I Buy Ink By The Gallon

[jonesy]

Happened to be out at an antique/ junk store near Saugatuck, Michigan and came across this gallon bottle of Sanford Blue-Black ink and had to have it. The owner thought it was from the 1940's but wasn't sure. It smells like ink but seems to have a bit of sediment, and it's faded to a gray. Do you think it's safe to use? Anyway, here's some pics!

[cubic archon]

You should write to the Sanford Ink Company, in Chicago or New York, to obtain the interesting booklet "Some Things You Should Know About Ink". (Actually, you should I think - the company still exists and they might be amused by it and send you some free stuff.)

 

That is a fantastic bottle by the way, I would definitely have bought that.

[kwpalzang]

You should write to the Sanford Ink Company, in Chicago or New York, to obtain the interesting booklet "Some Things You Should Know About Ink". (Actually, you should I think - the company still exists and they might be amused by it and send you some free stuff.)

 

That is a fantastic bottle by the way, I would definitely have bought that.

 

I agree! Write to them, it would be interesting to see how they respond.

A very interesting find indeed.

It reminds me of an old Carter's ink bottle I saw pictures of online. It had similar text on the sides about it changing colour from blue to black (a typical iron-gall characteristic).

[rroossinck]

Let me guess...the Blue Star Antique Mall? They've got some cool stuff in there! I try to stop in whenever I'm on my back to see family a bit north of there, and I've probably bought three or four Parker 51s and a couple of other oddballs there for some good prices.

[Roger W.]

Depends on how it was stored. This bolttle of Sheaffer's is fine but, your blue black being no longer blue black might indicate that it is not worth using.

 

Roger W.

 

http://www.sheafferflattops.com/images/Redgallon.jpg

[Chevalier]

The description suggests that this ink is an iron gall ink with blue dye. The oxygen should have done it's work already, transforming all the Iron(II)sulfate to Iron(III), that's why the color changed and the residue has been build up. I'd try to filter it before adding some vinegar, but I wouldn't endanger my FPs though. The colorchange of an iron gall ink with dye is usually a quite good sign that ink isn't really usable anymore. There is no need to try if it isn't going to black after a couple of minutes to a few hours (depending on the paper, try uncoated paper), because it's not doing what it's supposed to be anymore.

Edited October 11, 2010 by Chevalier

[Jimmy James]

Isn't this Sanford the same entity that became parent company of uni-bal, Waterman, rotring, and Parker, among others?

 

Yep: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanford_%28writing_products%29

Edited October 11, 2010 by Jimmy James

[jonesy]

The description suggests that this ink is an iron gall ink with blue dye. The oxygen should have done it's work already, transforming all the Iron(II)sulfate to Iron(III), that's why the color changed and the residue has been build up. I'd try to filter it before adding some vinegar, but I wouldn't endanger my FPs though. The colorchange of an iron gall ink with dye is usually a quite good sign that ink isn't really usable anymore. There is no need to try if it isn't going to black after a couple of minutes to a few hours (depending on the paper, try uncoated paper), because it's not doing what it's supposed to be anymore.

 

 

This is what I was wondering, if it was iron gall or not. I just dipped in the lamy in the photos, as I wasn't sure. What's this about adding vinegar? I'm a complete newb when it comes to this stuff.

 

As for the shop, the name escapes me but it is just west of Fennville about 5 miles, near the Crane's U-pick apple orchard.

 

I'll try tracking down some info on the company so I can write to them. It would be cool to learn a bit more. Even if I don't end up using the ink it's still a cool find!

[Basset]

Two weekends ago I spotted a nice boxed quart bottle of Carter's ink (black) at Parker-French Antique Center in New Hampshire (Route 4).

 

I have a decent supply of quart bottles (2 Parker Quink, 4 Sheaffer's Skrip), so I gave it a pass. They were asking $25, if I recall correctly. If it's not claimed next time I go through, I may snap it up for the heck of it.

[PenTieRun]

Who cares if you can still use it? That bottle will look sweet on your ink shelf!!

[kwpalzang]

Well, yes, the ink is iron-gall, that much is for sure. The oxidation of the ink while still in the bottle caused it to turn into its present colour. I know nothing about chemistry and such, so refer to Chevalier's post for a better explanation. Please note that, as it states on the label, the original ink colour would have been "a rich blue" upon contact with paper. Then, as it would have oxidised, it would have turned into an "intense permanent black". This behaviour was the norm for the blue-blacks of the time. The original blue-blacks were all iron gall. Back then, the bluish-greyish-greenish inks we consider blue-black these days weren't really the usual. Could you do a water resistance test please? I'm just curious as to whether the deteriorated ink still has the water-resistance properties of normal iron-gall ink.

[soapy]

Who cares if you can still use it? That bottle will look sweet on your ink shelf!!

agreed its a bit of a classic

 

i googled and found this

 

http://www.answers.com/topic/sanford-l-p

[freewheelingvagabond]

[Fuddlestack]

The message This ink photographs is reminiscent of the modern dictates against various pens and colours because they fox photocopiers. According to Wiki, photocopiers and photostat machines first appeared around 1907.

 

But: it says on the bottle that Sanford had been on the go for 86 years. Again according to Wiki, they started off in 1857, which means that the label was printed in 1943. That more or less agrees with the style.

[jonesy]

For those interested, I soaked a piece of normal printer paper in my sink for about 5 minutes with just about no ill effect. It holds up remarkably well for its age. I still laugh every time I see it sitting on the shelf, as the size of it is ridiculous. It positively dwarfs a 3 oz. bottle of Noodler's blue-black. :roflmho:

 

Anyways, here's the pics! The first shot is the Before, then the soaked one to follow.

 

So what kind of pen can I use this ink in without killing it?

[Treecat]

It makes that little bottle of Noodler's look wimpish. Great find. I've never seen these huge old ink bottles. Something to look for next time I'm around a flea market.

[FOX]

You should write to the Sanford Ink Company, in Chicago or New York, to obtain the interesting booklet "Some Things You Should Know About Ink".

 

I agree! Write to them, it would be interesting to see how they respond.

 

And since it says on the bottle "Guaranteed to work perfectly" and it now writes faded, it would be interesting to see how they would respond to a letter asking them to replace it with a GALLON of new ink.

[soapy]

they may offer to buy it of you?

[vans4444]

I had a similar find a few months ago. I still have ho idea what to do with the ink. The jar is unopened.

 

 

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww3/vans4444/Pens/FieldsInk1.jpg

 

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww3/vans4444/Pens/FieldInk2.jpg

[cubic archon]

It does make you think of the vast amount of scribbling that must have taken place in offices to warrant these portion sizes. All those nibs over all those years....