IBM Electrographic pencil
Today we have another special treat for pencil talk readers.
The IBM Electrographic is among the most sought after and collectable modern pencils, along with the Blackwing 602 and Blackfeet Indian. It might be the rarest of the three, though one never knows what warehouse stockpiles of pencils may exist.
The pencil was just a small component of a much larger enterprise - IBM’s development of Mark Sense technology. The central idea is the automated (machine) reading of human made marks in a variety of settings, though standardized tests and utility bills seem to have been the most well known areas.
As well as making a black mark, graphite makes a luminescent and electrically conductive mark. That is the basis of the technology. Some readers may have more to contribute in this area, which I would welcome, but I’ll focus here on the pencil. Some links below are suggestions for further reading on the larger technology.
The pencil is round, and finished in black. It has a silver coloured ferrule, and dark pink eraser. The eraser is predictably not useful after several years.
The pencil is embossed with an appropriate font in white, “IBM Electrographic”.
The pencil sharpens easily, and reveals a nice reddish cedar.
The pencil writes exceptionally well. Not just in the way some pencils are a gradient or two smoother or softer than others - there is something unusual in the lead formula which results in an incredibly smooth line. The line also seems much more luminescent or shiny than a regular pencil mark.
The lead does crumble a bit while writing. In outdoor sunlight, the lines seem more shiny than black.
After trying out the pencil, I have no doubt that those proclaiming that there is something special about the IBM Electrograph are correct. Though the pencils may have been created for standardized tests, there is no wonder about why a larger audience of writers quickly adopted them.
The IBM Electrograph is a standout pencil.
Further reading:
IBM 1231 Optical Mark Page Reader (ibm1130.com)
Mark sense (Wikipedia)
IBM 805 Test Scoring Machine (IBM Archives)
Optical mark recognition (Wikipedia)
April 21st, 2008 at 8:38 am
Though the IBM Electrograph may be gone, the Musgrave Test Scoring pencil is still available. (See Pencilthings.com—no affiliation, just a satisfied customer!) It has all of the qualities that you describe of the IBM pencil, especially the softness and richness of line, shiny black.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:02 am
I do believe this is the highest most unreserved praise you’ve lavished on any candidate for review at PencilTalk. I think I can offer some support for your assertion that “…graphite makes a luminescent and conductive mark.” I was rather gobsmacked by what is shown here:
http://www.wisebread.com/broken-down-turn-your-pencil-into-a-flashlight
Also, some iteration of the IBM Electrograph pencil apparently is still available through vendors that supply various government entities. I don’t know if the supply chain is closed to the general public, I haven’t yet tried to place an order. If I am not mistaken, the Electrographics I’ve seen on these (scant handful of) sites have a natural unpainted woodgrain finish, not IBM’s classic black. I’ll see if I can find a link and post it later.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:34 am
Adair, thanks for pointing out the Musgrave Test Scoring pencil. I will have to try it out.
That reminds me - I received a recent email enquiry about the retail availability of “test” pencils. Has anyone seen a “test” pencil (any brand) at a brick and mortar retailer?
Barrel, thanks for your comment. I think the pencil is exceptional in a very particular way, though I can imagine that the high luminescence would be a problem for some uses.
The idea that the pencil continues today in another form is most interesting.
April 21st, 2008 at 3:09 pm
General’s also has a #580 Test Scoring pencil, but it only appears to be available through their online store, and not at all listed elsewhere on their website.
The “More Info” button says more of the usual Scantron stuff.
Speaking of electrical properties, someone apparently went through the trouble of measuring the resistance of a few pencils, back when you could modify old Athlon processors by drawing a trace with pencil lead (which you can’t do anymore, obviously, but the technique still sees some use).
April 21st, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Although I have found two vendors selling a so-called “Electrographic Test Pencil”, nowhere in the description does it say that the item is made for or by IBM. Safina Office and ServMart apparently sell the same Electrographic Test Pencil (ServMart’s photograph is very poor) which Safina describes as “Black, use on punch cards and test forms read by IBM…” and ServMart as “Black, length: 6 3/4 (inches). Use on punch cards and test forms read by IBM and other electronic scoring equipment. Lead is highly conductive black graphite encased in wood.” This pencil appears to be hexagonal with a light brown finish, possibly natural woodgrain, also with a thin light-colored stripe separating the body of the pencil from the black endcaps.
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:11 am
Pentel had the 1.3mm mechanical pencil “Mark Sheet Sharp” in at least two variants (AM13 (HB), AM13 (B)); there was even a woodcase variant of it.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:24 am
STAEDTLER has still the Mark-2B pencil. The core is made in Germany, but the pencil is only distributed by Staedtler in Thailand: http://www.staedtler.co.th/mark_2B_th.Staedtler
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:03 am
I am impressed with all this knowledge!
We need to find some way of making these unusual pencils more available.
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Dixon also has a “test pencil” for use on electronically graded tests.
May 4th, 2008 at 7:42 am
There is (was?) even a matching “Mark Sheet” eraser in Pentel’s product range.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
IBM electrographic…..Oh My…
October 15th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Please can you tell me where I may get the IBM Electrographic pencils. I am elderly, and they work just fine for crafts. I have one about three inches long, and cannot find them Thank you. Dorothy
October 15th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Dorothy, sorry, but these pencils have not been sold for several years.