What To Do With An Obbb Nib?

[TTAlex]

From the recent purchases thread (I didn't want to crowd or hijack that one with this question):

 

I'm an F - XF kind of guy.

 

This week, I finally acquired a MB 149 75th Anniversary LE with rose gold and mother of pearl star. It came with an OBBB nib. One cannot be choosy with a pen like this. It became available, and I bought it without thinking too much of the nib. This pen is basically not going to leave my desk.

 

I like the idea of having different nibs for different purposes, but this one strikes me as having few applications besides being a signature pen. Even for short handwritten notes to friends and colleagues, it's almost too wide.

 

So -- the options are: leave it as is, a truly special purpose pen. Or go down to BB or B, perhaps adding some stub to it, and remove the oblique, which I find onerous.

 

Your thoughts?

 

Here's the pen and the extra-wide writing sample!

 

Edited May 3, 2014 by TTAlex

[willard]

Your pen is useless and you must give it to someone who would make a fabulous italic out of it. You can contact me via PM. You will need to pay for shipping, though.

 

PS: Here's an idea:

 

 

PPS: Since you have more than 30 posts, you can ask for trade the nib on the Classifieds. Some FPNers are looking for nibs with lots of material, say to create an architect's point:

 

http://www.nibs.com/Fountain-Pen-Nib-Customizations.htm

[Joane]

Sell it for a fortune amd get a pen with whatever kind of nib you like but I would never destroy such a treasure.

[TTAlex]

Well, I just got it, and it was a months-long hunt, so it ain't going anywhere!

 

Mike-It-Work is local for a pen show this weekend, and I've got some time with the master tomorrow. Which is one of the reasons I'm asking here today!

[Mister Mont Blanc]

It's a remarkable pen! I would say to try the nibmeister first since you don't have to worry about voiding a warranty and it'll probably be cheaper than paying for shipping & exchange cost through MB service.

[gerigo]

My opinion is to keep the nib the way it is. It's quite a unique nib that's not readily available unless you send it away for an exchange. So I am guessing there is a premium associated with the nib, that's on top of this quite rare model. Your writing is actually pretty nice with the nib, compared with the rather characterless writing with fine or extra fine nib. So I don't understand why you'd modify it.

 

Of course you're entitled to modify the nib in any way you'd like. Maybe try to learn to like the nib first before altering it permanently? I was like you maybe 4 months ago, thinking I could only write in fine and extra fine. The people at FPH saw my handwriting and suggested I try stub nibs, and I haven't looked back. I just got a 146 OBB last week which I absolutely love and am waiting for an OBBB 90th 149 to come back from the service center.

[Ghost Plane]

Butchering rare nibs is why so few exist in the wild. Sob

[willard]

I forgot to ask: have you tried with a lighter ink, like the toffee you have in your XF?

 

Please use your most shady ink and report.

Edited May 4, 2014 by willard

[Blade Runner]

I would suggest selling it rather than having it ground to a finer nib given how uncommon that size is, but if you do that, make sure you pick the best nib tech.

 

Btw, I actually think your writing with that nib looks awesome. Try a premium paper like Crane's 100% 32lb kid finish - it's more absorbent than some cheaper papers and can faciltate nibs like yours very well.

 

Good luck.

[orfew]

I would also try to sell it or trade it. You can modify it if you want to it is your pen. I just think it would be a shame to modify that beautiful nib.

[TTAlex]

Willard, very well, here it is in MB Oyster Grey, which is the lightest and shadiest I have.

 

 

i want to thank you all for the excellent feedback. I completely understand the instinct to leave a rare MB original nib intact, unchanged. That's one thing pulling me towards leaving it alone.

 

Selling is not an option, at least right now.

 

I shall also try it on a high-end fountain pen stationery soon and post here, as I imagine I shall use this pen for personal notes as one its main applications.

[willard]

> [H]ere it is in MB Oyster Grey, which is the lightest and shadiest I have.

 

How do you it like now, Mister I-have-a-very-big-problem-my-OBBB-nib-is-too-sexy-with-a-light-and-shady-grey?

 

Now, please show us the toffee! The toffee! The toffee!

 

Hmmm, toffee...

Edited May 4, 2014 by willard

[TTAlex]

Willard, that's funny, but I don't know if I like it any better than the midnight blue. It needs to grow on me, I think. Scotch once did also, and now I love it. Vegetables too!

[meiers]

Don't butcher that nib.

Play with it and use it.

Edited May 4, 2014 by meiers

[meiers]

It has taken me a while; but now I do appreciate OBB nibs.

[Mickey]

Okay, here's what you should do, according to me. (I agree with those who argue strongly against rare nib butchery). Fill it with something dry and tight, like MB MB (IG formula) or R&K Scabiosa or Salix. Then, think seriously about learning to write in an upright italic hand. This style will show off this very special nib to best advantage, displaying the modest but still noticeable line variation it can provide.

[willard]

> Scotch once did also, and now I love it. Vegetables too!

 

I trust you about Scotch, TTAlex. Admittedly, veggies have better chances to "grow" on you.

 

Speaking of growing, how about using the oblique like an oblique? Thus spake Richard:

 

By realigning the direction of the thick and thin strokes, you can produce a different character style without actually changing your handwriting.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/nibs/beyond.htm

 

While it's tough to disagree about that claim (I mean, even I could have made it!), I think it would be better to read the whole thing if you did not before, and try to write by rotating your nib counter-clockwise a bit, or clockwise a lot.

 

Please report.

Edited May 4, 2014 by willard

[willard]

Or what Mickey says, except perhaps about butchery.

 

Or even that: I too would warn against seeing a butcher to have your nib personalized.

Edited May 4, 2014 by willard

[Mickey]

With a left-oblique nib, you really have no choice but to rotate it a bit counter-clockwise. Otherwise the edge will not lie flat on the page. Try to become a bit more edge conscious (and keep the pen barrel pointed in one compass direction) then I think you might be surprised how expressive and non-blobby this nib can be.

[gerigo]

BTW TTAlex, there is nothing that says you can't skip every other line on the page. I have to do this with my OBB nib

 

Try writing slower and bigger. Savor the way the nib lays down the ink as your hand draws each letter out. I have found it to be an extremely relaxing experience, especially with a very wet nibs like the OBB, or I am sure in your case the OBBB.

 

Yeah as others have mentioned, the ink and paper will have a very profound input in how the nib behaves, especially with a very wet and broad nib like this. Best with Rhodia paper, with a medium to dry flowing ink.