Comments on: Field Notes and a Bullet Pencil http://www.penciltalk.org/2009/12/field-notes-and-a-bullet-pencil exploring the art and science of pencils since 2005 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:08:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: penciladmin http://www.penciltalk.org/2009/12/field-notes-and-a-bullet-pencil/comment-page-1#comment-90411 penciladmin Sun, 09 Jan 2011 23:08:54 +0000 http://173.203.81.145/?p=1986#comment-90411 David, thank you very much for sharing the photos. David, thank you very much for sharing the photos.

]]> By: David O. http://www.penciltalk.org/2009/12/field-notes-and-a-bullet-pencil/comment-page-1#comment-89829 David O. Sat, 08 Jan 2011 19:14:24 +0000 http://173.203.81.145/?p=1986#comment-89829 Looks like the site is working OK now (it was a little slow earlier). Here is an image of the bullet pencils. The nicest one is the one to the left, which dates to before WWII. I inserted the pencil as you'd use it to show the red cedar wood, which became too expensive to use. To the far right, you can see how I made an eraser for one of them using a Pink Pearl eraser and one of my Swiss Army pocket knives: http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu10/dcoliver88/BulletPencils_Jan82011_tr.jpg Looks like the site is working OK now (it was a little slow earlier). Here is an image of the bullet pencils. The nicest one is the one to the left, which dates to before WWII. I inserted the pencil as you’d use it to show the red cedar wood, which became too expensive to use.
To the far right, you can see how I made an eraser for one of them using a Pink Pearl eraser and one of my Swiss Army pocket knives:

http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu10/dcoliver88/BulletPencils_Jan82011_tr.jpg

]]> By: David O. http://www.penciltalk.org/2009/12/field-notes-and-a-bullet-pencil/comment-page-1#comment-89328 David O. Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:28:40 +0000 http://173.203.81.145/?p=1986#comment-89328 I can give it a shot. I've got a Photobucket account where I could simply include a link in this thread. I can give it a shot. I’ve got a Photobucket account where I could simply include a link in this thread.

]]> By: penciladmin http://www.penciltalk.org/2009/12/field-notes-and-a-bullet-pencil/comment-page-1#comment-89062 penciladmin Fri, 07 Jan 2011 01:29:13 +0000 http://173.203.81.145/?p=1986#comment-89062 David, thank you for the series of reports. Maybe you'll share a photo of your acquisitions? David, thank you for the series of reports. Maybe you’ll share a photo of your acquisitions?

]]> By: David O. http://www.penciltalk.org/2009/12/field-notes-and-a-bullet-pencil/comment-page-1#comment-88964 David O. Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:11:28 +0000 http://173.203.81.145/?p=1986#comment-88964 For a final word, I went ahead and bought a group of four older bullet pencils (all farm related from before 1950) on ebay. They ended up being less than $2 each U.S. and shipping was $3 U.S. - a much better deal than the umpire/referee website route for a new one. Only one of them had an eraser that had completely dried out. Sometimes ebay sellers include shipping in the cost, as in the U.S. it is only ~ $2 postage to send a handful of them in the mail. One of the bullet pencils has an interesting little pencil inside that appears to be all graphite with a painted surface, as it also makes a mark from the angled sharpened area. I need to take a closer look at it. I'd not seen something like that before. For a final word, I went ahead and bought a group of four older bullet pencils (all farm related from before 1950) on ebay. They ended up being less than $2 each U.S. and shipping was $3 U.S. – a much better deal than the umpire/referee website route for a new one. Only one of them had an eraser that had completely dried out.
Sometimes ebay sellers include shipping in the cost, as in the U.S. it is only ~ $2 postage to send a handful of them in the mail.

One of the bullet pencils has an interesting little pencil inside that appears to be all graphite with a painted surface, as it also makes a mark from the angled sharpened area. I need to take a closer look at it. I’d not seen something like that before.

]]> By: David O. http://www.penciltalk.org/2009/12/field-notes-and-a-bullet-pencil/comment-page-1#comment-85572 David O. Wed, 29 Dec 2010 05:22:38 +0000 http://173.203.81.145/?p=1986#comment-85572 I was messing around tonight with various searches after seeing that bullet pencil I referenced above on my desk, and discovered that it is quite easy to buy new ones if you do a google search on "bullet pencil referee". They are commonly used by baseball umpires and other sports referees. I'm still rooting around for something without an outrageous shipping fee. The pencils themselves are around $1.25 U.S. If you just buy one, the shipping is around 8 times more, which isn't going to work. I was messing around tonight with various searches after seeing that bullet pencil I referenced above on my desk, and discovered that it is quite easy to buy new ones if you do a google search on “bullet pencil referee”. They are commonly used by baseball umpires and other sports referees.
I’m still rooting around for something without an outrageous shipping fee. The pencils themselves are around $1.25 U.S. If you just buy one, the shipping is around 8 times more, which isn’t going to work.

