Letter Openers

Nice desk accessories can bring some joy to daily tasks.

Posing with my morning newspaper are two letter openers. One is from Graf von Faber-Castell, and the other from E+M Holzprodukte.

Graf von Faber-Castell and E+M Letter Openers

The GvFC letter opener has a beautiful leather handle and considerable heft.

Graf von Faber-Castell and E+M Letter Openers

The E+M letter opener continues that company’s beautiful Zebrano wood writing implement line.

Graf von Faber-Castell and E+M Letter Openers

The GvFC letter opener has an engraving:

Graf von Faber-Castell and E+M Letter Openers

Also, a possible opportunity for custom engraving on the cap:

Graf von Faber-Castell and E+M Letter Openers

Les crayons de la maison Caran d’Ache

One of the most referenced posts at this blog was on a pencil series made from multiple species of wood by the former Colleen Pencil Co. One of the regular subjects of direct queries to the blog, the top question is “Where can I buy a set?” Unfortunately, the pencils were never available for retail sale, and Colleen has been out of business for many years.

The appeal of the pencils has led me to some informal discussions with pencil companies about what would be involved in creating a new set. What I’ve heard is that using alternate species would be technically challenging, and possibly damaging to carefully tuned pencil manufacturing equipment. For a niche product, even an investigation might not be worthwhile.

Yet, one major manufacturer seems to have had a renewed interest in testing their ability to make truly beautiful and amazing pencils from exotic wood species. This year, Caran d’Ache unveiled Les crayons de la maison Caran d’Ache, a series of pencils made from Titanium Oak, Macassar Ebony, Lati Gray, and American Walnut.

Les crayons de la maison Caran d'Ache

A note about the photo – I had already used all four pencils before taking photos, so that isn’t the factory sharpening we see.

Les crayons de la maison Caran d'Ache

If you love beautiful pencils, I cannot imagine that you would not find these amazing. My personal favourite is the Walnut pencil. I enjoyed using it to take notes, and felt quite aware that it has a dual identity – an undeniable luxury, yet still, just a woodcase pencil.

A review at Lexikaliker pointed out some technical shortcomings such as off-centred lead. I didn’t observe this in my pencils, and in any case I believe the achievement in creating an Oak or Walnut pencil is such that I’ll forgive small flaws.

L. to R.: Ebony, Lati, Walnut, Oak
Les crayons de la maison Caran d'Ache

Les crayons de la maison Caran d'Ache

Yes, I have sharpened one (so far), the Macassar Ebony, using a handheld M+R:

Les crayons de la maison Caran d'Ache

Highly recommended for all pencil aficionados.

Caran d’Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine

An icon of the pencil world not yet featured by this blog is the Caran d’Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine. A sturdy all metal desktop sharpener, the product has been in production for eighty years. In honour of that anniversary, Caran d’Ache issued a limited edition of 1933 in a matte black finish.

Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine

It’s a beauty.

Some of the packaging:

Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine
Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine

Inserts and accessories:

Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine
Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine

Compared to other desktop sharpeners, the function is very simple.

Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine

A drawer for the shavings.

Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine

Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine

Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine

Three jaws.

Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine

A Tombow Mono 100 was chosen to be the first test subject.

Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine

Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine

Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine

Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine

The results are surprising and practical – a blunt point and an overall shape similar to what a handheld sharpener would deliver.

Papeterie Nota Bene

Here is a truly notable Canadian stationery store. In the McGill University district of downtown Montreal, Nota Bene features an art gallery, a small stationery museum, and an enormous array of stationery, both practical and fanciful.

It was a pleasure to meet Russell, the store’s proprietor. Russell is a great host, and a stationery (and pencil) connoisseur of the first rank.

Papeterie Nota Bene

A couple of views of the store windows. Unfortunately other photos that I took were lost.

Papeterie Nota Bene

The depth of the paper product lineup is amazing. They have large runs of dozens of North American, European, and Asian brands. As with my trip to Vancouver, suitcase limits prevented me from going too far overboard – but I do want to return just for stationery shopping. As well as the less well known, the store has an amazing array of Clairefontaine brand products, well beyond the typically imported top sellers.

Something else – you can of course buy pens, but the writing implement display cases are dominated by pencils! Non-drafting lead holders to be specific – beauties from David Hayward and Koh-I-Noor, and super-specialties like leadholders made of unconventional materials like cement.

There is as well something about this store’s vibe that I really liked. Paper-ya in Vancouver and Laywine’s in Toronto are not unlike boutique wine shops in their appearance, and seem to attract a prosperous clientele – and I am very glad that these stores are doing well. But Nota Bene seemed to be full of people (mostly young people) arriving on foot with a genuine need for good paper for their work or studies. I gather many of them may have affiliations with the McGill architecture school, which is on the same block.

What did I buy? I bought a number of Midori “Kraft Envelope” and related products, some interesting “seven day” organizer paper tablets, double ended carpenter pencils, and a clutch lead holder. Nota Bene kindly gave me an M+R sharpener!

Papeterie Nota Bene

Papeterie Nota Bene