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Evolution of the Montblanc Feed 1907-59 and Beyond
This article dives deep into the history of Montblanc's feed design, from 1907 to 1959. The feed, a crucial part of a fountain pen that often gets ignored, plays a vital role in its performance - optimizing ink flow and minimizing leakage. When discussing vintage pens, the focus is usually on aspects like size, nib, material, color, or filling mechanism. However, the importance of feed design and function is frequently underestimated. So, let’s learn more about this unsung hero - the feed!
How does the feed work?
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Montblanc Feed Design
The first generation of fountain pens faced issues with leakage and flow due to the simple construction of their feeds. To prevent leakage, users had to carry the pen upright when it was placed in a pocket or stored. To address this, Eberstein (working at Simplo - Montblanc in its earliest years) invented a colored cap top that made it easy to identify the top side of the pen when the holder was closed (Pat GB 13900, applied 15.6.1907, issued 12.3.1908). The coloured cap top was the precursor of the famous star logo introduced in 1913.
Three of the earliest Simplo Co. (Montblanc) pens from its 1909 catalogue
Pic Credit: The Simplo Pen and Simplo-Stylo belong to a private collector
Pic Credit: The Rouge Et Noir sliding barrel belongs to Marcwithac
Soon after, the design of the feeds, along with the section, cap, and the joint between the cap and barrel, was improved, allowing pens to be carried in any position without leaking. This significant advancement led most pen manufacturers to advertise their pens with the phrase: "Can be carried in any position." A Simplo advertisement from 1911 shows a gentleman placing his pen in his vest pocket, with the text: "Montblanc, the elegant safety for white vests." Similarly, the American Fountain Pen Co. ran an advertisement in 1909 featuring a gentleman displaying his ink soiled west pocket, accompanied by the text: "The result of not using Moore’s".
1909 Moore's pen advertisement
1911 Montblanc advertisement
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