Meisterstuck 146 Education Needed

[JRP3]

I found this pen in an antique shop and I think I got it for a good price, even considering the need for repairs. Unfortunately, I know next to nothing about Mont Blanc pens so any and all information anyone can share with me about it is most appreciated. Here's what I can tell you. On the cap ring it says "Mont Blanc" "Meisterstuck" "No. 146." On the clip ring it says "W. Germany", "Metal", and serial number "CB101158." It's engraved "Robert H Nathan." In the engraving area at the base of the cap it is stamped "925" and "StOD" within a circle. There is something stamped inside the clip but I can't see what it says. The nib is two-tone 18K, stamped "750" near the base. The body and cap are metal with a knurled pattern. I checked it with a magnet and it is definitely non-ferrous. Overall length is 140mm, pen without cap is 125mm, and cap is 70mm.

 

I sent it back to Mont Blanc for a full restoration. As a result, the ink fill window is new with grey stripes. The original ink fill window was light blue with no stripes.

 

So, some specific questions I have. What is the model number/name? When was it manufactured? How do I tell if the nib is F, M, B? Is there an official naming convention for the knurled pattern? Does the engraved name increase or decrease the collectible value? And, of course, what is the value after restoration?

 

Again, many thanks to all!

[Carrau]

I’m not an MB expert, but it looks to be a 146 Solitaire in Sterling silver with a barleycorn pattern.  I think the W Germany indicates a 1980s pen, and the serial number on the cap ring was early 90’s.  The two tone nibs were later, I believe (mid 1990s?), so the nib or the cap ring may not be original. Someone else more knowledgeable will help sort it out.

[JRP3]

34 minutes ago, Carrau said:

I’m not an MB expert, but it looks to be a 146 Solitaire in Sterling silver with a barleycorn pattern.  I think the W Germany indicates a 1980s pen, and the serial number on the cap ring was early 90’s.  The two tone nibs were later, I believe (mid 1990s?), so the nib or the cap ring may not be original. Someone else more knowledgeable will help sort it out.

Thanks Carrau! How can you tell the serial number is from the early 90's? I'm trying to learn all I can about MBs but info seems to be hard to find.

[Carrau]

MB started adding serial numbers around the time of  German reunification in the early 1990s.  I did a quick search on dating 146 pens, and I’ve attached a few links to thread discussions that may be relevant to learning more.  It seems MB used up its stock of parts during transition periods, which may help explain seeing 1980s parts (W Germany, blue ink window) and early-mid 1990s parts (serial numbers, bicolor nib) on one pen. One of the links has a useful chart based on the parts to help with identification.  I hope the links are useful to you. It’s worth reading through the threads as each contributor adds a bit to the fund of knowledge.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/337490-dating-montblanc-146-legrand/

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/49210-how-to-determine-production-date-on-a-146/

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/208425-montblanc-146-sterling-silver-barley-corn-fountain-pen-review/

[Todor]

JR, this is a wonderful piece of their solitaire editions!
I find the patina pretty cool and would polish only the golden parts to put even more contrast. You mentioned you sent it for full restoration so I assume they polished everything. 

In addition to Carrau I can tell you they put under the clip Pix as another hallmark, just like StØD on silver or golden parts. The pattern is a „grain guilloche“, they also use thread guilloche or barley guilloche for their solitaire or doué editions and 750 gold nibs (18k). 
 

The nib seems to be the original one. At Montblanc they do not stamp the nib size. On the underside you can see the shape of the nib grain: for EF to M they use ball grains and for B and bigger they use flat grains. The nib seems to be a M size. However there is some cut on the right side what is unusual as oblique nibs have a cut left-sided. Maybe Mr. Nathan was a lefty or used to write from above or another unusual position.. Just try and write some lines with the pen and you can estimate if this is a M nib and if there is a special cut. 
 

Have fun with this wonderful pen 😊

The worst thing you can do is to leave it in the drawer

 

Kind regards,

Todor

[Carrau]

4 hours ago, Todor said:

JR, this is a wonderful piece of their solitaire editions!
I find the patina pretty cool and would polish only the golden parts to put even more contrast. You mentioned you sent it for full restoration so I assume they polished everything. 

