collectors report that on the second-hand market of the 2000s even as-new, complete examples fetched at most about a quarter of the former shop price; if box and certificate are missing, or the piece shows signs of use, the return drops to something like a tenth. An expensive offer without papers should therefore always arouse suspicion. --- **Question:** What lies behind the Pelikan Maki-e Unique Collection, auctioned online from November 2014? **Answer:** Pelikan's Maki-e Unique Collection consists of one-off pieces decorated by renowned Japanese maki-e artists and never part of a regular Pelikan collection. After a first run of auctions in the autumn of 2012, a further seventeen unique pieces came under the hammer from November 2014, one after another in week-long auctions on a platform the manufacturer set up for the purpose. Opening bids in 2014 ranged from 1,000 to 18,400 euros. These pens are recognised by the red name seal of the artist who made them, which sits below the signature and confirms that the pen belongs to the Unique Collection. Maki-e is an elaborate Japanese lacquer technique: lacquer together with gold and silver particles is applied in many layers and polished repeatedly until a sculptural sense of depth emerges. Only a handful of artists worldwide have mastered it, and learning it takes years. That, along with their one-off character, explains the high prices asked for maki-e fountain pens. --- **Question:** Is the Duke brand, or Duke Germany GmbH, a German manufacturer of writing instruments? **Answer:** No. Duke is a Chinese pen brand. A German-sounding company name such as “Duke Germany GmbH” denotes nothing more than a distribution or import company registered in Germany and says nothing about where the pens are developed and made. The finish, the nibs and the general feel of the models are those of Chinese series production; the name suggests an origin that does not exist. For assessing a find, this means that an addition such as “Germany” in a company or brand name allows no conclusion about origin, age or quality. Collectors come across this pattern again and again with import brands. What does tell you something is the stamping on the nib, including whether it states a gold content or steel, the materials used, how accurately cap and barrel fit, and the execution of the piston or converter mechanism. As pens for everyday use such models may serve perfectly well; collectors' value in the sense of the historic German marques they do not have. --- **Question:** How do you recognise a Conid Fountainbel Bulkfiller from the First Production Run of 2012, and what is it made of? **Answer:** The earliest examples of the Fountainbel Bulkfiller, which the Belgian workshop Conid in Antwerp began making in 2012, carry several unmistakable engravings. The cap ring reads FOUNTAINBEL BULK-FILLER CONID, the screw of the clip housing CONID Antwerp - Belgium, and both the filler knob and, a second time, the end of the clip are marked First Production Run 2012 together with the individual number out of a total of sixty. The metal parts including the clip are titanium, as is the Bock nib fitted. Because titanium cannot be bent to a sharp edge, the clip was worked from a turned sleeve and its final shape cut out by spark erosion; the concave inner face of the clip takes material up to about 2.5 millimetres thick and springs reliably back into place. The transparent components are made not of acrylic but of polycarbonate, which is considerably more impact-resistant and survives even severe deformation, though polishing it clear takes appreciably more effort. One notable point of construction is a second O-ring that seals the bush of the nib unit ahead of the section. It prevents ink from working in from the front during filling, between the bore of the section and the nib unit, and drying there. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the galalith fountain pen by Achim Velte, made in five examples, and how is it filled? **Answer:** The German penmaker Achim Velte (Style of Writing) made this fountain pen to special order in 2020 in just five examples, using galalith, a plastic derived from casein that was widespread in the first half of the twentieth century and is prized for its horn-like, almost marbled appearance. The pen has an 18-carat gold nib, offered in M only, bronze rings and, deliberately, no clip. The dimensions: about 13.9 centimetres closed, about 12.8 centimetres uncapped from the nib tip, roughly 14.7 millimetres in diameter at the section and about 15.8 millimetres at the cap, weight around 28 grams. It was supplied in a fine presentation box with an outer carton and a leather case. Filling is by cartridge or converter, the converter being screwed in. The maker recommends unscrewing the converter to fill and drawing the ink straight into it, so that the section does not become discoloured; with a natural material such as galalith that is sound advice. Velte was already known to collectors for the fountain pens and ballpoints on the theme of the Nebra sky disc that he issued in 2013. --- **Question:** What distinguishes the Jinhao 100, what nib does it have, and do standard cartridges and converters fit this pen? **Answer:** The Jinhao 100 is frequently sold with the additions “Celebry” or “Centennial” and comes in several finishes, among them red/white — also known as “Koi” — and Black/Pearl. It is a cartridge pen, supplied from the factory with a Jinhao converter. The gold-plated nib in M is close in shape and writing behaviour to a Bock 250 Triple, and such a nib can also be screwed into the Jinhao 100 without trouble, which makes moving to another nib width easy. Accessories call for care: Jinhao cartridges and converters have a size and an opening of their