How Flexible Were Mb146 Nibs ?

[ko6]

A Japanese blog, "A memorandum of the senior fountain pen fanatic." (Man'nen hitsu oyaji no biboroku," has a series of entries from October 4th to show the result of the research on how flexible MB nibs were. He tested so far 13 MB146s manufactured in the period ranging from early 1950s to 1990s.

 

Although it is written in Japanese, you will find a lot of images to tell which MB146 was tested. Here's the blogger's most favorite flexible nibs of an MB146 of 1970s. Here's the image from his site.

 

I hope that you will visit the blog and enjoy many fascinating images.

[Keyless Works]

I have one with a 14C nib fron the early 50s and it's a soft nib but it's not a flex or semi-flex nib. Is it safe to flex these nibs that much?

[johnkim424]

After a long hiatus, MB 146 was re-introduced in the early 70s if I am not mistaken. Ink window was blue-greyish and had no lines unlike 149. Feed was split ebonite and nib was monotone 14C. These nibs were just as flexible as ones found on celluloid model 146. I believe one pictured is that particular model. But the most flexible nibs are found on celluloid 146 made during the 50s. Also keep in mind that not all nibs made during period are flexible. Since they were hand made in a batch, flexibility of a nib varied greatly from batch to batch. Also recipe for tempering was not exact, unlike today, so some are definitely more flexible than others.

[talkinghead]

After a long hiatus, MB 146 was re-introduced in the early 70s if I am not mistaken. Ink window was blue-greyish and had no lines unlike 149. Feed was split ebonite and nib was monotone 14C. These nibs were just as flexible as ones found on celluloid model 146.........

 

The very EARLIEST of the 146's at the time of re-introduction (1973-1974), had solid ebonite feeds. These were probably made for a year (or less) and are rare to find. Also, you could get 18c monotone nibs in these earliest of 146's when they were re-introduced.

 

Rick

[meiers]

Personally, I would never press down on a nib for fear of damaging it.

 

When I was a young boy (in the sixties) I was taught never to spread the tines.

Edited October 27, 2013 by meiers

[Ghost Plane]

I'm wincing just looking at this. Why do people feel a sudden need to abuse hapless nibs?

[isaacrn]

Ive never understood this. Just because a nib can flex does not mean it is suppose to flex.

[johnkim424]

Thanks for your input talkinghead. Actually, the very first edition of resin MB 146 had a bi-tone 14C nib found on celluloid models. The feed was round ebonite with grooved face but not body. The gripping section was also slightly different. The ink window was blue like those found on resin 344 and 342. I think a picture of this can be found on a thread on this forum somewhere.....

Edited October 27, 2013 by johnkim424

[ko6]

Some of MB146s have flexible nibs, while other are not. The blogger is well aware of this difference. Through collecting MB146s, he found some exceptional flexible nibs. Here's his a part of his collection and flexible nib with a MB146 of the 1950s.

[talkinghead]

Thanks for your input talkinghead. Actually, the very first edition of resin MB 146 had a bi-tone 14C nib found on celluloid models. The feed was round ebonite with grooved face but not body. The gripping section was also slightly different. The ink window was blue like those found on resin 344 and 342. I think a picture of this can be found on a thread on this forum somewhere.....

 

And thanks for your input johnkim, but I respectfully disagree. The pen you are talking about has been termed the "transitional" 146, and is mentioned in the pinned article here in FPN on "dating" the #146. That pen is NOT described in any catalogue (that I know of) and is extremely, extremely rare. So much so, that I question it's availability to the general population as a true, "production" model. Hence, I refer to that pen as a prototype rather than a transitional pen. Yes, it was, technically, the "first' resin #146, but I believe, just a prototype, and would not consider it the "first edition" of the resin 146 as you call it because I'm not convinced it was mass produced for the public, at least not in any quantity. "Limited Edition" sometime in the 1960's possibly? That could be one theory, but there doesn't seem to be printed record of that. Full production of the "reissue" of the #146 began in 1973, as evidenced by the earliest catalogue mentioning it's availabilty again to the general public. There is a slight controversy also, as Stefan Wallrafren states in his book that the #146 returned to production in 1974, and he does not mention the existence of any "transitional" pen at all. He does mention prototype models and shows a picture of 744 prototype from the late 50's. It's section/grip section has similiar styling to this #146 transitional". Tom Westerich has copies of catalogues that you can download for his site (a couple are also linked in the 146 dating article). There is a pricelist catalogue, dated 2/1973 that describes AND pictures the #146 in the style that most would agree is from the 70's and early 80's models. There is also a catalogue from 1969 that has the #149 and no mention of any 146 at that time.

