Rhodia (or to be be precise, Exaclair, the US distributor of the conglomerate that owns the Rhodia brand) contacted me and asked if they could send two of their Rhodia brand pencils.

Let me confess – these weren’t my first Rhodia pencils. I learned of the Rhodia pencil line from the old “Moleskine Art” blog, a predecessor of the excellent Scription. This was probably 2006 or so. I was so eager to see the products that I ordered some from overseas, which was a major event for me back then. (How times change!) The pencils were mentioned on the blog’s 1st anniversary post.

What I noticed online was the widely varying reaction to the pencil – ranging from excellent to poor. The pencil has no markings other than the Rhodia firs logo, so it is hard to know if commentators are talking about the same pencil. I was happy to engage with Exaclair just so that I could ask – has the Rhodia pencil changed? I also wanted to ask – where does it come from?

The pencil is very curious in advertising that it uses Linden wood, also known as lime wood or basswood. It is very unusual for pencils not made of cedar to mention their species of wood. Linden wood/Basswood is considered is a budget alternative to cedar, so it is a surprising association for a premier brand like Rhodia.

The black died wood seems to have received a treatment which made sharpening relatively easy.

So are the 2006 and 2011 Rhodia pencils the same? I was told “yes”, but the 2011 pencil is clearly and distinctly better in my testing. Probably two degrees darker and much smoother.

So where is it made? I didn’t get a clear answer to that question.

The product seems to have been quietly improved over the years, and is certainly worth a try, especially if you like Rhodia’s paper products.

I’ve been enjoying some Zebrano wood writing implements from e+m Holzprodukte of Germany:

A ruler with embedded lead pointer, a ballpoint pen, a pencil extender, a 5.6mm leadholder, a 1.18mm mechanical pencil, and a 5.6mm leadholder.

A couple of the historic shapes (the all wood 1.18mm and 5.6mm pieces) are less practical, but all of the implements are very pleasing to look at and hold.

pencil talk is quoted in the May 23, 2011 issue of Fortune magazine. The attribution is not correct, but the quote is from here – this post.

Other blogs quoted or mentioned are Orange Crate Art, Pencil Revolution, Pencil Grinder, Pencil Points, Timberlines, and of course, the Blackwing Pages.

Several blog comments are quoted – in fact they drive the story’s narrative. Unfortunately, the commenters are not named.

The three page article is titled “Eraser Heads”, and is about the Blackwing pencil – the Eberhard Faber classic and the brand revival attempt from CalCedar. An abbreviated version appears online.

The pencils I obtained came in cardboard and plastic packaging. There was no simple way to open the package that I could determine, so I used kitchen scissors.

The set includes two pencils, a sharpener, a clip, and a set of stickers.

The pencils are very handsome, finished in matte black, including a finished rounded cap. The shape is not what I was expecting – the 13cm long pencils have a rectangular carpenter pencil format, though the lead is a standard cylindrical shape.

The packaging indicates the pencils are from the Czech Republic, the wood cedar (which should be clear from the photos) and the lead a 2B grade.

The markings are a subtle black on black. “Moleskine” on the narrow side:

And the grade on the wide side:

An impressive product. I was recently speculating with an online friend that interesting new pencils are going to start coming from third parties and virtual brands, rather than the manufacturers. And the Moleskine seemed like a perfect example.

There is just one problem – with the smooth finish and rectangular shape, I couldn’t get a proper hold on the pencil. I tried various grip formations without success. Perhaps it takes some getting used to, but without forming an uncomfortable vice grip, I just couldn’t find a way of grasping the pencil for writing.

This was unfortunate, as the pencil has a great appearance and the lead seems to be high quality.

Unsatisfactory (to me) broken letter formations when my hand lost grip on the pencil:

The sharpener is quite different. Do you see what I mean? You may want to compare with a standard sharpener:

The blade is flush with the top of the sharpener, so the pencil will have to be inserted at an angle. Different, though I’m not sure about the impact on usability. The pencil set was sufficiently expensive that I didn’t want to sharpen the pencils just to test how they sharpen.

The cap is interesting. It grips the pencil with a friction fit, and has an interior plastic piece to ensure point protection. The cap is surrounded by a rubberized metal clip.

To me, it looks great, but official photos show the pencil being clipped to the side of a Moleskine, rather than the top.

It is great to see the introduction of a compelling pencil set with really sharp looks, but I am torn about the usability question. I am curious about what others think – have you tried the Moleskine pencil?

Eberhard Faber was purchased in the 1990s, and this pencil now exists as the Sanford Design Ebony 14420. I’ve never seen the 6325, and don’t know if the 14420 differs in composition.

