Jump to content

Question About Montegrappa Nib & Feed

Paul Raposo

By Paul Raposo
in Italy - Europe

 Share

Recommended Posts

Paul Raposo Collectors Item

Paul Raposo

Posted
Posted

Hey all.

 

I have a Montegrappa 88th anniversary pen listed here and elsewhere. I received an email this morning that went like this:

 

Hi friend, Sorry to say but the nib in that pen pushed too far inside section maybe broken? You send to fix and then maybe we talk that I buy this pen.

 

Looking at the nib and feed I don't get the impression that they're broken or pushed in too far, but this is the first Montegrappa I've handled. In online pics the 750 is visible while that marking on my pen is partially covered.

 

I'm hoping more experienced Montegrappa collectors here can give their opinions. Here are the pics of the nib and section:

 

montegrappa-023.jpg

montegrappa-024.jpg

montegrappa-025.jpg

montegrappa-026.jpg

montegrappa-027.jpg

montegrappa-028.jpg

There are a thousand thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up a pen to write.

--William Makepeace Thackeray

 

Visit my blog to see the pens I have for sale

 

Paul's Pens

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 12
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Paul Raposo

    6

  • jar

    2

  • tinta

    2

  • aggoo

    2

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Driften Collectors Item

Driften

Posted
Posted

Sorry I don't have any Mongegrappa's but the nib (not feed) does seem pressed a little bit too far into the section. I expect it would be no big deal to pull them out and reset it.

 

I hope others with more brand knowledge chime in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
tinta Collectors Item

tinta

Posted
Posted

A stunning pen, Paul. That nib,...wow!

In your 5th image I notice a crack around the feed collar (just above where the M designation is stamped on your gorgeous nib). Is this crack supposed to be there? I hope so.

I have no answer to your original question except that I would have the nib position & collar verified by a qualified nib-tech, most likely in the States.

Best, Tinta

*Sailor 1911S, Black/gold, 14k. 0.8 mm. stub(JM) *1911S blue "Colours", 14k. H-B "M" BLS (PB)

*2 Sailor 1911S Burgundy/gold: 14k. 0.6 mm. "round-nosed" CI (MM) & 14k. 1.1 mm. CI (JM)

*Sailor Pro-Gear Slim Spec. Ed. "Fire",14k. (factory) "H-B"

*Kaweco SPECIAL FP: 14k. "B",-0.6 mm BLS & 14k."M" 0.4 mm. BLS (PB)

*Kaweco Stainless Steel Lilliput, 14k. "M" -0.7 mm.BLS, (PB)

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jar Ancient Artifact

jar

Posted
Posted

The correct seating depth for a nib is where it works best. How does the pen write?

 

I think what looks like a crack in the feed collar is a reflection from the nib.

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Paul Raposo Collectors Item

Paul Raposo

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thank you Driften and Tinta for your replies.

 

I don't know if the collar is suppose to have that split, I'm having trouble finding a picture with the nib straight on showing the collar.

 

Thank you jar for your reply as well. It's been a while since I've visited FPN, good to talk with you again :)

 

I checked the collar again and it is a split, but it doesn't look like a crack because it has clean lines on either side, but again I don't know if it's suppose to be there.

 

I've never inked the pen so I actually don't know how it writes.

 

Does anyone know how to remove the nib/feed and collar? The collar appears to be screwed in.

There are a thousand thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up a pen to write.

--William Makepeace Thackeray

 

Visit my blog to see the pens I have for sale

 

Paul's Pens

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Paul Raposo Collectors Item

Paul Raposo

Posted
  • Author
Posted

The pen has never been inked in 18 years and I'm debating inking it to see how it's writing, but for some reason it feels wrong to ink it.

There are a thousand thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up a pen to write.

--William Makepeace Thackeray

 

Visit my blog to see the pens I have for sale

 

Paul's Pens

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jar Ancient Artifact

jar

Posted
Posted (edited)

Thank you Driften and Tinta for your replies.

 

I don't know if the collar is suppose to have that split, I'm having trouble finding a picture with the nib straight on showing the collar.

 

Thank you jar for your reply as well. It's been a while since I've visited FPN, good to talk with you again :)

 

I checked the collar again and it is a split, but it doesn't look like a crack because it has clean lines on either side, but again I don't know if it's suppose to be there.

 

I've never inked the pen so I actually don't know how it writes.

 

Does anyone know how to remove the nib/feed and collar? The collar appears to be screwed in.

No such crack on any of my Montegrappas. Usually the assembly is screwed in IIRC.

