Montblanc Vintage 1950–1959 The second series until 1954: 232, 234½, 242, 244 and 246

After the war the second series was the line just below the Meisterstück, recognisable by its two cap rings. Until 1954 it comprised the 232 and 234½ in the old shape, a second version of the 234½ with a broad cap band and the streamlined 242, 244 and 246 — in black and in brown or grey striated celluloid.

What the numbers mean

Since 1935 Montblanc fountain pens have carried a three-digit number: the first digit gives the class — 1 for the Meisterstück, 2 for the second and 3 for the third series —, the second the filling system and the third the size of nib and pen (forum post of 13 January 2011).

When Montblanc built only piston fillers after the war, the pens of the new shape received a 4 instead of a 3 in second place. This kept the sequence of numbers, and the 4 also indicated the new design (forum post of 3 July 2004). Towards the end of the 1950s Montblanc gave up this system (forum post of 16 September 2005).

The second series is recognised by two cap rings, the third by one. From about 1950 the guarantee covered only the nib, 25 years for the second series (forum post of 30 March 2005).

232 and 234½ in the old shape

Immediately after the war the second series continued in the old shape: the 232 was made from 1946 to 1950, the 234½ from 1946 to 1951. Both are black, have a white star and also came with a steel nib; the number is on the blind cap. Both are filled by a telescopic piston, and the 232 has the diamond clip that Montblanc used in Germany from 1947 to 1949.

The 234½ of these years has two ordinary cap rings. At 14.3 cm (with the cap posted, Ø 1.35 cm) it is five millimetres shorter than before the war. The works do not say what the “½” means; according to a forum post of 21 January 2005 it was — as an estimate — a sales idea, because the pen was meant to look half a number better.

The 234½ “Luxus”

From 1952 to 1954 the 234½ came in a second version. Instead of two rings the cap carries a single broad band, and the clip is the tie clip of the pre-war Meisterstück pens. “Collectible Stars” volume I adds a gold nib; according to “Collectible Stars” a steel nib occurred only on the ordinary version (forum post of 9 February 2009). In the forum this version is called “Luxus” or “Deluxe” (forum post of 1 October 2007, post on Penexchange (thread “234 1/2”)), and a page with photos shows one.

Like every 234½, the “Luxus” has a blind cap at the end of the barrel — a Meisterstück never had one (Fountain Pen Network post of 6 April 2015). A fountain pen with tie clip and broad band that carries “Meisterstück” on the cap is therefore not a 234½ but a 132 or 134 (forum post of 29 April 2015).

The new shape: 242, 244 and 246

The new streamlined design began in 1948 with the second series. The first fountain pens of this shape were the 244 (1948–1949) and the 246 (1948–1950), built like the Danish pens with a pointed cap top. The Meisterstück was then redesigned after their example. From 1950 to 1954 followed the 242, 244 and 246 in this form:

• rounded cap top and two cap rings
• the lettering “MONT BLANC” with the mountain on the cap
• the number on the blind cap
• black as well as brown or grey striated celluloid, at the same time as the striated Meisterstück pens (forum post of 20 July 2005)

“Collectible Stars” II lists the black 246 of this shape only for 1953–1954. The years of the book are based on catalogues and leaflets; according to its explanations remaining stock was sold for up to ten years longer.

“Tiger Eye” and grey

The brown striated colouring is called “Tiger Eye”. The material is celluloid; the name only describes the pattern (forum post of 11 August 2005, post on Penexchange (thread “Montblanc Celluloid (?) Schildpatt (?) braun”)). According to a forum post of 2 December 2006 the three fountain pen sizes and the two sizes of the matching push pencils each came in grey and in brown; the long Pix 272 belongs to the 244 and 246, the short 272 K to the 242 (Fountain Pen Network post of 29 July 2013).

The grey celluloid has the same pattern as the brown one and differs from that of the grey striated Meisterstück pens (Fountain Pen Network post of 20 January 2010); dealers also call the grey pens “Tiger Eye”. Whether the 24x also existed in “PL” (silver and black striated) is unresolved: a forum post of 19 July 2005 mentions it, the books do not, and according to the Fountain Pen Network post PL belongs to the pre-war series.

The “G” after the number

Many pens carry a “G” after the number (242 G, 244 G, 246 G), including those in the photos of the 242 and of the 244 in “Tiger Eye”. The works do not list the “G”. It stands for gold here too: pens with “G” have a gold nib, are smooth and belong to the early versions. Once gold was a matter of course again, the letter was dropped.

This fits maxpens.de, according to which the “G” stands for “glatt” (smooth). On the 342 and 344 and on the Monte Rosa the “G” likewise denotes the gold nib.

Clips, country versions and prototypes

Around 1948/49, according to a Fountain Pen Network post of 17 August 2013, the 24x received a clip with a spade-shaped end instead of the fluted clip of the pre-war years; the books do not mention it. For France, nibs of 18 ct were also fitted to pens of the second series, partly Meisterstück nibs with the 4810 hallmark (forum post of 26 February 2005). For certain markets there were 242, 244 and 246 without the star, with the Montblanc mountain on the cap ring (Fountain Pen Network post of 7 February 2017, from memory).

The collectiblestars.com database also lists undated prototypes of the 242: with a black cap and a coloured barrel, eight-sided or with a porthole-shaped ink window.

Mixed pens and taking them apart

Pens assembled from parts of different models do occur, for example:

• the barrel of a 246 with the cap of a Meisterstück (forum post of 22 February 2006)
• the cap of a 244 on a pre-war 136 (forum post of 31 January 2007)
• the cap of a 234½ on the barrel of a 342 or 344 (forum post of 4 January 2013)

The 242, 244 and 246 can only be taken apart with a special tool (forum post of 23 June 2014).