Noodler's Manhattan Blue

[Ink Stained Wretch]

The ink looks very interesting, and with that 20% discount it's even affordable for me.

 

I just hope that the owners of the Chrysler Building aren't still in that crazy litigious mood they were in a few years ago when they were saying that they had a trademark on the building and no one could represent it in photographs or drawings without paying them for the privilege.

[rosey]

My Manhattan Blue ink just arrived today!

Thank you Art Brown Pen shop for the 20% discount to FPN members.

 

I compared the color to Noodler's Midnight Blue and Noodler's Legal Lapis.

The Manhattan Blue is darker than the Legal Lapis but lighter than the Midnight Blue. It's a nice in between color. I like this ink very much!

[Ink Stained Wretch]

Manhattan Blue was made to simulate the Carters Blue from 1931. Yes it made by noodlers exclusively for Arthur Brown. It is currently in stock. Mention that you saw it on FPN and we will extend a 20% discount.

And I went into the store and I bought some! And thanks for that 20% discount. It clinched the deal for me!

 

A deep, dark ink from the test swatch I did of it. Now, what shall I mix it with?

[Eternally Noodling]

The History of a New York Ink

 

"Manhattan Blue" is based upon the deepest blue known to have been manufactured in New York City back in 1931. The label actually is related to the ink. The grandfather of the founder of Noodler's Ink was a founder of another company in 1929: The New England Airship Corp. (later the Dartmouth Airship Corp.) was the first commercial user of blimps for advertising and aerial photography purposes. Previously the exclusive domain of the US military, these blimps advertised everything from shoes to film. They were giant billboards in the sky that could also dock at the newly made Chrysler and Empire State mooring masts. The "Enna Jettick" blimp was the only blimp to attempt the docking and transfer of passengers via the mast of the Chrysler and Empire State buildings. It did not succeed. There were, however - successful mail deliveries despite 30 to 60 knot winds. Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia would later ban any further docking attempts on the mooring masts of either building (traffic was a concern as people would rubber neck UP to watch any docking). These "masts" now serve as radio and TV towers.

 

The ink used in New York happened to be bought in New York. It remained in Massachusetts for 75 years before being rehydrated and reformulated as the identical "Manhattan Blue" available at Arthur Brown & Bro., Inc. today. The New England Airship flight log during the mail delivery docking on that windy day long ago used the same ink. Photos courtesy of the Dartmouth Airship Corp. archive (including the blimp flying up to the Chrysler Building mooring mast on the label).

 

 

It will work better on some paper grades than others - with some it will dry almost instantly...whereas with other papers it will dry more slowly (they used blotters in 1931). It is not a modern ink - a replica of a vintage ink...exactly what it indicates on the label. If it feathers, it is likely your paper grade (unlike Noodler's Black - you can't use it on airline napkins!).

 

[Viseguy]

Nathan,

 

Thanks for the back story on Manhattan Blue. It has become one of my all-time favorites. (It works quite well, BTW, on cheap recycled paper and newsprint.)

[Garageboy]

Does it leave a stick residue/settle out?

[Viseguy]

Does it leave a stick residue/settle out?

No, not at all. It's one of the best-behaved inks I've ever tried. Really smooth, and no nib creep, even though it has good water resistance. Manhattan Blue is top-notch!

 

P.S. Not at all like Bank Note Green, which you complain about in another thread, and which I dislike for other reasons (dry-writing, prone to "spread").

[playpen]

Boy am I glad that I looked at this post again and saw that it was from last year. I think I might have been just a TOUCH embarrassed if I had called (or worse) gone in to Art Brown and asked for a 20% discount.....good grief!!

Or, does Art Brown extend the 20% to us as a matter of course?

[Garageboy]

Thanks viseguy, I'll give noodler's another chance starting with this ink