own. They will not fit pens that take standard cartridges, and conversely standard cartridges and converters cannot be used in the Jinhao 100. Collectors rate the build quality as surprisingly good (as at 2021): nib and feed deliver ink to the paper evenly, the nib does not scratch and sits firmly, and nothing wobbles. Older Chinese pens, by contrast, had a reputation for writing acceptably but feeling cheaply made — manufacturing quality has improved markedly over the years. --- **Question:** How does the Faber-Castell E-Motion write, and what should you look out for before buying this pen? **Answer:** Faber-Castell's E-Motion is a solidly built pen with no known weaknesses; it works reliably, and no bad experiences with ink flow or nib have been reported. Two design features give it its character: the barrel is strikingly thick, and the section is metal and very smooth. Anyone who dislikes that feel will find longer writing sessions less comfortable; anyone who likes a substantial pen in the hand will get on well with it. Besides the metal versions there are variants with a pearwood grip in various shades, which are held to offer more purchase. Faber-Castell nibs are uniformly rather rigid, that is, distinctly less yielding than the gold nibs of a Meisterstück — though that is only to be expected of a steel nib at this price. It is worth writing with the pen at some length before buying, judging above all the section and the stiffness of the nib. If that goes well, collectors consider it a thoroughly sound purchase. Among the alternatives with steel nibs, the Rotring Initial has a reputation as a particularly practical everyday pen, though its styling takes an altogether different line (as at 2009). --- **Question:** Why do Parker pens carry two different arrow logos, and does that point to a fake? **Answer:** Both marks are Parker's own and denote different periods. The older logo shows the arrow in a horizontal oval, the newer one a flowing script “P” whose upright emerges at the top as an arrow; this later logo has been in use since about the year 2000. Two different arrow logos in one collection are therefore normal and, in themselves, no mark of a fake but a clue to dating. With frequently copied ranges such as the Duofold and the Sonnet, though, it is worth checking that the logo and the production period of the model in question agree. It is not unusual for a maker to carry several logo variants on one pen at the same time. On a Pelikan, for instance, the mark on the cap shows the pelican with one chick, while the nib of the same pen may carry the older logo with two chicks. Anyone wanting to date or check a pen should therefore always consider such features together and not conclude from a single discrepancy that it is a copy. --- **Question:** Is a Johann Faber 1481 a fountain pen, and what is it worth to a collector? **Answer:** The Johann Faber 1481 is not a fountain pen but a plain dip pen holder. It has neither a filling system nor an ink reservoir; it simply takes a replaceable steel nib that is dipped in ink or Indian ink before writing. The Nuremberg firm of Johann Faber turned out holders of this kind in huge numbers for school, office and drawing work well into the twentieth century. The number 1481 is almost certainly a catalogue or model number and points neither to a year of manufacture nor to a limited run. There is therefore no material value worth mentioning. Holders of this type are still common and usually change hands for a few euros, often as part of a job lot together with a set of steel nibs. The value lies chiefly in sentiment, or in the fact that the thing still works: fitted with suitable nibs, a holder like this can be put straight back into service, which makes it genuinely interesting for calligraphy and drawing. Confusing them with fountain pens by the same maker is common, because the holders are built to a similarly slim shape. --- **Question:** How are the Pelikan 400, 400N and 400NN told apart from one another and from the similar-looking 140? **Answer:** The 400 series was revised several times, and the piston knob is the readiest way to tell the versions apart. The basic 400 has a flat knob. From 1955 to 1957 came a modernised series with a slightly longer barrel and a more conical filling knob, marked by the suffix N. From 1957 to 1965 the barrel was shortened again and the filling knob tapered still more sharply; these models carry the suffix NN. Later reissues went back to a flat knob. The 400NN and the 140 look so alike that photographs hardly tell them apart; the difference lies in their size. The 140 has a barrel about 95 mm long, the 400NN one of about 102 to 104 mm with an overall length of around 131 mm. On these series the model number is noted on the cap ring, provided the cap ring forms the lower end of the cap. Among the nib designations, DEF stands for an extra fine manifold nib, that is, a particularly hard accountancy nib. --- **Question:** How are the early Pelikan M800s of 1987 recognised, and what variants of the model are there? **Answer:** The M800 came onto the market in 1987 and is in form an enlarged version of the 400 of 1952, given rather more ornament. It has a screw cap which, unlike a slip cap, cannot work loose and always keeps the nib centred; the drawback is fine scuff marks on the barrel. It was offered in black and with a striped body in green, blue and red. A small run in tortoiseshell brown is sought after and fetches four-figure sums in euros. Black bodies and special runs with a silver band have a small ink window at the nib end of the barrel, while the striped versions are translucent in any case. Three series are distinguished among the regular M800s. The first examples of 1987 have a 14 carat gold nib, a gilded