The New Waterman Vs The Original Parker Quink Blue Black

[Nicholas Lindan]

Like many others I have been very disappointed with the new Quink Blue-Black ink: it isn’t blue-black to begin with and soon turns to a nasty green color when it is used on some papers. I have used Parker Super Quink blue black since university some 40-plus years ago. I last bought a case of the ink in the mid-80’s and I am now down to the last bottle.

 

I have been on a fruitless search for a replacement. The New Quink isn’t it.

 

The first test was to confirm the color change to green. I diluted some ink in distilled water and added a bit of Sodium Sulfite (a mild base though a bit stronger than Sodium Bicarbonate) and the liquid promptly turned green. It seems only a few tiny grains of dust are needed - less than a single grain of salt - to turn a few drops of New Quink green.

 

I then added a few drops of Sulfuric Acid (battery strength) and the blue returned, a bit darker than it started out. Adding more acid didn’t darken the ink any further.

 

The same color change can be affected with S. Bicarb or S. Hydroxide (lye) for the base and Acetic Acid (vinegar) for the acid.

 

It seems, as other have surmised, that alkali buffered papers are the ones to turn Quink to green.

 

The image below shows the color change of some diluted ink samples in Petri dishes.

 

http://www.nolindan.com/UsenetStuff/wmanbbk002.jpg

 

I also did some paper chromatography of Waterman’s New Quink (er, Wink?). To see the effects of the Sulfite (base/alkali) I added a few grains to the water and re-ran the chromatography test. I pulled this second test strip early as what color was left was getting dim.

 

It seems Wink is made from three components: turquoise, yellow and dark blue. Alkaline pH turns the dark blue component clear - disappearing ink, as it were - leaving the yellow and turquoise behind.

 

The bottom strip shows the original Super Quink Blue Black. This ink seems to be made from three shades of blue, one of them quite intense, and a little bit of black. There is a bit of a fast rising orange that has left a high-water mark on the paper, but this may be a side product from one of the other components of the ink.

 

http://www.nolindan.com/UsenetStuff/wmanbbk001.jpg

 

A further post will compare some of the other blue-black contenders from Diamine, Sailor, Private Reserve, Skrip and Noodlers. It seems the two components most likely to missing from blue-black ink are the color blue and the color black ...

Edited September 19, 2012 by Nicholas Lindan

[mhosea]

I'm confused. What is Parker Quink and what is Waterman's here?

[Nicholas Lindan]

"Parker Super Quink Ink with Solv-X" was made by the Parker Pen Company in Janesville Wisconsin. The ink was also made in Ontario, Canada, England and France.

 

The current "Parker Quink" is identical to Waterman ink.

 

Parker and Waterman are the same company now, and the whole is owned by Rubbermaid.

[mhosea]

"Parker Super Quink Ink with Solv-X" was made by the Parker Pen Company in Janesville Wisconsin. The ink was also made in Ontario, Canada, England and France.

 

The current "Parker Quink" is identical to Waterman ink.

 

Parker and Waterman are the same company now, and the whole is owned by Rubbermaid.

 

Yes, I did a search and came up with this, that black and blue-black are thought to be identical based on direct examination. Curious, though, that the incredible fading Quink washable blue is not like Waterman's, or wasn't as of the manufacture of the new bottle of Quink I bought about 9 months ago.

[Nicholas Lindan]

I can see them consolidating inks where there are very few sales, but wouldn't have thought that BBK and BK were orphan colors.

Edited September 19, 2012 by Nicholas Lindan

[The Good Captain]

If you want a good British blue-black, get the new Diamine R2 version. No green shading; no problems; a great price and it does exactly what it says on the bottle.

[kittenjess]

This confirms what I have suspected for quite a while, that Waterman and Parker inks are exactly the same, it wouldn't surprise me if the useless cost cutters at Rubbermaid decide that they can make it even cheaper to make if they make one bottle design too, hell why not make it a plastic one too.

 

It's a shame that Rubbermaid decide to do this to Parker owners (and Quink users) and I would love to say it surprises me but, well, I'd be lying if I did. I personally fear that that Parker are desperate to condemn Parker to one of them Brute band bins that they conveniently make. It brings a tear to the eye to think that have shown a willingness to ruin the brand for a buck, I mean, lets look at the last boneheaded move, the closure of the UK factory and moving the production of introductory level products to China.

 

Thankfully I managed get some NOS bottles from a local newsagents. Had a hell of a time trying to find a replacement for Parker Red or for that matter Parker Red.

Edited September 19, 2012 by kittenjess