Best bottle design for

[FredRydr]

I used to think the Montblanc shoe-shaped bottles were the epitome of simple and efficient design for getting the last ink out of a bottle. But I've changed my mind. I have more luck draining a modern Waterman bottle. When tipped onto its side, the Waterman bottle allows a fountain pen to dip into the remaining ink at a low angle, a real advantage with large nibs which cannot benefit from coming in from the top.

Is there a better bottle out there?

Fred

[SIR]

Omas?
http://www.marcuslink.com/pens/views/images/omasbottle-01x250.jpg

[KKay]

Iroshizuku

[Jon Szanto]

Best overall: Akkerman (from the classic Waterman-Jif design)

Honorable Mention: Contemporary Waterman, Old-style MB "boot" (tie)

Special Juror's Award: vintage Sheaffer "Top Well" bottle (for smaller-nibbed and Snorkel pens)



PLEASE NOTE: By virtue of a unanimous vote by the judges, the bottles from Pilot "Iroshizuku", Pelikan "Edelstein", and Caran d'Ache have all been sent across the hall to another room to compete in the "Best Perfume Bottle" category...

[FredRydr]

Omas?

I have an Omas bottle, and I hadn't realized it was "tippable." It's a close second because the angle isn't quite as low and therefore the Waterman affords better ink suckability towards the end. Also, the Waterman resists tipping back upright better than the Omas.

I have both the old and new Montblanc bottles, and I see no improvement in the functional design. Neither allows my large nibbed pens to get anywhere near the bottom of the ink, though one can cheat by putting the toe end of the bottle on a higher surface than the heel when the ink runs low, but it's risky incase of a slip-up. Besides, that's cheating.

I'm not familiar with the Iroshizuku and Akkerman bottles. Google Images to the rescue.... ...I don't see any way Iroshizuku bottles can be positioned to improve access to low ink. They're about the same as an Edelstein or Aurora bottle. Is the reference to Iroshizuku a bottle style that is no longer made?

Ahhh, NOW I know who sells those glass-marble-in-the-neck ink bottles! Thank you Jon. Do the Akkerman ink bottles work?

Fred

[earthdawn]

Akkerman....

Fantastic concept that was used by Waterman I believe.

I have not emptied one yet but the last "slurp" of ink my prove a little dodgy to get at with the marble there but boy is it easy to fill from.

[carlos.q]

You can also tip a Pelikan 4001 ink bottle on its side to suck the last ink out. :thumb:

24806

[KKay]

The Iroshizuku bottles have a dip in the middle, that goes below the bottom. Joe says they are perfume category though. I am still just a newbie.

[Jon Szanto]

I have both the old and new Montblanc bottles, and I see no improvement in the functional design. Neither allows my large nibbed pens to get anywhere near the bottom of the ink, though one can cheat by putting the toe end of the bottle on a higher surface than the heel when the ink runs low, but it's risky incase of a slip-up. Besides, that's cheating.

Ahhh, NOW I know who sells those glass-marble-in-the-neck ink bottles! Thank you Jon. Do the Akkerman ink bottles work?

To the former: hey, I didn't say the difference was functional, I just like the aesthetics of the rounded form, not to mention a much better cap. As to tipping/cheating, get real: name me any part of the fountain pen experience where we don't tinker and accommodate materials to our whims and needs?

To the latter: yes, they do work remarkably well. That marble keeps a good supply of ink in a very deep enough well, and then you can tilt the bottle a bit, tap it with your finger on the side of the neck to bump the marble, and it goes back down. I have (also) not completed the bottle (#5, Shocking Blue) but I imagine the very last bits of ink might be a bit of a problem, but that is a small percentage. The bottles are extra-cool on your shelf, too, and would be eminently refillable. You should order one from Vanness, Fred.


The Iroshizuku bottles have a dip in the middle, that goes below the bottom. Joe says they are perfume category though. I am still just a newbie.

I'm not sure why this happens, but people frequently read my name as "Joe". Not. ;) As to the bottles, I was mostly just having a chuckle, but the indents in the bottom of the Iro bottle isn't quite as helpful as the other designs. Once the ink level is very low, you can't put most pens deep enough to seal off the section and pull up a fill, either with c/c or piston. But I'll be honest: if this whole thread was a beauty contest, they would be my favorites.

