Broad-Stub 149 Question

[Truman]

I recently purchased a pen from a B&M pen store over the phone. It is a 149. He had several older 149's and I selected the broad nib pen. When the pen and very nicely detailed receipt arrived, it said that the nib was a broad-stub.

 

Question: a broad nib is not necessaily a "stub" nib, correct? Does this mean that it may have been worked on to make it stubbish after the original purchase?

 

Disclaimer: I am very happy with the pen and very pleased with the service and the store. I would happily buy from them again. So this is just a question for you experts here. Also, I would ask the seller but he is only open on weekends and did say he would contact me to make sure the pen arrived in good order. Just haven't talked to him yet so I thought I'd float this as a question to the forum.

Edited July 18, 2012 by Truman

[Ghost Plane]

Many MB B and BB nibs are described as "stubs" or "stubbish" by assorted sellers because of the factory nibs coming that way on B and above with a sort of stubbed tip and roundish corners. Welcome to the B side of the Farce. You're now enjoying my favorite nib size!

[Truman]

Thanks for the quick response Ghost Plane! I started out with mostly M nibs, having quickly found out that I don't normally care at all for F or heaven forbid XF nibs. I am now favoring B's and bigger. I have an OB 146 that I absolutely adore and that was the first pen to turn me on to these types of nibs.

[Ghost Plane]

Yum! Love my OBs on both 146 and 149s I've drifted into OBBs as well after picking one up from Posarro on eBay on a Boheme fixed nib and now I have an embarrassing number. :embarrassed_smile:

[peterpen53]

Any MB nib in size B/OB or wider comes with a straight and therefore stub-like grind. If you like the OB, try a BB. You'll never look back!

 

Enjoy your pens!

 

Cheers,

Peter

Edited July 18, 2012 by peterpen53

[enricof]

You can have a look here (hires scan - large file) for some sample of stub/stubbish nibs, including a MB149 OBB (definetely stubbish).

 

You can see some interesting pics here, too.

 

 

Forgot to add: beware of GP, who introduced me to the arcanes of WIDE nibs...

Edited July 18, 2012 by enricof

[Ghost Plane]

:ninja:

[dcpritch]

Hi Truman, I've heard that the stock B nibs are stubbish but have never tried a modern one. Here is a picture showing some different MB nibs (L to R):

 

1. WE Mark Twain, 18k B (2011) - Sadly, I no longer own this pen :embarrassed_smile:, but I think the new owner will like it

2. 234½ G, 14C BB (c. 1950) - this is very stubbish with flex

3. 146, 14k M (1991) - not a stub, no flex

4. 136 Transitional, alloy B (1947) - this one is very much like a stub and also has excellent flex

5. 149, 18C BBB (c. 1960s) - Greg Minuskin made this into a dreamy stub

 

[Pen Nut]

"note to self" do not post until you can compete :embarrassed_smile:

[Blade Runner]

You can see the difference the nib tip shapes between the broad and broader nibs and the narrower nibs.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/jelb/MBnibs.jpg

[dcpritch]

You can see the difference the nib tip shapes between the broad and broader nibs and the narrower nibs.

 

That chart is a great tool - thanks so much for posting it!

[Blade Runner]

Your welcome. I believe the OF, BBB and Kugel nibs are no longer available as stock nibs. Perhaps they can be gotten through bespoke services?

[razr]

I have a BB 149 which I think has a real "stubbish" quality with great line varation.

[alvarado]

B nib is always my writing companion

Welcome to the B family!

[enricof]

Your welcome. I believe the OF, BBB and Kugel nibs are no longer available as stock nibs. Perhaps they can be gotten through bespoke services?

 

I asked a couple of years ago at the local boutique.

The answer was the BBB is no more available, the O3B Signature Nib can be obtained only for the 149 and with the free nib swap service (I was supposed to buy a new 149 and then ask to change the nib).

[enricof]

B nib is always my writing companion

Welcome to the B family!

 

For a short hilarious moment I expected to read "welcome to the B side of the force"...

[Ghost Plane]

To quote Renee Russo's character in "The Thomas Crown Affair" opposite Pierce Brosnan - "Darn! I hate it when I'm predictable."

 

Back vaguely on topic, I have an OBB 149 incoming and want to see how much difference there is between that and the O3B I got from another poster. :hmm1: From the pictures, I suspect not much.

 

Be forewarned, nibs this size use serious quantities of ink.

[Truman]

Wow, thanks to everyone for this great information! dcpritch, a little birdie told me that the Mark Twain will live happily ever after in PA. In fact, it is sitting right next to me at the desk.

[Spidy]

Hi Truman, I've heard that the stock B nibs are stubbish but have never tried a modern one. Here is a picture showing some different MB nibs (L to R):

 

1. WE Mark Twain, 18k B (2011) - Sadly, I no longer own this pen :embarrassed_smile:, but I think the new owner will like it

2. 234½ G, 14C BB (c. 1950) - this is very stubbish with flex

3. 146, 14k M (1991) - not a stub, no flex

4. 136 Transitional, alloy B (1947) - this one is very much like a stub and also has excellent flex

5. 149, 18C BBB (c. 1960s) - Greg Minuskin made this into a dreamy stub

 

Hey dcpritch, any chance of a photo with some writing samples of each nib?

[colrehogan]

What does the KF nib do? I didn't know there was such a thing as an OF nib. Anyone have a writing sample from one?

 

Nice pics.