The Stabilo Trio 362 is an oversized triangular pencil in a natural finish with a splash of colour on the cap.
The pencil is marked “3-6 Gripping Standard”. The packaging reveals the meaning. Can you guess? That’s right, this pencil is meant for three to six year olds!
The core is an oversized 3.8mm. The line seemed somewhat light, though with more pressure it was able to leave a dark line.
What’s really noticeable is the cap. This type of painted pencil end seems to be a feature associated with European pencils. The term I hear in English is “dipped”. But in German, there is more specific terminology. The white ring is a “Lackring” and the red cap a “Lackkappe”. This site translates Lackkappe to “patent tip” or “patent toe cap”. Maybe patent as in patent leather – shiny – but I think the terms more mean lacquer ring and lacquer cap. Corrections/additions to this understanding are welcome!
The bright red and white cap is a nice contrast to the natural finish pencil. Overall, a nice pencil.
Regarding pencils the usual German terminology for dipped is “Tauchkappe”(less often:”Endkappe”), which means varnished cap or end. Here you will find some translations:
http://www.faber-castell.de/bausteine.net/file/showfile.aspx?downdaid=7255&sp=D&domid=1010&fd=2
Lackring sounds proper, although I can’t remember to have it read before.
Frank, thank you very much for the information.
That catalogue is quite informative. Castell wine!
I saw “Lackring” and “Lackkappe” at sites such as these:
http://www.markel-line.com/al-durchgefaerbte-bleistifte.php
http://www.e-merch.com/Sitemap/Produktdatenblaetter/GER/189664_Zimmersmannsbleistifte_eckig-oval_12240_mm_GER.html
http://www.jean-denecke.de/standard_20sizes_20gb.html
Incidentally, are you familiar with “Comet Denecke”? I am wondering if they manufacture their own pencils. (They don’t reply to my correspondence.)
The brightly capped natural finish looks great.
Hi Steven,
I didn’t say ‘Lackkappe’ is wrong, it’s only not so common as ‘Tauchkappe’ (in Austria also ‘Tauchkopf’).
Denecke I know only by name from a collector’s page
http://www.buettner-nuernberg.de/bleistift.htm
(sorry, only German). According to the homepage I would say yes, but it’s very outdated. Interesting that markel-line names Denecke a custumer on his German website
http://www.markel-line.com/al-einfuehrung.php
If I learn more I’ll let you know asap
Regarding Comet Denecke: It is very disapointing that they haven’t replied to my order inquiry from Germany, not even with an automated response or a negative reply. – Sorry for grumbling over it.