The Meisterstück 149 Calligraphy Appreciation Thread

[invisuu]

21 minutes ago, Karmachanic said:

 

Bad idea.  M149 is not a TWSBI.

It's easier than with a TWSBI. With a press fit you at least have the small chance of doing something wrong. 

[fpupulin]

6 hours ago, invisuu said:

It's easier than with a TWSBI. With a press fit you at least have the small chance of doing something wrong. 

You, invissu, are a brave man!
 

I made myself the idea - likely wrong - that the arrangement of the relative positions of nib and feed, as well as the amount of force that is correct to screw the “package” within the pen until it reaches the perfect position, all of these variables seem to me so finely tuned to obtain the almost perfect behavior of my Calligraphy nib, that I am very reluctant at putting my hands on them.

 

I would like, as you do, disassembling the pen sometimes for a deeper cleaning, but I see the risk as too much high for me.

Do not forget that I have a Meisterstück 149 that I bought new in 1979, which was never serviced, and I never disassembled her neither, and she writes like a dream as she did the first day I tested it, 43 years ago! My urge for taking off the nib and feed from a 149 is probably non existent…

 

Nevertheless, I sincerely admire your brave hearth….

[invisuu]

Oh you don't have to take it apart for sure, definitely not for every cleaning like some do, but it's nice to have the option. You can definitely take it apart without fear, trust me. The nib and the feed are an assembled single unit, so you cannot do anything wrong, unlike some other pens where you can position the nib in relation to the feed wrong. When screwing the unit back in, just make sure you tighten it well, but do not use excessive force. Firm, but gentle. The thread lets you know very well when it's enough, and when it still isn't. There is honestly no risk, unless some brute with no feeling whatsoever got a hold of it, and even then I'm not sure if you could really damage anything. I've taken my Pelikans apart a hundred time, same principle. Pelikans and Montblancs are actually the nicest pens to take apart because it's so easy and fool proof, whereas you can do a lot of damage with some other pens, like the Pilot Custom 823 for example.

 

I like to lubricate the piston every now and then for buttery smooth action; just apply a very tiny, half a grain of rice of pure sillicone grease (get top diver's grease quality, pure 100% sillicone grease, not sealant etc.), to the tip of a toothpick and gently swab the inner cylinder, then move the piston up and down a few times so it spreads evenly.

[como]

If you disassemble the pen, you void the Montblanc warranty. Please have a look below what I wrote in the 146 Calligraphy thread on this matter. I copied my original text below. 

-----

Please allow me to share my experience with the 146/149 disassembly wrench/special tools.

 

It's worth buying a special tool specifically made to disassemble 146/149. If you make a self-made tool (with paper clips or whatever), be sure to sand/file the edges smoothly and to the right size (better err on the smaller side) so it doesn't scratch or deform the two prong holes. 

 

Even with ready-made tools, sometimes it's necessary to "re-tool" the tool so it fits better with a specific pen you have. This means that you may have to sand down the prongs so they go in smoothly, or sand to open the diameter wider so the wrench doesn't touch and scratch the nib. It's VERY easy to scratch a nib, and for MB nibs, this would be very unfortunate and costly (the hassle of sending the nib back and forth for re-plating).

 

It's better to knock out the nib/feed from its collar from behind than pulling them out, by using a nib knockout block. The feed fins, especially on 146, are very thin and fragile. Chances are very good that you will bend them, or even break them. I suspect that this design is a way of tamper-proof by Montblanc. They don't want you to mess with their nib assembly. 

 

The design of MB nib unit is that a wrench is used to tighten or unscrew the nib unit, then it can be screwed out by hand easily. It's not the same as Pelikan. You need the wrench to do the final torque. While trying to tighten by grabbing onto the nib/feed can work, it runs the risk of ruining the feed fins and misalign nib/feed lineup.

 

If you are still trying your tools, please cover up the nib and any area that you think can risk getting scratched with duct tape or whatever that can provide at least a minimum amount of protection.

 

Be careful with your pens, for yourself and for the next owner.

[invisuu]

That's applicable for older 149s, the calligraphy 149 no longer requires any tools and I am not talking about piston disassembly. This is new and was updated, but I don't know when.

 

I can't possibly imagine how you could bend the feed fins, unless you went in there with pliers or something. There is no way you can generate enough compression with your fingers to bend thick plastic...

[invisuu]

Take a look at this video from 17:15 and tell me if that's not foolproof. This is all you have to do. It takes 3 seconds and requires almost no force. I personally tried it and it's so simple a child could do it. I think people are not grasping the fact that the design was changed, it's not like the older 149s that did indeed require tools to take apart and I would also advise against disassembly.

