Dave’s Mechanical Pencils, ZossPens, Pencil Pages

A few notes about some major online stationery presences:

Dave’s Mechanical Pencils appears offline. I’m not sure if this is a Google policy at work or David’s action, but it is sad to see it gone. It was the major English language mechanical pencil website for many years. There’s a small bit of Dave here, half of a joint blog post we did in 2009.

The Zoss Pens Listserv has announced the end. If you recall using Netscape or Mosaic – this list dates back to then. The list prided itself on being the most learned and thoughtful place to share fountain pen knowledge.

The Pencil Pages website is 21 years old! Congratulations Doug! The website used to have a “Buy/Sell” forum – it was the first online discussion of woodcase pencils that I became aware of.

I hope we can appreciate these efforts – each one involved a significant effort, and was shared freely with the world. Let’s carry on doing that, keeping conversations open and accessible.

22 Replies to “Dave’s Mechanical Pencils, ZossPens, Pencil Pages”

  1. Thank you for these details. It’s really sad to see that Dave’s weblog is gone! I came across it almost ten years ago and have enjoyed it.

  2. I’m heartbroken about Dave’s Mechanical Pencils! It was such a great resource! If any of the content still exists out there and it needs a home, I’d be happy to provide a sub-domain on The Desk for it to live on. Maybe the guys over on Erasable might have a good idea for a communal place to house the content as well if we could find it and save it for posterity.

  3. Ana is right – it was a really great resource, and maybe there is a chance to rescue the blog’s contents. – When I log into Google I get the message that the blog is only available to invited readers.

  4. Odd. I was browsing Dave’s Mechanical Pencils a few weeks ago and found nice posts on all the pencils in my small collection. I recently got a few more and couldn’t find much info on any of them around the web.

  5. Vikram, it is nice to see an online presence from a few years ago. Glad you are still around!

    Leonid, thank you for the comment. It is odd – I know there is a lot of interest in the subject, but not really that much information.

  6. I am pretty bummed about Dave’s Mechanical Pencils. It was such a great resource on all things related to mechanical pencils. Up until a day or so ago google cache had some of the pages available, but it appears that none of them are there any more. Archive.org also did not save the pages because of robots.txt.

    Before everything disappeared I saved a copy of the list of reviews. Hopefully Dave would not mind relisting them here:

    PRODUCT REVIEWS

    Review Process and Price Ranges – March 2006
    Price Ranges = Economy (US $0 – 3), Low ($3 – 15), Mid ($15 – 50), High ($50 – 150), Stratospheric ($150+)

    Mechanical Pencil Reviews & Articles (Price Range in brackets)

