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Montblanc 234½ war model

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Montblanc 234½ of the second series as a wartime version, 1943–1946 — black piston filler with engraved grooves instead of cap rings and with a steel nib

Three engraved grooves at the cap lip instead of gold-coloured rings, gold-coloured clip with a teardrop end and the imprint “MONT BLANC” with the mountain, the same imprint on the cap, light unpatterned ink window, silver-coloured steel nib with the Montblanc star; “234½” and the nib grade “BB” on the blind cap.

Key facts

Production
“Collectible Stars” I: 1943–1946; the wartime pens did not reach the shops until mid-1943 and were sold until the end of 19461
Filling system
piston filler with telescopic piston2
Nib
size 4½ steel nib with “MONTBLANC” in the star; before and after the war also a 14 ct gold nib, 18 ct for France3
Cap rings
only engraved — decorative rings were banned on the home market from June 19424
Ink window
light and without stripes; the wartime regulation banned patterned ink windows4
Clip
with a teardrop — “Collectible Stars” I dates this shape to 1930–1934; during the war parts from old stock were fitted as well, and maxpens.de also shows the teardrop clip on a 234½ of 1946–19505
Dimensions
  • 14.8 cm with the cap posted, Ø 1.35 cm
  • the length varies
  • 5 mm shorter after the war6
Sources and notes
  1. “Collectible Stars” I.
  2. “Collectible Stars” I.
  3. “Collectible Stars” I; photos on this page; 18 ct for France: forum post of 26 February 2005.
  4. “Collectible Stars” I; ribbed rings as a feature of the wartime models: forum post of 23 February 2005.
  5. “Collectible Stars” I; maxpens.de (234½ of 1946–1950 with a teardrop clip); according to the Diary even Meisterstück pens were delivered with other clips during the war.
  6. “Collectible Stars” I (“different length possible”); collectiblestars.com database.
  7. “Collectible Stars” I; volume II.
  8. “Collectible Stars” II; volume I.
  9. “Collectible Stars” I; forum post of 16 September 2005.
  10. “Collectible Stars” I; blind cap: Fountain Pen Network post of 6 April 2015.

Montblanc
234 1/2
black

wartime production
(A clip is otherwise unusual on these pens, but during the war remaining stocks of clips were fitted to these pens as well)

Montblanc 234½ war model
Montblanc 234½ war model
The 234 1/2 fountain pen was made from 1936. The writing instrument shown here clearly dates from the wartime period; the nib is made of steel and the rings on the cap are merely engraved.
According to “Collectible Stars” it thus belongs to the wartime versions of 1943 to 1946. The clip from the 1930s does not contradict this, because parts from old stock were fitted during the war.
Montblanc 234½ war model
Montblanc 234½ war model
Montblanc 234½ war model
Montblanc 234½ war model
Montblanc 234½ war model
Montblanc 234½ war model

Photos: Sini

Not to be confused with

  • 234½ before and after the war7

    Gold-coloured cap rings instead of the grooves; after the war two ordinary rings and 5 mm shorter.

    See 234½ grey marbled · Second series until 1954

  • 234½ “Luxus”8

    According to “Collectible Stars” II 1952–1954 (volume I: 1951–1953), with one broad cap band and the clip of the pre-war Meisterstück pens.

    See 234½ “Luxus”

  • 334½ of the war years9

    Almost the same size, but third series: no cap rings, only an engraving, and only an outlined star.

    See Third series of the 1940s

  • Meisterstück 134 of the war years10

    No cap ring, engraved “MONTBLANC MEISTERSTÜCK” on the cap, steel nib only and no blind cap.

    See 134 war model

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. cJens Rösler, Stefan Wallrafen: “Collectible Stars — Montblanc writing instruments from 1946 until 1979”. 2001. On this website “Collectible Stars” volume II. more about the book ›
  4. dJens Rösler, Stefan Wallrafen: “Collectible Stars” — volume I “MONTBLANC 1908–1947” (2014) and volume II “Montblanc writing instruments from 1946 until 1979” (2001). more about the book ›