An ode to a Montblanc OBB nib... (*updated w/ pics*)

[niksch]

Chris, what's a transitional 149 look like?

 

Eric

 

Just in case other lefties are reading this and sweating............... I'm a leftie, have been all my life

 

and I have one transitional 149 with a 50s OBB nib that is as sweet as a nut........and a similarly aged 146 with OBB nib - also a great writer!

 

Do not despair if you are thinking of an OBB - have faith - order one - buy one - steal one - but get one!!!

[Chris Chalmers]

Hi Eric! I got this pen from Tom Westerich, and this photo compilation is the one he posted when I bought the pen - basically it is an early (50s) nib in one of the first resin bodies......... and apparently this was quite the norm at MB in those days. Of course I am willing to be corrected on this - would love some experts to chime in - without giving offence to Tom of course. It writes like a dream!

 

http://dxlab.ky1v.com/zzz/TW149OBB.jpg

[Ghost Plane]

Oh dear. The nib of my dreams... I've got an OBB Boheme and lust after a 149 with one of these. Unfortunately I have to finish my bathroom renovation before I can have one. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[trojan_four]

Hi Eric! I got this pen from Tom Westerich, and this photo compilation is the one he posted when I bought the pen - basically it is an early (50s) nib in one of the first resin bodies......... and apparently this was quite the norm at MB in those days. Of course I am willing to be corrected on this - would love some experts to chime in - without giving offence to Tom of course. It writes like a dream!

 

 

Absolutely beautiful pen Chris. I do love it when they come with all the relevant papers like that. It sounds as if you've got a "works" pen........

 

I've been admiring mine non-stop since I got it - I can't get over how stunning the nib is, especially in conjunction with the black resin body. But that NIB! Makes other pen manufacturers pale in comparison. I've also gotten so used to the size of the pen itself that my little ball point, (I think it's maybe a 164? Can you tell from the serial number? - will have to check the paperwork) looks and feels tiny now.

 

Cheers

Adam

[Chris Chalmers]

Hi Adam!

 

Yes, it seems that MB were not too precious about using up all their parts - so a 'works' pen is something special.

The engraving on the cap is the name of a German newspaper that was around at that time! I like personalised pens, but have never had one with the name of a paper before, I wonder who this pen was given to at that time - they didn't use it, whoever it was! I use it all the time, and it just loves MB Violet ink!

[sunnerd]

Chris was kind enough to let me handle her OBB 149 at the Melb Pen show last year. It's such a gorgeous pen. Fell in love immediately

[Chris Chalmers]

Gee! Thanks for remembering! I had quite a swag of 149s at that show, but now that is down to three - this OBB, the 50s Celluloid medium flex italic and the 'red' 149 with italic M nib that I don't think was inked at that time.

We did have a lovely time with inked nibs that day, didn't we?

[shrinknib]

Hopefully I'll be in the state this year for the show and would look forward to checking them out too!

Sounds fantastic

[sunnerd]

We did have a lovely time with inked nibs that day, didn't we?

Oh yes! I did leave before the infamous blue ink stained table cloth incident... :roflmho:

[Chris Chalmers]

I hope I'm wrong - I usually am - but I doubt there will be a pen show in Melbourne this year. They were saying at the show last year that they doubted anyone would be organising one. Shame!!!

[shrinknib]

I know it is off the topic but a few of us are still hopeful there will be one...

been discussed on the melbourne pen group subforum.

There are some passionate people there who would still like to organise one.

[Chris Chalmers]

Good news to start the day here! I hope it does happen! :bunny01:

[Lordarka]

I picked up a Meisterstuck LeGrand Geometric Dimension in OBB the other day. Like you, I was hell-bent on getting the nib replaced, but once I started using it, everything changed. What an amazing pen!

[Ghost Plane]

Another convert to the OBB side.

[gerigo]

Everyone, I am a Montblanc oblique nib addict. I have an OB in a Boheme, an OBB in a 146 and an OBBB in the 149 90th year.

 

The Boheme and 149, for all intents and purposes write like stubs with line variation galore. The OBBB especially, is really like a calligraphy nib, and it's just all too much fun.

 

But the 146 really behaves like a regular BB nib. When I draw cross hatches, line variations are apparent. However, when I write, it has almost has no line variation at all. It's the easiest nib to use with almost no sweet spot. In fact my other Boheme broad has more line variation than the 146, and has a smaller sweet spot.

 

I wonder whether I can swap for another OBB with more line variation? Has anyone swapped for the same nib but requested a different writing behavior?

[Ghost Plane]

If you're within the 6 week window, there should be no problem. It's possible to request a wide BB or a narrow OB, so why not swap for another? Never hurts to ask.