Blue Black - Lamy

[visvamitra]

Lamy doesn't need introduction on this board. However as I enjoy writing introductions, here we go. Lamy was created by Josef Lamy who was a German export and branch manager for Parker until 1930, when Parker left the German market due to unsuccessful sales of its Duofold.

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www.lamy.com

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www.lamy.com

Lamy started his own company by acquiring the pen manufacturer Orthos Füllfederhalter-Fabrik producing celluloid pens. For quite few years they were selling conservative looking pens stylised after Pelinan and Montblanc pens.

However in 1966 they invited industrial designer Gerd A. Müller to create their new flagship product - Lamy 2000, a classic Bauhaus-inspired design that has remained in production ever since 1966 with no significant change. This pen set the tone for all Lamys to come: forward-looking, innovative design, excellent quality and writing performance. Lamy 2000 is one of my all - time favourite pens. With time I even came to like Lamy Al-Star that looked like an ugly duckling for me when I first saw it.

Basically I love their pens. However I wasn't so fond of their inks. They're not bad, they're sold in practical and functional bottle yet the colors really aren't mesmerizing. ANyway the inks are sold in bottle that provides a roll of blotter tape used to clean the pen after filling, or to blot writing. It is specially shaped with a wide neck and a basin to collect ink to aid filling when close to empty.

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http://miestilografi...t=lamy-tinteros

They can also be purchased in cartridges.

It seems that lately Lamy came to conclusion they can make money on special edition inks that are introduced together with limited edition Al-Stars and Safaris. That's good, especially that new colors (Copper Orange and Neon Lime) stand out from their rather conservative and - let's face it - boring ink line-up.

1. Black
   
2. Blue Washable
   
3. Blue / Black
   
4. Copper Orange
   
5. Green
   
6. Neon Coral
   
7. Neon Lime
   
8. Red
   
9. Turquoise
   
10. Violet
    

Blue black didn't impress me. I dislike the color and I find this ink mediocre in every aspect. It's not waterproof, it fades, saturation is weak (CIAK paper loves inks and it shows them at their best but look at Oxford notebook - it's really good paper). Maybe in wetter nibs the ink would show some character. But - to be honest - I don't care. I won't give it second chance. There's so many better blue blacks on the market that it would be a waste of time.

Ink Splash

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Drops of ink on kitchen towel

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Waterproofness

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CIAK, Lamy Al-Star, B

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http://imageshack.com/a/img537/6286/1bQkUO.jpg

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Oxford, Lamy Al-Star, B

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[lapis]

Have you compared this (new) version with the older (iron-gall) one?

 

Mike

[Frank C]

That was my question too. thanks for the review.

[daladoir]

I think I'm going to have to agree with you on the "meh" factor of this colour :/

 

How do you find it in terms of lubrication? I find that Lamy inks tend to "slip" better than some others for lack of a better word.

[lgsoltek]

Yes for the review, no for the ink.

[eelldan]

Thanks for the review! I am glad I saw this before I bought it. I am going to pass on it.

[J85909266]

I have to disagree with the opinions on the color. I find the saturation to be great for showing off the shading, and the color is a true blue black, no teal or green to be seen. The ink also flows great in just about any pens, and it does well on cheap paper, as well.

 

There are better blue blacks out there, but I find Lamy to be a great value for a solid performer.

[Dr. Saleem Ali]

I am currently in search of the BEST blue-black ,but none so far clicked me (in my limited collection) ,this lamy IMHO also quite boring !

[Frank C]

I am currently in search of the BEST blue-black ,but none so far clicked me (in my limited collection) ,this lamy IMHO also quite boring !

 

Most blue-blacks are "boring". One that isn't is include the old MB blue-black with iron-gall; alas, it is no longer made. I currently like Bung Box 4B and Bung Box Seiya Silent Night, but they are difficult to get. Another favorite is Pelikan Blue-Black.

 

Jetpens.com has a comaprison here:

 

​http://www.jetpens.com/blog/blue-black-fountain-pen-ink-comparison/pt/767

 

Another source is Gouletpens.com, here:

 

​http://www.gouletpens.com/Swab-Shop-Blue

 

Another one I like is Montblanc JFK. It is Navy Blue, so just dark blue, but out of a wet pen it is quite dark. I hope this helps!

[J85909266]

R&K Salix is my current favorite.

[Abner C. Kemp]

 

Most blue-blacks are "boring". One that isn't is include the old MB blue-black with iron-gall; alas, it is no longer made. I currently like Bung Box 4B and Bung Box Seiya Silent Night, but they are difficult to get. Another favorite is Pelikan Blue-Black.

 

Jetpens.com has a comaprison here:

 

​http://www.jetpens.com/blog/blue-black-fountain-pen-ink-comparison/pt/767

 

Another source is Gouletpens.com, here:

 

​http://www.gouletpens.com/Swab-Shop-Blue

 

Another one I like is Montblanc JFK. It is Navy Blue, so just dark blue, but out of a wet pen it is quite dark. I hope this helps!

 

Iroshizuku Shin-Kai is also fairly interesting in my experience.

[bwnewton]

The previous formulation which was iron-gall is perhaps my absolute favorite workhorse ink. When I found it was being discontinued, I bought several bottles. It is extremely well behaved--no feathering or bleed-through even on low quality paper, shades nicely and is very water-resistant. It is low-maintenance as long as your flush your pen every two or three fills. It was disappointing that they changed the formula.

[gylyf]

Great review, as always. I used to love blue blacks and stayed away from lighter colors. Now, I find these shades super boring...

[cimmerian]

The Lamy Blue Black was my first ink. I just can't find a place for it.

 

What I mean by that is I'll either write "seriously" with a vibrant black such as Sheaffer Skrip Black or Parker Quink Black — or I'll go crazy with oranges, greens, violets, etc.

 

I feel blue blacks (any blue black) are "well behaved" colors that thread the line between work-serious and I-don't-give-a-(bleep). Work color for me has always been black, even though blues such as royal blue are quite acepted in Brazil as "serious" pen colors for documents and office writing.

 

But that's just me. I'll be happy to eat my words and be shown a blue black that says "let's party!"

[Mr.Rene]

The previous formulation which was iron-gall is perhaps my absolute favorite workhorse ink. When I found it was being discontinued, I bought several bottles. It is extremely well behaved--no feathering or bleed-through even on low quality paper, shades nicely and is very water-resistant. It is low-maintenance as long as your flush your pen every two or three fills. It was disappointing that they changed the formula.

How Long Did Lamy discontinue iron-gall blue black? Any chance to get it in a on line penstore yet? Regards

[J85909266]

How Long Did Lamy discontinue iron-gall blue black? Any chance to get it in a on line penstore yet? Regards

Personally, I would just buy Rohrer and Klinger Salix. It is an iron gall ink that has all of the desirable attributes that bwnewton described while being a very similar color and currently available.