Ever stop to think about where something as simple as a pencil comes from? Believe it or not, even this everyday writing tool has a fascinating backstory. The Frederick E Blaisdell Pencil made its appearance back in the 1800s, and it represented a clever upgrade over the grease pencils that came before it. The beauty of the design? When the graphite ran down, you simply unwrapped more of the pencil to keep going.
Artists in particular gravitated toward Blaisdell Pencils, which became well known in creative circles. That said, they weren't primarily as durable as the pencils we're used to today. In fact, some artists went through as many as 60 pieces in a single day.
Fun Facts:
- Frederick E Blaisdell was granted patents on November 18, 1895, not only for his reusable pencil invention but also for a specially designed machine to manufacture them.
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania served as the home base for the Blaisdell Pencil Company.
- For a brief period, the company also had operations running in England.
- Here's a quirky bit of trivia: back in the 16th Century, people in England actually confused graphite with lead, mislabeling the mineral entirely.
- At the height of its popularity, the UK market held a monopoly over the Frederick Blaisdell pencil.
- Custom pencil orders from notable figures weren't uncommon over the years. Thomas Edison, for instance, had a preference for the Eagle Pencil, which featured thicker graphite compared to other pencils available at the time.