Acquired Vintage Montblanc - Modem Burner

[sunburst]

Last week I got my first FP pen (received Waterman Exception as gift).
Earlier today I’ve purchased my first FP (vintage? Montblanc Meisterstuck).
The pen was literally lying in the desk drawer for 10+ years along with other stationery items.
Since it was out of the box and unprotected the body/cap as well as gold pieces was very dull
(and gold ring just below the nib has some plating peeled but nib looked as it has never been used.

I’ve immense the nib in the warm water for about an hour and the water had remained clear.
Spent about 1/2 hour hand polishing with polishing cloth (the kind use for eye glass) without the use
of any chemicals and the luster has came back to both black resin as well as gold pieces.
The pen also writes very well with Foray cartridge made by Office Depot that I’ve picked up for the
testing purpose.

While browsing MB web-site I've noted the current Meisterstuck has several variations.
Unfortunately this one did not come with any box or documents to identify the exact model.
The owner of pen did not have any knowledge as it was received as a gift quite sometimes ago.
The pen does not have any serial# nor ident # (MB web FAQ indicated that earlier model did not have serial#)

The clip ring has marking of : “W-GERMANY”
The band on the cap has marking of : “MONTBLANC MEISTERSTUCK”
The nib has the following markings of :

“4810”
Montblanc logo
“14K”
“MONTBLANC”
“585”

Can anyone help me identifying the exact model of this MB Meisterstuck?

[2careless]

Congrats. That looks like a very well preserved example. Well done.
The "W Germany" imprint means it's made before 1990.
This is consistent with the usage of 14k nibs in the 80s.
The pen looks like a MB Meisterstuck classic (144) and it is cartridge/convertor filled.
Also, there shouldn't be any Pix imprint on the underside of the clip. (They added this in the 90s.)

[sunburst]

Originally Posted by 2careless

Congrats. That looks like a very well preserved example. Well done.
The "W Germany" imprint means it's made before 1990.
This is consistent with the usage of 14k nibs in the 80s.
The pen looks like a MB Meisterstuck classic (144) and it is cartridge/convertor filled.
Also, there shouldn't be any Pix imprint on the underside of the clip. (They added this in the 90s.)

2careless, thanks for your comment and the model.
You are correct that there is no "Pix" imprnt on the underside of the clip.

I went by a local MB dealer earlier today (they did not have too many selection since their main business is luggage......) however the body diameter seemed to be comparable to Chopin model.

[Skullring]

Congratulations Joji. Looks great.

[sunburst]

Originally Posted by Skullring

Congratulations Joji. Looks great.

Phillip, thank you.
It looks as we both had good luck with MB vintage piece.

[Skullring]

Yes. I am very happy with mine. I like the 144 because it is slim but I tried a 149 the other day and that suits me fine too. I picked up some season greetings scented ink for all of my Christmas cards. I also bought a converter so I can use bottled ink. I love all of my esoteric hobbies.

[shandy]

What a wonderful find, I bet that older nib is a joy to write with! Can't wait to see some writing samples with that nib

[sunburst]

Originally Posted by shandy

What a wonderful find, I bet that older nib is a joy to write with! Can't wait to see some writing samples with that nib

Even a novice like myself can feel the smoothness.
Yes, it's a joy.
As for writing samples please give me some time.

[Lion]

Joji, enjoy your new find, I just bought a Chopin(#144)this past weekend and love it. Mine has an extra fine nib and I love writing with it and have no difficulties. They were surprised at the MontBlanc store that I could write with it without problems!!!

[sunburst]

Originally Posted by Lion

Joji, enjoy your new find, I just bought a Chopin(#144)this past weekend and love it. Mine has an extra fine nib and I love writing with it and have no difficulties. They were surprised at the MontBlanc store that I could write with it without problems!!!

Leo, thanks.
I'm enjoying this vintage MB and indeed it's smooth.
I'm currently waiting for the arrival of Lamy Safari with Italic 1.1 nib for practice as recommended by Shandy.

[shandy]

Originally Posted by sunburst

Leo, thanks.
I'm enjoying this vintage MB and indeed it's smooth.
I'm currently waiting for the arrival of Lamy Safari with Italic 1.1 nib for practice as recommended by Shandy.

Wow, Joji, you have two great pens mate, I am going to be very interested to see what you think of both. They are both very different beasts. There is nothing like a vintage nib. the quality is amazing. I have four vintage pens, the youngest being 53 years old, the all write wonderfully and all so differently.

I love writing with my Parker Vacumatic, a fine medium nib with little or no flex but so smooth and so controlled. Older Mont Blanc nibs are some of the finest out there, I can only begin to imagine the joy that pen must bring you.

I think that is one of the great things about the Safari, despite it's cheaper build and stiff steel nib it seems to give the same joy of writing as the vintage. I know I will always have a Safari in my collection and it will be used with as much pleasure as my more expensive or rarer pens!