Beautifully made pencils trading on a name from the 1930s, at roughly three dollars each. Reviewers are split between calling them the smoothest pencil made and calling the whole thing a branding exercise.
This entry is written from the 4 sources listed at the bottom of the page. The numbers are our editorial estimates drawn from that material, not measurements, and no statistical sample sits behind them.
It depends on how you will use it. 70% would buy it again, which means roughly 30% would not. Consumption rate makes the cost obvious within a month.
The pencils are still lovely. The box is also nearly empty, and that is when the price becomes real.
Consumption rate makes the cost obvious within a month. Point retention is poor compared with harder grades. Reviewers questioning the value proposition are easy to find.
Worth it for: Sketching and long handwritten sessions; People who enjoy the tools themselves; Gifts for writers. Think twice if: Everyday note-taking where a cheap pencil works; You need a point that lasts; You are sceptical of heritage branding.
Our reading of how sentiment moves across an ownership period, drawn from the sources below. It is an editorial estimate, not tracked longitudinal data.
| At purchase | 8.4 / 10 |
|---|---|
| First week | 8.5 / 10 |
| One month | 7.7 / 10 |
| Six months | 7.5 / 10 |
| One year | 7.4 / 10 |
| Two years or more | 7.4 / 10 |
Owner reviews move this score. The researched figure stays visible next to it, so you can always see what the sources said before anyone voted.
Leave a review on the live pageEvery complaint and every piece of praise above traces back to these. The summaries are ours; nothing is quoted, and no link, quote or username anywhere on this site is invented.
Comparison of the current pencil against the vintage original.
Detailed review of graphite, finish and value.
Critical review challenging the value proposition.
Review from a drawing-instruction perspective.