Authentic Models Ink?

[Otter1]

Hi,

 

I received a gift of some Authentic Models brand inks some months back, and I can't determine whether they are intended for dip pens or fountain pens. Searching for info on the web hasn't been very productive, although it seems they are typically packaged with dip pen writing sets.

My guess is that the ink is made by someone else and then rebranded by Authentic Models for their sets, but that is strictly a guess.

Has anyone here played with this brand of ink--doing a quick search of the forum for 'Authentic Models' didn't turn up any likely looking topics.

 

Thanks,

 

Otter1

[fiberdrunk]

I have their glass pen/ink set (below). My guess is that their inks are for dip pens only. The inks are quite pretty. The glass pens do not work well, unfortunately. Barnes & Noble used to sell Authentic Models sets and it seems the sets I've seen try to replicate the old-age art of letter writing/calligraphy via dipping. Writer's Edge sells some of their products. It looks like they do have one fountain pen calligraphy set that uses ink cartridges, so maybe they do make bottled fountain pen ink. Trading Stories also sells their products, including single bottles of ink-- my guess is that it requires a dip pen, though. The bottle of ink says to choose a "stylus," which I'm guessing would mean dip pen and not fountain pen. That tobacco colored ink they show in the picture is also in my glass pen/ink set.

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5297/5432507270_4f19d7bd29_b.jpg

[Skyppere]

I can add that I've used their inks in my FP and haven't had any trouble other than they're hard to flush. My favorite is their Bordeaux which is as close as you'll get to putting neon in your pen. the other colors are more subdued.

skyppere

[jbb]

I've used those inks in my fountain pens. Nothing bad happened... but I don't know if they're supposed to be used in fountain pens.

[Otter1]

Hi,

 

Thanks for your experiences--glad to hear no one's had any trouble with them. I asked, and my wife picked it up at Paradise Pens in a nearby mall where they sell good pens and ink, so I thought it was probably safe--but you never know.

I've used the ink with some dip pens and some modern, inexpensive (less than 50.00), fountain pens with no ill effects, but I think I'll play it safe and use only the major ink brands with my vintage pens--no sense tempting fate.

 

They do have some wild colors--but a Bordeaux wasn't in my 12 ink sampler. I do have a Fantastic Flamingo which is a hot pink--and more suited to a highlighter than to text--it really jumps off the page at you.

 

-Otter1

[LukeSkyliner]

I've now used AM Turquoise successfully in good quality vintage fountain pens, and particularly admire the results in safety pens (where starting is never an issue - though the ink seems to flow well). A thorough flushing is the rule around here anyway.

 

So...who's gonna do a review of AM ink . . after all, we have 20 reviews just of Noodler's BayState Blue!

 

BTW, Sears.com, of all places, seems to have great prices on AM ink and sets:

 

http://www.sears.com/search=authentic%20models%20precious%20prose%20calligraphy%20stylus%20ink

[amberleadavis]

I was so frustrated with the pen that I never did get around to trying the ink.

[HalloweenHJB]

I was shopping for something from Treasures2Remember, and saw the box of 12 sample inks, and thought, what the hey? So I added it to the cart. I didn't check FPN first, because if I had, I probably wouldn't have ordered it --based on some of the inquiries about their appropriateness for FPs.

 

Well, the inks arrived today, and on the whole, they're not bad. I wonder if anyone has found out anything more about the origin of these inks --the official company is listed as "Authentic Models, Inc.®, Eugene, OR - USA" and below, "Authentic Models BV®, Zeewolde - NL", and then "Printed/Made in China."

 

CURIOUS.

 

Here is the box and the Jinhao pen I will use to do samples:

 

 

With the box open. The names of the inks are written on a sticker you must rip to get the bottle open. Weird packaging concept, I must say...

 

 

And then the names of the inks, written out, and a Q-tip swab demo. [i mixed up the Burnt Sienna and Signal Flag, so the BS swab is hard to read; sorry]

 

 

My first impression based on the swabs was that these inks are very watery, unsaturated, light, and impractical. But then, loading them into the pen, the colors came out much more rich and bright. True, these inks are not "saturated" in the sense that Private Reserve or Diamine inks are --with bits of sediment or a certain "cloudiness" to the liquid-- but they seem to hold their own with a fountain pen and good paper:

 

 

The winners for me are Burnt Sienna, Signal Flag, Frantic Flamingo, Pious Purple, and Rain Forest. The black is a MESS. Slow to dry, and even when it seems dry, it smudges. YUCK.

