New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-12-06
THE LEAD PENCIL
Evolution of the Writing Stick from
the AncieRt Stylus.


In the early days of civilization. however, the
ancient "stile" or stylus" composed OF
metallic lead; this back in the fourteenth
and fifteenth centuries. when impressions ana
drawings in lead made chalk covered
surfaces At that period in Italy the 'stile
used-a composition of metallic lead ana
tin, the marks of which were easily removaole
by applying bread crumbs in much the same
manner as the modern rubber eraser is used
Metallic lead continued in general use until the
middle of the sixteenth century. when. in the
year 1864. there discovered in Barrowdale
Cumberland County, England immense deposits
OF graphite. This discovery ushered IN new
era, for in the very next year-1565-the first
lead pencil in TIE general form know
it made it's appearance.
For two centuries lead-pencf making continued
to be exclusively an English enterprise, and then
the graphite mine became exhausted. and about
the middle of the eighteenth century the
facture of lead pencils crossed the English Channel
and was introduced into Germany. In 1851 Caspar
Faber the forebear of the present heads of the
Eberhard Faber Pencil Company began manufaCt-
uring lead pencils III a village named Stein. which
nestled close to Nuremberg. The Faber family de-
veloped the pencil industry, and Caspar Faber's
beginning followed up by his and grand
sons. until. in 1S49 Eberhard Faber. a great-grand-
son of the founder of the business. to Amer
lea and brought the pencil making industry along.
settling at No. 1873 William street, New York.
His business rapidly increased. and in 1S61-a
revolutionary year in American history-he erect
ed a modern factory the banks OF the East
River at 42d street. This the first pencil fac
tory crested in America. Eterhard Faber realized
almost Immediately the need of mechanical devices
to help equalfze the differences in the cost OF
skilled labor in this country and Europe, and
many ingenious machines invented by him.
Intelligence, persistently and closely applied to
pencil making, resulted in the rapid development
Of the industry in America. OF which Eberhard
Faber was the pioneer, and prosperity continued TO
attend his efforts. The first setback in 1872.
when the factory 42d street reduced
10 ruins by fire, but this hold-up only
temporary. new ana better site selected in
Brooklyn. and modern plant was soon erected to
which, AS the business has increased from year to
year extensive additions have been made.
If the lead pencil to be considered a stand
ard measuring length in computing distances, would
you know how far 1t is from New York to Cleve-
land? The answer Is 5.141.596 pencils, and this
NUMBER falls far short Of output COY one month
OF the Eberhard Faber pencil factory, where one
thousand skilled workers engaged in producing
the convenient and indispensable writing sticks
that project jaunty from the waistcoat pockets OF
nearly every who has any occasion to write.
Eberhard Faber. the founder of the industry in
America died in 1879, and his sons, Eberhard Faber
and Lothian W Faber, succeeded him. Since then
the enterprise has brOadened in scope though 1t
has been continued the sound, conservative lines
laid down by the father
word about the process of Iead-pencn making
will be OF interest. If you ever given the
ter thought you have wondered how the lead got
into the pencil. AS before observed, it is lot
lead all. but composition graphite and clay.
These ingredients are ground very fine and purified.
The graphite makes the mark and the clay is
used to produce the varying degrees of hardness.
The powdered graphite and clay mixed into a
soft paste, and. by means of a powerful press,
forced through die about the size Of the lead
to be used in the pencil. 1t is then to the
qufred length and baked in ovens a intense
heat. when it is ready to be put in the wood.
Soft red cedar is used in making pencils and
IN h.
where cedar logs are cut into Stats slightly longer
than pencil allow for trimming. as wide 8
pencils and half thick a. one, Stats being
required make pencil. These Stats are first run
through a machine that grooves them for the lead
then through another that gives them a thin
OF glue. The leads placed in the grooves and
two Stats fitted together and placed in a press
until the glue is dry. Next the shaping ma
Chimes which turn out the pencils in round hexa-
gon shape The ends trimmed to equalize the
lengths. and the pencils go through sand-paper-
ing. polishing and vanishing machines and finally
through a manipulating process. which gives them
fine. glossy finish. After this they are again
trimmed neatly the ends and stamped with either
gold or silver when they ready to be packed in
boxes for the trade.
If rubber erasers metallic tips are 10 be at
tached. considerable additional labor is required.
The metal tip which holds the rubber is drawn
from seamless metal tubes and is cut and shaped
by special machinery. The process as described
may seem simple, but, matter OF fact,
merous careful inspections at each stage OF the
process are necessary insure the perfect pencil
and the slightest defect in lead, wood, finish or
stamp will relegate the pencil TO the scrap pile.
To the average person a pencil is just a pencil and
nothing more. and it doesn't to them that any
peculiar skill should be required in the making Of
Just pencils" But at the Eberhard Faber factory
ia different styles of pencils made; and then, to
make the process more uplicated, many styles
divided into many twelve grades AS each
style and grade requires special treatment, it can
readily he that there is some science In the
making of pencils There are drawing pencils of
varying grades of hardness; there special pen
els for craftsmen and architects; bOokkeepers and
accountants affect special grades Of pencils There
IS peculiar pencil made for marking on the human
flesh: these are used by physicians and medical
students in surgical operations and dissectsg.
Guess that's one you heard Of before. Then
2 pencil is made that will write glass, any
highly polished metal glazed surface
There are big heavy pencils for carpenters and
dainty little tassIed pencils for dance programmes.
Since election laws have given US the Australian
ballot to be marked in the circle the pencil
maker has made a special election pencil" 1t
has a purple copying lead nickel tip and ring
on one end, with a strong cord and screw eye to
fasten It In the election booth so you can't put 1t
in your pocket and carry 1t away. There are also
ranci1s with colored leads-almost any color you
want and crayon pencils for Drawing and mark
ing The very latest styles are the "weatherproof'
and the waterproof pencils. These are made of
uecuIar composition that. in the "weatherproof.'
yvu resist the effects Of rain and making them
suitable for marking boxes and tags likely to be
,vnossd To the elements and in the waterproof"
that will resist the action Of water better than
ink
That word link" brings TO mind the fact that
the pencil is rapidly taking the place of the pen.
Pencils are now made that serve the purpose OF
ink and do the work required better and with less
These the ''indelihe' and he