Us Nibmeister Needed For A Mb 149

[shawnee]

Hi all,

 

Righto.

 

I bought a second hand 149 as you do. It's probably late '80s and likely has been sitting in a drawer for the last decade or so with dried out ink in the nib, feed, and inside the reservoir as they do.

 

I've been flushing like a mad fool and am still getting ink coming out, which is depressing, but my bigger issue is the nib. (See photos)

 

I think I need a US-based nibmeister. I don't want to send the pen off to MB because I don't want them to replace the nib - I simply want it repair it and maybe have it tuned. I've only ever used MB service for a nib exchange on a new pen, nothing vintage. The thing is I haven't even tried to ink it because I'm still trying to clean it out. So, I guess where I need advice is the following:

 

1) Anyone want to recommend a nibmeister based in the US? I've seen a couple of names when I went searching, but some of the posts mentioning names were quite old.

2) Do I try to ink it anyhow and see what the line looks like?

3) Commercial pen flush or no? Or send it off to a nibmeister who might take pity on me?

 

Whatever happens, I don't want to screw up this pen, but I feel like I might've been overconfident in my abilities to clean it . . . as you do. LOL.

 

Sigh.

Shawnee

 

 

[thygreyt]

If you want, i can take it apart for you, clean it, and ship it back to you, no cost... i'd just be happy to see the pen back to life.

 

For tuning, although i know how to and i do it to my pens, i wouldnt ever touch some one else's pen...

 

If you want to deal with a nib meister, then i have tried 2 in the past: Dan smith (thenibsmith.com) and Mike M (mikeitwork.com)

As for my experience, mike usually has a HUGE backlog... his work is great and can do amazing things to nibs... but i dont like waiting so much.
Dan has been AMAZING in all regards with all the pens i have sent in. I would blidnly recommend him to anyone who wishes to get any nibwork.

[shawnee]

If you want, i can take it apart for you, clean it, and ship it back to you, no cost... i'd just be happy to see the pen back to life.

 

For tuning, although i know how to and i do it to my pens, i wouldnt ever touch some one else's pen...

 

If you want to deal with a nib meister, then i have tried 2 in the past: Dan smith (thenibsmith.com) and Mike M (mikeitwork.com)

As for my experience, mike usually has a HUGE backlog... his work is great and can do amazing things to nibs... but i dont like waiting so much.

Dan has been AMAZING in all regards with all the pens i have sent in. I would blidnly recommend him to anyone who wishes to get any nibwork.

 

 

Thank you for such a quick response. Do you think I should try to ink it and test it just to see?

 

I appreciate the offer on cleaning it. If I can't get in with a nibmeister in a relatively decent time, I might take you up on that!

 

shawnee

[crescentfiller]

Yes! Try it out.

It will not hurt it to dip the nib in some ink and then write with it.

Then, you might even fill it and see how/if it works. Why not?

The gap looks a bit wide, but you'll find out soon enough.

 

Good luck!

[PAKMAN]

Water flushing should do the trick. I would ink it and see if I could live with how it writes. As far as a nib person, I had Mike Masuyama (Mike-it-Work) adjust my 149 and get it writting like I wanted it to.

[thygreyt]

lukewarm soapy water should do the trick.

Once thats done and the water comes out clear, just ink it up and see how it does

[AL01]

That nib probably needs a little bit of tine alignment....

 

MAYBE a shimmy or two between the front tines, but 149 nibs, (especially from that era), are really easy to adjust, and it can be done without any tools...

 

If ya need help, lemme know, and I'll be glad to provide you with some!

 

Good Luck!

[Uncial]

Ink and go....and tell us

The tine spread looks like it may have been adjusted wide for a wetter writer. That may not be a bad thing. The two 80's MB's I have a a tiny wee bit dry.

It may take a couple of inkings to dislodge old and dried out ink but be patient and it will come.

[shawnee]

Thank you, everyone. I've been bogged down in the Dating the 149 post for the last two hours after posting my initial post. Sweet sweet Jesus. Is it normal to become addicted to these charts? Not only do I now feel completely neurotic about my pen, but I'm also trawling around like a shark looking for another 149 WHEN I HAVEN'T EVEN USED THE ONE I'VE GOT.

 

Is this normal? Someone please tell me this feeling goes away, otherwise, I'm in trouble . . . .

 

shawnee

[A1979]

As far as a nib person, I had Mike Masuyama (Mike-it-Work) adjust my 149 and get it writting like I wanted it to.

 

+1 Excellent “nibmeister” ! I can only recommend him.

