Thoughts about Noodler's Boston Brahmin Black

[Rafael Macia]

As one of the first arrivals to the Boston Show, I received a bottle of Noodler's Boston Brahmin Black ink.

 

I filled a 40's Pelikan with it, and must say, it seems not to be black at all, rather a mid to dark grey in color, with nice shading, and quick drying.

 

Wanting to get some "ink information" from the horse's mouth, I stopped by the Noodler's table.

 

I told Mr Tardiff about concerns I had with using a bulletproof/permanent ink in a vintage pen. He told me the ink I had been given at the door was one of his new "V-inks", and that it would be a perfect match for a vintage pen. That it was not permanent.

 

He told me the ink color had just been created for the show. That it had all the properties of his V inks. Which from my conversation with him, I guess to mean "vintage inks". (He explained the reverse engineering of the 40's ink formula and that the inks had a "vintage look").

 

He was not selling any at his table, and he told me if the Boston Brahmin Black ink is received well, he would begin to offer it.

Until then, he said Borealis Black had the same properties as Boston Brahmin Black, ....... that ...... I could buy from his table.

 

I told him I really wanted more of the limited edition ink.

 

The ink bottle I love to use holds three ounces. I would need three 1 oz bottles of ink to fill my bottle.

I had only the give away bottle.

 

Mr Tardiff then pointed me in the direction of Rob Morrison, the show's promoter, who he said, had a "stash" of the "only for this show" ink.

 

I picked up three more bottles, from Mr. Morrison. Reasonably priced, I might add.

 

(I wish it were more of a black ... rather than this dark grey) ....but hey ....? .... who knows ? I may grow to love it?

 

I have 6 Pelikans, all vintage, except one 800. I plan to try the Boston Brahmin Black in all of them.

Will let you know

 

Rafael

Edited June 3, 2009 by Rafael Macia

[Ink Stained Wretch]

As one of the first arrivals to the Boston Show, I received a bottle of Noodler's Boston Brahmin Black ink.

 

I filled a 40's Pelikan with it, and must say, it seems not to be black at all, rather a mid to dark grey in color, with nice shading, and quick drying.

Did you try shaking the bottle? Maybe the ink needs a little encouragement.

 

Of course it may just be the ink's usual color. I didn't get to go to the Boston show and so I have not had any experience with this particular Noodler's ink. But I'm pretty familiar with a lot of the other Noodler's inks, and shaking can sometimes help.

[AndyH]

I've been using mine all week, and while it's a bit lighter than some others, I wouldn't describe it as "grey" in any way. I've not bought Noodler's Inks before but if this is typical they're very nice and fast drying too. As primarily a vintage pen user, I like the idea of the V series inks very much.

[Eternally Noodling]

Boston Brahmin Black is NOT a durable ink and was never meant to be one…it is also not as dark as Borealis Black (which is also a conventional ink, and nowhere near as durable as our standard black). It is an ink that many vintage ink dealers would be familiar with and that many people can recognize at a glance as being a certain type of 1940s era ink by its behavior upon the page and its shading characteristics.

 

It is not strong, but the ink it replicates was never strong either (though it was popular for many years after the 1940s!)…it is just a vintage replica ink. Not a new technology...

 

The other V-mail inks are as durable as the permanent v-mail inks of that day and are in that regard a little different (and far more colorful). Boston Brahmin Black is in its own category and was for the show. It may be at the show again next year.

 

 

Here is a decent image of the BBB.

 

 

More later….

 

[GreenVelvet]

Oh wow, how cool to see the label laid out flat like that, instead of on the bottle.

[Goodwhiskers]

Ooh, a purplish black. How mix-friendly are this ink and Borealis Black?

[ZeissIkon]

Ooh, a purplish black. How mix-friendly are this ink and Borealis Black?

 

Purplish? Not on my monitor; it look pretty neutral to me.

[wildblueroan]

This is a WONDERFUL ink! Frankly, some of my pens-both modern and vintage-have had problems with some of the Noodler's inks, and I had decided never to use them again in my vintage pens. However, I was fortunate enough to receive a free bottle of the V-series black at the Boston show, and love it. I'm using it in a vintage Pilot EF with Flexible nib, and enjoying every word. The color is a true black, but soft enough to permit some shading and variation. It is light in density, with great fluidity and flow-I would compare it to Aurora in that regard. I'm really excited about the potential for more colors in the Vintage series. Thumbs up!