Noodler's Purple Martin

[jakespeed]

Thanks for this review. I'd been thinking that I needed a deep purple colored ink to add to my range, and I think this is it. Hopefully, the local shop has it in stock...because I am not good with waiting.

[Romeo Dog]

I received a bottle of Purple Martin from Pear Tree. It shows more purple color than Wampum, but is still dark enough to be used as a signature ink on documents. It does flow a little dry, however, from the pens I've tried it in. Anyone else notice this?

[Songwind]

I received a bottle of Purple Martin from Pear Tree. It shows more purple color than Wampum, but is still dark enough to be used as a signature ink on documents. It does flow a little dry, however, from the pens I've tried it in. Anyone else notice this?

 

I have used it in a few pens. My experience has been that it's wetter than Noodler's Black, dryer than Gruene Cactus, and about the same as Sheaffer. That's been consistent across the board in all my pens, except for the Sheaffer, which I only know from one pen. That said, it's been perfectly wet enough to work well in all my pens.

[Inkanthropist]

Thanks for the scan and subsequent comments, Songwind. This looks like another 'must have' colour to me.

 

Neil

[Tricia]

Viseguy, I don't have trouble with feathering with either Purple Martin or Wampum, though I usually write on smooth paper - Clairefontaine, old Levenger, Exacompta, etc. - which may help. That said, I also write quite a bit in a Moleskine journal and rarely have any trouble there, either.

 

I kept Purple Martin in a clear Pelikan demonstrator steadily for a couple of years. It was a gorgeous ink both in the pen (in the morning sunshine) and when I wrote with it on both the bright white of Clairefontaine's paper and the ever-so-slightly cream of the old Levenger's paper. (And, no, it didn't stain the pen.)

 

 

 

 

 

[Songwind]

I kept Purple Martin in a clear Pelikan demonstrator steadily for a couple of years. It was a gorgeous ink both in the pen (in the morning sunshine) and when I wrote with it on both the bright white of Clairefontaine's paper and the ever-so-slightly cream of the old Levenger's paper. (And, no, it didn't stain the pen.)

 

This is excellent news. The only demonstrator I have right now is a Waterman Kultur, but I have been avoiding using the PM in it for fear of stains.

[wpblaw]

Purple Martin was my favorite ink until I got the Wampum. Now they trade off the top spot, depending on what I'm writing with at that moment. Beautiful beautiful inks. ...

How do they compare when it comes to feathering? I find Wampum to be a little more feathery than most other Noodler's. (I don't have Martin.)

 

I've had the same issue with Wampum. I'd like to like it, but feathery inks drive me nuts. Any "fixes" for this? A drop of another ink? A bit of water? Have you done anything to alter this property?

[Martius]

Wow, looks like a darker Iraqi Indigo. Very nice. I love purple inks and I think Nathan has done a lot for the palette of purple inks suitable for fountain pens.

[JDlugosz]

Another member sent me a page to scan. Here is a calibrated scan of the color:

 

 

 

 

Interestingly, it is exactly the same Hue as Waterman Purple (263° in an averaged area), but Waterman's is a little bit more saturated (less gray, more color). You can tell them apart by eye if the line is thick enough or if looking at a larger swatch: Purple Martin is a tad more gray.

 

[Orchidoptera]

Thank you for the review. I actually registered here because I was looking for reviews and wanted to add my experience with this ink. It has worked well for me in pens that are too enthusiastic about ink flow for my taste. For example, I have a Lamy EF nib that is more like M with other inks. With Purple Martin, it's a true EF-width line. And, of course, the color is lovely.