Expiration Dates On Montblanc Ink

[lapis]

Cremation? I wouldn't do that to my inks!

[Chrissy]

Cremation? I wouldn't do that to my inks!

 

[inkstainedruth]

Cremation? I wouldn't do that to my inks!

 

NOT the inks. ME....

OTOH, they might just have to pry the Parker 51 Plum Demi out of my cold dead fingers.... "It's mine, I tells ya -- mine! All MINE! You can't have it! MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE!!"

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[vjones]

For inks made to EU regulations, there may be issues with the longevity of the ink as the allowed biocides are not as potent nor as long lasting as those used in decades past. Part of the reason was because they were so effective. I know there's not that many gallons of ink flowing into the environment these days, but the biocides are generally available in industry, and could be much more prevalent in other industries.

 

Since we do not know what biocides are being used, nor for how long they are bio-effective, ink collections may be more susceptible to degradation over time than inks of the 20th century. But that is really an unknown. And ink makers such as MB and Sailor may choose to broadly quantify the stability of their inks given that they have no control over the storage conditions after the product leaves the production facility.

 

This seems like an important distinction between some of today's inks and inks of the past.

[Chrissy]

 

This seems like an important distinction between some of today's inks and inks of the past.

 

Yes it does. It was something I had not considered.

[clazbill]

 

Yes it does. It was something I had not considered.

 

 

Now I have another reason to stop stockpiling ink. I have a great variety but if they can't use the chemicals that last.. because, you know, they last and destroy the environment years later..... I better get to writing more!

[tadas]

Hello Chrissy,

 

thanks a lot for your reply. Okay, so there seem to be some concerns. To be honest, I have a whole drawer filled with expired MB ink. So maybe it's best to start over again, get rid off them all and buy new one and just so much that I will really use this time

My go-to black ink is Parker Microfilm Black - I was able to get 3 large bottles a few years ago. On the bottle, it advertises that it's "Good for V-Mail" - the way folks wrote to the soldiers overseas during World War II, when the ink was manufactured. If it smells right (Parker ink of that era smells like Solv-X) and doesn't have crud or sludge in the bottle, it's good, even if it's 70 years old.

 

(Edited to warn about Parker Simichrome)

You should, however, avoid any Parker Simichrome, an ink Parker marketed in the late 40's - early 50's, due to the harsh chemistry of the ink, not its age.

Edited October 31, 2017 by tadas