Can I Trust Antique Ink Wells?

[searcher18]

I bought 2 crystal, 2 glass and 2 brass antique ink wells at a recent pen show but have not been brave enough to try them. I was worrying about spills and ink leaks from the closing mechanism. They have hinged tops or fitted crystal tops. I had not even consider water evaporation. These ink wells are also quite large. I guess because people wrote more in the past. Has anyone had experience using these older wells?

 

[Shangas]

Antique inkwells are fine. They're heavy, so they don't tip, they're easy to open and easy to use. The only worry you really have is ink-evaporation. The one thing old inkwells don't have is airtight seals.

[ac12]

They indeed do not SEAL well, at least mine do not seal. They close, but not seal.

So evaporation could be a problem, just as with a cap that does not seal. They are probably designed for regular use where you would be using the ink faster than it would evaporate.

As for leaking, yes if you move the inkwell about, it can leak if the ink sloshes enough. I think they are meant to be on a desk and not moved about.

I would think the brass inkwell would use a glass insert, to keep the ink away from the brass.

[Shangas]

Inkwells work well provided that they're used in the manner for which they're designed.

 

Inkwells are meant to be used for long periods on a regular basis. That way, evaporation isn't an issue. On the same level, they're not meant to be carried around or transported. They're designed to sit at a desk and NOT MOVE.

 

Unless it's made of GLASS, I think most inkwells would've come with a glass, or porcelain insert/cup/well, that would've dropped into the inside of the main well.

 

Something like this:

 

http://img0.etsystatic.com/006/0/5502019/il_340x270.469954738_lar1.jpg

[searcher18]

Yes the brass does have an insert. I think that I will try one of the brass inkwells since it is heavy enough that I do not think that it will get jostled. I have another ink well with a screw top but that would be as much trouble as opening an ink bottle.

The ink well will require a commitment to keep my desk clutter free. How many other`s eat at their desk at home?

[Shangas]

I do.

 

I shouldn't worry about inkwells being knocked or jostled around. Most of them are heavy or wide-based enough that if you tapped or bumped it with a pen, it wouldn't knock over. It's only if it has a higher center of gravity (for example, an actual ink-BOTTLE) that such an incident might be a problem.

[ac12]

I will give you another use for your inkwells, at least the ones without a cover.

I use it to hold my sample ink vials.

I wrap some tissue paper around the ink vial and stick it into the ink well.

Holds that little plastic vial nice and steady.

[lapis]

Nice bottle, pewter and lead crystal...but useless (a month or so after remaining "closed")...

http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu264/peli46/Rubinato_1.jpg

 

http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu264/peli46/Rubinato_2.jpg

[scrivelry]

I have several old inkwells and a few perfume bottles with ground glass stoppers that I am currently using.

 

The travel bottles, which were intended not to leak, seem to have had leather used as seals/gaskets. What I have done with two of my inkwells is to use silicone ear plugs, which are basically little lumps of pliable silicone. I have squished them into shapes which seem to seal my fancy crystal inkwell and the one with no top at all, and am keeping an eye on things.

 

I do have one pewter inkwell with an insert, but the insert is also pewter - I am using that as a little well of water. My cheap Chinese fountain pens, of which I have dozens inked at a time, do tend to get a bit dry and then I just dip the tip in there and wet it and that takes care of the problem, the ink flows again.

 

I have a little condiment tray in silver plate that has a salt shaker and a pepper shaker and then space for what must have been too bottles. I keep one corked bottle I use as an inkwell in thre, and an inkwell with no top - I stuck the silicone on a small metal plate and have been using that as a cap.

 

T

[searcher18]

Keeping water in one ink well sounds like a good idea.

I use a lot of different colored inks which limits the volume of one color ink that I can use in a month. Silicone sounds like a good idea but if I get some in the ink it could plug a pen. Are there any plastic guys that have a solution?