I found my old Mont Blanc!

[vferdman]

The other day I ran into a fountain pen I bought about 20 or more years ago. It's a Mont Blanc in stainless steel. Nib is also stainless steel. It takes ink cartridges. It's a really nice pen and the only fountain pen I currently own. I am not a FP collector, so I have no idea what this thing is worth. I think it's a good pen, but not the super expensive MB. I bought it at the art supply store in Cambridge, MA when I was fresh out of college (late 80's). I would like to convert it to a plunger system or similar so as not to use the cartridges. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I am currently using this pen to teach my 10 year old son to write with a FP. When I was a kid growing up in USSR we were ONLY allowed to write with FPs. Everyone had to learn proper handwriting with a FP. Most of the FPs we had were very inexpensive and ubiquitous. From what I can see they were mostly Parker 51 knock-offs with concealed nib. There were open nib pens also, but the concealed nib FPs were preferred by most people. Most of our pens had plunger fillers and we were only allowed one ink color - violet, which was also ubiquitous and cheap. My childhood memories are filled with ink stains. Children and FPs are really a messy combination, yet this was the ONLY thing that was acceptable for schoolwork. Later in time Soviet schools abandoned FP idea and ballpoints were allowed. Most people switched without ever looking back. When I came to this country in 1980 no one here used FPs in school and I abandoned the FP myself. However, I really like writing with one. My handwriting is not great, especially now that I type just about everything and when I do write by hand I use print. Now that I found this pen I bought many years ago and I believe it's a good one, I would like to start using it again. I bought a pack of 6 cartridges, but I really want to get away from them and use bottle ink. Please advise me on how to go about that as far as converter (what's good, bad and ugly), inks (for beginners), etc. My 10 year old is fascinated by this pen and has already made a bunch of sketches with it (writing is not his favorite thing, but he sketches amazingly well).

thanks in advance!

Almost forgot the pictures:

 

[RichieRich3902]

Mont Blanc Cartridge converters are readily available from any Mont Blanc Store and ebay. I'm guessing that your pen is a Nobelesse, but I may be wrong, they are good pens.

Welcome to the fold!

 

[syngent]

If it takes standard cartridges then it should take a standard internation converter as long as the pens body is long enough and wide enough.... a few of our members have this pen IIRC, they would know.

 

[MickToley]

Great looking pen you have there.

 

[Eeyore]

That is a Noblesse indeed, and it does take international cartridges. Nice pen!

 

[zethreal]

Seeeeeeeeeeexy!

 

[Eeyore]

Just read that you are looking for opinions on bottled inks? I actually think that MB blue/black is a classic understated ink. Any international converter will do. Just make sure you rinse it with soapy water before the first go, to remove residual oils.

 

[vferdman]

Thank you, all for the information. I have not been able to find the EXACT match to my specimen from the images online for the Noblesse, but it'd close enough. I remember buying it. When I saw the low end Mont Blanc I was overwhelmed with FPAD instantly. It was affordable at around $30 or so in late 80's-early 90's. It's a smooth writer, though I've had smoother (and much cheaper soviet Parker 51 knock-offs with gold nibs). If anyone out there has a converter that fits they want to sell me, please let me know. Or point me to the place to buy one online. also ink recommendations are welcome. I am a total ignoramus in this. As I said, I learned to write with a fountain pen, but in 1970's Soviet union with a P51 knock-off that cost pennies (I would normally go through several during the school year). Ink was standard issue bottle available everywhere at similarly cheap (almost free) prices. Literacy was a huge priority in USSR, and everything having to do with basic education was pretty much free for everyone. This, however deleted the choice and selection. Almost everyone my age wrote with the same pen and ink as I did. So I am very unfamiliar with inks and pens of the free world Open to suggestions.

Some more pictures:

 

[RichieRich3902]

Like I mentioned above you can find them on ebay, amazon, just about any pen vendor like Goulet, isellpens, xfountainpens, etc.

 

[u56rh]

Hi, lovely pen. I have my mothers noblesse/slimline and struggled to fit a converter. I bought an MB one and had to take it back as it wouldn't stay in. I was new to fountain pens and never got round to solving the problem. Doesn't mean you won't suceed!

If it doesn't work with the first one keep trying.

