Need Help With Monte Rosa

[asegier]

Hi guys! I've been looking into vintage pens a lot recently and came upon an old Monte Rosa. It doesn't look exactly like the ones I've seen online (the hooded nibs), as it has a non-hooded nib. It's not in a very good condition, and I wanted to know how hard it would be to restore on my own? Here are some pictures taken by the seller (this is a local sale):

 

 

 

 

 

I understand that the pen is a piston filler, which somewhat worries me, as I am not familiar enough to know how to fix a broken piston filler (if it is broken). But the seller told me that they had never used the pen and it had just been sitting around forever. I would probably guess that the pen has dried up ink inside as well, and I don't know what components would've deteriorated or degraded.

 

Any tips on how to restore this pen? Or just forego it altogether? I would really love to restore it though...

 

I would also like to add and ask, it seems like the nib says Iridium Point. As far as my knowledge goes, authentic Montblanc's do not have nibs such that say this. But I'm unfamiliar with a pen this old. If anyone could enlighten me, I would greatly appreciate it! (I have done a small search and found no Monte Rosa's as of yet that have this written on the nib. However, I have seen so many variants through searching, I'm sure I might have just not come across this variant yet?)

Edited March 27, 2017 by asegier

[kuli1961]

Hello,

If I am correct, the story of Monte Rosa starts somewhere from '50-ies with Monte Rosa 042 and 042G (G stands for gold nib, IMHO). The model you posted might be newer edition (I am not an expert by no means, more newbie who tries to adopt the knowledge of the pens here, and real experts here may give accurate info about the full history of M.Rosa- I think the member Jar is especially dedicated to Rosa series).

HOWEVER- if the nib says "Iridium Point" - then "pedal to the metal" and run away, as faster as you can!

As you said- Montblanc imprints only MONTBLANC (and some other data depending the pen model) on the nib, never Iridium... Even if the rest of the pen is genuine, condition is soo poor, worthless to invest even a cent in a restoration.

I have 2 Rosas -042G and Hexagonal- regardless they are low end MB pens, they both are excellent writers!

Visit classifieds here or search e-bay, I am sure you will find a decent Rosa for reasonable price.

Enjoy in searching and in using your future Rosa!

[asegier]

Hello,

If I am correct, the story of Monte Rosa starts somewhere from '50-ies with Monte Rosa 042 and 042G (G stands for gold nib, IMHO). The model you posted might be newer edition (I am not an expert by no means, more newbie who tries to adopt the knowledge of the pens here, and real experts here may give accurate info about the full history of M.Rosa- I think the member Jar is especially dedicated to Rosa series).

HOWEVER- if the nib says "Iridium Point" - then "pedal to the metal" and run away, as faster as you can!

As you said- Montblanc imprints only MONTBLANC (and some other data depending the pen model) on the nib, never Iridium... Even if the rest of the pen is genuine, condition is soo poor, worthless to invest even a cent in a restoration.

I have 2 Rosas -042G and Hexagonal- regardless they are low end MB pens, they both are excellent writers!

Visit classifieds here or search e-bay, I am sure you will find a decent Rosa for reasonable price.

Enjoy in searching and in using your future Rosa!

 

Hey Kuli, thanks for the reply! Yes, I know it's a 1950's+ pen. I'm unaware about that nib though, and I can't see it clearly, but it DOES seem to say Iridium Point, or something similar. I would've guessed that no one would go and copy a 1950's pen, much less the lowest end Monte Rosa version... So I gave the seller the benefit of the doubt. I would prefer to source one locally, and cheaply, of course, which is why I came across this pen (rather then eBay or the Classifieds here). Though I guess if restoration is just too difficult or money consuming, then perhaps I would just give that up as well...

 

By the way, if you don't mind, could you post your Rosa's?

Edited March 28, 2017 by asegier

[kuli1961]

Will post some Rosa's pics later this day- I'm in the office now.

IMHO, assuming that the pen body is genuine, the restoration of your "Rosa" might be difficult and costly-1.the cap is heavily corroded, so chrome/nickel (electro) plating is necessary (I doubt that a simple polishing would give a good result) and 2. nib (and nib feeder, probably) exchange to genuine MB MR nib might be a tough task, because only nibmeister may have a spare nib for Rosa, not the MB Service in Hamburg.

[asegier]

Aw darn. I think I will pass up this pen for now then... I just got closer inspection of the pen. The nib is indeed not the original MB Monte Rosa nib. It says Artus Iridium Point 93.

 

I am looking at other Monte Rosa's at the moment. Hopefully I can find my perfect one soon