With a history spanning more than 115 years, thousands of pens sold, and 638 boutiques (in 2021) spread all over the world, Montblanc is a brand that needs no introduction and is probably as well known as Rolex in the watch industry. Famous for its writing instruments as well as leather goods and watches, the Hamburg-based brand has captivated millions of people and is the leading pioneer of handwriting. As this year marks the 100th anniversary of the iconic Montblanc Meisterstück, we decided to go back in time and retrace the evolution of the writing instrument that changed the world.
The early beginnings
It wasn’t all about Montblanc at first. At the turn of the 20th century, Berlin engineer August Eberstein joined forces with Hamburg entrepreneurs Alfred Nehemias and Claus Johannes Voss to create a line of writing instruments that don’t leak, paving the way for what would later become the leading voice of the pen industry – Montblanc. In the beginning, it was more about functionality and less about design, as the main goal of the company was to build a simple pen without any leakage, a problem that many pens faced at the time.
1909-1923
The first “safe” pen of this kind was produced in 1909 by Simplo Filler Pen Co. GmbH and would potentially eliminate the risk of stains. It was called ‘Rouge et Noir’ (a name still given to pens in Montblanc’s Heritage line), referring to the safest way to play roulette: betting on red and black at the same time. It is also believed that the French-sounding name was deliberately chosen to appeal to European customers; let’s not forget, however, that we’re talking about the Belle Époque, an age of progress, pleasure, elegance, and art.
A year later, in 1910, the company started a new chapter under the brand name Montblanc, inspired by the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, with a clear goal set to reach the pinnacle of excellence in writing instrument production. After the registration of the brand name, one of the first pens created by the company was the Montblanc No. 2S; Unlike the Rouge et Noir, it featured a white cap top, it was made of hard rubber and engraved with the old ‘Mont Blanc’ logo on the cap.
You may notice the absence of the iconic rounded white snowflake on the cap top. That is because the snowflake appeared in 1914. Until then Montblanc pens featured full-white cap tops and Rouget et Noir pens came with full-red cap tops. The idea of colored cap tops was patented by one of the founders (August Eberstein) and apparently had a functional role: the colored cap top indicated to the user which end of the pen must be held up to avoid ink leaks. The pen was offered in different sizes for both men and women. Each model was available in both short and long versions, with lengths ranging from 9 cm to 14 cm.
Before launching the Meisterstuck, Montblanc experimented with new filling mechanisms, introducing a pneumatic filler in 1923 that was produced for a short period between 1924 and 1929. This system would also be on some Meisterstuck versions sold from 1927 to 1929. Considering the short period in which it was produced, it seems that this system did not enjoy much success and what was probably meant to be an alternative to the safety fillers and lever fillers of that time, was in fact an experimental phase.
Birth of a Legend
Widely known as the Meisterstuck (Masterpiece) this model was introduced by Montblanc in 1924 as the flagship pen of the company. At the time, the series was produced in several different models and sizes (both short and long versions) and was numbered by the nib size. Meisterstück models always began with the number 1, a practice that has been preserved to this day (see the 146 and 149 models).
In the 1920s and 1930s, filling mechanisms were also numbered and were marked by the second digit. The number 0 stood for the safety pen, 2 meant that the pen had a pump filler, and 3 stood for the piston filler. The last digit represented the size of the nib, which ranged from a tiny 00 up to a number 12. For example, let’s take this model – Montblanc 128 – the first digit means it’s a Meisterstuck, the second digit indicates we’re dealing with a pump filling mechanism, and the third digit stands for the size of the nib.
The period of flat-top Meisterstücks
As celluloid and plastics were entering the market, Montblanc was going through an experimental period launching several colored editions (see the No. 45 produced between 1924-29 and the No. 40 malachite with a Push knob filler) as well as trying to implement more filling systems on their models. At that time, most Montblanc pens were equipped with either safety, push-button, lever, or piston filling systems, the last of which later became the main filling system on Montblanc pens and one of the most popular filling mechanisms in Europe. It is believed that at the time Montblanc had more filling systems than any other company in the industry.
In terms of design, the Meisterstuck model has evolved from flat-rounded shaped caps (see No. 25 Lapis) to torpedo-shaped (No. L 30 Push knob filler) to flat-top (see the Montblanc 102, 104G, and later the 139).