brass plate as the cap logo and a further gilded brass plate in the filling knob; their cap band carries the inscription Made in W-Germany. Shortly afterwards the 14 carat nibs were replaced by 18 carat ones, which made no difference to the way the pen writes. The M800 is also the basis of numerous limited editions and of the Toledo models. --- **Question:** When and on what occasion did the Waterman Man 100 appear, and what is the body of the black model made of? **Answer:** The Man 100 was created in 1983 for Waterman's centenary. Its shape was prefigured by the Gentleman, designed by Alain Carré in 1974 and kept in the range for more than twenty years; the severe lines and the only slightly tapered cap top recall the Streamline Duofolds of the late 1920s. Seven gold rings set off the deep black body. Available at first only in black, the Man 100 became the basis for numerous special runs in lacquer, sterling silver, solid gold and various woods. Until the Edson arrived in 1993 it was the firm's flagship, and with a list price of 9,900 euros in 2002 the solid gold fountain pen remained by far the most expensive Waterman model. Contrary to a widespread claim, the body of the black Man 100 is not lacquered brass but black acrylic with a brass insert; the blind cap is pure acrylic. The clip is made from a copper-beryllium alloy; a welded-on hemisphere holds it slightly away from the cap and makes slipping the pen into a case or a shirt pocket harder. --- **Question:** Which Pelikan fountain pen is a piece inscribed “Kuala Lumpur 98” on the band? **Answer:** It is the Pelikan Special Edition for the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, usually listed in collectors' catalogues simply as the Kuala Lumpur. The pen appeared worldwide in a run of 888 pieces and is recorded not among the Limited Editions but among the Special Editions. What marks it out is the richly decorated finish with floral ornament, which at first glance recalls the Toledo models without belonging to that range. Despite the small run the model was never in strong demand on the collectors' market, which those who know the field put down to the little-sought subject; examples accordingly turn up now and then outside the specialist trade. --- **Question:** What edition sizes, materials and filling systems do the Montegrappa America's Cup, Ferrari and Modigliani editions have? **Answer:** The Montegrappa America's Cup Fleet Race appeared as a Limited Edition of 1,851 pieces, a figure alluding to 1851, the year of the first race. It is a piston filler; cap and body are of sterling silver with very finely detailed engraving, and the gold nib is 18 carat (750). The Ferrari edition runs to only 612 pieces, is finished in metallic blue, likewise carries a 750 gold nib and is a pure cartridge pen. The Modigliani edition was issued in 3,350 pieces; it has dark blue marbled precious resin on the cone and the cap, a nib in the rare combination of red gold and platinum, and can be used as a cartridge pen or with a converter. From the regular range come the Emblema in dark grey celluloid with silver trim and clip, again for cartridge or converter, and the very small Micra, a cartridge pen with silver trim. To put prices in perspective: among collectors in 2013 about 650 euros were being asked for the America's Cup, 500 euros for the Ferrari, 330 euros for the Modigliani and 170 euros for the Emblema. --- **Question:** How can fakes of gold-plated writing instruments by S.T. Dupont or Cartier be recognised? **Answer:** Numerous fakes of both brands are in circulation, ballpoints offered as gold-plated originals among them. One recurring feature concerns the fountain pens: many counterfeits carry a nib marked “Iridium Point”, a nib that turns up in identical form on fakes of quite different brands and is therefore taken as a clear warning sign. Judgement remains difficult above all with Cartier, where a great many little-known special editions exist; pieces one has never seen in the original can hardly be measured against one's own experience. As the quality of the fakes keeps improving, and as brands such as Parker that were once only crudely copied are now affected too, the safest course remains buying from known dealers rather than from anonymous auction sellers (as at 2008). --- **Question:** What versions and nibs did the Pelikan Celebry have, and what tradition does this cartridge pen stand in? **Answer:** The Celebry was Pelikan's current cartridge pen in the early 2000s and stood in a line that began in 1963 with the P1 and ran on through the Signum series (1978 to 1987) and the New Classic series (1992 to 1995). Its distinguishing features are the broad waist intended for engraving and a streamlined beak clip. Seventeen versions were distinguished in all. The P560 (stainless steel, black chrome-plated trim), the P565 (matt red or matt blue, black chrome-plated) and the P570 (red, blue, green or black, chrome-plated) carried a stainless steel nib in the widths F, M and B. The higher-grade variants had gold nibs: solid 14 carat on the P580, 14 carat with rhodium plating on the P590, and 18 carat with rhodium plating on the P595 and P596. The cap of the P590 and both cap and barrel of the P596 carry a gold-plated grain guilloche, the P595 a silver-plated one. --- **Question:** What can you do if the rubber piston seal of a Pelikan 400 has crumbled away, and what does the repair cost? **Answer:** Individual replacement seals for the piston of the Pelikan 400 are not sold on the open market. That leaves two routes: a repair by the manufacturer, or an identical donor pen as a source of spares, which can often be picked up cheaply second-hand at auction. The same seal is also fitted to the M200, so an inexpensive M200 is a candidate