Noodler's Manjiro Nakahama Whaleman's Sepia

[yazeh]

Noodler's Manjiro Nakahama Whaleman's Sepia

 

This ink is exclusive to Goulet's and sold in 4.5 oz (128 ml) bottles with a free Charlie pen. I've added links for those interested to read about the creation of this ink. 

Italics are quotes from Goulet's website. 

Ink is in homage to Nathan Tardiff's great uncle Reginald Hegarty - who served upon whaleships and whose father was a whale ship captain and Manjiro Nakahama.

(photo courtesy of Wikipedia) 

 

A fisherman at age 14. he was stranded on an Island (1841) and saved by an American whaler ship who brought him back to the US, (due to Japan's period of isolation) to Nathan Tardiff's hometown. He was "adopted" by the neighbour of the captain and sent to school to study English and navigation.

 

Later he returns to Japan despite the danger of being killed and being one of the rare Japanese who lived in Mainland US, participates in the "opening of Japan" period. He was made a Samurai, later on and his sword was gifted to the Milicent Library Fairhaven, Massachusetts in 1918. While the sword was stolen in 1977, a replica was given back to the library. 

 

I would say, this is Noodler's at the best, you buy more than a bottle of ink, you buy a bottle of history, with so many layer. I'm glad it's exclusive to Goulet's and it's such a big bottle. I won't be tempted to buy it (Goulet doesn't ship to my province  )

 

The ink reacts with bleach and creates a magnificent red and supposedly if the bleach is strong enough it'll then become purple. According to the Goulet website: These colors were designed for their symbolic value: sepia brown from 1840s whalemen's ink, red for the color of the Japanese national flag, and purple in honor of Emperor Meiji - for his reasoning affected by Manjiro Nakahama. 

 

Ink is a reddish brown, as you can see with the chroma:

Writing samples:

Quotes are from Herman Melville's Moby Dick, who was also a whaler and sailed from Fairhaven.

T

The ghosting and bleed through is minimal despite what the scan shows. However, it's best on thicker papers. 

Photo:

Comparison:

Watertest:

I changed my method and poured some water on the left side of the paper and dried it with a piece of tissue. While it looks washed out I couldn't discern any ink on the tissue paper. 

I added some bleach and managed to create the red, but couldn't create the purple. 

And finally and artwork, which I named Creation which is an homage to Herman Melville, Moby DIck:

I only used this ink, either in strong concentration or diluted with a touch of bleach to create the red effect. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

· Pens used: Pilot Kakuno Ef, Lamy Safari (EF/F/M/B/Stub 1.1), Osmiroid Copperplate nib 

· What I liked: Extremely pleasant writing experience. 

· What I did not like: I’m nitpicking but maybe the hint of red in the brown, big bottle, and exclusive to Goulet's (though it's a plus, as I won't be able to order it)

· What some might not like: Big bottle, exclusive to Goulet’s, tendency to stain transparent sections. 

· Shading: Faint

· Ghosting: Faint

· Bleed through: with a gusher, but I’ve seen much worse. 

· Flow Rate: Nice and wet

· Lubrication: Very good. 

· Nib Dry-out: Not noticed. 

· Start-up: Nope

· Saturation: Nope

· Shading Potential: Yes. 

· Sheen: No.

· Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice.

· Nib Creep / “Crud”: Did not notice.

· Staining (pen): Yes. It did stain the transparent section of Kakuno, so you need Doyou or Red Rattler's Eel nearby.

· Clogging: No.

· Cleaning: Easy, like most pigment/bulletproof inks. 

· Water resistance: Excellent

· Availability: 4.5oz ≈ 128 ml

Please don't hesitate to share your experience, writing samples or any other comments. The more the merrier  

 

 

 

 

[LizEF]

Thank you, @yazeh, for the great review.  The history of this ink is more interesting than I would have suspected - and Noodler's inks often have interesting histories behind them.  Can't tell whether I'd like the ink (though definitely not the staining), but I love the artwork ("Call me..." ) and the washed-out kitty, whale, and I assume that's the mouse on kitty's head.  Can't quite tell what they're holding - candles? cupcakes with candles? - anyway, I'm just going to assume Mr. Whale is giving them a ride and they're having a party... Your reviews are always fun!

[yazeh]

2 hours ago, LizEF said:

Thank you, @yazeh, for the great review.  The history of this ink is more interesting than I would have suspected - and Noodler's inks often have interesting histories behind them. 

