History of Pencils

Pencils in the 17th Century

It wasn’t long before graphite pencils made their way throughout Europe. An entire industry for pencil-making developed throughout the 17th century. In 1662, the first mass-produced pencils were created in Nuremberg, Germany. At the time, the Industrial Revolution was in full swing, leading to many new jobs and businesses. Even though technology was changing, a classic pencil still had a place in the world. Major inventors like Isaac Newton (credited with developing the first reflecting telescope) sketched out their designs using graphite pencils. These drafts served as blueprints for creating groundbreaking works.

Conté’s Early Pencils

No conversation about modern pencils is complete without talking about Nicolas-Jacques Conté. During the French Revolutionary War, his design was used to replace English graphite since it wasn’t as accessible due to France’s battle with Britain. His pencils, also known as Crayons Conté, were created by roasting a mixture of water, clay, and graphite in a kiln. He would then shape his pencils based on the industry where they were being used. For instance, carpenters didn’t want round pencils that were going to roll off their workbenches so they were made into a square shape.

Coming to America

William Munroe, a cabinet-maker from Massachusetts, is credited with making America’s first wood pencils in 1812. These pencils were natural and unpainted since they were made with high-quality casings. Eastern Red Cedar, a popular tree in Tennessee, was used to create the pencils since it didn’t cause splinters. Most manufacturers set up shop in Tennessee to be close to the source. To this day, many are still based in the south. However, pencil manufacturers can be found all over the country.

History of Number 2 Pencils

Conté’s and Munroe’s innovative thoughts led to a lot of experimentation with the design of pencils. John Thoreau and his son Henry David Thoreau (the famed author) built their own pencil factory in New Hampshire in the 1820s. This was where they developed a system for making pencils less brittle and greasy by substituting clay for wax. The business flourished because their pencils didn’t smear when used on parchment.

They also broke new ground in that they offered a variety of pencils, labeled from No. 1 for the softest to No. 4 for the hardest. The most commonly used, of course, was the classic No. 2 pencil! Today, the No. 2 pencil is a standard school supply in classrooms around the world. These pencils are valuable in education because the graphite is perfectly composed to produce an easily readable mark.

Who Invented Mechanical Pencils?

Even though a majority of pencils were made from wood, experimentation was also going on with other materials. The first mechanical pencil was introduced by Sampson Mordan and John Isaac Hawkins in 1822. Their “ever-pointed pencils” were created at S.Mordan & Co. in London until it was bombed during World War II. These early mechanical pencils were treated more as novelty items rather than serious writing instruments due to their poor design. After the bombing of Mordan and Hawkins’s factory, over 160 patents were registered over the course of the decade to improve the mechanical pencil. Manufacturers from around the country experimented with springs, ratchets, pushbutton clutches, and screws.

Let There Be Light

Remarkable achievements in human history wouldn’t have been possible without the pencil. Take for instance Thomas Edison who created the electric lightbulb in 1879. During his experiments, Edison would jot notes with specially-requested short pencils that he ordered in lots of one thousand and always carried in his pocket. He had a specific style in mind and kept these pencils on hand in case inspiration ever hit him like a bolt of lightning. If the pencils were not to his liking, he refused to use them. In fact, Edison wrote a strongly worded letter (presumably with a mini pencil) to the Eagle Pencil Company to complain that “The last batch was too short. They twist and stick in the pocket lining.” Perhaps Edison also had a “let me speak to your manager” haircut?

Extra, Extra: Read All About It!

In a Saturday Evening Post article written in 1953, New York journalist Don Wharton chronicled the fascinating history of pencils. At the time, Wharton noted how, despite innovations in technology like the invention of the telephone and electric lights with switches, every trade still relied on pencils. From carpenters to gamblers, pencils were a commodity everyone appreciated having on hand.

Bring in the Branding

Dixon’s machinery made pencils more accessible than ever before, and they became a mainstay item in advertising. Companies turned to imprinted pencils to promote their brands. Around the same time, pencils became the vibrant yellow color we recognize from our cases in elementary school. In 1889, an Austro-Hungarian company called Koh-I-Noor introduced the iconic yellow wooden pencils at the World Fair in Paris. The pencils were yellow because the best graphite was said to be in China where yellow is associated with royalty and respect. This served as an homage to the “regal” feeling of high-quality graphite, as well as to the colors found in China’s flag. These pencils were imported into the United States until the supply was cut off due to World War I. Not only was the wood barrel easy to customize, the yellow stick pencils became standard school supplies.