In addition to Carrau I can tell you they put under the clip Pix as another hallmark, just like StØD on silver or golden parts. The pattern is a „grain guilloche“, they also use thread guilloche or barley guilloche for their solitaire or doué editions and 750 gold nibs (18k). 
 

The nib seems to be the original one. At Montblanc they do not stamp the nib size. On the underside you can see the shape of the nib grain: for EF to M they use ball grains and for B and bigger they use flat grains. The nib seems to be a M size. However there is some cut on the right side what is unusual as oblique nibs have a cut left-sided. Maybe Mr. Nathan was a lefty or used to write from above or another unusual position.. Just try and write some lines with the pen and you can estimate if this is a M nib and if there is a special cut. 
 

Have fun with this wonderful pen 😊

The worst thing you can do is to leave it in the drawer

 

Kind regards,

Todor

I was thinking the same thing about the possibility of that being a right oblique nib, but with it being so shallow an angle and limited views of the nib, I couldn’t be sure I was really seeing an angle.  The PIX engraving is a late 1990s feature, IIRC.  If considering polishing the gold portions, remember they are  plated, and may wear off with polishing.

Thank you, Todor, for the comments on nib grains.  Do you have a reference or link to information about nib grains, as I’ d be interested in learning more about them.  

[Todor]

On right oblique I am not sure as well because of the photo. I merely assumed the nib might be a customized one. 
 

Regarding hallmarks, Montblanc is not really consistent when placing them and when not. Pix is a very old trademark for pencils and they put it now on the underside of clips of different items, maybe because it‘s too tricky to fake it as part of cast metal. In fact I purchased a Mozart edition last year and it is hallmarked with a Pix. I guess they keep old clichés for metal parts in their factory and still use it. 
 

19 hours ago, Carrau said:

If considering polishing the gold portions, remember they are  plated, and may wear off with polishing

Good point and I meant to put on a cotton swab that non-abrasive polish, we call it „silver milk“ here and you can use it for both cutlery or jewellery without damaging the surface. 

Talking about nib grains I thought it is well-known they use ball grains for EF to M nibs and flat grains of different shapes for B and bigger. Unlike Pelikan where they use flat grains only for their Souverän line and use ball grains even for BB nibs for the rest, esp. vintage designs. 
However, Montblanc is very proud of their nib range as the standard is EF to OBBB but never limited to those shapes. For modern nibs there is a lot of variation in contrast to MB vintage nibs with minimal grains or without any. I guess Iridium was far more precious in the 20th century — or let me say it that way: There were fewer crazies like us who pay thousands of euros or dollars for a single pen 😊

 

As a reference you can take a look on this information:
https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/customer-service/writing-instruments

NB: This is not a 1:1 translation of the German document which is more detailed on nib sizes. 
 

You can also read the posts of Thomas here, he is a Montblanc and Visconti expert and a fantastic photographer: 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/362690-new-mb-family-memberegyptomania-fp/

Here is a link to his private gallery where you can see a snake nib with a B grain aligned to the nib tip:

https://www.otterbein.photo/Fountain-Pens

 

Montblanc offers from time to time special nibs. If you visit Hamburg you have to go to the Montblanc Haus next to the factory which is a stunning mix of architecture, museum and event site, e.g. for calligraphy and handwriting courses. Only there you can buy a 146 or 149 Hamburg edition. They offer customizations as well. And of course their insanely expensive bespoke nib service that you can book in major boutiques around the globe. 
 

A more effortless way is to keep a keen eye on Fritz Schimpf, a very committed pen shop and a company of enthusiasts in Tübingen, where I was at the university years ago. They bring special MB editions, only made for them and you can inquire for nib customization (e.g. like Italic cut) as they have a nib master in collaboration. And they have a world-famous customer service, of course shipping to anywhere on globe:

https://www.fritz-schimpf.de/

 

 

 

 

[Todor]

On right oblique I am not sure as well because of the photo. I merely assumed the nib might be a customized one. 
 

