2009 Boston Pen Show

[wallylynn]

Those folks asking about the whereabouts of the Dark Matter in the Universe should take a closer look at Nathans jugs. He seems to have successfully distilled some of that elusive stuff into gallons of HoD.

 

Actually, he has a new ink called Dark Matter!

 

How do we know that Dark Matter is actually black? No one's see it yet. That said, once we see dark matter, all Nathan has to do is relabel one of his bottles.

[scribbler77]

When will it end? How many colors can Noodler's manufacture? I guess we'll see...

 

We don't even know how many he has already manufactured. Does anybody keep a list?

[Melnicki]

When will it end? How many colors can Noodler's manufacture? I guess we'll see...

 

We don't even know how many he has already manufactured. Does anybody keep a list?

 

every month or so, nathan makes a few posts on FPN in various threads, and usually one says something about how many hundreds of inks have been made for markets around the world. i think his Maytime postings included such a number, but I can't remember the figure. The truth is that there are many inks that he makes that we never hear a peep about because they're exclusively made for foreign markets (seriously, stateside noodler's hankerers, back off! have some respect!) and then he has admitted to some of his inks being relabelled as another brand.

 

but yes, there is at least one thread where people have attempted to make a list of all of the inks.

Edited June 5, 2009 by Melnicki

[Eternally Noodling]

I have fallen behind a bit, my apologies to those of you who have sent messages to this account…but I do intend to answer all next week. Catching up – and noticed the V-mail series has to have enough raw materials to at least have enough to photograph (down to just enough to make a few bottles of North African Violet and GI Green). Chuck Swisher grabbed what remained from Boston to display at the Raleigh, NC show next week and if I work hard enough more will be available to anyone else who orders it ASAP. There were also experimental additions of black light LEDs included free with every fluorescent ink sold at the Boston show…these will also be at Raleigh, and if people like them enough there as well….will then become standard additions to every dropper bottle containing a fluorescent ink. That way, people can see the full spectrum effects of various light reflections upon receipt of the ink instead of seeing it only after they obtain a fluorescent black light. LEDs last a LONG time and consume very little energy as well…& fit right in the top of each box!

 

The scientists of Boston have provided some feedback on “Dark Matter” and in case there is more input I will post the information that was on printouts at Boston here on FPN (see below). Also, examples of the inks shown in this image reflect too much of the white light of the flash – these colors produce more of a matte effect upon the page and are far more conservative than what the flash depicts. They do have an extreme abundance of shading with the right pen – classic 1940s shading.

 

 

 

"The story of a vintage ink reborn….

 

A large size “Boston Round” with sharp shoulders (indicative to this vintage ink collector of a possible – though not certain – upper Midwest connection, as the “master” school and business/office bottles made there often had distinctively sharp curves on the shoulders of their “Boston Round” bottles) – arrived at Noodler’s Ink in Massachusetts from a resident of Chicago. The gentleman states he was an employee at “a much older undisclosed location” and is an admirer of our inks. He wants the bottle back, if we would be so kind – but also a bottle of any ink we can make that replicates its contents as payment for providing us with such a marvelous piece of history. We replicated the ink as closely as possible with current, fresh and modern materials…and the return of the bottles met with his approval. We also sent him a pen, of course.

 

Do we always put such effort into a bottle of vintage ink that randomly appears in the mail box? No. Sometimes, however….when it is rare or unusual, we certainly do – as this bottle had upon it a deceptively simple label: “U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, LA NM BLK WF 43” The label was incredibly small for such a large bottle of ink. However, knowing master bottles of similar shape and size that had been made by the major ink companies of the era – this was actually not unusual. School system and government office ink bottles also routinely had such small labels. Commercial labels were always much larger (as I have always said, the art of labels is part of the craft and should of course be done with Noodler’s Ink! ;-).

 

We were given enough information to conclude it was the genuine: the ink of Los Alamos, New Mexico…cir. Mid-1940s, “Project Y”- the Manhattan Project. Better still, it could be successfully rehydrated and replicated.

