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

[Tom Kellie]

Ready for a Midnight Sleigh Ride

[Ghost Plane]

 

Ready for a Midnight Sleigh Ride

I’d love finding that under my tree.

[Chrissy]

I’d love finding that under my tree.

 

Me too. Sigh

[jmccarty3]

Tom--

 

Thanks for posting more wonderful photos. We are so fortunate to have such beautiful pens and such expert photographers!

 

If any of you have not seen The Hemingway Photo Thread, also in the Montblanc forum, go there to see more magnificent Montblanc photos. fpupulin is using a Hasselblad medium format camera, which I believe also utilizes Zeiss lenses.

[Tom Kellie]

Tom--

 

Thanks for posting more wonderful photos. We are so fortunate to have such beautiful pens and such expert photographers!

 

If any of you have not seen The Hemingway Photo Thread, also in the Montblanc forum, go there to see more magnificent Montblanc photos. fpupulin is using a Hasselblad medium format camera, which I believe also utilizes Zeiss lenses.

 

 

~ Hi, Jay!

 

Thank you so much for your very generous comment.

For the convenience of those reading this in the future, who might be unfamiliar with the Hemingway Photo Thread, here's the link:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/307077-the-hemingway-photo-thread/page-1

There are a number of gifted photographers whose work shows their Montblanc Hemingway fountain pens.

The five Zeiss lenses I use are all manual focus, which works well with fountain pens, unlike with my Pug puppy, Zuji.

Whenever images of pens, nibs, or handwriting samples are posted, it enriches threads in the Montblanc Forum.

Whether using a smart phone camera, a point & shoot camera, or a more advanced camera, imagery intensifies appreciation of Montblanc pens.

You're so right! There's a wealth of outstanding pens — such as zaddick's recent post — and talented photographers.

Tom K.

[Stanman]

 

Ready for a Midnight Sleigh Ride

Sweet pic Tom!

[Tom Kellie]

~ This morning I received a detailed report about a Bespoke Nib transaction which occurred earlier today in the Eastern United States.

It's such a positive report that it merits sharing here, to encourage those who might be considering a Montblanc Bespoke Nib.

My former graduate student and long-time friend is a life science researcher at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

Earlier today he visited the Tysons Galleria Montblanc boutique in Tysons Corner, McLean, Virginia.

He was there to have a Writers Edition fountain pen submitted for a Bespoke Nib.

The experience surprised him, due to the exceptional degree of professionalism of Mr. Robert Marciniszyn, the Montblanc District Manager, based in McLean, Virginia.

Although my friend is a Chinese national with a youthful appearance, he told me that he was treated with far above average warmth and courtesy.

Mr. Marciniszyn explained the entire Bespoke Nib process to him with attention to detail, gladly answering various questions.

He prepared a Montblanc internal “repair ticket” for use by the Madison Avenue, NYC boutique in ordering the Bespoke Nib, and also prepared the pen for shipment to the Ft. Worth, Texas Montblanc Service Center.

Mr. Marciniszyn has processed quite a number of Bespoke Nib requests, including one Washington, DC area client who's ordered six Bespoke Nibs.

He showed my friend a completed Bespoke Nib which had arrived back into the boutique that day. It's delicacy and craftsmanship highly impressed my friend.

Several photos were sent to me of the paperwork associated with my friend’s Bespoke order, as he wanted my opinion.

They were complete, detailed and exactly like the paperwork for the Bespoke EEF Nib which I ordered in 2014.

The Montblanc After Sales Service Coordinator for Montblanc in Ft. Worth is Mr. Michael Garcia. He takes personal care that all Bespoke orders are efficiently processed and forwarded to Hamburg, Germany.

The positive experience of my friend in ordering a Bespoke Nib today was a direct consequence of Mr. Marciniszyn's experience, courtesy and exemplary customer service skills.

This suggests that Bespoke Nibs may be ordered, if one is assisted by an experienced staff member.

Montblanc's Bespoke Nibs are great fun to use. I hope that others may experience writing with them in the future.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

[Tom Kellie]

I pulled a pen out the other night with an interesting nib. It is a MB 250 (aka #9) steel nib with an OB tip. These are often called "war time" nibs as steel was used when gold was sadly redirected to other, non-fountain pen purposes.

 

Sorry the photo quality is not better. It is winter and natural light is gone before all the destructive forces in my house (aka the little one) pass out.

 

[Stanman]

 

~ This morning I received a detailed report about a Bespoke Nib transaction which occurred earlier today in the Eastern United States.

It's such a positive report that it merits sharing here, to encourage those who might be considering a Montblanc Bespoke Nib.

My former graduate student and long-time friend is a life science researcher at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

Earlier today he visited the Tysons Galleria Montblanc boutique in Tysons Corner, McLean, Virginia.

He was there to have a Writers Edition fountain pen submitted for a Bespoke Nib.

The experience surprised him, due to the exceptional degree of professionalism of Mr. Robert Marciniszyn, the Montblanc District Manager, based in McLean, Virginia.

Although my friend is a Chinese national with a youthful appearance, he told me that he was treated with far above average warmth and courtesy.

Mr. Marciniszyn explained the entire Bespoke Nib process to him with attention to detail, gladly answering various questions.