 

Rick

[johnkim424]

Talking head, you do make a convincing case but I have seen these "rare" first edition MB 146 come up for sale on ebay enough times to convince me that they were not prototype but a full production run. But I do have to admit I only have seen it up for sale maybe 3 times. Maybe Max, who actually worked for Montblanc can give us a definitive answer to the question, as my knowledge and history of MB 146 is limited to what I have read in this forum. But this is not the first time I have run into MB with no official public record.

[johnkim424]

Talking head, you do make a convincing case but I have seen these "rare" first edition MB 146 come up for sale on ebay enough times to convince me that they were not prototype but a full production run. But I do have to admit I only have seen it up for sale maybe 3 times. Maybe Max, who actually worked for Montblanc can give us a definitive answer to the question, as my knowledge and history of MB 146 is limited to what I have read in this forum. But this is not the first time I have run into MB with no official public record.

[georges zaslavsky]

excellent thread

[idazle]

 

Full production of the "reissue" of the #146 began in 1973, as evidenced by the earliest catalogue mentioning it's availabilty again to the general public. There is a slight controversy also, as Stefan Wallrafren states in his book that the #146 returned to production in 1974, and he does not mention the existence of any "transitional" pen at all.

 

To me there is no doubt that the 146 returned to production in 1973 and not in 1974.

 

I've been tracking MB advertisings in past issues of The New Yorker since 1960, and the first time the 146 appeared advertised was in the Nov 12 ,1973 issue. It was advertised as the "new Classic 146", an identical but slightly smaller version of the Diplomat (which in this ad sported a 18c nib, although also came in 14c nib at the time). See the ad below:

 

[leod]

Some of MB146s have flexible nibs, while other are not. The blogger is well aware of this difference. Through collecting MB146s, he found some exceptional flexible nibs. Here's his a part of his collection and flexible nib with a MB146 of the 1950s.

736847e5.jpg34db7631.jpg

 

very nice collection

[johnkim424]

Talkinghead, I have scored this extremely, extremely rare prototype first generation resin 146. I will post some pictures when I get the pen in my hand in about 2 weeks. But in the mean time, here is the seller's picture.

[talkinghead]

Talkinghead, I have scored this extremely, extremely rare prototype first generation resin 146. I will post some pictures when I get the pen in my hand in about 2 weeks. But in the mean time, here is the seller's picture.

Nice John!!

 

 

Welcome to the "club".......

[talkinghead]

 

To me there is no doubt that the 146 returned to production in 1973 and not in 1974.

 

I've been tracking MB advertisings in past issues of The New Yorker since 1960, and the first time the 146 appeared advertised was in the Nov 12 ,1973 issue. It was advertised as the "new Classic 146", an identical but slightly smaller version of the Diplomat (which in this ad sported a 18c nib, although also came in 14c nib at the time). See the ad below:

 

Excellent find idazle.....will download that ad to add to my collection!

[idazle]

Talkinghead, I have scored this extremely, extremely rare prototype first generation resin 146. I will post some pictures when I get the pen in my hand in about 2 weeks. But in the mean time, here is the seller's picture.

 

Amazing exemplar. I've never seen one on sale in the web. Apart from the two-tone nib, the brimless gripping section and the blue ink windows, the "rounded" clip ring is remarkable. It's like those sported by the 149s of the early 1960s. Congrats!

[Soot]

extremely, extremely rare...

 

Talk about rarity... this is the second one I've seen in two months, and both of them went for a reasonable price. Maybe I'll see the third one later this month. Ha~