Montblanc Midnight Blue

[Sandy1]

really nice review.

This is one of my faverate one. stocked in my pen. The blue black is the best color for me.

In the first 30 second you can see the color changing, It looks cool.

Only on one thing, the Fe Ga ink is too acid. I don't know if it is good for the pen.

Hi,

 

I'm glad you liked the Review.

 

I too use this ink on a regular basis - it does indeed look cool!

 

I don't know the acidity (pH number) of the Midnight Blue. I used the Blue-Black for years in several pens, and found no problem. My first bottle of BlBk was included with an MB149 pen, so I don't think that MB, a pen maker, would purposely market an ink that is not OK for pens. (?)

 

Bye,

S1

[daniel447]

really nice review.

This is one of my faverate one. stocked in my pen. The blue black is the best color for me.

In the first 30 second you can see the color changing, It looks cool.

Only on one thing, the Fe Ga ink is too acid. I don't know if it is good for the pen.

Hi,

 

I'm glad you liked the Review.

 

I too use this ink on a regular basis - it does indeed look cool!

 

I don't know the acidity (pH number) of the Midnight Blue. I used the Blue-Black for years in several pens, and found no problem. My first bottle of BlBk was included with an MB149 pen, so I don't think that MB, a pen maker, would purposely market an ink that is not OK for pens. (?)

 

Bye,

S1

 

According to this website, Midnight Blue has a pH 2.2. I have a slight trust of the website. (Check it out for yourself.) Not surprisingly, Midnight Blue is iron-gall ink.

 

 

Dan

Edited September 27, 2011 by daniel447

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

To support ad hoc comparison to Blue-Black inks for which I posted Ink Reviews since March 16 2011, the samples below share the same Written Sample layout, atrocious handwriting, and some papers & pens. That said, if you feel a specific aspect or comparison deserves to be depicted in a separate Topic or Post, your PM will be welcomed.

 

Note: One month elapsed between writing and scanning.

 

Figure A.

Swabs.

These are more flakey than usual for an i-g ink.

Paper: HPJ1124.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN Stuff - 2011/Ink Review - Montblanc Midnight Blue Plus/79ffbae3.jpg

 

 

Figure B.

NIB-ism ✑

Paper: HPJ1124.

Depicts nibs' line-width and pens' relative wetness.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN Stuff - 2011/Ink Review - Montblanc Midnight Blue Plus/f4bcac90.jpg

Pens: L → R: 440+XF, 440+F, PPP & Carene.

WRITTEN SAMPLES - Moby Dick

Ruling: 8mm.

 

 

Figure C.

Paper: HPJ1124.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN Stuff - 2011/Ink Review - Montblanc Midnight Blue Plus/e3820b6e.jpg

 

Figure D.

Paper: Rhodia.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN Stuff - 2011/Ink Review - Montblanc Midnight Blue Plus/32de3795.jpg

 

Figure E.

Paper: G Lalo. Verge de France, white.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN Stuff - 2011/Ink Review - Montblanc Midnight Blue Plus/79a29bc2.jpg

 

Figure F.

Paper: Royal - 25% rag.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN Stuff - 2011/Ink Review - Montblanc Midnight Blue Plus/5e0f9d97.jpg

 

Other Stuff:

• Smear/Dry Times.
• Wet Tests. ☂

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN Stuff - 2011/Ink Review - Montblanc Midnight Blue Plus/e8f0ecda.jpg

 

 

HiRes Scans:

 

440+XF on HPJ1124

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN Stuff - 2011/Ink Review - Montblanc Midnight Blue Plus/9908bf4a.jpg

 

 

440+F on Rhodia

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN Stuff - 2011/Ink Review - Montblanc Midnight Blue Plus/8aa54fb0.jpg

 

 

Carene on Royal

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN Stuff - 2011/Ink Review - Montblanc Midnight Blue Plus/d8ae1b2e.jpg

 

 

======

 

NUTS & BOLTS

 

Pens:

• Sheaffer 444 + steel XF nib.
• Sheaffer 440 + steel F nib.
• Platinum President Purist + 22K B nib.
• Waterman Carene + 18K factory stub nib.