    Artline Click-it 7150 – (Economy/Low) June 2006
    Beifa MC1002 – (Economy) July 2009
    BIC AI – (Low) February 2010
    BIC Matic Classic – (Economy) August 2008
    Caran d’Ache Ecridor – (High) July 2006
    Caran d’Ache Ecridor Artiste Fixpencil – April 2008
    Caran d’Ache Fixpencil – (Mid) March 2007
    Caran d’Ache Varius Ivanhoe – (Stratospheric) March 2006
    Cleo Skribent Der Gessner – (Mid to High) February 2007
    Conway Stewart Nippy No 3 – (Vintage) April 2007
    Cross ATX – (Mid) November 2009
    Cross Century II – (High) June 2010
    Delta Dolcevita Medium – (Stratospheric) November 2007
    Eberhard Faber EFAmatic – (Economy) December 2006
    Faber-Castell E-Motion – (Mid) April 2006
    Faber-Castell Grip 2011 – (Low) February 2006
    Faber-Castell Grip Plus – (Low) September 2007
    Faber-Castell Gripmatic 1375 – (Low) November 2007
    Faber-Castell Propelling Pencil – (Low) June 2009
    Faber-Castell TK-Fine Executive – (Low) August 2008
    Faber-Castell TK-Fine Vario L – (Low/Medium) October 2007
    Faber-Castell TK4600 – (Low/Mid) October 2010
    Filofax Organiser (pencil) – (Mid) December 2009
    5 Star Premier – (Low) February 2010
    Franklin-Christoph Paradox Model 08 – (High) May 2008
    Inoxcrom 2002 – (Mid?) June 2008
    Kaweco Sport – (Low) September 2007
    Lamy Accent – (High) July 2009
    Lamy Al-Star Graphite – (Mid) January 2006
    Lamy Logo – (Low/Mid) November 2010
    Lamy Pur – (Mid) May 2008
    Lamy Scribble – (Mid) February 2006
    Lamy Spirit – (Mid/High) August 2008
    Lamy Vivo – (Low) March 2007
    Lamy 2000 – (High) October 2006
    Manufactum Druckstift Feinstrichmine – (Low/Medium) January 2008
    Mitsubishi Pure Malt M5-5015 – (Stratospheric) October 2010
    Monami Gripix – (Economy) March 2010
    Ohto APS-280E – (Economy/Low) December 2006
    Ohto Auto Sharp AP-205 – (Low) January 2011
    Ohto Super Promecha PM-1500S – (Mid) May 2007
    Ohto Tasche SP-10T – (Mid) September 2007
    Parker Jotter – (Mid) July 2007
    Parafernalia Revolution – (Mid / High) April 2006
    Parker Duofold Pinstripe SE 2004 – (Stratospheric) February 2008
    Parker Duofold Centennial – June 2009
    Parker IM – (Low) September 2008
    Papermate Apex – (Low) May 2010
    Papermate Auto Advance – (Economy) May 2006
    Papermate Biodegradable – (Economy) July 2010
    Papermate Clearpoint – (Low) June 2010
    Papermate FlexGrip Elite – (Economy) August 2010
    Papermate Pacer Executive – (Low) March 2009
    Papermate PhD Ultra – (Low) April 2010
    Papermate Technician II – (?) Sept 2006
    Papermate Write Bros. – (Economy) November 2008
    Pelikan Pura – (High) January 2008
    Pelikan Souveran D400 – (High) February 2008
    Pelikan Souveran D800 – (High) February 2008
    Pelikan Technixx D99 – (Mid) March 2008
    Pentel AccuGraph PG1505AD – (Mid) April 2008
    Pentel Caplet A105 – (Economy) June 2009
    Pentel Champ AL17 – (Economy) November 2010
    Pentel Classic Deluxe S55 and S57 – (Low) August 2007
    Pentel Client AL905 – (Low) September 2008
    Pentel Energize PL77 – (Economy/Low) July 2008
    Pentel ErgoTwist AL97 – (Low) May 2007
    Pentel EZ#2 AX17 – (Economy) August 2006
    Pentel Fiesta AX105 – (Economy) April 2006
    Pentel Flex Fit II PW35 – (Low) April 2007
    Pentel Forte series A57,A67,A77 – June 2008
    Pentel Function PC1001 – (?) June 2007
    Pentel Graph 1000 PG1005 – (Low/Mid) November 2008
    Pentel Graphgear 1000 PG1015 – (Low / Mid) December 2006
    Pentel Jolt AS305 – (Economy) September 2010
    Pentel Mini M.V.P. AL17MN – (Economy) August 2007
    Pentel Quicker-Clicker PD345 – (Economy/Low) November 2006
    Pentel Sharp Kerry P1035 – (Low/Mid) February 2006
    Pentel Sharp P205 – (Low) May 2006
    Pentel Sharplet-2 A125 – (Economy) February 2009
    Pentel Smash Q1005 – (Low) August 2009
    Pentel Technica-X PW45 – (Economy) July 2008
    Pentel Techniclick PD105T – (Economy) July 2006
    Pentel Tradio TRP55 – (Low/Mid) June 2008
    Pentel Twist-Erase III QE519 – (Low) Sept 2006
    Pilot Birdie – (Low) August 2007
    Pilot Clicker – (Low) October 2007
    Pilot Dr Grip Ltd – (Low) May 2008
    Pilot Rexgrip H-105-SL and Pilot Rexgrip BegreeN HRG-10R – (Economy) June 2007
    Pilot Vanishing Point H1005 – (Low) August 2006
    Platinum Hayakawa M-10000B – (High) April 2010
    Porsche Design P’3130 Micado – (High/Stratospheric) Feb 2006
    Retro 51 Tornado – (Mid) June 2006
    Rotring 600 – (Medium) February 2010
    Rotring Core – (Low/Mid) June 2006
    Rotring Rapid Pro – (Mid) March 2011
    Rotring Side Knock – (Mid) November 2010
    Rotring Tikky – (Low) October 2009
    Rotring Trio Pencil – (?) April 2007
    Sailor Otehon – (?) May 2007
    Sakura SumoGrip – (Low) September 2008
    Schneider iD – (Low/Mid) May 2011
    Sensa Carbon Black – (Mid) August 2006
    Sheaffer Intrigue – (High) October 2006
    Stabilo ‘s move easyergo – (Low) April 2009
    Staedtler Mars Micro 775 – (Low) May 2006
    Staedtler graphite 760 – (Low) September 2010
    Staedtler graphite 771 – (Low) May 2009
    Staedtler graphite 777 – (Economy) March 2006
    Staedtler graphite 779 – (Low) May 2006
    Staedtler Integrity 9505 – (Low) December 2008
    Staedtler Noris 763 – May 2009
    Staedtler Triplus Micro 774 – (Economy/Low) Sept 2006
    Staedtler 925 25 – (Mid) March 2008
    S T Dupont Olympio – (Stratospheric) July 2008
    Tombow Cool – (Economy/Low) Sept 2009
    Tombow Ocenic – (Low) February 2007
    Tombow Onbook – (Low/Mid) October 2010
    Tombow Zoom 505sh – (Mid) July 2010
    TUL mechanical pencil – (Low) May 2009
    Uni Alpha Gel – (Low) March 2010
    Uni Return’s – (Low?) July 2007
    Uni Shift 1010 – (Low) October 2009
    Waterman Hemisphere – (Mid/High) October 2006
    Yard-O-Led Deco 34 – (Stratospheric) January 2006
    Yard-O-Led Diplomat – (Stratospheric) January 2007
    Yoropen Executive Pencil – (Mid/High) June 2010
    You & Me Jedo 3000 – (Low) February 2009
    Zebra Jimnie KRM-100 – (Low) November 2006
    Zebra M-301 – (Low) March 2008
    Zebra Tect 2way – (Low) January 2009
    Zebra T3 – (Low) August 2007