Alternate formulation carbon/ebony pencils such as the 14420 were mentioned here in 2009. Note the informative comments.

More recently, Speculator wrote a great review of the Layout 555 (another carbon pencil) at Pencil Revolution.

I have no idea what Scorsese may be using in place of the 6325, but hope he has investigated the modern alternatives.

While graphite and clay are at the heart of what many of us perceive to be a pencil, it is fascinating to see alternate formulations praised.

Any storyboarders out there? What pencil do you use?

2011 is looking like a year of nostalgia in the pencil realm.

As noted at Bleistift, Staedtler will be introducing pencil tins with retro/nostalgic themes, as well as a pencil making kit. That kit has been released in Japan in the past. (See Volume 1 of Stationery Magazine.)

Faber-Castell is now in their 250th anniversary year. Happy anniversary! Faber-Castell public relations staff are a class act and always represent their firm well. I am sure (without having confirmation or any insider knowledge) that they will be releasing a special pencil this year – how could they not? But maybe I am wrong. But what is announced is – a book!

Porsche Design has released their first Pelikan made writing instruments. 2500 Euros for a cartridge/converter pen? I’ll let the fountain pen and Porsche fans decide if either domain is done justice. There is a nice looking mechanical pencil as well.

And something I’m possibly even more excited about. CalCedar has announced what they call “Palomino-quality” private label pencils. We’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this one. I’ve already made some mental calculations about the pricing. Going back to 2005, I’ve been aware of regular requests for quality custom pencils, from many realms. Unless you are a large corporation, this type of service has remained very elusive. CalCedar’s announcement could really shake things up. I hope our friends in California launch this service soon.

Correction: The result of the Staedtler pencil making kit, a finished historic appearing pencil, has been sold in Japan, but not the kit itself.

Originating in the rural US Midwest, the classic bullet pencil is reinterpreted by Japanese stationer Midori.

This particular item is part of a larger series of brass products meant to be accessories to the highly popular “Traveler’s Notebook”.

The sample shown is almost brand new, yet already shows signs of tarnishing or brassing. There are painted versions (brown and white) that should be more resilient.

The included cedar pencil is beautiful and first rate – one wonders if a full size version could be made available.

The brass is what makes this product really different. It has a truly metallic look, feel, and aroma. While some may love it, this finish will definitely be a matter of personal preference.

Pencil and eraser refills are available. The pencil branding is hidden once inserted into the holder:

It might just be the perfect thing for someone on the go who wants a very sturdy yet inexpensive pencil holder.

I think Midori have created a very interesting interpretation of a classic.

Henrik tells me that Penol woodcase pencils are a brand revival. Penol seems to have done some regrouping, and are introducing older product lines, though these products are no longer made in Denmark.

The set has 18 pencils. They are hexagonal and factory sharpened. There is no statement of origin, though the packaging has text in Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, and Finnish.

All in all, a lot of fun!

See also: Double ended colour pencils. (pencil talk, October, 2009)

“My choice of pencils lies between the black Calculator stolen from Fox Films and this Mongol 2 3/8 F which is quite black and holds its point well—much better in fact than the Fox pencils. I will get six more or maybe four more dozen of them for my pencil tray.”

“Pencils must be round. A hexagonal pencil cuts my fingers after a long day. You see I hold a pencil for about six hours every day. This may seem strange but it is true. I am really a conditioned animal with a conditioned hand.”

Three pencils that we know John Steinbeck praised – the Eberhard Faber Mongol, the Blaisdell Calculator, and the Eberhard Faber Blackwing.

The Mongol 480 shown here is a less common round version. It writes very nicely!

The Blaisdell Calculator 600 is one of those pencils I thought I would never see – it is definitely the rarity of the trio. I find it to be an incredibly nice writer. It has much of that waxy smoothness of the better known Blackwing.

And, the Eberhard Faber Blackwing 602, a pencil that Steinbeck praised, contradicting his requirement that pencils be round.

Decades old, each one still writes well and sharpens with ease. What high standards they had back then!

My thanks to Sean from The Blackwing Pages for sending me the Calculator and Blackwing.

See also:

Blaisdell 600 v. Blackwing 602 at The Blackwing Pages

Paris Review, John Steinbeck, The Art of Fiction No. 45 at The Paris Review

The cartoon Pelikan is looking quite friendly and relaxed.

Since Pelikan’s acquisition of Herlitz, I’ve been wondering if Pelikan would launch some new branded products. I’m not sure if this pencil qualifies.

It does look nice, but seems to an average writer.

They work year round! Anyone enjoying some snow?