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Author
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Topic: What grade pencil for an astronaut autograph?
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sobof62
Member Posts: 94
From: Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 10-12-2015 09:20 AM
   
I have bought an Al Bean "Homeward Bound" print already additionally signed by Frank Borman in pencil.I'd now like to have Jim Lovell sign it and don't know what 'grade' of pencil to use. Any advice would be much appreciated. I am in the UK. |
ChrisCalle
Member Posts: 135
From: Ridgefield, CT USA
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 10-12-2015 10:50 AM
I prefer HB pencils, not too hard, not too soft.
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moonguyron
Member Posts: 191
From: Trinity, FL USA
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 10-12-2015 11:01 AM
I have an appointment this week with ret. Maj. Gen. Eldon Joersz to do a signing of lithographs of a painting showing his record speed flight in the SR-71. The record was set in 1976 for absolute speed in a production aircraft of 2193 MPH and still stands to this day. These are signed for a friend that sells the prints on eBay (Titled "Eldon's Run"). This is the second signing by the General that I have been involved in. He collects a small fee for those that sell that goes 100% to a charity to help the homeless on which the Gen. is a board member. In both cases we use the recommended #2 pencil for all signings. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-12-2015 11:10 AM
Just to note, HB pencils as mentioned by Chris and No. 2 pencils as mentioned by Ron are roughly the same thing. HB is an international categorization; No. 2 is American. Both are about middle grade when it comes to the color and hardness. |
sobof62
Member Posts: 94
From: Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 10-12-2015 11:20 AM
Very many thanks for the advice and swift replies. |
neo1022
Member Posts: 281
From: Santa Monica, CA
Registered: Jun 2013
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posted 10-13-2015 09:56 PM
Use #2 lead, and be sure to have them sign using a vintage Garland 35-P mechanical pencil, the staple of Apollo astronauts! |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 10-15-2015 07:43 AM
We hear a lot about the Fisher Space Pen but I didn't know about the pencils, Thanks. |
bruce
Member Posts: 916
From: Fort Mill, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 10-15-2015 06:50 PM
The #2 pencil was the Russian space pen. I know because Alexei Leonov told me! |
spaceman1953
Member Posts: 953
From: South Bend, IN
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 11-19-2015 09:08 PM
Congratulations on "thinking" about using a pencil at all. Many people would not ever dare to do it. Of course, with footballs and baseballs and such, such a pencil idea is fantasy but pencil will outlive all of us. When I was responsible for a local effort to fill a Bicentennial Time Capsule in 1976, I had the club members sign the letter we included in pencil, just for that reason. Good Luck! And have fun! |
neo1022
Member Posts: 281
From: Santa Monica, CA
Registered: Jun 2013
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posted 11-20-2015 01:51 PM
The Garland mechanical pencil was also used on the Apollo missions, as well as Skylab. Seems appropriate to use for signing purposes, plus, you'd have an astronaut-used Garland! |
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