The Purple Ink Of Enzo Ferrari

[enricof]

Yikes, no wonder the seller is a jewelry...

Edited July 10, 2013 by enricof

[Scrawler]

Of the violet inks you have used: Which one offers the greatest water resistance?

This one Gamma Violet. I have a written review with water test somewhere on this board, but I can no longer find it. I will look for images of my original test and try to post them, but it may take a couple days because I have commitments tomorrow.

[fourseamer]

I think not. It was priced at €149 on eBay. FYI here's the link:

 

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=221216560972

 

-- MJ

 

I read the eBay listing through a Google translation, and it says, "seals intact." Don't know if that means there's ink in the bottle. If so, it'd be kind of neat to buy that and share samples. I'd send a few to anybody who'd want to recreate the ink too. It'd be cool to preserve the history of this in that way.

[josiah]

Of the violet inks you have used: Which one offers the greatest water resistance?

 

Noodler's La Reigne Mauve has the best water resistance of any ink I've used in the violet/purple spectrum, but it is a temperamental ink that is unlikely to be well-behaved. Noodler's North African Violet has reasonable water resistance, and is a more vibrant color than LRM.

[Scrawler]

Of the violet inks you have used: Which one offers the greatest water resistance?

 

Here is Gamma Violet after soaking in the sink for 30 minutes.

 

http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx153/FPWriter/Gamma_Violet_wet_zps5ac3d4d3.jpg

[carlos.q]

 

Noodler's La Reigne Mauve has the best water resistance of any ink I've used in the violet/purple spectrum, but it is a temperamental ink that is unlikely to be well-behaved. Noodler's North African Violet has reasonable water resistance, and is a more vibrant color than LRM.

Thank you Josiah. But as you explain... LRM is not very well behaved. Will check on NAV.

[carlos.q]

 

Here is Gamma Violet after soaking in the sink for 30 minutes.

 

http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx153/FPWriter/Gamma_Violet_wet_zps5ac3d4d3.jpg

Thank you Scrawler. It's a pity this ink is not easily available. Are there no importers of Russian stationery/inks in Canada or the US? Maybe a Russian bookstore that could import these inks?

[WOBentley]

i wonder if one of the small ink makers like Organic would be interested in reproducing Sr Ferrari's ink color?????

[josiah]

Re North African Violet, mhphoto's review corresponds with my experience, though the writing looks a little darker than I'm used to seeing. A friend of mine uses it often, and it is very vivid, even bright. But I do suggest taking a look at mhphoto's review

Edited July 11, 2013 by josiah

[PJohnP]

LRM is not very well behaved. Will check on NAV.

 

I've experimented with a number of this ink manufacturer's products and found that dilution in the 25% (3:1 ink to distilled water), along with the addition of a surfactant like PhotoFlo has made them behave in a much more satisfactory manner. Even Manjiro Nakahama Whaleman's Sepia became (relatively) usable, while occasionally recalcitrant inks like Zhivago became everyday use inks. Don't give up on an ink after an initial difficult experience. *

 

OTOH, I'd be keenly interested in seeing a revival of this Gnocchi Viola ink if only because it's such fun to see and use vintage inks !

 

 

 

John P.

 

 

* I did fail in taming The-Ink-Whose-Name-Cannot-Be-Used, I must admit, as the feathering defeated all attempts at modification, and I tried with several different bottles in case that it was a batch issue.

[enricof]

i wonder if one of the small ink makers like Organic would be interested in reproducing Sr Ferrari's ink color?????

 

I guess the problem would be they could not use anything "Ferrari- or Enzo-related" in the name, so probably the audience would be restricted to the followers of this topic....

[UK Mike]

I applaud all those who were involved in this story of detection and especially to Enrico for tracking down the owner of the shop. I salute you all!

[carlos.q]

 

I guess the problem would be they could not use anything "Ferrari- or Enzo-related" in the name, so probably the audience would be restricted to the followers of this topic....

So I guess there's little chance to see "Enzo's Purple" any time soon...

[papabear16]

It would likely be possible to make a "Tribute Purple" or something like that, and on the website, write "One of the world's preeminent sports car designers and pioneers was famous for his use of purple ink in his fountain pens. This is our attempt to match the ink he used." That likely skates by in most countries. But I'm not sure it would lead to sufficient sales.

[Scrawler]

It would likely be possible to make a "Tribute Purple" or something like that, and on the website, write "One of the world's preeminent sports car designers and pioneers was famous for his use of purple ink in his fountain pens. This is our attempt to match the ink he used." That likely skates by in most countries. But I'm not sure it would lead to sufficient sales.

This may work, but it is sad that one would have to do this. I can understand wanting to protect the integrity of a name from abuse and malignment, even to the extent of copyrighting it, but to demand crippling royalties, by people other than the named person, does not seem right. I would have thought the Ferrari foundation would be happy to have "Enzo's Own" on the market. I have a mind to write to the president of Ferrari.

[enricof]

This may work, but it is sad that one would have to do this. I can understand wanting to protect the integrity of a name from abuse and malignment, even to the extent of copyrighting it, but to demand crippling royalties, by people other than the named person, does not seem right. I would have thought the Ferrari foundation would be happy to have "Enzo's Own" on the market. I have a mind to write to the president of Ferrari.

What ink would you use?

[Scrawler]

What ink would you use?

My last CC of Gamma Violet.

[alexro]

My last CC of Gamma Violet.

That would limit the number of words in your letter!

One lady (with the similar cat on her avatar) from the russian pen forum would gladly send you a couple of bottles of this gamma ink. Could you give me your postal address so I will pass it to her.

Edited July 15, 2013 by alexro

[YurijYuV]

My last CC of Gamma Violet.

 

That would limit the number of words in your letter!

One lady (with the similar cat on her avatar) from the russian pen forum would gladly send you a couple of bottles of this gamma ink. Could you give me your postal address so I will pass it to her.

I also have this opportunity.

If suddenly lady from Russia (with ash grey cat of avatar) why something will not work with sending,I am willing to take,but not earlier than autumn (September).

Edited July 15, 2013 by YurijYuV

[Alogusz]

This thread made me ink up some V-mail North African Violet

 

http://www.motortrend.com/features/112_0710_the_secret_history_of_ferrari/photo_17.html

 

 

Edited July 16, 2013 by Alogusz