Autopoint Mechanical Pencils

[deepocean]

Hello

 

Recently I saw a blog in which the author discussed a Mechanical Pencil company that was quiet interesting: Autopoint. Appearantly this company was developing in the late 1950s but then somehow didn't really become very large. Maybe due to competition. Never the less I think their products are very interesting. Here is their website: AutoPoint Website

 

I am interested in their All American, All American Jumbo and Pushdome mechanical pencils. Does anyone has any of these pencils?

 

How do they compare to Caran D'ache pencils. Are the All American and All American Jumbo pencil twist or push down mechanism? How do they compare in length and thickness with Caran D'ache Classic pencils? I really like the Caran D'ache pencils but they are a bit expensive (around 20 euro here) and they are a bit too thin.

 

The All American Jumbo seems nice in dimension but it is a 0.9mm pencil. I prefer .5 or even better would .6mm or .7mm.

 

Ok let me hear your experiences with this brand.

[deepocean]

No ones knows this brand?

[gregamckinney]

I don't know much about the current Autopoint models. However, assuming the Jumbo is the same size as the vintage jumbo, this will give you a little comparison versus other vintage pencils. In this picture (L to R) are: Autopoint Derby Jumbo; Waterman Patrician pencil; Parker 51 pencil; Sheaffer Snorkel pencil; and Parker Golden Web (1st Generation, Junior) pencil.

 

http://gergyor.com/images/pencils.jpg

 

Best regards, greg

[RLTodd]

I used to use the All American and Twinpoint, 1.1mm & .9mm. Good serviceable pencils. I thought they were built to a slightly sturdier level than the old Scripto 1.1mm which the All American resembles. I think the old contract price used to be some where around $0.50/unit in 100 unit lots, this was a long time ago.

 

As far as your question goes, your comparing C d'A jewelry to hammers.

 

 

[randyholhut]

The company's main claim to fame is turning out millions of mechanical pencils and ballpoints for the U.S. Government.

 

I have several of the Twinpoint pencils, the ones that write either red and blue, red and green or red and black (plain lead). I like them for the 1.1mm lead they use, since I prefer thicker lead.

 

The Twinpoint design hasn't changed much in 50 years, but they are relative cheap (under $10) and are a simple and reliable American-made mechanical pencil. Pencilthings.com has them (usual disclaimer applies) plus refill leads.

 

I haven't used the other models, but if they are even half as good as the Twinpoints, they are probably great pencils too.

 

 

[deepocean]

I don't know much about the current Autopoint models. However, assuming the Jumbo is the same size as the vintage jumbo, this will give you a little comparison versus other vintage pencils. In this picture (L to R) are: Autopoint Derby Jumbo; Waterman Patrician pencil; Parker 51 pencil; Sheaffer Snorkel pencil; and Parker Golden Web (1st Generation, Junior) pencil.

 

http://gergyor.com/images/pencils.jpg

 

Best regards, greg

 

hi gregamckinney

 

Amazing pen that Autopoint. Thanks for sharing. What a beautiful body color. I have googled and ebay'ed a bit they are 'vintage' indeed not easily found. Enjoy this pencil.

[atmydesk]

I am into them. I got my accounting degree in the late 70's, and the old twist twin-points were still around a bit in the workplace, altho most coworkers used the newer .5 mm mechanical pencils. I do treasure my various Autopoints even tho they are nothing special, merely what a bookkeeper or accountant would have bought from an office supply catalog to use at work. Some are red at one end, black at the other, and I think i have a couple in the house which are blue at one end and red or black at the other. And I think I picked up a couple in the recent decade with some company names on them.

 

(I confess I have a "thing" about all kinds of writing instruments.)

[hardyb]

Take a look at www.pencilthings.com under Manufactures

You will see autopoint and a bunch others. Enjoy.

 

I own serveral both new and old and love them!

[jsonewald]

I have several, both jumbo and regular. I like them because they are simple, wel balanced, and reliable. The regular size is larger than the Caran d'Ache, but still relatively slender.

[ajcoleman]

I have not used the push dome pencils, but the "all-american" and jumbo pencils are great. They are twist advance with a very simple, reliable mechanism. They are probably the most fool proof mechanical pencils I have ever used. The old models were sold with a lifetime warantee. I have one I got on ebay from the 60's that I carry and use daily, and it works like new. The standard size All-American is available with 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, and 1.1 mm lead, but I have only used 0.9 mm. I have recived great service ordering from www.autopointinc.com.

