The Meisterstück 149 Calligraphy Appreciation Thread

[agentdaffy007]

Hi, I ordered the MB 149 Calligraphy in the summer of 2020 and received it in September 2020. When I received the pen, it wrote ok and flexes no problem except I could not get it to write the downstroke without skipping.

 

When I looked at the iridium tip, I noticed that it was an architect grind that has a flat slant. I was so confused. I should of taken pictures of the nib...

 

In any case, I sent it to MB and they sent it to Germany to get it to write properly. They exchanged the nib. Now my pen writes perfectly without skipping and no more architect grind...

[invisuu]

I got the same, agentdaffy. I just thought it's poor quality I've come to expect from Montblanc and reground the nib myself.  Now it writes perfectly.

[como]

Normally if I decide to buy a modern Montblanc, I know what I would expect from their nibs, more or less. In this case, as the nib is really the highlight of this pen, I would definitely want to try it in person before buying. Unfortunately, this is not possible for a good majority of the people on FPN.

[fpupulin]

11 hours ago, agentdaffy007 said:

Hi, I ordered the MB 149 Calligraphy in the summer of 2020 and received it in September 2020. When I received the pen, it wrote ok and flexes no problem except I could not get it to write the downstroke without skipping.

 

When I looked at the iridium tip, I noticed that it was an architect grind that has a flat slant. I was so confused. I should of taken pictures of the nib...

 

In any case, I sent it to MB and they sent it to Germany to get it to write properly. They exchanged the nib. Now my pen writes perfectly without skipping and no more architect grind...

 

It is also my impression, as como said, that for the particular shape of its tip, the nib of the Calligraphy is perhaps more susceptible than others to some variation right from the factory. I have no other experience but my nib to make any significant comparison, however for what I read on the net it is pretty clear that those who have the chance to visit a brick and mortar store would greatly benefit from a test of the pen they want to buy.

 

A Calligraphy nib in good order and shape is actually a pretty capable nib, and a joy to use.

 

 

[fpupulin]

15 hours ago, agentdaffy007 said:

Hi, I ordered the MB 149 Calligraphy in the summer of 2020 and received it in September 2020. [...]

When I looked at the iridium tip, I noticed that it was an architect grind that has a flat slant. I was so confused. I should of taken pictures of the nib...

[...]

 

Reading again agentdaffy007's post, I had a doubt. Maybe the "architect grind" he refers to is actually the "normal shape" of the Calligraphy nib (it shouldn't skip, anyway...).

 

In the true architect grind, the tip of the nib is laterally flattened, but the lower face presents a somewhat "straight" portion, which is responsible for the horizontal stroke being broader than the vertical one. 

 

In the Calligraphy, the underside of the nib tip is not half-round, but somewhat half-elliptic and, at first sight, similar to the architect grind. It differs from the latter, however, because there is no "straight" portion, but a continuous curve. I guess that this long, elliptic curve, is what helps the Calligraphy nib  writing correctly at a broad array of angles, with an extended sweet spot.

 

I attach a photo of the tip of my 149 Calligraphy nib, which I hope may explain better than my words what I want to say.

 

[agentdaffy007]

My replacement nib looks like yours. But the first nib was a flat slope, so that when you hold your pen at 50* or 60*, the flat slope would make contact with the paper.

 

I know what I saw. I just did not like the fact that it would not write on the down stroke at the beginning of a word. In mid sentence, it would write though.

[ljmudit]

11 hours ago, fpupulin said:

 

Reading again agentdaffy007's post, I had a doubt. Maybe the "architect grind" he refers to is actually the "normal shape" of the Calligraphy nib (it shouldn't skip, anyway...).

 

In the true architect grind, the tip of the nib is laterally flattened, but the lower face presents a somewhat "straight" portion, which is responsible for the horizontal stroke being broader than the vertical one. 

 

In the Calligraphy, the underside of the nib tip is not half-round, but somewhat half-elliptic and, at first sight, similar to the architect grind. It differs from the latter, however, because there is no "straight" portion, but a continuous curve. I guess that this long, elliptic curve, is what helps the Calligraphy nib  writing correctly at a broad array of angles, with an extended sweet spot.

 

I attach a photo of the tip of my 149 Calligraphy nib, which I hope may explain better than my words what I want to say.

 

 

 

Wow what a shot! Btw, are the tines misaligned or is it just the angle of this shot?

[fpupulin]

8 hours ago, agentdaffy007 said:

My replacement nib looks like yours. But the first nib was a flat slope, so that when you hold your pen at 50* or 60*, the flat slope would make contact with the paper.

 

I know what I saw. I just did not like the fact that it would not write on the down stroke at the beginning of a word. In mid sentence, it would write though.

 

Thank you for your reply. 

 

With such a slight curve, and if those nibs are effectively finished by hand, I see that it must be quite easy to over grind a portion of the curve to obtain what you had on your previous nib, a flat slope.

 

I would have ben also bothered to have a calligraphic nib with a broad horizontal stroke... Glad that Montblanc sorted it out for you.

[fpupulin]

3 hours ago, ljmudit said:

 

Wow what a shot! Btw, are the tines misaligned or is it just the angle of this shot?

