"Archival" ink

I've spent a little time researching the topic and trying out different
pens and inks and I am beginning to think the idea of "archival" ink is
a bit of a scam.

There don't seem to be any actual measurements of what "archival" is and
I am wondering of the concept of "acid free" ink is just to capitalize
off of what people now know of acid free paper.

What are the different properties of different types of ink as they last
over time? What types of inks were used on some of the books that are
now over five hundred years old? What type of ink is used traditionally
in fountain pen bottled ink and how long should it last? I have heard
that black is the best color for longevity, is this true?

I went by a staples and saw that only the Pilot pens put an "archival
quality" label on their pens, but is this more marketing or a real
advantage they have? Luckily, I seem to like Pilot Dr. Grip Gels enough
that I am happy to use one of those. Are there others?

Thanks for any information you can give me.

--
Mike Shea
Email:
About Me: http://mikeshea.net/about/
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Everquest Fan Fiction: http://loralciriclight.com/
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Here in the UK there is a black ink called "Registrar's Ink", which is
supposed to be the only ink permitted for the signing of official registers
for births, marriages and deaths. At every Registry Office (every large
town and city has one of these) only Registrar's Ink is used. Some churches
also insist on it. I have not been able to find out who makes it, only that
it is sourced through The Stationery Office (which until recently was called
Her Majety's Stationery Office, and which belongs to the UK government).
All I can tell you is that it is black, and it is genuinely suitable for
fountain pens.

Christopher W.




"Mike Shea" wrote in message
s.com...
I've spent a little time researching the topic and trying out different
pens and inks and I am beginning to think the idea of "archival" ink is
a bit of a scam.

There don't seem to be any actual measurements of what "archival" is and
I am wondering of the concept of "acid free" ink is just to capitalize
off of what people now know of acid free paper.

What are the different properties of different types of ink as they last
over time? What types of inks were used on some of the books that are
now over five hundred years old? What type of ink is used traditionally
in fountain pen bottled ink and how long should it last? I have heard
that black is the best color for longevity, is this true?

I went by a staples and saw that only the Pilot pens put an "archival
quality" label on their pens, but is this more marketing or a real
advantage they have? Luckily, I seem to like Pilot Dr. Grip Gels enough
that I am happy to use one of those. Are there others?

Thanks for any information you can give me.

--
Mike Shea
Email:
About Me: http://mikeshea.net/about/
DVD and Home Theater: http://liquidtheater.com/
Everquest Fan Fiction: http://loralciriclight.com/
Automated Everquest News: http://eqwire.com/

In article m,
Mike Shea wrote:

There don't seem to be any actual measurements of what "archival"
is [...]

Yes, there is. At least in some jurisdictions. Here in
Sweden you're not allowed to use for things which you
are required to make archival pens/refills and paper that
aren't marked "Svenskt arkiv" and that standard is a
standard which the items are tested against, not an opinion.

There are corresponding ISO standards, at least for
ballpoint and rollerball refills/pens. (There should be
one for paper too, otherwise they're sort of meaningless.)

I went by a staples and saw that only the Pilot pens put an "archival
quality" label on their pens, but is this more marketing or a real
advantage they have?

Good question. It's perfectly possible there are others
just as archival in practice, but not put through a
certification process and this label may or may not
reflect any certification.

I don't recall having seen that label here, on what
products did you see it?

Luckily, I seem to like Pilot Dr. Grip Gels enough
that I am happy to use one of those.

Some of those definitly aren't close to archival.
See: http://www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/writing/#misc
--
Urban Fredriksson http://www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/
There is always a yet unknown alternative.

"Mike Shea" wrote in message
s.com...

I went by a staples and saw that only the Pilot pens put an "archival
quality" label on their pens, but is this more marketing or a real
advantage they have? Luckily, I seem to like Pilot Dr. Grip Gels enough
that I am happy to use one of those. Are there others?

Huh? Only Pilot? That's a laugh. The Pilot G-2 isn't even waterproof.

Check out Pentel and Sakura gels.


--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.