Rotring ink and old cartridges. A tale of (not so) old cartridges and the President

[Lithium466]

Recently in Nostalgialand (or was it Yawnville?), I came across these (at least) 20 years old cartridges that came back from my past to haunt me:

 

 

Back in the days, before Internet, there wasn't much I could find in my small city. Standard Royal blue was the ink you were using in school, and buying at the supermarket. Waterman, or Reynolds, to go with their (sadly now long gone) striped ink eradicators (the very one we were turning into pressurized blowguns once dry). Serious people were using black or blue-black, and cool teenagers were using Turquoise. But when Waterman, Faber-Castell, Parker and Lamy were just lame, standard everyday inks, what was left to try at my small stationery store? Rotring. I wasn't aware of Japanese inks at that time, and there was no Mont-Blanc boutique in the city (but were Mont-Blanc inks as fancy as they are today? I have some period correct MB black and it's everything but fancy).
So Rotring it was for me. When I felt like rebelling against teachers asking for Royal Blue, I used Ultramarine, which is just a bit purpler. Such a stealth ink at school! The satisfaction of flying under the radar unnoticed was totally making it up for its lack of "erasability". Rotring Royal Blue was just another basic washable blue, but the cute yellow cartridge tips was making up for the inflated price, compared to Waterman from the supermarket. And then there was Brilliant black... For me at that time that was THE luscious black, so dark, smoother than other inks, and it was drying as a real super dark and shiny black. I was in love, and was indulging in Rotring Brilliant black as much as I could, writing letters with it, always keeping a pen inked with it (for me that pen was a Rotring Artpen EF - I only had like 3 or 4 pens at that time).

So when I discovered a long forgotten stash of these old relics at my mother's house, I decided I had to revisit the past. That small box of Waterman South sea blue, I had bought it just because I once met that girl I had a huge crush on at the stationery store, and she bought one box so of course I had to buy one too! It's still full today, and I still remember her now. She became a doctor, I should have married her
The problem is, modern me didn't have any fancy enough (or so I decided at that time) pen that accepts international cartridges. I still have the EF Artpen, but fancier I wanted. And then I had a brilliant idea! Or so I thought. A Platinum President in EF, coupled with these:

 

The Platinum international cartridges adaptors. Except my oh so brilliant plan (or how to justify buying a Platinum pen because I had international standard cartridges to use, the chocolate and bread tale) was flawed from the start:

A long international cartridge (here Pelikan 4001 red, bought in Germany with a long gone Pelikan school pen in matching red) doesn't fit! I had wanted to try a few basics and keep Rotring Brilliant black for the end, as it was the one ink I had the strongest memories of, but now I couldn't hold it anymore, and popped a Rotring cartridge in the President (after having reconstituted what evaporated along the years with distilled water - I know we should add more than that, alcohol, preservatives, etc). Such deception.

While it was still a reasonable dark black, modern inks have improved so much that it wasn't the "slap in the face" black it used to be for me. Still a nice shiny black, but Waterman or Lamy black improved too, and are not that far. Probably Pelikan 4001 black too (never tried this one). And the lubrication was a bit low for that feedbacky Platinum EF. Back in the Artpen the cartridge went. Compared to the Platinum, the Rotring EF feels like a generous M! But makes these "old" inks feel more comfortable.

So that's it, never meet your idols. Since I restarted with fountain pens, I had kept that Rotring Brilliant black ink in mind - I think it was the one ink that started it all for me. Had it been for Waterman or Reynolds Royal blue only, or Parker washable blue (or black-green!) I would probably not be using fountain pens today. I'm glad I was able to try it again, seeing with my old eyes differently what I remembered from a teenage perspective. I wonder who made the Rotring inks. Probably many different subcontractors, as some are made in Germany and some later cartridges in France (after the Sandford buyout in 1998 I guess). Maybe it's just Pelikan 4001 black, that I never even bothered trying back in the days (on my wish list today). Maybe it's some sort of mystery mixture between Pelikan 4001 black and Pelikan Fount India? I'll never know.

