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

[Tom Kellie]

Happiness is So Much More Than a Box of Chocolates

[Tom Kellie]

How very decent of you to honor him with this-I’m sure you miss working with him.

 

~ Herrjaeger:

 

Thank you very much.

The gradual acquisition of the Montblanc products I enjoy using was in large measure thanks to Mr. LIU's understated competence in presenting their features to me.

When working together with someone who ‘knows their stuff’, there's a deep-seated satisfaction.

May 2018 be an especially fine writing year for you!

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

Tom, as the year comes to a close I want to thank you for your artistic photos (the last one is over the top) and your always kind and thoughtful posts. Belated Happy Birthday and Happy New Year!

 

[Carrau]

~ Herrjaeger:

 

 

Thank you very much.

The gradual acquisition of the Montblanc products I enjoy using was in large measure thanks to Mr. LIU's understated competence in presenting their features to me.

When working together with someone who ‘knows their stuff’, there's a deep-seated satisfaction.

May 2018 be an especially fine writing year for you!

Tom K.

Tom,

I’ve been fortunate enough in my life to have had a few such relationships, and they are precious. Best wishes to you in 2018.

Mike

[Bisquitlips]

 

 

 

~ Bisquitlips:

 

We're at your service — unapologetic facilitators, enablers and promoters of Montblanc fountain pens, vintage and contemporary.

In 2018 do consider buying a Montblanc pen. If you do, am image and handwriting sample would be most welcome.

Thank you so much for your enthusiastic comment!

Tom K.

 

 

Hey Tom,

 

Just some brief history, I have had the enslavement since 1988 when I took my first trip to China. Just before leaving I purchased a nice travel journal and a MB 144 with a M nib. After spending, as you know, hours and hours traveling from San Francisco to HK via Seoul I was hooked and have been since.

 

At this time I own about 35 to 40 Montblanc fountain pens and it seems no matter which one is my latest addition, I must have just one more! MB pens are not my only yearning, but they are one of my most satisfying.

 

Best of luck to you and wishing all a very happy and prosperous 2018!

 

Edited January 3, 2018 by Bisquitlips

[Bisquitlips]

This has been one of the most informative and enjoyable threads I have read in a bit!

Thanks to all for their generous input!

Edited January 3, 2018 by Bisquitlips

[Pen Nut]

Hello Tom. The "S"-nib was meant as a "special" nib for those who are used to ballpoints, rollerballs, or felt tip pens. Sometimes customers had issues writing with a broad nib because they turn and twist the tip. The large, smooth ball tipping resolved this issue.

 

It was available on the #145 (Chopin) Meisterstück only. I am not sure of the reason, but I postulate it was meant not to compete with the 146 series and likely had a forecast of limited sales. The 145 also uses cartridges which may be more desirable to someone used to non-fountain pens. Again, just my speculation on why the 145.

 

Rumor has it Norbert Platt (the CEO of Montblanc at that time) canceled the sale of the "special" nib because he was unhappy with the lack of line variation for a bold nib. Apparently he claimed it was not a Montblanc-like nib due to the lack of the stubbishness typical in modern B (and larger) nibs.

 

When I was showing the set to an Ex Montblanc employee two points were raised. The first one was that the set must have been 'taken without consent' when the boutique or shop closed for whatever reason as all point of sale items should have been returned to MB but brushing over that he did say that the S Kugel ball 145 sized pen was included as anyone who could hold a pen could set off at once and write with it at any angle. Basically a fuss free way to get people into fountain pens. Myth ? not sure but worth repeating I feel.

[penmanila]

after years of subsisting on R&K sepia, i gave my agatha a break and put it on MB midnight blue:

 

 

this is the nib i stubbed; probably a BB:

 

Edited January 3, 2018 by penmanila

[Tom Kellie]

Hey Tom,

 

Just some brief history, I have had the enslavement since 1988 when I took my first trip to China. Just before leaving I purchased a nice travel journal and a MB 144 with a M nib. After spending, as you know, hours and hours traveling from San Francisco to HK via Seoul I was hooked and have been since.

 

At this time I own about 35 to 40 Montblanc fountain pens and it seems no matter which one is my latest addition, I must have just one more! MB pens are not my only yearning, but they are one of my most satisfying.