He prepared a Montblanc internal “repair ticket” for use by the Madison Avenue, NYC boutique in ordering the Bespoke Nib, and also prepared the pen for shipment to the Ft. Worth, Texas Montblanc Service Center.

Mr. Marciniszyn has processed quite a number of Bespoke Nib requests, including one Washington, DC area client who's ordered six Bespoke Nibs.

He showed my friend a completed Bespoke Nib which had arrived back into the boutique that day. It's delicacy and craftsmanship highly impressed my friend.

Several photos were sent to me of the paperwork associated with my friend’s Bespoke order, as he wanted my opinion.

They were complete, detailed and exactly like the paperwork for the Bespoke EEF Nib which I ordered in 2014.

The Montblanc After Sales Service Coordinator for Montblanc in Ft. Worth is Mr. Michael Garcia. He takes personal care that all Bespoke orders are efficiently processed and forwarded to Hamburg, Germany.

The positive experience of my friend in ordering a Bespoke Nib today was a direct consequence of Mr. Marciniszyn's experience, courtesy and exemplary customer service skills.

This suggests that Bespoke Nibs may be ordered, if one is assisted by an experienced staff member.

Montblanc's Bespoke Nibs are great fun to use. I hope that others may experience writing with them in the future.

Tom K.

Thanks for the great post on the bespoke nib experience. Would love to get one too!

[zaddick]

Hi Tom,

 

250 refers to the size of the nib and is the largest produced at the time. It is the equivalent of a modern #9. It was originally gold washed/plated to maintain the look of gold somewhat when it was no longer allowed for such civilian uses starting in 1939 and during WWII. This would likely have been on a 139 when new as it was the only model I know of that used this nib size in steel. The gold look is likely the effect of my poor lighting in the kitchen around midnight.

 

The law issued in 1938 - the so called "Materialbewirtschaftung" forbade the use of gold for fountain pen nibs. For a short while MB switched to Palladium nibs. These are marked with a P. It was not long after that manufacturers had to move to steel.

[Tom Kellie]

Hi Tom,

 

250 refers to the size of the nib and is the largest produced at the time. It is the equivalent of a modern #9. It was originally gold washed/plated to maintain the look of gold somewhat when it was no longer allowed for such civilian uses starting in 1939 and during WWII. This would likely have been on a 139 when new as it was the only model I know of that used this nib size in steel. The gold look is likely the effect of my poor lighting in the kitchen around midnight.

 

The law issued in 1938 - the so called "Materialbewirtschaftung" forbade the use of gold for fountain pen nibs. For a short while MB switched to Palladium nibs. These are marked with a P. It was not long after that manufacturers had to move to steel.

 

 

[Tom Kellie]

Awaiting Inspiration

OBBB at Rest

Sunny Afternoon in December

[Tom Kellie]

[dannyboy]

Tom--"Sunny Afternoon in December" is a fabulous shot! I love all those shadows and the intricacy of them along with the shadow self of the MB.

 

Stunning--------------------and then I saw "For the Very Best" and stunning led to awe!

 

Thank you for such inspiring posts and photos of terrific pens!

[Ghost Plane]

Mmmm. Reminds me I’m supposed to be writing. *Poof!*

[saskia_madding]

Wow. This thread has certainly given me some food for thought! I have a variety of vintage MBs that are not 149s with veeeery broad and wet nibs, but until now, the only broad I had in a 146 or 149 was the Mann in broad, which I love.

 

Recently I missed out on an auction for a 146 BB, and I ended up bugging the seller until he admitted he had another one but hadn't planned on parting with it. I gently pleaded my case, and he eventually gave in.

 

I prefer the MB 146 to the 149, just in terms of preference of optimal sized pen for my hand, so I'm pretty thrilled with this purchase. to top it all off, it's a MB tester pen, which is quirky and I kind of love. I hope I get it in time for Christmas! It is my holiday present to myself.

 

 

 

[Zdenek]

As this thread is dealing mainly on 149 I think you can find the video interesting (sorry Tom, youtube again).

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=399xSgeRDVM

Edited December 5, 2017 by Zdenek

[Tom Kellie]

As this thread is dealing mainly on 149 I think you can find the video interesting (sorry Tom, youtube again).

 

 

~ Hi, Zdenek!

 

As ever, there's a blank space where the video must be embedded.

In a very general sense, what is the video about?

I don't want to request details, but rather a general notion of the content.

We'd better feature non-149s to underscore that a wide range of nibs are most welcome here.

Thank you for posting the video link.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

Wow. This thread has certainly given me some food for thought! I have a variety of vintage MBs that are not 149s with veeeery broad and wet nibs, but until now, the only broad I had in a 146 or 149 was the Mann in broad, which I love.

 

Recently I missed out on an auction for a 146 BB, and I ended up bugging the seller until he admitted he had another one but hadn't planned on parting with it. I gently pleaded my case, and he eventually gave in.

 

I prefer the MB 146 to the 149, just in terms of preference of optimal sized pen for my hand, so I'm pretty thrilled with this purchase. to top it all off, it's a MB tester pen, which is quirky and I kind of love. I hope I get it in time for Christmas! It is my holiday present to myself.

 

~ saskia_madding:

 

The 146 BB tester pen has a special charm, no?

I like the directness of the engraved label.

May it arrive before Christmas so that you'll be writing with it during the holiday season.

Thank you for posting the photo.

Tom K.