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Mongol pencils from Eberhard Faber Colombia

Happy New Year to all readers!

Mongol pencils from Eberhard Faber Colombia

In the lazy days between Christmas and New Year, a very interesting package arrived, thanks to frequent pencil talk commenter futural.

Mongol pencils from Eberhard Faber Colombia

The former Eberhard Faber company had a complicated global footprint. We see that in the patchwork ownership of the name today. We also know the Mongol remains a popular pencil brand in the Phillipines.

Mongol pencils from Eberhard Faber Colombia

Some news – the Eberhard Faber Mongol 482 pencil also lives on in Colombia! Produced by “Eberhard Faber de Colombia” (no references to Sanford or Newell-Rubbermaid on the packaging), futural tells me that the bar code reveals a Peruvian origin. How interesting – Woodchuck from CalCedar has said the Mongol has been made in Venezuela, and more recently by Marco in China.

Mongol pencils from Eberhard Faber Colombia

Whatever the details, the Colombian Mongol definitely appears to be different than the modern Philippine Mongols.

The finish consists of a basic thin lacquer. The leads also seem somewhat smoother than the Amspec version. The eraser even works fairly well. All in all, a very acceptable pencil.

These aren’t the only Colombian pencils that arrived! Stay tuned for more.

See also:

Ninoy and Cory Aquino Mongol pencils (pencil talk: August, 2008)

The Mongol 482: New and Old (pencil talk: February, 2007)

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Ortie Design Bullet pencil

Ortie Design Bullet pencil

Here is an excellent new pencil concept from France’s Ortie Design.

Novelty and alternate pencil designs appear regularly enough, but most seem to have the objective (often achieved) of gaining a quick smile. Here is one I like, because it is so thought provoking and disturbing.

Ortie Design Bullet pencil

The comic book “PAN!” probably needs no translation.

Ortie Design Bullet pencil

The images are used with the permission of Ortie Design, with copyright and all rights reserved by Ortie Design.

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Happy New Year to all pencil talk readers!

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Please support Wheelwell

Happy Holidays!

In 2009, hemmant jha sent some really interesting pencils this way. Mainstays of India such as the Nataraj and Camlin, these contributions truly rounded out the blog’s international coverage.

hemmant is not just a pencil aficionado – he is also an industrial designer and architect with an M. Arch. from Yale. His firm thinkmore is the designer of products such as the SONY ICF-M1000 desktop radio.

Right now, hemmant needs your support for an important project – Wheelwell. Wheelwell is a non-profit organization devoted to improving wheelchairs, and ultimately the lives of people with physical disabilities. With an impressive roster of accomplished designers and engineers serving as Wheelwell’s directors, advisors, and staff, they are capable of making an impact in their field. But, their project needs funding.

They are are applying for a $250,000 grant from Pepsi Refresh, and are seeking public support through online voting. If you would like to learn more, please see the page here.

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Derwent Onyx pencil

Derwent Onyx pencil

In 2008, Derwent announced a new graphite pencil line, the Onyx.

According to Derwent, the Onyx “… is made from smooth dark graphite and delivers dense, rich, jet-black tones, darker than a Graphic 9B. Due to its non-crumbly texture, the 4mm wide core is capable of sharpening and holding a fine point.”

After some testing, I have to conclude that Derwent’s claims are absolutely correct and without exaggeration. Yet experiencing the pencil doesn’t explain the mystery of the formula.

The pencil is round with an 8mm diameter and a 4mm core. It comes in two grades, “Medium” and “Dark”.

Derwent Onyx pencil

The Dark version is capable of a very wide range of shades. The claim about pressure is correct – the dark rich tones seem to appear in reaction to pressure. Of course all pencils do that to some extent, but the Onyx is somehow different – with light pressure, it gives no signs of being a super dark pencil.

Additionally, the claim about holding a point is correct – it has a much stronger point than typical soft grade pencils.

Derwent Onyx pencil

The Dark Onyx on the left, and the Derwent Graphic 9B on the right:

Derwent Onyx pencil

I have to admit amazement. Presumably, Derwent have used very different ingredients (or process) to create this wonder of a pencil.

Derwent Onyx pencil

Definitely worth a test. Have you tried it?

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Felissimo pencils

A few people have asked, “What happened to the Felissimo pencils?”

About a year and a half ago, I wrote about an unusual offering of 500 colour pencils. (I learned about this set from Japanese pencil blogs.) I was soon contacted by the manufacturer, who were planning a global launch, and was offered a set of pencils in exchange for some modest publicity.

Felissimo had a very unusual sales model – 500 colour pencils for sale, but delivered in twenty monthly sets of twenty-five!

I wrote about the first few sets they sent me, and then – the New York based program was relocated to company headquarters in Japan. I was really surprised – it seemed like a complete success story to me. I believe these pencils gained more prominent US media coverage than any recent pencil offering of any type. (New York Times, Martha Stewart, and many others.)

Since then, there was a gap of several months, followed by some pencil sets arriving in fits and spurts. I don’t have any contacts at the company, and I’m not sure if I will receive all 500 pencils. I’ve not complained. Some of the original staff may have been laid off, so some perspective is called for.

I thought I would show just what happens when a monthly Felissimo set arrives.

First a cardboard box arrives via Japan Post EMS:

Felissimo pencils

There is a cellophane wrapped interior box:

Felissimo pencils

Sans cellophane:

Felissimo pencils

An insert forms a guide to the pencils, if you can read Japanese:

Felissimo pencils

The order in which the pencils are sent seems to vary, based on what I’ve read online. A small circled numeral seems to represent the box number:

Felissimo pencils

This set seems to be dark blue and purple variations:

Felissimo pencils

Slightly closer:

Felissimo pencils

In an acrylic display:

Felissimo pencils

I’m not sure where this is all leading, but I’ll show more if there is interest.

If the pencils don’t suffice, Felissimo just announced a 500 crayon set.