 

 

[LizEF]

3 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

When I felt like rebelling against teachers asking for Royal Blue, I used Ultramarine, which is just a bit purpler. Such a stealth ink at school! The satisfaction of flying under the radar unnoticed was totally making it up for its lack of "erasability".

 

3 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

That small box of Waterman South sea blue, I had bought it just because I once met that girl I had a huge crush on at the stationery store, and she bought one box so of course I had to buy one too! It's still full today, and I still remember her now. She became a doctor, I should have married her

 

3 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

buying a Platinum pen because I had international standard cartridges to use

Sounds perfectly rational to me.

 

3 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

I had wanted to try a few basics and keep Rotring Brilliant black for the end, as it was the one ink I had the strongest memories of, but now I couldn't hold it anymore, and popped a Rotring cartridge in the President (after having reconstituted what evaporated along the years with distilled water - I know we should add more than that, alcohol, preservatives, etc). Such deception.

While it was still a reasonable dark black, modern inks have improved so much that it wasn't the "slap in the face" black it used to be for me. Still a nice shiny black, but Waterman or Lamy black improved too, and are not that far. Probably Pelikan 4001 black too (never tried this one). And the lubrication was a bit low for that feedbacky Platinum EF. Back in the Artpen the cartridge went. Compared to the Platinum, the Rotring EF feels like a generous M! But makes these "old" inks feel more comfortable.

"Old pen rescues old ink, film at eleven!"

 

3 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

So that's it, never meet your idols.

Idols and memory - they never quite live up to reality.

 

3 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

Since I restarted with fountain pens, I had kept that Rotring Brilliant black ink in mind - I think it was the one ink that started it all for me. Had it been for Waterman or Reynolds Royal blue only, or Parker washable blue (or black-green!) I would probably not be using fountain pens today.

Thank heaven for that Rotring Brilliant black ink!

 

Wonderful story telling, @Lithium466!  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Hope you enjoy that Platinum pen, even if the Rotring isn't its cup of ink...

[Penguincollector]

  I love this story. I also hope you enjoy your Platinum. I only have vintage ones, but I enjoy them quite a lot. They actually made me like a pink ink, and I find pink insipid. Seriously, try the Platinum pink. It sheens gold, even with a UEF nib (If you need a home for disappointing old cartridges, let me know). 
 

ETA: Where did you buy the adapters? I might need one for a Morison.

Edited September 29, 2023 by Penguincollector

[yazeh]

@Lithium466thank you for sharing such a lovely personal story. I can identify with much of it

 

[Lithium466]

On 9/29/2023 at 5:21 PM, LizEF said:

Wonderful story telling, @Lithium466!  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Hope you enjoy that Platinum pen, even if the Rotring isn't its cup of ink...

 

😊😄

 

On 9/30/2023 at 2:28 PM, yazeh said:

@Lithium466thank you for sharing such a lovely personal story. I can identify with much of it

☺️

 

On 9/29/2023 at 5:50 PM, Penguincollector said:

 I love this story. I also hope you enjoy your Platinum. I only have vintage ones, but I enjoy them quite a lot.

ETA: Where did you buy the adapters? I might need one for a Morison.

 

I got the adaptors from Stylo.ca (not affiliated). You might be able to find some in the US, I feel they were all over the place a few years ago but maybe now they were discontinued? Jetpens used to have them, no more! I just got lucky to find some so close to me

(can always go back and buy some for you if you don't find another source)

 

The Platinum President is...nothing special. Just buy a 3776! It feels like an old design that was never updated. Cap wants to cross-thread if you're not careful, it dries out quickly if you don't tighten the cap a bit too much for my taste (doesn't if you do tighten it real snug, otherwise the threads feel like they've been cut with too wide tolerance, old machines maybe), material feels quite cheap (but at the same time didn't seem to age either in the ~6 months I had it, never left my desk though), and apparently the trim ring in the section is prone to rusting (I've been careful to only fill the converter and never dip fill it as to not put ink on the ring, I also never used Platinum blue-black with the pen, even if I feel it could be a perfect match, I'll try that soon).