Regarding hallmarks, Montblanc is not really consistent when placing them and when not. Pix is a very old trademark for pencils and they put it now on the underside of clips of different items, maybe because it‘s too tricky to fake it as part of cast metal. In fact I purchased a Mozart edition last year and it is hallmarked with a Pix. I guess they keep old clichés for metal parts in their factory and still use it. 
 

20 hours ago, Carrau said:

If considering polishing the gold portions, remember they are  plated, and may wear off with polishing

Good point and I meant to put on a cotton swab that non-abrasive polish, we call it „silver milk“ here and you can use it for both cutlery or jewellery without damaging the surface. 

Talking about nib grains I thought it is well-known they use ball grains for EF to M nibs and flat grains of different shapes for B and bigger. Unlike Pelikan where they use flat grains only for their Souverän line and use ball grains even for BB nibs for the rest, esp. vintage designs. 
However, Montblanc is very proud of their nib range as the standard is EF to OBBB but never limited to those shapes. For modern nibs there is a lot of variation in contrast to MB vintage nibs with minimal grains or without any. I guess Iridium was far more precious in the 20th century — or let me say it that way: There were fewer crazies like us who pay thousands of euros or dollars for a single pen 😊

 

As a reference you can take a look on this information:
https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/customer-service/writing-instruments

NB: This is not a 1:1 translation of the German document which is more detailed on nib sizes. 
 

You can also read the posts of Thomas here, he is a Montblanc and Visconti expert and a fantastic photographer: 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/362690-new-mb-family-memberegyptomania-fp/

Here is a link to his private gallery where you can see a snake nib with a B grain aligned to the nib tip:

https://www.otterbein.photo/Fountain-Pens

 

Montblanc offers from time to time special nibs. If you visit Hamburg you have to go to the Montblanc Haus next to the factory which is a stunning mix of architecture, museum and event site, e.g. for calligraphy and handwriting courses. Only there you can buy a 146 or 149 Hamburg edition. They offer customizations as well. And of course their insanely expensive bespoke nib service that you can book in major boutiques around the globe. 
 

A more effortless way is to keep a keen eye on Fritz Schimpf, a very committed pen shop and a company of enthusiasts in Tübingen, where I was at the university years ago. They bring special MB editions, only made for them and you can inquire for nib customization (e.g. like Italic cut) as they have a nib master in collaboration. And they have a world-famous customer service, of course shipping to anywhere on globe:

https://www.fritz-schimpf.de/

 

https://www.fritz-schimpf.de/en/Brands/Montblanc/Montblanc-x-Fritz-Schimpf-Special-Editions/

 

 

[Carrau]

Thank you for your informative response and links.  If I am reading things correctly, I think by “nib grain” you are referring to the shape of the tipping on the nibs, that varies with size and customization.  I have been fortunate enough to have one of Fritz Schimpf’s special edition MB pens, and that shop does enjoy a special collaboration with MB.

[Todor]

Yes, by “nib grain” I mean the Iridium grain or corn which MB shapes in several ways and put it to the nib in several ways as well: attached, aligned etc. 

I prefer braod nibs so with MB I focus on „half-grains“ like the standard 145 / 149 nibs on the one side or the very flat grains like the Egyptomania on the other side. The Egyptomania pen is part of the Heritage line and they use a specific design for softer and more responsive nibs, so according to this they shaped even the grains in a specific way. 
 

The only M pen I have is a 145 Doué with a very small ball point on a 18K nib — very smooth, very soft and with some line variation. Compared to the most other manufacturers it would be considered a B. Maybe the MB design is one of the reasons why German nibs are considered to be wider than others. 
 

5 hours ago, Carrau said:

I have been fortunate enough to have one of Fritz Schimpf’s special edition MB pens, and that shop does enjoy a special collaboration with MB.

Oh, that’s great and I am pretty jealous as their customizations are impressive but unfortunately they do not fit my handwriting. Maybe I need to make a visit and try them more extensive and exercise 😊

NB: Schimpf also started a collaboration with SCRIBO from Bologna last year. Thrilling!

