NOS 1970s MONTBLANC No. 221 261 281 Black Resin 14K EF Flex Nib Fountain Pen Lever Ballpoint & 1.17mm Mechanical Pencil Set in Box Item ID: MON-120

MONTBLANC No. 221 261 281 Set

Manufacturer/Model: Montblanc/Germany/No.221 261 281 Set
Year of production: Mid to Late 1970s
Filling system: FP: Piston Filling; BP: Montblanc refills, original included - still operational; MP: 1.17mm Leads - several included
Nib: Solid 14K 585 gold, EF nib fully flexible, writes up to BB Double Broad
Material: Plastic Resin & Gold Plated Trimmings
Length (pen closed): FP: 135mm; Posted 147mm; BP 127mm; MP: 132mm

Condition and information:
One of the most recognizable and most sold Montblanc pens of the late 60s and 70s, together with the Montblanc 320/32/24/22 and other such variations. The pens offered here are the set as originally offered, a class up from the 3xx models, and made before the juncture to the 80s and the launch of the Noblesse models. Even though these are the 2s, i.e. "not deserving" the 1 number, they are just as good and made out of the same materials and with the same level of craftsmanship and precision. The pens are made out of highly processed plastic resin with gold plated trimmings. The set comes in its original near NOS never used condition, in the original box as sold at the time. It consists of No.221 fountain pen, 281 lever ballpoint pen, and 261 push button mechanical pencil, rarely found in such all x3 edition. 

The fountain pen is a piston filler with the later introduced yellow band. It is a slip on-off cap for fast and easy deployment. The nib on the fountain pen is a smooth and precise EF extra fine size with full flexibility! It will write all bigger sizes with the slightest push while writing, especially on the down strokes, F, M, B, BB and possibly even wider depending on the ink viscosity. It is a solid 14K 585 gold. The pen has a perfectly functional piston mechanism, with its original silicone cork. It is super easy to disassemble and clean completely as the entire front section simply screws right out.

The set also includes the No. 281 lever ballpoint pen and push button mechanical pencil No. 261. The ballpoint pen features the famous lever mechanism. This Montblanc patented mechanism, also known as the "11th finger mechanism", is a special design feature where a lever is located under the clip, thus when the pen is placed/hanged into a pocket the pocket fabric passing under the clip will push the lever up and turn the pen off. This is a very convenient feature which makes sure the hanged pen will always turn itself off, thus prevent incidental line marks on the fabric (especially good feature for people in white coats). The mechanism is a joy to use, very easy, pushing the lever down will turn the pen on; pushing it up or hanging it into the pocket will turn it off. The original Montblanc giant refill is included and its fully operational, since the pen hasn't been used, its likely it will write for some time.

The No. 261 mechanical pencil borrows its mechanism entirely from the Masterpiece No.16 Pix mechanical pencil, thus not in a bit a lower class pencil as Montblanc would indicate. Actually, this 261 shares the exact same mechanism as the No. 320, No. 16 and No. 36 pencils, they are all virtually identical on the inside. The pencils are even the same size on the outside, even though they look differently and are different models, they are all 132mm long! This would indicate that there simply had to be different price class pens/pencils to appeal to various budges, even though the were virtually the same quality. The entire inside of the pencil is made out of metal. It is a very precise push button, with precise lead deployment. It its heavy due to its metal mechanism, and it feels solid and nice in the hand. It comes with several leads included and its ready to be used.

The set comes in a NOS condition, never used.