It's missing an o ring to prevent the body to unscrew itself (plastic feels cheap and I'm quite reluctant to tighten it too hard, probably that's just stupid).
The nib is typical Platinum, but even harder than a 3776 nib if that's possible? Although I don't consider the 3776 nibs to be nails...but my 3776 UEF came to me used so maybe was "softened" already, and my other 3776 is a SF so that doesn't count). The President has a very standard hard nib, maybe it you push hard enough it will respond a bit as it's 18K gold, but it's quite thick and the curvature makes me think you'll only get some bounce at best. I have a light hand and don't see the point of trying to push that nib. The EF tip is REALLY thin, pretty much as thin as my 3776 UEF (but this one I got used so I'm not sure it's as thin as it should be). It has the typical Platinum feedback, which is high! Lubricated ink needed, along with smooth paper Ink flow is just right, generous enough to be pleasant but not too much as to keep tight lines.

I probably should have gone for a Chartres blue or Laurel green 3776, if I had to do it again.

 

Edit: as you can see on the first picture, the nib doesn't sit perfectly centered on the feed. I checked and double checked and the nib is in its grooves, nowhere else to go. I think the feed was just made slightly uncentered. Doesn't affect flow, just my OCD.



Here it is with the Rotring Artpen and a period correct Rotring Rivette I got new old stock on Ebay. My main writing pen when I used the cartridges above and during my school years was a red Rotring Rivette that my mom had gotten for free with a set of Isographs. I loved that pen! It was a M, but if the EF is representative of the average nib width, it must have been like a Japanese M! That EF is so thin for a German pen. Quite dry too, but I didn't want to tinker with the nib just yet.
My red Rivette was stolen in the lockers during gym class, and I mourned it till last year or so when I finally identified what model it was and bought a blue one (couldn't find a red). EF was a plus!
I find it's such an ugly pen when unposted but look at it posted:

 

 

That's how it's meant to be used (it's so light and there's a ring on the body so it posts super securely).

On 9/29/2023 at 5:50 PM, Penguincollector said:

 Seriously, try the Platinum pink. It sheens gold, even with a UEF nib (If you need a home for disappointing old cartridges, let me know).

I gave them all away at the Pelikan hub, sorry! And got some equally disappointing Sailor black cartridges in exchange...clear plastic instead of "milky", the black isn't particularly lubricated nor black and the ink doesn't have the typical Sailor smell. Such puzzling ink.
And yesterday I bought some Platinum pink cartridges  😂 Pink is really not my style, but after the Rose pink Pelikan from the hub, I might follow a new trend

[yazeh]

I still have my rOtring rive from my student years. It had a very organic design and very comfortable to use. I don't use it any more, but it was a faithful companion
 

[LizEF]

2 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

Just buy a 3776! ...

Wow!  You've convinced me.  (Of course, I got a 3776 before I ever heard of a President, but still... )

 

2 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

And yesterday I bought some Platinum pink cartridges  😂

Maybe they'll write red!

 

2 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

Pink is really not my style, but after the Rose pink Pelikan from the hub, I might follow a new trend

I have discovered that ink color is not the same as [other stuff] color.  (e.g. murky green is a great ink color, but probably wouldn't look good as the upholstery on your couch...)

[Penguincollector]

1 hour ago, LizEF said:

I have discovered that ink color is not the same as [other stuff] color.  (e.g. murky green is a great ink color, but probably wouldn't look good as the upholstery on your couch...)

  This is so true! When it comes to color, the colors that I like in everyday objects is very different from ink. I don’t like sequins, pink, red, or even purple much in terms of clothing or decor- but I like loud inks, sheen, and shimmer. 

