Ink Brand Loyalty?

[Lazarus Long]

My collection isn't huge, but I have bottles from Noodler's, Diamine, Private Reserve, Waterman, Parker Quink. I like Diamine the best, so I tend to look at theirs first when thinking about trying a new color.

[pmsalty]

I use Private Reserve, Noodler's, Waterman, Parker, Visconti, Sheaffer, Osmiroid (Speedball from the 70's) and Aurora. Want to try both Diamine and Herblin.

PMS

 

 

[Ink Sandwich]

Usually Pelikan (Black and BlBk) and Lamy (BlBk) because they're the cheapest and easiest to get. Everything else I'd have to order online, and it's usually not worth the hassle (or cost) for me.

[JefferyS]

My bias is clearly in the Diamine line. Umber, Syrah, Oxblood, Pumpkin, Chocolate, Vermillion, and Monaco Red could be my staples. Saturated, labeled on the TOP of the bottle, reasonably-priced, and well-behaved.

[mrt77]

Noodler's was the first I bought, and once I found out how many awesome colors they had, I was hooked.

 

But I have branched out a bit more with J Herbin inks. But still, Noodler's is my favorite line. I have 5 bottles of JH compared to about 30 bottles of Noodler's.

[karinh]

No brand loyalty at all! I have Diamine, Sailor, Pilot, Montblanc, J. Herbin, Waterman, Sheaffer, Private Reserve, Platinum, Pelikan, Caran d'Ache, Noodlers, Dupont, Parker Penman, Rotring, Lamy. I think that's all. No, add one bottle of Stipula and one of Conway Stewart. I'm in it for the colours, not the brands.

[Laura N]

I love to try different inks, and I've bought a lot over the years. My favorite brands are Waterman, Diamine, Pilot Iroshizuku and J. Herbin. They have colors I like. And I find them the best-flowing, lowest-maintenance, most well-behaved inks in my pens.

 

I do have have a strong bias in their favor. If I'm looking for a new ink color, I will pretty much only look at Diamine and J. Herbin.

[anaximander]

I have a special fondness for J. Herbin, but I also use Pelikan, Noodler's, Iroshizuku, and Diamine. Sailor inks have been on my list to try.

[PJohnP]

Specific ink loyalties, yes, but not a brand loyalty.

 

I've had diametrically opposite responses to two different inks in the same brand, where one has been entrancing/evocative and the other has feathered/smeared/bled through abominably (and others have had exactly 180° different experiences than me). I simply shrug, downstream that ink I disliked to a friend for them to experiment with, and move on to another ink.

 

I can say with truth that there is no single brand where I've liked every ink of that brand that I've tried. Even the highly esteemed Iroshizuku ink line, a brand where I've reviewed specific inks with great praise, has several inks that I haven't found much to my liking. Again, a shrug, a call or an e-mail to a friend, and the ink moves over to them. I've been similarly gifted with "rejects" from friends, some I've liked, some I haven't.

 

I mean, for goodness' sake, it's ink. It's not the solution to global conflicts or wars, it's ink ! Some inks I like, some I don't...

 

... although it's a very pleasant fantasy to think that finding the ideal ink could also cure world hunger and disease.

 

 

 

John P.

Edited October 5, 2011 by PJohnP

[pajaro]

Nah. Cost is a factor. Beyond that I like dark inks.

[afderrick]

I appreciate everyone's answers. Some funny people on these forums or maybe its still too early in the morning. Need my coffee.

 

I'm all about spreading the love of finding the perfect inks its just with so many colors, brands, inks, shades of colors, etc. It seems easier for me to stick with one brand simply because I see all of their inks from one site or another. I know some sites sell multiple brands and so I can spread my choices a little that way. Any other recommendations on sifting through all the different inks?

[Gobblecup]

I have no actual brand loyalty, besides having a special taste for those brands which produce especially excellent inks consistently. I have inks from no less than 12 different manufacturers/brands. But the concentration of which I have more of, is of Diamine and Rohrer und Klingner.

 

I pretty much love my Diamine and Rohrer und Klingner inks first, for their wonderful colours; sometimes saturated, and sometimes less saturated, but never over saturated. Then of course they behave very well, and I would never fear leaving a pen unattended with any Diamine or R&K ink (save the Iron galls) for more than a week... although don't stone me, because I never do! Without many of their inks in my stable, I would feel understocked.

 

But that doesn't mean I am loyal to Diamine or R&K. I have plenty of Noodler's inks which I wouldn't want to do without. J. Herbin is another brand that I especially love. And I couldn't do with out a good bottle of Pilot/Namiki Blue on hand.

