New 149 Expressive Nib released in December?

[Uncial]

On 12/11/2022 at 3:36 PM, como said:

Irish script similar to Celtic? In the books I have, I can find ductus for Celtic/Uncial script, but not exactly "Irish". When I find the ductus, I should be able to learn how to write it. Are you using something like a Pilot Parallel type of nib? I bought some Parallel nibs to try. They are cheap and excellent for doing Gothic type of scripts. I just don't love the Pilot Parallel aesthetically. But of course I don't want to spend the money to buy MB signature nibs of various kinds widths. I just have the Italic Edge, and it's enough to play with (plus a few Parallels when I really want to write something super wide).

 

 

I was hoping it might be useful for Sean Chló and old Irish script. They use a bladed nib. If you imagine the end of a dinner knife with that swept curve, it's a little similar. They share some of the characteristics of uncial hands; at least to my eye if not to knowledge. The nib works on a similar principal to the Pilot Parallels in that you capture the ink between two plates.

[SpecTP]

managed to pick up the only one that arrived this week at the local MB boutique.

 

[Seney724]

5 minutes ago, SpecTP said:

managed to pick up the only one that arrived this week at the local MB boutique.

 

Thanks for the great photos.

Tell us what you think about it once you've had a chance to use it.

Would you be willing to share your purchase price with us??

 

[SpecTP]

Just now, Seney724 said:

Thanks for the great photos.

Tell us what you think about it once you've had a chance to use it.

Would you be willing to share your purchase price with us??

 

 

it was just a bit over $1100 with tax in Virginia.

[Seney724]

1 minute ago, SpecTP said:

 

it was just a bit over $1100 with tax in Virginia.

Many thanks.

Hope you love it!!

Let us know your thoughts..........

[SpecTP]

47 minutes ago, Seney724 said:

Many thanks.

Hope you love it!!

Let us know your thoughts..........

 

It's already growing on me.. I was writing some notes and the ability to underline and highlight with a broad stroke was really damn convenient.

[como]

21 hours ago, Uncial said:

 

I was hoping it might be useful for Sean Chló and old Irish script. They use a bladed nib. If you imagine the end of a dinner knife with that swept curve, it's a little similar. They share some of the characteristics of uncial hands; at least to my eye if not to knowledge. The nib works on a similar principal to the Pilot Parallels in that you capture the ink between two plates.

@Uncial I looked up Seanchló. Now I know what you meant. I tried again with Curved and definitely cannot. I dip-tried with my MB Italic Edge, and think that I can manage with some practice. After I saw Wikipedia Gaelic Script, I am pretty sure that an Italic would work as the best choice. You are right that it needs some “twisting” 😀).

[dbs]

I got mine today. I ordered from local boutique -- I think all Montblanc north America boutiques now have this in stock. The pen was shipped from  Richemont groun at Texas, not Montblanc.com at Ynap New Jersey.  As you all can see Montblanc.com US site does not show this pen so my guess is Montblanc is now shifting back to Texas again.

 

 

As the pen itself -- it is not as expected at all. First, line width is too wide with regular writing habit (45 degree). The line is about 3mm wide. To write a more normal script, you need tilt to about 60 degrees. If you lift the pen to 70 degree, it is just a normal fine nib. 

 

The nib is more flex than regular 149, or even little more than most POAs, similar to 1912 (if you have one). This makes writing little easier.

 

The nib bottom is flat, unlike horizontal Italian flat, it is a vertical flat square. To summary, this pen is not for Chinese, Japanese, English or any earth language with established writing habit. In order to write good script, you need change your writing habit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sam3k]

It's on the UK online store now:

 

https://www.montblanc.com/en-gb/fountain-pens_cod1647597304567160.html

[axio]

Where can I get the best deal for one? Do I need to wait till FPD2023?

[dbs]

1 hour ago, axio said:

Where can I get the best deal for one? Do I need to wait till FPD2023?

 

I recommend you to hold until you have tried the curved nib in person. This curved nib in most cases is the extra broad nib unless you change your writing habit -- It is not designed for daily usage.

 

I guess this is also the reason why most boutiques have it in stock, while montblanc.com, a.k.a ynap does not -- because Montblanc want you try before making purchase decision.

 

 

[dftr]

On 12/20/2022 at 2:49 PM, dbs said:

 

I recommend you to hold until you have tried the curved nib in person. This curved nib in most cases is the extra broad nib unless you change your writing habit -- It is not designed for daily usage.

 

I guess this is also the reason why most boutiques have it in stock, while montblanc.com, a.k.a ynap does not -- because Montblanc want you try before making purchase decision.

 

 

Hi,  I may disagree in that if you're experienced w/ the sailor architect nibs as a daily writer, it is easy to to use this MB curved nib.  

As a lefty it works great for printing but can also be great for cursive.  Note that I do use broad and italic nibs often but I have no issue writing w a more steep angle if I want a thinner line.  

And if you do not have experience w/ those nibs, this has to be a good reason to use it daily so you can become proficient

In comparison the MB 149 calligraphy flex nib, this curved nib is hands down smoother out of the box.  I had to use MB blue ink and wait for that pen to adjust so the skips stop.  