Rob

 

[wherndon]

Welcome to the nib!
Hey guys, help him out and post some links....
Here is a link for a converter that should work. The converter allows you to suck ink out of a bottle, or put it back in. Reusable.
Here is a link for some bottled ink, Diamine is a very well regarded ink, but there are endless choices.
Regards.
Bil

 

[wherndon]

Oh, and here in the USA FPs were standard in the mid 60's, but then came along the ball point. I remember making a mess. I also remember throwing FP cartridges on the school stairways, so that in the rush of class change someone would step on the cartridge, and squirt in on the person in front, going down the stairs.
A very naughty boy, was I.
Regards,
Bil

 

[vferdman]

Oh, and here in the USA FPs were standard in the mid 60's, but then came along the ball point. I remember making a mess. I also remember throwing FP cartridges on the school stairways, so that in the rush of class change someone would step on the cartridge, and squirt in on the person in front, going down the stairs.
A very naughty boy, was I.
Regards,
Bil

Bill, thanks for the links. I and pretty much every other boy in my school have used plunger type FP pens to squirt ink on our "enemies". We did not have cartridges and all of our pens were one of several types of fillers, most popular being a plunger or eyedropper. We would unscrew the handle off the plunger and whack the plunger directly to shoot the ink great distances. You can never have this much fun or trouble with a ballpoint.

 

[wherndon]

Bill, thanks for the links. I and pretty much every other boy in my school have used plunger type FP pens to squirt ink on our "enemies". We did not have cartridges and all of our pens were one of several types of fillers, most popular being a plunger or eyedropper. We would unscrew the handle off the plunger and whack the plunger directly to shoot the ink great distances. You can never have this much fun or trouble with a ballpoint.

 

[americanarmsdealer]

Another option for refilling your pen until you find a suitable converter for it is to simply refill your empty cartridges. All you need is a small syringe with a blunted needle and a bottle of ink. I got the syringe I use at the local pharmacist for free. Just rinse the empty cartridge out using some warm water and the syringe. It will take several rinses, but the residue from the old ink will come out eventually. Then just fill the cartridge back up with the bottled ink of choice, pop the cartridge back in, and write away.

As an ink suggestion, I'd say you should swing over to http://www.gouletpens.com and check out their crazy extensive lines of inks. They have color swatches of most of their stock so you can see what the ink will look like on paper. My personal favorite ink is Noodler's #41 Brown. My Parker 51 is constantly fueled up with this particular writing juice.

Congratulations on tracking down an old friend in your Mont Blanc, and happy writing to you!

 

[wherndon]

^ what he says....and you can get samples

 

[vferdman]

Well, I just ordered a set of three converters and some ink from Amazon. I got Waterman ink and Pelican ink. I think it should be enough for now. I also still have half a dozen fresh cartridges, so I am not inkless. Will post back here when the stuff arrives to report on how it works.

 

[Eeyore]

Well, I just ordered a set of three converters and some ink from Amazon. I got Waterman ink and Pelican ink. I think it should be enough for now. I also still have half a dozen fresh cartridges, so I am not inkless. Will post back here when the stuff arrives to report on how it works.

Pelikan ink always reminds me of my school days (at least the royal blue).

What ink colors did you choose?

 

[vferdman]

Pelikan ink always reminds me of my school days (at least the royal blue).

What ink colors did you choose?

I got Waterman in blue/black and Pelican in black. I think I would like to try some blue also, but I just want to get this pen writing with the converters. I am now using it with black ink cartridges I got in a gift shop that sells pens and cards and stuff just to start using it. It writes very well. I think I would like to get a Parker 51 just to go down memory lane of my school days (Soviet P51 knock-offs are probably hard to find, so I have to go with the real thing).

 

[Eeyore]

Chinese Parker "51" copies are everywhere (e.g. Hero). We had to use a Pelikan school pen, with royal blue cartridges.

Waterman blue/black is not really my favorite. Too blueish for my taste.

I loved the old Skrip blue/black, and (as I already said) the MB Blauschwarz. Pelikan blue/black is not bad either, in my opinion.

Good luck with finding a converter! What I often do, is refilling catridges via a syringe with needle. Just as easy as using a converter, IMHO.