Interchangeable Nibs?

[Highbinder]

Perhaps a simple question.

 

Would a vintage 149 nib fit in a modern 149? Would a vintage 146 nib fit in a modern 146?

 

Has anyone done it? Does it warrent the extra effort/cost - are the vintage nibs THAT much better?

 

I'd be interested to know

[Bo Bo Olson]

Can't help you much with the MB's. I do have some 9-10 '50's semi-flex German nibs.

 

Semi-flex has to be learned. As a noobie, I just thought my Osmia-Farber-Castell 540 M, was just a wet writer. I had a few pens needing repair or put away after buying, while I played with other pens.

The first pen I was sure was semi-flex was my 140 OB. Then I checked out a couple of pens and they were too.

 

I was ink noobie, and didn't have shading inks. I got one MB toffee, and a couple more semi-flex came to light. To my surprise I had five or six.

I bought Waterman South Sea Blue, and because I had so many pens of different widths inked with Toffee, I pulled out some "no name/lesser name pens to ink them, I had 9-10.

 

I have a '50's 234 1/2 KOB semi-flex and a (70's +) 320 EF nail.

The Pelikans I have, a 140 OB semi-flex and a 400 NN OF semi-flex are better than the (90-96) 400 regular M and the 605 regular BB.

I have a (late '50's early 60's) Geha 790 KM semi-flex.

Early 50's Osmia-Farber-Castell M steel Supra, is also semi-flex.

 

IMO Semi-flex is better than regular flex, immaterial which company made it. In the '50s even some of my cheap "no name/lesser name," pens have semi-flex.

That ranges from barely semi-flex to maxi-semi flex.

 

But then came modern times and everyone came over from Ball Points and more expensive semi-flex was not made any more, on the whole. I'm sure some of the better Italian pens can still be had in semi-flex and one Japanese company.

 

I chase '50's pens for the chance of semi-flex.

 

My MB 234 1/2...well one day soon I'm going to go to my brick and mortar and take it with me, and I don't expect the new 146-149 to beat it.

That's one hell of a nib.

 

Sorry I missed the main thrust of your question.

Edited June 25, 2010 by Bo Bo Olson

[niksch]

The short answer is yes, a vintage 149 or 146 nib will fit on/in modern pens.

 

Yes, the vintage nibs are that much better than a modern nib, but... If you want a vintage nib, buy a vintage pen. The cost of buying a vintage pen and placing that nib on a modern pen does not make much sense.

 

Perhaps a simple question.

 

Would a vintage 149 nib fit in a modern 149? Would a vintage 146 nib fit in a modern 146?

 

Has anyone done it? Does it warrent the extra effort/cost - are the vintage nibs THAT much better?

 

I'd be interested to know

[Highbinder]

Bo Bo Olson, I agree with you! Since getting into fountain pens I've had a couple of 'vintage' pens and I really love the experience. I had a pelikan 400NN with a semiflex B nib but the nib was too sharp for me and tired my hand, I have a pelikan 140 with a slightly oblique cut M nib, again, semi flex, which is better but size wise the pen is too small, and I have a montblanc 14 which has a nice B nib and is more springy than flexy which is lovely altogether. I've forayed into modern pens too, and I very much like the soft feeling of my pilot 823 and the Visconti Pd nib. The size of the Van Gogh and Pilot are spot on. In short, I'm still looking for my perfect pen.

 

Which leads me back to the 146. Seems to tick all the boxes. Size, capacity, styling. It'd also mean I could give my mb14 to my mother who was dropping not-so-subtle hints how she'd like one last time she used it.

 

niksch, the reason I ask is because I'm lusting after the platinum trim 146 in particular, but from my experiences I've greatly prefered vintage nibs to their modern variety. Surely buying a new montblanc, selling the stock nib and buying an equivilant vintage (would have to be OB) would be cheaper than buying a 50s celluloid 146? Because if not then I may have to consider buying an older one

[talkinghead]

the reason I ask is because I'm lusting after the platinum trim 146 in particular, but from my experiences I've greatly prefered vintage nibs to their modern variety. Surely buying a new montblanc, selling the stock nib and buying an equivilant vintage (would have to be OB) would be cheaper than buying a 50s celluloid 146? Because if not then I may have to consider buying an older one

 

 

I don't believe it would be cheaper, especially building in the hassle factor of selling the stock nib for what it's worth, but more so actually finding a vintage 50's #146 nib alone. You can find a celluloid MB #146 here and on Ebay for $350-$500 +/-. You can go to penboard.de and buy one also...a little higher $$ but typically great condition and working/restored with a new cork seal. An OB nib will command a premium also on top of that.

 

Good luck

 

Rick