Papers:

• HPJ1124 24 lb. Laser Copy.
• Rhodia.
• G Lalo, Verge de France, white.
• Royal, 25% cotton rag.

______

 

Images:

• Scans were made on an Epson V600 scanner; factory defaults were accepted.
• Figures shown were scanned at 200 dpi & 24 bit colour.
• HiRes Images linked were scanned at 300 dpi & 24 bit colour.
• Scans were not adjusted post-capture, so went straight to Photobouquet.

______

 

Densitometry

(HPJ1124)

• Red 119
• Grn 132
• Blu 158
• Lum 134

== | ==

 

Tags: fountain pen ink review Montblanc Midnight Blue Sandy1

[a m a r g o]

What an awesome review... just love deep blue inks!

[meiers]

This happens to be my favorite ink! Thanks for doing it justice in your review.

[floydee1]

I love the ink shading of this in my MB149 with a stub nib - it give such great shading.

 

I'm tempted to use it in my vintage Prasad Indian eyedropper with springy nib but would hate the prospect and bother to flush the feed in EDs of iron gall inks.

 

Whats people's opinion on using this in eyedropper pens?

[fenriz]

Sandy 1, wow. You've answered my question, too. I didn't know Midnight Blue was an iron gall ink, and I'm so glad to hear it. I actually think I like the color better than the good old Blue Black! It's got a little more of a purple hue, where the BB can go a bit grey. I don't reckon there will be any surprises when I get this ink because you've covered all of the bases- each and every one of them. Except ale spillage... which happens.

 

Thank you for your uber thorough review!

[Sandy1]

This happens to be my favorite ink! Thanks for doing it justice in your review.

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

It's my favourite contemporary ink too.

 

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

I love the ink shading of this in my MB149 with a stub nib - it give such great shading.

 

I'm tempted to use it in my vintage Prasad Indian eyedropper with springy nib but would hate the prospect and bother to flush the feed in EDs of iron gall inks.

 

Whats people's opinion on using this in eyedropper pens?

Hi,

 

The shading from this ink is quite something!

 

Personally, I have no reservation about using this ink in my eyedropper BHR Waterman model 72. I can flush the barrel easily and repeatedly at whatever pressure I see fit with no concern about the nib+feed. I use a bulb slipped over the feed to flush the nib+feed, as well as rinsing and a brief soak.

 

As mentioned elsewhere, a pen should be cleansed before and after using an i-g ink. Ideally, a pen loaded with an i-g ink should be used daily, and avoid letting the ink linger in an unused pen, especially if the ink is in contact with [steel] parts that are susceptible to degradation from acidic liquids.

 

Bye,

S1

[apatel]

I tried this ink in one of my pens and it really surprised me! I thought I wouldn't like it at first, but its really grown on me.

[Sandy1]

I tried this ink in one of my pens and it really surprised me! I thought I wouldn't like it at first, but its really grown on me.

Hi,

 

I found this ink has charisma that surpasses appearance, performance and writing experience.

 

As mentioned, I consider it to be 'Likely the most amazing interesting boring ink.'

Bye,

S1

Edited January 4, 2012 by Sandy1

[inkydoc]

Opened my first bottle of MB Midnight Blue today. Used it in my Edison Hudson with an XXF CI nib.

I love the really dark blue-black and that it doesn't feather on the cheap paper at work.

Nice serious alternative to my standard boring black.

[Sandy1]

Opened my first bottle of MB Midnight Blue today. Used it in my Edison Hudson with an XXF CI nib.

I love the really dark blue-black and that it doesn't feather on the cheap paper at work.

Nice serious alternative to my standard boring black.

Hi,

 

Thank-you for sharing your experience.

 

I think the MBMBl will really show-off the XXF CI nib's narrow variable-width line. An exquisite pairing!

 

Are you able to generate some readily apparent shading?

