Montegrappa Extra 1930 Arte Deco

[Uncial]

I've pondered this model for a while, specifically the bamboo one. I love the size, the big nib.....but when I heard it was a captive converter and not a true piston my heart sank.

[ArchiMark]

Perhaps there are differences between nib widths as mentioned in another thread in this sub forum? I find that my fine nib is anything but bland with a good amount of softness and character. I don’t know, my nib was tuned by nibs.com so perhaps that explains it?

 

I don't think so....as my new pen is from Bry at Chatterley, so, nib is stock as came from factory.

 

Also, my other Extra 1930 pens all were great writers out of the box as well.

[Fatalpotato]

I don't think so....as my new pen is from Bry at Chatterley, so, nib is stock as came from factory.

 

Also, my other Extra 1930 pens all were great writers out of the box as well.

My line variation is pretty similar to yours though, which is pretty close to nill

[Fatalpotato]

To substantiate my arguments I'm adding how much spring some of my other pens have vs extra Otto nib

Visconti top left custom urushi top right

Monty fine

KOP broad

M800 fine

Wasn't gonna add visconti and pilot as they're not direct competitors in springiness but wanted to show what is possible with gold nibs with out much work done specifically calling a pen flex or springy.

[Ceelo]

 

I don't think so....as my new pen is from Bry at Chatterley, so, nib is stock as came from factory.

 

Also, my other Extra 1930 pens all were great writers out of the box as well.

Fair enough, I am working off a small sample size that may not be so small soon.

 

Since youre on a roll, can we get a group shot of those Extras so I can drool?

[Ceelo]

Interesting, as I have 4 different pens with the same nib and they all are pretty much nail. None of them is from mattishow, but I read it in somewhere that he's not really able to add softness/flexibility to 18k nibs as they're prone to malformation. Maybe I got the short sticks for quite a row, or you got a lucky pick once because checking in your blog, my pen is definitely unable to do even half of the line variation what yours can. Btw, your Omas collection is mouth watering

I agree that maybe I got a lucky pick. Thanks for your kind words, a labour of (expensive) love.

[ArchiMark]

My line variation is pretty similar to yours though, which is pretty close to nill

 

How much line variation would you expect from a modern XF nib?

 

FWIW, I didn't try to really press down on nib when I wrote sample...so, could probably get some, if I did try....

Edited June 7, 2018 by ArchiMark
Clarification about sample

[ArchiMark]

Fair enough, I am working off a small sample size that may not be so small soon.

 

Since youre on a roll, can we get a group shot of those Extras so I can drool?

 

Unfortunately, I (stupidly...) sold them over time....

 

[Fatalpotato]

How much line variation would you expect from a modern XF nib?

 

FWIW, I didn't try to really press down on nib when I wrote sample...so, could probably get some, if I did try....

Well, there are too many variables in this topic but I'd at least expect variation in the ballpark of sailor 21k nibs. The problem with jowo nibs is that it requires an extraordinary amount of pressure to get some line variation and this makes me feel like I'm harming the nib. In the above pic, I pressed the Montegrappa most, and the pilot least, though the results are remarkably different

[truphae_inc]

That is gorgeous! Thanks for the nice close-up shots too!

[fpupulin]

I agre with ArchiMark about the “personality” of the Extra nibs. I have had three medium nibs (one of which have recently been changed for a bold), a F, and a stub. All of them have been a pleasure to use just out of the box, and the the factory stub of my Extra Black Bamboo is one of my bets nibs under any circumstances. It has a great line variation and it is very responsive.

 

It)I do not know if all my nibs were produced by the same firm (I have one Extra and three Extra 1930), but they feel very similar among them. The are not flex nibs, but they are very soft.

[Fatalpotato]

I agre with ArchiMark about the “personality” of the Extra nibs. I have had three medium nibs (one of which have recently been changed for a bold), a F, and a stub. All of them have been a pleasure to use just out of the box, and the the factory stub of my Extra Black Bamboo is one of my bets nibs under any circumstances. It has a great line variation and it is very responsive.

