Out with the New & In with the Old: Why Vintage Montblancs Are Just Better!

Montblanc fountain pens have long been synonymous with luxury, quality, and status. Since their founding in 1906, Montblanc has been producing the highest quality writing instruments for all those who could afford them. Now, they are one of the most recognizable brands in the world. The white “Snowflake” or “Star” is a symbol of grandeur to fountain pen enthusiasts and the general public alike. However, as with many luxury items, there is an ongoing debate about whether the charm and quality of vintage pieces can rival, or even surpass, their modern counterparts. In this article, we’ll explore the unique characteristics of Montblanc pens from the 1960s, 70s and 80s and compare them to contemporary models available from Montblanc today.

It is important to note that after around 1985, the pens produced by Montblanc are much closer in regards to the nibs and construction techniques that are used today. Pens produced after this year are still great pens and are a great way to get into the world of Montblanc, but they may lack some of the unique characteristics we will be discussing in this article. This is especially true for pens produced after 1997, as Montblanc has not changed their design too much since then. By examining the quality of materials, the diversity of nibs, and the overall value proposition, we aim to shed light on why a vintage Montblanc is the better investment.

 
Photo: Left-to-right MB 149, 146, 74, 14.

The Feed

Before we start, I want to make one thing perfectly clear. I love the Montblanc Meisterstück, and the models available for purchase today from Montblanc are fantastic pens, but I think the vintage ones are better. One of the reasons for this is the materials that are used, primarily, in the feed. Vintage Montblanc pens utilize ebonite feeds rather than plastic feeds. Ebonite feeds offer superior ink flow compared to their plastic counterparts. Ebonite feeds usually write "wetter" than their plastic counterparts. This is due to the amazing physics behind fountain pens, capillary action. While plastic feeds may be more durable, the smooth surface of the material can actually repel ink while ebonite, being a hard rubber, has micro-pores that allow it to absorb some ink, leading to a more consistent and reliable ink flow.

Even if the performance of a plastic feed and an ebonite feed were the same, ebonite is simply more charming. Part of the charm of owning a vintage pen is the craftsmanship and aesthetic of older production. Ebonite feeds are often hand finished and require high quality tools to make, while plastic feeds can be injection molded hundreds at a time. 

The Resin

Vintage Meisterstücke utilize various body materials depending on the year, some of the more valuable models use the extremely sought after celluloid material. This material was mostly used in pens up to the late 50’s until they started to use a resin that was the precursor formula to their current “precious resin” construction. The vintage resin is known for being slightly “duller” than its newer counterparts, but unless you are comparing them side by side, it can be difficult to tell a difference.

Photo: Three Meisterstücke with inkwells.

The Piston

Another difference between new and old is the construction of the piston mechanism. While pens produced after 1985 use a full brass housing for the piston mechanism, the older pens have a housing made of plastic and brass, which is lighter than the full brass mechanism in the later pens. While the weight distribution of a pen really comes down to personal preference, I think the heavier brass mechanism back-weights the pen too much, while the lighter housing in the older pens offers a much better balance while writing. Realistically, this isn't a pro or con for either era of pen. Some may prefer the heft of a full brass piston housing while others may not. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

The Nib

Now, we have arrived at the most important part of a fountain pen, the nib. Those impressively large number nine sized nibs of the 149 series have changed just as much over the years as the rest of the pen. Gold purity, alloy composition, physical shape; these are some of the parameters of Montblanc nibs that have changed over time. You may notice that the majority of our 149 and 146 series fountain pens that we have for sale at G.C. Murphy have a “14C” or “18C” hallmark on the nib rather than the “18K” hallmark more commonly seen today. That “C” is one of the tell-tale signs of a vintage nib, and those vintage nibs are highly sought after due to their incredible writing experience. The vintage nibs, while in some cases actually have a lower pure gold content than their newer counterparts, are actually made from a completely different alloy, as compared to modern 18K or 14K nibs. Meaning, the “rest” of the metal in the nib is different. It is not exactly known what other metals were used in the past and which are used today as it is most likely a Montblanc proprietary alloy, but one thing that we do know is that the nibs of the past offer a much softer writing experience that is unique and, what many people say, better than a modern Montblanc nib. Pairing this older alloy with the vintage nib design, which features wider shoulders and a narrower shank, offers a fantastically unique writing experience for each individual pen. No two vintage Meisterstücke write exactly the same, which makes each of them a unique part of fountain pen history.

Photo: A 1980’s 18C marked 146 made for the French market.

Photo: A 1970’s 14C marked 149 nib.

The Value

Finally, we have the difference in cost. The flagship fountain pen for Montblanc is the Meisterstück No. 149. It is their most popular model and is one of the most popular vintage pens that we sell. As of August 31^st, the day I am writing this article, the Montblanc 149 costs $1,030 US on Montblanc’s website. This is around double the cost of our standard selection of a vintage Montblanc 149 fountain pen. Every once in a while, we will get a more valuable model with a tri-colored 18C nib, but they are still a far-cry less than the MSRP value of a brand-new Montblanc.

New fountain pens, for the most part, are a depreciating asset. Once you purchase a brand-new Montblanc 149, if you use that pen for a year and decide to sell it, you can expect to lose around $300 selling it on the used market. But with vintage pens, the depreciation has already occurred. If you purchase a vintage Montblanc from us or anywhere else, and then decide to sell it in a year, chances are that you will be able to sell it for what you bought it for, if not a little more!

The Montblanc Meisterstück series of pens are fantastic writing instruments and with great quality comes a hefty price tag. But, the price tag does not have to be as hefty as you might think. Vintage Montblanc’s offer an arguably better value proposition than their modern counterparts. All of the Montblanc pens that we sell here at G.C. Murphy are serviced and restored by our pen repair experts to ensure they function as new and if you do not mind a couple of scratches on your pen (a new one is probably going to get scratched up anyway), then going vintage might be the path for you.

If you are thinking about entering the world of vintage Montblanc, check out our fully serviced selection of ready-to-write pens here. 

Have a question? Reach out to use via phone or email, and one of our sales associates will be happy to assist you.