Search the Community

Allied Forces Germany- France De Atramentis Merlot – J. Herbin Terre de Feu Dear FPN Friends Here is my second Ink comparison in the Allied Forces series. This time to red(dish) inks. One from Germany, De Atramentis Merlot and one from France, J. Herbin Terre de Feu. http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Allied%20Forces%20terre%20de%20Feu%20Da%20Merlot/AlliedforcesteredefuemerlotFPn_zps05ba3e3e.jpg I have reviewed these inks in separate review already. These reviews are quite thorough (in my humble opinion), I Therefore do not go into details here. J. Herbin Terre de Feu Review https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/270246-j-herbin-terre-de-feu/ De Atramentis Wine Ink Merlot https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/270756-de-atramentis-wine-ink-merlot/ Why this comparison Well first of all they they are dark(er) red(dish) inks. And as I aways like to do a little story or history, I put in the WW I theme in this comparison On August 28. Of 2014 Austria declared war on Serbia, causing the first world war. France and Germany were adversaries in this war. They are know united in the European Union... and for me so these beautiful ink companies are. The De Atramentis is an Ink made of Wine in this case Merlot. There are several wine inks available. J. Herbin is an very old French ink companie producing inks with the most beautiful names in the ink business. On the Inks. Colour: Both are reddisch inks. The Merlot of course is more red,because it is made of red wine. The Terre the Feu is more of a soil brown (Terre is soil in French) with a distinctive dar red touch to it. Both inks remind me of Wine though. The Merlot for the Merlot Wine (originates from Bordeaux) the Terre the Feu reminds me of the soil the Merlot (and other grapes) are growing on in some French wine estates…. Well, my advice drink a glass o wine reading this…Cheers http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Allied%20Forces%20terre%20de%20Feu%20Da%20Merlot/Alliedforcesteredefuemerlotblatt2FPN_zpsa1803f11.jpg Conclusion Is there a winner and therefore a looser? In this comparsion.... Just like in WW I there are no true winners here. In contrary to WW I where there were only loosers in 1918. Some lost more some of them less less, but everyone lost brothers in the Terre de Sang (Blood Soil)... .. There is just good news ... there are NO loosers here . Both are quality inks, Both shade superbly,both inks are smooth and a dream to write with. No ink is better or worse. They are both yuality inks. They both shade superbly and are a dream to write with Just like a father who wil not chose between his sons, I will not choose either. I am happy to have both "brothers" standing next to each other in my Fountain Pen & Ink cabinet.... (Well buy them both if you can't choose they are not that expensive).... Well not for politics here.... but ... France offered there Friendship to Germany who kindly accepted. Resulting in the European Community. There has been peace in (Western) Europe for 69 years now.., I have therefore written down the text of Friedrich von Schillers Ode to Joy. Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, writer and Philosopher,who honourably received the French statemanship. Beethoven put Ode to Joy on music in his 9th Symphony it is now the symbol of peace and brotherhood in Europe http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Allied%20Forces%20terre%20de%20Feu%20Da%20Merlot/AlliedforcesteredefuemerlotOdetojoyFPN_zpsae94fbcb.jpg Since the pen is mightier than the sword, I hope this peace will unite brothers and sisters worldwide in the coming 100 years*... Regards Peter Well I guess everyone is entitled to have beautiful dreams .

J.Herbin Terre de Feu Dear FPN Friends The more bottles I get the more I start liking “mon ami de la douce France, monsieur J. Herbin” I believe Herbin has the most beautiful names in the ink branch. Terre de Feu… Earth (soil) of Fire… Wow c’est vrai poesie!!! Some explanations Review by review and of course being inspired by your reviews, I try to improve my reviews. In this review. I tried to improve my skills on testing Waterproof by submerging the ink in water. Availibilty can be a problem in some parts of the world. Especially here in Austria where shops offer a vast array of colours… Blue Black and Red…. Wow that’s difficult to choose. I therefor put in some suggestions where to obtain the inks. Of Course ther is always Amazon and more of those. But for me it is like bread or cheese. I do not want them from huge factories. I prefer the small artisan bakery on the corner or the local dairy farmer. For me that is the same with inks and Fountain Pens. I Like the small companies with passionate owners who will go the extra Yard for you. I will gladly pay the fare for the extra yard if the service and the passion are okay. I am a nurse and therefore not affiliated to any company... My patients are my clients . I just happen to have the habit to share my enthusiasm about good service and nice things... That is why I suggest you the names of stores and manufactures I like. On paper: I always use normal paper nothing fancy. I guess you like to use your Fountain Pens at work too, at least I do… can someone explain me what a biro is? How great is the chance that your employer supplies you with fancy paper like Rhodia or even G. Lalo…. Well I rest my case…. Detail (close up) Pics to judge things ike feathering and shading The Ink This too is an ink I use quite often. It has a truly nice colour to my eye and is not to explicit for everyday. The colour Earth Brown or like an old wine that you store to long (Wine turns brownish when it is too old)… Such a wine I would not like to drink…. But I love to write with it. Funnily the ink tends to get a bit darker after drying… Best thing is the colour tone gets much richer Shading Is Herbin a synonym for shading… There are inks that shade more but Terre de Feu does a very nice job Well feathering is almost abset Down here are some of the technical specs (as suggested by Ann Finley 2007) (not copied in but for this ink) points 1-5 1 = 5= Fountain Pens: Online best writer 0.8 italic nib: Lamy Joy 1,5 Italic Paper: Leonardo Ringbuch,average quality school note book made in Austria Drying time: 0.8 fast 1,5 still fast points 5 Flow: Like a dam break in te lamy and still good in the 0.8 points: 4/ 5 Lubrication: smooth in both pens points: 5 Bleeding: stronger in broader nibs but ver acceptable points: 4 Feathering: only a very little in 1,5 nib points 4 Shading: none points: 0 Waterproof: no need to mention here points:5 Package: Only in bottles, I belive points: 3-4 (bottle is classic but not very special, although the label is beautiful) Availabilty: In Europe Good, Amazon, www.lacouronneducomte.com (NL), USA www.gouletpens.com Quality: Good points: 4 Waterproof This ink is not really waterproof. Yes it survives a drop. But have a look at the picture it is not truly waterproof (it is not intended to be so, I guess). The photo is taken after a 20 minutes diving experience. All colour is gone, it looks like pencil writing now… But it is still legible…. I suggest you’d better take your partner for a swim and leave Terre de Feu at home Availibiliy Of course there is Amazon…. But If you live in the Americas Goulet Pens offers most most of the Herbin’s I checked their web shop and started to slobber. Htey even have there own Fountain Pen nibs at a very fair price.... Cool or what? Some more mouth-watering La Couronne du Comte. I do not want to be a chauvinist (I am Dutch and so is La Couronne du Comte, only 20 Km away from the place I was born) but… · They have it all from cheap to very very exclusive (the last ones are a bit above my budget… understatement!) · I have had good experiences (reading FPN I see this more often) · The owner Dennis van de Passion van de Graaf, passion is his middle name is utterly friendly and coopereative. Always glad to help you and open for suggestions · Well and on J Herbin... Pick 4 and you pay 3. Or 8 and 6, or even more and pay less Too conclude. Well I told you that I am starting to like J Herbin more and more and not only because I am a Francophile. The colour is very distinctive and warm. I just love using it….. My next Herbin review will be Vert d’ Olive. May be not for everyday use but it is very lovely… Regards Peter