 

3 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

And yesterday I bought some Platinum pink cartridges  😂 Pink is really not my style, but after the Rose pink Pelikan from the hub, I might follow a new trend

  It’s totally not my thing, but this pink is different. The closest I have seen to it is the new pink J. Herbin, but that one shimmers. I’m glad your old carts found a home, but what a bummer that you didn’t get good Sailor ones in return. I wonder if they are old, because I want to say (but can’t verify at the moment) that some of the Chalana cartridges are of that different plastic and those are really old. 
 

  Thanks for the offer to buy the adapter; I think I found some at a super reasonable price so I’ll attempt to purchase one soon.

[yazeh]

1 hour ago, LizEF said:

I have discovered that ink color is not the same as [other stuff] color.  (e.g. murky green is a great ink color, but probably wouldn't look good as the upholstery on your couch...)

Yep. Totally agree. There are colours which I really like around the home, as accents, but as inks, no way. Ive been trying to find a nice red, but alas I think I don't like the colour in ink..... same goes for orange   😢

 

 

[Sailor Kenshin]

2 hours ago, LizEF said:

Wow!  You've convinced me.  (Of course, I got a 3776 before I ever heard of a President, but still... )

 

Maybe they'll write red!

 

I have discovered that ink color is not the same as [other stuff] color.  (e.g. murky green is a great ink color, but probably wouldn't look good as the upholstery on your couch...)

I resemble that remark!

[LizEF]

55 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

I resemble that remark!

[Sailor Kenshin]

28 minutes ago, LizEF said:

 

Curtains, carpet, sofa, occasional chair:  all shades of murky green.

[LizEF]

25 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Curtains, carpet, sofa, occasional chair:  all shades of murky green.

[Lithium466]

Platinum pink is actually great! More "in the face" than Pelikan Rose Quartz. It flows really well too, and is more saturated than Platinum standard red (but again apart from Lamy red, what is less saturated than that?).

I'm not seeing sheen yet, as I put the cartridge in the President, but maybe that will come as it ages and dries up a bit. And while I certainly wouldn't want furnitures that shade of pink, I'm fine with it for writing!

 

Tip when using the Platinum cartridges adaptors: verify it's properly cut inside and will allow proper ink flow. Had one that wasn't cut properly and spent some time wondering why the ink flow was so stingy.

[LizEF]

3 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

Platinum pink is actually great! More "in the face" than Pelikan Rose Quartz. It flows really well too, and is more saturated than Platinum standard red (but again apart from Lamy red, what is less saturated than that?).

I'm not seeing sheen yet, as I put the cartridge in the President, but maybe that will come as it ages and dries up a bit. And while I certainly wouldn't want furnitures that shade of pink, I'm fine with it for writing!

[amberleadavis]

@Lithium466 I've "saved" (hoarded) my favorite inks and papers for years.  Then when I discovered I was really sick, I became nervous about the fact that my kids didn't share my same idiosyncracies. They won't appreciate those weird papers.  So I am on a quest to use my favorites.  I hope you enjoy your hoard.

[Lithium466]

This is good advice @amberleadavis. I too recently realised how fragile life is, and went to get these Rotring inks, along with some "rare" pencils and other things I had been saving for years...part of me knew where they probably were all along.

As I'll have nobody to enjoy whatever I enjoyed, I'm now choosing to live today for the time I have left. I shared and gave away many inks at the Pelikan hub, and made a small list with some instructions to "dispose" of various things when I can no longer enjoy them. 

I hope you're enjoying your favourites, and that you will enjoy them for a long, long time. Be safe.

[yazeh]

5 hours ago, amberleadavis said:

@Lithium466 I've "saved" (hoarded) my favorite inks and papers for years.  Then when I discovered I was really sick, I became nervous about the fact that my kids didn't share my same idiosyncracies. They won't appreciate those weird papers.  So I am on a quest to use my favorites.  I hope you enjoy your hoard.

Sorry to hear that! Hope you Gert better and enjoy your favourites! Life is too short for the 2nd best/ 2 favorite !

[amberleadavis]

@Lithium466 and @yazeh Thank you both.  I am enjoying my favorites.