Category: manufacturers

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Dixon Ticonderoga Noir pencil

Dixon Ticonderoga Noir pencil

Has Dixon gone too far in extending the Ticonderoga brand?

Fort Ticonderoga has played a part in French, British, and especially American history. It played a landmark role in the American revolution. The Ticonderoga pencil has been named and marketed such that its identity is inextricably bound with this history. Dixon, dating from the 18th century, was itself a part of American history. Some would call the Dixon Ticonderoga successful branding.

Dixon Ticonderoga Noir pencil

Dixon Ticonderoga Noir pencil

So when Dixon releases a pencil like the Ticonderoga Noir, a Made in China garish fluorescent silver finish pencil with black dyed wood, I have to ask, have they strayed too far from the Ticonderoga brand and tradition? If they felt they had to release such a pencil, did they have to do it in the Ticonderoga name?

Am I being too harsh? Do you like this pencil? Would you buy it?

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Red and Blue pencils VI – the Kita-Boshi Vermilion and Prussian Blue 9667 pencil

Kita-Boshi Vermilion and Prussian Blue 9667 pencil

We’ve seen red and blue pencils from both the US and Europe – and now thanks to the kindness of fellow pencil aficionado isu from the uncomfortable chair, I am able to present some pencils from the estimable Kita-Boshi in Japan.

Kita-Boshi Vermilion and Prussian Blue 9667 pencil

These aren’t just red and blue pencils – they are vermilion and prussian blue pencils!

Round in shape, the pencils are lettered in gold script. They easily sharpen, and the varnish seems first rate. Unlike some other red and blue pencils, the leads seem absolutely first rate – as strong and smooth as those in quality graphite pencils.

Kita-Boshi Vermilion and Prussian Blue 9667 pencil

The red is more of an orange to my eye, which does meet the definition of “vermilion”, but I would prefer more of a “red” red. The blue has a great rich hue which is beyond reproach.

Kita-Boshi Vermilion and Prussian Blue 9667 pencil

A mighty fine interpretation of a traditional pencil.

Further on red and blue pencils:

From penciltalk.org:
Red and Blue pencils
Red and Blue pencils II
Television! (The Conté Television 649 red and blue pencil)
Red and Blue pencils IV – Viarco

Red and Blue pencils V – a mechanical twist

From stdk.de:
Rot-Blau-Stifte

From rot-blau-stift.de:
Rot-Blau-Stift

From the uncomfortable chair:
?????????

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Dixon Ticonderoga 1395 pencil

Dixon Ticoderoga 1395 pencil

A dozen vintage Dixon pencils.

Dixon Ticoderoga 1395 pencil

They are marked:

Leadfast PAT. 1927142 Made in U.S.A. Dixon Ticonderoga 1395 No. 2 5/10

Dixon Ticoderoga 1395 pencil

A cardboard holder has an illustration of Fort Ticonderoga, and the slogan “A Dixon Pencil For Every Use”.

Dixon Ticoderoga 1395 pencil

US Patent 1927142 was issued on September 19, 1933, for the eraser/ferrule combination.

They don’t make them like this anymore!

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Found in a drawer

Found in a drawer (pencils)

Found in a drawer – nine yellow office pencils, sharpened and ready to use.

The pencils are marked:

1. Czechoslovakia Bohemia Works Deluxe 1380 HB
As Czechoslovakia split up in 1993, this pencil is an interesting historical item. I seem to recall Bohemia Works pencils being available some years ago.

2. Roundedge Grand & Toy HB
Dating from the 1880s, Grand & Toy used to be the leading Canadian office supply chain. They still exist, but are now owned by the OfficeMax chain. Today, nearly all hexagonal pencils have rounded edges, but I’m wondering if this line was introduced at a time when the name may have been a selling point.

Found in a drawer (pencils)

3. Province of Ontario HB
A government office pencil that went astray?

4. Canada Dixon System 2500 – HB
It sounds like a fictional mainframe computer to me – the “System 2500”.

5. Canada Berol Valor 131 B
There is a Shaeffer Valor pen on the market, but I was unaware of this pencil brand.

6. FaberCastell American 2 (Also the impression “U.S.A. Bonded”)
I believe the brand still exists in the Sanford lineup. This pencil would be post-Eberhard Faber, pre-Sanford in the timeline. Note that “FaberCastell” is styled as a single word.

7. Eagle Mirado 174 HB (The reverse has the impression “Procede “Chemi-Sealed” R Bonded Canada”)
The Mirado name is of course still around today.

And two pencils are duplicated.

So we have one pencil from the former Czechoslovakia, one from the US, and three from the Canadian subsidiaries of US firms. An interesting assortment.

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Dixon Ticonderoga Antimicrobial Pencils

Dixon Ticonderoga Antimicrobial Pencil

On a recent trip to a department store, I found an unusual pencil offering – “Ticonderoga Antimicrobial Pencils with Microban antimicrobial product protection.” The package additionally says “Microban protection inhibits the growth of odor and stain causing bacteria.”

The colour is hard for me to describe, but a hospital influenced muted grey seems roughly correct. It is certainly a pencil colour I’ve never seen before. Not too appealing, I would say.

The pencils are simply marked “Dixon Ticonderoga 2 HB”. The package reveals that the pencils are made in Mexico.

A quick search reveals that Microban is a chemical treatment that will prohibit microbial growth. The health and safety benefits of antimicrobial products have been regularly questioned, and I note that Dixon was quite restrained in claiming any safety benefits on the package. Still, I think there is an unambiguous implicit message in such products: keep safe from those nasty germs!

I’m usually happy to find a new pencil, but learning of this product doesn’t produce any sort of joy for me.

Will this be a popular back-to-school pencil with worried parents? Do you welcome the antimicrobial Ticonderoga? Would you buy it yourself?

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Viarco ArtGraf

Viarco ArtGraf

ArtGraf is a tablet of watersoluble graphite in a tin.

While there are a few watersoluble graphite pencils and crayons on the market, this is the first larger format offering aimed at brush users that I’m aware of.

Viarco ArtGraf

Viarco, a small Portuguese pencil company that we’ve mentioned once before, introduced ArtGraf last year.

Viarco ArtGraf

The product extends watersoluble graphite possibilities, and truly allows painting in graphite. A wet brush is applied to the tablet. Varying the brush wetness and tablet contact result in varying graphite densities.

Viarco ArtGraf

I truly think this is a great product.

Further reading:

Reuters article on ArtGraf

Official product page (in Portuguese)

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