as a parts donor. A factory repair is the safe route as long as a model is still being built in largely unchanged form and current parts fit. As of 2010, overhauling an older 400 cost thirty euros; alternatively, a new M400 was offered against a payment of 135 euros and the return of the old pen. With models a manufacturer discontinued decades ago, by contrast, spare parts are no longer to be expected. --- **Question:** What were the technical specifications of the kingsize prototype of the Conid bulkfiller in black ebonite? **Answer:** The oversized prototype built in 2013 was made of black hard rubber from SEM and was a flat-top design on which the cap cannot be posted; clip and cap ring were titanium. In its dimensions it corresponded roughly to a Pelikan M1000 or a Montblanc 149, but was some three millimetres shorter: cap diameter 16.5 millimetres, barrel diameter 14 millimetres, closed length 140 millimetres, 135 millimetres without the cap, and a grip section at least 12 millimetres thick. It wrote with a 14-carat Bock nib in size 8 and a width of 1.2 millimetres and a hard-rubber feed; on request the nib was also available rhodium-plated. Weight was 30 grams complete and 22 grams without the cap, ink capacity 2.8 millilitres. Filling is by the bulkfiller system with an integrated shut-off valve: for writing, valve and filling knob are opened by about one and a half to two millimetres so that ink can pass from the reservoir to the nib. The threaded coupling on the prototype was made of Ketron Peek and was to be made of titanium in the final version. --- **Question:** Which limited Visconti editions were there in the 1990s, and in what versions was the Taj Mahal offered? **Answer:** Visconti issued a whole string of limited editions in the 1990s. Among them are the Taj Mahal, the Giacomo Leopardi set, the Titanic, the Voyager in acrylic, the Manhattan, the Michelangelo and the Ponte Vecchio. Alongside these ran regular models such as the Monte Carlo and the Ragtime, as well as Universal travelling inkwells. The Taj Mahal appeared in several versions: in black and in ivory with filigree of 18-carat gold, in red with rose gold filigree and in black with silver filigree. It is regarded as the most elaborate piece in the range, and in the mid-2000s its price ran well into four figures. Remaining stock of older limited editions was still to be had from dealers in 2006 at around 30 per cent off the recommended retail prices; the maker lists older models in an online museum of its own. --- **Question:** How do you recognise a Pelikan Souverän M850, and what sets it apart from an M800? **Answer:** The Souverän M850 is the more elaborate version of the M800: it has a cap of solid sterling silver with gold plating, that is, in vermeil, with a diamond-cut surface. If this gilt silver cap is missing, the pen is an ordinary M800, whatever may be entered in the guarantee booklet. Pelikan supplies the booklets blank; they are only filled in at the point of sale and are therefore no proof of model on their own — what counts is the pen's finish and its measurements. The specification includes the gold-plated beak clip and gold-plated trim throughout, gold-plated double rings on the piston knob, a fine decorative ring on the section, solid brass components in the piston mechanism and a large, hand-finished 18-carat gold nib with rhodium-plated decoration. Special grinds such as OM were available too. --- **Question:** What should you watch out for when buying an old Pelikan 100 or 100N, and which versions are especially dear? **Answer:** On the Pelikan 100 and 100N a cork piston seals the ink reservoir. The cork dries out over the decades, so that almost every unrestored example needs an overhaul before use; an old pen that still draws cleanly when you buy it is the exception. Once the seal has been renewed and the pen thoroughly cleaned, these fillers are fully serviceable again. The version determines the price. Green marbled pieces are the standard variant and the most commonly found; all-black bodies as well as early models without a cap band are considered markedly rarer and are dear accordingly: in 2007 neither a black 100 nor a black 100N was to be had for 100 euros, while green examples turned up regularly at flea markets. According to collectors, the nib widths of that period were designated EEF, EF and F among others, and KEF and KF for ball grinds. --- **Question:** Did Montblanc ever make a fountain pen with a red gemstone as the star in the cap top, a ruby for instance? **Answer:** A Montblanc star made from a red gemstone in the cap top did not exist before 2006. The so-called Montblanc cut, which is the basis for any kind of stone in the cap top, was only presented for the firm's centenary in 2006, initially in the form of a diamond. Older advertisements cannot therefore have shown such a piece. Writing instruments with a ruby in the cap top were made by other manufacturers, however, Cartier among them. Montblanc did carry a red star early on, though: the Rouge et Noir, built from 1909, has a red star of hard rubber, not of gemstone. Further scope for confusion is offered by the Bohème with a red stone on the clip and by the StarWalker, in which a stone appears to float in the transparent cap top. --- **Question:** What is special about the Montegrappa Techn@ Limited Edition, and who made the Dunhill ballpoints AD1800 and AD2000? **Answer:** The Montegrappa Techn@ appeared around 2002 as a limited edition of 1,000 pieces in titanium and carbon and was supplied with a leather case of its own. It combines two writing instruments in one: at one end there is a cartridge pen, usually with an M nib, at the other a stylus for touchscreens. What is meant are the pressure-sensitive screens of those