These are the entries from the fountainpen.de knowledge base that were read most often, ranked by the view counts recorded in the forum between 2003 and 2021. Together the 2,609 entries were opened 8,452,670 times. The list shows the 15 strongest questions per subject area.
2,609entries with view counts
8,452,670views in total
12,064replies from collectors
19years of discussion
Identifying fakes
Identifying fakes
- 1How can I tell whether a Montblanc writing instrument is genuine, especially when buying online (e.g. on eBay)?
- 2How can a fake of the Montblanc Star Walker Resin fountain pen be told apart from the genuine pen?
- 3How can a fake of the Montblanc Bohème Solitaire "Je t'aime" Sterling Silver be identified?
- 4How can a fake of the Montblanc Limited Anniversary Edition — for instance one offered as "Solitaire Platinum" — be identified?
- 5Which colour variants exist of counterfeit Montblanc StarWalker rollerballs?
- 6Which features reveal counterfeit Montblanc Starwalker writing instruments?
- 7Which variants of original Montblanc Fineliner refills exist and are they mutually compatible?
- 8Which features distinguish counterfeits of the Montblanc Kafka edition and how can they be recognised?
- 9Which variants of counterfeit Montblanc piston converters are documented and how can they be recognised?
- 10How can current counterfeits of Montblanc rollerball refills be distinguished from the original?
- 11How can counterfeits of the Montblanc Menuhin Special Edition — in particular the non-existent rollerball — be recognised?
- 12Has there ever been a black star on Montblanc writing instruments, or is a dark-looking star always a sign of counterfeit?
- 13How can a counterfeit of a Montblanc Scott Fitzgerald rollerball be recognised?
- 14How does a counterfeit Bohème leather case differ from an original?
- 15What option do specialist dealers have to borrow Montblanc plagiarisms for training purposes?
Identifying and dating models
Identifying and dating models
- 1Which refills fit old Montblanc ballpoints such as the No. 315?
- 2What are the approximate lengths and diameters of the Montblanc Meisterstück models 149, 146, 145, 144 and 114?
- 3How can one estimate the approximate market value of a writing instrument?
- 4Which variants of the Montblanc Meisterstück 146 exist from the 1970s onwards, and how do they differ?
- 5What does a nib swap at Montblanc cost, and under what conditions is it free?
- 6How can an old fountain pen with a damaged nib be identified and repaired?
- 7Are there alternative refills for the Montblanc Rollerball Classique with a better line or wider stroke?
- 8In which periods were the Montblanc Meisterstück 144 and 146 produced after 1961, and are the models technically comparable?
- 9What can be said about an old fountain pen marked "Aristokrat"?
- 10How do you fill and clean a Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand 146 correctly?
- 11Where do the many Montblanc writing instruments come from that are offered as new on eBay clearly below boutique price?
- 12Who produces the modern Kaweco Sport fountain pens, and does the original company still exist?
- 13Which 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?
- 14Are repair costs of around 130 euros for a stiff piston mechanism on a roughly 2.5-year-old Montblanc Meisterstück 146 reasonable?
- 15How 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?
Limited and Special Editions
Limited and Special Editions
- 1What is known about the Starwalker Special Edition "Soulmakers for 100 Years"?
- 2What facts are known about the Writers Edition 2005 "Miguel de Cervantes"?
- 3What is known about the Montblanc Meisterstück White Pearl Edition, especially regarding edition size and distribution?
- 4What does the Montblanc Writers Edition Virginia Woolf look like, and what are the first impressions?
- 5What is known about the Montblanc Writers Edition 2007 William Faulkner?
- 6Who were the Montblanc Patron of Art Edition 2009 and the Writers Edition 2009 dedicated to?
- 7Which Montblanc models were honoured by the readers of Pen World 2003?
- 8What are Authograph Sets and picture frames of the Montblanc Writers Edition, and which official variants exist?
- 9What is known about the Montblanc Writers Edition 2010 Mark Twain?
