In pursuit of fake Montblanc fountain pens (part one)

Collectors of antique fountain pens particularly appreciate Montblanc fountain pens made before the war. A complete, intact Montblanc is a rare treasure, especially in light of the fact that during the war, gold nibs often served as a basis for food trade in Hungary (as well).

The long-established Hamburg company’s product range was certainly available in Budapest by the early 1930s. Despite the various price categories, only a few of the larger stationery stores held a larger stock of fountain pens bearing the distinctive logo. The reason is simple: Montblanc products were considered luxury items even before the war.
In our country, the cheaper (economy) series was particularly popular. These fountain pens were made in various sizes. There was a smaller model (332) for ladies, while a larger size (333 1/2 and 334 1/2) was available for gentlemen in the series. Later, the economy series was supplemented with colorful celluloid models, which were Montblanc's first student pens.

The Montblanc 3XX series underwent minor modifications during production. In the first year of production, the 333 1/2 model received a ribbed cap ring. During the war, gold nibs were replaced with steel (these were also marked, of course). The colorful celluloid models received a smooth, unmarked cap ring – this also distinguished them from the standard black models, which lacked this feature on the pen body.

The Montblanc 3XX series was typically made with a 14-carat gold nib. The ribbed mechanism button that operated the piston mechanism was hidden under the removable cap at the end of the larger models. The cap featured the Montblanc numerical code: the digits indicated the series, the mechanism, and the nib size. The economy series differed from the more expensive series not only in the design of the clip but also in the use of the logo: on these models, the logo on the cap appeared only with a white outline.

The caps of fake fountain pens with a white outlined emblem are injection molded – this element typically aged poorly over the decades, becoming blistered.

On the side of the cap, both original and fake fountain pens feature the word MONTBLANC with an emblem depicting a mountain embedded in it. The typography on the fakes differs from the original, as does the shape of the mountain. On the Hungarian version, the emblem looks more like a volcano than a mountain. An important difference is that on the fakes, there is no separator after the MONT element.

Original pens were equipped with various (gold or steel) marked nibs. Not only the brand name was on the nib, but also the gold marking, and according to the aforementioned numerical code, the nib size. The Hungarian fakes contain cheap American gold-plated metal nibs.

Both fake and original fountain pens feature the marking (333 1/2 or 334 1/2). The original end cap has a finely ribbed threaded end – this was mostly omitted from the Hungarian version. The shape and size of the numbers also differ. On the Hungarian fakes, the lower cap was initially made of hard rubber, later it also became injection molded.

The original economy models have a double, gilded copper decorative ring – this may differ in the counterfeits.

The twistable button hidden under the lower cap is ribbed on the original fountain pens, with a rounded end. The mechanism button has a small hole in which a tiny, retractable needle is embedded (this played a role in repairing the mechanism). In the counterfeits, the button is crude, unribbed, mostly oversized, not rounded, and does not contain the hole.
An important difference is that the original fountain pens have a section on the pen body between the thread and the twist button, which is missing in the counterfeits.

Montblanc distinguished its model series by the shape of the clip. The 3XX series also had its own distinctive, gilded brass clip, while the counterfeit fountain pens had clips made of steel with a flattened, roughly grooved end.

The ink guide of pre-war Montblanc pens made of ebonite is a true engineering marvel. One of its characteristics is the horizontal cut on both sides. This is mostly found on Hungarian counterfeits, but the cut is often crude and inaccurate on both sides of the ink guide.

The original 3XX series base models were made in black, but for several years, various colored versions were also produced – these were intended by the Hamburg company as school pens (now sought-after collector's items).

The colored versions also differed from the base model in that they received a mechanism update. A spacer ring was placed between the barrel and the end cap on the pen body. This was made in the same color as the end cap and could be unscrewed from the pen body, making the mechanism easier to repair. The counterfeit Hungarian Montblanc pens, of course, did not contain such a feature.

The domestically produced counterfeits were available in several color variations.

Color variations:

With this starting point in mind, I began my investigation with the help of Fortepan. I reviewed photographs from the post-war period taken on Király Street in the photo archive.
In the image collection showing the corner of Király Street and Erzsébet Boulevard, I came across a large sign depicting a fountain pen, which features the words „Fountain Pen Repair.”.

It is highly likely that the counterfeit fountain pens were made here, along with copies of another German fountain pen brand, Sonnecken.

The following photo shows the intersection of Nagykörút and Király (Mayakovsky) Street. The shot was taken during the reconstruction of the section of Nagykörút between Dohány Street and Oktogon (November 7 Square) in 1960. The fountain pen repair sign is located on the left side.

The Montblanc counterfeits from Király Street now represent significant value. Occasionally, a model appears on Hungarian auction markets.

How well did these copies turn out? It is enough to say that these fountain pens can be found in numerous foreign databases – listed as originals or prototypes. Is there any greater recognition than this?

It is not always clear whether a pen is original or counterfeit. The picture is complicated by the fact that during unprofessional repairs, non-authentic parts often ended up in the original pens. In the absence of professional service, the most frequently damaged parts (nib, mechanism, clip) were often replaced with whatever was available.