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

[Pen Nut]

I only know of the standard range of nibs and their abbreviations (ef to bb) and having little to no knowledge on exotic nibs, what does "obf" actually stand for?

 

As explained by Tom it is an oblique fine nib. The actual marking on the feed of the nib is OGF, now then I had this explained to me once but it has been lost in the passage of time......may have to switch over to the Waterman forum (very very rarely go in there) and seek the answer.

 

 

Edited to say, I think it may mean left, I think.....

Edited January 22, 2018 by Pen Nut

[zaddick]

 

As explained by Tom it is an oblique fine nib. The actual marking on the feed of the nib is OGF, now then I had this explained to me once but it has been lost in the passage of time......may have to switch over to the Waterman forum (very very rarely go in there) and seek the answer.

 

 

Edited to say, I think it may mean left, I think.....

Yes, the French word for left is gauche so OGF is the abbreviation indicating Oblique Left Fine. A right oblique would be ODF where droite is the French word for right. Bold nibs are referred to as Large by French makers, though I am not sure why. Edited January 22, 2018 by zaddick

[Pen Nut]

Yes, the French word for left is gauche so OGF is the abbreviation indicating Oblique Left Fine. A right oblique would be ODF where droite is the French word for right. Bold nibs are referred to as Large by French makers, though I am not sure why.

 

Ah but the French word for fine is bien so, taking oblique to be oblique in French, why isnt it OGB (oblique gauche bien) ???

[zaddick]

 

Ah but the French word for fine is bien so, taking oblique to be oblique in French, why isnt it OGB (oblique gauche bien) ???

I don't speak French nor claim to understand nuances of their language. Neither bold nor large would translate to "large" in French, yet that it my understanding of what a bold nib is labeled for French makers, at least I recall for Waterman. I am not sure why a fine width is indicated with an F. Hopefully someone will educate me on the topic.

[jconn]

New-to-me pen arrived today, Montblanc 149 with OBB nib. Oh my!

[Ghost Plane]

Apologies get extra cookies

[Pen Nut]

I don't speak French nor claim to understand nuances of their language. Neither bold nor large would translate to "large" in French, yet that it my understanding of what a bold nib is labeled for French makers, at least I recall for Waterman. I am not sure why a fine width is indicated with an F. Hopefully someone will educate me on the topic.

 

Ditto matey

[Cyrille81]

 

Ah but the French word for fine is bien so, taking oblique to be oblique in French, why isnt it OGB (oblique gauche bien) ???

 

The translation of 'fine' in French has several meanings. As said it could be 'bien' in the sentence 'I'm fine' = 'Je vais bien' but it could be also 'fin/fine' that is the opposite of 'large'.

Edited January 22, 2018 by Cyrille

[GranTorino25]

New-to-me pen arrived today, Montblanc 149 with OBB nib. Oh my!

 

Lovely pen and a lovely nib too! I debated the OBB (instead of OBBB)- it looks a little more practical for daily writing! Are you able to write on a grid or ruled paper so I could see how it fits within lines?

[jconn]

Lovely pen and a lovely nib too! I debated the OBB (instead of OBBB)- it looks a little more practical for daily writing! Are you able to write on a grid or ruled paper so I could see how it fits within lines?

 

Here you go! Bear in mind, even with a fine nib, I tend to be a "large" writer because... paper is cheap, and fountain pens are fun!

 

 

Edited January 23, 2018 by jconn

[GranTorino25]

 

Here you go! Bear in mind, even with a fine nib, I tend to be a "large" writer because... paper is cheap, and fountain pens are fun!

 

0122182014_HDR-2.jpg

 

Thank you very much!! If I ever buy another Montblanc it may have to be an OBB nib!!

[Tom Kellie]

Platinum Mozart EF in Hangzhou

Photograph by ZHU Jinjie 祝锦杰

~ This is the first time I've posted an image of any of my fountain pens which was photographed by someone else.

The photographer is ZHU Jinjie, 祝锦杰. a graduate of the Peking University Medical Center, my former student, and a good friend who was with me on safari in Kenya in 2015.

He's now in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, on China's eastern coast. That's far from my location in the very center of China.

Why is the Platinum Mozart EF there, and not with me?

Zuji.

More will be posted several days hence.

Tom K.

[jconn]

Thank you very much!! If I ever buy another Montblanc it may have to be an OBB nib!!

