Category: manufacturers

Posted on

Uni Style Fit multipencil

It’s been a few days since the last post. Despite this quiet period, the blog just had the busiest day on record. I’d like to say thank you to Selectism, whose link sent many (no doubt well dressed!) visitors this way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Uni Style Fit

Today we’re going to look at the Uni Style Fit. The Style Fit is an inexpensive multi-implement writing system known for a vast array of refill types and colours. Here is an official Mitsubishi Pencil Co. press photo showing the lineup. I count 16 body and 103 refill choices! 102 of those refill choices are pens – a wide range of gel diameters and colours, and a smaller ballpoint selection. There is also a single pencil refill – 0.5mm Nano Dia HB lead.

Uni Style Fit

Though there are many multi-pens on the market, they typically have a set configuration – two ballpoints and a pencil, for example, or three ballpoints – which can’t be changed.

What is really interesting about the Style Fit is that you can put in any combination of the 103 refill types. This made me think that it could be configured as an inexpensive multipencil. I ordered a 3-refill body (all of $US3.00 at Jstationery) and three pencil cartridges.

Uni Style Fit

I changed one cartridge to red lead and another to green. There seemed to be very little tolerance in the cartridges, so replacing the leads required a steady hand. (see below)

Uni Style Fit

The mechanism seems complicated, yet is reasonably practical. The clip is also a lead selector, and two other spokes also function in this capacity. I attached the graphite cartridge to the clip, and the red and green leads to the smaller spokes. You select a lead by sliding the appropriate clip or spoke. This in turn extends the cartridge. The cartridge will lock in place, and the lead is extended by making smaller clicks of the clip or spoke.

Uni Style Fit

Overall, I’m pleased. While admittedly a bit of a novelty, it is also an inexpensive and functioning red-green-graphite multipencil. There is some rattling noise inside the pencil, and it doesn’t exactly look like a luxury writing instrument. Yet at this price point, neither consideration seems important. Also available in single and 5-refill bodies, there are a lot of possible uses for such a customizable item.

Uni Style Fit

Update (March 14, 2010): I had mentioned the challenge of replacing the default lead inside the cartridge. This was based on attempting to reload a stand-alone cartridge. If you first place the cartridge in the pencil body, replacing the lead becomes simple.

Posted on

Faber-Castell Grip 2001 pencil in black

Black Faber-Castell Grip 2001 pencil

A couple of years ago, I found some Grip 2001 pencils in red and blue finishes. There were two comments about a black version also existing. I guess the black version is even more unusual, as I’d not even seen it online, let alone in person. That recently changed, as I saw a package of these pencils with some accessories offered by an eBay seller.

Black Faber-Castell Grip 2001 pencil

The accessories are themselves interesting – a container sharpener, a sleeved eraser, and an eraser/sharpener combination. They look like they would make a great inexpensive gift for a young person.

Black Faber-Castell Grip 2001 pencil Black Faber-Castell Grip 2001 pencil
Black Faber-Castell Grip 2001 pencil Black Faber-Castell Grip 2001 pencil

Beautiful and simple stationery items. Alas, just one problem – none of the the sharpener blades can be replaced, the sleeve eraser can’t be refilled, and the eraser core in the combination sharpener/eraser has no refill for sale that I’m aware of. These accessories seem too nice to be disposable.

Posted on

Papermate Mirado Classic pencil (2010)

The Papermate Mirado Classic pencil.

The closure of Sanford’s US pencil factory last year was perhaps the final chapter in the story of US pencil manufacturing’s demise.

Starting with the move of incense cedar pencil slat maker CalCedar’s manufacturing to China, and followed by Dixon’s departure to Mexico and China, Sanford’s exit was perhaps expected. Of course, the names and brands carry on.

The Papermate Mirado Classic pencil.

Papermate’s current website gives no indication of woodcase pencils being part of the product line. A weekend visit to a large office supply store revealed a hint of the future. The most expensive pencils in the large store, the box of 12 No. 2 Mirado pencils appears as they have for years, except for the statement “Made in Mexico”.

Appearance

The packaging still claims “The World’s Smoothest Writing Pencil – Guaranteed!” The cardbord box of twelve seems basically unaltered.

The back of the box states:

  • 100% Premium Cedar Pencils
  • Shapens to a Fine, Exact Point
  • Soft, Non-Smudge Eraser
  • Made in Mexico

    • The pencils themselves are yellow, just like their predecessors, except missing the “USA” lettering.

    The Papermate Mirado Classic pencil.

    The manufacturing details appear slightly improved – they’ve reverted to an unsharpened format. Some paint spills over the end, but the problem of imprecise clamping of the ferrule appears much better. The varnish seems okay, not the best, yet certainly better than the “no name” pencils that supermarkets sell.

    The Papermate Mirado Classic pencil.

