pencil talk | pencil reviews and discussion
exploring the art and science of pencils since 2005
Certain stationery implements seem to be able to communicate a sense of fun and joy – they make us smile and beckon us to make use of their potential.
I think the Mateo Ilasco Numbers Notepad does this.
There are thirty-two numbered lines, each connecting back via another line to some groups they belong to – composite, odd, even, prime.
More graphic design than math, the paper is very interesting and provocative. It has a generous blank top area, and a substantial heft.
The Tombow LV-KEV is an absolute delight of a pencil. Though similar in concept to the red and blue pencils we have seen – this is a mix of HB grade graphite (a.k.a lead) at one end, and red at the other – though not in equal measure. The black lead end is 70% of the pencil, and the red end 30% of the pencil. The “LV” in the pencil name may stand for “Lead Vermillion”.
The special features don’t end there – the lead core is oversized at about 3mm in diameter (most pencil leads are about 2mm), and 5 edges are painted – with the sixth natural. Additionally, the pencil is manufactured by the finger joint process. This is a very special pencil! (And it needs a better name.)
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Just curious – has anyone (who doesn’t speak Japanese) succeeded in ordering something via Rakuten?
The website looks promising – there is a virtual Valhalla of pencils and stationery awaiting – yet after several attempts, I can’t navigate my way to the international shipping option.
Does Dixon still make pencils in the United States?
It is very hard to say, but here are some “Made in U.S.A.” “tri-write” pencils found just last week at a Grand and Toy store here in Canada! They appear to be new, and are sold in a cardboard/plastic package of eight.
The cynic in me wonders if perhaps American Ticonderogas are still made, but solely for export!
My impression is that the lead is significantly higher quality than other recently found Ticonderogas. They also sport a more traditional appearance!
The Colleen Pencil Company of Japan met a sad demise about a decade ago. Highly esteemed by pencil users, their products were known for very high quality and innovation. Kero556’s Colleen pencil blog is a testament to the bond that Colleen created with their users.
A former Colleen manager has continued the company name in Thailand, and at this year’s ISOT fair, Colleen Thailand announced the launch of a number of new products.
One of these new products is highly unusual – a set of colour pencils in teak. And I mean teak wood, not just the colour of the surface finish.
Though there are many tree species in the world, very few seem to be used for pencil production. Cedar, jelutong, pulai , basswood – and anything else? I’ve seen other species mentioned, but don’t know if they are in current use. Of course very few pencils reveal much about their constituent ingredients, so those of us outside the industry are typically left guessing.
I love the idea of experimentation with wood sources, and challenging traditional notions of the pencil.
Teak is of course associated with luxury furniture making. I can find no references to teak being a pencil material, other than a Rainforest Alliance report (PDF format) from 2005 suggesting that furniture scraps could be used to make pencils.
Even if not commercially scalable, I applaud Colleen for the way they have chosen to celebrate the art of the pencil and their brand relaunch.
The pencils are presented in a minimal cardboard box with velco fastener.
The pencils themselves have no external markings, and to my surprise, are not super-refined and finished, but rather rough and raw.
The finish makes one very aware of the wood and forest origins of the pencils. Kero556 tried to sand and wax them if I understand correctly. I am not sure if the “upgrade” attempt worked!
Since these aren’t exactly available at the corner store here in Canada, I decided to be very careful about selecting the sharpener. I chose a nearly new Tombow SM-200WN (blunt point) for reliability.
A little tougher than cedar, all pencils sharpened without problem, and just one lead broke. The shavings are most unusual. Handling the pencils also highlighted a couple of cases where the pencil halves didn’t seem fully joined. Still, nothing major.
I would usually get a pen or pencil to use with a notebook, but these pencils were so special, I got a notebook to go with the pencils – a nice Holbein Multi-Drawing Book, made in Japan.
All twelve colours appear rich and saturated.
I think they are a very nice set, and hope Colleen will continue releasing innovative products in the future!
Here is something new – five jumbo pencils still joined at the seam, as if the pencil factory stopped production before the final steps.
The package says the pencils are made in China, from “sustainable forest linden wood”.
The idea has great potential, but there is a practical problem. A pencil breaks off easily – but leaves a sharp edge with splinters on both sides. Users risk cuts and splinters. I would say these are definitely not child-safe. Probably sandpaper could correct the problem – but that’s not a realistic solution for many. Too bad, they look great.
In the International Arrivals sharpener, the pencil is carved to a substantial blunt point. The lead is not rough, yet very faint for an oversize lead. This makes the pencil an even more unusual offering.
Though the concept is interesting, breaking apart one’s own pencils from carved slats clearly has some issues.