years and not the later capacitive ones, which is why this function is now of little practical use. Unused pieces with packaging and papers were changing hands in 2013 for around 200 euros. The Dunhill ballpoints AD1800 in palladium and AD2000 date, according to collectors, from the period when Dunhill writing instruments were made by Pilot, or Namiki, in Japan. The retractable clip is characteristic of both. Unwritten examples with packaging and papers cost between 70 and 80 euros in 2013. --- **Question:** What should you look out for when buying a used piston filler as an everyday writer? **Answer:** On pens up to about the end of the 1950s the seal at the front of the piston is made of cork. Cork dries out, shrinks and starts to leak; it then has to be replaced by a restorer. From the 1960s onwards the seals were made of plastic, which is why pens from that period and later are far less troublesome as everyday writers. Older pieces from an unknown source, on the other hand, carry the risk of hidden damage to the piston, the feed or the nib. How a pen writes can never be judged with certainty before purchase: weight, feel and nib width determine the writing experience far more than the price does. For beginners looking for a reliable and inexpensive piston filler, the smaller models of the Pelikan Classic 200 range are a sensible choice. When buying by mail order from commercial dealers the statutory 14-day right of withdrawal applies; returns are possible without giving reasons and cost no more than the return postage (as of 2013). --- **Question:** What did the Pelikan Souverän M1000 in black and green cost in 2016, and what discounts were usual at the time? **Answer:** The list price of the Souverän M1000 in black and green was 570 euros in 2016. Discounts of about ten per cent were common in the trade; individual internet sellers were asking only around 410 euros, a good 28 per cent below list. Reductions on that scale are not to be taken for granted on current stock — before ordering it is worth looking at where the dealer is based, how guarantee claims are handled and what the right of return is, because with grey imports the manufacturer's guarantee does not always apply. The M1000 is the largest model in the Souverän range: a piston filler with an ink window, a striped barrel of cellulose acetate and a large, comparatively softly springing gold nib. --- **Question:** How do you date a Pelikan writing instrument marked “made in W. Germany”, and what does the K in K200 stand for? **Answer:** The origin marking “made in W. Germany” or “Western Germany” was used until German reunification. Writing instruments, packaging and cases bearing it therefore date from before 1990; after that the wording changed to “made in Germany”. It is one of the simplest and most reliable dating features for German post-war writing instruments. At Pelikan the letter in front of the model number denotes the type of instrument within a range: K stands for the ballpoint, D for the propelling pencil and M for the piston filler. A K200 is thus the ballpoint belonging to the Classic 200 range, whose fountain pen is listed as the M200. The K200 was built in several colour versions and is regarded as a dependable everyday writing instrument. --- **Question:** How long were the Pelikan 400 and its successors, the 400N and 400NN, made, and how do you recognise them? **Answer:** The Pelikan 400 was made from 1950 to 1956, followed by the 400N and 400NN, which stayed in the range until about 1965; according to collectors the design was then continued at Merz & Krell until 1978. Pelikan put neither a design nor a model number on the barrel, so identification has to go by length, barrel shape, feed and nib. The imprint on the cap ring easily misleads, because caps and barrels have been swapped countless times over the decades — a 140 cap, for instance, fits a 400 barrel, so a pen from the 1970s can be wearing a cap from the 1950s. Pelikan supplied spare parts long afterwards: for the M400 built up to April 1997 a replacement cap was still available in 2005 under order number 907766 at a price of 64 euros. Complete 140s cost 20 to 30 euros at flea markets and pen shows at the time. According to the collector literature, the 350 pencil was built in 1952 only. --- **Question:** What characterises the Élysée Parthenon series, and why are Élysée writing instruments hard to sell today? **Answer:** Élysée manufactured in Pforzheim; the brand later belonged to Staedtler and was discontinued there years ago. That is precisely what ails the collectors' market: the writing instruments are regarded as cleanly made, but they are built very slim and appeal to few collectors, so resales often prove disappointing. The Parthenon series appeared in several versions: Bi-Colour alternating gold and platinum, the gold-plated Fine Line with a diamond-cut thread guilloche, and Laque Classique and Laque Trajan with hand-laid Chinese lacquer inlays in a gold-plated metal mount, the latter in Noir, Bleu and Rouge. The order numbers follow the pattern 9E with two blocks of digits; the first denotes the type of writing instrument, with 2 for ballpoint, 3 for propelling pencil, 6 for rollerball and 8 for fountain pen, the second the version. The fountain pens have a winged nib of 18-carat gold and came in widths from F to OB; unused pieces were offered at 200 to 230 euros in 2013, ballpoints and rollerballs at 130 to 160 euros. --- **Question:** What did the new Pelikan M 640 Sahara and Ductus P 3100 cost when they were launched in the autumn of 2007? **Answer:** Pelikan brought out two new lines in the autumn of 2007. The recommended price for the M 640 Sahara piston filler was 370 euros, and 270 euros each for the K 640 ballpoint and the R 640 