Non-Retractable Converter-Fill Boheme

May 29, 2015

Am I right in thinking there was a larger size Boheme that had a fixed nib AND was converter filled? Did this version have a two-tone nib and were there several colours of synthetic stone available?

It seems to be such a departure from the distinctive elements of other Bohemes, I wonder why it was included in the line up?

May 30, 2015

It is a medium sized pen. The one that I have is a two-tone nib, not sure if there are other nib type. I know there are three different stone colors: red, black and green.

May 30, 2015

Yes, there were 3 sizes of Boheme Originally called Noir et Noir back in 1999-2000 before they had to change the name due to copyright infringement. These do not have the decorative rings that are exposed one one removes the cap, that say boheme on it.

The smaller regular Boheme is still in production. At some point early on it was available as a Platinum line without a gem on clip. Only takes small cartridges.

The Medium size with converter and fixed nib. I think MB offered this size as a for those who don't like to use cartridges, and wanted a less compact desk pen that was still nimble. I've only see this with a stone clip, but I could be wrong.

The Large size is huge, approaching something between a 146 to 149. It's a full size pen that only takes cartridges and has a fully retractable nib like the smaller one. I've only seen these with no gem on clip. If I recall this pen used to sell for a little more than a 149. I guess it didn't sell that well, available roughly from 2002 to 2009 or so.

I think the large and medium probably deserved a piston filler system like other MB pens in that class, but given the complexity of having a retractable nib and a piston filling system MB decided to offer one of each type and made the compromise ( my theory anyway). It's only until the Heritage 1912 pen that they achieved such an accomplishment... And that pen is a wonder. Very heavy given the retracble nib and brass filler inside it. That also sells now for a bit higher that these did.