 

It has been named “Dark Matter” and has an image of the leading scientist of the Manhattan Project upon the label – with his most famous quote imprinted upon his image. The ink could be distinguished between other inks of the era with a variety of tests – yet it was a very conventional ink and though water resistant, is not completely waterproof (though at the time it would have certainly been classed as being “permanent”). If you wrote a document while sequestered at Los Alamos during “the project”….apparently, you even had to use the right kind of ink when not using a pencil or bit of chalk…"

 

 

Also:

"The V-mail ink series:

 

A few weeks ago we obtained some dated, sealed, and viable vintage area inks with extremely patriotic labels (this, to us - is a rare opportunity to examine earlier industrial history first hand!). Many referenced “V-mail”, a term that seems to have begun in WW I. These were dated from 1939 to 1945 – and of course began in earnest after Dec. 7th, 1941 with the patriotic WW II themes.

 

With those inks as models and a little bit of reverse engineering and close modern replication – the originals come alive again in our own “V-mail” ink series:

-North African Violet,

-Operation Overlord Orange,

-GI Green,

-Mandalay Maroon,

-Burma Road Brown,

-Rabaul Red,

-Midway Blue.

The Army Air Corp. and some Royal Airforce planes are silhouetted on the labels."

 

The V-mail series of inks all have similar water resistance to the most permanent WW II inks (though this is not very permanent when compared to Noodler's Black and all the tests it can be subjected to...it is very durable for the time period in question!).

 

 

[nofa]

When will it end? How many colors can Noodler's manufacture? I guess we'll see...

 

We don't even know how many he has already manufactured. Does anybody keep a list?

See The Harmless Dilettante http://harmless-dilettante.blogspot.com/20...8/noodlers.html, her list seems to be the most complete (outside of the secret Tardif file).

[GreenVelvet]

Also:

"The V-mail ink series:

 

A few weeks ago we obtained some dated, sealed, and viable vintage area inks with extremely patriotic labels

 

A few weeks ago! This whole spectrum of inks was concocted in a few weeks.

 

Color my jaw dropped.

 

Thanks for all the extra info, Nathan - not to mention the inks!

 

[Jared]

Any chance that we'll see a Noodler's (Nathan) showing at the upcoming DC Supershow?

 

 

[reprieve]

So where can we order these new inks? I am really into North African Violet and Midway Blue.

[Jimmy James]

I guess this removes all doubt about whether I'll be making the drive to Raleigh (or the area) for my first pen show.

[Jared]

I love the look of these inks, and would love to see them available to the general public!

 

 

[tnmike1]

Since I have several of my father-in-law's original Sheaffer pens from WWII as well as his WWII carry-bag, I can imagine how totally COOL it would be to have a couple bottles of V-Mail ink. So, Nathan, please tell us when this will be available for sale??? Can think of several colors that would be of interest.

[Souldrifter]

I can't get to any east coast pen shows... I really hope these inks can be replicated to the point that we'll see an official release soon. I MUST get my hands on Dark Matter and Midway Blue.

 

I always read these threads with a bit of melancholy. I'm excited about the history of the colors and I totally "get" the intensely focused interest and near maniacal passion that Nathan must have as he pursues trying to find the right formula to replicate these vintage colors as perfectly as he can. I get that way sometimes with things I'm passionate about. I think that's why the melancholy comes in. I worry that since I'm not part of the pen show crowd, that I'll never get my hands on any of this cool stuff...

[Jimmy James]

If you didn't read some of the other threads on this topic, I feel I should note here that per Chuck Swisher, it seems Nathan is encouraged enough by the response to these inks he has bought more materials and will be making more. I don't know that they will be Swisher exclusives, but orders are apparently being accepted there for anyone interested.

[DJJM19951998]

Could anyone use that much ink in their lifetime?

[Bill Smith]

Nice inks Nathan, will they be available in Canada?

[Lachesis]

Wow. The Baystate Blue looks so tempting. xD If I bought that, I would place it in a stainless-steel room.

 

Or a completely blue one.

 

Lachesis

[Lachesis]

Just to add--I would buy the baystate blue, and the Dragon's napalm in those sizes. XD

 

One of the many things that made me wish I lived in the US.

 

Lachesis