rollerball. The Ductus range was pitched lower: the P 3100 cartridge pen was listed at 300 euros, the K 3100 ballpoint and the D 3100 propelling pencil at 200 euros each. These are the manufacturer's recommended prices; actual shop prices in the specialist trade were often below them at the time. --- **Question:** How large was the edition of the Graf von Faber-Castell Perfect Pencil of 2001, and what does it fetch on resale? **Answer:** Of the 2001 limited edition of the Perfect Pencil, 99 examples were made worldwide in the white gold version; there was also a version in stainless steel. Despite the tiny edition, resale is difficult: the circle of pencil collectors is exceptionally small, and the number of collectors who have settled on Faber-Castell is modest as well. In practice the route that remains is the internet auction, together with patience and a price well below the shop price. That limited writing instruments stay far below their new price on resale is the rule and no isolated case: an Omas Phaeton cost 999 euros in the shop and was auctioned off as new for 200 euros, and a new Graf von Faber-Castell fountain pen with a shop price of around 400 euros changed hands for 110 euros (as of 2010). Editions of this kind are therefore no investment. --- **Question:** How does a Graf von Faber-Castell fountain pen in sterling silver write compared with a Montblanc 146/149 or a Pelikan M800? **Answer:** The silver pen from Graf von Faber-Castell is markedly heavier than precious resin models such as the Meisterstück 146 and 149 or the Pelikan Souverän M800, and so sits solid and substantial in the hand; the sterling silver takes on a patina over time. The nib starts softly but is tuned noticeably harder than nibs from Pelikan or Montblanc, without long writing sessions becoming a problem. Within one nib width the line varies considerably: there are F nibs that write like an M and B nibs that run comparatively fine. It is worth trying your own example before buying rather than going by the designation alone. A wooden box and an additional cloth pouch are part of the package; the factory service was reckoned quick and free of charge at the time and sent pens back with silver polish and a polishing cloth (as of 2005). --- **Question:** How is the Cross 150th Anniversary Commemorative of 1996 specified, and how large was its edition? **Answer:** To mark 150 years of the firm of Cross, founded in 1846, its first anniversary issue appeared in 1996, the 150th Anniversary Commemorative. The fountain pen is a cartridge and converter filler and is individually numbered; the edition came to 2750 pieces. The nib is of solid 18 carat gold and carries an engraved lion's head, a reproduction of an old nineteenth-century trade mark of the firm. The body is gold-plated in the specification 1/20 12 carat gold filled. Besides the serial number and the total edition, the engraving gives 150th Anniversary, 1/20th 12KT Gold Filled and Made in USA. The pen originally belonged to a writing set. An unused single example from such a set, never filled with ink, was offered in 2011 at an asking price of around 180 euros. --- **Question:** Was there a matching letter opener for the hexagonal Rotring 600 series, and how can one still be obtained today? **Answer:** The Rotring 600 range of writing instruments, recognisable by its hexagonal barrel, was accompanied in the 1990s by a gift set that included a letter opener in the matching design. The opener was available only as part of this set and therefore turns up far less often today than the writing instruments of the range themselves. Obtaining a replacement through the manufacturer is not possible: an enquiry to Rotring went nowhere as long ago as 2007. Anyone looking for the piece depends on the second-hand market, where it is offered only at long intervals; even then half a year could pass without a single example coming up. --- **Question:** How does the nib of the S.T. Dupont Fidélio write, and how does it differ from Italian nibs such as those by Omas or Visconti? **Answer:** The S.T. Dupont Fidélio was available among other finishes in black shellac with silver-coloured trim and was offered in the nib widths F, M and B. The nib counts as one of the brand's strengths: it delivers a very even ink flow, starts at once after standing unused and glides softly over the paper. Against Italian nibs, such as those from Omas or Visconti, it is markedly harder and gives hardly at all under pressure. Anyone looking for a soft, yielding nib will not be happy with it; anyone who values reliability and an even line will find here one of the better nibs in its price class. Since nib quality varies even on expensive models and scratchy examples turn up even in specialist shops, it is worth writing with several widths before buying. --- **Question:** What did the Art & Design Avantgarde writing set from the firm of Online contain, and what did it cost in the mid-2000s? **Answer:** The Art & Design Avantgarde writing set from the German manufacturer Online comprised a fountain pen, a bottle of ink, a converter and a case. It was thus a complete beginner's set in the lower price class: the fountain pen takes either cartridges or the converter supplied for bottled ink. The case looks expensive, but on closer inspection proves to be of stiff cardboard. The regular price was around 50 euros in 2004; in the clearance sale the set went for 25 euros. It was sold not only through stationers but also through museum shops. In the specialist trade and in the manufacturer's range surveys the version was no longer to be found shortly afterwards, which suggests a short-lived special series. --- **Question:** What versions and finishes were there of the Parker Sonnet and Rialto? **Answer:** The Parker