PENCIL

GROUP 5:SONYA,

CHARMAINE,RENO,

EUGENE

Graphite came into widespread use following the discovery of a large graphite deposit in Borrowdale, England in 1564. Appreciated for leaving a darker mark than lead, the mineral proved so soft and brittle that it required a holder. Originally, graphite sticks were wrapped in string. Later, the graphite was inserted into hollowed-out wooden sticks. The wood-cased pencil was born!

The first mass-produced pencils were natural, unpainted, to show off high-quality wood casings. But by the 1890s, many manufacturers started painting pencils and imprinting them with brand names. There's an interesting story behind how the familiar yellow pencil came to be.

Why Are The Pencil Yellow?Why Are The Pencil Yellow?

Pencils have been painted yellow ever since the 1890s. During the 1800s, the best graphite in the world came from China. American pencil makers wanted a special way to tell people that their pencils contained Chinese graphite.

When Was The Pencil When Was The Pencil Invented?Invented?

Some time prior to about 1560, graphite Some time prior to about 1560, graphite was discovered near Borrowdale, England, was discovered near Borrowdale, England, supposedly when a large tree was uprooted supposedly when a large tree was uprooted in a storm, exposing a black substance in a storm, exposing a black substance beneath its roots. The usefulness of beneath its roots. The usefulness of graphite as a marking substance was graphite as a marking substance was quickly realized. Though the exact date is quickly realized. Though the exact date is not known for certain, the year 1565 marks not known for certain, the year 1565 marks the first record of a pencil consisting of a the first record of a pencil consisting of a piece of graphite inserted into a wood piece of graphite inserted into a wood shaft, making the first ancestor of today's shaft, making the first ancestor of today's pencil.pencil.

PICTURESPICTURES

Invention of pencilInvention of pencil

This article is about the handwriting This article is about the handwriting instrument. For other uses, see instrument. For other uses, see Pencil (disambiguation)Pencil (disambiguation)..

HB graphite pencilsHB graphite pencils A A pencilpencil is a is a writing implementwriting implement or or

art mediumart medium usually constructed of a usually constructed of a narrow, solid narrow, solid pigmentpigment core inside a core inside a protective casing. The case prevents the protective casing. The case prevents the core from breaking, and also from marking core from breaking, and also from marking the user’s hand during use.the user’s hand during use.

InventorInventor

The breakthrough in pencil technology came when The breakthrough in pencil technology came when French chemist Nicolas Conte developed and French chemist Nicolas Conte developed and patented the process used to make pencils in 1795. patented the process used to make pencils in 1795. He used a mixture of clay and graphite that was fired He used a mixture of clay and graphite that was fired before it was put in a wooden case. The pencils he before it was put in a wooden case. The pencils he made were cylindrical with a slot. The square lead was made were cylindrical with a slot. The square lead was glued into the slot and a thin strip of wood was used to glued into the slot and a thin strip of wood was used to fill the rest of the slot. Pencils got their name from the fill the rest of the slot. Pencils got their name from the old English word meaning 'brush'. Conte's method of old English word meaning 'brush'. Conte's method of kiln firing powdered graphite and clay allowed pencils kiln firing powdered graphite and clay allowed pencils to be made to any hardness or softness - very to be made to any hardness or softness - very important to artists and draftsmen. important to artists and draftsmen.

When Nicolas-Jacques Conte born When Nicolas-Jacques Conte born and dieand die