MB #342 - your experience with this model?

[leonardo]

Am kicking around the idea of getting one of these pens, but am curious what their strengths and weaknesses are. Since they are older, I'm concerned that there may be seals that need replacing, and I am also concerned about the hard rubber piston threads binding.

Any insight based on your personal experiences will lbe greatly appreciated!

 

Also how the 342 compare to the 146 for size & ink capacity would be of interest.

So far have tried the MB 144, 146 and 149 and really like the 146. Others are too big and too small...

 

 

[Nikolaos]

Hi Leonardo,

 

i have the 342-G and it is a pretty sweet pen. Good things about this pen: it holds a lot of ink for a pen of this size, and the nib is very flexible and really smooth. Also the clear ink view window gives you a good idea about how much ink is in the pen. I had mine completely restored about one month ago. There is a new cork piston installed, the cap band ring has been tightened, the pen is polished and the montblanc imprints (mountain logo on the side of the cap, and 342-G and BB on the piston knob) are super crisp. The pen looks like it just came out of the factory. The cost for a complete restoration done by a profesional ex-MB employee was 80 euros so not that cheap. I am considering selling the pen since it gets no use, but haven't made up my mind yet.

These pens generally have seen a lot of use so at some stage they require some kind of restoration.

The 342 is around 12.5 cm so it is much smaller than then 146. Same goes for the girth of the pen. Flexible nibs found on most 342s are a real bonus and you can't get that flexibility on any modern 146s.

Let me know if you need more info

 

Nikolaos

 

[leonardo]

Hi Leonardo,

 

i have the 342-G and it is a pretty sweet pen. Good things about this pen: it holds a lot of ink for a pen of this size, and the nib is very flexible and really smooth. Also the clear ink view window gives you a good idea about how much ink is in the pen. I had mine completely restored about one month ago. There is a new cork piston installed, the cap band ring has been tightened, the pen is polished and the montblanc imprints (mountain logo on the side of the cap, and 342-G and BB on the piston knob) are super crisp. The pen looks like it just came out of the factory. The cost for a complete restoration done by a profesional ex-MB employee was 80 euros so not that cheap. I am considering selling the pen since it gets no use, but haven't made up my mind yet.

These pens generally have seen a lot of use so at some stage they require some kind of restoration.

The 342 is around 12.5 cm so it is much smaller than then 146. Same goes for the girth of the pen. Flexible nibs found on most 342s are a real bonus and you can't get that flexibility on any modern 146s.

Let me know if you need more info

 

Nikolaos

 

THANK YOU NICKOLAOS! I sent you an email with a couple more questions... sounds like a very nice pen! Let me know if you ever decide to sell it.

 

Best Regards,

 

Mark in USA