Mb 149 Calligraphy Flex Initial Impressions And Gripes

[mauckcg]

This thread isn't helping me resist picking one of these pens up.

[tinct]

Is iron gall ink safe in the calligraphy pens?

 

I switched to Parker Quink black/blue - next to no nib creep and the pen skips/hard starts much less, but still regularly on Rhodia. It sounds like Montblanc ink has more successes, but the only bottle I own is 10+ year old and I think, the IG formulation of blue/black. Its a 50cc rounded shoe bottle, must have tossed the box a long time ago. Never actually used it

 

 

Edit: read through some of the older reviews and probably will put the ink back in the bottom of the box again. Too chicken to take the risk.

Edited February 29, 2020 by tinct

[max dog]

Hi Loganrah. I thought I'd do some normal writing and flex writing samples, and also push the nib to it's extent to force a rail road, proving it is not impossible to rail road the 149 flex nib, but it took a lot of effort. Under normal flex writing, you will be hard pressed to get it to railroad. It just goes on and on. The nib now writes with no pressure perfectly with a nice extra fine line. No hard starts or any issues at all. It is my workhorse everyday writer now.

 

While the snap back does not feel as crisp as my vintage Waterman Ideal No 2 flex nib, from a practical perspective, you really don't lose much line variation from it's widest extent to the finest extent due to the ink wetness. See for yourself. I think the writing sample illustrates pretty good result going from a double broad back to extra fine. What do you think?

Edited February 29, 2020 by max dog

[loganrah]

Hi Loganrah. I thought I'd do some normal writing and flex writing samples, and also push the nib to it's extent to force a rail road, proving it is not impossible to rail road the 149 flex nib, but it took a lot of effort. Under normal flex writing, you will be hard pressed to get it to railroad. It just goes on and on. The nib now writes with no pressure perfectly with a nice extra fine line. No hard starts or any issues at all. It is my workhorse everyday writer now.

 

While the snap back does not feel as crisp as my vintage Waterman Ideal No 2 flex nib, from a practical perspective, you really don't lose much line variation from it's widest extent to the finest extent due to the ink wetness. See for yourself. I think the writing sample illustrates pretty good result going from a double broad back to extra fine. What do you think?

The snap back on your writing sample looks much better than I am achieving. Though of course that may be my technique. Out of interest, what ink and paper are you using for this sample?

[max dog]

Ink is Montblanc Midnight Blue (current non IG formula) and paper is a generic Daiso Dollar Store Japanese made notebook. Pretty good fountain pen friendly paper I find.

[max dog]

This writing demo really puts the nib through its paces.

Fast forward to the 17 minutes mark of the video and have a look at the flex writing demo. This is what made me want to get this pen, and my experience is right on with what Aziza is able to do here.

 

[dmvara]

So I bent and ordered the legrand solitaire as well and it just arrived. It’s a striking pen, but my concern is the weight. I knew ahead of the purchase that it was lacquer, but I’m just unsure whether or not I will enjoy it like my 149. Anyone on here have the same dilemma? Really torn between keeping it or just returning it to Appelboom for something else. Tough call..

 

 

[max dog]

Prior to my 149 flex, I've been using my 146 Sterling Solitaire as my primary workhorse pen for some 4 years now, and despite it's heft, I've found it to be one of the most comfortable writers for long writing sessions, and I like to write with the cap posted. It's such a well balanced pen it's weight never tires out my hand, and I use it to my advantage I think, using it's weigh and heft to write with, I just guide it along. I presume the legrand solitaire calligraphy pen is of similar weight and balance.

Edited March 10, 2020 by max dog

[dmvara]

Prior to my 149 flex, I've been using my 146 Sterling Solitaire as my primary workhorse pen for some 4 years now, and despite it's heft, I've found it to be one of the most comfortable writers for long writing sessions, and I like to write with the cap posted. It's such a well balanced pen it's weight never tires out my hand, and I use it to my advantage I think, using it's weigh and heft to write with, I just guide it along. I presume the legrand solitaire calligraphy pen is of similar weight and balance.

 

I do recall writing with the sterling legrand rollerball and that one for me was a tad lighter. Of course I am comparing a RB to a FP. The solitaire flex kind of reminds me in terms of weight like the Jules. The lacquer body can be hefty and after prolonged writing can be a tad unpleasant. I did sell my Jules and honestly do not miss the set. I’ll have to think on this for a bit. Such a a shame because the pen is really nice and quite unique, but for the price tag I need to absolutely fall head over heels with every aspect of the writing experience..

Edited March 10, 2020 by dmvara

[mjchuang9]

I had the same experience that I felt Gl was too heavy and decided not to buy at first. And now GL along with 149 flex are my daily drivers. GL is so beautiful and the flex nib is unique different from 149 flex. I am used to weight of GL and write comfortably.

Edited March 10, 2020 by mjchuang9

[dmvara]

I had the same experience that i felt Gl is too heavy and decided not to buy at first. And now GL along with 149 flex are my daily drivers. GL is so beautiful and the flex nib is unique different from 149 flex. I am used to weight of GL and write comfortably.

 

Thank you for sharing. I’m really thinking hard on this. I obviously can’t test it and use it and decide after whether or not it suit me. I’ll have to decide soon.

[dmvara]

I had the same experience that I felt Gl was too heavy and decided not to buy at first. And now GL along with 149 flex are my daily drivers. GL is so beautiful and the flex nib is unique different from 149 flex. I am used to weight of GL and write comfortably.

