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Montblanc 342 Gold Nib

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Fountain pen 342 G of the third series, first version of 1951 — piston filler with gold nib and brown ink window

Imprint “.342 G” on the turning knob, the nib width “BB” on the opposite side; brown, amber-coloured ink window; the cap ring sits just above the edge of the cap; gold nib stamped “MONT”, “BLANC”, “14C”, “MONTBLANC” and “585”.

Key facts

Production
1951 according to “Collectible Stars” II (342 (G) with brown ink window); the same version with blue window 1952–19531
Filling system
piston filler
Nib
14 ct gold nib (hallmark 585), here width BB; 18 ct for France; without “G” in the number a steel nib was possible1, 2
Material
celluloid; short turning knob3
Star
only engraved as an outline, never filled4
Dimensions
approx. 125 mm closed, Ø approx. 13 mm; according to the collectiblestars.com database 13.9 cm with the cap posted, Ø 1.29 cm5
Sources and notes
  1. “Collectible Stars” II (ID 1085: “brown inkwindow”; ID 1086: “blue inkwindow”; both “as 342 with steel nib possible”).
  2. Fountain Pen Network post of 7 January 2016; forum post of 4 July 2006; 18 ct for France: forum post of 26 February 2005.
  3. collectiblestars.com database (342 G with brown ink window: celluloid, short turning knob); post on Penexchange (thread “Material Bestimmung zum polieren”).
  4. forum post of 5 July 2006; forum post of 27 March 2007.
  5. According to a Fountain Pen Network post of 7 January 2016; collectiblestars.com database.
  6. “Collectible Stars” II (“only export”); no ink window according to the collectiblestars.com database.
Montblanc 342 G with gold nib – closed view
Montblanc 342 G with gold nib – open view

Not to be confused with

  • 342 of the later versions

    From 1954 the cap ring forms the edge of the cap, from 1957 an engraved cap band carries the number.

    See 342, 1954–1956 · 342, 1957–1960

  • 342 G in petrol blue and burgundy6

    Export colours of the same version, without ink window.

    See third series

  • Monte Rosa 042 G

    The school pen from 1952; there too “G” stands for the gold nib.

    See Monte Rosa 042 G

Literature

  1. aJens Rösler, Stefan Wallrafen: “Collectible Stars — Montblanc writing instruments from 1946 until 1979”. 2001. On this website “Collectible Stars” volume II. more about the book ›