Vampire Red - Private Reserve

[visvamitra]

Private Reserve Ink was founded by Terry W. Johnson and Susan Schube in the workroom of Avalon Jewelers/Gallery in Zionsville, IN, as an addition to the fountain pen department. Terry's vision was simple... "Why not have fountain pen ink in a rainbow of colors to expand the bounds of writing beyond standard black, blue, red and green."

That's what's written on their internet site. My experience with their inks is ambigous: I like most colors, but the inks I've tried weren't best behaved (Orange Crush, Shoreline Gold caused nib crud; Hor Bubble Gum is PINK and it stains everything).

Vampire Red is, probably, one of the driest inks I've tried in a long time. I expected it will be similar to most Private Rerve's inks and will produce wet, smooth line. It doesn't. Not only this ink feels dry - it also causes strong nib crud.

For me it's intolerable. This ink goes to my black list of worst inks ever.

Ink Splash

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

Software ID

Color range

Leuchtturm1917, Kaweco Classic Sport, broad nib

[Barkingpig]

How very sad; it is a decent enough looking, red & yet so ill behaved. I have forgotten the severe crusts the offenders gave me, never using the inks again, BUT this one looks worse than any I remember. Despite the popularity of the Vampire mania of the last few years, I think this one should be laid to rest.

 

You did your best & that is perhaps more than this one deserved. I am proud you even gave Hot Bubble Gum a "try;" I remember being embarrassed to order "Orange Crush," as my first Orange ink, but looking @ swabs on the Goulet site it looked innocent enough! Luckily EVERY successive choice was an improvement after OC; I am not sure I could have tried an ink called, Hot Bubble Gum!

[namrehsnoom]

Thanks for letting us know about this ink's technical issues. A shame really, the ink looks rather nice on the yellowish paper.

[fugel]

yes, a pity; the color looks really interesting.

thanks Vis for the review.

[Manalto]

Despite the popularity of the Vampire mania of the last few years, I think this one should be laid to rest.

 

Drive a wooden stake through its heart to be sure.

 

How does an ink with such negative properties make it to the sales shelf? Doesn't PR test their inks for performance?

[Ghost Plane]

That's not what it used to look like when it first came out. First batch was actually a decent, if painfully dry, red. Ugh! R.I.P.

[Chrissy]

I'm not keen. It looks more like a red that's turning brown due to old age to me.

[fireant]

That crud, yikes.

[Ada]

Wow, that nib crud is horrifying! Thanks for testing and posting, so the rest of us can forgo the experience.

[PS104]

Nice color and but ugly crud pics to be sure

An ink that might fare better with the use of a glass pen that doesn't allow the crud to build up

Where's a barf bag when you need one

Edited December 26, 2016 by PS104

[lgsoltek]

I don't even like the colour.

[Manalto]

If it were well-behaved, it might have a place among those with a fondness for early 1950s tertiary colors. It's a plum that you might see in a Technicolor movie from that era in a woman's gown or a man's smoking jacket. Crud makes it a deal-breaker for everyone but masochists.

[visvamitra]

Some people don't mind crud, I do. If ink maker isn't able to brew stable ink I consider it to be waste of time and money to use it. Feathering, clogging and nib crud automatically make an ink to my black list

[Manalto]

That's why we non-masochists (nothing against masochists, mind you) trust your reviews.