Montblanc 420 & 440 Celluloid Wiese

[AcLondon]

Hello FPN, more riddles for a new collector... I've picked up a pair of montblanc pens in an auction. They are a pair of brown and grey 14c striated 1950s fountain pens. They are clearly Wiese-made Spanish models. The grey one says 420 on it and (having not yet received them) the brown (tortoise-shell) is undetermined. I've come to be convinced it's a 440. I can find some info on the spanish-made 42&44 models but does anyone know anything about the 420&440 models and how, if at all, they differed from 42&44? Photo from auction below. 

[AcLondon]

I may have found at least a partial answer to my question from GoPens catalog 92 (below). Anyone any further info on the 420&440s being made in Germany, rather than Spain?

[joss]

The 420 and 440 were definitely made in Spain, not Germany. Some but not all of the 420/440 pens had a Montblanc imprint on the cap band.

There is just a difference in the clip: the 420 and 440 have a straight clip (your grey pen) while the 42 and 44 have a more stylized clip that narrows near the end (your brown pen).

So the brown striated pen is a 42, 44 or 46 if it is a piston filler. If it is a button filler it is a 22, 24 or 26.

 

[AcLondon]

Brilliant insight, Joss, thank you. The tiny bits of info I can glean suggest the 420/440 came before the 42/44. Is that correct?

[joss]

1 hour ago, AcLondon said:

Brilliant insight, Joss, thank you. The tiny bits of info I can glean suggest the 420/440 came before the 42/44. Is that correct?

 

I do not know. The differences between the 4x and 4x0 are very subtle so my guess it that they were produced in the same time period. The book "Montblanc pens made in Spain" by Jesús Martínez Guillén also does not mention a different production period for these models.

[Toll]

I can’t comment on the historical provenance. But, they are beautiful pens. Congratulations! 

[AcLondon]

Thanks for that, Toll.  They may ultimately end up being sold. My mission is to raise enough money for a 1950s 149.  Then I'll retire to write my thoughts in historical luxury:-)

[FredRydr]

Pick up a copy:

 

[AcLondon]

Thanks again to you all for commenting and helping me with these two pens.  They've just arrived.  The 420 has a broken piston (I knew that in advance) but the 44 (you were right, Joss) works perfectly.  I've never had a Montblanc that writes like it!  It's incredible - possibly the most fun writing a stroke I've ever had.  Super flex, great variation.  Maybe I'll give up on that 149 and become a Wiese-pen man.  Thanks again to you all.