[Chrissy]

I've never tried an Akkerman bottle. They look nice though. :)

I've just bought a Visconti glass bottle and was wondering how stable they are, but assume they are intended to stay in their cardboard boxes to keep them stable. I'm less keen on the plastic ones even in their plastic cases. Perhaps it's just me? :confused:

[VegHead]

What you said Chrissy...

[stub]

Regular Pilot 70 ML bottles rule.

They have the reservoir but large and deep enough that you can fit pretty much any nib in there and unlike the silly Sailor ones actually have enough ink in there to fill, say a Pelikan 400nn. In short a reservoir that actually works. Bonus points for a sturdy base that is very hard to tip over.

Also great: MB Shoe, Waterman (jif)/Akkerman and new style, Old 'lip" Skrip all very good. Love the MB shoe, which gets bonus points for the cap that is easily gripped. Lamy would be loved by more if the inks didn't "yawn" what was I saying? Oh, the Lamy ink sucks but the bottle isn't horrible.

Visconti, once you learn that the bottle flips over and stays in the holder, not too terrible But still kind of dangerous.

Meh: Iroshizuku. Pretty. But those effing caps. I have broke three so far. Sailor, solid foot but unless reservoir which is too small and holds, well, a sailor amount of ink.

Craptacular: Herbin. Useless pen holder. Hard to use.

[stub]

For me it is between the MB Shoe and the Pilot 70ml.

Can't stress enough how much I appreciate a bottle that you can fill from easily, is not easily tipped over and that MB cap, really gives you something to grab on to. Bravo.

https://sparklingsilvia.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/montblank_ink.jpg

http://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/1d/47/cb81a1edec3b9ca99a57cd013bc89260.jpg

[FredRydr]

Well, you can see that I never toss a shoe bottle in the bin.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-akH93AL6Dbg/Vd9fYp7ZPOI/AAAAAAAAI5Q/DzFatM2fAnsljoaHMdaPquju32GFTAXnACCo/s800/2015_08_27_15_04_57.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bjy6aHswYvs/VzsBFcUp4pI/AAAAAAAAJpM/neAD5--IPdwxPJUI0pqZNmW061YwCZjBACCo/s800/2016_05_17_07_31_28.jpg
My mother's old paint box converted to ink duty.

Fred

[Neo]

Lamy

[top pen]

The Parker ones aren't bad when put on there side.

[View from the Loft]

Lamy

Seconded.

[FredRydr]

Look what I found when searching for a photo of a Lamy ink bottle.

https://penfountain.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/inks-003.jpg

https://penfountain.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/wringing-out-the-ink/

Alas, the Lamy must roll 'round!

Fred

[KKay]

Oh Jon, I am sorry I called you Joe. Please forgive me, it was not intentional. I must have had a senior moment. (sadly they are more frequent these days)

[Jon Szanto]

Oh Jon, I am sorry I called you Joe. Please forgive me, it was not intentional. I must have had a senior moment. (sadly they are more frequent these days)

Hey, we're in the battle against time together! :) Seriously, no worries. It is a very frequent occurrence.

[Neo]

Look what I found when searching for a photo of a Lamy ink bottle.

https://penfountain.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/inks-003.jpg

https://penfountain.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/wringing-out-the-ink/

Alas, the Lamy must roll 'round!

Fred


In addition to the divot on the glass bottom which allows for many pen models to "get (close) to the last drop", the bottle comes with a roll of blotting paper on the bottom.

[Runnin_Ute]

Levenger makes a bottle that is not only a Classic ink bottle shape but is easy to get ink out of when low due to the inner well.

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af283/Runnin_Ute/Fountain%20Pens%20Info/Levenger%20bottle_zps6fbstbmz.jpg (http://s1016.photobucket.com/user/Runnin_Ute/media/Fountain%20Pens%20Info/Levenger%20bottle_zps6fbstbmz.jpg.html)

This is a stock photo from the Levenger site.

[FredRydr]

Levenger makes a bottle that is not only a Classic ink bottle shape but is easy to get ink out of when low due to the inner well.

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/28435-ink-bottle-shapes/?p=299900

Interesting!

Fred