What Pencil Are You Using Today?

[flatline]

Pilot H-2003.

 

Where do you even get one of those? I can't even find them on E-bay.

 

--flatline

[The Blue Knight]

 

That was my first lead holder. It's still one of my favorites.

 

--flatline

 

This is my first lead holder, I've used a 0.7 mechanical pencil since I was about 9 (nearly 12 years of using mechanical pencils constantly). It seems quite nice and will offer a thicker line for drafting.

[watch_art]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pilot-NAMIKI-Drafting-Mechanical-pencil-0-5mm-H-2005-Made-in-2000s-N-O-S-/151249762456?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2337303898

[flatline]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pilot-NAMIKI-Drafting-Mechanical-pencil-0-5mm-H-2005-Made-in-2000s-N-O-S-/151249762456?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2337303898

 

Good grief! $180 starting bid?

 

That's beyond my normal impulsive purchase because I'm curious about something range. That range has hit $140 twice now, once for a flashlight and once for a fountain pen, but I'm just not feeling it for this one.

 

--flatline

[watch_art]

I agree - but it is a dead sexy pencil.

The Rotring 800 is still way awesome for only around $53 from jetpens though.

[flatline]

I agree - but it is a dead sexy pencil.

The Rotring 800 is still way awesome for only around $53 from jetpens though.

 

Good to know. They used to be $80ish. Too bad they don't come in 0.3 or 0.9...

 

--flatline

[watch_art]

I'd love the 800 in .9 but some good 2b lead in the .7 is still pretty good.

[Ricardo1962]

Faber-Castell TK-matic 9725 (automatic lead advance mechanism).

 

 

[Dickkooty2]

A Fend single lead in silver plate for Opel. Small with elegant proportions with art deco barleycorn on the six sides and OPEL on the clip beneath a deco form.

 

 

 

http://s271.photobucket.com/user/dick168/media/Fendpencil_zps383ed1b1.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1

http://s271.photobucket.com/user/dick168/media/IMG_0225_ent_zps3f411f57.jpg.html?sort=3&o=38

[watch_art]

Wow! THAT is a gorgeous pencil!

(the Fend)

[Dickkooty2]

Wow! THAT is a gorgeous pencil!

(the Fend)

It is amazing how much design power can be put into a pencil 4.75 inches long. And the feel in your hand from the subtle hex shape, the sensuous coolness of the silver-plated metal and the solid weight and balance all add to the visual effect.

 

Thanks to berlin-collectible (no affiliation) where Jan has a great eye for the things he finds!

Edited March 17, 2014 by Dickkooty2

[jonveley]

A Keeran Products Co. oversized flattop. I had previously thought these to exist only in hard rubber, but I recently turned one up in a smoky celluloid with green streaks.

[a m a r g o]

Wörther Slight, 1.18mm lead, Caran D'Ache Fixpencil, 2mm lead.

[a m a r g o]

Faber-Castell TK-matic 9725 (automatic lead advance mechanism).

 

01.jpg

 

A thing of beauty! Where did you got this peace of history?

 

Wow!

[Dickkooty2]

I have posted above about this Fend mechanical pencil in silver plate for Opel

http://s271.photobucket.com/user/dick168/media/IMG_0225_ent_zps3f411f57.jpg.html?sort=3&o=56

 

I thought it would be interesting to compare the USA 4-color Norma with the German Fend Super Norma 4-color since I liked the Fend design so much

http://s271.photobucket.com/user/dick168/media/2Normas2_zps8f4a1d7f.jpeg.html?sort=3&o=1

 

There are many pencil experts on FPN. So if you are, please know that I am writing not as a serious collector but just someone interested in design.

 

My thoughts :

 

The USA Norma seems like a stream-lined product of its' time. I think this was also the time of 50's-60's streamlining, fins, and two-tone paint jobs.

The patents for the 4-color mechanism are contained nicely in the chrome pen and the indicators and controls appear clearly to the user with instruction needed only for the two-stage positioning and filling. This is nicely explaimed in the instructions. I know the Norma was offered in other more expensive and attractive finishes than chrome including gold, silver, and silver plate.

 

The German Fend Super Norma seems to have more of a tribute to tradition in the body shape and clip to Art Deco than streamline. This may reflect their manufacturing heritage and some sensitivity to the German market. The pen is thicker and shorter with a decorated clip. The twist cap is in keeping with this style. The mechanism is contained and constructed with difference from the States in that there is no two-stage of lead position and the retraction requires a half push on another lead color. The fill is also different. This is explained for the user in the instruction booklet. This pen was available in silver-plate, silver, and gold.

 

So where do I come out? I prefer the Fend design with its appearance of more heft and the proportions that produce this effect. I think the finish offerings are even, except that the Fend may have a finer sense of pattern in the engraving. I think it is a fielders' choice on the handling of the mechanism. Neither is entirely intuitive to the user.

 

I have included the earlier Fend single pencil to show the line relationship. I believe that there is a hex 4-color model that also illustrates this.

 

I found both examples of the Fend at Berlin-collectibles where Jan has a remarkable collection of writing instruments and cases. No connection.

http://www.ebay.com/usr/berlin-collectible?_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2754

 

May I say again to the serious and knowlegible collectors that these are strictly my own thoughts.

Edited April 4, 2014 by Dickkooty2

[Eduardo]

Eversharp Slim Ventura Gold Filled 1.1 mm lead

[flatline]

The pencil for today is my Alvin Draftmatic 0.3mm with Pentel Stein Enhanced HB lead. Yesterday it was my Pentel a120 in 0.3mm with the Pentel Stein Enhanced 2B lead.

 

2B is my preference in 0.3mm, but I've got to use the HB up or I'll end up lugging it around forever.

 

--flatline

[watch_art]

My awesome Autopoint Jumbo with some nice soft B lead.

 

[highlander1307]

A Cross Classic 14K in 5mm with the sliding sleeve. Also, a Pentel 5mm with the sliding sleeve. The sliding sleeve is the magic!

[bernardo]

As usual...

http://www.pens-mont-blanc.org/images/Montblanc%20Meisterstuck%20Le%20Grand%20Mechanical%20Pencil.png