Montegrappa Extra Photo Thread

[MoriartyR]

I’m afraid I don’t know about the nib exchange programme, Rob.

 

Pelikan nibs are notoriously variable and even the fine nibs can run quite fat sometimes. I’ve had some that were at least a full grade wider than their classification. I once had a Pelikan medium nib that I would consider to be a double-broad stub. But if your benchmark for a Pelikan fine nib is correctly graded then you should expect a Montegrappa fine nib to be a little finer than this, on average, but not a whole grade finer. Individual nibs can vary a little bit but not like Pelikan.

 

I think my best advice is to watch a few YouTube videos for Montegrappas and see how the writing samples compare to your own Pelikans or Lamys. It’s more easy to visualise than from photos because watching the writing gives you more sense of scale and more nuance.

 

Frank at Fontoplumo or Emy at Pen Venture have very good pen reviews on their YouTube channels and they include clear writing samples (you can skip to the end to see those). Figboot On Pens is ok too. They definitely all have a few Montegrappa reviews. I even recall watching a review of the Extra Otto (Lapis celluloid?) on Fontoplumo’s channel and hearing Frank remark that the particular medium nib he was testing was a bit finer than average for Montegrappa, so you get the benefit of their experience sometimes.

 

[fpupulin]

2 hours ago, MoriartyR said:

Thank you, Franco. I feel a little embarrassed to accumulate so many Extras but I have become captivated by the striking quality and beauty of these pens, and the way they feel in-hand. There is a lot of passion in the pen community for other discontinued brands’ celluloids but I suspect we may feel even more strongly about Montegrappa celluloids if they also end some day, which I suppose they must. These pens are my best pens.

 

The third pen from the right is an Extra 1930 bamboo black. This side happens to be mostly dark. There is more light green colouring on the sides, but I think it is not as colourful overall as yours.

 

On the other hand, I don’t think I have yet seen such a bright butterfly celluloid colouring before than on the Otto next to it. The sides are dark, so it is not overwhelming altogether, but the top and underneath are quite strongly coloured and do evoke butterfly wings to me.

 

The black & white looks more lively in that picture than in real life because there are some large silver-grey flashes on this side that are pearlescent and they are reflecting the light from my window here to appear a very bright white. Normally the pen appears a mixture of black, mid-grey and silver-grey. What I like about the black & white is the flame-like randomness of the pattern and the fact that the pen evokes a rather vintage feel - in my mind at least. Here is a more typical picture of the pen, and the sides are darker with none of the silver-grey.

 

By the way, the far right pen is olivewood with ebony for the cap and piston knob. Something quite different and simple-feeling, though the selected woods are resistant to stains and should wear pleasantly. I chose olivewood also because it was more Italian.

 

 

Now I can clearly see the Black Bamboo. It is perhaps my preferred celluloid among Montegrappa’s offers. It is an almost perfect combination of refinement and understatement, as the reduced contrast between the black and the green (i.e., the white of the Black and White has more contrast that the green, being lighter) makes this pens perfect on the desk at home as well as in the board rooom.

 

Your Butterfly, on the other hand, is out of this world.

 

I understand you very well, MoriatryR. Montegrappa celluloid pens (not only the Extra and Extra Otto, but also the Miya’s and Co.) are truly addictive, not only for their beauty, but also for their feeling when writing: the size, the shape, the weight... They are really great and enjoyable pens.

 

I also agree that Montegrappa receives, as a brand, less attention of what it would deserve. Now that several other historical brands are gone, Montegrappa is probably the last representative of the great Italian tradition of celluloid pens producers, and an extraordinary one for the high quality of their products.  

 

I know now that I am shooting fish in a barrel, but I am sure that you should add a Tartaruga celluloid to your Montegrappa collection. It is almost the brand’s flagship, and it is a truly magnificent material.