    Reviews of Other Items (Multi-pens, erasers, pens, wooden pencils, etc)

    Boston Cube Eraser – March 2008
    Cross Tech 3 Multi Pen – April 2009
    Faber-Castell Eraser Pen – January 2010
    Faber-Castell Grip Erasers – May 2007
    Faber-Castell PVC-Free 7085-20 Eraser – September 2007
    Field Notes Notebook – September 2008
    Forest Choice Wooden Pencil – October 2007
    Inkredible Eraser – May 2008
    Keun Young Notebook – May 2010
    Lamy CP1 Twin Pen – August 2006
    Metaphys VISS 44050 Eraser – October 2010
    Papermate PhD Multi Pen – August 2009
    Pelikan BR40 Eraser – Nov 2007
    Pentel Hi-Polymer ZES-08 Eraser – July 2008
    Pentel Tri Eraser ZE15 – April 2009
    Platinum Maki-e Multi Pen – (Mid) April 2007
    Platinum Mistake Multi Pencil – May 2008
    Rite In The Rain Notebook – July 2008
    Rotring Newton Trio Multi Pen – June 2006
    Sanford Tuff Stuff Eraser – April 2008
    Schmidt Converter – November 2006
    S T Dupont Olympio – July 2008
    Staedtler Mars Lumograph Wooden Pencil – October 2007
    Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser 526 50 – December 2006
    Staedtler Rasoplast Eraser – October 2008
    The Vespiary Notebook – March 2009
    Tombow Mono Zero Stick Eraser – June 2011
    Uni Auto Eraser EH-100P – April 2007
    Zebra Sharbo X Multi Pen – August 2010

    Lead Reviews

    Caran d’Ache Leads
    Monami Gripix T Leads
    Pentel Ain / Super Hi-Polymer + Hi-Polymer Leads
    Pentel Ain Supplio Aromatherapy Leads
    Pentel Ain Stein Leads
    Pilot Easy-Lead Leads
    Pilot Neox Eno BegreeN Leads
    Staedtler Mars Micro Carbon Leads
    Uni “-ish” Coloured Leads
    Uni Nano Dia Leads

    “The Lead Cup” – Lead trials in a sports competition style
    Round A – Parker, Pentel, Staedtler, Students Choice.
    Round B – Faber-Castell, Rotring, Waterman, Zebra .
    Round C – Caran d’Ache, Cross, Micro, Mont Blanc.
    Round D – Insung Hands, Lamy, Papermate, Pilot.
    Elimination Round – Caran d’Ache, Cross, Pilot, Zebra.
    Semi-Finals – Caran d’Ache, Papermate, Pentel, Zebra.
    Final – Caran d’Ache, Pentel.
    The Lead Cup In Review

    “The Great Blue Challenge” – Non-repro blue lead trials

    General Lead Information

    Scantron OMR Bubble Tests & No. 2 Pencils
    Sizes and Grades of Hardness
    Lead Composition
    Does A Number 2 Pencil = HB?
    HB Dark and Light, The Three HB’s
    Lead Shape
    Lead Diameter Plus and Minus?
    Evolution of Thin Leads (0.5mm etc)
    Refill Instructions for Mechanical Pencils
    Non-Reproducible Leads (Non-Repro Blue or Non-Photo Blue)
    Fading or Lightfastness of Coloured Leads
    0.5mm Timeline – The Rise of Thin Leads

    The “Leads” labels on the sidebar will also bring up some other stuff like postings of some pictures of leads, etc.

    ARTICLES

    Kotobuki (PENAC) Company – November 2007
    Mechanical Pencil Mechanisms – February 2006

  7. Paul,

    References and quotes are fine, but I’m wondering if copying the whole index crosses a line? Anyhow, it is amazing to see this huge list of reviews.

  8. Penciladmin,

    I am worried about the same thing. It is a bit in grey area. I think the index like the table of contents and not the actual content. But, since this is your site, and you should be comfortable with the content, I would be happy to post an edited version of the information.

    I am totally impressed with Dave’s reviews, both in quality and quantity. It is truly a loss to lose access to his blog.

  9. Joe,

    It looks like these have been out of production for a while. A popular Internet auction site has them once in a while. There three up in May (one S59 and two S57s).

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