Noodlers ink labels

[Mille]

I thought that it should be possible to have a thread discussing the labels of Noodlers ink. I do respect that political discussions are not allowed in this forum, but I also do find the labels too interesting to be neglected here. If the moderators think differently I naturally accept their decision.

 

The new ink Brown 41 was made in honour of, or to mock (I never really figured it out), some new member of the Massachusetts parliament(?). Another ink was marketed to celebrate the "first free election in Iraq". I find this mix of business and politics interesting and very unusual. Does anyone know more about this (without stating their own opinion)?

[mikej165]

I thought that it should be possible to have a thread discussing the labels of Noodlers ink. I do respect that political discussions are not allowed in this forum, but I also do find the labels too interesting to be neglected here. If the moderators think differently I naturally accept their decision.

 

The new ink Brown 41 was made in honour of, or to mock (I never really figured it out), some new member of the Massachusetts parliament(?). Another ink was marketed to celebrate the "first free election in Iraq". I find this mix of business and politics interesting and very unusual. Does anyone know more about this (without stating their own opinion)?

I don't know any more about this particular instance of mixing business and politics, but I will say that it isn't unheard of. Ben & Jerry's ice cream is known for taking a stand via some of their product names and corporate policies, and there are many other companies that I'm sure fit the mold. Whether you like or dislike it, I suppose, depends on which side of the fence you prefer to reside. From a businessman's perspective, I don't think it makes sense; it is simply too easy to offend a part of your customer base that might otherwise happily do business with you.

[blackangus]

With the exception of #41 Brown, most of them ones I have seen have, at least to me, appeared to be historical rather than outright political in nature.

[tfwall]

I thought that it should be possible to have a thread discussing the labels of Noodlers ink. I do respect that political discussions are not allowed in this forum, but I also do find the labels too interesting to be neglected here. If the moderators think differently I naturally accept their decision.

 

The new ink Brown 41 was made in honour of, or to mock (I never really figured it out), some new member of the Massachusetts parliament(?). Another ink was marketed to celebrate the "first free election in Iraq". I find this mix of business and politics interesting and very unusual. Does anyone know more about this (without stating their own opinion)?

I don't know any more about this particular instance of mixing business and politics, but I will say that it isn't unheard of. Ben & Jerry's ice cream is known for taking a stand via some of their product names and corporate policies, and there are many other companies that I'm sure fit the mold. Whether you like or dislike it, I suppose, depends on which side of the fence you prefer to reside. From a businessman's perspective, I don't think it makes sense; it is simply too easy to offend a part of your customer base that might otherwise happily do business with you.

 

I've always thought the same way and found the frequent jabs and soap boxing (mostly at the Massachusetts legislature and China) to be in poor taste. It is Nathan's product though and if he wants to use his ink brand as a political advocacy tool, that is certainly his decision. Personally I find it crass and think it puts off some customers, but I'm not marketing the product.

[tfwall]

With the exception of #41 Brown, most of them ones I have seen have, at least to me, appeared to be historical rather than outright political in nature.

 

Baystate Blue has the catfish spitting on the statehouse. Nathan feels that the tax and employment structure in MA prevents him from hiring workers or expanding his enterprises as much as he would like.

 

The first invisible ink was developed to be used to deface Chinese library books with anti-Communist messages. When importation of this ink was restricted, the Year of the Golden Pig was designed and the label chosen to infuriate the Chinese.

 

Now we have the most recent case, cited by the OP.

[Johnny Appleseed]

Without imputing my own opinions on the subject

 

Noodlers Violet Vote was originally called Iraqi Indigo and was intended to mark, as mentioned, the 2005 Iraqi Parlementary elections as "first free election in Iraq." It was allegedly designed to match the color of ink that was used to mark the ballots (from what I understand, the you inked your finger on a stamp-pad and used that to mark the ballot). There used to be a long post on Nathan's website about it, but I can't seem to find that now.

 

This is Nathans post on the Brown 41, which is in honour of Senator Brown, who recently won a special election in the State of Massachusetts (Nathan's home state) that made him the 41st Republican in the US Senate, taking away the 60% majority that the Democracts had after the 2010 election (with a 60% majority, one party can override a procedural move that blocks a bill from moving forward to a vote. Being the 41st Senator allows the Republicans to block passage of bills they disapprove of, assuming all members vote on party lines).

 

Some other inks on the same front that might be of interest are his line to celebrate the autonomy/independance of Taiwan, his "Year of the Golden Pig" (bulletproof yellow that was allegedly distributed to underground librarians in the PRC to write indellible anti-communist messages in copies of Maoist literature), and some of his anti-Soviet Russian series. He is an opinionated guy, to be sure.

 

John

[blackangus]

With the exception of #41 Brown, most of them ones I have seen have, at least to me, appeared to be historical rather than outright political in nature.

 

Baystate Blue has the catfish spitting on the statehouse. Nathan feels that the tax and employment structure in MA prevents him from hiring workers or expanding his enterprises as much as he would like.

 

The first invisible ink was developed to be used to deface Chinese library books with anti-Communist messages. When importation of this ink was restricted, the Year of the Golden Pig was designed and the label chosen to infuriate the Chinese.

 

Now we have the most recent case, cited by the OP.

 

Ah...those are outside of my experience. I was thinking of the more military-themed ones...the GI Green, Old Manhattan, etc.

