Mb Midnight Blue Woes

[Chris]

Well, I have just returned from a search of central London for the 'proper' Midnight Blue that says 'permanent' on the box and number 105194. There is none left! Grrr...

 

I have been told (a) that MB reformulated MB a year or so ago (removing IG?) making it no longer permanent that 'there was something wrong with the current MB (quite correct - it is paler, doesn't darken with age on the paper and is no longer permanent but washable!) and has been withdrawn and [c] that there are new permanent inks coming out (which we know - blue and black but not blue-black).

 

So thanks a bundle MB!

 

Your great Midnight Blue ink that wrote well in any of my pens, even on the worst of paper, that was very water-resistant and was indeed permanent, was quietly replaced by an inferior product which was neither waterprood nor permanent but still cost as much.

 

Now, because of some 'problem' (the newer version is not as good as it once was - that's the problem), it is to be replaced by a blue or a black - tough on those of us that want neither colour but like blue-black - oh, and the price rises from £11 to £19 for 60ml.

 

I don't think so.

 

It's time to review other options...

 

At least I have a few shoe bottles I can use to decant inks that come in impracticable containers.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Chris

[The Good Captain]

Pelikan 4001 Blue-Black: always an option!

[Chris]

Coo, that was quick!

I like Pelikan inks but the blue-black I tried was washed-out grey to my mind.

Not tried it since.

[picautomaton]

Get the new permanent blue and black and mix up your own blue-black.

[Korybas]

From personal experience, for a blue-black IG ink that's bulletproof, I would go to ESSRI, hands down. Very well behaved ink.

Very cheap, also... 9,20 BPS per 110 ml bottle...

Edited October 18, 2013 by Korybas

[The Good Captain]

I'm thinking of trying out various mixes of Pilot-Namiki Blue & Black at some stage. Their 'Blue-Black' as such, is really just a nice dark blue. Good properties and the wonderful phenol smell of old ink. Takes me back to school!

[MarkTrain]

I have given up on Mont Blanc. I have left a nearly full bottle of MBMB, but am no near any place I can run to and pick up any MBMB old stock.

I have been using R&K Salix as my everyday IG blue-black ink (actually I like it a little better than MBMB). Last year I picked up two bottles of the old IG Lamy blue-black, but find I like the Salix a lot better. I also have a large stock of Pelikan Blue-Black which I brought back from Europe. I like Pelikan BB, but it is nowhere near as permanent as Salix.

 

Mark

[carlos.q]

I'm thinking of trying out various mixes of Pilot-Namiki Blue & Black at some stage. Their 'Blue-Black' as such, is really just a nice dark blue. Good properties and the wonderful phenol smell of old ink. Takes me back to school!

Please keep us informed on the results of your mixes!

[cellmatrix]

It's too bad, this stuff is (was) one of my favorite inks. I was lucky enough to find a few bottles at local stores, I guess the zombie non permanent montblanc midnight blue apocalypse has not yet made it to California. But it's only a matter of time now. There was a guy around here Pharmacist was his name, who made some damn good ink very similar to MBMB called urkundeninte, but he's not made any ink for quite some time. One of the things I like (d) about MBMB was that it was not as dry as many other iron gall inks like Salix for example. I suppose, when my supply of MBMB finally runs out I will turn to ESSRI unless Pharmacist starts up his operation again. I just wish montblanc would stop trying to fix things that don't need fixing..

[mallymal1]

 

...oh, and the price rises from £11 to £19 for 60ml.

:yikes:

[Bo Bo Olson]

Pelikan 4001 Blue black seems to have a problem with thin nibs and poor paper.

[DanF]

Pilot/Namiki Blue Black is for all practical purposes waterproof. It is on the blue side of blue black, does have a tendency to bleed through cheap paper, but otherwise is a very pleasant ink to use.

 

Dan

[Felix1]

Yep, as already mentioned, ESSRI is the preferred substitute. A nice flowing ink, good color, good properties and way cheaper than Montblanc Midnight Blue.

 

Disclaimer...I will admit to hoarding several bottles of the old Montblanc IG ink. It's still a favorite of mine and will continue to be used for years.

 

http://www.registrarsink.co.uk/registrars_ink.html

[The Good Captain]

Please keep us informed on the results of your mixes!

I haven't got the Black yet, as I've enough of the BB to go at for the time being. When I do though; it will be on here soon enough!

[mikeg]

Have you tried Websters pens, I purchased a bottle of 105194 from there Bluewater branch about 4 weeks ago.

[nomadhacker]

It's too bad, this stuff is (was) one of my favorite inks. I was lucky enough to find a few bottles at local stores, I guess the zombie non permanent montblanc midnight blue apocalypse has not yet made it to California. But it's only a matter of time now. There was a guy around here Pharmacist was his name, who made some damn good ink very similar to MBMB called urkundeninte, but he's not made any ink for quite some time. One of the things I like (d) about MBMB was that it was not as dry as many other iron gall inks like Salix for example. I suppose, when my supply of MBMB finally runs out I will turn to ESSRI unless Pharmacist starts up his operation again. I just wish montblanc would stop trying to fix things that don't need fixing..

I popped onto FPN too late and missed Pharmacist's inks. Anyone have any updates or know if he's planning on coming back any time soon?

[Sinistral1]

Pharmacist, we need your inky talents!

[The Good Captain]

Pelikan 4001 Blue black seems to have a problem with thin nibs and poor paper.

I find that with Fine or Extra Fine nibs, 4001 is the best there is for Moleskine paper and as some might say, how much 'poorer' can one get?

[Runnin_Ute]

I find that with Fine or Extra Fine nibs, 4001 is the best there is for Moleskine paper and as some might say, how much 'poorer' can one get?

I have never had issues either - even with crappy copy/multiuse paper.

[bluestocking]

I just wanted to pipe up and say that I procured (the last) three bottles of 105194 Midnight Blue today from Webster's in Bromley. Their website also claims to stock this ink with that product code, so perhaps try there. I ordered a bottle (or few) just to see what actually arrives. I opened one of the bottles I bought today to smell it and see if it smells like my old favourite MBMB. It does, so I'm feeling rather relieved now to have stocked up.

 

Otherwise, Diamine Registrar's Ink (once it oxidises) is the only thing that I've come across that is even close to MBMB. I tested them head to head today, along with Platinum BB (also iron gall) but the Platinum is far too bright a blue and doesn't seem to darken down with oxidation the same way the Diamine does. Either way, after my tests, I just decided it was time to stockpile and be done with it.