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.