1970S Montblanc Meisterstück 146

[Michael R.]

P1440886 by pensninks, auf Flickr

 

P1440831 (1) by pensninks, auf Flickr

 

The Meisterstück 146 became available in the first regular resin-variation during the early 1970s following the 1950s celluloid and 1960s transitional model (not catalogued ?!).

All early resin Meisterstück 146 pens are easily recognizable by the monotone gold nib and the grey, transparent ink window without stripes. Production dates range from the early 1970s to the late 1980s or even early 1990s. Minor changes were made during this period.

 

The most obvious change was switching from 14C/18C nibs to 14K/18K nibs and changing the design of the gripping section collar from a rounded, cylindrical design to a more angled shape. Also some internal changes took place going from a single-barrel construction to a two-piece construction.

 

more images: 1970s Montblanc Meisterstück 146

 

P1440874 by pensninks, auf Flickr

 

P1440875 by pensninks, auf Flickr

 

P1440879 by pensninks, auf Flickr

 

P1440848 by pensninks, auf Flickr

early 14C OBB nib

 

P1440859 by pensninks, auf Flickr

earliest version with single-barrel construction taken apart

P1440868 by pensninks, auf Flickr

single-barrel (top) compared to the later two-piece construction (bottom)

 

 

P1440881 by pensninks, auf Flickr

1970s-1980s versions came with the split ebonite feed (left and middle) while later models were fitted with the first generation plastic feeds (right).

P1440882 by pensninks, auf Flickr

early (top) and later clip design

 

P1440836 by pensninks, auf Flickr

 

P1440839 by pensninks, auf Flickr

 

P1440869 by pensninks, auf Flickr

filler unit

 

P1440891 by pensninks, auf Flickr

 

P1400530 by meisterstücke, auf Flickr

1960s transitional model for comparison

 

P1400540 by meisterstücke, auf Flickr

1940s - 2000s

 

montblanc1_42988156231_o by pensninks, auf Flickr

1982

montblanc-4_42269670004_o by pensninks, auf Flickr

1979

montblanc-19755_42086596275_o by pensninks, auf Flickr

1975

P1440894 by pensninks, auf Flickr

1973 price list

 

 

Cheers

 

Michael

Edited March 23, 2019 by Michael R.

[siamackz]

Very insightful! Thank you for sharing!

 

Also, are you suggesting that 146s were being produced even during the 1960s - you mention a transitional model. I thought production of all three digit pens ceased during the 60s except the 149

[PAKMAN]

Wow some great info there! I was hunting for info for dating 146's last weekend.

[zaddick]

What a wonderful post. Thank you Michael for aggregating info and posting helpful photos!

[Michael R.]

Thank you for your nice comments.

 

Yes, there is a model after the celluloid models of the late 40s and 50s but before the resin model of the 70s shown here.

 

Unfortunately I have not seen any official reference to that model but it shows some features of other pens made during the 60s (feed, blue ink window). Nibs are identical to the ones used on the celluloid models but also other parts are similar (the same ?!) to the ones used in the 70s.

 

So I don‘t know if it was made all years inbetween or just a few.

 

I have seen a few (less than 10) and don‘t know how many were made (trial run, regular production...)

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[CS388]

Great post. Some of my favourite 146's.

Love the blue window on the transitional model. Wish they'd carried on with that colour for a few extra years.

I think I did have a monotone 146 with a bluish window, but nothing like the blue in your picture. It may have just been ink stained?

 

Thanks for sharing this.

[meiers]

I agree. This post is wonderful. Thanks for all the images.

Edited March 24, 2019 by meiers

[siamackz]

Thank you for your nice comments.

 

Yes, there is a model after the celluloid models of the late 40s and 50s but before the resin model of the 70s shown here.

 

Unfortunately I have not seen any official reference to that model but it shows some features of other pens made during the 60s (feed, blue ink window). Nibs are identical to the ones used on the celluloid models but also other parts are similar (the same ?!) to the ones used in the 70s.

 

So I dont know if it was made all years inbetween or just a few.

 

I have seen a few (less than 10) and dont know how many were made (trial run, regular production...)

 

Cheers

 

Michael

Very interesting!

