Amazing 1950s MONTBLANC Masterpiece/Meisterstuck 146 Transparent Celluloid F to 3B Super Flexible Nib Telescopic Piston Fountain Pen Item ID: MON-121

MONTBLANC Meisterstück 146 - c1950s

Manufacturer/Model: Montblanc/Germany; "Montblanc Meisterstück" inscription on the cap ring / "146" Inscription on the turning knob
Year of production: Mid to late 50s (1956-1959)
Filling system: Three stage Telescopic Piston (Original silicone cork)
Nib: 14K 585 Two Tone Gold; F Fine Size - Super Flexible writes to 3B!
Material: High Shine Semi Transparent Celluloid, Gold Filled Trimmings. Telescopic piston made out of steel and brass. Ivory color cap Montblanc Mountain Top Snow Star 
Length (pen closed): 134mm; posted at 156; 15mm Diameter @cap ring

Condition and information:
We are very proud to offer this truly remarkable find, an original first production Montblanc 146, in amazing condition! The 146 together with its bigger brother 149 from the 50s are remarkably hard and rare to find in good condition as they were produced in much much lesser quantities than the smaller 142 and 144. These are the pens from the 50s that set the stage for what Montblanc would become, the pens that set them apart from pretty much every pen maker out there. Both with their nearly perfect timeless classic form factor that still persists to this day, as well their technical achievement with the telescopic piston filler, and not to mention the quality of craftsmanship and the materials, simply amazing! This form factor is probably the most recognizable pen form in the world. 

The pen here is made in the later 50s, since it has its original silicone cork, not found in the earlier 1950s 146, since they had a wooden corks at the start. The pen bares the inscription "Montblanc Meisterstück" on the ring, which means it was made for the German market, as usually the pens for export had ""Montblanc Masterpiece" inscription on the ring. The "146" is inscribed on the turning knob.

If there is pen with a perfect balance, perfect form factor, perfect feel and writing experience, perfect appeal and quality, this would be it. There is nothing like these celluloid 1950s Montblanc pens. The build quality is amazing with stunning depth of amber like color celluloid, immense attention to detail but also design as "form follows function". All of these pens were all made by hand by master craftsman. Some parts such as the piston and clip are cast brass and steel, heavy and almost impossible to damage. Unlike new clips which are made from thin pressed metal sheets, these clips were cast metal, and the difference is both visible and tangible. It's hard to believe that such pens were made nearly 70 years ago. All of these pens had their celluloid barrels painted black from the inside, hence when a more chemically active ink was used, over time some of this black color would ware off. The black coloring of the barrel was done in order to make an ink window, and only the barrel was painted, however it is not the case with the section, the cap, the turning knob, as here the celluloid was painted when cast, so its all black even on the inside. Nonetheless, even with the discoloring of the barrel, the pen looks even more stunning as it reveals the true amazing amber color of the celluloid, as well as the wonder works of the telescopic piston system. This pen here is the "long ink window" version, still visible by the length of the ink window lines, and they clearly extend even with the cap fully closed.

The walls of both the body and cap are very thick, very heavy. The telescopic piston is visible in action, and it's probably the most overly engineered piston system ever, however perfectly reliable. To this day, the piston works smoothly, takes bunch of ink and with its silicone cork makes perfect vacuum inside the barrel, it even doesn't need any special lubrication, and most importantly it does not rust. This brass and steel 3 stage complex piston gives the pen an additional weight, making it very heavy, feeling solid in the hand. This piston system retracts like a vintage spyglasses inside the pen, thus making more space for the ink inside the barrel. This system is so complex and expensive to manufacture, that later Montblanc pens, even the 149 don't have it, however it proved to be one of the best ever invented, and most reliable too.

The nib is a masterpiece of its own. A large 146 nib with full flexibility as they used to make them. It is F fine size and it is fully flexible nib that simply immerses itself on the paper. The pen will write lines more than 2-3mm wide on the down strokes. Depending on the way it's held, fast side strokes can be thin, and using the flex can add to the variation. Basically there is no line this pen cannot produce; some of the best writing one could hope to achieve with a fountain pen. Since the ebonite feed is large and with wide ink canal, it will feed this enormous and hungry nib without interruption, providing steady   ink flow.

The trimmings and the clip unlike the newer models are thick gold filled, so no gold wear off will occur. 3 gold bands on the cap help prevent cracks. The yellowish ivory like star is amazing with a distinct vintage appeal to it. The pen is in perfect functional and cosmetic condition besides the usual discoloring within the barrel. There are no cracks, gold wear off, scratches, loose rings, deformations or other such issues found on these very old Montblanc pens, no personal engraving too, simply a perfectly preserved original Montblanc 146 pen, ready to be used and enjoyed daily! The pen is not restored, except cleaned and polished, and comes with all of its original parts.