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~MORE INKS & REPROS~

N Y STATE INKWELLS

(ebb) These inkwells (similar to C-1044,1045,1042) are deep aqua with pontils. They are attributed to a New York state glasshouse (c-1830-1850). Matching glass stoppers are often missing. The glass is brilliant and heavy.

POCKET STYLE FUNNEL INKWELL

(ebb)Pocket style inkwell (C1079), olive green with pontil. This has a funnel type opening and is rare (one-of-a-kind) attributed to Coventry, CT. Only one has been recorded.

TWO CONICAL PANELLED INK BOTTLES AND DOMED WITH OFFSET NECK INK BOTTLE

(ebb) The bottles on the left and right are commonly called 'umbrella inks'. The one of the left (C-171) is embossed: WATER'S INK TROY, N.Y. The one on the right (C-155) is embossed: BONNEY. The center bottle (C-628) is embossed: J. & I. E. M. It is in yellow-green and at the time I purchased it from William Covill it was only one of two known to him in that color.

Here is a nice grouping of J.& I.E.M. ink bottles in two shades of amber, one in a nice green and the other in yellow-green. There is also one in citron with plain panels.

(Photo courtesy of Showcase Antique Center, Sturbridge, MA.).

(ebb) Three W.E. Bonney ink bottles. This ink maker was located in So. Hanover, MA. The master ink bottle in the center (C-660) has a pouring lip. The label says (in part) "Bonney's National Writing Ink, Snow, Boyden, & Knight, Sole Agents, One Cornhill, Boston" The small bottle on the right (C-238) has a label which reads: "BONNEY'S FRENCH WRITING INK" The bottle on the left, a small master measuring 4 1/4 H x 2 3/4 D. It is embossed: W.E.BONNEY. It is an unusual size. Bonney bottles, with the exception of the small barrels (except those which are pontilled), are considered scarce or rare. It should be noted that the small barrells come in two forms. One has an oval panel, the other a round panel, for labels. The barrel which has a pontil may come with an oval panel only. The Bonney cone ink is embossed: W.E.BONNEY, SO. HANOVER, MASS. There are some Bonney ink bottles in cobalt blue. These are rare and seldom seen. Here is a Bonney master ink bottle with a nice label. Crates which were used for shipping bottles are not plentiful. Here is a box which is in fine condition.

(ebb) This illustration (C-703) is from an 1868 catalogue of Snow, Boyden & Knight Co.
The ink bottle is an unmarked W E. Bonney ink. Enough remnants of this bottle were dug at the Bonney factory site by Noel Tomas and Christopher Lawson (occupant of the site) to attribute this to the Bonney factory. This bottle, as well as the small, aqua barrel bottle, have been found with pontil marks. This indicates that they were some of the first bottles used by Bonney. His business began in 1865 and ended in 1910.

A local Hanover, MA. historian, Barbara Barker, has written: "Another business in South Hanover was the Bonney Ink Factory located on the north side of Broadway just east of Goodriches. William Bonney, known as "Ink Bonney", did a good deal of experimenting before he had a product he dared to offer in competition with other established companies, but eventually he had them coming to him. He had a two story shop where he had mixing vats, dyes, and pots, and other paraphernalia he used in the manufacture of his special ink for about 40 years from just after the Civil war into the early 1900's. An accident nearly blinded him, and his daughter, Cora tried hard to carry on, but she finally sold out the dyes and formulas to the Carter Ink Co.."

(ebb)An advertising blotter for the Carter Ink Company. This indicates that raw materials are brought to the Carter factory from all parts of the world. Here is another blotter and here is the complete InkyRacer set.

CARTER'S INK THERMOMETER

(ebb)A porcelain Carter's Ink thermometer, 27 inches high. These are not easily found today.

REPRODUCTION INKWELLS

This inkwell is a new reproduction. It is appearing in large numbers. The maker is currently unknown. It has been seen in amber, blue, green and clear. Some retailers are selling it for $20. Some are being auctioned on the internet for various sums. There is another similar inkwell, round in shape, 3 1/4"W by 2 1/2"H which comes in the same colors. Buyer beware!

(ebb) This is a reproduction ink bottle, one of a set made in Japan and so embossed on the base. The others in the set include a cylindrical (C-379) and house(C-697). All these bottles were made by the ABM method. They all came in amber, amethyst, green and cobalt. Originally, in addition to the embossed word JAPAN, they had a paper sticker on the base which read: "VANDOR IMPORTS, San Francisco, Made in Japan". They were made for gift shops in 1968.

This is a new REPRODUCTION double snail inkwell. Notice that the blue and clear wells are different in shape from the originals. The 'stops' are made of rubber and not cast iron. These are being sold by the Levenger Company for $29.95. Buyer BEWARE!

Here is a packet of Ink Powder (reproduction) made and sold by a Historical Reenactor from Michigan. He may be reached at Send Email for more information.

Reproduction of a Bennington Phrenology Head inkwell. This differs from the original. It is being sold frequently on E-Bay Auctions for about $20. For details about the original see my web page MORE INKS II.

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Marjorie passed away on March 3, 2003. She always enjoyed her time on the 'web'.

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(ebb)Here is a picture (pen-ink-watercolor) of Francis W. LeBaron. He was a personal friend and an avid bottle collector and dealer. I do not know who did this picture but think it is quite humorous.