exploring the art and science of pencils since 2005
Apart from being a multiplication table pencil from a famous manufacturer, this pencil was interesting to me as a Faber-Castell product labelled as being from Brazil.
For sale via an eBay seller in Cyprus (I’ve corresponded with others who’ve purchased the same pencil set), it seems to have taken an interesting path before arriving at my door.
See also: Multiplication table pencils and Eberhard Faber geometry 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.
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.
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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.
If you’re going to have a ruler on your desk, why not a simple and beautiful Designphil Design Project Glass Ruler?
I learned about this item from the fine folks at Bundoki, and have been very pleased in my decision to order one.
Tempered glass creates interesting effects. The ruler is quite heavy, yet also has an airy translucency. It also looks great on a desk!
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.
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:
The pencils themselves are yellow, just like their predecessors, except missing the “USA” lettering.
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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.
These Lumograph 100s are also special for pencil users because they are unsharpened versions!
The core widths vary considerably with the pencil’s degree.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Further reading: Felissimo pencils at pencil talk