Quick Question On Nib Size From 1968

[asegier]

I'm looking at a Montblanc 14 right now, and it's a Medium nib. I have a Montblanc 145 (modern) in M, and I don't really like the M nib so much. For Montblanc, I think I'm more of a Fine person.

 

Thing is, I was wondering if the Nibs in the past (1968) followed the nib sizes of the present. So if in 1968, the Montblanc M nibs weren't as thick as they are now, I may consider purchasing this Vintage pen.

 

Many thanks to those who reply!

[meiers]

I can only say this with confidence. Montblanc nib sizes follow a fairly loose standard because they are all hand-ground. For example, I have a fine 146 nib that writes like my medium 149.

 

I am eagerly looking forward to other replies.

[meiers]

...and all of my nibs have their individual quirks and characteristics.

[Bo Bo Olson]

I have a '50's KOB that is at most a M. Most '50-60's German nibs are 1/2 a size narrower modern. I also have a couple unmarked pens like was often the case with MB that I judge to be F nibs...'50's F nibs.

 

I unfortunately did not tell MB when swapping nibs on my Woolf, I wanted middle of tolerance or even skinny side of tolerance when I changed my M nib that 'was not the B' I was expecting from all that talked about it on my good to better paper at home. I had used the B&M's paper which had that nib write wider.

The 'B' nib I got was well on the fat side of tolerance....being IMO a BB.

 

If you swap out a nib on a new MB....be real exact where you want the nib to be...fat side of Tolerance or Skinny side if they can't come up with a nib near middle.

 

Ron Zorn over in Sheaffer sub-forum has a pinned article on nib width tolerance....which is a 100% must read.

It's always only horseshoe or hand grenade close depending on which era you are in.

 

So there I had a true M....and got a real Fat B in it's place. Some day I will have to have that "BB" made into a real B.

I find that 'B=BB' too fat to really write with. I need too much of a page.

[asegier]

Hmm that's rather intriguing. I suppose I'll play it safe and purchase only Fine's. As it would probably be safer that way.

 

On that note, just purchased a Montblanc 31!

[jar]

Well MB like most manufacturers assigned nib widths after the fact. They made nibs and once made used a gauge to determine designation with overlap at the extremes. It's very likely you can find fine and medium or fine and extra fine that are exactly the same width.