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Thirty Years with the RSVP in 2024!
1994 was a really good time to be a nerdy kid who likes pens. That’s the year the RSVP was introduced by Pentel. Until then, the holy grail of obtainable pens (for an elementary schooler) was the Bic Four Color ballpoint.
A teacher may have occasion to loan these out, but rarely so. Bic round-stic & various knock-off offerings filled our world. Anything nicer than a Bic was usually a fancy business pen. An entry-level Cross or Montblanc might be given to a kid as a gift. Maybe by a well-to-do aunt or uncle for a mitzvah or first communion type of event. But those would never be used as an everyday pen. These were serious pens after all. Made of metal, with polished brass or chrome on display. They took expensive refills which were also completely beyond a young wallet’s reach. And fundamentally, kids know they lose things constantly.
Then one day our whole world was turned upside down. It’s hard to remember exactly which came to our school first, but between 1994 and 95, things changed. Overnight, we had not only the Pentel R.S.V.P. but, the Dr. Grip from Pilot as well. Both of these were precision rolling ballpoint pens. Both had comfortable rubber grips. The R.S.V.P. was the slimmer, tighter, and more elegant option of the two. With acid-free non-toxic ink, a firm grip, and crystal-clear plastic, it is a precise and versatile pen.
The Doctor
The pilot was in many ways the opposite. With a much thicker handle, the Dr. Grip pen has since gained a big following as an accessibility tool. Many Arthritis groups recommend the pen for its unique shape and features. The grip has always been softer and more squishy on the Pilot too, which many enjoy. The retractable tip makes it extremely fast to get out and ready to use. Gel ink is featured in the Pilot, which also comes in a very nice pencil version if you need that.
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