Is This A Genuine 146?

[bookbinder3]

Hi there,

I have two other Montblanc pens. A 149 I bought from the local Montblanc counter, and a 146 I previously bought online. I was able to use the information here to satisfy myself that it was genuine (it's a W Germany monotone nib) and the man at the Montblanc counter agreed with no hesitation.

 

I received a second 146 yesterday that both he and I are a little less sure of. It's to be a present for a friend and I wouldn't like to be gifting a copy, so I would really appreciate some help. The man at the Montblanc counter originally said he thought it wasn't genuine, but was only basing this on it saying "Germany" on the clip ring and having no serial number or anything written under the clip. Then I mentioned that I had seen (on this forum) that vintage Montblanc pens have many combinations of all/some/none of these features and he then said that it probably was real, but the forum could probably tell me better than he could, so here I am.

 

The eBay listing said it was from the 90's, and it came in a hard black plastic box (it says "gift box made in holland" on the underside. From looking on the forums here I wonder if it may actually be from the 70's ( or again, quite possibly, just not real). It is a hair shorter than my other 146 (which, like I say, is 80's-early 90's, pre serial numbers). My main concern is the engraving around the cap band, which is sharp, but quite a bit smaller (in the band) than my more modern pens. I see this is something more common in the older pens though.

 

I'll attach some pictures, sorry about their poor quality, doing my best with the iPad. It has a decidedly blue (no bars) ink window, but there is definitely some dried ink in there.

 

Thanks all.

Robert

 

[CS388]

Nice.

 

From what I can see, I'd say it's the genuine article.

An early, monotone nib, split-ebonite feed, blue window 146. Probably 1970's - 1980's.

 

Welcome to FPN.

[bookbinder3]

Thanks for your reply. The slightly smaller cap engraving isn't a problem then? Was there a point at which is was made larger like the modern pens? Just tried putting some water through it, lots of blue came out (as expected) but it doesn't seem to want to suck anything up, and the plunger that comes down looks to be white (or clear) plastic.

[jpierson]

Try soaking the nib up to the section in cool water for a few hours and then try again.

[CS388]

Thanks for your reply. The slightly smaller cap engraving isn't a problem then? Was there a point at which is was made larger like the modern pens? Just tried putting some water through it, lots of blue came out (as expected) but it doesn't seem to want to suck anything up, and the plunger that comes down looks to be white (or clear) plastic.

 

The font changed many times, as far as I know.

 

As jpierson says, soak the nib/section in water for a lo-ong time. It probably has dried up ink clogging the feed channels.

 

Good luck.

[jar]

That the ink was blue is a great sign. Patience and soak, try, soak, try, soak... And yes, the piston head should be a translucent white plastic.

[bookbinder3]

Thanks folks, seems to be going better now.

Edited May 28, 2016 by bookbinder3

[Fabienne]

Jar, just curious...why is blue ink a good sign?

[meiers]

To me, blue is a good sign because all the blue inks I know are very harmless and water soluble.

 

Now I am looking forward to hearing from Jar.

[Raif79]

It looks just like my 146. I've got a 14k monotone nib, stripeless ink window and the capband lettering is small just like yours. It's late 70's-early 80's. So yes, your 146 is very real.

[bookbinder3]

It looks just like my 146. I've got a 14k monotone nib, stripeless ink window and the capband lettering is small just like yours. It's late 70's-early 80's. So yes, your 146 is very real.

Thanks for that! Good to hear.

[jar]

Jar, just curious...why is blue ink a good sign?

Generally the inks to fear are the black India inks. If the ink is dissolving and showing up during soaking good, if blue then it's likely it will eventually do jess fine. Blue black might be a greater problem, reds take forever and Sheaffer Turquoise may never flush away fully.