Enjoying Montblanc Pens — Broad, Oblique, Extra Fine, Le & Bespoke

[Tom Kellie]

Montblanc 342 Oblique Fine Nib at Work

[Tom Kellie]

What? No Montblanc Pens Under the Tree for Me?

[Zdenek]

 

What? No Montblanc Pens Under the Tree for Me?

 

 

Lovely sniffer.

[Tom Kellie]

[Tom Kellie]

[Tom Kellie]

[Ghost Plane]

I am in lust.

 

Must bribe Yubi to learn how to retrieve Tom’s pens for me...

[Tom Kellie]

1953 Montblanc Celluloid 144 OBB

At the close of November, 2018 a mid-1950s Montblanc 342 OBB came to my writing desk.

Writing with the OBB nib was an unexpectedly delightful experience due to its generous ink flow and smooth nib face.

At that time I offhandedly mentioned to friends in Europe that it might be nice to someday acquire a Montblanc fountain pen made in 1953 with an OBB nib.

I was born in 1953 hence I have a particular affinity for anything of that vintage.

In the 1er arrondissement of Paris the restaurant Carré des Feuillants has offered a glass of 1953 armagnac after each of the meals I’ve enjoyed there.

Within less than one week I was apprised of a Montblanc celluloid 144 which fit my preferences, having been made in 1953 with an OBB nib.

Arrangements were made for the pen to reach me via a circuitous route.

My long-time friend from Fujian in southeastern China is a researcher at the U.S. National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

He married earlier this month. His bride graciously agreed to carry the pen in her handbag when she returned to visit her parents as a newlywed lady.

The pen was in a package which arrived at 2:30 pm on Christmas Day.

There’s no evidence of use or having ever been inked. The pen was put away for decades, remaining undisturbed by use or daylight.

As I like the dimensions of a 144, it’s comfortable in my fingertips. The piston knob turns as agilely as a recent model.

The Oblique Double Broad nib is pure pleasure as a writer. Smooth, easy to control, with sensitive feedback from the paper surface.

This pen is sure to be a regular performer on my writing desk. It’s aged far better than I have, which I find inspiring.

Tom K.

Shipping Tube

OBB Within

1953 Celluloid 144 OBB

1953 144

1953 OBB

144 OBB Nib

144 OBB Feed

Edited December 26, 2018 by Tom Kellie

[BillH]

Again Tom, that is a stunning pen! The nib is so very special. Congrats! And thanks for sharing the pictures and the story.

[Tom Kellie]

1959 Montblanc 149 BBB

When the 1953 Montblanc Celluloid 144 OBB was offered to me I was fully satisfied. As it was what I’d sought, there was nothing more to be desired.

However, fate intervened. It seemed that images of my five Montblanc OBBBs had suggested that I might be interested in their seldom-seen cousin.

A 1959 149, from the period when precious resin 149s were introduced, was offered to me with the original BBB nib. BBB nibs were made in limited quantities at that time.

The pen in question had remained in its original case for over half a century, un-inked, somewhat forgotten, preserved without much appreciation or care.

A genuine BBB from Hamburg artisans, the nib face was wide, with the characteristic bevelled surfaces shown in a diagram of Montblanc nibs from that era.

Due to no use since it was made, the pen was offered scratch-free in the original box.

Was it possible that I might be interested? My affirmative response required no reflection whatsoever as a Triple Broad 149 highly appealed to me.

The pen arrived in the early afternoon of Christmas Day in the same box as the 1953 Montblanc Celluloid 144 OBB and five books.

My loyal student friend brought the shipping box to my apartment. A Chinese Muslim, he’s the current provincial Chinese martial arts champion. Christmas was also his 21st birthday.

A joyous feeling of merriment and celebration accompanied the opening of the package.

Gently opening the late 1950s Montblanc box covered in taupe fabric revealed two information booklets in German and a small Montblanc pin.

The pen resembles current 149s in boutique showcases. Handling it with reverence, I marveled at the outstanding quality of what happens to be the ninth 149 on my writing desk.

How does it write? With verve and panache!

It’s not a wet writer. The large nib face is easy to handle, laying ink in crisp lines and strokes in response to fingertip control.

This is a pen made for displaying inks in all of their glory. Shading is to be expected when the strokes are such a generous width.

As with OBBBs and other very wide nibs, the 149 BBB ‘corners very well’ in the sense that it isn’t at all messy, providing sharp lines if handled with finesse.

Such a brash nib is ideal for signatures, short notes on greeting cards, attention-getting instructions, or for the sheer unalloyed pleasure of spreading ink around.

Adding the 149 BBB to my writing desk brings a fresh pulse of inspiration. I’m looking forward to writing with it in 2019 and beyond.

 

Tom K.

Fully Wrapped

Within the Wrapping

First Look

In the Presentation Box Lid

1959 149 BBB

1959 149 BBB Nib

149 BBB Feed

Kontrollfüller

From Within the Presentation Box

[Tom Kellie]

A Few Comparison Images:

1953 Montblanc Celluloid 144 OBB and 1959 Montblanc 149 BBB

144 OBB and 149 BBB

Side-by-Side Comparison

Stars from Half a Century Ago

Nibs Outdoors on Christmas Afternoon

[zaddick]

I am thrilled these pens landed in hands that will not only treasure and use them, but will also maximize the wonderment and educational value of these pens through a generous sharing of photos and impressions.

 

The selfish part of me wishes for such a 3B 149 to play with, but fate has properly brought the pen where it was meant to be all along. Sometimes the journey takes longer than expected, but it work out in the end.

[Michael R.]

What a great way to find such little time capsule!

Easily one of my favorite 149 models. Even it resembles the current 149 models on the first view it has many, many little details to discover which differ. Actually not a single part should be identical to their modern counterparts.

 

The nib is great also!

 

Enjoy :-)

Cheers

 

Michael

[Ghost Plane]

Whimper!

[jmccarty3]

Tom, I cannot think of a more worthy person to own and use these magnificent pens. Fortune has smiled most deservedly upon you, and all of us are grateful to see these wonderful instruments and the way they write. A very special Christmas indeed! Thank you for sharing them with us!

[amberleadavis]

Wowsa! Thank you for sharing these photos with us.

[Pravda]

Cant stop looking at these pics! The condition in which the pens are still in is also something remarkable. Thank you for sharing and congratulations! Now these are truly proper Christmas gifts Tom! Enjoy

[Tom Kellie]

[CS388]

149 BBB? Gosh, Tom, that's the cream of the crop. A rare and beautiful find.

 

It looks magnificent! And it couldn't have gone to a better person.

 

Congratulations! And best wishes for the holiday season.

[Tom Kellie]