 

Once again, the design has changed, there is NO glue there anymore. Don't try this with older 149s. I don't know when Montblanc changed this.

[fpupulin]

Thank you so much for the explaining video, invisuu! It is amazing!

Very, very, very good to know! Thank you again.

[dftr]

33 minutes ago, invisuu said:

That's applicable for older 149s, the calligraphy 149 no longer requires any tools and I am not talking about piston disassembly. This is new and was updated, but I don't know when.

 

I can't possibly imagine how you could bend the feed fins, unless you went in there with pliers or something. There is no way you can generate enough compression with your fingers to bend thick plastic...

OMG, that evil laughter in your video 

Yeah, I'm not planning to go crazy and shove it into a demonstrator, but I would hate to send the pen away for months to get cleaned if the ink is scratchy or the piston's jammed.  

 

But to clarify, this is just the Calligraphy nib unit that's unscrewable not all current year production 149s

 

[invisuu]

4 minutes ago, dftr said:

OMG, that evil laughter in your video 

Yeah, I'm not planning to go crazy and shove it into a demonstrator, but I would hate to send the pen away for months to get cleaned if the ink is scratchy or the piston's jammed.  

 

But to clarify, this is just the Calligraphy nib unit that's unscrewable not all current year production 149s

 

The video is not mine, but I do like his videos. Very informative. His laugh is almost the same as my reaction when I tried it, though, as I love the fact I can easily get in there for a thorough clean or relubrication if needed.
 

I am not sure which 149s had this update for tooless, glueless assembly, that's why I'm only advocating for this on the calligraphy 149s, which received this update, tested first hand. Also, fritz-schimpf's 149 calligraphy italic nibs are the same.

[Uncial]

Quite a few of tge Solitaire models have screw in nib units. Not sure if all of them do though.

[fpupulin]

In another post on our forum, talking about my "holidays with fountain pens", I mentioned a calligraphy book that I inaugurated for the occasion to start studying Flemish calligraphy, a beautiful work by Julien Chazal.

 

Looking through the book calmly, I found another series of very interesting and suggestive scripts that I knew little or had never seen at all. One of these is the Narrow Roman Capital, which I found beautiful. Chazal does it with a truncated point of 1mm or more, but I find it very suitable for experimenting with my 149 Calligraphy.

 

Last night, back from work, I was unable to resist the urgency of making a first test with the subtle Roman capital. The 149 Calligraphy is truly phenomenal! She can do everything. The characters are 2 cm high and the line spacing is 1 cm.

 

 

This was really just a rather crude proof, but I had reasons to guess that with my Calligraphy I could have a lot of fun writing the Narrow Capital!

This morning, with a little more calm and a little more graphic eye, I wrote a second proof. I really like the font, and it seems to me that drawing it with the nib of the 149 Calligraphy is very simple. I think I'll wear it often.

In this second test, I went over some of the words with a gold marker.

 

 

[fpupulin]

Chazal's coupe de génie is in making the verticals with differential pressure, beginning broad from the top, then taking off pressure along the middle of the line, and the pressing again at the base. This confers to the letters a "variation" that looks ancient, such as they have been carved in the paper. It is very interesting.

 

You may obtain the same result (or maybe better) with a truncate tin, slightly rotating the pen between your fingers as you go down along the line, but I find it more difficult to execute. And I like having fun with my 149 Calligraphy...

 

 

I had to clean the pen and dip it into the Montblanc Poppy red to writhe word "WORST". There is not enough contrast with the Diamine Tobacco Sunburst, however. Much better would have been writing the main text in black, and the last word in red.

[fpupulin]

Just to maintain this thread updated with my 149 Calligraphy divertissements, I re-post here a pic I have already published in another topic on this forum.

 

Two different scripts, with two inks and a single nib:

 

 

This is on Fabriano Unica paper, cream color.

 

And here is a Spanish version, with the same inks and the same Calligraphy nib, but on a handmade paper from a French mill:

 

 

[como]

@fpupulin Thank you so much for showing us these beautifully executed scripts, contrasting yet complimenting inks. They are also warm words for Valentine's Day! 

 

By the way, has anyone been able to buy a 149C or 146C lately? Out of curiosity, I looked at country specific and also US site, neither pen is currently available. I guess they are producing the next batch of 146C, and the 149C is not so actively produced anymore?

 

EDIT: I checked again. 146C is still available in some boutiques worldwide, but fewer than before.

[ak47]

And...just for fun..someone has bought the solitaire calligraphy?

[maclink]

I finally got mine today and I have to smile widely again.  My most recent MB before this was the Heritage Egyptomania with a B nib.  

My best two production grind nibs.  Just marvellous. 

