Montblanc Midnight Blue

[wastelanded]

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

 

I have my bottle right here. In the brochure, under the list of colours available, it says "Midnight Blue (ferro-gallic content)". So it is indeed iron-gall. And a most wonderful ink, dignified and classy. If I was stepping out in white tie and tails, this would be in my pen. And it performs so well on cheap copy paper, no feathering and some very nice shading.

 

It's true there will be some solids content, but nothing like India ink or anything like that. Really, if you're good with your pen hygeine (as Sandy sez), iron gall ink isn't a problem. It's when it dries out in a pen that can lead to clogging. Then you have to soak in dilute vinegar to dissolve the gall, then in dilute ammonia to get rid of the dyes. I haven't had a problem at all with it. I rinse out the pen with water every third fill, and that's it.

[Michael_V]

Wastelanded - much more to the point and not sure how I missed the very EXPLICIT description of Midnight Blue as ferro-gallic when I was reading the part of the brochure about cleaning recommendations.

 

Agree as well that as long as the pen is used regularly and you don't let it dry out, no problems.

 

Thanks.

 

Michael

[Sandy1]

HOUSEKEEPING

 

Hi,

 

Here are links to my Reviews of other MB inks that may be relevant:

 

• MB Blue-Black, in 50ml bottle, with I-G, discontinued: LINK
• MB Blue-Black, in cartridges, without I-G, discontinued: LINK
• MB Midnight Blue, in cartridges, without I-G: LINK

Bye,

S1

[georges zaslavsky]

nice and subtle color, tahnks for sharing

[gauge_boson]

Hello everyone, this is my first post on FPN and my membership can be attributed to this fantastic review, which popped up on Google when I was looking to buy some ink the other weekend.

 

I have always written with fountain pens, but have 'acidic hands'; as a party trick, if I hold a paperclip for 20 minutes I can turn it gun metal blue. I used to live near Webster's original shop in Kent, so most of my pens came from there, sold to me by Len Webster himself. However, after my new Parker had come back from repair (the gold-plated rings has turned green and disintegrated) with a note from Parker suggesting that the owner, "probably worked in a chemical factory and the warranty was now void", Len suggested I might need a more robust and 'chemical tolerant' pen for my acid hands! Digging deep into my pockets, I bought a Mont Blanc Meisterstuck No 146 and, nearly 20 years on, it is still in one piece and looking as good as new.

 

I always remember Len asking me what kind of work I was likely to do with the pen, warning me to stay clear of blue-black if I did not need permanent ink for legal work. I took his advice and have always used Mont Blanc black ink. However, a few years ago at a conference in the US, I had just taken a full page of notes from a very interesting speaker when the gentleman sitting next to me stood to applaud and knocked his water bottle over. A small wave of water cascaded over my notepad and, almost comically, the ink washed off the page and 40 minutes of notes ended up as a stain on the white linen table cloth; the paper was almost clean!

 

That incident and the fact that my hands, especially in the summer, tend to smear my writing if I handle the paper too much, led me to research something new when my ink bottle ran dry the other Sunday. I read this review and the various replies and thought... I'm going to give Midnight Blue a try... now... today! I lept into the car and had to drive a 60 mile round trip to get the ink from a posh jeweller in Bristol. I was asked to sit at an antique table while one of the lady assistants went to fetch the bottle, which was presented to me on a tray topped with green velvet, normally used for diamonds and pearls. Having confirmed my choice, it was giftwrapped in a small gold bag and I left the shop... with a sore tongue from having to bite down to avoid laughing at the elaborate ink presentation ceremony :ltcapd:

 

Anyhow... I got home, filled up the 146 and... wow! First of all, the pen has never written so smoothly. Daily I use Black n' Red project books with 90gsm paper for notes and this ink must have been made for it. Beautiful crisp, clean lines and a colour that starts off looking dark blue and then dries to almost black. Absolutely no bleed-through the paper and certainly not even the minutest feathering. I tried it on all manner of paper and it just seems 'thicker' and better behaved than the black ink. Now for the best bit... I can handle the finished page and no ink on my hands or smeared writing... hoorah :clap1:

 

Well, I apologise that my first appearance on FPN has resulted in such a wordy response, but I just wanted to say a big thank you for this review which, after 20 years, has revolutionised my enjoyment of the 146... I just wish I had tried blue-black in the first place! Since I use the pen every day, no fear of it 'drying up' and I will certainly heed the warnings to flush it through with water every month or so.

