60's/70's Pelikan & Montblanc Nib Advice

[Ste_S]

I'm looking at buying a vintage Pelikan (140,400) or Montblanc (32 & various others) and would like some advice on nibs. I'd like a nib with a bit of character and line variation, what should I be looking out for in German pens of this era ? I note there's a fair few Obliques around on these pens, and it's not something I've tried before.

 

I normally like either a stub if i'm using a steel nib, or anything with a bit of spring if I'm using a gold nib.

[jar]

If you go for a 32 you have a high probability of getting a flexible nib.

 

http://www.fototime.com/CAA5A1577DAA0DC/xlarge.jpg

BUT...they came in a wide range of nib widths from EF to B. The 32 did not come with oblique nibs as standard.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Do you have any semi-flex nibs?

Both MB and Pelikan offered both semi-flex and 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex nibs, '50-65...for the Pelikan and '75 for the MBs. MB's 50-65 is supposidly a tad better than '66-75.

 

You can not be sure if the 400 or the MB pens of the pre'66 time is going to be semi-flex or 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex in the original owner had the nib put in he wished...semi-flex or 'maxi'.

 

I suggest starting with a semi-flex nib in ham fisted writers can use it....with three months use your hand should have lightened up enough for the next flex stage the 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex.

A Pelikan 140 or a Geha 790 will be semi-flex. Can be found on German Ebay....make sure the seller sends to England.....got a 200 coming to me, because the idiot refuses to ship to England.

 

I'd wait a few months before getting more than semi-flex.

You could run into a Brittish seller by then who sells the 400's.

 

Rick at Penquin sells 140's and 400's and can match the nib you need.

Who exactly out side of Penboard.de which could also match the Pelikan can also match your MB semi-flex nib requirements; I don't know.

 

I like semi-flex got 26 of them....got 14 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex. Neither are "Flex" nibs in both only spread their tines 3 X a light down stroke. Semi-flex needs half the pressure of a true regular flex to do that. 'Flexi'/maxi-semi-flex half the pressure of a semi-flex...or 1/4th of a well mashed true regular flex.

 

True regular flex is often semi-vintage or vintage in many modern pen companies make semi-nails, instead, that ball point users find harder to bend out of shape.

Edited September 20, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson

[Ste_S]

Thanks both. It is indeed Penboard i'm mostly looking at, and a few British vintage sellers.

 

I'm not sure If I've used a semi-flex nib yet. Of the 'springiest' nibs I've used, it's a Parker Slimfold that gives me the most line variation. Thinner at the start of letters, thicker on the downstroke as I naturally apply more pressure. Suspect it's due to the previous owner(s) that it does this though, as I've read Parker's don't flex that much ?.

 

Despite my Deutsche being terrible (despite being a quarter Österreicher), I might fire off an email to a Penboard seller to see what they can recommend,

[georges zaslavsky]

I have some 60's, 70's MB 149 and 146 and their nibs are quite flexible. Check gopens.com, Gary always has some nice 149s from these years for sale

Edited September 21, 2014 by georges zaslavsky

[entropydave]

I have some of both the pens you mention in a variety of nib sizes. I would describe none as a flex or semi-flex nib but all as soft, smooth and giving some variation in character. Someone else calls them stubbish. In general, if you want more stub, just get a B or above nib. I have found the obliques to be more oblique than modern nibs and therefore with a consequently reduced tolerance for writing angles. If your handwriting does not give much variation normally, then an oblique will give you a bit of free character.

 

In my Parker 61s, there is no line variation, though the nib is lovely to write with.

 

David.