Despite my earlier protestations to the contrary, I highly recommend it now!

 

This one came with a tale of woe attached, however.

 

I purchased the pen for a reasonable sum from a seller on eBay. When I inquired, as I normally would, about the pen's "story", as in how it was acquired, how it was used, etc, the seller described that it belonged to their spouse, and that the spouse had died quite suddenly and tragically in an auto accident just after their 31st birthday. The pen, which was acquired 2nd hand by the dearly departed, was barely used before tragedy struck, and had sat unused for the two years following. Only now was the widow able to part with some of their spouse's collection, keeping for their own use those items which they had purchased together or held some other significant sentimental value, and while this pen was a significant purchase, it lacked the cachet of the other she wished to retain.

 

I was made privy to a variety of other details that I won't disclose here, but my heart was struck that this person, who suffered a tragic early demise, and I shared many commonalities and quirks of personality, and how appropriate that at the time I searched aimlessly for an OBB on the 2nd hand market, I find such a specimen with such a rich albeit sad backstory.

 

Needless to say, I've given my word to the widow that the pen, now treasured once again, will never part my company and will continue to be used, adored, and appreciated for many years to come. Although I'm only on the periphery of the tragic circumstance, I am glad to have offered some closure to the grieving surviving spouse that at least a small part of the dearly departed's legacy will continue on in the writing that I do with their once-beloved instrument.

Edited January 23, 2018 by jconn

[dizzyui]

Hi FPN-fellows,

 

About a year ago, I got into this hobby and was hunting for a 149 with flexy nib. The upper pen is what i finally found.

Big thanks to all of you who provided information, knowledge and wonderful images.

 

I am very happy with my found and I love it so much that I write everything with it until one day................I tried a 146 OBB in the boutique.

 

Everything changes after the trial, so my new search begins - 149 OBBB. They are so hard to find in used market that I eventually acquired a 149 OBB at big discount.

 

I know I will treasure it a lot until one day.........

 

Yui

 

 

[Pen Nut]

 

Platinum Mozart EF in Hangzhou

Photograph by ZHU Jinjie 祝锦杰

~ This is the first time I've posted an image of any of my fountain pens which was photographed by someone else.

The photographer is ZHU Jinjie, 祝锦杰. a graduate of the Peking University Medical Center, my former student, and a good friend who was with me on safari in Kenya in 2015.

He's now in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, on China's eastern coast. That's far from my location in the very center of China.

Why is the Platinum Mozart EF there, and not with me?

Zuji.

More will be posted several days hence.

Tom K.

 

 

Good choice of chair coverings Tom.......

[Ghost Plane]

Your puppy used your pen more than you did? Or has Zuji turned into a rescue dog, carrying MBs to writers in dire need?

[meiers]

 

~ meiers:

 

 

Thank you so much for the very kind remarks about Zuji.

As he's recently attained 7 months, several days ago he had surgery to neuter him.

I've been his attending nurse in the past few days. His recovery is steady, although he tires easily.

BTW: In another thread I read that you recently gave a Montblanc to your son.

If that was Sebastian, I hope that he'll treasure it, as you have.

Tom K.

It is Sebastian indeed. He is enjoying it a lot.

[Tom Kellie]

Your puppy used your pen more than you did? Or has Zuji turned into a rescue dog, carrying MBs to writers in dire need?

 

~ Ghost Plane:

 

All of the above...sort of.

Within a few days a more forthcoming reply with images.

Montblanc emerges smelling like a rose.

Tom

[Tom Kellie]

~ meiers:

 

Thank you for confirming that your Montblanc pen is now used by Sebastian.

He's his own person, so his use may be different than that of his father.

Nevertheless, I hope that he'll share the same passion for writing with pen and ink.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

Getting the Hang of It

~ The toughest challenge about sketching or writing with fountain pens has been adapting to the individual characteristics of paper and ink.

The pens themselves have been fairly comfortable to use, no matter the size, nib quality or small idiosyncrasies.

It's been the other elements of the sketching and writing experience which have required use of my internal reserves of flexibility.

For that reason, daily writing with fountain pens, whether cursive or printing, has been a vital discipline for me.

Fortunately, over time, that enjoyable pastime has gradually increased my understanding of the rudiments of writing with pen and ink.

Tom K.

Edited January 23, 2018 by Tom Kellie