Montblanc 264, an underappreciated pen from the 50s

[jar]

The late 40s and early 50s were a time of change and transition throughout Europe and that was certainly true at Montblanc. Montblanc was changing the designs of their pens from the old dome top to a more streamlined version. The last remaining dome top Montblanc was the 234 ½ and both the prestige 14x series and the quality 24x series pens were now streamlined cigar shaped pens.


http://www.fototime.com/B39E41FD6107EAA/xlarge.jpg


In the mid 50s the quality 24x pens were replaced by a new design, the 250 series, that featured a slip on cap instead of a screw cap and a new nib design that resembled a wing or feather.


http://www.fototime.com/68B748171E179CC/orig.jpg


Not everyone liked the new slip cap or the new nib even though the new wing nib was one of the most flexible nibs yet and so to hedge their bets Montblanc also released one traditional nib screw cap model, the 264.


http://www.fototime.com/B1A91B51FBBB2F9/large.jpg



The 264 looked very much like the discontinued 244, featured two cap bands an a very simple monotone nib, a straight section instead of the concave section on the 14x series and a plain blue ink view window unlike the striped one on the 146.


http://www.fototime.com/B74A65F610B076D/large.jpg


The 264 was also slightly shorter than the 146 or 256 as expected.


http://www.fototime.com/CFE113918017226/medium800.jpg



http://www.fototime.com/969145250C33A08/medium800.jpg



The 264 has withstood the test of time better than the 250 series which tend to develop cracks in the cap lip over time and the nib on my 264 is smooth and soft but without the flex found in the 146 of that period. This particular nib was changed out at sometime during its life, the imprint on the blind cap shows EF but this nib is on the fine side of medium.

In all, if you are looking for a lower cost alternative to the celluloid 14X Montblanc pens of the 50s, the 264 is an often under priced and underappreciated option.


http://www.fototime.com/370D737863864F8/medium800.jpg



http://www.fototime.com/7E32EA34EC0D7EC/medium800.jpg



http://www.fototime.com/CED752C4458B40E/medium800.jpg

[orfew]

Thanks for the great review Jar. I will have to look into finding one of these. I really enjoy some of the MBs that are a bit off of the radar screen. I very much enjoy my 3-42G and 24. Great pens but underappreciated IMHO.

[jar]

Mery tyme is in Aperelle
That mekyll schewys of manys wylle;
In feldys and medewys flowrys spryng,
In grenys and wodes foules syng:
Than wex yong men jolyffe,
And than prevyth man and wyffe.

Thanks. I need to find time to complete a series of reviews on that period in Montblanc's history because it was a really dynamic series of changes. In addition to the 146 and 264 from that period I want to do a look at the 144 and 25x and 34x pens and then move on to the two and three digit pens of the late 50-60s. It should be interesting I think.

[earthdawn]

Great review and what an awesome amount of information !!!

Beautiful pictures too.

Thank you... I read it twice !

[Sailor Kenshin]

Thanks for the great review Jar. I will have to look into finding one of these. I really enjoy some of the MBs that are a bit off of the radar screen. I very much enjoy my 3-42G and 24. Great pens but underappreciated IMHO.

Ditto! Apart from the fact that I am still looking for my first MB.

[fountainpenkid]

If I ever get a MB, It will be a vintage 142

[jar]

If I ever get a MB, It will be a vintage 142

Well, if I get time and the sun cooperates I'll try to include at least one xx2 pen in the comparison.

[fountainpenkid]

Found one for $175 on FPN!!! I'm second in line...begging for the other guy to decide he really wants that iPad mini more ;) ;)

[jar]

Found one for $175 on FPN!!! I'm second in line...begging for the other guy to decide he really wants that iPad mini more ;) ;)


Found one what?

[fountainpenkid]

a 142 :) It isn't in perfect condition, has an engraving, and has an oblique nib (smooth, but probably will take a bit of getting used to) but the design and the lure of the pen (no, not because of the brand) I can resist no more :) Of course my grail one would be in green striated. Along with a Soennecken 222 (I think that's correct) ladies model in their green Snakeskin. Beautiful and so unattainable pens...

[jar]

Great, I hope you get it.

[fountainpenkid]

Great, I hope you get it.

Thanks! I certainly will do a review of it if I do!

[Pterodactylus]

Hi,
there seems to be slight different 264 out there.
My 264 (with OBB nib) has the MB snowflake on the nib and quite a lot flex.
Not as much as my 342-B and my 344 OB but noticeable.

