Dating Montblanc cases

[JCC123]

I'm surprised no one has started a thread on dating Montblanc cases so I will start one. I would like help figuring out what period were these cases used for 149.

This first one I believe is from the 1970s and perhaps early 1980s? I see that it has W Germany imprinted on the back bottom.

 

[JCC123]

This second one was probably one introduced after the first? I'm guessing that's the case because I had one of these type of clam shell cases in the late 1980s (a few post down below), although it was black and smooth plastic. I also wonder if there might have been differences between European cases vs U.S.? Although that's probably not as likely?

 

 

[NoType]

2 hours ago, JCC123 said:

I'm surprised no one has started a thread on dating Montblanc cases so I will start one. I would like help figuring out what period were these cases used for 149.

This first one I believe is from the 1970s and perhaps early 1980s? I see that it has W Germany imprinted on the back bottom.

 

@JCC123 I for one have little knowledge of the vast array of carrying and storage solutions offered by Montblanc through the decades, beyond glimpses of product in various catalogues that @Michael R. has generously shared, so your idea to begin this thread is most welcome!
 

The case you have pictured here is one I have never seen before.  Intriguing!

[NoType]

2 hours ago, JCC123 said:

This second one is probably after the first one? I'm guessing that's the case because I had one of these type of clam shell cases in the late 1980s, although it was black and smooth plastic. I also wonder if there might have been differences between European cases vs U.S.? Although that's probably not as likely?

 

 

@JCC123 This is the oldest style of case with which I am familiar, and have always thought it dated to the mid-twentieth century.  But perhaps it harks from earlier still?

[Seney724]

The celluloid 149's from the 50's (aka "Silver Rings") came in beautiful boxes which, I think, were Bakelite.

I have attached a photo of one, outside & inside views.  Unfortunately, I do not know who is the original owner of the photo and I so apologize to both the owner and the members for posting an image with no attribution.

[JCC123]

Thanks @NoType and @Seney724. Let's hope others contribute to this thread so everyone can be enlightened by community. I think it's always great to be able to find cases that match the period which the pens we own originate from. Complete sets are more valuable than free floating pens.

 

@Seney724 that looks like some fancy case. More so than later periods. I noticed that an eBay listing has what looks to be an authentic paper box for a 1958 146. Could the 149 boxes really be that much superior to the 146?

[JCC123]

This plastic black case was introduced back in the 1990's and they seem to be used for all of their pens as I recall?

 

[JCC123]

I remember these black plastic clamshell ones from the late 1980's. Perhaps the white ones I posted here in my second post was the predecessor? This black one had a smooth hard plastic.

 

[NoType]

2 hours ago, JCC123 said:

Let's hope others contribute to this thread so everyone can be enlightened by community. I think it's always great to be able to find cases that match the period which the pens we own originate from. Complete sets are more valuable than free floating pens.

@JCC123 I am in total agreement with all three of these points, but please allow me to applaud you on your wealth of contributions to this inspiring thread so far.  The diversity in type and era of the pen cases you have already submitted is quite impressive.  Like you, I look forward to future posts on this engaging subject.

[Seney724]

10 hours ago, JCC123 said:

Thanks @NoType and @Seney724. Let's hope others contribute to this thread so everyone can be enlightened by community. I think it's always great to be able to find cases that match the period which the pens we own originate from. Complete sets are more valuable than free floating pens.

 

@Seney724 that looks like some fancy case. More so than later periods. I noticed that an eBay listing has what looks to be an authentic paper box for a 1958 146. Could the 149 boxes really be that much superior to the 146?

To the best of my knowledge only the 149 was packaged in the fancy Bakelite box I have shown....

And, not for many years.  The box which followed was much less "luxurious." I think I have a photo of one somewhere, I'll look.

[JCC123]

On 3/10/2025 at 9:31 AM, Seney724 said:

To the best of my knowledge only the 149 was packaged in the fancy Bakelite box I have shown....

And, not for many years.  The box which followed was much less "luxurious." I think I have a photo of one somewhere, I'll look.

I also saw that late 1950's and/or early 1960's 149 had this type of case.

 

[joss]

On 3/9/2025 at 3:18 PM, JCC123 said:

This first one I believe is from the 1970s and perhaps early 1980s? I see that it has W Germany imprinted on the back bottom.

 

 

Older MB catalogues and advertisements show that the "The Art of Writing" slogan was fully implemented around 1985, so I would date this box to 1985 and later.

 

 

[joss]

On 3/9/2025 at 3:21 PM, JCC123 said:

This second one was probably one introduced after the first? I'm guessing that's the case because I had one of these type of clam shell cases in the late 1980s (a few post down below), although it was black and smooth plastic. I also wonder if there might have been differences between European cases vs U.S.? Although that's probably not as likely?

