The modern pencil was invented in 1795 by Nicholas-Jacques Conte, a scientist serving in the army of Napoleon Bonaparte. The magic material that was so appropriate for the purpose was the form of pure carbon that we call graphite.Jun 24, 2013
Originally, graphite sticks were wrapped in string. Later, the graphite was inserted into hollowed-out wooden sticks and, thus, the wood-cased pencil was born! Nuremberg, Germany was the birthplace of the first mass-produced pencils in 1662.
But the latest technology for writing in 1700 was the pencil. Pencils did not exist before 1565. It was at about this time that a large deposit of graphite was found in England. … The square sticks of graphite were only available in England, but early-adopters smuggled them to other countries in Europe.
In the Middle ages styluses of metal were used on surfaces coated with chalklike substances, and slate pencils or chalk on slate tablets were also used. (Slate pencils continued to be sold in America into the late 19th Century.)
1820. Henry David Thoreau and his father substituted clay for wax and created the world’s first #2 pencils. The graphite produced an easily readable mark, making them standard school supplies in classrooms across the country.
Lewis Waterman of New York patented the first practical fountain pen in 1884 and in 1931, Hungarian Laszlo Biro invented the ballpoint pen — the writing implement of choice for most people today because of their neatness and reliability. The idea for the pencil came much later in human history and quite by accident.
Bonus Fact: In the past, people may have gotten lead poisoning from pencils, but it was the paint, not the graphite, that did it. Lead was outlawed in the United States as an ingredient in paint in 1978. If someone chewed a pencil before this ban went into effect, he could have been exposed to lead.
It is thought that the etymology of pencil was originally named from the place where the shape of the Writing which wrapped the stick of the lead of the metal of the initial pencil with the hair was similar to the tail in the meaning of Latin “pensilum (tail)”, and settled. It was called lead pencil (red pencil).
In fact, lead pencils became extinct only in the early 20th century. The modern lead pencil is a very nice technology.
Did you know that the American Civil War created a demand for good quality pencils? The pencils were needed so that troops could make quick notes on the field, and send messages to each other.
Pencil erasers contain a type of rubber. They are often not harmful. Swallowing a pencil eraser may lead to an intestinal blockage, which can cause abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting.
All of a sudden, the pencil lost its balance and straight line created by the pencil was ruined. Now, the pencil got very sad because she knew that the eraser would have to suffer because of her mistake. … But as you make my mistakes vanish away, you lose a part of yourself and get smaller each time,” cried the pencil.
Why do white erasers work better? Softer rubber erasers require less force and friction, making them less abrasive to paper. White vinyl erasers, for example, erase more cleanly than the common pink eraser because they are made of softer vinyl. Kneaded erasers are moldable and soften when you knead them in your hands.
Here’s a myth buster: There is no lead in pencils. Rather, the core is made up of a non-toxic mineral called graphite. The common name “pencil lead” is due to an historic association with the stylus made of lead in ancient Roman times.
The “lead” actually is a mixture of graphite and clay; the more graphite, the softer and darker the point. That’s why it is used in Greece..
Pencil Lead color is primarily a color from Blue color family. It is a mixture of blue color.