Abstract: An apparatus for the marking of wires and the like comprises a preparation board consisting of a base portion and a neck portion, the neck portion having an extension piece thereon with a plurality of spaced, essentially flat tabs extending therefrom. Flexible, tubular heat recoverable sleeves are positioned on the tabs in a temporarily deformed manner to present a flattened writing surface on each of the sleeves. After writing or otherwise placing identifying indicia thereon, the sleeves are removed from the tabs and recover their original tubular shape. The sleeves are then positioned coaxially about the wires to be identified, and are permanently heat shrunk thereon. The entire installation is accomplished at the job site.