Cu
Pterodactylus

Writing sample 264 OBB:
1588
From left to right:
MB 342-G B
MB 344-G OB
MB 264-G OBB
1589

[JazzDoc]

Hi,
My 264 (with OBB nib) has the MB snowflake on the nib and quite a lot flex.


Beautiful line variation there. Thanks for the pics and comments.
I just snagged a near mint MB 264 OBB earlier today on eBay, looking forward to the test flight!

[Uncle Bud]

Is it not true that first year MB 264's only had one cap band and the Montblac written on the cap in white. I recently seen one like that.

[jar]

Is it not true that first year MB 264's only had one cap band and the Montblac written on the cap in white. I recently seen one like that.

I'd be very careful about making any assumptions like that when it comes to the 264. It was kind of a bastard child, an afterthought that was created because there was negative reaction to the "NEW" 25x pens with the new nib shape and slip on cap. It was a conservative mid range pen and so many parts seem to be recycled. I've found lots of variety in nibs and caps but no real indication of the variations being related to dates. Remember the whole 26x and 25x pens had a pretty short life span compared to other models.

[Paul-H]

Edited due to error posting, ignore

Paul

[RuiFromUK]

Hi Jar,

Thank you very much for an excellent review and photos and advertisements. For people who like Montblanc pens this is a great historical source.

Have you ever considered writing a book with all the pen information you have? Even a digital book would be fantastic.

Kind regards,

Rui

[jar]

Hi Jar,

Thank you very much for an excellent review and photos and advertisements. For people who like Montblanc pens this is a great historical source.

Have you ever considered writing a book with all the pen information you have? Even a digital book would be fantastic.

Kind regards,

Rui

Well, honestly I know a whole lot about very little or maybe a very little about a whole lot. I did do one about Montegrappa pens from around 1970 to 2010 (http://montegrappa-history.com/) or so but there are already great sources out there for so many other pens, Montblanc, most Italian pens, Conway Stewart, Sheaffer, Parker, Waterman and from folk that know those subjects far better than I so I know my limits.

[Uncle Bud]

Hi Jar, yeah totally agree about making assumptions. There is one on fleabay just now by Penkala, who is a well known and respected seller, who also I believe does the pen shows, and that's how he describes it, I just wondered if that was true, coz like your advert in the post, all the searches I've done does show two bands. Perhaps my post wasn't worded in the best way as I was asking a question, not stating fact, so sorry about that. Cheers, your Uncle Bud.

[Uncle Bud]

Hi Jar,

Thank you very much for an excellent review and photos and advertisements. For people who like Montblanc pens this is a great historical source.

Have you ever considered writing a book with all the pen information you have? Even a digital book would be fantastic.

Kind regards,

Rui

Well, honestly I know a whole lot about very little or maybe a very little about a whole lot. I did do one about Montegrappa pens from around 1970 to 2010 (http://montegrappa-history.com/) or so but there are already great sources out there for so many other pens, Montblanc, most Italian pens, Conway Stewart, Sheaffer, Parker, Waterman and from folk that know those subjects far better than I so I know my limits.


That's a really great source for Montegrappa info, you should consider another one, I have added a bookmark so I can use it for reference. Thanks

[Fawkes]

Does anyone have a writing sample of an EF nib on either the 262 or 264? I'm contemplating finding one with an EF nib to have as a backup drawing pen for everyday carry.

[raul]

Hi. I am new at this Forum. Excuse me if I am writing in the wrong place, but I have a doubt that I would appreciate if someone can provide me a support : - I have benn gifted with a MB 264, in which is broken an partialy missed the snow cap star part (snowflake top). I would like to replace this part, to complete my fountain pen. My greatest trouble is how to identify the right part, part number and where to start looking for. Could anyonebe so kind and support me on this project ? I thank any idea, in advance.https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipPf-svsrbc9UewzZQYJ1jtZITJxess8lfilqLrm

[kazoolaw]

Circling back to the original post:

The 264 looked very much like the discontinued 244, featured two cap bands...
The 264 has withstood the test of time better than the 250 series which tend to develop cracks in the cap lip....


I have a 264 with a single capband, though Collectible Stars clearly shows two cap bands, one narrow and one wide.
None of the 25x series I have, or that are shown in Collectible Stars have exposed cap lips, being covered by the cap bands.