| January 25, 2004 |
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Leadholder.com
They  say the pen is mightier than the sword, but does that statement also hold true for the pencil? These "weapons of mass construction," aka drafting or refillable pencils, make up the very core of modern society. Without them, the master designs of our time would never have been rendered and then built. The humble origin of the graphite pencil is recounted here, as well as those of its high-tech cousins, like this '50s-era Dixon's Eldorado 163, complete with twist-lock clutch, wood barrel, degree indicator, and tailpiece. How's that for workmanship? Vintage ads chronicle the leadholder's popularity and evolution, while numerous pencil patents underscore just how serious this business is. The best parts of this site, however, are the galleries of drafting and specialized leadholders, wood-cased pencils, sharpeners, and boxed sets. There is something oddly reassuring about these unpretentious tools, and the power they wield. (in Design Arts) |
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