 

I think that puts me in the boat with most of the others here; I have my favorites, but no brand loyalty keeps me from indulging in any ink brand that has the right colours, etc.

 

P.S. A few of the ink brands I could do without, but don't, are Montblanc, Pelikan, Sheaffer, and Private Reserve,

Edited October 5, 2011 by Gobblecup

[Gobblecup]

I appreciate everyone's answers. Some funny people on these forums or maybe its still too early in the morning. Need my coffee.

 

I'm all about spreading the love of finding the perfect inks its just with so many colors, brands, inks, shades of colors, etc. It seems easier for me to stick with one brand simply because I see all of their inks from one site or another. I know some sites sell multiple brands and so I can spread my choices a little that way. Any other recommendations on sifting through all the different inks?

 

Well, samples is one way. I am not the guy who says make the Goulets your sole source of ink, but they are one heck of a good company, and they have allot of tools and products that can be especially helpful in learning more about inks and FPs in general. For the price of one or two bottles of ink, you could sample and 'taste' over a dozen different ink colours from about 18 different brands. But again, they don't carry every brand, yet!

 

You can use tools like sample swabs and Ink Reviews as other ways of getting to know which inks you might really want to try.

 

A few other good online places to buy are Nordic Pen Imports, Jet Pens, and I sell pens. By the way, I'm not affiliated in any way with any of these sites, other than as a sated customer.

 

P.S. I apologize for having two back to back posts, but I saw your new comment after I posted my first!

Edited October 5, 2011 by Gobblecup

[vistafan]

I use Diamine and Waterman mainly, not because I am loyal to them but because those inks are the easiest and cheapest to source in the UK. I am yet to try J Herbin, even though it is readily available since I prefer my inks to be more saturated. I would love to try Private Reserve and Noodler's in the future.

[corniche]

Hello afderrick, et al,

 

Well, for many, many years, (early '80s onward), my brand of choice was Sheaffer's. Primarily because it was my only choice; that was the one brand available at my local drug store; we only had one stationery/office supply store in town but they didn't sell fountain pens or inks at all. (Remember that this took place in the '80s; when fountain pens were typically considered the white elephants of a bygone era- and before their big resurgence in popularity in the '90s). However, I was able to get Sheaffer Royal Blue, blue-black and black at the CVS in Cape May Courthouse.

 

When my family moved from New Jersey to Ohio in 1992, I gradually got away from fountain pens... maybe because I couldn't find the ink anywhere. I got my first on-line computer in 1998 and discovered the internet- where you can find ANYTHING you want- even stuff you never knew existed and my life has generally been a colorful blur ever since.

 

All of that said; I do seem to gravitate towards J. Herbin, Diamine, Quink and Waterman. For one reason or another, I hardly ever use Sheaffer's anymore.

 

All the best,

 

Sean

Edited October 5, 2011 by S. P. Colfer

[afderrick]

This is one thread where I wish there had been a poll; I never thought to hear Diamine mentioned so much!

 

Maybe I'll give it a few more days and give the "poll results". I wouldn't of known even which are the most popular without putting EVERY brand out there and let's face it. That would be a daunting task.

 

So far it seems to me Noodlers, Diamine, and PR are probably the most mentioned but that makes sense they have lots of color options. Waterman and Shaeffer also seem to jump out as frequently mentioned.

[SnowLeopard]

I use certain inks because they do certain colors that appeal tremendously...and others because they do a palate of colors equally well.There be inks that also are water resistant, while others are not. The pen/nib pairing is the thing 4 me. MB, Cd'A, PR, Noodlers,Pilot Namiki Iro, Sailor Nano(s) Jentle, Lamy,Aurora,Diamine,Pel 4001 Edelstein, and Herbin are all represented. I do have favorites, though. Taken in total... gallons. I'm always on the look out 4 a new inky pleasure.

[rollerboy]

I'm not faithful to one brand but nor do I stick my nib in everything that catches my eye. I've got a handful of brands that I use.

[Alohamora]

Yes, I'm loyal. I only buy Mont Blanc. And Lamy. And Pelikan. And Rohrer & Klingner. And Platinum. And Sailor. And Parker. And Diamine. And Private Reserve. And Noodlers. And Sheaffer. And Pilot. That's it, no others.

 

Unless I decide to make an exception for a Herbin or a Visconti or an Omas or a ....

[afderrick]

Yes, I'm loyal. I only buy Mont Blanc. And Lamy. And Pelikan. And Rohrer & Klingner. And Platinum. And Sailor. And Parker. And Diamine. And Private Reserve. And Noodlers. And Sheaffer. And Pilot. That's it, no others.

 

Unless I decide to make an exception for a Herbin or a Visconti or an Omas or a ....

 

 

LOL! That's great!