]]> By: David O. http://www.penciltalk.org/2009/12/field-notes-and-a-bullet-pencil/comment-page-1#comment-66469 David O. Sun, 07 Nov 2010 06:03:22 +0000 http://173.203.81.145/?p=1986#comment-66469 I just got my first bullet pencil from attending a gun show here in the U.S (of all things). My wife and I were at another show at the same complex, and thought what the heck? The one I purchased is definitely a near mint advertising pencil with different things on all 4 square sides. It is still round the next "bullet" end and at the eraser. The advertising is: LEROUX CORDIALS BUY DEFENSE BONDS SPATOLA WINES SPATOLA IMP. CO. INC. - PHILA. The pencil inside looks to be the original and is definitely red cedar, which was in common use before it got too expensive. Still some fragrance now, even with the passage of the years. It appears that the pencil dates from prior to the Pearl Harbor attack (December 1941), as the term was changed from "Defense Bonds" to "War Bonds" after it happened according to a Cornell College website. I just got my first bullet pencil from attending a gun show here in the U.S (of all things). My wife and I were at another show at the same complex, and thought what the heck?
The one I purchased is definitely a near mint advertising pencil with different things on all 4 square sides. It is still round the next “bullet” end and at the eraser. The advertising is:
LEROUX CORDIALS
BUY DEFENSE BONDS
SPATOLA WINES
SPATOLA IMP. CO. INC. – PHILA.

The pencil inside looks to be the original and is definitely red cedar, which was in common use before it got too expensive. Still some fragrance now, even with the passage of the years.

It appears that the pencil dates from prior to the Pearl Harbor attack (December 1941), as the term was changed from “Defense Bonds” to “War Bonds” after it happened according to a Cornell College website.

]]> By: NateB http://www.penciltalk.org/2009/12/field-notes-and-a-bullet-pencil/comment-page-1#comment-36806 NateB Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:00:14 +0000 http://173.203.81.145/?p=1986#comment-36806 For anyone interested in Bullet pencils, eBay always has vitage specimens for reasonable prices. I have a few and the original pencils can be replaced. For anyone interested in Bullet pencils, eBay always has vitage specimens for reasonable prices. I have a few and the original pencils can be replaced.

]]> By: Joel Heffner http://www.penciltalk.org/2009/12/field-notes-and-a-bullet-pencil/comment-page-1#comment-36799 Joel Heffner Fri, 25 Dec 2009 02:55:51 +0000 http://173.203.81.145/?p=1986#comment-36799 >>After a little more searching, the ones from Bundoki appear to be the same as these: http://www.bagwellpromotions.com/bullet-pencils.html<< Unfortunately, you need to get a minimum order of 250 pieces. Now all we need are 250 people who want to buy 'em with a Pencil Talk logo. :) >>After a little more searching, the ones from Bundoki appear to be the same as these: http://www.bagwellpromotions.com/bullet-pencils.html<&lt;

Unfortunately, you need to get a minimum order of 250 pieces. Now all we need are 250 people who want to buy 'em with a Pencil Talk logo. :)

]]> By: che pablo http://www.penciltalk.org/2009/12/field-notes-and-a-bullet-pencil/comment-page-1#comment-36788 che pablo Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:09:58 +0000 http://173.203.81.145/?p=1986#comment-36788 That's interesting. On the Bagwell Promotions page, they suggest that the origin was from American Civil War soldier's using bullet casings as a pencil protector. Penn State Industries (http://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKBFPCLCH.html) suggests that the "Buffalo Bullet" pencil was introduced at the 1901 Buffalo World's Fair. However, the giveaway pencil from that World's Fair (http://www.the-forum.com/collect/01PENCIL.HTM) is not at all similar. Thanks for the links. That’s interesting. On the Bagwell Promotions page, they suggest that the origin was from American Civil War soldier’s using bullet casings as a pencil protector. Penn State Industries (http://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKBFPCLCH.html) suggests that the “Buffalo Bullet” pencil was introduced at the 1901 Buffalo World’s Fair. However, the giveaway pencil from that World’s Fair (http://www.the-forum.com/collect/01PENCIL.HTM) is not at all similar. Thanks for the links.

]]> By: 90spencilmachine http://www.penciltalk.org/2009/12/field-notes-and-a-bullet-pencil/comment-page-1#comment-36784 90spencilmachine Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:16:37 +0000 http://173.203.81.145/?p=1986#comment-36784 Kiwi-d, I agree! I've never used (and I'm ashamed to say, nor even heard of)Field Notes, but I'm a geology major, and I'm a physical scientist by trade, so needless to say, I'm constantly searching for new durable notebooks to try out. I do adore these type that don't use the dreaded spiral. (Shudders.) I find in my field, and in my climate, rite-in-the-rain paper is the most suitable. We get 52 inches of precipitation annually, and that makes it very difficult to take notes, unless you have the write paper. I must admit, the past few years, my field writing implement has been a mechanical skilcraft pencil, but I'm making the switch to woodcase, as they were always my first love. Now to just get a good quality sharpener that is small enough to fit in my field clipboard! Kiwi-d, I agree! I’ve never used (and I’m ashamed to say, nor even heard of)Field Notes, but I’m a geology major, and I’m a physical scientist by trade, so needless to say, I’m constantly searching for new durable notebooks to try out. I do adore these type that don’t use the dreaded spiral. (Shudders.) I find in my field, and in my climate, rite-in-the-rain paper is the most suitable. We get 52 inches of precipitation annually, and that makes it very difficult to take notes, unless you have the write paper. I must admit, the past few years, my field writing implement has been a mechanical skilcraft pencil, but I’m making the switch to woodcase, as they were always my first love. Now to just get a good quality sharpener that is small enough to fit in my field clipboard!

]]> By: Kiwi-d http://www.penciltalk.org/2009/12/field-notes-and-a-bullet-pencil/comment-page-1#comment-36779 Kiwi-d Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:23:05 +0000 http://173.203.81.145/?p=1986#comment-36779 This Just Below Zero line seems entirley suitable to you northern hemisphere types. Don't think it would sell down under :-) Rite In The Rain probably more suitable for me :-) This Just Below Zero line seems entirley suitable to you northern hemisphere types. Don’t think it would sell down under :-)

Rite In The Rain probably more suitable for me :-)

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