A flea market bargain

**BikerBabe** · February 10th, 2013, 04:20 PM

Hi guys.

I went to a flea market in Copenhagen today, and I think I got myself a very very very good bargain!

German Mont Blanc 234½ with 100-series clip, 1935 - as far as I've been able to find out.
I don't think the seller knew what she was selling me, she only wanted 100 DKK - that's about 18 USD.

And since i don't know much about Mont Blanc pens, I just paid happily and thanked the nice lady.

It's only my second MB pen, the first being a 224 acquired last weekend - photos will follow sometime later.

Heh, when I cleansed it tonight, it took a while to get the plunger to seal tight, it was as if it needed a bit of moisture to work properly, so I wouldn't wager a white shirt on the pen being able to hold ink for an extended period of time, but that's something that can be repaired.

After all it is an elderly pen, so I would have been surprised if it had worked perfectly right away.
And still - at that price, it is still a very good bargain.

**manoeuver** · February 10th, 2013, 04:50 PM

yow! excellent work!

**fountainpenkid** · February 10th, 2013, 04:59 PM

Very nice!!!!

**caribbean_skye** · February 10th, 2013, 05:43 PM

Fantastic!

**Augustinian** · February 10th, 2013, 06:15 PM

WOW....... I am jealous.

Originally Posted by BikerBabe

Hi guys.

I went to a flea market in Copenhagen today, and I think I got myself a very very very good bargain!

German Mont Blanc 234½ with 100-series clip, 1935 - as far as I've been able to find out.
I don't think the seller knew what she was selling me, she only wanted 100 DKK - that's about 18 USD.

And since i don't know much about Mont Blanc pens, I just paid happily and thanked the nice lady.

It's only my second MB pen, the first being a 224 acquired last weekend - photos will follow sometime later.

Heh, when I cleansed it tonight, it took a while to get the plunger to seal tight, it was as if it needed a bit of moisture to work properly, so I wouldn't wager a white shirt on the pen being able to hold ink for an extended period of time, but that's something that can be repaired.

After all it is an elderly pen, so I would have been surprised if it had worked perfectly right away.
And still - at that price, it is still a very good bargain.

**Robert** · February 10th, 2013, 08:01 PM

I should be so lucky. Enjoy your pen!

**KrazyIvan** · February 11th, 2013, 09:35 AM

I think jealous is too weak of a word. :P

**Toffer** · February 11th, 2013, 03:48 PM

Very nice I need to get to some flea markets!!;

**BikerBabe** · February 11th, 2013, 08:47 PM

Thank you guys.

I decided to ink test the pen today, it works nicely now! o.0
Writing sample:

Flea markets and thrift shops can be a real treasure trove, I've found most of my collection there, with a few exceptions.
I can recommend doing a regular round at the local thrift shops, that way the people working there will get to know what you're looking for, and can put stuff aside for you if you provide them with your cell phone number.

**peterpen53** · February 12th, 2013, 02:49 AM

Bargain does not even begin to describe what you have got yourself. I have never before seen a 234 1/2 with a tie clip, but according to penboard this is the luxury version from the late 40s, early 50s. It appears to be in fairly good condition, seen much worse for much more money. And with my favourite MB nib to boot.
Congratulations!

**BikerBabe** · February 12th, 2013, 06:18 AM

Hi Peterpen53, and thank you very much.
Any information about this little gem is a help, I appreciate it.

I have decided that this little pen is the top prize gem of my collection so far - Lord knows if I'll get better pens in the future, I don't know, but for now I feel extremely lucky in getting this MB at all, for which I feel very very grateful.
It does leak a little, but as you say, it could have been in much much worse condition, so I'm generally pretty damned satisfied, to put it straight.

Cheers,

Maria.

**fountainpenkid** · February 12th, 2013, 06:43 AM

looks like it writes really nicely!

**KrazyIvan** · February 12th, 2013, 08:36 AM

Some nice line variation on that one.

**fountainpenkid** · February 12th, 2013, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by KrazyIvan

Some nice line variation on that one.

Yup.

**caribbean_skye** · February 12th, 2013, 05:20 PM

I went by a consignment shop today (quite by accident) and thought of you BikerBabe, however I didn't find any gems.

**AndreasDavour** · February 13th, 2013, 12:26 AM

OMG. 100DKK for a Montblanc. Quite a find you got there!

**Bogon07** · February 13th, 2013, 03:28 PM

Congratulations on a great find. You should maybe buy a lottery ticket with that sort to luck.

It appears to write in an acceptably pleasant style to. What a bargain.

**BikerBabe** · February 17th, 2013, 01:46 AM

Fountainpenkid: It does. It has got a tendency to squeak a little when I write, but that might be because of the paper quality, or a matter of getting used to holding the pen differently from what I'm used to with the ordinary pens.

KrazyIvan: Yup. It's a lot different from my preferred Fine nibs, but I like it.

Caribbean_Skye: Cool, keep at it, I don't find anything every time I go, but now and then I'm lucky. I bet you'd find some nice stuff eventually.

AndreasDavour: Trust me, I know. *wink*

Bogon07: Hmmm now there's a thought!