New 149 Expressive Nib released in December?

[a student]

1 hour ago, Niemie said:

 

Thank you for the writing sample. How is the line variation achieved?

[ak47]

Thank you very much for the sample. Enjoy them!

[Niemie]

4 hours ago, a student said:

Thank you for the writing sample. How is the line variation achieved?

By holding the pen in different angles. With an angle of 45° to the paper you get the broad line. If you increase the angle the line gets thinner. The thinnest line ist with the nib on the head. Very much line-variation for sketching.

Edited November 28, 2022 by Niemie

[a student]

2 hours ago, Niemie said:

By holding the pen in different angles. With an angle of 45° to the paper you get the broad line. If you increase the angle the line gets thinner. The thinnest line ist with the nib on the head. Very much line-variation for sketching.

Thank you

[agentdaffy007]

@Niemie, does it flex like the 149C ?

[Niemie]

15 hours ago, agentdaffy007 said:

@Niemie, does it flex like the 149C ?

No flex - linevariation only by changing the angle of the nib on the paper. 

[Franken]

On 11/28/2022 at 7:32 PM, Niemie said:

 

 

On 11/28/2022 at 7:50 PM, Niemie said:

Yes - that is right. That's what the saleswoman in the MB boutique told me. The newest pen-release from Montblanc... I bought the Hendrix und the Curved Nib.

 

This is awesome information. 

 

@Niemie if I could ask another couple of follow up questions?:

1. Was the nib smooth on both sides? i.e. would it be usable for longer periods on the reverse size if you needed to take smaller notes?

2. How was the ink flow at 45degrees? 

3. Would it be possible to get a few upstrokes/sidestrokes together at 45degrees?

Very much appreciate the posts. I've been looking forward to this release for a while.

 

 

[Seney724]

I have been advised by a Montblanc official that they will be making the public announcement of their new, highly anticipated, Meisterstuck "Expressive Nib" release tomorrow, December 1st.

According to this very reliable source, the pen will be (as we have anticipated) a 149 with a "curved" nib.

 

Of course, until we actually see the Company's announcement, this comment should taken as another rumor and not as a fact!!

We'll soon know for sure................

[SpecTP]

so this is the equivalent of the naginata togi nib rather than the naginata cross point

[bunnspecial]

Thanks for all of the info on this.

 

I'm sure this will be a great nib for those who can use it to its full effect, but having never used one like this before and not sure if I will like it, I think $1200 is a definite pass for me.

 

I hope MB continues this series, though.

[Seney724]

1 hour ago, bunnspecial said:

Thanks for all of the info on this.

 

I'm sure this will be a great nib for those who can use it to its full effect, but having never used one like this before and not sure if I will like it, I think $1200 is a definite pass for me.

 

I hope MB continues this series, though.

I was feeling somewhat chagrined today when the hours passed by and I could find no formal announcement.

But, the report that the announcement was made in China along with the pricing and some photos made me feel better that the information I was provided by the Montblanc official yesterday was correct.

I'm curious to know if any members are aware of other countries where Montblanc released the information today?

 

[a student]

https://www.montblanc.cn/cn/zh-cn/collection/writing-instruments/great-masters/mb129275-meisterstueck-149-calligraphy-curved-nib.html

[Seney724]

7 hours ago, a student said:

https://www.montblanc.cn/cn/zh-cn/collection/writing-instruments/great-masters/mb129275-meisterstueck-149-calligraphy-curved-nib.html

Thank you! 

Yes, this number (129275)matches the information I was provided; this is the next in the series of MB's Meisterstuck 149 Calligraphy nib fountain pens.

[A Smug Dill]

15 hours ago, bunnspecial said:

I'm sure this will be a great nib for those who can use it to its full effect, but having never used one like this before and not sure if I will like it, I think $1200 is a definite pass for me.

 

I hope MB continues this series, though.

 

Me too, as much as (to date) I don't personally like Montblanc as a brand. It's about time a prominent Western brand took the ‘inclusive’ (and ‘woke’?) position that calligraphy does not imply ‘flex’ or Spencerian; those only occupy a small, minority area of interest within the realms of (even just Latin-based written language) calligraphy. Scripts and styles that aren't what is popular in or popularised by North American culture, e.g. by way of movies and TV shows out of the US, neither cheapen the meaning of calligraphy, nor play second fiddle and command only lesser prices as such.

 

There are so many neglected hands and scripts that are described in books such as David Harris's The Calligrapher's Bible. It's time something comes along, and not out of the Far East, to upset the apple cart for the, “Give me flex or give me death!” mob.

 

Even if it is a barely disguised pitch to win over more consumers in China and Japan, I respect Montblanc more now for butting heads against Sailor in the fountain pen market as it (and Lamy, too) wants to gain more of a foothold in the Far East.

 

[bunnspecial]

28 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

 

Me too, as much as (to date) I don't personally like Montblanc as a brand. It's about time a prominent Western brand took the ‘inclusive’ (and ‘woke’?) position that calligraphy does not imply ‘flex’ or Spencerian; those only occupy a small, minority area of interest within the realms of (even just Latin-based written language) calligraphy. Scripts and styles that aren't what is popular in or popularised by North American culture, e.g. by way of movies and TV shows out of the US, neither cheapen the meaning of calligraphy, nor play second fiddle and command only lesser prices as such.

