What's so special about this pencil?

[gvl]

I always thought that the Noblesse was one of the cheaper Montblanc pens.

 

I was therefore surprised at the price this particular pencil fetched - Noblesse pencil

 

Is it a particular rare/early Noblesse model?

 

The reason why I ask, is that I have a boxed ballpoint and pencil set. The ballpoint has a Montblanc Giant refill - however the mechanism by which it operates flummoxes me. Pressing the button at the top of the pen extends the refill but it does not retract... The top of the refill is smooth so I now sure if there is a way to retract the refill without removing and re-inserting it into the body of the pen. Does anyone have any ideas?

[krom101]

I'm totally unfamiliar with both the pencil pictured, and the ball point you desribed. Have you tried to lift the end of the clip, or tried depressing the top of it? I had a ball point years ago that retracted when you did that. I believe the idea was the pen point could not deploy when the pen was clipped in one's pocket.

[gvl]

I'm totally unfamiliar with both the pencil pictured, and the ball point you desribed. Have you tried to lift the end of the clip, or tried depressing the top of it? I had a ball point years ago that retracted when you did that. I believe the idea was the pen point could not deploy when the pen was clipped in one's pocket.

 

Brilliant! Many thanks krom. I hadn't thought that the mechanism for retracting the point would be through the clip. Quite ingenious...

 

This is quite a novel pen and pencil set. The pen and pencil are very similar in appearance but can be told apart by the Montblanc symbol on the button at the top. The ballpoint has the normal white star on a black background whilst on the pencil the colors are reversed - see link to Ebay item in my previous posting.

[Kalessin]

By the way, I think the auction sold high for the item. I'd suggest looking at a number of prices for the used ones across the net to get a better idea of value.

[mase001]

My guess is someone was intrigued by the black star.

 

Mason

[niksch]

That black star and because it's blingy.

[Deirdre]

Well let's not forget that one person being willing to pay a lot doesn't lead to a high final bid on eBay. There have to be at least two people, and in this case there were three people willing to pay more than $150.

[niksch]

AND it's blingy! Or maybe that isn't the reason at all. Nice pencil though...

Edited January 10, 2009 by niksch

[Deirdre]

AND it's blingy! Or maybe that isn't the reason at all. Nice pencil though...

Sometimes you crack me up.

[gvl]

A little further research found the matching ballpoint - Ebay ballpoint.

 

So they can't be that rare. Not such good condition - but still blingy!

 

Has some way to go if it is to match the price the pencil fetched.

[DocNib]

That Noblesse model also had a matching FP & Quickpen (took BP, Fine Fiber Pt. & XF Fiber Pt.). I sold this model in the mid-80's & it was popular, very classy, but on the thin side for a lot of people. I still have my catalogs showing the series, 1986 as the last year for it, then the Noblesse Jeweler GP series showed up to replace it (3-cheers for the new design, "UGLY! UGLY! UGLY!").

 

Called the Noblesse 14K Gold Plated engraved series (vertical fluting): FP was #1147 at $198.00, Quickpen was #1347 at $150.00, BP was #1947 at $95.00 and matching "Pix" PCL was #1547 also at $95.00. Uses the current MB refill, but has an adaptor added at the base of the refill...so the smooth, rounded end of the BP refill is a snap-on piece the helps to engage the "Ball Pix" mechanism, otherwise it's too short for the clip-retracting unit to work.

 

Blingy from afar, but also quite classy when people got a closer look at it and meticulously made when exposed to the discerning eye...it had to be if it was a Montblanc and wasn't the usual wide diameter! Now the nib on the FP was 14K (for the U.S.) and was absolutely SWEET!

 

More than my 2-Cents worth, but 1st-hand experience with the little beauties!

Enjoy,

DOC