 

It)I do not know if all my nibs were produced by the same firm (I have one Extra and three Extra 1930), but they feel very similar among them. The are not flex nibs, but they are very soft.

That is very interesting. Do you know any info about when the pens were produced? I think there has been a time being Montegrappa used in house nibs, and used pistons instead of captive converters

[fpupulin]

That is very interesting. Do you know any info about when the pens were produced? I think there has been a time being Montegrappa used in house nibs, and used pistons instead of captive converters

Really I have no cues. The Extra in red celluloid must be older, as it was superseded by the Extra 1930 (originally in turtle and green marble) since 2004. My turtles and bamboo are younger, but still of the older generation, with long cap threads (ehi ho I estethicalky orefer).

 

I am non sure about the filling system of the four, but it feels exactly the same to me, so I guess they all have a captive converter.

[fpupulin]

I've pondered this model for a while, specifically the bamboo one. I love the size, the big nib.....but when I heard it was a captive converter and not a true piston my heart sank.

If your budget allows for what I consider a quite expensive pen, go for the bamboo! It is one of my best pen in absolute, one of the two-three best pens I ever had. It is substantial, of a perfect size, beautifully finished, and the stub nib of my pen is absolutely amazing.

 

Do not refrain because yourself of the captive converter. You only have to fill your Extra more frequently. As I like filling my pens (and changing inks quite often), this was never a problem for me. The Extra 1930 in black bamboo is so gorgeous and so perfect that you probably will never regret about the lack of a true piston.

[Fatalpotato]

Really I have no cues. The Extra in red celluloid must be older, as it was superseded by the Extra 1930 (originally in turtle and green marble) since 2004. My turtles and bamboo are younger, but still of the older generation, with long cap threads (ehi ho I estethicalky orefer).

 

I am non sure about the filling system of the four, but it feels exactly the same to me, so I guess they all have a captive converter.

I guess being made around 2000s there's a very high probability they don't come with the jowo nibs they come with right now,as afaik they don't come with a stub option anymore. But tbh, comparing the few jowo nibs I have to some other in house/Bock nibs of relatively same size, the lack of character and blandness is very apparent especially in the extra Otto and the turtle extra 1930, as if they were made out of steel . I guess through the last 15 years their quality control or standards have diminished greatly. For the captive converter, I can't say it's much different than a Piston filler, except for the size as you mentioned. But again, it'd be better Imho if they went full Piston or a standard c/c filling system anyway.

[fpupulin]

Here is a pic, side by side, of one of my M nibs and the Stub nib, both on Extra 1930s:

 

 

 

And here is a detail of the Stub nib of my Black Bamboo. It was installed in 2016, and as you can see the breathing hole is heart-shaped instead of round. I have no idea, however, if this can help in dating the nibs...

 

 

 

[Fatalpotato]

Here is a pic, side by side, of one of my M nibs and the Stub nib, both on Extra 1930s:

 

 

 

And here is a detail of the Stub nib of my Black Bamboo. It was installed in 2016, and as you can see the breathing hole is heart-shaped instead of round. I have no idea, however, if this can help in dating the nibs...

 

 

The ones that have heart holes in my collection feel a little more springy, after checking your post I've noticed. Someday this week I can post them here as well, maybe someone can help me date when these pens were produced.

[flipper_gv]

I guess being made around 2000s there's a very high probability they don't come with the jowo nibs they come with right now,as afaik they don't come with a stub option anymore. But tbh, comparing the few jowo nibs I have to some other in house/Bock nibs of relatively same size, the lack of character and blandness is very apparent especially in the extra Otto and the turtle extra 1930, as if they were made out of steel . I guess through the last 15 years their quality control or standards have diminished greatly. For the captive converter, I can't say it's much different than a Piston filler, except for the size as you mentioned. But again, it'd be better Imho if they went full Piston or a standard c/c filling system anyway.

 

IIRC, they stopped using Bock because of QC issues.

[Ceelo]

Great nib shots there, that stub nib looks enticing.

[jbn10161]

Gorgeous pen. Celluloid looks exactly like the celluloid in a 1930s Shaeffer I have. And that's a nice fistful of pens you have. Happy writing!