Chesterfield ink?

[jleeper]

It looks to me like this site has entered into private label agreements with Diamine and one or more of the Chinese manufacturers (those pens look like the Jinhao/Baoer/Bookworm sort). The arrangements seem positive to me. The Chesterfield ink is attractively enough bottled that I might buy one eventually if I can figure out what color corresponds to what Diamine name. The Chinese pens are probably worth those prices as long as the site QCs them, warrants them, or both.

 

I don't think that there is an agreement, just xFountainPens buying Diamine bulk and repackaging it. There is no way that the packaging that xFountainPens does could be sold in a US store, nothing but 'Chesterfield Ink' and the color name on the bottle. At the minimum, to sell it in the US though normal retail, they need a distributor's/manufacturer's name and an address/zip. They did pack it nicely, and wrap it securly in a heavy sealed plastic bag then wrapping it in shipping foam.

Edited September 1, 2009 by jleeper

[Fountain Tim]

It looks to me like this site has entered into private label agreements with Diamine and one or more of the Chinese manufacturers (those pens look like the Jinhao/Baoer/Bookworm sort). The arrangements seem positive to me. The Chesterfield ink is attractively enough bottled that I might buy one eventually if I can figure out what color corresponds to what Diamine name. The Chinese pens are probably worth those prices as long as the site QCs them, warrants them, or both.

I purchased their x530 model pen and I am very pleased with it. Haven't had any problems and they sell replacement parts on their site for any part that would fail or ware down.

[Jimmy James]

It should be noted that it appears the Chesterfield ink has seen a price increase and a change in bottles since it was discovered. I'm not sure it's quite the same value it was.

[jleeper]

It should be noted that it appears the Chesterfield ink has seen a price increase and a change in bottles since it was discovered. I'm not sure it's quite the same value it was.

 

I noticed the price increase and I agree, it's not quite the bargain it was. Probably too many people like me ordering just enough bottles to get the free shipping.

[NihilObstat]

I am about to place an order with xfountainpens and would appreciate some advice about equivalences between Chesterfield ink and Diamine. The old thread to which I am replying seems inconclusive regarding which Chesterfield ink corresponds to Diamine blue-black. Is it Night Sapphire or Sodalite? Also, is there any Chesterfield color that might perhaps be Diamine sepia, which I was about to buy elsewhere? Also (although this is off-topic for an ink thread - sorry), as this will be my first order from xfountainpens, I'd appreciate any advice concerning their various coupon codes and discount deals. I signed up long ago for their newsletter but have only received one mailing from them ever, just before Christmas of 2010, offering some deals that may perhaps still be active, such as a 25% discount on several specially marked pens at their site. I looked in vain for their previous offer of a free bottle of ink with orders over forty dollars, though perhaps that old discount code might still work. Does anyone have any experience regarding whether xfountainpens will honor old discount and promotional codes, and how one can obtain information on the latest active offers, since the "newsletter" apparently appears only once a year, if that. I have written to them and asked straight out for this information but they usually don't reply to these queries. A year ago I did receive a note from a customer service rep in reply to an inquiry, who said that "last week's codes would still work," though the fact "wasn't publicized." I never did get around to ordering back then, so I wonder if it might also be true that "last year's" codes might still work as well! Any guidance would be appreciated, along with advice regarding the Blue-Black and Sepia correspondences between Chesterfield and Diamine. Many thanks.

 

Addendum: in re-reading the thread above, I do now recall that an xfountainpens rep was quoted as saying that Chesterfield Night Sapphire is Diamine Blue-Black, but another poster characterized the Night Sapphire as "teal gray" with a green component, while characterizing the Sodalite as "blue-gray/black," which sounds more appealing. Can anyone amplify these observations?

Edited February 3, 2011 by NihilObstat

[SamCapote]

By telephone, they confirm that all Chesterfield colors are made by Diamine. As to the color match, you would have to compare them to The Writing Desk samples. or Goulet Pen samples.

