Erasers
By marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
United States
April 15, 2016 10:22am CST
Today is Rubber Eraser Day which celebrates the invention of erasers.
When you have used a pencil how many times have you used an eraser when you made a mistake?
Can you imagine how our papers would look without those little plugs on the end of a pencil.
The first erasers were made of rubber, today, they are made of rubber or vinyl.
In Great Brittain, they are formally called "rubbers".
In the world of erasers, there are two men who are prominent.
Joseph Priestley discovered the eraser in 1770, using pieces of rubber imported from Brazil.
Then in 1858, Hyman Lipman of Philadelphia, Pa., patented the pencil with an eraser at the end.
14 people like this
14 responses
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
16 Apr 16
I never liked the wooden pencils. I didnt mind the mechanical and refillable ones, but not the ones you had to sharpen
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
16 Apr 16
@jessicalynnt
At one time the wooden pencils were all that were available.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
17 Apr 16
@Jessicalynnt
lol Way before your time I woud guess. When I was growing up we didn't have pens like we do now, back then you stuck the tip of a pen into an ink well and then you wrote something.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
16 Apr 16
@Marcyaz I am glad I dont remember those days! lol
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
15 Apr 16
I like using the magic rub eraser.
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@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
15 Apr 16
@infaturatedbby
I am not sure what the magic rub eraser is.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
15 Apr 16
@Marcyaz It's a little white block eraser - it erases very well. 
I don't like the erasers attached to the pencils - they leave marks still. Hehe
I don't like the erasers attached to the pencils - they leave marks still. Hehe
@allknowing (153544)
• India
16 Apr 16
I do not think any child on earth would have not had the use of rubbers atleast during our time. There is one thing I do not like is that rubbers are made in the form of fruits which a child would get the tendency to bite.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
16 Apr 16
@allknowing
I know I used the erasers many, many times.
1 person likes this
@lovebeingmummy2 (806)
• Aberdeen, Scotland
15 Apr 16
That's funny, you get a "day" for everything don't you. We call them rubbers here in Scotland. Interesting information
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
15 Apr 16
@lovebeingmummy2
Yep there are day for everything. Rubbers in Scotland also how interesting.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Apr 16
Wow, I just realized I haven't used a pencil in years, maybe decades! I always write with a pen now, not sure why, but maybe it's because I was always breaking my pencil leads or something! Anyway, I used to wear out the erasers on the ends of the pencils, so I would always have to buy those rectangular pink block erasers. Guess that means I really made a lot of mistakes. Which leads to an interesting question....do they make life-size erasers to erase all the mistakes we make in life? lol
@VivaLaDani13 (60812)
• Perth, Australia
8 Jun 16
@Marcyaz I used to hate those erasers at the ends of a pencil. Maybe I pressed too hard with the pencil lol but I usually had trouble erasing out mistakes! I prefer the other erasers that weren't on the pencil. They worked better for me. But still the whole idea of the eraser was a genius idea!
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
8 Jun 16
@VivaLaDani13
Whether you like the eraser on the end of the pencil or a stand alone eraser they are both useful for erasing our mistakes.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60812)
• Perth, Australia
8 Jun 16
@Marcyaz Sure is! I haven't used one in so many years! I mainly use pens now. Erasers can't help me then lol
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
8 Jun 16
@VivaLaDani13
I can't remember the last time I used a pen. lol
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Apr 16
Wow there is a day for everything these days it seems.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
15 Apr 16
@fishtiger58
There is a day for everything it does seem like.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
15 Apr 16
I didn't know there is a Rubber Eraser Day. But thanks to those who invented it because it helped a lot during our early school age days when we have to make our writing pads neat from mistakes.