 

Olive Branch is extremely odd. I don't know if I like it or not --but I do like the weirdly complex color. It comes out wet as a greenish-brown GRAY. But then it dries to a greenish-brown, that is really hard to describe. Maybe I'll have to work with this one a bit more to get a better sense of it.

 

LAST, I wonder if I should test these inks in a fountain pen for an extended period. Folks above talked about possible staining, and difficulty in cleaning out, so I want to be sure before I use one of these in an expensive pen. IDEAS?

[Manalto]

Sav

 

 

LAST, I wonder if I should test these inks in a fountain pen for an extended period. Folks above talked about possible staining, and difficulty in cleaning out, so I want to be sure before I use one of these in an expensive pen. IDEAS?

 

Stick with familiar, reliable inks for your more valuable pens. Why risk it?

 

"Burnt Sienna' and 'Pious Purple' get my vote for usable colors. It's surprising how much more intense they are compared to the swabs!

[Barkingpig]

Just ink up THAT pen with Frantic Flamingo & "whip it out" @ the next meeting you attend BEFORE proceeding with filling any "good or vintage pens." (If you thought people gasped @ an Edison Collier in Persimmon Swirl THIS oughta make some heads ROLL!) I would say a bit of caution before proceeding to vintage. You should be able to keep yourself occupied with using this as a "daily carry" for awhile.

[delano]

- but they seem to hold their own with a fountain pen and good paper:

 

 

 

 

I think they do that convincingly well.

I've used fountain pen ink in my dip pens, but never the other way around. I'd be curious to try now.

[HalloweenHJB]

Just ink up THAT pen with Frantic Flamingo & "whip it out" @ the next meeting you attend BEFORE proceeding with filling any "good or vintage pens." (If you thought people gasped @ an Edison Collier in Persimmon Swirl THIS oughta make some heads ROLL!) I would say a bit of caution before proceeding to vintage. You should be able to keep yourself occupied with using this as a "daily carry" for awhile.

 

So true! I will do a test in the Jinhao that my colleague calls my "Liberace" pen (the freakishly gaudy pen that stops people in their tracks!). I've loaded it up, as you suggest, with Frantic Flamingo. It should cause a scandal!!

[Manalto]

[HalloweenHJB]

Auntie Sylvia is scandalized!

[Manalto]

[lovemy51]

http://ist1-4.filesor.com/pimpandhost.com/4/6/4/2/46427/i/c/p/N/icpN/gabby-sidibe-laura-linney-big-c-surprise-012.jpg

i figured i joint in.

 

i just got my first small bottle yesterday. honestly it does not stick to the dip nibs all that well. i thought i'd try it with a cheap H616 or something and then report back

Edited January 1, 2017 by lovemy51

[lovemy51]

ok, it is an old thread, but this can stay in the archives for future refs,

 

i've been using it on a Sheaffer NN for three days now and it's working perfectly; just like any FP ink should.

[C-InPenmanship]

I have been using Authentic Models Tobacco Ink in certain fountain pens for over 15 years now with no problem. I got my first bottle with the glass stylus calligraphy set and have been buying it ever since. I use it in my Lalex (silver with a zebra print) & all of my Parker Vectors (medium & fine nib). About five years ago there was an eBay auction for two full bottles of it for $20 w/ $30 shipping from Bulgaria. It was around my birthday so I asked my sister to get it for me. She was/is unaware that I use almost exclusively fountain pens so when she gave it to our mother to give to me she said "I don't know why she wants this, but here it is."

 

The only pens I own that I don't use this ink in are my Waterman pens because they come with a three year warranty (which I have used with great success), HOWEVER, if you read every word of the information about the warranty you'll see that using any ink other than Waterman voids the warranty. To tell you the truth, I find they also simply write smoother with their own brand of ink. I mix red and brown to get a color much like the A.M. Tobacco (yes, I'm a little obsessed).

[amberleadavis]

Just ink up THAT pen with Frantic Flamingo & "whip it out" @ the next meeting you attend BEFORE proceeding with filling any "good or vintage pens." (If you thought people gasped @ an Edison Collier in Persimmon Swirl THIS oughta make some heads ROLL!) I would say a bit of caution before proceeding to vintage. You should be able to keep yourself occupied with using this as a "daily carry" for awhile.

 

 

I used to use FF to "whip it out" but currently I'm on a kick of using Suffragist Carmine. _