 

btw, when I ordered it, they said it would ship end of January 2023... in my head, I figured that would probably end up being Easter.  So happy they erred the other way and sent me the pen at the end of the year   

[fountainpendrawing]

What is the maximum line width in mm that can be drawn with the pen? Wider than the Sailor Zoom or Cross Point? Can someone perhaps post a comparison please?

[fountainpendrawing]

On 12/15/2022 at 9:19 PM, dbs said:

I got mine today. I ordered from local boutique -- I think all Montblanc north America boutiques now have this in stock. The pen was shipped from  Richemont groun at Texas, not Montblanc.com at Ynap New Jersey.  As you all can see Montblanc.com US site does not show this pen so my guess is Montblanc is now shifting back to Texas again.

 

 

As the pen itself -- it is not as expected at all. First, line width is too wide with regular writing habit (45 degree). The line is about 3mm wide. To write a more normal script, you need tilt to about 60 degrees. If you lift the pen to 70 degree, it is just a normal fine nib. 

 

The nib is more flex than regular 149, or even little more than most POAs, similar to 1912 (if you have one). This makes writing little easier.

 

The nib bottom is flat, unlike horizontal Italian flat, it is a vertical flat square. To summary, this pen is not for Chinese, Japanese, English or any earth language with established writing habit. In order to write good script, you need change your writing habit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are the lines really 3 mm thick? What is the ruling of the lined paper? I heard this nib can only write up to BB, 1.2 mm.

[fountainpendrawing]

On 12/10/2022 at 11:26 AM, como said:

Paper: Tomoe River 52gsm

Ink: MB Royal Blue

 

Two observations:

 

1. Reverse writing, the nib width is very thin. See first line compared to second line which (in red) was written with a Pilot Custom 912 with Spencerian grind, a needle point.

 

2. Line 7 was written with the “heel” of the nib, which the line interestingly tapers back to a similar width as when tilted 70 degrees. The heel has a distinctive edge/ridge. I think this design allows the nib to produce “tapering” on both the toe and the heel, toe tapering being a bit easier to do.

 

@Uncial I don’t know if you can do Irish or Celtic script with this pen. I can’t. Personally I think a more suitable nib would be an Italic of some sort.

You said 4B, but I did a perspective correction and printed the paper sheet from your picture in A5. My measurements of the lines are not more than 1.1 mm? Can you comment, please?

[dbs]

8 hours ago, fountainpendrawing said:

You said 4B, but I did a perspective correction and printed the paper sheet from your picture in A5. My measurements of the lines are not more than 1.1 mm? Can you comment, please?

 

The nib physical width is exact 1mm. But the line width on paper depends on which type of paper you used:

 

for long leaf pine based paper, for example, most copy paper, most EU and NA store paper,  it is about 4B

for long leaf pine based chemical processed paper, for example rhodia, most Japanese notepad,  it is about 1.5mm width

grass based paper, such as tomoe river, Chinese made paper, it is about 1.2mm

[fountainpendrawing]

9 hours ago, dbs said:

 

The nib physical width is exact 1mm. But the line width on paper depends on which type of paper you used:

 

for long leaf pine based paper, for example, most copy paper, most EU and NA store paper,  it is about 4B

for long leaf pine based chemical processed paper, for example rhodia, most Japanese notepad,  it is about 1.5mm width

grass based paper, such as tomoe river, Chinese made paper, it is about 1.2mm

Thank you very much for the detailed explanation! In this context how many mm 4B would be? With only 1 mm physical nib width, the possibilities of creating wide lines seem much less than with a Sailor Cross Point and Cross Music, or am I wrong?

[dbs]

7 hours ago, fountainpendrawing said:

Thank you very much for the detailed explanation! In this context how many mm 4B would be? With only 1 mm physical nib width, the possibilities of creating wide lines seem much less than with a Sailor Cross Point and Cross Music, or am I wrong?

 

I did not write that sheet so I cannot answer how many lines for you.

 

The Sailor cross point nib is round, or slightly round. This curved nib tip is pure flat. You are right, it cannot achieve line variation as Sailor does.

[como]

On 1/9/2023 at 4:01 PM, fountainpendrawing said:

You said 4B, but I did a perspective correction and printed the paper sheet from your picture in A5. My measurements of the lines are not more than 1.1 mm? Can you comment, please?

@fountainpendrawing The vertical stroke of my Italic Edge has same/very similar width as the horizontal stroke (at its widest point) of my Curved Nib. As Fritz Schimpf’s Italic Edge is a kind of 4B width, I could logically conclude that the widest point of Curved Nib is 4B too. Both about 1.1mm, yes.

[fountainpendrawing]

1 hour ago, como said:

@fountainpendrawing The vertical stroke of my Italic Edge has same/very similar width as the horizontal stroke (at its widest point) of my Curved Nib. As Fritz Schimpf’s Italic Edge is a kind of 4B width, I could logically conclude that the widest point of Curved Nib is 4B too. Both about 1.1mm, yes.

4B with is only 1.1 mm? Do you know the Sailor Cross Point & Music? Are the widest strokes from the MB 149 Curved similar?