[shawnee]

Okay, I'm going to ink it. *deep breath* I'm going to flush it just a bit more to see if I can get the remaining ink out (if my hand doesn't fall off first) then try a bit of ink tomorrow and see what it does. I will post pictures of the whole thing even if it's a debacle. I want to love this pen like it's my child. I just hope it cooperates.

 

shawnee

[SpecTP]

One of the reasons I got the MB 149 tool was to be able to remove the nib unit and flush the body of old ink. An ultrasonic cleaner works great to get all the ink out of the nib unit without having to take it apart.

[shawnee]

Okay, I'm going to ink it. *deep breath* I'm going to flush it just a bit more to see if I can get the remaining ink out (if my hand doesn't fall off first) then try a bit of ink tomorrow and see what it does. I will post pictures of the whole thing even if it's a debacle. I want to love this pen like it's my child. I just hope it cooperates.

 

shawnee

 

Okay, ladies and gents . . . what ink do you think I should use for our test? These are your options:

 

Montblanc 'Midnight Blue'

Montblanc 'Black' --> it's actually a vintage, unopened bottle from the mid to late 1980s that I've never opened

Pelikan 4001 'Royal Blue'

Pelikan 4001 'Brilliant Black'

 

 

Thoughts?

[shawnee]

One of the reasons I got the MB 149 tool was to be able to remove the nib unit and flush the body of old ink. An ultrasonic cleaner works great to get all the ink out of the nib unit without having to take it apart.

 

Can I ask how the ultrasonic cleaner works? Do you remove the cap and fully extend the piston out as if it's full of ink? Do you use distilled water (like an autoclave)? Feel free to point me in the direction of a better post if I'm being dense. I have seen people talking about buying ultrasonic cleaners for FPs that can be taken apart and dropped in, but I have no expertise to take apart any of my MBs. Frankly, that seems absolutely petrifying given their cost.

[zaddick]

Your pen looks early 1990s given the 18K and early plastic feed.

 

It also looks like the times were spread apart and then forced back together. The space between the times from the breather hole to the tip should be parallel or narrow to the tip. Yours looks like it gets wider and then the tip was pinched back together. There might be flow issues or maybe not.

 

I'd keep cleaning it. Have you let it soak in water completely covering rhe mid and feed (so nib to the bottom of the cup with an inch or so of water)? You can also wrap a paper towel around the wet nib and feed up against where they enter the pen to draw some old ink out. I say more free work at home before paying money to have someone clean your pen.

[shawnee]

Your pen looks early 1990s given the 18K and early plastic feed.

 

It also looks like the times were spread apart and then forced back together. The space between the times from the breather hole to the tip should be parallel or narrow to the tip. Yours looks like it gets wider and then the tip was pinched back together. There might be flow issues or maybe not.

 

I'd keep cleaning it. Have you let it soak in water completely covering rhe mid and feed (so nib to the bottom of the cup with an inch or so of water)? You can also wrap a paper towel around the wet nib and feed up against where they enter the pen to draw some old ink out. I say more free work at home before paying money to have someone clean your pen.

 

 

Yep. I'm going with 1990-94 given the fact that it's an 18K gold nib with an early plastic feed, a two-part barrel body, and a brass piston (which I didn't take a picture of).

 

I'm a little concerned about the nib, I can't deny. I'm going to probably send it off, but will definitely ink at least once before I do.

 

What do you think the nib size is? I'm leaning toward a basic 'M'.

 

shawnee

[shawnee]

Sorry, I didn't mention the flushing. I've only used boiled, tepid tap water (I need to get some distilled). I have drawn up water at least a dozen times now and let it sit for a couple of hours and then have drained it. I have also flushed the piston about 10-15X times in a row probably 2-3x now although I'm loathe to do that in case I put too much wear and tear on the piston. I have used NO Dawn or ammonia yet because I'd rather try to flush it naturally, which may be absurd, I will concede that. This is the first vintage that I've purchased that came encrusted with ink. The 146 I got by accident was pretty clean so not a lot of issue there. My other 146 and 145 I've had since new. The 144 I have coming will be a surprise . . .

[zaddick]

Yes, it looks like M.

 

Have you left the feed submerged in water as I suggested? I usually fill the pen and then it soak in water.up over the edge of the collar. Ink particles are heavier and will flow out if dissolved. I usually just do the soak first, right when I get the pen.

[CS388]

 

What do you think the nib size is? I'm leaning toward a basic 'M'.

 

I think I'd be heading more to the F side? These can be very characterful nibs!

 

Sweet pen! I see the aforementioned 'issue' with the tines - but, I'd definitely ink it up and try it, before sending it out for help. You never know, it may turn out to be a real winner.

 

Good luck.

[CS388]

Hi zaddick. Our posts crossed! I thought it looked a bit too 'pointy' for a M - but, I bow to your experience.