Sonnet was offered in a broad range of specifications: matt black lacquer, premium versions with the Cascade guilloché pattern in gold-plated and in silver-plated form and with the Fougère pattern in stainless steel, along with lacquer finishes in black, red and green, the Chinese decoration, the deep-toned variants Laque Deep Red, Deep Green and Deep Blue and a plain stainless steel version with gold-plated fittings. The simpler Parker Rialto appeared among other finishes in Matt Black, Matt Green and Matt Navy as well as Aqua Laque, Dusk Laque and gold-plated Corinth. Both ranges were laid out as families, that is with fountain pen, ballpoint, rollerball and propelling pencil in the same finish, so that sets could be put together. Not every finish, however, appeared in all four forms. --- **Question:** Where can fountain pens in black and coloured ebonite be made as one-offs to your own design? **Answer:** One-offs to a customer's design are undertaken by small workshops that still turn their fountain pens themselves. Well known for this is the Wiener Füllfeder Werkstatt of Georg Grahofer, which handles design and manufacture in one pair of hands and takes on unusual combinations of materials as well; a piece made in 2020 was produced entirely from black and coloured ebonite. Ebonite, that is hard rubber, is particularly well suited to work of this kind: it can be turned cleanly and threaded, sits warm in the hand and has been used since the earliest days of fountain pen making. Coloured ebonite is available in marbled and striped forms, which can be combined with black parts to make bodies of strong contrast. --- **Question:** How large were the editions of the Pelikan maki-e sets Genji and Mubyo & Takara, and how many examples reached Germany? **Answer:** Only 60 pieces each were made of the two Pelikan maki-e sets Genji and Mubyo & Takara. About two thirds of the edition was offered exclusively on the Asian market; of the remaining 20 or so sets, only four to five of each reached Germany. Both are therefore among the decidedly rare products of the brand and are aimed at collectors in the highest price bracket. On price levels: in 2005 the two sets together, unused and with their complete accessories, were offered at 20,000 euros, which at the time amounted to a reduction of just under 30 per cent on the original selling price. The sets are normally traded only complete; individual writing instruments are not broken out of them. --- **Question:** Why are David Oscarson's writing instruments so expensive, and how many pieces are made there each year? **Answer:** David Oscarson is not an industrial concern but a one-man workshop based in St Louis in the United States. According to collectors, only about 200 writing instruments are made there each year, and the bodies are bought in from England. This very small output, on which a single maker has to live, accounts for the brand's high prices. The designs are colourful and highly individual and are regarded as an acquired taste; opinion among collectors is divided on them as well. Even so, as one of the few contemporary American small-series makers, David Oscarson has a secure place in the field of modern writing instruments. --- **Question:** What was known about the transparent Pelikan M 800 demonstrator at the time it was announced in 2008? **Answer:** A clear version of the Pelikan M 800 piston filler was in prospect for 2008, a so-called demonstrator in which the piston mechanism remains visible. Gold-coloured furniture was planned, and the price was to be on a par with that of the regular M 800. The size of the run had not been settled when the pen was announced: Pelikan first canvassed its distributors abroad to gauge demand and fix the number, and it was becoming clear that only a single batch would be made. Whether the pen would be produced exclusively for overseas markets, as other special models from the firm had been before it, and when deliveries were to begin, were both open questions at that point. --- **Question:** Over what period was the Pelikan 520 N built, and what does the N appended to the model designation stand for? **Answer:** The Pelikan 520 N is a piston filler from the middle of the 1950s; collectors put its production at roughly 1955 to 1957. The appended N marks the revised version that Pelikan introduced across several models from the mid-1950s onwards — best known in the 400 N, which was followed a little later by the 400 NN. Because these N variants were in the range for only a short time, a pen can be dated comparatively precisely from its model designation. Barrel colour, the form of the cap ring and the nib all help in identifying an individual example. The model numbers of the 400 and 500 series differ above all in trim and in the material of the furniture, not in the filling mechanism: all of them are piston fillers. --- **Question:** Is the Parker Sonnet made of precious resin, and how good are the stainless-steel nibs of this range? **Answer:** The Parker Sonnet is not a resin pen: the lacquered versions have a metal body with lacquer applied over it and are correspondingly heavier in the hand. Listings occasionally describe the range as precious resin, which is not the case; anyone looking for the light weight of a precious-resin pen should consider that before buying. The range was offered both with a stainless-steel nib and, in the higher-grade versions, with a gold nib. The widespread reservations about the Sonnet's steel nibs are not borne out by collectors' experience; they write perfectly well and are fair value for the money. As with any nib, it is worth writing with one beforehand, since line width and smoothness are felt very differently from one person to the next. --- **Question:** What does a 585 