Edited by jar

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Paul Raposo Collectors Item

Paul Raposo

Posted
  • Author
Posted

No such crack on any of my Montegrappas. Usually the assembly is screwed in IIRC.

 

Thank you for checking on this and posting your findings, jar. I'm wondering if the unit was screwed in too tight, but by who and when. I'm the third or fourth owner since the pen was new.

There are a thousand thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up a pen to write.

--William Makepeace Thackeray

 

Visit my blog to see the pens I have for sale

 

Paul's Pens

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Paul Raposo Collectors Item

Paul Raposo

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Turns out the nib and feed are friction fit into the collar and section.

 

After pulling the nib/feed I noticed the collar has a channel for each one set to a specific depth. I set the nib and feed separately and they are both in the correct position based on those spots and weren't set too deep as the email suggested.

 

The issue the collar has is there is a 2mm-3mm split which shouldn't be there. The nib/feed set firm but not as tight as I believe they should be.

 

This pen has had a few owners over the years and clearly at one time one of the owners was a bit too aggressive with the nib/feed. I don't think something like this would have passed quality control at Montregrappa.

 

DSCN0041.jpg

DSCN0043.jpg

DSCN0047.jpg

There are a thousand thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up a pen to write.

--William Makepeace Thackeray

 

Visit my blog to see the pens I have for sale

 

Paul's Pens

Link to comment
Share on other sites
tinta Collectors Item

tinta

Posted
Posted

I feel bad that I was initially the bearer of bad news. Best of luck Paul in fixing up that gorgeous pen.

*Sailor 1911S, Black/gold, 14k. 0.8 mm. stub(JM) *1911S blue "Colours", 14k. H-B "M" BLS (PB)

*2 Sailor 1911S Burgundy/gold: 14k. 0.6 mm. "round-nosed" CI (MM) & 14k. 1.1 mm. CI (JM)

*Sailor Pro-Gear Slim Spec. Ed. "Fire",14k. (factory) "H-B"

*Kaweco SPECIAL FP: 14k. "B",-0.6 mm BLS & 14k."M" 0.4 mm. BLS (PB)

*Kaweco Stainless Steel Lilliput, 14k. "M" -0.7 mm.BLS, (PB)

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
aggoo Mint

aggoo

Posted
Posted

Hi Paul,

I have the same pen in my office. I'll see if I can grab a pic of the nib and where it is seated for you. Mine is NOS, so shouldn't have been tampered with yet :)

It's a seriously nice pen if anyone is considering investing in it. I haven't inked mine because I have enough Montegrappas inked already, but the nib to my eyes is a size 8 from the Extra but seems softer and has this glorious engraving on it. Most Montegrappa special editions are based on a size 6 nib. It's a very very well made pen too with enamel, sterling silver and a deep resin in the most wonderful box.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
aggoo Mint

aggoo

Posted
Posted

Quick follow up.

 

My pen has the nib seated in the same position, with only a small part of the <750> visible above the collar. The collar also has the split directly centred above the middle of the nib but the gap is very tight, with no possibility of even pushing anything in there. It looks more like a machining mark. I suspect it's there to allow the nib/feed to be removed. Other Montegrappas of the period look to have the same thing, going by my examples (Classica and Symphony), whereas the newer pens like Extra 1930 and Miya have much bigger notches a la Montblanc.

 

All in all, I think the pen sounds like it's not really damaged at all, although if the nib/feed are loose, you may need to source a new collar. The nib is the same size as the Extra, so a size 8.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Paul Raposo Collectors Item

Paul Raposo

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Not at all Tinta :) I'd rather see some thoughts on this than to have people remain silent and not contribute to the discussion.

 

Thanks very much for looking into this aggoo :)

 

It really is a beautiful pen and I haven't inked it as the original owner dipped the pen while the rest of us have never inked it.

 

I'm used to vintage pen sections where the nib and feed are an extremely tight fit. This nib and feed seated with the same pressure as a MB 149 which is still tight, but not 1920s Parker Duofold tight.

Edited by Paul Raposo

There are a thousand thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up a pen to write.

--William Makepeace Thackeray

 

Visit my blog to see the pens I have for sale

 

Paul's Pens

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33583
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26772
    5. jar
      jar
      26105

  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      Links to web pages or articles about Chinese typesetting, signwriting, etc.

      By Shanghai Knife Dude · Posted

      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By A Smug Dill · Posted

      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By adamselene · Posted

      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By A Smug Dill · Posted

      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By adamselene · Posted

      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o

  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More

  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...