 

I inked up this new MB 149C with Iroshizuku Tsuki-Yo.  A nice EF line that flexes quite easily.  It's immediately evident that this will be versatile nib for me.  It writes well just normally and its flexing prowess is already well documented here.  With this ink, the flow keeps up mighty impressively.  I've experimented with flex from Noodlers to a FPR option, then a Pilot Custom 912 with FA nib (ebonite feed mod) and now this MB.  The MB is the best out of the box performer, hands down.  The Pilot with the Custom feed is close but the flow is a bit high.

 

I had promised myself that if I got this pen, it would be used, so I've gotten myself a Spencarian script manual with practice booklets and will be enjoying myself. 

 

 

 

 

I had also more or less concluded that if this pen delivers, and it already has, it could well be my final FP purchase for a long time to come or even for good.  It's been a while since I've been less and less likely to be impressed by a new pen.  Time to simply enjoy my accumulation and hopefully trim it a bit with some sales.

[a student]

2 hours ago, maclink said:

Time to simply enjoy my accumulation and hopefully trim it a bit with some sales.

 

This thought appeals hugely to me!

[fpupulin]

7 hours ago, maclink said:

I finally got mine today and I have to smile widely again.  My most recent MB before this was the Heritage Egyptomania with a B nib.  

My best two production grind nibs.  Just marvellous. 

 

I inked up this new MB 149C with Iroshizuku Tsuki-Yo.  A nice EF line that flexes quite easily.  It's immediately evident that this will be versatile nib for me.  It writes well just normally and its flexing prowess is already well documented here.  With this ink, the flow keeps up mighty impressively.  I've experimented with flex from Noodlers to a FPR option, then a Pilot Custom 912 with FA nib (ebonite feed mod) and now this MB.  The MB is the best out of the box performer, hands down.  The Pilot with the Custom feed is close but the flow is a bit high.

 

I had promised myself that if I got this pen, it would be used, so I've gotten myself a Spencarian script manual with practice booklets and will be enjoying myself. 

 

 

 

 

I had also more or less concluded that if this pen delivers, and it already has, it could well be my final FP purchase for a long time to come or even for good.  It's been a while since I've been less and less likely to be impressed by a new pen.  Time to simply enjoy my accumulation and hopefully trim it a bit with some sales.

 

I am really glad, maclink, that you was able to obtain one of these fabulous Montblanc! I am not surprised that, like many of us, you find her really good at her main job, that is just... writing! Then, I am sure she will also help you opening the golden gate of calligraphy and having a lot of fun with elaborate writing.

 

Your feeling largely coincides with mine and that other members of this forum. The 149 Calligraphy is an interesting beast, much more interesting that many of the novelties the market continues to offer to us aficionados. As this thread has proven, the Calligraphy nib is extremely versatile, and fortunately Montblanc choose to mount it on a solid, esthetically timeless, and functional pen. Since I bought my 149 Calligraphy almost two years ago, I have had very little interest in buying other pens, as my Calligraphy helps me doing anything. To be completely honest, I am tempted to make just another pen purchase, and this is a second 149 Calligraphy for those cases when I want doing some calligraphy with two inks at the same time. I thought about flanking my 149 with one of the new 146 Calligraphy,  but my heart has been set on the 149 for the last 43 years... so I have no reasons to change.  

 

Enjoy your pen in good health!

[fpupulin]

Listening to Debussy ...

 

[maclink]

There has been some discussion about the best inks to use with this pen.  I thought I'd share my experience so far.  The first ink that I tried was MB Lavender Purple.  This didn't work well with railroading occurring with the occasional increased pressure on the downstroke during normal writing. 

 

I decided to go Iroshizuku - I tried Shin-Kai and it worked a treat.  When that fill went low, I decided to flush it to try another Iroshizuku ink, i.e., Yama-Budo.  The piston was stiff during the flush and got so stiff that I decided to see if the nib would unscrew and I'll be darned, it screwed right out with ease.  I cleaned the barrel and greased the piston which loosened it nicely.  I filled with Yama-budo and this ink worked well also.  Close to the end of the fill, I decided to flush again because I was growing suspicious about what was happening.  The piston was worryingly stiff again while flushing .... but loosened as the Yama-budo ink thinned.  Towards the end, the piston was very smooth requiring minimal torque to operate.   I filled with MB Permanent Black and will be staying away from the Iroshizuku inks with this pen.  I'm quite acquainted with MB Permanent Black and know that it doesn't at all stiffen the piston.  

 

These are older bottles of Iroshizuki inks.... I haven't bought any from the new line of inks.   I was really surprised about this.  I've never tried Iroshizuku inks in any of my Montblanc pens.  In fact, I've only used MB inks in my MB pens.  Of course, I'm not claiming that other inks will not work well, but I was just surprised that the Iroshizuku inks would do this.