Grappling With a Montegrappa

[playpen]

Yesterday I visited Holt's Cigar Store in Philadelphia with the express purpose of buying every last one of the fountain pens they have on closeout.

 

I managed to come away with four pens: Montblanc Boheme ruby, Montblanc Mozart with sterling silver cap (made in France), Dupont Orpheo palladium with "hand placed" lacquer in a purple that is identical to the new VP LE purple. I can't seem to find any mention of a purple Orpheo, only black but this one is PURPLE! and a Montegrappa Micra in (what else?) purple. I also snagged a Montblanc double pen case that is just perfect for the two small Montblanc pens. I chose the case with the red interior.

 

Three of the pens write beautifully while the fourth, the Micra is as dry as can be. I read the instructions that say to fill and empty the pen twice BUT this is a cartridge filler so what could they possibly mean? I installed a cartridge and squeezed it so that a drop came out of the nib but then the pen totally refused to write. I tried dipping the nib in a bottle of ink and then writing but that worked as long as the ink was in the feed. When I had to rely on the ink in the cartridge, the pen would only write if I applied a little bit heavier pressure than I normally use with fountain pens.

 

I also attempted to use one of those squeezy bulb ear cleaner gizmos

to rinse cold minutely soapy water through the nib but obviously that had little optimal effect.

 

Is there anything I can do to alleviate this problem? The thought of sending the pen to the repair center makes me sad and quite frankly makes me angry too! I won't return it because I love the pen. I just want it to write.

[mtarrani]

Is the nib lined up with the feed? That is a fairly common problem I have had with Montegrappa pens. Sometimes just a slight tweak does it (and slight is the key word). Look through the breather hole on the nib and see if you can detect the channel on the feed. If not, that may be your problem. Disclaimer: I am not an expert!

[playpen]

Thank you for that very excellent question. I just looked and notice that the feeder channel is NOT lined up exactly in the center. How can I change this? I have never attempted to do this before.

[mtarrani]

Thank you for that very excellent question. I just looked and notice that the feeder channel is NOT lined up exactly in the center. How can I change this? I have never attempted to do this before.

 

Carefully hold the nib between your thumb and forefinger and twist it in the direction that will line it up with the feed channel. Don't force it. If it does not align without force, have someone who repairs pens for a living do it. 99% of the time it is an easy procedure.

[playpen]

Oh well, it appears as though this one is going to have to be examined by an expert since I am afraid to force it. Since I don't know exactly where to hold the nib or how heavily I should apply pressure, I am going to just put it back into the case and wait for the New Jersey show.

[omasfan]

This is a pull nib. Nib and feed come out when you firmly squeeze down on them with thumb and index finger as to compress them slightly and then subsequently pull them out. Then you can align them and push 'em back into place. It was scary for me at first too, but it is really easy and will save you a long wait.

[playpen]

I am glad I did not see your post before I drove down to Bethlehem, Pa. to the MB repair service. They sent the pen back to Italy for repair. The technician at the Bethlehem site could not get the pen to stop skipping and she even changed the nib while she was trying.

 

Thank you though. Perhaps I will try this at a future time. It would really be a good idea to have a pinned thread in the repair forum describing all the nib removal procedures for the different brands of pens.

Edited August 29, 2008 by playpen

[orangesam]

I have heard a few comments with this sort of problem in relation the Montegrappa pens. I didnt realise it was such a wide-spread issue

 

Thanks for the info

[MidnightBlue]

I have heard a few comments with this sort of problem in relation the Montegrappa pens. I didnt realise it was such a wide-spread issue

 

I've wrestled with my Miya for months now ('cause it's out of warranty). She working a lot better but not perfect.

LET MONTEGRAPPA WEAR THE PROBLEM.

 

Don't do what I've done.

It hard started and soaking the section (only) in detergent and water overnight really helped.

Then I slipped a thin razor blade between the tines and then she ran beautifully rich.

 

BUT THAT'S NOT OUR JOB.

Let them wear the problem.

 

 

[Ed Palumbo]

mtarrani,

Thank you for your suggestion on moving or rotating the nib. The flow of my Montegrappa has improved, but still falls short of what I'd expect from a pen in this price range. The materials with which it's made (the resin, sterling silver hardware) speak of excellent quality, but it's inability to provide good flow and a consistent line is a...disappointment. I think most people don't support disappointment with repeat purchases. Despite producing among the most beautiful instruments on the market, I'll not purchase another Montgrappa. There are too many other fine writing instruments on the market.

[Ghost Plane]

That's been my experience with my one and only. Too dry and too stingy for the beautiful materials, even after a service run.

[ohtoulouz]

mtarrani,

Thank you for your suggestion on moving or rotating the nib. The flow of my Montegrappa has improved, but still falls short of what I'd expect from a pen in this price range. The materials with which it's made (the resin, sterling silver hardware) speak of excellent quality, but it's inability to provide good flow and a consistent line is a...disappointment. I think most people don't support disappointment with repeat purchases. Despite producing among the most beautiful instruments on the market, I'll not purchase another Montgrappa. There are too many other fine writing instruments on the market.

Hello,

 

Is the ink flow much better if you write with a significant pressure on the paper? If so, it could come from the nib being too firmly pressed on the feed and/or the slit between the tines being too narrow. Then, the flow can be improved by slightly bending the nib up (exactly as it bends under pressure): it slightly increases the slit between the tines and creates a little space between nib and feed for the ink to flow freely. The problem on a friend's Montegrappa was such that there was no flow (yes, no flow!) unless the pen was firmly pressed on the paper. I successfully tuned it this way, but it was very tricky: I had to force the nib up a little too much by hand, one tine after the other, to change the nib shape ! So, clearly, it is rather tricky and the nib can be damaged if it is bent up too much: for my friend, the pen was clealry not usable and it was a last chance tuning before going back to factory...with or without a strange nib shape ;-). To be clear, I am not a pen specialist or professional. The solution I found seemed reasonable according to what I noticed on this particular pen: It worked once, I am not sure it is a generic solution... but I am sure it is a very easy way to damage a nib if you are not able to control the force applied by your hands.

Don't give up ! Montegrappa are great pens: I have a Montegrappa Extra and the ink flow was perfect right out of the box.