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HAL 9000 pencil sharpener

PinPoint KP-006A/B

Okay, that’s not the real name. But this pencil sharpener did communicate an enthusiastic futuristic sensibility to me. Or at minimum, a recollection of the brilliant and sublime villain in Stanley Kubrick’s classic 2001, A Space Odyssey.

This reflective red orb is quite interesting by itself – even before knowing what it is. Being able to sharpen pencils is an extra feature.

Made by Panasonic, this is the PinPoint KP-006A/B. It is a battery operated pencil sharpener, made in Thailand. Purchased by mail order, the shipping and battery (4 AAs, not included) cost was greater than that of the sharpener itself.

Opening it up revealed a disappointment – it seems to be, in essence, a cheap plastic sharpener, rotated around by battery power. The problem is – the blade will soon become dull. What then? I have no idea where the correct replacement blade could be found – it may or may not be a “standard” size – and even then, it looks to me like some fairly good small part manipulation skills would be needed to make the exchange. I hate the idea that this sharpener, which has many merits, is in some sense “disposable”.

PinPoint KP-006A/B

The operation is extremely simple. Put the pencil in – and it sharpens. For someone with hand motor problems, or a need to sharpen many pencils, it seems like a very good solution. The only operational downfall is that there is no stop mechanism – it will keep sharpening the entire pencil if you let it!

Shavings accumulate in a removable plastic drawer. It may slightly mark up the pencil’s finish.

PinPoint KP-006A/B

PinPoint KP-006A/B

Overall, my feelings are mixed. The PinPoint seems like a great implementation in terms of design and user interface. Yet – we know that blades dull, especially with tough basswood pencils. I’ll try and report back sometime in the future about how it fares over time.

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Pajero Mini pencil

Pajero Mini pencil

This is pencil No. 40 from the Timberlines collection. (See here and here.)

Exhaustively documenting this broad array of pencils (from at least five different manufacturers) has proven challenging. I’m going to refocus on mentioning specific pencils of particular interest. Questions are always welcome.

Pajero Mini pencil

One of these pencils of interest is the Pajero Mini pencil. I thought this was a cartoon car! Well it seems this is a real production automobile – an SUV shrunk to mini size! Made by Mitsubishi Motors, you can learn more here. (Photo from that Wikipedia article.)

Pajero Minil

The pencil itself is a Mitsubishi Uni-Star.

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Hayakawa tribute pencil

In 1915, Tokuji Hayakawa invented the “Ever-Sharp” or “supply-type” mechanical pencil. Along with a belt buckle and water faucet, it was part of a stream of inventions that launched what would become the Sharp Electronics company.

The pencil was not well received at first – Sharp’s website mentions that the pencil was said to feel cold in winter, and clash with Japanese clothing in appearance. Still, Sharp claims overseas orders led to success. (Though US success is questioned in an article by fountain pen dealer Mr. Nishimura of vintagepens.com.)

The pencil received a US patent in 1926:

Platinum Hayakawa tribute pencil

Platinum Hayakawa tribute pencil

The story is tinged with deep tragedy. The Great Kant? earthquake in 1923 killed Hayakawa’s wife and children, as well as destroying the factory. The rights to the pencil were subsequently sold.

Platinum Pen Co. has decided to celebrate this history with a reproduction of Hayakawa’s seminal pencil. I don’t know if Platinum has a formal relationship with Sharp or other firms that dealt with Hayakawa. The pencil doesn’t seem to be widely available, and I can find no mention on Platinum’s website.

The pencil is presented in a very plain yet elegant wooden box.

Platinum Hayakawa tribute pencil

Platinum Hayakawa tribute pencil

The spirals, cap, and two-tone clip are all prominent features. One can read “Platinum Japan 0.5” in fine lettering.

Platinum Hayakawa tribute pencil

Platinum Hayakawa tribute pencil

The 0.5mm lead is advanced by twisting the cap. The original pencil no doubt used a wider lead.

Platinum Hayakawa tribute pencil

The balance point seems a bit higher up than other pencils I am familiar with.

Platinum Hayakawa tribute pencil

I have no idea about the internal mechanisms, and if they reproduce the original.

Platinum Hayakawa tribute pencil

The pencil handles and writes well, and the shape is certainly more comfortable than expected. I don’t know if the dimensions match the original.

Platinum Hayakawa tribute pencil

I applaud this tribute to Mr. Hayakawa’s creation and the history of the mechanical pencil. The lettering and lead diameter (I hope) distinguish the pencil from the original.

References and further reading:

1. Platinum Pen Company

2. Hayakawa’s US patent Note: the document is in TIFF format, which requires special software to read.

3. A Tale of Two Pencils: Keeran’s Eversharp & Hayakawa’s Ever-Ready Sharp

4. Sharp Electronics page on Hayakawa’s pencil

5. Osaka Business Update, Vol. 3, 2006 – Great People of Osaka

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Perry Mason – the Case of the Pencil User

Perry Mason

It was a pleasure to see Canadian actor Raymond Burr recently honoured on a postage stamp.

While Burr appeared in many films, he was best known for his role as television’s greatest defence attorney, Perry Mason.

Mason, of course, used woodcase pencils! He had one of those fancy desk sets for show, but when there was work to do – he reached for a good old No. 2!

Here we see Perry and Della (Barbara Hale) talking with Paul Drake (William Hopper) in The Case of the Twice-Told Twist. Both Perry and Della work with woodcase pencils while the fancy desk set goes unused.

Perry Mason

This excellent episode aired on February 27, 1966, and was the only show from the original run filmed in colour!

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Train Pencils (the prequel)

Tombow Train Pencils

More amazing, beautiful, train-theme pencils from Tombow. I was lucky enough to find a source for the original set of train pencil boxes, numbers one through four. We have previously seen boxes five through eight.

Tombow Train Pencils

Three years ago, I associated novelty pencils with the lowest level of pencil making. How wrong I was! Firms such as Tombow do make pencils like these to the highest standards in the industry. The design and details are just amazing.

Tombow Train Pencils

Imagine a pencil of this calibre being given out by a dentist, realtor, or even at the train station, instead of the third-rate ballpoints and pencils we usually see.

Tombow Train Pencils