[Sandy1]

nice and subtle color, tahnks for sharing

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

Hello everyone, this is my first post on FPN and my membership can be attributed to this fantastic review, which popped up on Google when I was looking to buy some ink the other weekend.

 

I have always written with fountain pens, but have 'acidic hands'; as a party trick, if I hold a paperclip for 20 minutes I can turn it gun metal blue. I used to live near Webster's original shop in Kent, so most of my pens came from there, sold to me by Len Webster himself. However, after my new Parker had come back from repair (the gold-plated rings has turned green and disintegrated) with a note from Parker suggesting that the owner, "probably worked in a chemical factory and the warranty was now void", Len suggested I might need a more robust and 'chemical tolerant' pen for my acid hands! Digging deep into my pockets, I bought a Mont Blanc Meisterstuck No 146 and, nearly 20 years on, it is still in one piece and looking as good as new.

 

I always remember Len asking me what kind of work I was likely to do with the pen, warning me to stay clear of blue-black if I did not need permanent ink for legal work. I took his advice and have always used Mont Blanc black ink. However, a few years ago at a conference in the US, I had just taken a full page of notes from a very interesting speaker when the gentleman sitting next to me stood to applaud and knocked his water bottle over. A small wave of water cascaded over my notepad and, almost comically, the ink washed off the page and 40 minutes of notes ended up as a stain on the white linen table cloth; the paper was almost clean!

 

That incident and the fact that my hands, especially in the summer, tend to smear my writing if I handle the paper too much, led me to research something new when my ink bottle ran dry the other Sunday. I read this review and the various replies and thought... I'm going to give Midnight Blue a try... now... today! I lept into the car and had to drive a 60 mile round trip to get the ink from a posh jeweller in Bristol. I was asked to sit at an antique table while one of the lady assistants went to fetch the bottle, which was presented to me on a tray topped with green velvet, normally used for diamonds and pearls. Having confirmed my choice, it was giftwrapped in a small gold bag and I left the shop... with a sore tongue from having to bite down to avoid laughing at the elaborate ink presentation ceremony :ltcapd:

 

Anyhow... I got home, filled up the 146 and... wow! First of all, the pen has never written so smoothly. Daily I use Black n' Red project books with 90gsm paper for notes and this ink must have been made for it. Beautiful crisp, clean lines and a colour that starts off looking dark blue and then dries to almost black. Absolutely no bleed-through the paper and certainly not even the minutest feathering. I tried it on all manner of paper and it just seems 'thicker' and better behaved than the black ink. Now for the best bit... I can handle the finished page and no ink on my hands or smeared writing... hoorah :clap1:

 

Well, I apologise that my first appearance on FPN has resulted in such a wordy response, but I just wanted to say a big thank you for this review which, after 20 years, has revolutionised my enjoyment of the 146... I just wish I had tried blue-black in the first place! Since I use the pen every day, no fear of it 'drying up' and I will certainly heed the warnings to flush it through with water every month or so.

Hi,

 

 

You're welcome!

 

I'm always glad when I can enable inky enjoyment & satisfaction.

 

It seems the sales presentation made quite the impression, so you may take to writing at length when the opportunity arises and/or switching to a wider nib.

 

Enjoy!

 

Bye,

S1

[Bo Bo Olson]

gauge_boson

 

We are living in the Golden Age of Ink, there are some 1000 tones, shades, hues and some are water proof.

 

Some are not; being shading inks but one must have some place that is safe from waterfalls and just have fun.

 

ESSR will delight you...an English blue black ink. Look it up...Sandy is guilty for me having two bottles of it.

 

As far as I know Red and Black notebooks use Oxford Optic 90g paper...and I really like that paper.

It is made also in Spain and Germany...but not carried where I live...

Edited March 30, 2013 by Bo Bo Olson

[gauge_boson]

Thank you so much to Sandy1 and Bo Bo Olson for your kind welcome.

 

When my latest filling of the pen has run out, I am going to rinse out the 146 with just water to see how clean it gets (for the past 20 years, the MB Black ink has never left a trace).

 

I'll report back then.

 

Cheers for now and Happy Easter!

[CS388]

Thanks again for another excellent review, Sandy1.

 

I bought the Midnight Blue to replace the BlueBlack I had used for years as my go-to ink.

As your review expertly points out, no great discernible differences.

