Blackwing 602 Sighting: The Presidio (1988)
October 10, 2011 2 Comments
Thanks to reader Futural for the tip.
Blackwing 602 Sighting: Unfaithfully Yours (1948)
September 18, 2011 3 Comments
It’s interesting that the main character of this movie is a musician (a conductor), but that the Blackwings in the drawer are just incidental; he’s never seen writing with them on a score. It also seems like these are the yellow-banded ferrules, which makes it tempting to affix a date to them: this movie was released in 1948. But we can’t know for sure how old the pencils were, or for how long they might have been lying around a prop room. But it can be said then, that Blackwings with yellow-banded ferrules are at the very least 63 years old. Regardless, it’s still interesting to see this particular version in the wild, so-to-speak.
The Glenn Miller Story, which also has a Blackwing sighting, was released in 1954. The pencils in that movie have the more familiar bronze ferrule with a painted black band. So it can be deduced that the yellow-banded ferrules were discontinued no later than 1954.
Thanks to blog reader David for his sharp eyes—this shot, about 40 minutes into the movie, doesn’t last much more than a second or so.
Blackwing Sighting: JAWS
June 20, 2011 4 Comments
I suppose it’s entirely apropos that the pencil is in “Matt Hooper’s”…well…jaws.
Thanks to reader Chris for the tip.
It’s a Wonderful…Blackwing
April 6, 2011 9 Comments
This post comes third-hand after Andy Welfle’s post, after a friend of his mentioned having seen Jimmy Stewart using a Blackwing in “The Glenn Miller Story”. I made a few screen caps of my own and was happy that at least this time, it’s easy to see:
Chuck Jones and the Blackwing
March 10, 2011 7 Comments
There is a 9-part documentary about Chuck Jones available on YouTube, which in several places shows him using a Blackwing 602. This first still comes from the final segment of the film.
Here is another picture, Blackwing in-hand:
There is also an interview he did with Charlie Rose where he demonstrates some techniques:
At one point, Charlie asks him about his “pen”. Chuck gently corrects him, stating that he has a pencil. He adds: “A pen is full of ink. This [pencil] is full of ideas.” Sounds like a great tag-line or motto for a pencil…
Like this:
All the President’s Blackwings
January 8, 2011 5 Comments
I’m unable to post video clips but here are two stills from All the President’s Men that capture a Blackwing in the wild (i.e. the fellow writing at the desk). Click to enlarge.
