If we are in an argument, ask yourself: "does looking at my post history help your point or hurt it?"
Old typeface used metal plates. The didn't go out of favour until the early 1900's give or take a decade or so.
There are ink pads for stamps. Also there are inks for printing presses. The ink pads work well with the rubber stamps and presses use an ink that is meant to be transferred from a smooth metal surface.The latter ink might be what you're looking for, but is a bit of a specialty item.
I like to think of them as root peas. As they grow like a bush of peas until the pods head under ground.
