Innovative Ink Bottles - 2015 Version

[goatgolfer]

I enjoy this forum for its diversity on why people participate and generally all points of view are accepted. Pens for vintage reasons, business aspects of why or why not an ink still exists, the elegance of the nib in the hand of an amateur or steady operator, and to me the interplay between paper>nib>feed>art/print/cursive>operators skill/hand and the pleasure achieved by that interplay are reasons to participate.

 

While ink is not the most expensive part of the hobby (on a one-by-one basis) [not talking about those with armoires for their collection] finishing the final mls of the bottle express the same elements as when your mother told you to "finish the food on your plate" [a universal axiom and my family are Germanic].

 

A terrific ink bottle shape survey was conducted by AndreaDuni in 2007 https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/28435-ink-bottle-shapes/ and its results are fascinating as the conical reservoir of Lamy hidden cone, MB shoe, Skrip well, and +++ were well appreciated for their Maxwell house "good to the last drop" characteristics.

 

I recently bought three empty vintage Skrip bottles (1-118ml and 2-59ml) just to put 4.5 oz. dregs from a popular pasta ink. The bottles on ebay, empty + shipping cost the same as a new bottle with a free pen. Yet, I had to have them for economy of - well I don't know.

 

Then I found an unusual bottle on ebay from Germany. While labeled refill, I think it's for refilling and the "ing" didn't make the cut. It has a conical bottom in the upright position for normal filling. It also has cones in the front and back for tipped filling for the last drops!

 

This MB refill bottle in plastic is the first I have seen on the WWW and found nowhere on FPN. First comment from me is: Plastic blow molding allows this shape and current plastic formulations are highly impermeable to staining and transpiration as well as cap design and seal.

 

I have borrowed the images from the ebay listing and can replace them with my own when the bottle arrives if the image owner objects.

 

I look forward to your comments.

 

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODAwWDEyMDA=/z/N9gAAOSwyQtV3clV/$_57.JPG

 

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODAwWDEyMDA=/z/CNkAAOSw3ydV3clV/$_57.JPG

Edited September 5, 2015 by goatgolfer

[rafapa]

I believe Wancher uses a similar desing in some of their inks. Sorry no link.

[rafapa]

there is a photo of the wancher bottle at

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/175524-wancher-ebine/

[goatgolfer]

I believe Wancher uses a similar desing in some of their inks. Sorry no link.

I found the image as well. Anyone know who owns the bottle design and if they are available empty?

[jmccarty3]

I remember these old Montblanc ink bottles (? from the '60s or '70s). You see them come up on eBay from time to time.

[Randal6393]

I did a bit of chasing things down and noticed the current offerings for Wancher ink in 30 ml bottles use a square bottle, looks like it is glass. Looks like the plastic ones might not be available anymore. Pity.

 

Enjoy,

[Padawan]

talking abt "finishing the final mls of the bottle" you may consider

http://www.twsbi.com/collections/ink-bottles/products/twsbi-diamond-50-ink-bottles

They are quite convenient for this purpose.

[goatgolfer]

talking abt "finishing the final mls of the bottle" you may consider

http://www.twsbi.com/collections/ink-bottles/products/twsbi-diamond-50-ink-bottles

They are quite convenient for this purpose.

Goat writes: I saw a YT video comparing the different bottle shapes which lead me to a Goulet video and the TWSBI bottle was clearly a solution for the finishing the bottle game. However, $25 for a $20 bottle of Noodlers seems like cheating to me when I can pour the last of the pasta ink into a sample vial and syringe it out [even cheaper] but that takes the fun out of it and it's already been posted several times. But @Padawan-Kenobi; right you are.

[Padawan]

You are right also.

I bought it for use with Montblanc LE inks which are sold in 30ml bottles (MB "149" can utilize only half of the bottle w/o extra efforts and tricks due to the length of the nib) at USD15 per bottle.

I don't want to be committed to regular MB Royal Blue ))

[goatgolfer]

Just got an empty MontBlanc shoe bottle from Anderson Pens. I signed up for an "out of stock" notice and when they did samples I got an email. $5. While I was at it, I got a sample of Badger Black being a good badger that I am. Even though my occasional avatar is a Blue Badger. (Done by artist Sarah Lisiscki) in blue ink, paint and watercolor.

[Martini1R]

Just one more reason for me to like CC pens... converters can be easily syringe filled. I have the Twsbi bottle and I think they are nice, but still you cannot fill to the last drop. Either get a syringe or keep toping off the bottle as the level getting low.

[goatgolfer]

@Martini1R: Not to put too fine a point on it.. but, aren't all cart/conv/eyedroppers syringe fillable with the last drops of the bottle? I re-use the cartridges by rinsing them out with water (using a syringe) and then put the ink of choice in when I either don't have a converter (Platinum....errrr), don't plan to keep the ink in very long, or it's a stainer(maybe that's not a word).

[Martini1R]

@Martini1R: Not to put too fine a point on it.. but, aren't all cart/conv/eyedroppers syringe fillable with the last drops of the bottle? I re-use the cartridges by rinsing them out with water (using a syringe) and then put the ink of choice in when I either don't have a converter (Platinum....errrr), don't plan to keep the ink in very long, or it's a stainer(maybe that's not a word).

Yeah we are on the same page. Eye droppers counts as well , although preppys are really hacks converter pens are slightly better because when the ink level /flow gets low I can use the piston to push some ink out to get it going. For stainers I sure would use an old empty cartridge lol May be a preppy especially for that ink.