[NihilObstat]

I recently ordered a dozen samples of Chesterfield ink from xfountainpens.com. The neck of the tiny bottles in which the samples are supplied is so narrow that only an unusually slim pen can be inserted into the bottle. Decanting the ink into some other vessel (like, say, a washed Goulet sample container, whose test-tube shape does permit the insertion of all but the fattest pens) doesn't really help very much, because the small amount of ink in the sample (which is much less generous than Goulet's samples) means that the fluid level will still not be high enough to permit much more than a light dip, because the nib cannot be inserted deeply enough to permit proper suction to be generated. That would be OK when dipping is all that is wanted, but what if one wishes actually to put ink into the pen (in order, say, to see how well the ink feeds, as opposed to merely laying down a test line to assess the color)? In the case of pens that can take cartridges, I have been reduced to the cumbersome detour of drawing the sample ink out of the tiny bottle with a syringe and transferring it to a clean empty cartridge, but in the case of pens that will not accept a cartridge, even a syringe offers no solution. I wonder if anyone else here has purchased ink samples from xfountainpens.com and encountered the same problem. If so, then I'd much appreciate any suggestions for methods I may have overlooked for actually getting the ink into a pen. I am told that xfountainpens has good customer service, and when I call them in a few days about some other aspects of a recent order I intend to mention this problem and suggest that they should consider switching to sample bottles with wider neck openings, but in the meantime I am left with a raft of samples that for some purposes are of very little use to me. Any suggestions?

[Sleepyside]

I recently ordered a dozen samples of Chesterfield ink from xfountainpens.com. The neck of the tiny bottles in which the samples are supplied is so narrow that only an unusually slim pen can be inserted into the bottle. Decanting the ink into some other vessel (like, say, a washed Goulet sample container, whose test-tube shape does permit the insertion of all but the fattest pens) doesn't really help very much, because the small amount of ink in the sample (which is much less generous than Goulet's samples) means that the fluid level will still not be high enough to permit much more than a light dip, because the nib cannot be inserted deeply enough to permit proper suction to be generated. That would be OK when dipping is all that is wanted, but what if one wishes actually to put ink into the pen (in order, say, to see how well the ink feeds, as opposed to merely laying down a test line to assess the color)? In the case of pens that can take cartridges, I have been reduced to the cumbersome detour of drawing the sample ink out of the tiny bottle with a syringe and transferring it to a clean empty cartridge, but in the case of pens that will not accept a cartridge, even a syringe offers no solution. I wonder if anyone else here has purchased ink samples from xfountainpens.com and encountered the same problem. If so, then I'd much appreciate any suggestions for methods I may have overlooked for actually getting the ink into a pen. I am told that xfountainpens has good customer service, and when I call them in a few days about some other aspects of a recent order I intend to mention this problem and suggest that they should consider switching to sample bottles with wider neck openings, but in the meantime I am left with a raft of samples that for some purposes are of very little use to me. Any suggestions?

 

 

Take the nib off and insert the converter directly into the bottle to fill. Then replace the nib/feed onto the converter.

[NihilObstat]

But what about pens that do not employ converters but have permanently installed filling systems? If all I wanted to do was to get some ink into a converter, I could use a syringe to transfer ink into the converter, just as I did for a cartridge, but that will not help with a pen which requires immersion in ink in order to be filled.

[Sleepyside]

Well, yes, if you have a piston filler this won't work. I only have 2 of those and one isn't in use. Find a small glass ontainer to put the ink in. Something like a cleaned out caper jar or pimento jar might work. Or an old ink bottle if you actually have an empty one.

 

ETA - The Goulets sell empty sample vials if those work for you.

Edited May 31, 2011 by Sleepyside

[Aunt Jill]

Glass candle holders can be short and small with a heavy base, easy to use for ink. Shot glasses work well too, and narrow liqueur glasses. They're all inexpensive at secondhand stores.