[fpupulin]

1 hour ago, Rob77499 said:

MoriartyR they are all beautiful to be sure.  Sorry for the misspell above in my first reply.  My phone seems opposed to adding the R. It seems there are different experiences which makes this all the more interesting.  Does anyone know whether Montegrappa still has a nib exchange program of any sort such as what Montblanc offers. I believe a similar program was mentioned a few pages back but I'm curious if this might still be an option presently were I to pick and decide a different nib size may better suit. I don't see anything on MG site or on Kenro Industry in relation. Thanks

Rob

 

Not long tome ago, maybe six months ago, I was in contact with Peter Zanesco, After Sales and Repairs manager at Montegrappa headquarters,  as I was tempted to buy a new Extra pen from a seller who did not had in stock the nib grade I was interested in, and Peter confirmed me that I could have the nib I wanted s through the free exchange program.

 

So, unless things hav chanAfteged in the last six months, the program sim still active. You may perhaps confirm this directly with Peter Zanesco (Peter.Zanesco@montegrappa.com), who is a true gentlemen to deal with.  

[Rob77499]

That's great thanks so much again for the helpful info!

Rob

[MoriartyR]

1 hour ago, fpupulin said:

I know now that I am shooting fish in a barrel, but I am sure that you should add a Tartaruga celluloid to your Montegrappa collection. It is almost the brand’s flagship, and it is a truly magnificent material.

Haha. I appreciate the suggestion and I agree a tortoise Extra 1930 would be very nice. I can imagine this colour looking particularly beautiful if the silver is allowed to tarnish. I already know which ink I would like to use in it (I like Leonardo Sepia very much). I will certainly add one some day when my wife isn’t watching too closely. 🤫

 

[fpupulin]

On 5/9/2021 at 6:34 PM, MoriartyR said:

Haha. I appreciate the suggestion and I agree a tortoise Extra 1930 would be very nice. I can imagine this colour looking particularly beautiful if the silver is allowed to tarnish. I already know which ink I would like to use in it (I like Leonardo Sepia very much). I will certainly add one some day when my wife isn’t watching too closely. 🤫

 

 

Good morning MoriartyR! You received a visit from the daemon temptator...

 

 

[Rob77499]

Thank you again MoriartyR and fpupulin respectively for the video suggestions and for the contact info. Peter was able to confirm the 6 week nib exchange window still exists. And so, after receiving that reassurance and watching several videos several times over my order is placed for an Extra Otto Lapis in fine. Now the worst part - waiting very impatiently for this very special new arrival. Rob

[MoriartyR]

4 hours ago, fpupulin said:

 

Good morning MoriartyR! You received a visit from the daemon temptator...

 

 

Are they both the same sex or might your two turtles breed some day? Would the baby be a Miya?

They are very classical pens. It’s a shame they don’t do the two-tone nib any longer - it suits the turtle particularly well.

 

You will be the first to know when I get one. My next pen, I promise. Just trying to give it a while before I buy any more pens.

 

[MoriartyR]

7 minutes ago, Rob77499 said:

Thank you again MoriartyR and fpupulin respectively for the video suggestions and for the contact info. Peter was able to confirm the 6 week nib exchange window still exists. And so, after receiving that reassurance and watching several videos several times over my order is placed for an Extra Otto Lapis in fine. Now the worst part - waiting very impatiently for this very special new arrival. Rob

Congrats, Rob. Good decision. Can’t wait to see a pic of your new Lapis Extra Otto. I’m sure it won’t take long.

 

[fpupulin]

44 minutes ago, Rob77499 said:

Thank you again MoriartyR and fpupulin respectively for the video suggestions and for the contact info. Peter was able to confirm the 6 week nib exchange window still exists. And so, after receiving that reassurance and watching several videos several times over my order is placed for an Extra Otto Lapis in fine. Now the worst part - waiting very impatiently for this very special new arrival. Rob

 

Congratulations! The Lapis is a very special celluloid indeed, and it looks superb dressed in the Extra Otto shape...

[Frank C]

I've ben following this topic for a while. My Extra Parchment is in Italy now for a little rest and relaxation at the Montegrappa pen spa. I guess that it is time to step up to the Extra 1930 or Extra Otto. They are all beautiful. Thanks for sharing and posting your photos and comments. My problem is that i want one of each.  

[fpupulin]

31 minutes ago, Frank C said:

I've ben following this topic for a while. My Extra Parchment is in Italy now for a little rest and relaxation at the Montegrappa pen spa. I guess that it is time to step up to the Extra 1930 or Extra Otto. They are all beautiful. Thanks for sharing and posting your photos and comments. My problem is that i want one of each.  

