Office-supply nerds, my people
By Carol Brown
@blitzfrick (2890)
United States
November 7, 2015 6:09pm CST
Nov 7, 2015
Do you remember those yellow Eberhard Faber No. 2 pencils?
The man who founded the US operations did so in 1861 in New York City, on the site where the UN building now stands. By the time he died (1879), "his factory was the largest of its kind in United States and the Faber name was known all over the world." [Wikipedia]
I can still recall the fragrance of those pencils, and the taste. Yes, I chewed my pencils, sometimes to the point that they couldn't be used. A trip to the pencil sharpener was a special treat for the senses but the apex of delight was emptying the pencil sharpener. The graphite in the pencils was cloaked in red cedar.
These fond memories were stirred up in my brain by a Tweet posted by The New Yorker, one of the "people" I follow on Twitter. There's no mention of what The New Yorker had for lunch, however. I know, disappointing isn't it?
“Office-supply nerds gather at the grave of John Eberhard Faber, a pencil king of nineteenth-century New York: https://t.co/Zc9EV3cxte”
4 people like this
5 responses
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
8 Nov 15
Yes, Amazon has them
Amazon.com : EF, Eberhard Faber Inc, Mongol Pencils, 482, F(2.5), Original, Authetic, 1 Dozen, Limit One Dozen Per Customer : Wood Lead Pencils : Office Products
2 people like this
@vickyrose (2236)
• Cooma, Australia
8 Nov 15
@blitzfrick Yes, they were called Mongol pencils in the Philippines. I actually bought a dozen of them when I visited home.
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
8 Nov 15
I enjoyed using the pencil sharpeners more than writing with the pencils I think
2 people like this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
5 Jun 16
Oh my, what fragrant memories of the mix of fresh ground wood and graphite! I always volunteered to be the one to empty the pencil sharpener, too.
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
8 Nov 15
Who invented the pencil? I think he just refined a product that was already in use. I'm not sure what made his pencils so popular. I personally loved how they smelled.
2 people like this
@vickyrose (2236)
• Cooma, Australia
8 Nov 15
You chewed your pencils? I tried to but I got a pinch or a smack from Mom. Yes, I do remember them and I can now recall the smell. I just bought a set of Faber-Castell colored pencils for my coloring book.
1 person likes this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
9 Nov 15
I'd read that Castell bought Eberhard Faber. Glad to know they're still in business. @JaboUK was asking about this too. My people! 
1 person likes this