[ygv]

Great info on the 146 Michael. Thanks for sharing.

[ingolf]

Yes, the "old" 146 is an excellent fountain pen.

 

Mine is a model from mid 1980s with a grey ink window, beautiful M-size gold nib (no bi-color) and a reliable ebonite feed.

Currently in use as a day-by-day pen and for short notes and shopping lists. Inked with my favourite Diamine Presidential Blue ink.

 

Thank you Michael for your story and the nice pics.

 

Regards, Ingolf.

[georges zaslavsky]

I have 4 MB146s from the 70's-80's and they are fabulous writers. I like the odler monotone nibs much more than the tone nibs.Thanks for sharing the pics as well.

[Splotch]

Any estimates on the modern day value of one of these 146 transitional models?

[Kalessin]

Probably nothing extra over other 146's of roughly the same era.

[Michael R.]

I have some new information on the "transitional" model:

Montblanc stopped offering celluloid replacement parts in the 1960s. When sending celluloid 146 pens for repair they would replace all plastic parts with newly made resin parts except nib and clip. During this time the 146 was not part of the regular Montblanc product range so it was not possible to buy a new 146 at this time. But replacement resin parts still assured that it was possible to offer repair (or more correct: replacement) of the celluloid pens from some years ago.

 

This is a plausible explanation why it was never catalogued as "complete pen for sale" but still models turn up once in a while. Also this explains why clips and nibs are identical to the ones of the celluloid 146s.

I have seen some internal Montblanc documents from the 1960s which lead me to above conclusions. Those documents both state that Montblanc stopped supplying celluloid parts as well as availability of parts for repair (which are the ones described as "transitional" above). This also is backed up by the fact that the 146 was available officially only in the 1970s again as part of the product range.


As for value:

I'd say the value of the transitional/replacement-repair-model (bright blue ink window) is much higher compared to the 1970s models (grey ink window).

The single tone 146 models of the 1970s and 1980s (grey ink window) are still relatively easy to get and still very under-appreciated!

I still buy those for 100-150 € with some luck but I expect them to raise in price soon! Especially the earlier 14C nib models.

Both softness of the nibs and ebonite feed are aspects which will make them popular.

I'm wondering why they are not that popular already. Maybe availability is still good (even boxed NOS examples) and many models are mixed parts pens from replacement-repairs and historically not correct.

Since the true transitional models are not available very often I would expect them in the 400-750 € range. Sometimes it is not even noticed ...

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[zaddick]

Thank you for the informative update Michael.

[siamackz]

Thank you for keeping us updated. This continues to be a rather educative post.

 

I am wondering if this means one could essentially put together a transitional 146 by mixing resin and 1950s parts? Or is the barrel or some part on the transitional 146 produced as a unique fit for just that model?

Edited August 23, 2019 by siamackz

[Michael R.]

Or is the barrel or some part on the transitional 146 produced as a unique fit for just that model?

Exactly this :-)

 

Barrel/section unit is unique as a resin replacement part for broken celluloid parts.

 

Clip, nib, feed, cap top may have been kept from the celluloid model.

 

Filling unit/filling knob and (maybe ... I need to check the cap band imprint) cap tube may be the same as on later early 1970s regular production 146.

 

Cheers

 

Michael

Edited August 23, 2019 by Michael R.

[coolguy684]

Correct transitional feed is solid ebonite with grooves on face only. This feed, as far as I can tell, was never produced in a #6 size for any other MB pen, whether celluloid or resin. This leads me to believe that the transitional was a standalone model, not a repair parts pen.

[coolguy684]

Cap tops...I have seen 4 transitional 146's with correct barrel and feed.

 

Never with a complete celluloid cap, but one or two had a celluloid cap top.

 

Will post pictures later this weekend of my transitional I have left.

[Michael R.]

This leads me to believe that the transitional was a standalone model, not a repair parts pen.

 

 

The repair parts pen idea comes from an original MB document and matches previous known data that the resin 146 was only introduced in the 1970s but not earlier.

 

I'm curious to see your pen.

 

I have never seen one with a celluloid cap either; cap was always resin but celluloid cap top is possible.

 

Cheers

 

Michael