Montblanc Platinum 149 Obbb

[Mastiff]

I have a BB on the way on a 149, and I've been reading this thread for some time. What is the hyper about the oblique nibs? I come from a humblw medium-broad stub background. Woudn't it be nicer to get a big nib and accentuate the stub or italicise it if it is the line variation you are looking for? Unless, of course you guys rotate the pen significantly as part of your writing habit. Just a genuine thought. I have tried OB and OBB at a 'boutique' and absolutely disliked it.

[Tom Kellie]

I have tried the signature nib and I don't believe that it's the OBBB; at least I hope it's not because I just ordered one and the signature nib is a paintbrush! No way Tom would've came up with the writing sample above with the signature nib.

 

[Mastiff]

Beautiful shading with that royal blue Tom.

[Pravda]

I have a BB on the way on a 149, and I've been reading this thread for some time. What is the hyper about the oblique nibs? I come from a humblw medium-broad stub background. Woudn't it be nicer to get a big nib and accentuate the stub or italicise it if it is the line variation you are looking for? Unless, of course you guys rotate the pen significantly as part of your writing habit. Just a genuine thought. I have tried OB and OBB at a 'boutique' and absolutely disliked it.

 

 

The oblique nibs give narrower downstrokes and wider across vs the broads which is the opposite. The hype? There shouldn't be any, per say; it is just that for me (for example) I have a small(ish) handwriting and the obliques offer me versatility in the sense that I get the line variation without the words being too 'wide' to blog on the page.

 

I am not one who believes obliques are for grip differences.

 

The idea is that you write with both and see which suit your script more. I have broads too, and find them lovely. But I have to write bigger to accommodate the wider downstrokes of the L, T, B, I, H etc.

[Mastiff]

 

 

The oblique nibs give narrower downstrokes and wider across vs the broads which is the opposite. The hype? There shouldn't be any, per say; it is just that for me (for example) I have a small(ish) handwriting and the obliques offer me versatility in the sense that I get the line variation without the words being too 'wide' to blog on the page.

 

I am not one who believes obliques are for grip differences.

 

The idea is that you write with both and see which suit your script more. I have broads too, and find them lovely. But I have to write bigger to accommodate the wider downstrokes of the L, T, B, I, H etc.

 

I see. I do remember having difficulties with writing with obliques but this may be, like others say, something that needs growing in to. With regard to obliques and grip differences perhaps I was influenced by the likes of SBRE brown etc in addition to my personal experience. I have to say, that in all honesty, the thought of getting a O3B is tempting despite my previously negative experience. Keep us posted when you get yours Pravda.

[Tom Kellie]

[Mastiff]

Thank you kindly Tom for the writing sample. Before buying the 149, I struggled to decide between the 90th and the standard red gold, and finally opted for the standard version.

Your pen is a beautiful specimen indeed. I am (slightly) relieved that, according to your writing samples, the BB writes finer than the OBBB. It was a bit difficult to differentiate the line width in other pictures I had seen, so thank you.

[Ghost Plane]

Much also depends on the width of the BB and OBBB since there is no standardization. I regret the recent hurricane leaves my office equipment in a state that I cannot post writing samples.

 

What I find key in this debate is that those who are accustomed to "finger writing" where their fingers move to produce their script are less likely to get on with obliques than standard BB than those of us who "sketch" our letters using shoulder writing. Finger movement causes the nibs to rotate around an axis to produce lettering, while the more relaxed and stable stance of shoulder writing allows the nib to remain flat on its sweet spot without as much movement. If you have the ability to allow the pen to write under its own weight so that the business end remains still, obliques require no more turning in the hand than a standard stub or italic.

 

I, too, use the big nibs for narrow-ruled paper or dot grid pads and find the variation produced by these nibs permits my writing to fit easily. Owning both BB and OBB/OBBB nibs, I use them interchangeably as the mood hits me.

[sd10521]

Since the start of this thread I have been putting more mileage on my OBB and with the information gathered here and in another recent thread in another forum I'm much more comfortable with it. I do have to concentrate not to go back to some of my sloppy handwriting habits, but the payoff is there with something more pleasing to the eye.

Thanks.

[Ghost Plane]

Yaaaaaaaaay! Glad you're loving your pen more.

[Tom Kellie]

Since the start of this thread I have been putting more mileage on my OBB and with the information gathered here and in another recent thread in another forum I'm much more comfortable with it. I do have to concentrate not to go back to some of my sloppy handwriting habits, but the payoff is there with something more pleasing to the eye.

 

[Tom Kellie]

~ Until now I've never voiced my conjecture about factors affecting OBBB nib performance.

As a novice, I lack the accumulated experience and hence have no standing to articulate what may be the most salient factors.

After a day of experimentation with many types of paper and inks, it seemed best to mention what was observed.