Edited May 31, 2011 by Aunt Jill

[WanderingAuthor]

But what about pens that do not employ converters but have permanently installed filling systems? If all I wanted to do was to get some ink into a converter, I could use a syringe to transfer ink into the converter, just as I did for a cartridge, but that will not help with a pen which requires immersion in ink in order to be filled.

 

This won't work for all pens, but for Pelikans and a few others - unscrew the nib from the section, then use a syringe to squirt the ink down into the barrel. Then screw the nib back in. I'd imagine any pen in which the nib is designed to be easily switchable might offer a similar option. Sometimes, you've just got to think outside the box.

[bluemagister]

Registrar's ink is a lot cheaper with the Chesterfield name on it, I've found. I picked up 75ml for about $15 with free shipping. I've been very pleased with it, too.

[rockydoggy]

Ditto on the Chesterfield Archival ink (ie, Diamine Registrar's Ink).

It's now displaced Lamy b/b as my 2nd most used iron-gall ink (MB b/b is the first).

[GHigley]

I've the Chesterfield "Antique Copper" (Diamine "Ancient Copper"), "Cobalt" and "Siam". I like all three with Antique Copper the favorite. Not at all surprised as I love Diamine inks.

[New York Scribbler]

I recently purchased Antique Copper, Garnet, Emerald and Turquoise. The Chesterfield inks seem to be focused on the vibrant side of colors from what I can see.

 

Antique Copper: This definitely not Ancient Copper. I compared them side by side and they are noticeably different. Antique Copper is a very nice medium brown with a little orange in it where Ancient Copper is a touch darker with more red and copperyness. Antique is still a great a great ink and shades very well. I'm not sorry that I bought the big bottle, though I do wish it was more like Ancient Copper.

 

Garnet: Again, the swatch is a little misleading. I was expecting a red with a touch of brown, but it is actually a cross between red and fuchsia. Shades fairly well in a wettish medium nib. It runs from light red to dark pink. Not really my thing, but the contrast in shading is interesting.

 

Emerald: A nice medium green. Reminds me of young grass before it fully darkens. I didn't notice as much shading with the pen I was using, but I'm sure it's in there with the right pen.

 

Turquoise: It is on the more blue side of turquoise as apposed to greenish. A little lighter in color than Waterman Inspired blue, but in the same family and shades nicely.

 

I think all of the chesterfield inks are slightly different than their close counterparts in the Diamine line. They seem to be custome, but slightly different. I don't think you can replace your favorite Diamine ink with a Chesterfield counterpart, but they are nice inks that are a little "off" of existing colors in the Diamine line-up. Definitely worth a try.

 

New York Scribbler

[Oldtimer]

They are 50% off in 100ml size I don't know until when

I am buying the Mahogany for my brown/tortoise pens.

[Sasha Royale]

My previous contact, with a former employee of xfountainpens, disclosed that

Diamine ink is purchased in bulk, and repackaged under the Chesterfield label.

The plastic bottles are very durable, and the cap twists off, with about two turns.

The per-ounce price is about half. It is excellent value. I love the Garnet and

the Emerald.

 

The ugly bottle is not convenient to use. Here are my solutions / options from

the perspective of being a CHEAPSKATE .

1. Buy Diamine ink in Diamine bottles, and save money elsewhere.

2. Learn to live with the shortcomings of being a CHEAPSKATE.

[GHigley]

I've had excellent luck with Chesterfield ink. I'm particulary fond of the Cobalt. While it's not exactly Diamine "Ancient Copper", the Antique Copper has it's own merits. Hard to resist good ink at $5.99/100ml and free shipping. Inadequate packaging has been a problem for me with XFP, but the Chesterfield utilitarian plastic bottles and caps are thick and seal very well. I've yet to have one arrive in less than perfect condition. I usually decant the ink into other bottles. Time to stock up.

Edited May 28, 2015 by GHigley

[bardharlock]

Great sale for sure. I wish I knew which Diamine color was equal to which Chesterfield color. There is supposedly a Google doc, but I didn't find the equivalents listed, even did a find for Chesterfield and got nothing.