some info on MB Noblesse Slimline?

[mackal]

So it turns out my parents had a stowed away Montblanc pen from early 1980s, and I'd like to find out more about it. Actually, it came as a set, with a matching ballpoint pen. The fountain pen looks identical to one shown in

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...t&p=1056325

except mine is black. Although the ink is completely dried up in the cartridge, I dipped the nib in some water and it started writing immediately (I guess with the dried out residue in the nib). It looks to me to be a non-japanese (i.e., thicker) fine point.

 

Anyhow, some things I'd like to know:

- I presume the nib is steel, under gold plating? (I'd like one day to try out a real gold nib, to see what all the hub bub is about, but doubt this is the case here, as this is a MB "entry level" pen, from what I understand)

- are there any marking for nib size? I don't see any in the regular places...

- what are people's impressions of writing with it? The mini-test I did felt OK... frankly the slimness of the pen is a bit of a problem for my bigger hands...

- do these take international cartridges? what type of converter would work here?

- any other history, place in Montblanc universe you can provide...

[Ghost Plane]

MB nibs aren't marked for size. The rest I don't know and will defer to the experts who'll be along.

[Frits B]

You might have a look here: http://www.fountainpen.de/old-70-80-slimline.htm as already referenced in the earlier FPN thread. Nib should be 18K and the pen takes cartridges as well as a converter, international size.

[JonRis]

I just bought one... from the photos it looks brons-ish in colour. Looking forward to get it this week with the post hopefully!

Jon

[penparadise]

Hi,

First, this is a Montblanc "SlimLine" model and not a Montblanc "Noblesse" (and not a "Nolblesse Slimline" either). Both lines are completely different and have nothing to do with each other.

- I presume the nib is steel, under gold plating? (I'd like one day to try out a real gold nib, to see what all the hub bub is about, but doubt this is the case here, as this is a MB "entry level" pen, from what I understand)

Yes, all SlimLine fountain pens had steel nibs. They never had gold nibs.

- are there any marking for nib size?

No there aren't.

- do these take international cartridges?

Yes.

- what type of converter would work here?

Any international converter will do.

- any other history, place in Montblanc universe you can provide...

Just don't rely on web pages who mix up "Noblesse" and "SlimLine".

 

Axel

[penparadise]

QUOTE (Frits B @ Jun 21 2009, 12:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nib should be 18K.

No, no SilimLine pens used 14K or 18K nibs!

 

[SincerelySpicy]

First, this is a Montblanc "SlimLine" model and not a Montblanc "Noblesse" (and not a "Nolblesse Slimline" either). Both lines are completely different and have nothing to do with each other.

 

 

I agree that they are different models, but I wouldn't say that they are completely different and have nothing to do with each other. The Noblesse (not the noblesse oblige) looks a lot like the Slimline, with the ONLY differences being the material, clip, and the nib material. I have one of each and I can say that they are exactly the same proportions and they even use pretty much the same cap and barrel end trim pieces. My Slimline is a black matte finish while the Noblesse is brushed stainless steel. The nibs are exactly the same shape and will interchange, however the noblesse has a 14k nib and only marked with a 585, and the Slimline has a presumably gold plated steel nib marked with the Montblanc star logo and Mont Blanc on two lines.

 

The noblesse came in all metal finishes such as brushed stainless steel, gold plated with various surface textures, and i believe I saw some white metal plated ones/sterling silver ones, but I could be wrong. The Slimline came with varying finishes including pretty much the same stainless steel as the noblesse, matte black, matte white, matte burgundy, and gunmetal among others.

Edited June 22, 2009 by SJM1123

[Frits B]

QUOTE (Frits B @ Jun 21 2009, 12:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nib should be 18K.

No, no SilimLine pens used 14K or 18K nibs!

Verbeuge mich für den Meister

[SincerelySpicy]

Here's a curious interchange of the name by a well known and respected source: PenHero

[penparadise]

Here's a curious interchange of the name by a well known and respected source: PenHero

Respected? Well, definately not for this page! Sorry, but I have never seen such a poorly investigated article with so many mistakes and wrong conclusions as this one. Yes, the article is "curious".

 

Two years ago and a second time about one year ago I wrote Jim about this article (in much more moderate words than the sentence above) and gave him dates and lists with the correct names and models but to my very disappointment the article wasn't revised and I never got an answer. So I recieved the impression that this is quite a poor behaviour for the so called "Pen Hero". And yes, this ignorance makes me angry.

 

Axel

 

[SincerelySpicy]

I'm curious. Of all the references I've found of the two particular lines of pens, I've found that the vast majority use one name on the other, or use both names in combination. Could there be a reason other than the fact that the two look very similar for the widespread interchange of names? I'm wondering what the mont blanc catalogs originally said....

[Cessna811]

Well, I am in the middle of an issue as I posted what I was certain was a MB Noblesse for Trade which I purchased in the late 70's to early 80's to find out it may not be a Noblesse at all. Currently, the only thing I know for certain now is that it is indeed a Montblanc, which I knew all along.

 

I recently sent the pictures to Montblanc for their final word on this pen so I can help clear up a misunderstanding for which I take full responsibility. I did so much research on these pens, as I owned both the rollerball and fountain pen. The only reason I considered selling or trading them was because they were too "slim" for my hand due to hand surgery and I could no longer write with them. It was not my intention to mislead anyone and it's curious to me that I had it posted as a trade and no one corrected me.

 

I have learned a great deal from this website, as well as others, and it is nerve-wracking when you think you have finally found the correct answer, and still can't be certain. At least I don't feel so alone.

 

I am only a lover of pens, certainly no expert, and I joined FPN because of the great network of people who most often go out of their way to try and help one another. Thank you.

 

Judi

 

 

 

 

[Cessna811]

I sent pictures of the pen in question and the following is a portion of the reply I received which indicates that the pen was not a Noblesse but a SL.

 

After checking with the Montblanc Facility in Texas, this pen is actually a SL, which I imagine stands for Slimline. Most likely the model # is 9120 from their 1970's catalog. It is described as Smoky chrome with chrome plated finishings. The nib is "High-grade steel gold-plated wing nib".

 

Hope this information is beneficial. Judi