    The Papermate Mirado Classic pencil.

    Sharpening

    I had no trouble sharpening the pencil in a manual sharpener, a desktop Carl, or a battery-operated Panasonic sharpener.

    Writing

    A real surprise. I’ve never been a huge fan of this pencil, possibly because of the bland, generic appearance. But it writes quite well. Perhaps not as smoothly as pencils costing five times more, but still quite nicely. It certainly seems as good as the US made predecessor, and I’m wondering if it may even be better?

    The Papermate Mirado Classic pencil.

    Erasure

    The erasers seem exactly like those of the predecessor, pink with powdery (latex?) coating. At least while new, they work reasonably well, especially compared with other “pink” erasers.

    The Papermate Mirado Classic pencil.

    Overall

    I am leaning towards a conclusion opposite to the one I thought I was going to make. Whether it is new equipment or some other factor, the new Mirados seem to be manufactured to a standard at least as high as their immediate predecessors.

    Have you tried them yet?

    Posted on

    Kunio Kato and the Staedtler Mars Lumograph 80th Anniversary edition

    Staedtler Mars Lumograph 80th Anniversary edition, with illustration by Kunio Kato

    The 2010 Academy Awards are just a couple of weeks away. Last year, we noticed that Japanese Animator Kunio Kato won the Oscar for Best Animated Short. A notable acceptance speech included giving thanks to his pencil.

    Staedtler Mars Lumograph 80th Anniversary edition, with illustration by Kunio Kato

    It looks like Kato has not gone unappreciated by legendary pencil manufacturer Staedtler. To honour the 80th anniversary of the Mars Lumograph, Staedtler has issued a special set of pencils in a tin that features an illustration by the animator. As well as Staedtler, ROBOT (Kato’s firm) has a copyright notice on the package.

    Staedtler Mars Lumograph 80th Anniversary edition, with illustration by Kunio Kato

    These Lumograph 100s are also special for pencil users because they are unsharpened versions!

    Staedtler Mars Lumograph 80th Anniversary edition, with illustration by Kunio Kato

    Staedtler Mars Lumograph 80th Anniversary edition, with illustration by Kunio Kato

    The core widths vary considerably with the pencil’s degree.

    Staedtler Mars Lumograph 80th Anniversary edition, with illustration by Kunio Kato

    Posted on

    Felissimo 500 Color Pencils – 4th set

    Felissimo 500 Color Pencils

    Blue is the theme of Felissimo’s fourth set of colour pencils.

    I’m a bit behind in displaying these – I’ve already received the fifth set, and a Canada Post notice tells me I wasn’t in when they attempted delivery of the sixth set. Wow, 150 colour pencils here or nearby! The collection is starting to take shape.

    Felissimo 500 Color Pencils

    I’ve noticed that pencil blogs in Japan mention these pencils with different reference numbers. I’m afraid I only just figured this out – the boxes have a small circled identifier. I’ve been referring to the pencils as I’ve received them (calling this the “4th set”, for example), but depending on where you live and when you ordered them, you might receive them in a different order. For the record, this is volume 15.

    Quite a bit of feedback has been sent this way about the pencils. I’ll try to summarize.

  • The concept is unique and intriguing. Many mainstream media breakthroughs confirm this.
  • The subscription sales model (you buy 25 per month over 20 months) is quite controversial. A few love the idea of getting a colourful package of pencils each month. And many find the approach very hard to digest – taking almost two years to buy the set of pencils!
  • Professional artists are not onside. While many were attracted by the concept of so many colours, the lack of “open stock” replacements, the absence of comprehensive lightfastness testing, and the overall quality don’t meet professional needs.
  • The price is too high for many.

    • I’ll offer some feedback on these points:

    1. I am very happy to see mentions of these pencils in mainstream North American media, especially television and magazines. Felissimo has clearly made an impact in the public arena, a place other pencil manufacturers seem to have forsaken.

    2. A subscription may provide ongoing revenue, but it should be an option rather than the only purchase method.

    3. Artists – the message is clear, but as I’ve written before, high quality pencils that offer open stock, accompanied by laboratory tested lightfastness reports, are in a completely different price range. If Caran d’Ache offered a 500 pencil set, it might cost thousands. But it would be amazing!

    4. Cost. The Japan Post EMS (“registered air mail”) delivery multiplied by 20 is no doubt a large (majority?) part of the cost.

    Felissimo 500 Color Pencils

    Perhaps five shipments of 100 pencils, or just sending the 500 pencils together, might be a better offer. If you could buy the 500 pencils in a single package for $250, would you be tempted?

    The offer may soon end. Though all orders will of course be completely fulfilled, the acceptance of new subscriptions may soon be closing.

    Felissimo 500 Color Pencils

    Further reading: Felissimo pencils at pencil talk

    Proudly powered by WordPress