 

Best of luck to you and wishing all a very happy and prosperous 2018!

 

~ Bisquitlips:

 

Thank you for the background information.

At three dozen Montblanc fountain pens, you know how much fun they aswriters.

May your 2018 be as delightfully creative as possible!

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

When I was showing the set to an Ex Montblanc employee two points were raised. The first one was that the set must have been 'taken without consent' when the boutique or shop closed for whatever reason as all point of sale items should have been returned to MB but brushing over that he did say that the S Kugel ball 145 sized pen was included as anyone who could hold a pen could set off at once and write with it at any angle. Basically a fuss free way to get people into fountain pens. Myth ? not sure but worth repeating I feel.

 

~ Pen Nut:

 

That explains a lot, adding support to zaddick’s informed conjecture.

I’d never considered that there’d be any need for introducing fountain pens to those accustomed to ballpoint pens.

Thanks to you and zaddick, I now know better.

Thank you for this information, and for the photo of the tester set.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

after years of subsisting on R&K sepia, i gave my agatha a break and put it on MB midnight blue:

 

 

this is the nib i stubbed; probably a BB:

 

 

~ penmanila:

 

What terrific images! Thank you for posting both the handwriting sample and the nib close-up.

Your BB Agatha is a beauty!

The shading in the Montblanc Midnight Blue is nothing less than lovely.

Such attractive shading is one of the most enjoyable aspects of writing with fountain pens.

What you’ve so kindly shown is enough to motivate me to ink with Midnight Blue whichever pen next requires ink.

Tom K.

[Pen Nut]

This modified fine nib, by Mike It Work, was interesting. Additional hole and extended slit (sorry I tried all ways to make it sound better but failed) gave it a bit of flex and 'bounce'. Think it had side wings of the nib cut out as well.........another 'wish I had kept it' pen !

 

 

 

[yeepers]

This modified fine nib, by Mike It Work, was interesting. Additional hole and extended slit (sorry I tried all ways to make it sound better but failed) gave it a bit of flex and 'bounce'. Think it had side wings of the nib cut out as well.........another 'wish I had kept it' pen !

 

 

 

OH....Oh wow!! Swoon.....

[Tom Kellie]

This modified fine nib, by Mike It Work, was interesting. Additional hole and extended slit (sorry I tried all ways to make it sound better but failed) gave it a bit of flex and 'bounce'. Think it had side wings of the nib cut out as well.........another 'wish I had kept it' pen !

 

~ Pen Nut:

 

That's a fascinating, far from ordinary nib.

That it had flex and ‘bounce’ sounds especially attractive.

May I please ask you about the modification?

Having an additional breather hole and a longer than average slit are unusual in my limited experience.

Do you know what is it about such modifications which provided that additional flex and ‘bounce’?

I'm weak on understanding the physics of fountain pen nib engineering.

Thank you for posting this image with explanation.

Tom K.

[Pen Nut]

For those of a nervous nature look away now as the following image contains a NON Montblanc item............

 

This is another modified nib that was on a Nakaya (sorry) Decapod Twist. It had a similar writing 'feel' as the 149 I posted earlier. Bit more aggresive side modification as you can see.

 

 

[saskia_madding]

Does anyone have both an OBB and OBBB? I'd love to see a writing comparison, so I'll know whether to be happy with my OBB that I am currently LOVING, or if I should put energy into chasing an elusive MB 146 OBBB.

[zaddick]

The only O3B on a 146 is a vintage celluloid pen from the 1950s. OBB is the widest on a modern 146 unless you get a bespoke nib.

 

You can get O3B on a 149 still.

[saskia_madding]

Oh! That makes my decision easy then. I really can't handle a MB 149 size - I find it too large to comfortably hold. I did ask MB recently, and apparently O3B are no longer being sold, even on MB 149s?

 

Well, at least I know I will just have to live happily with my MB 146 OBB and BB tester pens. Thanks for the information!

[zaddick]

MB staff seems to be constantly confused as to the existence of O3B nibs for the standard 149. They are still available unless there was a change in the last few weeks.

 

Glad you can save time in searching for a unicorn.

[pwsuba]

Y'all are making me very impatient to get my OBB Beatles back.

 

O3B are special order, as far as I know unless it changed as of this year they are still possible but supposedly it takes a little effort.