Naming Systems for Montblanc Pen in the 1950's

hpwan2

to be edited...

Dear Mr Wang,

Super, will keepyou posted.

Now to yourquestions:

24X, 34X seriesand 14X....its very simple. There are two views: one is Montblanc's''marketing'' in the 1950s and the other I can share with you as a restorer.

1= So called toplevel, 2, second level, 3 third level the 4 in the middle means, piston fillerpost-war type (before the war its was ''3'' in the middle...there was also''2'' in the middle, these were pump fillers. the last number is the nibsize....so, 242 = second level, piston filler, size 2 nibs.....149= top level,piston filler, size 9 nib!

Now this was inthe 1950s-1960s, but today this is senseless as I have sold 344's more thanblack 242s for example...today it's the rarity, nib and of course condition,that makes the price...so a 244 tiger is far more expensive than a normal black146 etc. Platinum 242 is more expensive than modern 149!

But from therestoring point of view...from the inside there isn't much difference inquality...only external design, nib design and piston styles andmechanisms...all 1, 2 and 3 pens are brilliant, in fact 3- level pens peoplelike a lot as they are the hardiest and fun to use yet keep the price very welland keep growing, maybe less than 2 and 1 but still grows and you can use. Sofrom the collecting point of view, it's more an external difference and alsothe sizes...for example 344 and 244 are very similar in size to the 144. The342, 242 and 142 are also the same size but what exists...342, 344 (no346)....then 242, 244 and 246 (no 249) and 142,144,146 & 149 (also a 147for some time)...so as they series goes up, there is one size more.

I deal with allbrands, but focus mainly on MB, Pelikan, and the top Czech brands from1917-1969 and even Parkers, mainly pre war pens yes....As you know I sell everyweek on eBay as ''jonakimusic'' and I try to give a good mix, recently I hadsome French safeties but MB and even this week is a very rare boxed Pelikan 400OBB tortoise. So, yes I deal with many types of pens...most collectors know mevery well as I have resorted many of their pens...so I get good prices forGREAT pens, like your Platinum.

Now you sent mea link for a 244...in black, this pen is worth between 120-450 Dollarsdepending on the condition and if it has been serviced, recorked etc. You canget this for even less and have it restored. This seller, Roberto, I know verywell, he knows me very well too....I must warm you...be VERY careful because heloves to sell very shiny pens on the outside and rotten inside, so this priceis correct because I am 100% certain it hasn't been serviced and one verydangerous things with his pens are the imprints...they usually are buffed awayalmost all pre war pens are imprint less. I have restored more than 10 pensthat people bought form him at good prices but all had issues with them and noimprints. You platinum 242 is far more valuable and the Tiger...that's wayrarer....are you sure you don’t want the 244 `tiger eye? The price is reallygood for it and its even more mint than the platinum which is already soperfect.... think about it, it's a rare piece and you will love it even morethan the platinum.

Enclosed a photoof a 246 tiger sold about 3 years ago.

Hello again,

I forgot tomention, in the 50s, there were 3 second level pens (this doesn't mean theywere second class, no....it's just a range. so second range is a betterword)......24X, 25X and 26X. The 25X were with the new flat nib but slip capand the 26X was the same new flat nib but screw cap as MB customers were bothmodern and traditional! All GREAT pens!

Regards

Deb

Hi again...thereis so much to tell... :-)

The 50s also hadsome ''upper'' levels....for example the 642 and 644 and then the 742 and 722.These are in design similar to the 25X series but had for example a metal cap andblack or striated bodies and were fully rolled gold, silver or solid gold pens.These also existed but only in the second and top range. Such variations arefound in 2XX and 1XX pens. 7 at the start indicated full metal pens… This wasthe same till 1970.