Re: Labeling

[Joan Kiplinger <jkip@xxxxxxxxx>]

    The pen I have but hesitate to use if there is something better is a Millenium
fine felt tip, pigment ink, acid-free, archival quality, lightfast, waterproof, fade-
proof and non-bleeding. Has anyone heard of or used this brand?
     Do you know which companies sell IdentaPen?

Patricia Keller wrote:

> For what it may be worth to know:
>
> In 1998 my partner, objects conservator Kory Berrett, tested several
> proprietary felt-tip pens for lightfastness. Each of the pens tested
> claimed to be light-fast.
>
> Kory found that only one of the pens tested was actually light-fast:
> the "IdentaPen" available from some archival supply companies.
>
> Note bene: Proprietary products may change formulae without notice,
> and we haven't re-tested this or any other pen recently for lightfastness.
> But perhaps our experience will serve as a starting point for anyone
> considering using a felt-tip marking pen for numbering artifact labels.
>
> Patricia Keller
> Curator
> Berrett Conservation Studio
> Oxford, Pennsylvania
> (610) 932-2425
>