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Pencil Boxes (IV) – the KUM Nic Nac Box

KUM Nic Nac Box

A late addition to our series on pencil boxes, the Nic Nac Box is a less known offering from sharpener manufacturer KUM.

KUM Nic Nac Box

A plastic box in light tinted blue, the removable lid becomes a standalone ruler. While on the box, a sliding overlay with a window supports looking up a multiplication table.

KUM Nic Nac Box

There is also a built-in sharpener, appropriate for a KUM product.

KUM Nic Nac Box

The box contains twelve pencils, six in black, six in red. The red ones are factory sharpened. All have nice matte finishes. Unfortunately, the lead seems to be a bit scratchy.

KUM Nic Nac Box

Overall, the box has quite a lot of charm, and would be a nice gift for a young person.

KUM Nic Nac Box

My thanks to Gunther for assistance in acquiring this pencil set.

Related posts:

Pencil Boxes (I) – Neiman Marcus

Pencil Boxes (II) – Graf von Faber-Castell

Pencil Boxes (III) – California Republic Palomino

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Fila Electrographic 203 pencil

Fila Electrographic 203 pencil

The Fila Electrographic 203 is an exceptional pencil.

Made by Fila in Firenze (Florence), Italy, the pencil has an unrounded hexagonal shape and an outstanding fire engine red finish. The lead is like that of the cousin IBM Electrographic – leaving an extremely dense, rich, saturated black line.

Fila Electrographic 203 pencil

The lead is of such high quality that it makes most competitors seem lacking.

Fila Electrographic 203 pencil

I’ve been comparing it with top modern pencils such as the Pentel Black Polymer 999, and subjective observation suggests it is at least as good at most tasks.

Combined with the outstanding finish, the pencil is a true standout!

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Faber-Castell design pencil (II)

Faber-Castell design pencil

A round pencil with grip enhancements, this is Faber-Castell’s latest “design pencil”. We saw another version last year. It seems like an ongoing occasional series.

A winner of a “reddot design award”, it also comes in black, though I have just the white and silver versions. The white is “pearly”, while the silver has some sparkle – quite a bit when seen in natural light.

The grip, created by protruding swirls, will be a matter of preference. I neither loved nor hated it.

Faber-Castell design pencil

They lay down a nice firm dark line, similar to other Faber-Castell pencils in ‘B’.

Faber-Castell design pencil

After a couple of weeks, I’m not so enthused by the format, though I still like the predecessor very much.

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Mateo Ilasco Numbers Notepad

Mateo Ilasco Numbers Notepad

Certain stationery implements seem to be able to communicate a sense of fun and joy – they make us smile and beckon us to make use of their potential.

Mateo Ilasco Numbers Notepad

I think the Mateo Ilasco Numbers Notepad does this.

Mateo Ilasco Numbers Notepad

Mateo Ilasco Numbers Notepad

There are thirty-two numbered lines, each connecting back via another line to some groups they belong to – composite, odd, even, prime.

Mateo Ilasco Numbers Notepad

More graphic design than math, the paper is very interesting and provocative. It has a generous blank top area, and a substantial heft.

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Tombow LV-KEV pencil

Tombow LV-KEV pencil

The Tombow LV-KEV is an absolute delight of a pencil. Though similar in concept to the red and blue pencils we have seen – this is a mix of HB grade graphite (a.k.a lead) at one end, and red at the other – though not in equal measure. The black lead end is 70% of the pencil, and the red end 30% of the pencil. The “LV” in the pencil name may stand for “Lead Vermillion”.

Tombow LV-KEV pencil

Tombow LV-KEV pencil

The special features don’t end there – the lead core is oversized at about 3mm in diameter (most pencil leads are about 2mm), and 5 edges are painted – with the sixth natural. Additionally, the pencil is manufactured by the finger joint process. This is a very special pencil! (And it needs a better name.)

Tombow LV-KEV pencil

Tombow LV-KEV pencil

Tombow LV-KEV pencil