Throughout today I've been using a yellow gold 149 OBBB, trying four different Montblanc inks and a wide variety of paper samples.

My experience is strictly anecdotal, without the rigor of systematic experimentation.

Nonetheless, what's been apparent — which is fully consistent with my OBBB use in the preceding months — is that both ink and paper are factors influencing OBBB smoothness while writing and the clarity of strokes written, with paper grade strongly affecting overall performance.

More watery inks tend toward less sharp strokes, with meaningful small details becoming so coarse as to be lost or at least blurred.

By contrast, such stalwart performers as Montblanc Irish Green and Montblanc Royal Blue yield excellent writing, time after time, on all types of paper.

What really stands out as making a substantial difference with OBBB use is paper, i.e. paper surface quality.

This is mildly ironic to discover, as I happen to work in the remote central Chinese city where paper was developed/“invented” by CAI Lun.

There's no surprise that Clairefontaine Triomphe paper is an ideal surface for an OBBB nib.

What has surprised me is that common university student tablet note paper also is an outstanding surface, on which it's easily possible to write sharp, clear small letters.

The “stinkers” has been the coated A4 copy paper samples. In nearly every case writing on coated copy paper, OBBB nib performance was highly unsatisfactory. Far too much smearing and uneven ink application.

By contrast, the shading of Montblanc Royal Blue ink from the OBBB nib on student note paper is splendid!

Coated surfaces don't seem to handle the large ink flow from an OBBB nib. The more old-fashioned paper varieties fairly dazzle.

What I’ve written is purely and only anecdotal. It’s not intended to be a pronouncement, as I know so little, which is why I’m experimenting with both inks and papers.

If other FPN members have alternative views, it’s they who may very likely know best, not yours truly.

I’m writing this to encourage BB, OBB and OBBB nib users to freely sample a range of inks and a variety of paper samples, to determine what works best for their handwriting.

When I’m in the classroom later this afternoon, I’ll seek student assistance in acquiring a few pads of their standard note-taking paper.

From henceforth, I'll make a point of using non-coated, more traditional paper so as to enjoy the superb flexibility and nuances of both of my OBBB nibs.

Nevertheless, I’ll maintain an open mind to the seasoned advice from others, and continue experimenting to seek ink and paper which shades well, given my penmanship.

Tom K.

[Ghost Plane]

Excellent observations. So often nibs are the sole focus when they're actually a third of the equation.

[meiers]

I test-drove my OBB 146 on some loose leaf paper purchased at Staples and graciously offered to me by teenage son. To my surprise, the paper performed flawlessly: nice ink shading, no feathering and zero bleed-through

Edited October 16, 2016 by meiers

[Ghost Plane]

I'm having good luck with the newer Paperblanks journals in the larger sizes.

[Dcharles]

I've been using a 244 OBB inked with Tolstoy sky blue in my ARC notebook from Staples with good results.

 

I also recently acquired a vintage Parker Big Red with a very broad nib which I inked with Shakespeare velvet red and it shades nicely in the same notebook. I can only conclude that MB inks and ARC paper go well together.

Edited October 17, 2016 by Dcharles

[Ghost Plane]

Definitely. I'm using the ARC calendar and notebook systems quite happily.

[Ed44]

Hello all,

 

What a wonderful topic. After reading all these posts about OBBB nibs and so on, I recalled a Montblanc 149 with a huge nib that I came across at the Los Angeles Pen Show back in February.

 

A dealer there had a 149 that had a huge nib on it. I took a few photos with my phone for arother day. I figured that it was some sort of custom nib. Neither of us knew so I just filed it all away. Now I'm thinking that what I saw was perhaps the elusive "signature" nib. It must have been at least a BBBB. Unfortunately the magnification effects in the photos don't help. What do you all think?

 

Ed

 

 

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/EdinLA44/Avatars/Pens/IMG_2783_zpsfeaamy6s.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/EdinLA44/Avatars/Pens/IMG_2770_zpsnthxguno.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/EdinLA44/Avatars/Pens/IMG_2784%202_zpsoxt0kiqo.jpg

[Tom Kellie]

~ Ed44:

 

That's a mighty nib!

Compared to it, my two OBBB nibs are but slender reeds.

What might such a nib be called?

• The Double Spatula?

• The Divided Oar Blade?

• The Well-Inked Bulwark?

Most likely it's indeed the elusive Signature Nib, worthy of the grandest signatures.

Thank you so much for posting the images here.

Tom K.

[dubhe]

Tom, could you provide a writing sample of both the BB and OBB on the same page, so that I can see the difference in line variation as mentioned by Pravda above?

 

I bought a 149 OBB from eBay early in my collecting life but as it had been incorrectly advertised as a BB I decided to sell it on without really using it, thinking that Oblique nibs were not for my 'normal' handwriting. As my collection has grown I realise I have no oblique nibs, so this might be my next search.