A distinctive design element for which the Meisterstuck is still popular today is the bi-color nib, which was introduced with the launch of the 10x series in the mid-1930s (earlier pens featured the monochrome all-gold nib)
The period of WWII was also the time when the Montblanc 139, the immediate predecessor of the famous Montblanc Meisterstuck 149, was produced. Very similar in size to the 149, the 139 series came with a flat design at the top and bottom instead of rounded. By the time the first 139 models were produced, war broke out, which was a turning point for the company, which was forced to replace the gold pens with steel or an alloy (as gold was a strategic material at the time). This is why many of the 139 models did not come with gold nibs.
The Post-War Period and Cigar-Shaped Fountain Pens
The post-war period was difficult for the company as many of Montblanc’s facilities were destroyed. Therefore, while the factory was rebuilt, the Montblanc pen production moved to Denmark. Around 1949 Montblanc switched from flat-top to cigar-shaped designs introducing the new 14x line, consisting of models 142, 144, and 146, marking another milestone. (Montblanc 144 Vintage Celluloid).
Later, in 1952, Montblanc launched the Meisterstuck 149, a pen that would replace the 139. The new 149 would keep the #9 size two-tone nib, the thin silver cap bands surrounding the engraved center band, the ski-slope feed as well as the piston mechanism. It does, however, feature some new elements: the flat-top design now becomes more rounded taking the shape of a cigar, possibly a more user-friendly shape at the time, a new clip design is added, and a golden ring separates the piston filler from the barrel. Every 149 at that time was made of celluloid.
The 1980s and The Rise of Limited Editions
The 1980s seemed not to be a very good period for Montblanc and other brands, as the company was going through a decline in the reputation of its products, most likely due to the rise of the (much more convenient, unpretentious, and easy to use) ballpoint pens, with many users no longer showing interest in fountain pens. Despite this, Montblanc continued to develop its pens, later launching the Meisterstück Solitaire Collection, a range of Montblanc Meisterstück pens crafted from precious metals.
After a grey period when most writing instruments were lacking in design, the 1990s and 2000s were slightly more optimistic years that allowed many brands, including Montblanc, to step up the game. So in 1992, Montblanc launched the first limited edition dedicated to writers and figures who have shaped the world of Art, followed by a rare Meisterstuck Solitaire Royal LeGrand in 1994.
The 75th and 90th Anniversary of the Montblanc Meisterstück
From its first launch in 1924 to 1999, the Meisterstück line went through several changes and evolved significantly, however, the DNA remained the same, which is why Montblanc launched a 75th-anniversary edition to celebrate the Meisterstück in 1999. Besides the regular and limited editions, for the first time, Montblanc introduced a skeleton fountain pen. The skeleton overlay was crafted of 18K solid yellow gold over a translucent precious resin barrel. The pen was engraved with elegant scrollwork on the rings (upper and lower), clip, nib, and inner cap top, including its marvelous patented telescopic piston which bears the name of the master engraver (C. Schaffo). A brilliant-cut diamond adorns the section, and the cap top snowflake is a luminous mother-of-pearl. The 18k gold nib is also beautifully decorated for the occasion.
Fifteen years later, in 2014, Montblanc launched the 90th-anniversary consisting of the Meisterstück Collection, a Limited Edition 90, and a Skeleton edition that pays tribute to the first skeleton pen created in 1999. The Meisterstück Collection included a fountain pen, a rollerball pen, and a ballpoint pen in classic sizes with guilloche engravings coated with black lacquer, mother-of-pearl Montblanc emblem, red gold-plated fittings, and gold nibs beautifully engraved with a “90.” The Limited Edition 90 was built on a 149 chassis and was limited to 90 pieces worldwide featuring a cap ring set with 90 diamonds, solid red gold elements with guilloche engraving, a mother-of-pearl Montblanc emblem, and a gold nib with rhodium-plated inlay with the “90” years engraving. Last but not least, the skeleton pen featured this time a ruthenium-plated cap and barrel topped by a quartz Montblanc emblem. The red gold nib had ruthenium-plated fittings and a “90” engraving.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the famous Montblanc Meisterstuck model. While we try to be patient, we look forward to the brand announcing perhaps the most anticipated collection of 2024.
References:
https://www.vintagemontblancpens.com/
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/montblancs-pen-factory-and-museum-in-hamburg#:~:text=Hamburg%20was%20devastated%20during%20the,149%20was%20launched.
https://pensninks1.rssing.com/chan-50621528/article43.html
https://penstylo.blogspot.com/p/history-of-montblanc.html
https://www.tenpen.it/article/roaring-90s-exciting-decade-pen-production-italy-19902000
https://rupertarzeian.com