- 10What was the Music Nib Project by Tom Westerich around the Omas Philharmony Edition?
- 11What characterises the Montblanc Limited Edition Golden Dragon 2000?
- 12Which Asia editions has Montblanc produced since 1993, and which numbers are known?
- 13Why do Unicef special editions of the Montblanc 149 have an 18-carat gold nib, while older standard 149s only have a 14-carat nib?
- 14What is already known about the Montblanc Writers Edition 2008 dedicated to George Bernard Shaw?
- 15How do Montblanc Special Edition, Limited Edition and Artisan Edition differ?
Nibs
Nibs and nib widths
- 1How do M, B and OB nibs differ in shape and writing behaviour?
- 2Which nib widths does Montblanc offer, and what should one consider when choosing?
- 3Do nibs really break in to one's individual writing style?
- 4Which nibs are suitable for a light calligraphy effect in everyday use?
- 5Are there even finer nibs than the Lamy EF, e.g. for writing on squared paper?
- 6Why do some Montblanc pens, normally delivered with 14-karat nibs, carry an 18-karat gold nib?
- 7Which paper is suitable for a blank book to be written in with demanding inks like Dr. Jansen "Terra di Sienna" or gold-leaf ink?
- 8What helps against light start-up and scratching on a new Montblanc 149 with M nib?
- 9Can a nib with iridium tipping be 'broken in' at all, or is that a myth?
- 10Are the M and B nib widths of Montblanc and Faber-Castell directly comparable?
- 11How do you hold and guide a fountain pen with an OM or OF nib, and are such nibs suitable for signatures?
- 12Is there a nibmeister in Germany at the level of Richard Binder or John Mottishaw who makes nibs flexible or replaces tipping?
- 13Which paper makes a fountain pen's line appear as broad as possible without making the script look fussy?
- 14Is a height difference between the two nib tines on the order of half a paper thickness still within tolerance on a Meisterstück?
- 15What are oxidative discolourations on a Montblanc gold nib, and can you straighten bent nib tines yourself?
Ink
Ink
- 1What ink properties (viscosity, surface tension) do the standard inks from Lamy, Pelikan and Montblanc show?
- 2Is there document-proof ink for fountain pens that meets the relevant DIN requirements?
- 3What colours are in the Jansen / De Atramentis ink range?
- 4What helps when a pen with strong ink flow makes a particular ink bleed heavily?
- 5Which ink colour is regarded historically and today as the classic for fountain pens?
- 6Can inks other than Montblanc inks be used in a Montblanc fountain pen, e.g. for a particular green colour or better ink flow?
- 7Which special and scented inks does Montblanc offer?
- 8How is the Montblanc Season's Greetings 2005 scented ink to be assessed?
- 9Which flat ink bottle with refill insert from the 1990s is being sought, and are there comparable products today?
- 10Why do you release a few drops of ink when filling a piston pen, and how deep should the nib be dipped?
- 11Which wine inks does the Jansen ink manufactory offer, and how were they tested?
- 12What experiences arise when writing with the De Atramentis scented ink 'pour homme, Davidoff Cool Water'?
- 13Should you use only Montblanc ink in Montblanc fountain pens such as the Mozart, or can third-party inks also be filled in safely?
- 14How do you remove a fresh black Lamy ink stain from a white cotton shirt?
- 15Can Montblanc's iron-gall blue-black ink be used in a piston filler, and can it be mixed with other inks?
Care, storage, repair
Care, storage and repair
- 1Which storage boxes or collector cases are suitable for several high-end writing instruments?
- 2How can a newly bought Montblanc fountain pen (presumably a Noblesse) be identified, and what should one do if ink flow weakens with cartridges?
- 3How 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?
- 4How are piston-filler fountain pens built, and can a layperson repair them?
- 5How can disturbing engravings or their gold inlay be removed from an old fountain pen (e.g. Montblanc 342)?
