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Montblanc travel inkwells overview 1912–1942

On this page

Montblanc travel inkwells, used on the move mainly to fill the safety pens — five basic shapes and a set with a safety pen. The page formerly gave the 1920s; “Collectible Stars” I lists travel inkwells from 1912 to 1942

The small pictures lead to the five shapes and to the set. Below them a leather case with compartments — a “sample box” according to the former heading — holding three travel inkwells with a tall, rounded cap and a flat oval inkwell with “MONT BLANC” and the mountain on the lid. All pieces on these pages carry the Montblanc name.

Key facts of the range

Purpose
the travel inkwells were mostly used to fill the safety pens; according to a forum post of 26 November 2004 the known Montblanc travel inkwells are meant for these only1
Production
travel inkwells 1912–1942, inkwells and travel inkwells in advertising 1921–1940 (“Collectible Stars” I); the Diary dates individual shapes from c. 1913 to c. 19362
Advertising
in 1914 the “Montblanc Füller”: a device for filling fountain pens of any system, for travelling and for the desk, which prevents overfilling; in 1920 with the registered designs D.R.G.M. 393715 and 597650, in 1924 as “MONTBLANC FÜLLER (BABY)”; another advertisement names “MONTBLANC Füll-Flaschen” (filling bottles) for desk and travel3
Shapes in the Diary
travel inkwell in the shape of the Odol mouthwash bottle (c. 1913), flat bottle with a rounded cap at the side (c. 1920), eyedropper filling kit for safety pens (c. 1924), another travel inkwell of c. 1924, pistol shape “Browning” (c. 1928), 8-sided tube with spout (“Traveler’s ink cartridge”, c. 1929) and a travel inkwell of c. 19364
Pistol shape
according to a Fountain Pen Network post of 20 October 2017 the pistol-shaped travel inkwell really existed; its instructions show a safety pen5
Sources and notes
  1. “Collectible Stars” volume I; forum post of 26 November 2004.
  2. “Collectible Stars” volume I; “The Montblanc Diary & Collectors Guide”.
  3. “Collectible Stars” volume I (advertisement “Füll-Flaschen”) and (advertisements of 1914, 1920, 1921 and 1924).
  4. “The Montblanc Diary & Collectors Guide” (“Trusty Travel Companions”, seven dated pieces).
  5. Fountain Pen Network post of 20 October 2017; Diary (“Browning”, c. 1928).
  6. model catalogue “MONTBLANC Schreibgeräte 1980 – 2015” (replica with an antique inkwell, 100 pieces); forum post of 13 October 2006 (travel inkwell of hard rubber).
  7. Diary (picture 2).
Here you will find an overview of the various basic shapes of travel inkwells from the 1920s,
  which were used for filling safety pens
Basic shapes:
Montblanc travel inkwell with ribbed screw capTravel inkwell, screw cap
Montblanc inkwell, oval with round lidInkwell, oval
Montblanc travel inkwell with side capTravel inkwell, side capMontblanc set: safety pen no. 2 and travel inkwell – boxSet: no. 2 with travel inkwell
Montblanc travel inkwell with tall central capTravel inkwell, tall cap
Montblanc travel ink tube with spoutTravel ink tube
there were also travel inkwells in the shape of a pistol
Montblanc travel inkwells at a glance – box / packaging
Montblanc travel inkwells at a glance – box / packaging

Not to be confused with

  • Rouge et Noir (Replica) of 20066

    Besides the reproduced safety pen, the anniversary edition of 100 pieces included a travel inkwell of hard rubber — a reproduction, not a piece of the 1920s.

    See Rouge et Noir (Replica)

  • Astoria writing set7

    Astoria also offered a case with fountain pen, pencil and a flat inkwell (Diary, c. 1926).

    See Astoria

  • Montblanc 1908–1929

    The safety pens the travel inkwells were meant for.

    See Montblanc 1908–1929

Literature

  1. aJens Rösler, Stefan Wallrafen: “Collectible Stars I — MONTBLANC 1908–1947”. 2014. ISBN 978-3-00-044233-9. On this website “Collectible Stars” volume I. more about the book ›
  2. bJens Rösler: “The Montblanc Diary & Collector’s Guide”. Christians Verlag, Hamburg 1993. ISBN 3-7672-1174-2. On this website “Diary” for short. more about the book ›
  3. cAchim Sievers: “Montblanc Schreibgeräte 1980 – 2015”. Self-published 2015. ISBN 978-3-00-045816-3. On this website the “model catalogue”; 2015 in the title is the editorial cut-off, not the end of production. more about the book ›