 

 

I would date this box to 1970-1980 because (1) the Montblanc letter logo font has details that were introduced in 1970 and (2) the slogan "Masters of The Art of Writing" (used circa 1980-1984) and "The Art of Writing" (introduced in 1985) are missing.

[JCC123]

@joss you're right. Now thinking about the clues you gave regarding the logo as well as their slogans That black case was likely from 1985-1988(9)? The white one was 70's. I wonder what the 60's cases look like? Perhaps the last black case that I posted 3 posts ago?

[Seney724]

45 minutes ago, JCC123 said:

@joss you're right. Now thinking about the clues you gave regarding the logo as well as their slogans That black case was likely from 1985-1988(9)? The white one was 70's. I wonder what the 60's cases look like? Perhaps the last black case that I posted 3 posts ago?

With apologies for the poor photos, I am happy to answer your question.

 

Earlier in this thread I posted photos of the first, so called "luxury" box used to house the 50's celluloid 149.  It was Bakelite.

 

Sometime in the late 50's or maybe very early 60's Montblanc abandoned the Bakelite luxury box for a less fancy metallic box to house the celluloid 149.  The inside of the box retained the silk like material but it was now red as opposed to the original amber.

 

The attached photos show the 2nd generation celluloiid 149 inner and outer boxes. You can see the cardboard outer box and cardboard end flap as well as the inner, metallic box in both the closed and open configurations.

 

As for the black case you posted just above, that one came sometime later on....perhaps when they transitioned from celluloid to resin?

[JCC123]

@Seney724 oh interesting, this box is very squarish compared to other clamshell ones.

[joss]

1 hour ago, JCC123 said:

@joss you're right. Now thinking about the clues you gave regarding the logo as well as their slogans That black case was likely from 1985-1988(9)? The white one was 70's. I wonder what the 60's cases look like? Perhaps the last black case that I posted 3 posts ago?

 

The black case that you posted has the older Montblanc logo and it dates that case to pre 1969. That is because the Montblanc letter logo changed in 1969: the triangle in the "A" disappeared and the letters "B", "L" and "C" changed shape. This image shows the change:

[Seney724]

Interesting!

And, it makes sense.....mostly.

 

The photo I posted a earlier today then depicts a box from the later era.  I have no issue with that;  I apologize if I provided some incorrect information. 

 

What bothers me, though, is the 149 in the photo is quite definitely a celluloid 149, aka Silver Ring and the box is said to be original by the owner of the pen who purchased it himself from MB it in 1959 or 1960.  By 1970 MB was well into the Resin era of 149s.

 

The feed on that pen is the second generation "grooves on face & shank" which followed the original ski slope feed.  Everything make sense except for the lettering. 

Oh, and one more thing, the box does not have the  ® after the "C" at the end of "MONTBLANC."

 

A little mystery to figure out!

[joss]

1 hour ago, Seney724 said:

With apologies for the poor photos, I am happy to answer your question.

 

Earlier in this thread I posted photos of the first, so called "luxury" box used to house the 50's celluloid 149.  It was Bakelite.

 

Sometime in the late 50's or maybe very early 60's Montblanc abandoned the Bakelite luxury box for a less fancy metallic box to house the celluloid 149.  The inside of the box retained the silk like material but it was now red as opposed to the original amber.

 

The attached photos show the 2nd generation celluloiid 149 inner and outer boxes. You can see the cardboard outer box and cardboard end flap as well as the inner, metallic box in both the closed and open configurations.

 

As for the black case you posted just above, that one came sometime later on....perhaps when they transitioned from celluloid to resin?

 

 

The case that is shown above has the 'new' logo so it is later than 1970.

 

Various models of the dark red-brownish boxes with a bakelite-like appearance were still used in the 1960s, for example for the all-metal Masterpieces (#94 and #92), but can also be found mated with lower line pens such as #32 and #34, although it is difficult to prove that a particular pen is original to a particular box. I do not know if the 1950s-1960s MB 149 came with a luxury box as standard, or if these boxes were sold separately, as an extra accessory that you could have with any MB pen you bought.

[Seney724]

3 minutes ago, joss said:

 

The case that is shown above has the 'new' logo so it is later than 1970.

 

Various models of the dark red-brownish boxes with a bakelite-like appearance were still used in the 1960s, for example for the all-metal Masterpieces (#94 and #92), but can also be found mated with lower line pens such as #32 and #34, although it is difficult to prove that a particular pen is original to a particular box. I do not know if the 1950s-1960s MB 149 came with a luxury box as standard, or if these boxes were sold separately, as an extra accessory that you could have with any MB pen you bought.

I have never seen or heard of that "luxury" box accompanying any MB pen except for the celluloid 149.  You?

 

Here is another MB Bakelite box from the 50's - 60's.