Only Slim Line models were offered in matte satin colors, only Noblesse pens were offered in glossy solid enamel colors, including blue, black, gray, and burgundy, with gold plate trim. The Slim Line, a less expensive variation of the Noblesse, also known as "CS Line" (for Color Slim) pens, are often called Noblesse pens by collectors because of their great similarity with the second generation Noblesse. Montblanc Slim Line Matte Black Detail Showing Logo on Clip The Noblesse pens have a flat plain solid bar clip. The biggest distinguishing feature between the two pens is the distinctive large plastic Monblanc logo inset into the base of the clip on the Slim Line pens. The Noblesse is the higher end pen, with the fountain pen now fitted with a 14 karat gold (marked 585) nib, while the Slim Line has the same type nib made of stainless steel, either plain or gold plated. These pens share many characteristics both are tubular from cap top to barrel end, the nibs are the same shape, and the clips are both bar shaped. The second generation Noblesse and the Slim Line were introduced in 1980/1981, and were produced through 1986. The fountain pen was complimented with a matching rollerball pen, a push-button ballpoint pen, and an injector pencil, all of which tapered both at the barrel and cap ends. The fountain pens are fitted with a distinctive square and plain stainless steel nib with only "MB" as an identifying mark. These first generation pens have a plain straight clip with a narrowing taper toward the tip that bends downward toward the cap. The cap and barrel ends are gold plated, as is a band at the base of the section where the cap meets the barrel. The pen cap top face is adorned with a flush inset plastic Montblanc logo and a cutout of the Montblanc "snowflake" mounted in a dish shaped indentation in the barrel end. All types are complimented with gold plated trim. The first generation Noblesse line was offered in finishes of brushed stainless steel, silver plate, smooth gold plate, and engraved gold plate with longitudal lines down the cap and barrel over brass base metal. Montblanc began direct production in 1974 and the first generation pens were produced through 1979/1980. The first design is narrow, clean and simple, where the final version, while still a tubular design, is larger in diameter and more ornate. Over its lifetime, the Noblesse line went through three "generations," all similar in construction and yet very different before the final, Noblesse Oblige offering.
Montblanc Slim Line Matte Black Pen and Pushbutton Ballpoint Set c1981 The test marketing was a success and the Montblanc introduced the Noblesse line in 1973, continuing in production through 2002. The pen, similar in design to the Hastil, was all metal construction and a tubular shape, with the Montblanc imprint at the base of the cap and the white star logo appearing on both the cap top and the barrel end. In 1973, Montblanc decided that a thin model pen similar to the Aurora Hastil would be a good addition to the line, and engaged Aurora to create a batch of pens to test market.
Mamoulides, December 21, 2001, Updated May 31, 2002
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