What pen for wedding registry?

[benvh]

I'm getting married next month and for our registry we found a guestbook from a New England inn from the 1930s. The idea is to have our guests sign amongst the historical signatures (there are random blank pages and some extras we added after getting it re-bound). Obviously we can't have a new pen sitting next to this historical book, so I'm trying to figure out what kind of pen to use. I need something that is somewhat user friendly so everyone will be able to use it easily (dip pen, etc is out). Also, the ink needs to last the entire night. I'd like the ink/pen combo to dry somewhat quickly as well so we don't end up with a ton of smudging. I'm leaning towards an Esterbrook desk pen as it looks nice in the stand and they are relatively cheap. Any suggestions? Ink color is another choice I need to make...

 

Ben

[jar]

You need to do some testing beforehand to make sure that the pen can get through things like being put down uncapped for extended periods, dropped, held upside down.

 

So...have a two pen set, one fountain, one ball point or roller ball.

[Lorna Reed]

An ink colour to match the bridesmaids dresses, or the flowers would be nice. BUT if this is for the actual marriage register, the ink would have to be black as it is a legal document.

Edited May 9, 2010 by Lorna Reed

[benvh]

I guess I misspoke saying registry, I meant guestbook.

Ben

[WendyNC]

My first thought for an ink would one one of the modern "iron gall" blue blacks, such as Lamy, Diamine Registrar's Ink, or the MontBlanc equivalent. My only concern there would be that they can be slow to start in some pens (although I've only tried the first two and the MontBlanc may be different).

 

Two inks you might consider are Noodler's Navy and Noodler's Bad Belted Kingfisher, although you'll have to test drying times on your register with the pen or pens you finally select. Unlike many of the Noodler's inks, I've found nib creep to be minimal or nonexistent with these two and they are both conventional colors. The Navy offers some dark teal shading, while the BBK is just a solid dark blue. If you want samples, send me a PM with your address and I'll send you some of both.

[BrandonA]

An ink colour to match the bridesmaids dresses, or the flowers would be nice. BUT if this is for the actual marriage register, the ink would have to be black as it is a legal document.

 

In the UK you must use the pen provided by the registar to sign the official marriage certificate. I tried to use my MB but they stated that the ink may not be permenant.

 

In regards to the guest book. I'd be a bit careful with a dipping pen for two reasons. Firstly, people will be wearing their best clothes and no one will want ink getting onto their clothes. Secondly, if people are drunk the bottle could get spilt and either ruin the book or prevent people from signing.

 

I personally would go with a cheap biro of some sort. No one will care what pen is used to sign the book so why risk losing something decent.

[eslemexe]

I'm thinking in a eyedropper vintage, if you will get many guests and need a good amount if ink. Or you can do what jar say, one FP and a ballpoint for the "too scary for the fountain pen" ones. By the way congrats for your wedding.

[jakelogan]

Bulletproof such as Noodlers in a no-fuss Megaball roller.

[ChemErik]

I'd say a hooded nib, such as the Parker 51, would be good to keep the drying out to a minimum. I know the Parker 51 is slightly newer than the book, but I don't think any pens that would have been around in 1930 would have the ability to sit uncapped for 20 minutes and still start right away. I could be wrong as I haven't tried that many pens. I'd think a nice classic ink color similar to historical inks would be best. Either a nice blue-black or sepia.

[pen2paper]

Lamy Joy italic, or Pilot Plumix.. both will allow the pen to be set down for a while, then resumes writing quite well..

Alternately, jbb has some great dip pen nibs, with holder, you could have an inkwell, but that could be scary for the unintiated..

 

edit to add PR Copperburst would have a nice aged look.

Golden Brown too.

Edited May 9, 2010 by pen2paper

[Ernst Bitterman]

I'd seek out one of the Esterbrook "Dip-Less" wells. It has the advantages that no one is likely to wander away with the pen, it will tolerate being left out of the socket by careless folks, the points are generally sturdy. can accept some very fierce inks so you could probably get away with Registrar's, and unless you're inviting thousands it will almost certainly not run out of ink. It is, of course, a dip pen, but it's not so exotic that it will panic people; if you find one of the ones meant for banks, it even comes with a chain and a polite request to return the pen to the socket stamped on it.

 

Here's an eBay item of possible interest (and npt one of mine, I hasten to add):

270575675130

Edited May 9, 2010 by Ernst Bitterman

[ReverendPen]

I just officiated for a wedding and when it came time for the witnesses to sign the marriage cert the only pen available was my Sheaffer TD. So I uncapped it handed it to the best man and he began to write with the nib on it's side, I had to show him how to use a FP and then the brides maid too. I watched as the nib was pushed deep into the paper and prayed that I would get it back not bent. That being said I love your idea but I worry about the damage done to any FP and the frustration of those guests who will try to write the wrong way and get frustrated. So I would suggest offering two options, a desk set FP and a roller ball or bp. can you chain or tie off the pens so that if they do drop the chain/string is short enough to keep it from hitting the ground?

