Waterman's Brown Ink of Old

One of those happy moments for Palimpsest a few weeks back when not only did I come across an early-20th-century Waterman's ink bottle but found that said bottle was full of Brown ink. What is it about old ink? Probably the summation of lost possibilities, unrealized potential, secrets never told - I don't know. The hexagonally shaped bottle is pregnant with wholesome brown ink. 

It was issued possibly in the early years of the 20th century by L. G. Sloan, purveyor of rubber bands, Congress playing cards and Waterman pens. Earliest advertisements of Waterman under the L. G. Sloan label are recorded in 1918 by Grace's Guide. L. G. Sloan Ltd owned the Pen Corner, at 41 Kingsway, London WC2, which still stands today and is known as the Waterman House. 

Waterman House, off Kingsway WC2, central London, former headquarters of L. G. Sloan.
Source Google Maps

There is plenty of ink, darkly glimmering behind the paper label which bears the instructions in small black capital letters: "To fill pen when ink is low stand bottle on side." The bottle is the 1930s design of Ted Piazzoli of Capstan Glass Pensylvania. It features again on the box tipped on its side with a fountain pen (a Waterman no doubt) dipped into it. 

The ink flows beautifully after so many years. It is dark when it touches the paper and dries into a warm brown with some orange tones. It is a pleasure to dip the pen in the bottle, flex the nib on the Rhodia dotted paper, and watch the wet letters dry slowly. Wondering what words the ink given the chance will produce.

If you want a 30ml sample contact me at blogpalimpsest at gmail dot com and I will list it on my Etsy shop Inklinks.