pencil talk | pencil reviews and discussion
exploring the art and science of pencils since 2005
Some beautifully finished Mitsubishu Uni pencils. Called “Natural”, they have a rich and appealing woodgrain.
My eye can’t discern this, but over time, at least one pencil’s cap has begun to show a hairline crack in the paint:
The circled JIS mark attests to these being older pencils.
The box of twelve came with an eraser, and looks great wherever it finds itself, but especially on a wood desk.
pencil talk‘s fifth anniversary is less than two months away. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please leave a comment or send an email.
Approaching this milestone, I hope to feature some broader reviews of manufacturers and pencil categories, and perhaps see if we can determine just which pencil really is the best!
I’d also like to have a draw/giveaway or two. If you are a retailer, distributor, or manufacturer who might be interested in donating something interesting, please send me an email.
Other news
Today’s mail delivered two prototype Palomino Blackwing pencils. I think first-hand reports on these pencils started appearing online almost three weeks ago, so I am behind the curve, but no less keen to try them out. I’ll soon share some impressions.
And from another corner of the graphite writing world, the Sharpie Liquid Pencil has been making the news in a big way. Sharpie truly succeeded in getting PR for a writing implement launch. That is a story in itself. I hope to take a look at this product when it becomes available in my neck of the woods.
From Faber-Castell, we have some interesting novelty pencils in animal prints.
The packaging indicates the pencils are FSC certified and made in Indonesia, while the erasers hail from Malaysia.
The triangular shaped pencils write reasonably well, and the matching eraser is a nice bonus. They could be a nice gift for a child.
From Staedtler, we have two natural finish pencils. Not displayed on any Staedtler website I am aware of, they may be regional offerings, or are perhaps new to the market.
The 123 60 is an unlacquered hexagonal pencil, factory sharpened, with an unfinished end. The pencils and the box are both marked, “Made in Germany”. The English text on the box says, “Natural wood office pencils.”
The 190T is a clear lacquered round pencil, unsharpened, with a dark blue cap and white cap ring. Apart from being a brand name round pencil, which is already a small category, it has a some curious elements.
First, the name appears to be foil stamped – another unusual practice for Staedtler. The box calls the 190T “standard round pencils” and is marked “Made in Thailand.”
The box has an even more unusual claim – a bullet point stating, “crowned end to protect lead from humidity.” Now that is interesting – are leads vulnerable to the effects of humidity? Certainly at the point of contact with paper they are, and many have noted the relationship between humidity and a pencil’s performance. But at rest, unused – does the pencil’s core benefit from coverage at one end? I would guess that the wood is more vulnerable to the effects of humidity than the lead. What do you think of this claim?
As writers, I’ve consistently found the 190T to be the better of the two, with a lead I would call smoother and darker. In appearance, I’d also give the nod to the 190T, and bonus points for the round shape.
Perhaps responses to environmental trends, they are both nice and worth a try, especially the 190T.
A recent post on composition books received a relatively large amount of attention. I thought it might be interesting for some to see the “Hilroy exercise book”, which has always been widely used in Canadian schools.
The map on the cover is a little different that the one I grew up, as it now incorporates Nunavut Territory:
Nothing fancy, but I’m sure they bring back memories for many.
See also:
Flickr photo of an old Hilroy office
Official Hilroy website (Slow to load, but contains a nice company timeline.)
Did you know that Stabilo has been making the Boss highlighter since 1972?
Again thanks to Quo Vadis Canada, pencil talk has received samples of the famous Boss and newer Swing Cool highlighters.
The highlighter colours are rich and vibrant. The Boss comes in a traditional wedge form factor, which the Swing Cool’s dimensions are more similar to a pen. The Swing Cool also has a clip.
Well, Quo Vadis sent quite a few of these, so we’re going to have another draw. There are six prizes – three sets of Boss, and three sets of Swing Cool. Each set will include four highlighters. You hear that right, there are six prizes total! We’ll again random draw first the Boss then the Swing Cool sets.
To enter the draw, just leave a comment on this post before Saturday, August 28, 20:00EDT. Only one comment per person, please. Winners will be contacted by email, and prizes sent by Canada Post. Thank you Quo Vadis Canada!
used in a previous draw, we have the draws for the Boss highlighters…
>>> random.randint(1,25)
6
random.randint(1,25)
22
random.randint(1,25)
4
And the draws for the Swing Cool highlighters…
>>> random.randint(1,25)
3
random.randint(1,25)
14
random.randint(1,25)
5
The winners are Jimmy, awin, Patty, Marby, Roxanne, and Futural. I will contact each of you by email. The package will be sent by Canada Post. Thank you very much to Quo Vadis Canada for supplying these great items!