Category: manufacturers

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Caran d’Ache edelweiss 341 pencil

Caran d'Ache edelweiss 341 pencil
The edelweiss 341 is the student line graphite pencil from Caran d’Ache.

The pencil varnish colours represent different lead degrees:

2H – Green
F – Blue
HB- Red
3B – Grey

Probably many of us would associate a scheme like this only with higher end products.

Caran d'Ache edelweiss 341 pencil

The pencils additionally bear the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) logo.

They are hexagonal, with an unfinished cap – the only arguable compromise.

Caran d'Ache edelweiss 341 pencil

The pencil isn’t in the same quality league as the top offerings from Caran d’Ache, such as the Technograph 777. Also, the grading seems to differ by a two degrees or so from many other pencils – the HB seems like a 2H to me, while the 3B – well, it’s more my style.

The 341 is a good pencil, and very good relative to many student pencils. Those liking a soft dark lead are advised to try the 3B.

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Mitsubishi 4563 triangular pencil

An old friend was just forced into mandatory retirement. Though still sharp as ever, he was deemed to be worn down. But we know he’s still got some lead left in him, and we’ll no doubt hear more from him in a future role.

Faber-Castell Grip 2001

There’s also a new cohort just starting. Also triangular, they have unfinished ends, and act like they were made for work.

Mitsubishi 4563 triangular pencil

Hailing from the venerable Mitsubishi Pencil Co., the 4563 in 2B lays down an incredibly rich, smooth, dark line. The shape is a rounded equilateral triangle, and if the pencil went back to complete its cap and get a more sophisticated colour, it would be able to compete with the best in the field.

Mitsubishi 4563 triangular pencil

Arriving half green and half yellow, they quickly impress, and will no doubt get the sort of use that will also push them towards retirement soon enough.

Mitsubishi 4563 triangular pencil

Mitsubishi 4563 triangular pencil

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The Three Camels

The camel is renowned as a hardy animal, able to persevere through challenging circumstances.

The pencil world seems to adore the camel, as there are a significant number of camel brands.

First, the Staedtler Camel. This brand has been aound for many years, and now appears to be made in Germany for export markets.

Second, an entire company named after the camel, the Camel Pencil Company of Japan. They seem to make mainly novelty pencils, yet do have a few nice looking adult-oriented pencils. (That CA-P4 pencil looks good.)

Camel Pencil, according to their website, was organized in 1939, and established in 1949. They now have a U.S. distributor, so I think we’ll be hearing more from them in the future.

Third, another company named after the camel, Camlin Ltd. of India.

Camlin dates from 1931, and their website states:

The “Camel” was chosen as a symbol due to its capacity to endure long periods of difficulty in the trips across deserts. “Camel” was also easy to write and pronounce in all the Indian languages and was acceptable to all the religions of the land.

This is remarkably forward thinking, and reflects ideas that are at least as relevant in 2008, when many brands are attempting to compete in global markets.

I have a few Camel of Japan pencils – but have never seen a Staedtler Camel or Camlin pencil.

Has anyone used (any) Camel pencils?

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Papermate Canadiana and Canadiana Naturals pencils

Papermate Canadiana and Canadiana Naturals pencils

The name is pure marketing, since the pencils are not Canadian in any meaningful way. Sold in Canada by Papermate, a brand of Sanford, which is a division of Newell Rubbermaid, these are everyday office pencils.

They are offerered in two varieties – a typical yellow office pencil finish, and an unvarnished “Naturals” version.

Papermate Canadiana and Canadiana Naturals pencils

There is one immediately noticeable aspect to these pencils – the wood is extremely white. It is my understanding that most cedar used in pencils today is dyed pink/red, to make it appear similar to the Eastern Red Cedar of years past.

Papermate Canadiana and Canadiana Naturals pencils

These pencils don’t claim to be cedar, yet they do sharpen just as easily. They also state “Does not contain rainforest wood”. So what wood are they? Hmmm.

The Canadiana cellophane package has a number of claims:

– Smudge resistant eraser for clean removal of pencil marks
– Made from real wood for easy sharpening
– Ideal for schoolwork and general writing

The Canadian Naturals box has some slightly different claims:

– Made from unlacquered wood for a natural feel
– Sharpens easily
– Non-smudge eraser for clean removal of pencil marks

The pencils are quite usable, with a dark, sufficiently smooth (and non-crumbling) though unremarkable lead. The eraser works quite well.

The “Naturals” version seems to be a reasonable compromise between overly finished natural pencils, and those that are a bit too raw.

Overall, I guess they are not bad as office pencils.

Papermate Canadiana and Canadiana Naturals pencils

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Caran d’Ache Swiss Flag pencil

Caran d'Ache Swiss Flag pencil

This pencil looks like it could be a marketing or novelty item. It lacks an imprinted name or model number. The pencil is made and sold by Caran d’Ache under their own name as part of a larger product campaign.

The graphic is striking – a red background, with white crosses. The matching ballpoint pen is sold as the ‘Swiss Flag’ pen in the ‘Essentially Swiss’ series, so I am calling this the Swiss Flag pencil. Let me know if you have a more correct name!

Caran d'Ache Swiss Flag pencil

This associated set is interesting in itself. There are many matching pen and pencil sets – with ‘pencil’ meaning ‘mechanical pencil’ – but I can’t think of another set where one can buy a ballpoint pen and matching woodcase pencil.

The pencil is round, with a silver coloured ferrule and white vinyl eraser.

Caran d'Ache Swiss Flag pencil

One pencil had a lead break while sharpening, but I couldn’t repeat that problem. The top photo shows an imperfect sharpening, with maybe a bit too much wood sharpened away. I would blame the sharpener, except that the sharpener continues to do fine with other pencils – and I tried more than one Swiss Flag pencil, more than once. So, I think the photo reflects my experoence.

The lead isn’t a standout, though not bad.

Overall, I think it is a nice, not too serious, fun pencil.

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Caran d’Ache 351 pencil

Caran d'Ache 351 pencil

The offerings of Caran d’Ache continue to intrigue.

At first glance, the 351 resembles the Technograph 777. But wait – there is a ferrule and eraser attached.

And the bar code is back in black, imprinted on the pencil’s reverse side. No nice peel-off plastic as was done with the Technograph.

I tried the 351 (a 351-2 to be exact) next to an HB Technograph 777. I really had to do quite a bit of testing to try and convince myself of the Technograph’s superiority. I wasn’t completely successful. In the end I would say that these pencils are very similar – in that range where differences aren’t immediately clear.

Caran d'Ache 351 pencil

While I don’t have any official context, the 351 would seem to be an office or school pencil – but it writes as well as the high end version. Good stuff!

I don’t usually evaluate erasers on woodcase pencils, but I tried the white vinyl eraser on the 351, and it is a surprise, being quite good on a variety of types of paper.

Another point of interest is the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) logo on the pencil. This would make it one of the first retail pencils from a major manufacturer to carry this statement.

Overall, the 351 is a very impressive pencil.

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