 

Bye,

S1

[inkydoc]

Opened my first bottle of MB Midnight Blue today. Used it in my Edison Hudson with an XXF CI nib.

I love the really dark blue-black and that it doesn't feather on the cheap paper at work.

Nice serious alternative to my standard boring black.

Hi,

 

Thank-you for sharing your experience.

 

I think the MBMBl will really show-off the XXF CI nib's narrow variable-width line. An exquisite pairing!

 

Are you able to generate some readily apparent shading?

 

Bye,

S1

 

Hi S1,

I get great line variation but it's so fine that there's no shading.

Looking forward to trying it with my Lamy 1.1 nib to see some shading.

Cheers!

[Sandy1]

Opened my first bottle of MB Midnight Blue today. Used it in my Edison Hudson with an XXF CI nib.

I love the really dark blue-black and that it doesn't feather on the cheap paper at work.

Nice serious alternative to my standard boring black.

Hi,

 

Thank-you for sharing your experience.

 

I think the MBMBl will really show-off the XXF CI nib's narrow variable-width line. An exquisite pairing!

 

Are you able to generate some readily apparent shading?

 

Bye,

S1

 

Hi S1,

I get great line variation but it's so fine that there's no shading.

Looking forward to trying it with my Lamy 1.1 nib to see some shading.

Cheers!

Hi,

 

Pity about no shading from the XXF CI nib. If you are keen on a shading ink for that nib, you may look into the Ecclesiastical Stationery Supplies Registrars Ink, ESSRI, LINK

 

I have no doubt that the MBMBl will generate supple shading from the Lamy 1.1 nib. (OoooLaLa!)

 

Bye,

S1

[wastelanded]

I got this after reading your review. At first I wasn't impressed, but it's rapidly growing on me. It shades wonderfully, and is probably the most *dignified* colour I've seen. I can see Ms. Blue Black keeping a silver hogshead of this in her office.

 

Looking forward to trying this through the Lamy OB.

[Sandy1]

I got this after reading your review. At first I wasn't impressed, but it's rapidly growing on me. It shades wonderfully, and is probably the most *dignified* colour I've seen. I can see Ms. Blue Black keeping a silver hogshead of this in her office.

 

Looking forward to trying this through the Lamy OB.

Hi,

 

I'm glad you've [quickly] developed an appreciation for this ink. It certainly doesn't have a flashy 'Oooh look at me' appearance.

 

And like most iron-gall inks, it has a certain something something that is only apparent when viewing the ink-on-paper originals.

 

Enjoy!

 

Bye,

S1

[Daisy]

Sorry for the necropost, but I've looked at several reviews of MB Midnight Blue, and I confess I'm confused: is the currently available (December 2012) bottled MB Midnight Blue ferrogallic, or not?

 

I've looked at so many that I've kind of lost track, and to add to my confusion (which is all too easily accomplished anyway) there's this area of overlap between Midnight Blue and the (now discontinued?) MB Blue Black, and cartridges that are not iron gall but dye based...

 

So I figured I'd just ask -- is today's bottled MB Midnight Blue still iron gall?

 

Thanks in advance!!!

[vivere]

I'm pretty sure my packaging for the new MBMB bottle states that it does indeed contain some iron gall content. I remember reading it, but alas I threw it away and have no proof, therefore.

 

All-in-all I guess my post is pointless haha. Just trying to reaffirm the notion, I guess.

[Michael_V]

Hello Daisy.

 

I picked up a new bottle of MB Midnight Blue (NOV 2016 "use by" date) at the Washington Pen Show in August 2012 and the insert talks about the "high solids content" of Midnight Blue as a permanent ink and the need to be diligent with cleaning. From my observations, it does seem to shift colors and deepen like an iron gall ink, though not as pronounced a change as with ESSRI.

 

Here is the quote:

 

"CLEANING

 

(* * *)

 

 

Important Note:

It is particularly important to clean the fountain pen regularly if permanent ink (Midnight Blue) isused, as the high solids content of the ink can lead to deposits in the feed system."

 

Michael

Edited December 19, 2012 by Michael_V