 

There are so many neglected hands and scripts that are described in books such as David Harris's The Calligrapher's Bible. It's time something comes along, and not out of the Far East, to upset the apple cart for the, “Give me flex or give me death!” mob.

 

Even if it is a barely disguised pitch to win over more consumers in China and Japan, I respect Montblanc more now for butting heads against Sailor in the fountain pen market as it (and Lamy, too) wants to gain more of a foothold in the Far East.

 

 

Just to ramble a bit on this-if I may-I admire Chinese, Japanese, and other Eastern types of calligraphy for their artistry even if I can not read what they say. I always appreciate your writing samples that this type of writing.

 

I know you and I have somewhat opposite views of Montblanc, but none the less I agree that I like seeing them recognize this market. I may prefer flex(sometimes-certainly not to the exclusion of all other nib types!), edged nibs, or some combination thereof, but I'm happy to see Montblanc not just making other types of grinds and even acknowledging them as "Calligraphy" nibs(even if someone cynically analyzing motivation might just say it's appealing to a large and emerging market for MB pens-I guess the why doesn't matter to me as much as the actually doing it). Just to be clear, too, my saying "not for me" on this offering from MB isn't "this is a bad pen" I just quite literally mean it as "It's a $1200 pen with a nib totally new and unknown to my hands, and this particular offering doesn't appeal to me but I am still glad they are making other options in the line and doing something different from traditional offerings."

 

With all of that said, can you suggest an affordable(say under $200, preferably $100) pen with a similar style nib that is roughly 146 sized or larger?

[Karmachanic]

Sailor 1911L Naginata Togi is around $600.   The Sailor Profit Fude DE Mannan is around $20. Similar effect/technique but different nib.

[peroride]

5 hours ago, Karmachanic said:

Similar effect/technique but different nib.

 

I wish!

 

If only ... 😒

 

My Sailor 1911L Naginata Togis do not have the versatility of this new MB curved nib. (that's why I got a cross concord 😅)

 

The Japanese stationary magazine did a nice preview in July 2022 Issue 62 showing 3 line variations: 45 degrees = BB, Vertical tip = M and reverse which was nicely shown by Niemie's photos

 

Here's my poor drawing of said image 

[Karmachanic]

1 hour ago, peroride said:

My Sailor 1911L Naginata Togis do not have the versatility of this new MB curved nib.

 

Thank you.  Your drawing is helpful. Not understandingthe extra versatility over a NT.  Guess it I'd have to experience it. 

[A Smug Dill]

9 hours ago, bunnspecial said:

With all of that said, can you suggest an affordable(say under $200, preferably $100) pen with a similar style nib that is roughly 146 sized or larger?

 

You can try a HongDian N6 with a 刃F (blade Fine) nib, if you want to buy something like that as-is. I've seen one or more sellers on Taobao offer the HongDian N1-S with 刃F as a nib option, but I don't recall the HongDian official (or ‘flagship’) stores on Taobao and AliExpress offering that.

 

Or you can get a Kaigelu NMF nib, and fit it onto any number of Chinese pens — not limited to the Kaigelu 316 and 356 — that use no.35 nibs and are of the form factor you like. I have one fitted onto a Majohn T5 right now, and I'm confident you can fit it onto an Asvine P20, Jinhao 100, etc.

 

Spoiler

Personally I don't think this is an appropriate thread for me to post images of writing samples produced by other pens for ready comparison, especially in the context of what could be viable and/or competitive alternatives to the new Montblanc Meisterstück pen with the curved nib, for interested users to get similar enough writing outcomes without coughing up the asking price to pay Montblanc. Comparing the Montblanc curved nib with the Montblanc flexible nib, perhaps; but I don't have that in the 149 size. However, I can give links for others to follow up elsewhere in their due diligence efforts.

 

Both of those approaches are going to cost you way less than US$100. Maybe a third of that, if you know what you're doing.

 

If you really want something that is similar to a Montblanc 146 in form factor, the Kaigelu NMF nib should fit onto a Majohn P136 if you get a ‘regular’ Majohn nib unit (additionally) for the pen, and replace the nib in that but keep the feed that is there. Regular Majohn “size #6” (which is not Majohn's, or any Chinese fountain pen brand's, designation of nib size) nibs are 35mm long, whereas the ones made and factory-fitted onto the P136 are — if I'm not mistaken — no.32 nibs, i.e. 32mm long. HongDian nibs are 32mm long for its pen models with the thicker feeds, but I'm not sure whether the HongDian 刃F nib from an N6 or N1-S will work with the default nib unit and feed that comes with a Majohn P136. (I don't intend to get a Majohn P136 myself, so I don't expect to find out.)

 

8 hours ago, Karmachanic said:

The Sailor Profit Fude DE Mannan is around $20.

 

Sorry, but as much as I love Sailor as a fountain pen brand and primarily for its nibs, that cheap Fude de Mannen nib (and the feed onto which it is fitted) is a piece of junk. I would not recommend it that as a viable alternative to anything.

 

[gerigo]

On 12/2/2022 at 10:19 PM, bunnspecial said:

With all of that said, can you suggest an affordable(say under $200, preferably $100) pen with a similar style nib that is roughly 146 sized or larger?

Pen BBS. Enough said.