Comments on: IBM Electrographic pencil

By: Matthew Rollins

Matthew Rollins — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:33:14 +0000

I am an employer of LC Industries Servmart and we do carry the Electrographic Test Pencil. They haven’t sold since I have been working here. They look like a really cool pencil, but I would have to say that I’m not much on pencils either.

By: penciladmin

penciladmin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:05:58 +0000

Dorothy, sorry, but these pencils have not been sold for several years.

By: Dorothy Byrns

Dorothy Byrns — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:57:37 +0000

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

By: jgodsey

jgodsey — Tue, 06 May 2008 02:27:17 +0000

IBM electrographic…..Oh My…

By: Gunther

Gunther — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:42:00 +0000

There is (was?) even a matching “Mark Sheet” eraser in Pentel’s product range.

By: john

john — Sat, 03 May 2008 21:57:09 +0000

Dixon also has a “test pencil” for use on electronically graded tests.

By: penciladmin

penciladmin — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:03:35 +0000

I am impressed with all this knowledge!

We need to find some way of making these unusual pencils more available.

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:24:59 +0000

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

By: Gunther

Gunther — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:11:58 +0000

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.

By: Barrel Of A Pencil

Barrel Of A Pencil — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:40:41 +0000

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.

By: Guest

Guest — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:09:08 +0000

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).

By: penciladmin

penciladmin — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:34:57 +0000

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.