pencil talk

The Stabilo Trio 362 is an oversized triangular pencil in a natural finish with a splash of colour on the cap. The pencil is marked “3-6 Gripping Standard”. The packaging reveals the meaning. Can you guess? That’s right, this pencil is meant for three to six year olds! The core is an oversized 3.8mm. The [...]

Schwan-STABILO also manufacture the Schwan line – “Schwan” being a swan, derived from the name of company founder Gustav Adam Schwanhäusser. The Schwan pencils I have are curious – a yellow version, the Schwan 305, marked HB=2, and a wine coloured version, the Schwan 306, marked HB=21/2. The 306 is also labelled with a barcode. [...]

Schwan-STABILO’s website says the company was founded in Bavaria in 1855. Today, they are a successful conglomerate with 2800 employees, and their main revenue source is from cosmetic pencils. Their highlighters and markers are what one might see in an office supply store in Canada. Graphite pencils are not typically for sale at local retailers. [...]