Montblanc nibs

[jkowalski]

Welcome,

 

I read in different places contradictory information about Montblanc nibs, that they are produced in-house or by Peter Bock. Could someone clarify that matter?

 

Kindest regards,

Jakub

[Bennington1967]

They are produced in-house. Bock does not do them.

[Titivillus]

Welcome,

 

I read in different places contradictory information about Montblanc nibs, that they are produced in-house or by Peter Bock. Could someone clarify that matter?

 

Kindest regards,

Jakub

 

I looked on their website and it doesn't really say whether the nibs are made in house.

 

[omasfan]

They are produced in-house. Bock does not do them.

 

I've heard the same thing from a pen dealer who visited the factory in Hamburg.

[Jonathan]

In House...

[Shelley]

They are supposed to be produced in house-however there a couple of pen companies that Bock produce nibs for that they are contracted out of saying they produce their nibs, or so I have heard...

[diplomat]

Even though you are not a MB collectionist (and I am not one), if you are somewhat interested in fine pens it's almost impossible do not come across a myriad of MB leaflets, catalogs and ephemeras.

 

Well, it's really strange to me that there is no mention of the fact that they produce internally their own nibs in ANY of those. When introducing the nibs, they would rather use ambigous statements like "made by the best european artisan tradition", "each nib is carefully cut by masters"...

 

In my personal opinion an internally produced nib is something to cry loud these times (like Aurora does, e.g.) when most of the production is concentrated in few companies. From here my personal idea: MB nibs are outsourced.

 

I've heard the same thing from a pen dealer who visited the factory in Hamburg

 

I learnt not to trust dealers since I was 12... :roflmho:

 

Cheers,

[niksch]

Montblanc indeed makes their own nibs. I was fortunate to tour Montblanc's Hamburg factory in 1999, and was most impressed with the overall manufacturing process (I am an engineer), but especially with the nib-making process. Only women are employed in that area, supposedly because they have a better "touch" when it comes to hand grinding nibs. Each nib is hand ground and then goes thru a testing process to ensure the iridium tip writes right. MB even employs Asian women to test the nibs going to the Asian market, because their writing style/method is different that us Westerners.

 

I agree with 'diplomat' that it would seem that MB is missing out on a very good marketing effort by not advertising that they make their own nibs.

 

Best to all, Eric

[diplomat]

Thank you very much indeed.

 

This is the first time I can register a first-hand witness! This pretty close the dilemma.

 

I'd have now a further question: would you think then that this factory produces nibs for Montegrappa (Italian FP manufacturer owned by MB) too? That would be interesting...

 

Thanks again,

[ganzonomy]

It's good to know that they do take pride in their nibs, which explains why most people here like them.

 

As for niksch, if that picture is your collection.... WOW, i'm impressed.

[Allan]

Yes they are made in house. Go to the Montblanc website, click on Craftsmanship on the left, then The Art Of Writing, and finally The Nib. This will show you in quite a bit of detail how the nibs are made and tested.

 

Allan

[niksch]

As for niksch, if that picture is your collection.... WOW, i'm impressed.

 

 

That's some of them... I was trying to do something like what's on the cover of "Collectible Stars."

Edited December 2, 2007 by niksch

[ganzonomy]

As for niksch, if that picture is your collection.... WOW, i'm impressed.

 

 

That's some of them... I was trying to do something like what's on the cover of "Collectible Stars."

 

 

That's some... :roflmho: I'm sorry man, whatever job you do that lets you have a zillion MBs, i want it too. Sweet mother of birdsplat... HEY GUYS, we have a winner for "most devoted / loyal MB FAN!". WHAT ARE THEY! I'm sorry to throw this off topic, but that's more birdsplats than I see on most parkbenches in NYC! Big birdsplats, little birdsplats, wow, what a bunch of birdsplats!

 

Oh well, at least we all know where his alliance is. On a more serious point (or nib), does Montblanc only make gold nibs, or do they also make platinum nibs? And how come some of the stars are bigger than the others... in essence what's the collection!

 

Spit it out, if that's your avatar, then we're all gonna wonder!

Edited December 3, 2007 by ganzonomy

[Titivillus]

Yes they are made in house. Go to the Montblanc website, click on Craftsmanship on the left, then The Art Of Writing, and finally The Nib. This will show you in quite a bit of detail how the nibs are made and tested.

 

Allan

 

Allan,

they do show quite alot about the manufacturer of the nibs but nowhere I can see do they say that the production of the nibs is in house. I think maybe in the testing but not the stamping onwards.

 

 

Kurt

 

[LDF]

The MB rep I spoke to also stated that MB manufacture and test their own nibs.

In my experience, brands that manufacture and test their own nibs have

superior quality control. They don't let the customer act as the first tester.

Edited December 3, 2007 by LDF

[philipr]

Sorry to interrupt the topic, but it's about MB nibs too and I need help! My 149 fell on the nib and it was completely bent. MB in the US quotes me nearly $700.00 (The price of a new 149) to change not only the nib but practically the whole pen because as they say, it's an old model and therefore it is mandatory. I love my pen vintage as it is (I have 28 vintage MBs) and have asked them to send it back unrepaired. I found a new mint pre 90's nib. Now, what is the procedure to remove the old one and insert the new one myself? Please help!

[Soulmaker1]

How old is your pen? MB US repair works on a flat rate. The maxImum being about 300 which includes the nib and replacement of all resin parts. Did MB service in Texas quote you $700?

 

BTW, you will need special tools to remove the nib, which are very difficult to find and will cost probably more than the nib. If you go this route, I would send to pen repairs specialist.

 

Good luck

Edited April 1, 2012 by Soulmaker1

[Kalessin]

There are aftermarket pen-repairers who can straighten a nib; Max at http://www.maxpens.de is one example.

 

As far as I know, Montblanc's USA flat rate service doesn't apply to damaged nibs.

[rockspyder]

I have to agree with the above comment, Max Schrage (maxpens.de) is an expert, it will be worthwhile sending the pen to him.

As for the original title of this thread, a group of us FPN members were there just a few weeks ago, and saw the nib making process at the MB factory in person. Very much in-house, from beginning to end. Amazing experience

[georges zaslavsky]

I think this question has been answered many many times, Montblanc is like Rolex because everything is 100% made inhouse. This is not the case of Visconti,Omas (not a manufacture since 2002),Montegrappa,Delta,Ferrari Da Varese,Michel Perchin,David Oscarson,Stipula,Bexley and some other brands who use bock nibs.