 

Well I took your advice and just started lightly testing it on paper minus ink and after awhile I found a grip I like and I even forgot about the heft of the pen. It’s a super pen and I’m so excited that it has joined its 149 big brother in my writing instruments collection. I don’t have a lot because I keep things simple. Just three. The two MB flex pens and a pelikan M1000. More than enough to keep me happy.

Edited March 12, 2020 by dmvara

[zaddick]

 

Well I took your advice and just started lightly testing it on paper minus ink and after awhile I found a grip I like and I even forgot about the heft of the pen. Its a super pen and Im so excited that it has joined its 149 big brother in my writing instruments collection. I dont have a lot because I keep things simple. Just three. The two MB flex pens and a pelikan M1000. More than enough to keep me happy.

Good stuff. The money spent is soon forgotten and the pleasure will hopefully continue to grow. Congratulations on a decision that involves more pens!

[mjchuang9]

 

Well I took your advice and just started lightly testing it on paper minus ink and after awhile I found a grip I like and I even forgot about the heft of the pen. It’s a super pen and I’m so excited that it has joined its 149 big brother in my writing instruments collection. I don’t have a lot because I keep things simple. Just three. The two MB flex pens and a pelikan M1000. More than enough to keep me happy.

 

 

Glad to hear that.

Keeping things simple is not easy. However I can live with flex and 149 OB only now.

[dmvara]

Good stuff. The money spent is soon forgotten and the pleasure will hopefully continue to grow. Congratulations on a decision that involves more pens!

 

Thank you! The more I write with the 146, the more I appreciate the heft and it no longer bugs me.

[dmvara]

 

 

Glad to hear that.

Keeping things simple is not easy. However I can live with flex and 149 OB only now.

Yes it can be difficult, but I find if I have more pens I will always gravitate towards the few that give me the greatest pleasure in writing. Have fun my friend.

[tinct]

I sent my pen into Montblanc Fort Worth for service because it was hard-starting ~50% of the time. I included a letter written with the pen to demonstrate the problem. It was shipped back out within 3 business days and I had it back in my hands within a week of it being delivered to Fort Worth, TX. Per the attached letter, they disassembled and cleaned the pen, and fixed/replaced broken or worn parts. The pen writes wetter and starts more consistently at an acute angle/closer to normal, but still hard starts on less absorbent paper (Rhodia). It also came back with microscratches on the barrel and frank scratches all over the pen clip.

 

I definitely use my pens, but I also try to take care of my stuff. Scratches on a 7-day-old pen, that has otherwise been in the Montblanc case, is a bit much. In retrospect, maybe I should've sent it to a nibmeister.

[dmvara]

I sent my pen into Montblanc Fort Worth for service because it was hard-starting ~50% of the time. I included a letter written with the pen to demonstrate the problem. It was shipped back out within 3 business days and I had it back in my hands within a week of it being delivered to Fort Worth, TX. Per the attached letter, they disassembled and cleaned the pen, and fixed/replaced broken or worn parts. The pen writes wetter and starts more consistently at an acute angle/closer to normal, but still hard starts on less absorbent paper (Rhodia). It also came back with microscratches on the barrel and frank scratches all over the pen clip.

 

I definitely use my pens, but I also try to take care of my stuff. Scratches on a 7-day-old pen, that has otherwise been in the Montblanc case, is a bit much. In retrospect, maybe I should've sent it to a nibmeister.

That is disappointing to say the least. I guess a third party service sounds like a better option versus sending it in to an actual retailer.

[Tasmith]

I sent my pen into Montblanc Fort Worth for service because it was hard-starting ~50% of the time. I included a letter written with the pen to demonstrate the problem. It was shipped back out within 3 business days and I had it back in my hands within a week of it being delivered to Fort Worth, TX. Per the attached letter, they disassembled and cleaned the pen, and fixed/replaced broken or worn parts. The pen writes wetter and starts more consistently at an acute angle/closer to normal, but still hard starts on less absorbent paper (Rhodia). It also came back with microscratches on the barrel and frank scratches all over the pen clip.

 

I definitely use my pens, but I also try to take care of my stuff. Scratches on a 7-day-old pen, that has otherwise been in the Montblanc case, is a bit much. In retrospect, maybe I should've sent it to a nibmeister.

Could the hard starting problem be the ink you're using?

[GOTO10]

I sent my pen into Montblanc Fort Worth for service because it was hard-starting ~50% of the time. I included a letter written with the pen to demonstrate the problem. It was shipped back out within 3 business days and I had it back in my hands within a week of it being delivered to Fort Worth, TX. Per the attached letter, they disassembled and cleaned the pen, and fixed/replaced broken or worn parts. The pen writes wetter and starts more consistently at an acute angle/closer to normal, but still hard starts on less absorbent paper (Rhodia). It also came back with microscratches on the barrel and frank scratches all over the pen clip.

 

I definitely use my pens, but I also try to take care of my stuff. Scratches on a 7-day-old pen, that has otherwise been in the Montblanc case, is a bit much. In retrospect, maybe I should've sent it to a nibmeister.

 

Based on stories like this I've sent 3 of my MBs that have had hard starting issues to a nibmeister rather than going through MB service. Sadly I don't think I'd even trust Fort Worth to do a nib swap for me.