Mb 146 Notebooks

[horationelson]

Hi,

 

I am considering getting this. How do you find this leather holder?

 

http://www.montblanc.com/en-gb/collection/leather/organisers---agenda/103386-meisterstueck-notebook-medium.html

[Nathanb]

 

http://www.montblanc.com/en-gb/collection/leather/organisers---agenda/103386-meisterstueck-notebook-medium.html

 

This is the one, but for some reason the link above doesn't work for me?

 

Montblanc Identification # 103386

 

Here is a link from a MB retailer with a description - https://appelboom.com/montblanc-meisterstuck-a5-writing-case?gclid=CJuijJv8wtICFV61wAodfQ0J3g

Edited March 6, 2017 by Nathanb

[horationelson]

I bought a new 146 notebook today from the local boutique (despite having the Shakesepare one already, which I am saving for another day).

 

£50 isn’t terrible value compared to some other notebooks out there (e.g. Smythson), but it’s not cheap.

 

Some initial thoughts:

• Overall, it’s not bad but I’m not overwhelmed.
• Positives: I’m not getting any feathering or bleed through, and there is good shading in the writing. It’s a nicely made book and is (relatively) discreet from the outside, although I’d actually prefer there to be no star.
• Negatives: the lines spacing is very large – compared with a Moleskin of similar size which has over 30 lines, the MB has 18. You therefore can’t fit much on the page, unless your writing is small, although this makes it look out of scale due to the large gaps between lines. Also, perhaps it’s the ink rather than the paper, but it is taking a while to dry and I am getting a lot of smudges when closing/turning the page (which you do relatively frequently due to the limited number of lines, meaning that the bottom 2-4 lines could still be trying when you turn the page. There is also quite a bit of read through. I am using a darkish ink (toffee brown), although it’s not quite navy or black. I can make out words on the page behind quite clearly, although as stated above there is no bleed through.

 

With hindsight I should have bought a Moleskin for 30% of the price.

[Newbie420]

This is the one, but for some reason the link above doesn't work for me?

 

Montblanc Identification # 103386

 

Here is a link from a MB retailer with a description - https://appelboom.com/montblanc-meisterstuck-a5-writing-case?gclid=CJuijJv8wtICFV61wAodfQ0J3g

Thanks for sharing the link. What are your thoughts on the leather case - how's the leather, how easy (or difficult) is it to remove MB (and non-MB) note books from the sleeve, does the pen loop develop wrinkles (the pen loop on my augmented paper does)?

[horationelson]

Thanks for sharing the link. What are your thoughts on the leather case - how's the leather, how easy (or difficult) is it to remove MB (and non-MB) note books from the sleeve, does the pen loop develop wrinkles (the pen loop on my augmented paper does)?

 

I've only had one for about a month. The leather is nice quality, although it's still new so has quite a smooth, high quality feel to it and hasn't developed a patina or any wrinkles, which I suspect may come with time. The sleeve holds notebooks quite tightly, so there is no tendency for them to fall out, and you will need to give it quite a pull to remove a notebook. I haven't tried inserting other notebooks, but I suspect anything with a back page/cardboard much larger than MB's own notebook might be difficult to get in (although someone has clearly managed to fit a 146 notebook into theirs, so it's not impossible). The business card holders and flap on the left hand side for other papers is quite useful.

 

My only gripe (and it's really a personal preference) is that it's quite thick. I prefer to have notebooks with fewer pages (i.e. less than 100), but this has a spine which is around 1 inch thickness, meaning that its dimensions are more similar to a paperback book than, say, to a small magazine. Some people might prefer this of course.

[Newbie420]

I've only had one for about a month. The leather is nice quality, although it's still new so has quite a smooth, high quality feel to it and hasn't developed a patina or any wrinkles, which I suspect may come with time. The sleeve holds notebooks quite tightly, so there is no tendency for them to fall out, and you will need to give it quite a pull to remove a notebook. I haven't tried inserting other notebooks, but I suspect anything with a back page/cardboard much larger than MB's own notebook might be difficult to get in (although someone has clearly managed to fit a 146 notebook into theirs, so it's not impossible). The business card holders and flap on the left hand side for other papers is quite useful.

 

My only gripe (and it's really a personal preference) is that it's quite thick. I prefer to have notebooks with fewer pages (i.e. less than 100), but this has a spine which is around 1 inch thickness, meaning that its dimensions are more similar to a paperback book than, say, to a small magazine. Some people might prefer this of course.

Many thanks. Very useful summary.

[areilly]

I purchased the medium leather a5 journal (?) and the 'notes' pad that came with it was truly awful.. So I replaced it with the 146 notepad and below is it's outcome.. I use this for client visits and don't mind using a new page each time.

 

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b558/nbendy1/MB%20paper%201_zpsaxskbq8a.jpg

 

I had the same experience with both. The "medium" notepad has nice materials and construction, but the paper is too thin - I was honestly shocked how inadequate the paper was for FP use. Luckily most A5 softcover notebooks and the 146 notebook fit fine.

 

the 146 Notebook (5mm grid) has performed very well for me, no feather/bleed even with my rather wet M & BB 146s , and some sheen with certain inks. It has a little more tooth than Clairefontaine (then again just about everything does). My only complaint is since the leather cover is somewhat thick, I had to break in the spine with some aggressive massaging/bending before the notebook would lie flat.

 

Will I buy another? Maybe. The Rhodia and Clairefontaine softcover notebooks make very good refills for the leather notepad, and the 90gsm Clairefontaine paper is hard to beat, so I may end up going back to one of those. (the Clairefontaine "My Essentials" in particular is a very nice replacement) When being carried alone, the leather 146 notebook has a very nice weight and durable feel.

[Newbie420]

I had the same experience with both. The "medium" notepad has nice materials and construction, but the paper is too thin - I was honestly shocked how inadequate the paper was for FP use. Luckily most A5 softcover notebooks and the 146 notebook fit fine.

 

the 146 Notebook (5mm grid) has performed very well for me, no feather/bleed even with my rather wet M & BB 146s , and some sheen with certain inks. It has a little more tooth than Clairefontaine (then again just about everything does). My only complaint is since the leather cover is somewhat thick, I had to break in the spine with some aggressive massaging/bending before the notebook would lie flat.

 

Will I buy another? Maybe. The Rhodia and Clairefontaine softcover notebooks make very good refills for the leather notepad, and the 90gsm Clairefontaine paper is hard to beat, so I may end up going back to one of those. (the Clairefontaine "My Essentials" in particular is a very nice replacement) When being carried alone, the leather 146 notebook has a very nice weight and durable feel.

Thanks. I guess I am convinced. I will order this on payday.

[scratchofapen]

I only made bad experiences with paper from MB. Feathering as hell, bleeding ad hell. Every few years i'll get some when i am buying something in an MB boutique, but it does not get better.

 

For a company selling fountain pens thst is IMHO inacceptable.