[jleeper]

The new ink Brown 41 was made in honour of, or to mock (I never really figured it out), some new member of the Massachusetts parliament(?). Another ink was marketed to celebrate the "first free election in Iraq". I find this mix of business and politics interesting and very unusual. Does anyone know more about this (without stating their own opinion)?

 

 

In honor of, definitely not mocking, the winner of the US Senate seat representing Massachusetts that was vacated by the death of Edward Kennedy. Not mentioned in the piece on the web is that '#41' (which Senator Brown is) represents the number of Republican Senators that can effectively uphold a Filibuster in the US Senate.

 

Like I said in the original thread, you CAN bring politics into commerce, but the question is; should you? I would agree with mikej165 that it can (and has) offended some of Noodler's customer base.

Edited February 8, 2010 by jleeper

[Johnny Appleseed]

The first invisible ink was developed to be used to deface Chinese library books with anti-Communist messages. When importation of this ink was restricted, the Year of the Golden Pig was designed and the label chosen to infuriate the Chinese.

 

We cross-posted, but this jogs my memory - wasn't there an issue with imports to France that also prompted some sort of commentary on Nathan's part? Maybe it didn't actually make it to an ink.

 

 

John

[jleeper]

Ah...those are outside of my experience. I was thinking of the more military-themed ones...the GI Green, Old Manhattan, etc.

 

I would say Iraqi Indigo/Violet Vote, Tiananmen, maybe some others are named as political statements. The V-Mail series IMHO would be more of US patriotic statements. (Might not be names that those in countries that lost WWII would like though.)

[psfred]

Nathan seems to be quite a character, so I just take it in stride and enjoy the ink. One does not have to agree with his politics to buy his ink, so far as I know, and he's entitled to his opinion -- he's just a bit more obvious about it than most of us. Must be a New Englander, eh?

 

Peter

[jleeper]

...he's just a bit more obvious about it than most of us. Must be a New Englander, eh?

 

I don't think New Englander normally, "fly it like a flag." More of an east coast urban thing; think New Jersey.

[dizzypen]

Of the potentially inflammatory Noodler's ink, I think the #41 Brown is one of the more in your face ones (at least in the US).

 

He certainly does run the risk of alienating some of his customer base as I'm sure many of his customers are not please with #41, but this is a decision he's made. It's his company, it's his choice.

 

For myself, I'd stick to more benign subjects since I'd want my product to appeal to the widest customer base possible. Maybe that's just me.

[Mille]

I think that the issue rather could be with the eployees who necesserarily do not share his political opinions. On the other hand it seems as they very much are his opinions and not the company's.

 

I belive, besides his political agenda, it is not a bad marketing ploy. It gives him the possibility to sell more or less the same ink in a new bottle, and people like to buy them as collectibles. And of course it gives people something to talk about in internet forums.

 

I like the difference from other companies. Waterman did not introduce Revolutionary Red in 2009 to celebrate the Cuban revolution, and I do not think Parker will introduce Pinochet Black in 2003.

[tnmike1]

Pesonally, I find the bottles quite fascinating. I mean we've got herons, we've got military airplanes, we've got pictures of great Russian figures, grapes, cactii--the list goes on. I find they're quite attractive sitting on a shelf, politics notwithstanding

[eilu]

Most of the political/historical references are lost to me, being from a totally different place/culture. The ink's great and the labels look nice, so that's that. No objections until someone starts making ink out of the blood of the heathen or some similar act.

[Possum Hill]

Most of the political/historical references are lost to me, being from a totally different place/culture. The ink's great and the labels look nice, so that's that. No objections until someone starts making ink out of the blood of the heathen or some similar act.

Oh! Can you imagine it? An ink named "Blood of the Heathen"?

 

Actually, I'd probably give that one a miss; while several posters have requested inks that look like blood, I'm not fond of those colors.

[Leibniz]

 

I've always thought the same way and found the frequent jabs and soap boxing (mostly at the Massachusetts legislature and China) to be in poor taste. It is Nathan's product though and if he wants to use his ink brand as a political advocacy tool, that is certainly his decision. Personally I find it crass and think it puts off some customers, but I'm not marketing the product.

 

I would think the same way.

[Johnny Appleseed]

I think that the issue rather could be with the eployees who necesserarily do not share his political opinions. On the other hand it seems as they very much are his opinions and not the company's.

 

No worries about employees - Nathan is a one-man shop. As Chemyst pointed out he has some objection to the tax system in Massachussets and refuses to hire anyone as a result (or claims that the tax system makes it impossible for him to hire anyone). As a sole proprieter he is pretty much free to make any political statement he wants (and with the recent decision of the US Supreme Court, nearly without limit).

 

Nathan has issues with taxes. I am not sure exactly what his issues are, but in his statement on the Brown 41 ink he makes some reference to the fact that only profits are taxed, and they can't force him make a profit. As with several of Nathan's explenations of things, it is hard to make out exactly what he means. It implies though that he may choose to keep his proceeds and income at a low enough level to keep below income tax limits. I know some war-tax protestors go that route - deliberately accepting a very low standard of living in order to make sure their income is below the level that will require payment of Federal income tax.

 

Nathan is a character to be sure. I doubt that he cares that much about how the market feels about his political views, and probably would keep at it even if the market rejected his politics to a great degree. Fortunately for him, there is a substantial portion of the market that agrees with him, and a larger portion of the market that will overlook his politics for the other qualities of the inks.

 

John

[Lloyd]

If Nathan has such issues with Massachusetts, I wonder why he does't take his one man operation up to the neighboring "Tax Free" New Hampshire.