Mb220 Vs Mb220P

[hari317]

The MB220 is usually found as a piston filler, however MB released a cartridge converter version of the MB220 called the MB220P, P for Patronen-cartridge in German. i recently bought a MB220P and found some interesting differences and hence this thread.

 

The two pens are externally identical. Both have 220 engraved on the cap ring. The stickered pen is the MB220P, it is lighter in shade since the pen has not been handled much. I find that the brushed pens darken as they get some use.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB220P/IMG_5984.jpg

 

Uncapped:

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB220P/IMG_5985.jpg

 

Opened, you can see the MB220's piston knob open:

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB220P/IMG_5986.jpg

 

The main difference is in the way the nib is mounted and in the feed and section. The MB220 has an inset nib. The nib is inset to the section and has to be pulled from the front using a special tool. On the MB220P, the nib is slid on the feed using tabs and it has to be pushed from the front to be removed from the section.

 

Also you will notice that the entire section is brushed on the MB220P whereas the MB220 has an elegant unbrushed area around the nib: easier to cleanly wipe down.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB220P/IMG_5988.jpg

 

The feeders: MB220P on left and MB220 on the right.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB220P/IMG_5989.jpg

 

Best,

Hari

Edited August 25, 2011 by hari317

[jar]

Neat. Interesting.

[orfew]

Thanks for the interesting post.

[JLS1]

Hi Hari,

 

Very interesting post - thanks! I've also got an MB 220 piston filler, but the feeder and section are identical to the ones you show for the 220P, not the 220. I'm guessing that this is a later (1970's) version of the 220?

 

FWIW, I fell in love with the design/look of the MB 220 when I first saw it and spent the better part of a year chasing it down; it's now got a spot in my rotation. I do agree with you that the brushed plastic does seem to darken with use, but I consider these 'age spots' a plus.

 

Thanks again!

[hari317]

I've also got an MB 220 piston filler, but the feeder and section are identical to the ones you show for the 220P, not the 220. I'm guessing that this is a later (1970's) version of the 220?

 

 

I think the same, that the fully brushed sections were later, they are simpler to produce than the inset nib versions.

 

Thanks for all the kind comments.

 

Best

Hari

[kandarp]

Hari,

 

Thanks for the interesting post and beautiful pictures.

 

Kandarp

[hari317]

Thanks kandarp.

[jar]

The MB220 is usually found as a piston filler, however MB released a cartridge converter version of the MB220 called the MB220P, P for Patronen-cartridge in German. i recently bought a MB220P and found some interesting differences and hence this thread.

 

The two pens are externally identical. Both have 220 engraved on the cap ring. The stickered pen is the MB220P, it is lighter in shade since the pen has not been handled much. I find that the brushed pens darken as they get some use.

 

 

Uncapped:

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB220P/IMG_5985.jpg

 

Opened, you can see the MB220's piston knob open:

 

 

The main difference is in the way the nib is mounted and in the feed and section. The MB220 has an inset nib. The nib is inset to the section and has to be pulled from the front using a special tool. On the MB220P, the nib is slid on the feed using tabs and it has to be pushed from the front to be removed from the section.

 

Also you will notice that the entire section is brushed on the MB220P whereas the MB220 has an elegant unbrushed area around the nib: easier to cleanly wipe down.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB220P/IMG_5988.jpg

 

The feeders: MB220P on left and MB220 on the right.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB220P/IMG_5989.jpg

 

Best,

Hari

 

So I found my 220 and it like yours has the smooth area around the nib.

[hari317]

 

So I found my 220 and it like yours has the smooth area around the nib.

 

I was a compulsive MB220 buyer, most of the piston filled versions have the smooth area. There was one 220 that I bought which had a fully smooth section with a brushed cap and barrel.

[Margana]

My 220 looks identical to your 220 but it is a c/c with an OB nib. Does that mean it was made in the 1970's? I would take another 220 in a heartbeat as it is easily one of my best writing pens.

[hari317]

My 220 looks identical to your 220 but it is a c/c with an OB nib. Does that mean it was made in the 1970's? I would take another 220 in a heartbeat as it is easily one of my best writing pens.

 

I certainly feel that the inset nib versions are earlier production. But I have no information about the year they switched to simpler construction.

 

Regards,

Hari

Edited September 9, 2011 by hari317

[smodak]

The MB220 is usually found as a piston filler, however MB released a cartridge converter version of the MB220 called the MB220P, P for Patronen-cartridge in German. i recently bought a MB220P and found some interesting differences and hence this thread.

 

The two pens are externally identical. Both have 220 engraved on the cap ring. The stickered pen is the MB220P, it is lighter in shade since the pen has not been handled much. I find that the brushed pens darken as they get some use.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB220P/IMG_5984.jpg

 

Uncapped:

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB220P/IMG_5985.jpg

 

Opened, you can see the MB220's piston knob open:

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB220P/IMG_5986.jpg

 

The main difference is in the way the nib is mounted and in the feed and section. The MB220 has an inset nib. The nib is inset to the section and has to be pulled from the front using a special tool. On the MB220P, the nib is slid on the feed using tabs and it has to be pushed from the front to be removed from the section.

 

Also you will notice that the entire section is brushed on the MB220P whereas the MB220 has an elegant unbrushed area around the nib: easier to cleanly wipe down.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB220P/IMG_5988.jpg

 

The feeders: MB220P on left and MB220 on the right.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/MB220P/IMG_5989.jpg

 

Best,

Hari

 

Hey Hari, Do both these pens write same?

[hari317]

Hey Hari, Do both these pens write same?

 

Different since they have different nib widths. Also the nib mounting design is different which leads to some variation.

[gampupen]

Hi Hari,

 

From the pictures it appears to me that the tip of the nib is "pulled up". I find the same with my MB 149. Is it normal for MB's to have the tip of the nib like that. If so, why is it like that?

 

Thanks and Regards,

Gampu.

[hari317]

Hi Gampu, that upturned tip is an effort to give the writer a maximally smooth writing experience even with finer tips. This feature was pioneered by the firm MacNiven and Cameron.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Hari

Edited January 30, 2012 by hari317

[gampupen]

Hi Hari,

 

Thanks for the information. The link was informative.

 

Thanks and Regards,

Gampu.

[Wideguy]

Dear HariThose are lovely pens, and I prefer the piston version personally How do they compare in size to 149s ?Thank you for sharing !Best wishesAdam

[hari317]

Dear HariThose are lovely pens, and I prefer the piston version personally How do they compare in size to 149s ?Thank you for sharing !Best wishesAdam

 

Dear Adam,

 

Thank you, these are quite small pens when compared to the big boss (149), better compared to the Lamy2000 or the Lamy Profil pens.

 

Best

Hari

[jar]

Dear HariThose are lovely pens, and I prefer the piston version personally How do they compare in size to 149s ?Thank you for sharing !Best wishesAdam

 

They are Parker 61 sized pens.

 

The 220 is the same size as the 121 in this picture (third from right) while the 149 is the far left pen.

 

http://www.fototime.com/501681D139C9E4B/standard.jpg

[philipr]

My 220P has the section with the unbrushed part that your 220 piston filler has. It also has the same condensation tube in the feed, but made of metal. My 221P, 225, 227 and 1266 all have the same feed as your 220P has. Guess they mixed parts at MB in the 70's. Well, it was the Cool 70's, after all!