- 6How can a Montblanc Boheme be cleaned thoroughly outside the boutique?
- 7How can a stuck piston mechanism caused by dried ink be loosened again?
- 8How can cartridge pens like the Boheme be cleaned with severely dried ink?
- 9How can larger collections of fountain pens be displayed long-term so they don't "go stale" in a cupboard?
- 10Should fountain pens be filled with ink or water before long-term storage, or left empty?
- 11How do you clean and polish precious-resin writing instruments safely?
- 12How should fountain pens made of celluloid and hard rubber be stored correctly?
- 13How can the Montblanc 147 Traveller be cleaned in practice?
- 14How do you correctly maintain the metal mechanism of older fountain pens?
- 15Why should old fountain pens only be filled with water-soluble ink?
Other manufacturers
Other manufacturers
- 1Is buying a higher-end pen (e.g. Cross Apogee, Montblanc) worthwhile for heavy writing during a degree, or was it a mistake?
- 2How do collectors arrange their desks, and which brands and accessories are combined?
- 3Montblanc Meisterstück 145 or Caran d'Ache Léman — what should you look for in a three-piece writing set (fountain pen, ballpoint, pencil)?
- 4What is known about the old writing-instrument brand 'Weltpen'?
- 5Which fountain pen is suitable as a higher-end entry-level pen after Lamy/Pelikano, without immediately stepping into the high-priced Montblanc class?
- 6Which fountain pen in the 100–200 euro range can be recommended for everyday use?
- 7Why is the Heiko Primus regarded as the 'Mercedes' among GDR fountain pens, and where was it used?
- 8Which GDR writing instruments are collector-worthy, and which Heiko models are among the best-known?
- 9What characterises the GDR school fountain pen Heiko Junior in design, writing behaviour and robustness?
- 10How are the Japanese makers Nakaya, Sailor, Pilot/Namiki and Platinum to be assessed in terms of quality, nib widths and sourcing options?
- 11What characterises the Heiko Filius, and which nib variants existed?
- 12What is known about the new Bulk Filler fountain pen system from Conid (Fountainbel/Francis) of Flanders?
- 13What 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?
- 14Why is the Markant M 7720 regarded as one of the most refined writing instruments of GDR production?
- 15Which characteristics and colour variants does the GDR fountain pen Heiko Sprint have?
Around collecting
Around collecting
- 1Where can one source high-quality letter paper and visiting cards on laid paper with steel-engraved or lacquer printing?
- 2Why is Jens Rösler's "Montblanc Diary & Collector's Guide", according to Penparadise, considered the "bible" for Montblanc collectors?
- 3How can fakes of S. T. Dupont lighters be identified on eBay?
- 4What is the book "Das Bleistiftschloss" edited by Jürgen Franzke, and what topics does it cover?
- 5Which Montblanc fountain pen is used for entries in the Golden Book of the City of Dortmund?
- 6Which book by Jens Rösler and Stefan Wallrafen covers Montblanc writing instruments between 1946 and 1979?
- 7What history of the pencil is told in Henry Petroski's standard work 'The Pencil'?
- 8What does Miroslav Tischler's book document about Eduard Slavoljub Penkala and the Penkala works?
- 9What did the annually published special edition 'Scriptum — The Most Beautiful Writing Instruments' offer, and when did it appear?
- 10Which collector's book by Jens Rösler documents the history of Montblanc writing instruments from 1908 to 1947?
- 11Which standard work documents Pelikan writing instruments from 1929 to 2004, and what does it cover?
- 12What overview of makers and history of the fountain pen does Andreas Lambrou's German edition 'Füllfederhalter' offer?
- 13Which topics does the second Lamy Edition 'Die Lust am Schreiben' by Hans Heger cover?
- 14Which target group does Regina Martini's book 'Füllfederhalter' address, and what should buyers look out for?
- 15Which paper is particularly well suited to a Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand 146 in terms of even ink flow and clean script?
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