 

You are not alone in this splendid obsession, my friend...

[como]

 

Montegrappa Extra Otto White Iris, from Chatterley. A rather unusual and unique celluloid which reminds me of pearl, silk and ivory. Nib is a pre-Richemont era in house nib which is softer than the current line. This one is a B. The same nib was used in Montegrappa Human Civilization pen. This is my one and only white pen.

[Uncial]

That's rather nice.

[a student]

On 5/1/2022 at 8:08 PM, como said:

 

Montegrappa Extra Otto White Iris, from Chatterley. A rather unusual and unique celluloid which reminds me of pearl, silk and ivory. Nib is a pre-Richemont era in house nib which is softer than the current line. This one is a B. The same nib was used in Montegrappa Human Civilization pen. This is my one and only white pen.

Very nice indeed!

[como]

@Uncial @a student Thank you! It’s a bit special so not everyone’s cup of tea. Montegrappa made several mono tone celluloid, all rather beautiful to my eye. There are Red, Orange, Yellow, Mediterranean Blue, Turquoise, Dark Blue, Caramel, Ivory (I think this is the same as “White Iris”) etc. Rather than being a sort of mesmerizing pattern like Arco or Wild, the mono tone celluloid tends to provoke a certain mood or imagination. Orange is sunny, bright, happy. Red is intense and passionate. White is innocent, pure, idealistic. Various blue celluloids remind me of Mediterranean in different light. Yellow somehow reminds me of lemon trees in Mallorca, the Spanish island... I’ve enjoyed just looking at the celluloids sometimes.

[christam]

@como Your pen is gorgeous and I love your description of the mono colours.  

 

I believe the ivory colour has also been known as "Parchment" in the past and it's one of the few I've never seen in real life.  I currently own pens in the orange and yellow celluloids and previously owned examples made from the turquoise (possibly my favourite), red and Mediterranean Blue.  Each colour is beautiful in its own way.

[old_enough]

An Extra Otto Butterfly found the way to me. I was always reluctant getting another Montegrappa, because I don’t really care for the silver section. But this Korean SE has a celluloid section!

 

 

I did wonder about the naming of the dark blue and gray material, until I found this butterfly, which also lives in Italy.

 

I really love this pen. Not only it looks gorgeous but it also writes like a dream. The M nib is on the finer end of the spectrum as I had hoped for. 

 

Best regards,

Sebastian

[como]

On 5/22/2022 at 4:24 PM, christam said:

@como Your pen is gorgeous and I love your description of the mono colours.  

 

I believe the ivory colour has also been known as "Parchment" in the past and it's one of the few I've never seen in real life.  I currently own pens in the orange and yellow celluloids and previously owned examples made from the turquoise (possibly my favourite), red and Mediterranean Blue.  Each colour is beautiful in its own way.

@christam Thank you! I also like the turquoise very much, and would like to find one that is not too terribly expensive one day. Is Mediterranean Blue somewhere between the Dark Blue and Turquoise? I have not seen one in person to be able to tell. 
 

8 hours ago, old_enough said:

An Extra Otto Butterfly found the way to me. I was always reluctant getting another Montegrappa, because I don’t really care for the silver section. But this Korean SE has a celluloid section!

 

 

I did wonder about the naming of the dark blue and gray material, until I found this butterfly, which also lives in Italy.

 

I really love this pen. Not only it looks gorgeous but it also writes like a dream. The M nib is on the finer end of the spectrum as I had hoped for. 

 

Best regards,

Sebastian

@old_enough Congratulations on your Extra Otto in Butterfly! Stunning pen. I slightly prefer the celluloid section over the sterling silver, though both look fantastic. I also have the Korean version in Extra 1930, with Dark Blue celluloid and EF nib. The nib is actually a size 6 instead of the big size 9. Yours looks like the size 9 nib. Is that so? Enjoy your new pen!

[old_enough]

@como Thank you! I would have guessed the nib size as 8 but in any case it’s much larger than a size 6. 

 

Best,

Sebastian