🙏They make both the ink more interesting and the reviewer's work more difficult

 

2 hours ago, LizEF said:

 

Can't tell whether I'd like the ink (though definitely not the staining), but I love the artwork ("Call me..." ) and the washed-out kitty, whale, and I assume that's the mouse on kitty's head.  Can't quite tell what they're holding - candles? cupcakes with candles? -

TO be honest I don't recall. But an educated guess will be both of them are holding pipes

 

2 hours ago, LizEF said:

anyway, I'm just going to assume Mr. Whale is giving them a ride and they're having a party... Your reviews are always fun!

Thank you! It means a lot!

[LizEF]

1 hour ago, yazeh said:

TO be honest I don't recall. But an educated guess will be both of them are holding pipes

Oh, yes, of course!  I see it now, and that fits perfectly with the Moby Dick theme.    (I'm prone to missing the obvious, but it's obvious now.)

[peroride]

7 hours ago, yazeh said:

Please don't hesitate to share your experience

Red crud settles in vessel contained therein like my small vials, so best to shake before using. Like many Noodler's Inks, can be diluted with no significant lost of performance. I have my Moonman brass T1 with Fude permainked with Whaleman's Sepia and top off with diluted 2:1 when I need a sharpie 

[yazeh]

7 hours ago, LizEF said:

Oh, yes, of course!  I see it now, and that fits perfectly with the Moby Dick theme.    (I'm prone to missing the obvious, but it's obvious now.)

Well, I can draw more clearly too

[yazeh]

5 hours ago, peroride said:

Red crud settles in vessel contained therein like my small vials, so best to shake before using. Like many Noodler's Inks,

Good to know

 

 

5 hours ago, peroride said:

 

can be diluted with no significant lost of performance. I have my Moonman brass T1 with Fude permainked with Whaleman's Sepia and top off with diluted 2:1 when I need a sharpie 

That looks like an excellent pairing! Thanks for sharing 🙏

[Sailor Kenshin]

Tharrr she blows!  
 

I had heard of this ink, but never bought it.  Fascinating history (Japanophile here!) and chroma, but I don't know how well a southpaw 'hooker' such as atashi would deal with the long dry time.  Coming with a free pen, though, I am sore tempted.

 

Kitteh has a literary turn this time.  Looks like Mousie's having fun, too.

 

Thank you, @yazeh.  Your ink-sploration drawings and writings are always a treat.

[yazeh]

5 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Tharrr she blows!  

 

I had heard of this ink, but never bought it.  Fascinating history (Japanophile here!) and chroma, but I don't know how well a southpaw 'hooker' such as atashi would deal with the long dry time.  Coming with a free pen, though, I am sore tempted.

It depends to your nib preference. If you err towards whale sized ones, then be aware, 😛

if you ear towards harpoon nibs, you'll be fine  Regardless it's a bottle of history

 

 

5 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

 

Kitteh has a literary turn this time.  Looks like Mousie's having fun, too.

They always have, not taking life so seriously

 

5 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

 

Thank you, @yazeh.  Your ink-sploration drawings and writings are always a treat.

And thank you for your support, Sailor

 

[inkstainedruth]

Thanks for the review, as always.

I tried a sample of Whaleman's Sepia a while back.  I wanted SOOOO much to like the ink, because the color was so interesting.  But the stuff just would NOT flow -- it was as if the ink was digging fingernails into the sides of the ink chamber and going, "Nope, nope nope -- not going out that nib and you can't make me!"  

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[namrehsnoom]

Wonderful review @yazeh - the history, the fun drawings, the comparisons to similar ink colours. Love it! I really like your personal touch of including the kitty in unexpected places 😉 

[yazeh]

8 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

Thanks for the review, as always.

🙏

8 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

I tried a sample of Whaleman's Sepia a while back.  I wanted SOOOO much to like the ink, because the color was so interesting.  But the stuff just would NOT flow -- it was as if the ink was digging fingernails into the sides of the ink chamber and going, "Nope, nope nope -- not going out that nib and you can't make me!"  

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

I know I read your comments. But this ink, is completely difficult. If you're still interested order a sample from Goulet. It's quite good, despite the staining!

[yazeh]

1 hour ago, namrehsnoom said:

Wonderful review @yazeh - the history, the fun drawings, the comparisons to similar ink colours. Love it! I really like your personal touch of including the kitty in unexpected places 😉 

Thank you so much! It means a lot 🙏