Jump to content

Inky T O D - Would You Buy Your Ink From A Vending Machine?


amberleadavis

Recommended Posts

So, I was wandering around an antique store and found this:

 

 

 

http://sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/Inked_Today/slides/20140528_142210.jpg

 

If I had a place to put it, I'd probably buy it, because darn this so Amber. It's the cost of 4 TWSBI 580s. Hmm... maybe I could fill it with TWSBIs.....

 

But back to inks

 

Anyway, I've seen iPods available from vending machines even here in Las Vegas.

 

http://cn.cbsimg.net/cnwk.1d/i/tr/fpngallery/ipodvending/Image00001_small.jpg

 

My first thought was NO. I wouldn't buy ink from a vending machine.

 

But wait, I've bought sodas from vending machines. Coffee is nasty from a vending machine, but I've done that too. How is this any different from buying online? We don't have any independent ink sources any more.

 

Okay, I'm game. I want an ink machine.

 

What sort of inks would you include? Where would you put it? And would you also vend FPs?

 

Tell me all about it.

20140528_142210.jpg

Fountain pens are my preferred COLOR DELIVERY SYSTEM (in part because crayons melt in Las Vegas).

Create a Ghostly Avatar and I'll send you a letter. Check out some Ink comparisons: The Great PPS Comparison 

Don't know where to start?  Look at the Inky Topics O'day.  Then, see inks sorted by color: Blue Purple Brown Red Green Dark Green Orange Black Pinks Yellows Blue-Blacks Grey/Gray UVInks Turquoise/Teal MURKY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 52
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • amberleadavis

    6

  • dcwaites

    3

  • wallylynn

    3

  • Algester

    3

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

I would not buy ink from a vending machine. I don't use them. I don't use automated tills in shops either. I would rather wait in a queue to be served by a person, than serve myself straight away at an automatic till.

Whatever is true,whatever is noble,whatever is right,whatever is pure,whatever is lovely,whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.

Philippians 4.8

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree, I don't use the self check out stands either, but I can't buy inks from a local shop other than the MB boutique which is inconveniently located.

Fountain pens are my preferred COLOR DELIVERY SYSTEM (in part because crayons melt in Las Vegas).

Create a Ghostly Avatar and I'll send you a letter. Check out some Ink comparisons: The Great PPS Comparison 

Don't know where to start?  Look at the Inky Topics O'day.  Then, see inks sorted by color: Blue Purple Brown Red Green Dark Green Orange Black Pinks Yellows Blue-Blacks Grey/Gray UVInks Turquoise/Teal MURKY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The pen machine must have a rotary grinder that starts up automatically like those shoe shine machines, so I can italicise the nib before use. And maybe an ink machine that dumps powder into your recycled bottle before dripping water into it from a nozzle. Someone else can clean the slop tray.

 

Great find, and BUY...MORE above an array of pens that looks like a hypnotist's spin wheel!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If they had one for the Diamines? Cripes, I'd be broke every time I walked past it! :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd probably buy ink from a vending machine once, but hopefully it would be cartridges. Perhaps they do something like this in Japan already.

 

will the ink drop down like the snapple bottles?

 

Perhaps, or it could be like those wine dispensers that require stored-value cards.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not 100% sure that I'd buy an ink from a vending machine - but I am 100% certain that I'd be more likely to buy ink than a salad from a vending machine. Buying food from machines has always grossed me out just a bit ;)

pentulant [adjective]: immodest or wanton in search of all things related to pens<BR> [proper noun]: Christine Witt Visit Pentulant<br>

President, Brush Dance - we make high-quality, mindful Calendars, Planners, Journals, and other fun stuff you'll love

Link to comment
Share on other sites

will the ink drop down like the snapple bottles?

 

Now there's a thought. Perhaps the JustWrite people could stock it with Toucan Inks in 30 ml pouches?

fpn_1412827311__pg_d_104def64.gif




“Them as can do has to do for them as can’t.


And someone has to speak up for them as has no voices.”


Granny Aching

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can imagine being at the train station or airport and realizing I've left my pen at home I'd be at my wits end until I spotted that Vendorama.

 

I googled a bit and found pics of one that did dispense cartridges for 10¢. Don't know if all of them were like this, but one is shown dispensing Scripto pens.

 

Too bad there's no pens in that display Amber Lea.

Edited by white_lotus
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We could do with one of these at college, it would be really handy. However, it would depend on the what the ink company is and the range of colours. I would definitely try this out as it is a great idea.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The utility of a vending machine requires the product to be in high demand in areas which cannot be served by a shop.

 

FPs aren't that high in demand, neither are inks.

 

On the contrary, you have to search for FP inks nowadays, even the common stationary shops don't stock them anymore.

 

If I'd attended university in the 50-70s I would've liked to have a 24x7 supply of inks and the vending machine would fit the need.

 

For the present era, I'm afraid, the product and the vending method are just incompatible.

In a world where there are no eyes the sun would not be light, and in a world where there were no soft skins rocks would not be hard, nor in a world where there were no muscles would they be heavy. Existence is relationship and you're smack in the middle of it.

- Alan Watts

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We could do with one of these at college, it would be really handy. However, it would depend on the what the ink company is and the range of colours. I would definitely try this out as it is a great idea.

Way back in the 70's when I was in grammar school, we had these in every classroom, we all used fountain pens, most elementary and high-schools still do, and the ink was supplied by the local Pelikan dealer. There was a Lamy bottle too, only stupid me had to use Parkers and bring my own ink :unsure:

BTW, these jars are still available from Pelikan, Lamy and Schneider, about 4 to 5 Euro's for 100.

post-98371-0-39050400-1401357622.jpg

Edited by erpe
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I like the idea, it has real possibilities.

 

A wide range of base ink colours could be stored in concentrated form so you pick your colour from a chart, and the right mix is added to a bottle of water. Just like paint mixing in the DIY sheds.

 

Just imagine, one in every branch of Staples!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A wide range of base ink colours could be stored in concentrated form so you pick your colour from a chart, and the right mix is added to a bottle of water. Just like paint mixing in the DIY sheds.

 

Great idea, instant ink, easier to carry on board a plane too and you can control the color a bit with the dilution. Who cares about quality consistence? :huh:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No. I'll stick to online orders. Saves on bike tours, subways, standing in line, bunged up ink box corners, and enables bulk prices.

Life is too short to drink bad wine (Goethe)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

buying fountain pen inks... vending machine... sounds like something Japan would do... but again Japan is like the land of vending machines... umbrellas, news papers, oppai buns, raincoats, beverage, gadgets... maybe who knows all I know if bottled inks it would be like a crane system

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Japanese love vending machines and any product that can be sold that way probably is already! Perhaps one of our Japanese members can offer some information?

 

Martin

 

edit: cross post with Algester

Edited by twdpens

The Writing Desk

Fountain Pen Specialists since 2000

Facebook

Twitter

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When I was in Hong Kong, I saw a hilarious vending machine in a outdoor bus depot. The machine was selling HP ink cartridges for your printer. I mean I guess if one is in a pinch to print something it's a life saver but it seemed silly.

 

If that machine was fountain pen ink, it would have been equally out of place and it would have similarly attracted me. I would have probably bought some ink too. I think people underestimate the value of an impulse buy.

I'll keep on struggling, 'cause that's the measure of a man.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33494
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26624
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...