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Posted on June 22, 2023June 22, 2023
Henry Petroski, 1942-2023
This morning, the New York Times published the obituary of Professor
Henry Petroski.
Duke University's obituary is here.
Petroski was the author of The Pencil: A History of Design and
Circumstance, the authoritative history of the pencil.
My thanks to Michael from Orange Crate Art for sharing the news with
me.
In 2020, Prof. Petroski told me that he had read this blog, which
continues to humble me.
Posted on April 3, 2023April 3, 2023
Thoreau pencil sells for $USD2200
Last week, a Thoreau pencil sold by online auction for $USD2200.
[auction2]
The auction, arranged by the Thoreau Society and Thoreau Farm Trust,
offered a single pencil from the famous Thoreau & Company. This
pencil maker, associated with the earliest organized pencil making in
the United States and a family business of Henry David Thoreau, is
described in the chapter An American Pencil-Making Family in Henry
Petroski's The Pencil.
I accept the provenance of the pencil, and the price seems reasonable
to me. I do wish there was a better photo of the pencil itself.
For added interest, note the famous donor.
Posted on March 21, 2023March 21, 2023
The coffee pencil, v2.0
Last year, Caran d'Ache released an unusual product, a pencil with a
lead containing coffee grounds. This blog took a look at the pencils,
and deemed them innovative but having problems.
Caran d'Ache recently released a second version, officially called a
Set of 3 NESPRESSO graphite pencils Limited Edition 5th Edition. This
is a series that includes both ballpoints, clutch pencils, and
woodcase pencils. Editions 1, 2, and 3 were ballpoint pens, while 4
included both the original pencils and a 2mm Fixpencil.
[penciltalk]
[penciltalk]
[penciltalk]
[penciltalk]
This pencil has some significant differences - the wood is "FSC(tm)
certified cedar" rather than Swiss beech, and the lead is smooth and
no longer crumbles. I would say the mark is fainter. Also gone is the
unusual aroma. The end caps are "ochre, green and gold" according to
Caran d'Ache. This version is an attractive, approachable, and very
usable quality pencil.
Posted on March 20, 2023March 20, 2023
Dixon Duo
For me, red and blue pencils are special. They are practical and
hardworking, yet fanciful and a specialty product. I love having one
on my desk, and I've loved sampling the many varieties that exist.
But they're not an eveyday pencil for many.
Even less common (and "common" is relative - I don't think I've ever
seen a red and blue pencil for sale at a non-specialty store) are
other formulations of mixed-core writing/office pencils. Fifteen
years ago, this blog took a look at the Tombow LV-KEV, still an
outstanding pencil. I thought that was about it for this type of
pencil, but a great post at Lexikaliker reminds us that there have
been a few. Still, they are few in number - vintage, a few made for
the Turkish and Mexican markets - and the more recent Caran d'Ache
Graphicolor and the CW Pencil Enterprise "The Editor". A very
interesting comment at Lexikaliker suggests the red in The Editor is
water soluble - I will have to test that if I locate one.
[duo]
Today, we'll take a look at the Dixon Duo, a pencil from the Fila
conglomerate produced by Dixon Mexico for the Mexican market. Called
a "lapiz entrenador" (training pencil), it is aimed at children,
though in my mind it seems like a very adult writing implement.
[duo]
A rounded triangular shape, it sports a 3.3mm core. Sharpening with a
handheld Mobius+Ruppert was simple.
[duo]
So here is what I wasn't expecting - both ends write well. The red is
vibrant and the graphite is pleasingly smooth.
[duo]
Official product listing: Dixon Mexico
Posted on March 19, 2023March 20, 2023
Apuntes
Two years ago, I noticed that a very interesting handmade pencil was
listed for sale at the now closed CW Pencil Enterprise. CWPE was sold
out of the product, but I quickly discovered the manufacturer Numen
Design and an interesting retailer named Apuntes.
I was able to acquire some Numen pencils, and a photo posted at the
pencil talk Instagram account remains popular:
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by pencil talk (@penciltalkorg)
A visit to Apuntes was naturally at the top of my list for a visit to
the City of Mexico last month. Apuentes is in the Roma Norte
neighborhood. Roma, like Polanco and Condesa, is a very trendy and
highly walkable neigborhood in Mexico City. The altitude (2240m) will
be a consideration for some. Apuntes is on a narrow side street near
the Estela de Luz monument, an impossibly thin soaring tribute to
Mexican independence.
The front window makes a nice impression.
[Apuntes]
The compact interior displays many interesting products, but it is
not a generic stationery store! Perhaps matched only by the shops on
Paris's Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe, everything is made by Apuntes,
with many products both designed and manufactured within the City of
Mexico! It is truly a special store.
[Apuntes]
I bought two A5 notebooks, two A4 pads of paper, two "half A4" pads
of paper for lists, and some interesting paperclips, stickers, and
pencils. The paper products were made in the City of Mexico.
[Apuntes]
An absolute must visit for the stationery aficionado!
Posted on March 18, 2023March 20, 2023
Goods for the Study
Goods for the Study is a stationery store in New York City. Their
website tells me they have two locations. I visited the "West
Village" shop at 50 West 8th Street in late 2022.
The neighbourhood is really interesting. It's close to Washington
Square Park. There are pop-up art galleries on West 8th, and I found
a cheerful Venezuelan restaurant across the street.
[GoodsForTh]
(Apologies to the random guy)
Almost every specialty stationer that I've seen tends to be a small
boutique, and they are often empty. Not so with Goods for the Study!
This store was packed, even with a long line to the cash register. It
has an impressive depth of paper products and writing implements.
Rollbahn for example - they seemed to stock every colour and every
size, a big contrast from boutique stationers.
Highly recommended.
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* Henry Petroski, 1942-2023
* Thoreau pencil sells for $USD2200
* The coffee pencil, v2.0
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