 

Best wishes on your wedding.

[MicheleB]

I like your first instinct of an Estie desk pen. The classic is the dipless and I'd use a med stub nib with the hockeypuck base. For a little more class you can find a Sheaffer onyx single desk pen for pretty cheap also (example http://www.privatescreeningseattle.com/servlet/the-3450/Sheaffer%27s-Desk-Set-Fountain/Detail). With the onyx you could get a brass plate with an engraving commemorating its use. If you get a double pen set, you could put FP in one side and RB in other perhaps. I for one would love to film folks' and figuring out what to do! ;-) Most won't have a clue what a FP is or how to use it! Be prepared to kiss the nib goodbye however. You could always remove the FP before the wildness (after dinner let's say) and just leave a RB or BP.

 

For ink I would use a classic MB blue black or equivalent Herbin with a little Noodlers permanent mixed in or Diamine Registrar. Look at your wedding colors. If you have a purple tint I reco Poussier de Lune!

 

Congratulations!

[gross]

I'd seek out one of the Esterbrook "Dip-Less" wells. It has the advantages that no one is likely to wander away with the pen, it will tolerate being left out of the socket by careless folks, the points are generally sturdy. can accept some very fierce inks so you could probably get away with Registrar's, and unless you're inviting thousands it will almost certainly not run out of ink. It is, of course, a dip pen, but it's not so exotic that it will panic people; if you find one of the ones meant for banks, it even comes with a chain and a polite request to return the pen to the socket stamped on it.

 

Here's an eBay item of possible interest (and not one of mine, I hasten to add):

270575675130

I agree. Go with the Esterbrook. For an ink, I'd suggest Noodler's Legal Lapis. It is bulletproof so the guestbook will show who the guests were to your great-great-great-great grandkids. I am a black ink only old man, but I got Legal Lapis when I found that it matched perfectly the ink on some of my family's official papers from the 1800s. Contrary to what you may have heard, this ink is a quick drier.

 

I say again, take Ernst's advice and go with the Esterbrook! You can trust Ernst.

 

Edited because I either can't spell or I can't type or both.

Edited May 10, 2010 by gross

[fuchsiaprincess]

Bulletproof such as Noodlers in a no-fuss Megaball roller.

 

+2 Congratulations

[Tweel]

I'd seek out one of the Esterbrook "Dip-Less" wells...

I agree. Go with the Esterbrook...

A Dip-Less is exactly what I was thinking of, too. Alternatively, something reliable and non-quirky, with a snap or slip cap. Maybe a Cross Townsend?

 

-- Brian

[otherboss]

Sorry for being a bit of a grinch/grouch/wet blanket, but you would have to think that any fountain pen worth putting with your guestbook, would be of a reasonable quality and then you'd have to consider how long it would last, allowing that the majority of people either don't know how to use a FP, or are so used to pressing down hard with BP's, that it would break or bend before half your guests got to sign.

 

Allowing for the "impurity" of using a non FP, have you thought of a roller ball, which usually has a finished writing close to a fountain pen, or one of the Parker gel inserts in a chrome/gold Jotter type body. I'd be freaking out and continually back and forth checking to see if the FP had been broken, or more likely bent into an unintentional wet noodle by ham fisted guests.

 

As I said, I might be grouchy about the thing, but why send a fountain pen to an inglorious death when you don't need to.

 

Anyway, congratulations and good luck with your choice (the pen, not the bride)

[GraceThroughFaith]

I tend to find that FPs have quite a learning curve, especially for those used to ballpoints. For example, once I signed my name with a flourish on a card and then was asked by a friend without a pen if he could use my pen to sign the card. I reluctantly handed it over and had to explain how it worked for at least a minute before he could even make a mark. Don't do this to your guests or to the pen.

 

If you must have a fountain pen, at least give those who don't know how to use one a ballpoint or rollerball. You're supposed to be having fun with your friends, and they with you. Don't bog down the big day with a pen fiasco.

 

With respect to those worried to the exact dating of the pen, why worry about pen anachronism when the book is being signed now, in 2010? Isn't the idea to merge old and new into a seamless narrative? Unless your entire event is designed around the 1930s, I would go for function over time period.

[benvh]

I think I am going to keep it simple for a lot of the reasons listed above. I think I can find something functional that will look just fine aesthetically. I too have had someone grab my pen (Parker 21 to be exact) and scrape metal all over the paper before they realized it.

[SilentK]

Perhaps take an old rollerball refill and fill it with your fountain pen ink of choice? I believe I have heard of some people putting FP ink in old rollerballs with some success. But I could be wrong.