hallmark on the clip of an old fountain pen that carries no maker's logo mean? **Answer:** A 585 hallmark certifies 14-carat gold, but it applies only to the part that carries it. If it is on the clip alone, then only the clip is gold; it says nothing about the cap, the barrel or the nib. Letters alongside it are usually the master's or maker's mark of the workshop that produced the metal part, not of the pen brand. The complete absence of a maker's logo is not unusual on pieces of this kind. Jewellers and goldsmiths bought pens in plain form and fitted them with their own overlays in gold or silver; the brand of the underlying pen frequently disappeared in the process. Identification is then most likely to come from the section, the nib and the filling mechanism. A dependable valuation is not possible without establishing the maker and examining the condition. --- **Question:** How does the Conway Stewart Wellington sit in the hand, and what prices were paid for it around 2010? **Answer:** In diameter the Wellington is roughly a match for a Pelikan M400, but it weighs about twice as much. For short notes that hardly matters; over several pages of writing, however, the weight makes itself felt. The gold nib in M writes softly and smoothly. The Classic Green version was supplied with box and papers. As to prices: around 2010 some 317 euros was paid for such an example. Little used, it changed hands in the same year for 200 euros, after 279 and then 222 euros had first been asked. Between purchase and resale it had thus lost a good third of its value. --- **Question:** Who makes the gold nibs for brands such as OMAS, and why was the music nib of the Filarmonica so elaborate? **Answer:** Gold nibs frequently do not come from the brand that sells the fountain pen itself. Peter Bock GmbH in Heidelberg is among the best nib manufacturers; Faber-Castell, Montegrappa and OMAS, among others, as well as smaller workshops, have their nibs made there. For the music nib of the OMAS Filarmonica, production had to be built up practically anew in 2004: many tools had to be developed completely afresh, because the last music nib from this house had been made in the 1960s for an American artist. The model for the new nib was a Waterman Music Nib in size 5 from the year 1936; it was executed in 18 carat gold. --- **Question:** What is the Dörrbecker Quintessenz, and which manufacturer made this fountain pen? **Answer:** The Quintessenz is a celluloid fountain pen that Visconti made specially for the Bremen stationery house Dörrbecker and which bears that firm's name. The model is of timelessly classical design and was valued above all for its balanced writing behaviour. The edition size is limited to 88 pieces. In 2004 the pen was sold directly by the commissioning dealer in Bremen. It thus belongs among the dealer editions that appear in very small numbers and outside the general specialist trade, and which therefore surface less frequently later on than a manufacturer's regular series. --- **Question:** How are the handmade wooden fountain pens by Stefan Fink produced, and which woods are used? **Answer:** The pens are made in a Hamburg studio from solid woods, among them African savannah wood, grenadilla and purpleheart; snakewood is worked as well. Around three years pass from the block of wood to the finished fountain pen, and about half a year longer in the case of snakewood. The woods must be stored warm and dry and demand continuous attention. The turning is done by hand: within seconds a square piece of wood becomes a rounded blank. This is drilled, sanded and bathed in oil; the threads too are cut in-house, so that nib, barrel and cap form a continuous line. In this way pens are created with a good grip that lie warm in the hand. The maker is a trained joiner and turner and additionally studied design at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste (University of Fine Arts) in Hamburg; originally he made wooden furniture and home accessories before he came to the building of writing instruments. --- **Question:** Which nib and which filling system do the wooden fountain pens by Stefan Fink have? **Answer:** The writing instruments carry a hand-made gold nib of 18 carats which shows a finch as its emblem. It is available in the nib widths F, M and B, so that the pen can be adapted to different hands. The ink system is filled either with a piston converter or with standard cartridges and is considered suitable for air travel. Each writing instrument is unique and is delivered in a hand-made case of black leather. Besides fountain pens, sketching pencils are also produced. Annual production in 2004 was around 200 individual pieces; the preferred sales region was Asia. --- **Question:** Which brands were represented at the Cologne pen collectors' meeting in 2004, and which were missing? **Answer:** In 2004 the offering at the Cologne collectors' meeting covered above all the high-price segment. Alongside many old writing instruments there was an abundant range of new goods from Montblanc, Pelikan, Montegrappa, Parker, Omas and Bexley, that is, from practically all the manufacturers offering goods in the upper price range. Individual exhibitors have specialised in particular brands, so that it is worth first gaining an overview and then making for individual tables in a targeted manner. The prospects are markedly worse for collectors of German everyday brands. Rare writing instruments by Geha or Heiko were not to be discovered at the meeting; specific enquiries after Heiko fountain pens were met with something of a smile from the vendors. Anyone who collects such brands will therefore scarcely find what he is looking for at the large international meetings and must turn to other sources of supply. ---