October 2007 – Page 3 – pencil talk | pencil reviews and discussion

October 8, 2007October 8, 2007

Wheatley & Wilson Ltd. No. 200 pencil

Wheatley & Wilson Ltd. No. 200 pencil
It seems that the staff at a local art supply store have noticed that I like pencils. I learned that some old pencils had been found by the mother of one of the staffers, and it was thought that I would be an appropriate recipient. I was quite amazed.

The pencils are yellow, with a gold/white ferrule, and pink eraser.

They are stamped:

Made in Canada Wheatley & Wilson Ltd. Montreal, Quebec Custom Made Bonded Lead No. 200 F2²/₄

The type style is a classic mid-century industrial look, and is often emulated today.

Wheatley & Wilson Ltd. No. 200 pencil
I can’t easily find any information about Wheatley & Wilson, although the McGill University Library reveals that Montreal does have a 1930 building with that company name, the Desbarats’ Building (The Gazette)/Wheatley & Wilson Ltd.

From the language on the packaging, it seems possible that Wheatley & Wilson had these pencils made for their stationery business. I’d love to know more about them. Is there anyone out there who recollects this name?
Wheatley & Wilson Ltd. No. 200 pencil
I sharpened one. It still has a nice “pencil” aroma. The lead is quite smooth for an F grade, and writes quite easily. A classic.

October 4, 2007February 26, 2010

The General Pencil Company

General Pencil is not as well known as General Motors or General Electric, but they have an equally fascinating history.

Founded in 1889, the company has remained in the Weissenborn family for 118 years. Their 1900 factory on Fleet Street, Jersey City, remains, though the business is now headquartered in Redwood City, California, closer to the cedar industry. It is one of an extremely small number of pencil manufacturers to not have been acquired by a large conglomerate.
The General Pencil Company
Today, the business press regularly hails them as a turnaround success, having made a tough and successful decision to focus on higher-end pencils, and dispense with trying to compete in the generic yellow No. 2 office pencil market.

Their website suggests they still do make office pencils, but you’ll have a hard time finding one. Where they shine are in art supply stores, and their largest retailer, the Michael’s craft chain. As well as graphite pencils, they are well know for charcoal, pastel, and chalk pencils.
The General Pencil Company
The Kimberley is the graphite pencil I’ve most often seen in Canada. It is green with a gold colored metal cap. The Semi-Hex, maybe a half-step down the quality ladder, is blue, with silver stamping and an unfinished cap. I’m not sure who first realized the potential the carpenter’s pencil had as an artist’s tool, but General sells them as “Flat Sketching Pencils” in another market niche. Their stongest area may be charcoal. Even the smallest rural school art supply store seems to stock General compressed charcoal sticks and charcoal pencils. The charcoal pencils are beauties, with classic dark stained finishes.

Brochures, new and old.

I think they have made the right decision to pursue these higher value areas. I would also encourage them to get online and do some selling and marketing.

It’s a delight to be able to present some interesting links:

New Jersey Public TV interview with the general manager of General Pencil

Urban Semiotic’s excellent 2006 photo and reminiscences about the General Pencil factory

National Public Radio 2005 story

New Jersey Business and Industry Association 2004 profile (PDF)

October 3, 2007

Should I sharpen them?

Velvet pencil
Though I may have a lifetime supply, I don’t consider myself a pencil collector. I’ve always thought pencils were meant to be used. The economics seem in accord: Almost all the vintage pencils on eBay, even great and famous pencils, are cheaper than new quality pencils, with very few exceptions. So I’ve never had trouble sharpening a 1950s Faber-Castell 9000 or Eberhard Faber Mongol. And they all still seem to be in plentiful supply.
Velvet pencil
Somehow, this box seems different. American Pencil Co. of New York Velvet No. 2s, they’ve stayed put on a shelf, occasionally looked at. They have a very rich natural wood stained finish, topped by a gold ferrule with a blue accent.

Velvet pencil
The artwork on the box is unmatched by anything I’m aware of on the market today.

Velvet pencil
Some people would preserve these pencils for their collection or future profit. But I’m mostly curious about how they write.

So my question is, should I sharpen them?

October 1, 2007

Pierre Belvédère notebook

Pierre Belvedere notebook
This is an inexpensive softcover notebook with 240 A5 pages of cream colour paper with a grey graph paper ruling. Despite the modest price, it is very well made, and the paper is definitely superior to that of many well-hyped notebooks.

The secret, if there is one, is that it’s a refill for a leather journal. Although the journal seemed ho-hum to me, the refill was a great find.