Comments on: The Wallace Invader pencil

By: Bob S. in Phoenix, AZ

Bob S. in Phoenix, AZ — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:40:14 +0000

As a follow-up on my previous post:

[Obviously, I did not read all of the previous posts, or I would have known that Wallace produced pens more recently than I had thought.]

The kid size red Wallace pencils that I mentioned are “First Writers”. They are red with white lettering.

On another note, I never remember Wallace pencils in school or in any place I ever worked. I wonder if there distribution was limited to certain regions by the 1960s and thereafter.

By: Bob S. in Phoenix, AZ

Bob S. in Phoenix, AZ — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 18:23:23 +0000

I have a box and a number of Invader pencils. I’ll check to see if there is any information on the box. Petroski’s _The Pencil_ has a list of the 13 major pencil brands or manufacturers of the 1930s and I believe that Wallace was 5th in the list. However, the company must have been around for some time after that because the Invaders that I have don’t appear to be that old. I also have some kid size red pencils from Wallace that are square with round corners, but I don’t remember the model name on the pencil. These are definitely much older.

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 21:42:48 +0000

I just picked up a tin labeled wallace silver brand invader pencils. blue ink on top and bottom. no pencils inside. Any ideas on how old it is? It is cool.

By: Pisces6

Pisces6 — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:38:42 +0000

Hi Ralph,

Unfortunately, the Wallace Invader pencils I have aren’t #3. I wish you luck on finding them.

By: ralph n worley

ralph n worley — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:13:46 +0000

looking for wallace invader #3 pencils

By: Pisces6

Pisces6 — Sat, 22 May 2010 20:48:20 +0000

My sister found some of these while the community college was emptying out one of their storage closets. She gave me roughly 2-3 dozen of these. I never heard of them until she gave me them.

The ones I have are in excellent condition. There are no chips in the paint.

I was also given some Venus Col-Erase pencils that were found with these pencils. ^^; Quite a find.

By: Adair

Adair — Sat, 22 May 2010 18:52:34 +0000

There were so many great Wallace pencil lines, including the Invader and the Motif. One of my favorites is the “Special Dispatch,” a very dark, 4-B type pencil that seems to have been made for reporters or perhaps the military—I would guess around the late 30′s or early 40′s. The Invader lasted the longest of all the Wallace lines, into the 1980′s. Wallace also made terrific accessories, like tins and boxes for pencil storage. One of the tins had a Boy Scout scene; another, somewhat reminiscent of Faber Castell, showed a knight with a pencil for a lance.

By: V

Sat, 22 May 2010 16:37:20 +0000

I have one “U.S.A. Super Lockbond WALLACE INVADER 511 3″
I found it without an eraser and sharpened
But it was old and I kept it…

By: Joshua

Joshua — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:14:58 +0000

Just found two tins of mostly unused wallace invaders (both graphite and colored pencils).
There was an office supply going out of business and the people there were letting everything go at fire sale prices.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:53:26 +0000

In the 70s I used the Wallace Invader 511 No.1 almost exclusively. After Dixon bought Wallace in the 80s and decided to no longer make the pencil I was given several gross of them, and I still use them, but they aren’t as good as the 70s variety. So many great pencils have gone away.

By: Boris

Boris — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:21:00 +0000

I bet that wood casing was cut straight and well centered. The lead sharpened lead seem very symmetrical. Impressive!

By: penciladmin

penciladmin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:17:14 +0000

Thanks for the comment dasmarians. I think we’re okay for photos, but I appreciate the offer!