 

 

Check out http://www.unl.edu/Bolin_resources/pencil_page/index.htm for more information on the history of Autopoint.

[grahamtillotson]

Old post I know but I've been back into Autopoint lately, the All American Jumbo 1.1 mm models. Something about these pencils is just new yet old school at the same time, like the designs have never changed. Plus the barrel material has that odd but earthy vegetable resin kind of feel, not like hard or cheap plastic.

 

I had a black All American Jumbo but lost it, so I have a new set on the way, plus at least one vintage one off of eBay. I'd like to figure out a way to trick out the silver end near the eraser, which I assume was made to take custom made sleeves with advertising stuff on them. The combo colors of the barrel and tip are retro and cool, and I'll see if I can swap the tip sections between the round and faceted barrels.

 

Graham Tillotson

[SteveE]

Graham - The thing I like about my Autopoints is that they are virtually indestructible. The only thing I could dislike is that I have much less use for pencils these days. I'm the financial guy in the company, and even auditors use almost 100% computerized tools. My double-ended Autopoints used to be great for preparing workpapers in black lead, and adding "tickmarks" in red. I even had another with blue lead for "higher-level" review comments. Ah. . . history.

[grahamtillotson]

Totally get it. I'm consultant doing digital strategy, so I'm consumed by all things electronic. Fountain pens and pencils let me decompress and disconnect. Plus pencils are better on planes (I will never fire up a laptop on a plane ... total joke that the unpacking and elbow tucking and drink juggling is ever worth it) because I don't have to deal with the dart-throwing mystery of why some fountain pens leak and others don't. For the fountain pens I just wait until I'm at the hotel where I can wipe them off.

 

So yeah, pretty excited about the new batch of Autopoints coming in. Total bargain at $5 each.

 

Graham

[Moshe ben David]

I'm really glad that someone brought this thread back to life! I've been buying Retro 51 mp when I wanted something with a decent eraser and larger lead. The Autopoints look like a winner; wish I'd known about them back a year or two. At least I do now!

[ajcoleman]

Graham,

 

Though the basic design is very similar, I have not been able to swap tips from modern Autopoint pencils with those on vintage ones. The diameters are not quite the same. The modern lead and erasers from Autopoint work just fine in their vintage pencils.

[Tadeusz]

They are some of the best pencils I've used, and they have the strength to withstand lending out to even the most ham handed of plebians :-)

Edited February 27, 2014 by Tadeusz

[grahamtillotson]

OK, so today I got the four jumbo pencils I ordered, and YES it is totally easy to swap the sections between pencils. I was hoping this would be the case because I like the faceted models, not so much the round ones, but the faceted ones don't have many fun stock options. Good news is the round ones are cheaper at around $3, so you can load up on sections and create all the color combinations you want.

 

New set is below, along with a fun older one with a 1966 calendar on it. I've included the USPS delivery slip for a Pilot Justus (just got here from Japan -- yay!) so that I can keep my FPN street cred what with all this pencil talk.

 

 

And the Autopoint instructions are a hoot. Four basic steps. A couple of tips. Done and done. Like Tadeusz says it is pretty hard to do any damage to these pencils.

 

 

Graham

[Pencil Nut]

All,

Thank you for your interest in Autopoint. I recently purchased Autopoint and can provide a little history on the company. The company stalled out when they were purchased by Gillette, they eventually sold the plant in Chicago and most of the assets and sold the company to the owner that I bought it from. They were last found in a big box store in the early 2000's. The twinpoints, All American and All American Jumbo are still in production, the Pushdome however is no longer being produced, I am trying to locate the molds for the parts. They changed hand several time over the years and as companies closed and moved, the process of making the push dome never got refined to the point where is was feasible to produce without increasing the retail price. In the near future with a little bit of luck they will be back in the larger stores. We are growing online and starting to approach local stores to carry our product.

 

It truly has been the die-hards like all of you that have kept the company alive. I thank you for the support and hope that you enjoy Autopoint pencils for years to come.

 

Sincerely,

Jason Bender

President

Autopoint Inc.

[Tweel]

Thanks for stopping in, Jason! I love the Timberline I received about a week ago, and the writing-feel of the leads. Best of luck.

[penmanila]

i have a few vintage autopoints and they're very impressive pencils. you'll see them in this pic--the big yellow one and a couple of others like it (note the big metal crowns and the hexagonal screws on the clips):

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2162/2153883931_c30997a167_b.jpg

Edited March 6, 2014 by penmanila