[Todor]

..

[JRP3]

Carrau and Todor - Thank you VERY MUCH for the amazing information provided. This will definitely improve my knowledge and education of MB pens. I'm looking forward to diving into the links provided.

 

As a side note, the restoration seems to have fixed the cut on the right side of the nib. It is definitely a ball grain. I haven't written with it after the restoration but, before I sent it off, it very much wrote like a medium.

[Heinkle]

Would be interested to see how Montblanc have restored the exterior of the pen. 

[Todor]

On 3/13/2024 at 12:14 AM, Heinkle said:

Would be interested to see how Montblanc have restored the exterior of the pen. 

Oh yes, as the patina seemed quite interesting. Normally, silver will get a yellow/brown patina if you don’t use the pen frequently, but this one looked pretty different. 
When you use the mentioned „silver milk“ which here is mostly of English origin and very reliable, your pen will have the shine of pure silver and no patina at all for the next year. 
 

Btw, how do you guys call this highly fluid & non-abrasive silver polish in GB/USA?

 

Kind regards,

Todor

[a student]

On 3/4/2024 at 12:55 AM, Todor said:

NB: Schimpf also started a collaboration with SCRIBO from Bologna last year. Thrilling!

 

Thank you for this. Any writing experience with this nib, or news of such?

[Chris P. Garza]

On 2/28/2024 at 4:22 AM, JRP3 said:

I found this pen in an antique shop and I think I got it for a good price, even considering the need for repairs. Unfortunately, I know next to nothing about Mont Blanc pens so any and all information anyone can share with me about it is most appreciated. Here's what I can tell you. On the cap ring it says "Mont Blanc" "Meisterstuck" "No. 146." On the clip ring it says "W. Germany", "Metal", and serial number "CB101158." It's engraved "Robert H Nathan." In the engraving area at the base of the cap it is stamped "925" and "StOD" within a circle. There is something stamped inside the clip but I can't see what it says. The nib is two-tone 18K, stamped "750" near the base. The body and cap are metal with a knurled pattern. I checked it with a magnet and it is definitely non-ferrous. Overall length is 140mm, pen without cap is 125mm, and cap is 70mm.

 

I sent it back to Mont Blanc for a full restoration. As a result, the ink fill window is new with grey stripes. The original ink fill window was light blue with no stripes.

 

So, some specific questions I have. What is the model number/name? When was it manufactured? How do I tell if the nib is F, M, B? Is there an official naming convention for the knurled pattern? Does the engraved name increase or decrease the collectible value? And, of course, what is the value after restoration?

 

Again, many thanks to all!

 From your description, it’s definitely a proper Montblanc, and the knurled metal body is pretty rare compared to the usual resin ones. Figuring out the nib size (F, M, can be tricky if it’s not marked clearly, but a little writing test usually tells you what you’ve got. The engraved name adds a personal touch -it might not make it more collectible, but it definitely gives it character. Since you sent it in for restoration, the new ink window is part of their process, and pens like this can hold their value really well when handled by Montblanc. By the way, while I was checking details and trying to do some quick calculations on sizes and pricing, I found that using a long division calculator https://edubrain.ai/long-division-calculator/ that shows step by step how division works, which is actually handy if you’re trying to split costs or compare fractions of ink capacity. It’s super simple to use, and seeing each step makes numbers feel way less confusing, especially when you’re just trying to make sense of measurements or restoration costs. Honestly, once you get a feel for it, even little things like nib width or ink fill ratios are easier to handle, and it keeps the whole pen hobby more fun. 

I’d be pretty excited about this pen. From what I can tell, it’s a Meisterstück 146 Metal/Knurled made in West Germany, probably late 70s or 80s. The “925” on the cap means there’s sterling silver, and the nib size - F, M, or B - should be engraved really close to the tip if you look carefully. I’d say the engraved name might make it a tiny bit less collectible for hardcore collectors, but to me it just adds character. After a full Montblanc restoration, I’d guess it’s worth a good amount, maybe around a thousand bucks, and it’s the kind of pen I’d feel proud to actually use rather than just keep on a shelf.