 

Except bleed through? On some of my feeblest paper (eg Moleskine 2013), the BlueBlack was one of the few inks that stayed on the correct side of the page without bleeding through. The new Midnight Blue is acceptable, but does seem to show through more than the old BlueBlack?

Maybe less IG?

Just my amateur observations.

 

Thanks again.

[Sandy1]

Thanks again for another excellent review, Sandy1.

 

I bought the Midnight Blue to replace the BlueBlack I had used for years as my go-to ink.

As your review expertly points out, no great discernible differences.

 

Except bleed through? On some of my feeblest paper (eg Moleskine 2013), the BlueBlack was one of the few inks that stayed on the correct side of the page without bleeding through. The new Midnight Blue is acceptable, but does seem to show through more than the old BlueBlack?

Maybe less IG?

Just my amateur observations.

 

Thanks again.

 

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

I'm glad you found "no great discernible differences" between the discontinued Blue-Black and the current Midnight Blue. Over time, I reckon there is a slight difference, and the IG content may well be reduced, but it would take advanced hairsplitting to describe.

 

Ah, poor ol' Moleskine - it does get a bumpy ride. I don't use their products, but it seems that there is some concern about the consistency of the paper used, to the extent that a number of people are pairing Moleskine with IG inks. Perhaps the dearth of FP friendly papers will account for a resurgence of IG inks. (?)

 

Bye,

S1

[Dhara lekhni]

Would it be fair to say that the Midnight Blue is the only permanent ink that provides shading?

~DL

[doggonecarl]

Would it be fair to say that the Midnight Blue is the only permanent ink that provides shading?

~DL

No. I've observed shading with Rohrer & Klingner Salix and Noodler's 54th Mass. I'm sure there are more.

[Sandy1]

Would it be fair to say that the Midnight Blue is the only permanent ink that provides shading?

~DL

 

Hi,

 

Shading is quite dependent on the pen+paper combo, so the watchword is 'it depends'.

 

Inks with an iron gall component typically have high shading potential.

 

Members of the Noodler's family of bullet-proof inks tend to run on rails, so typically have quite low shading potential. However, that potential just might be increased by diluting the ink with [distilled] water. N54M & Benevolent Badger Blue do have good shading potential.

 

Also consider the nano particle inks, especially Sailor sei-boku, which is a knock-out.

 

Bye,

S1

[jccjr]

Not sure I would buy/try this, but this is a most professional review. Greatly appreciate the effort you went to with it!

 

Cheers,

John

[jccjr]

nice and subtle color, tahnks for sharing

 

Georges, what model of pen is that in your signature, please? (And, I love the quote, by the way, too!)

[Cepasaccus]

Actually the Midnight Blue is my favourite ink and I use it in all my safeties. But not far after comes Gutenbergs Urkundentinte G10, which shades very nicely as you can see in my sample here: http://www.penexchange.de/forum_neu/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=6723

[Sandy1]

Not sure I would buy/try this, but this is a most professional review. Greatly appreciate the effort you went to with it!

 

Cheers,

John

 

Hi,

 

I'm glad my efforts are appreciated.

 

One might be tempted, yet enabling inky enjoyment often includes not purchasing an ink.

 

Bye,

S1

[swagginman]

Great review and one of the reasons I now own (*ahem*) four bottles. Two Midnight Blue and two blue-black. I have to say the blue-black I like much more. Much better shading and a very different color - much more blue than my Midnight Blue. I wonder why . . .

[Sandy1]

Great review and one of the reasons I now own (*ahem*) four bottles. Two Midnight Blue and two blue-black. I have to say the blue-black I like much more. Much better shading and a very different color - much more blue than my Midnight Blue. I wonder why . . .

 

Hi,

 

Thanks!

 

I'm glad to have enabled inky enjoyment in shape of four MB shoe bottles, so they can dance zee tango all through the night and even breakfast.

 

It seems you notice the difference between the MBBlBk and the MBMBl more than I. Perhaps I was/am in denial - thinking that they were 'sort of' the same or, ah, 'not so different'.

 

However, if you really are noticing a significant difference, it may have to do with the way the I-G component reacts with the constituents of the paper, similar to the sensitivity that Ecclesiastical Stationary Supplies Registrars Ink (ESSRI) shows when used with different pen+paper combos. Also, it seems that the 'strength' of the I-G in MBBlBk is greater than MBMBl, so it may take a while longer to fully oxidise.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited October 26, 2013 by Sandy1