 

The nib is photographed slightly from the downside, to show the curvature on the the tip of both tines. They are aligned.

 

Nevertheless, I have to say that doing "flex" calligraphy, and pushing the nib at its spread limits (a line ca. 1.7-1.8 mm broad, before the feeder touch the paper) for long strokes and curves, in my experience the tines misalign quite easily when the pressure is done with the nib not perpendicular to the paper. With slightly misaligned tines, the nib still writes consistently, but the narrow strokes increase in their boldness.

 

I periodically check the alignment od the tines, and if necessary I fix them with my nail.

[fpupulin]

418 / 5000

Here are two close-up photographs of the tips of an extra-fine nib (top pic )and the Calligraphy nib (bottom), both in Montblanc's size no. 9.

 

Apart from the different geometry and the smaller thickness in the Calligraphy nib, it is very evident that the edges of the iridium tip are more rounded in the extra-fine nib, and that the slit between the two tines is much thinner and sharper in the Calligraphy nib.

 

 

[Glenn Atkins]

Love this thread.

 

On my original pen, I got a nib just exactly like this one.  It would hard-start and railroad to no end.

 

 

It went straight back to Hamburg, via https://www.iguanasell.com/

 

Both companies made it right.

 

Great pen, but I can't write with in anywhere near like the folks in this thread can.

 

Glenn

[fpupulin]

Still another work done with the 149 Calligraphy:

 

[MoriartyR]

“...to celebrate that I finished to pay (for) her”? Haha. That’s a very nice reason to make another example of your calligraphy, Franco.

 

As always, I enjoy your beautiful writing and photography. I think your calligraphy is becoming even better. This one looks particularly controlled and consistent, to me.

 

By the way, I managed to purchase a 149 Calligraphy Flex last week. Your posts certainly had some influence. I am still getting used to the nib, and it is still breaking-in (as Montblancs sometimes require), but I am enjoying it and using it constantly.

 

[fpupulin]

45 minutes ago, MoriartyR said:

“...to celebrate that I finished to pay (for) her”? Haha. That’s a very nice reason to make another example of your calligraphy, Franco.

 

As always, I enjoy your beautiful writing and photography. I think your calligraphy is becoming even better. This one looks particularly controlled and consistent, to me.

 

By the way, I managed to purchase a 149 Calligraphy Flex last week. Your posts certainly had some influence. I am still getting used to the nib, and it is still breaking-in (as Montblancs sometimes require), but I am enjoying it and using it constantly.

 

 

A wise decision on your purchase! I have read that Montblanc seems willing to continue producing the flexible Calligraphy for some time yet, but in the meantime the pen has become very scarce on the market, and it is good to know that you have definitely secured one! 

 

As insanely expensive as it is, from the point of view of writing the 149 Calligraphy is probably the most exciting novelty that Montblanc produced in many years. I acknowledge that this special nib is fitted to a classic 149, which is a true workhorse and a pen you may use in any environment.

 

Exactly as you, I also use it constantly, as it is a good pen and it is funny to write with.

 

Thank you for your kind words about my work, my pen pal. There is still a long way to go, but the 149 Calligraphy is really helping me walk in the right direction.

[fpupulin]

From what I have read in a discussion opened by MacJ on another post in this forum, "the second version of the calligraphy nib (which was supposed to be similar to an architect grind) that was set for 2020 has been scrapped and they will continue with the flex calligraphy nib on other pens in that series."

 

What these "other pens of that series" are I have not understood and the author of the information did not specify exactly, but the fact that the flexible Calligraphy nib can be kept (and perhaps "developed" on other pens) seems to me an excellent news, given the success that this nib has had and the great difficulty, reported by many aficionados, of finding more available.

 

I have touched on this topic several times, also on this forum, but I return to indicate to those interested that the Calligraphy nib of the 149 is not only a valid nib for pointed and flourished calligraphy, but also an excellent extra fine nib for daily writing, to which it gives a little "brio".

 

Below I am attaching a comparative photograph where I wrote the same text, in normal ordinary calligraphy, with the splendid extra-fine nib of an OMAS Paragon and with the Calligraphy nib of Montblanc 149. You will immediately notice how the Calligraphy releases a very narrow basic line, but how a light pressure on a few strokes here and there is enough to liven up the writing.

 

It is good to know that this special nib can still be acquired by those interested in it. Beyond the large amount of pens with different shapes and materials proposed by Montblanc in the last 30 years, the Calligraphy nib is in my view the most interesting novelty of the Hamburg house for a long, long time.

 

 

[fpupulin]

Again in black, until the barrel is empty...

 

 

[fpupulin]

And, for the first time in my 149 Calligraphy, with a lighter ink! This is Diamine Golden Brown.

 

 

[ljmudit]

14 hours ago, fpupulin said:

Again in black, until the barrel is empty...

 

 

 

14 hours ago, fpupulin said:

And, for the first time in my 149 Calligraphy, with a lighter ink! This is Diamine Golden Brown.

 

 

 

Stunning!

 

[fpupulin]

Thank you.

 

This pen is fabulous.

 

[fpupulin]

Again with the Golden Brown ink, on the cheap paper of a Moleskine cahier. Much more bleed through than with the Permanent inks by Montblanc, but no feathering and a lot of shading.