Adair — you bring up an excellent point about the Noblot. I can only surmise they were still able to manufacture them after the Blackwing ran out of parts. But, there’s this feeling I get…like they gave up on the Blackwing. How could hardly anyone be buying them, unless they just weren’t being put in stores much, i.e. 1. We want to stop making pencils, but need a reason. 2. Make fewer pencils. 3. Show poor sales. 4. Now we have a reason.

I really don’t want to cast aspersions—I’m sure there were significant financial reasons for their decision. I guess what aches a little is the idea that someone or something could have swooped in, at least to preserve the brand if not to start up production again in some other manner.

Andy — Unfortunately, it’s only at leaflet length. Maybe when it gets up to pamphlet size. But, were I to try something like that, I do have a narrative in mind that might support something longer.

There is also the mystery of its demise. I think that the decline of handwriting surely plays a role, as you suggest. My first impulse, too, is to blame the shift from a haptic to a virtual culture. And yet, companies such as Bic, Pilot, and Papermate continue to develop and market mechanical pencils and other manual writing tools. We may prefer the stationery shops of old, but the fact is that the aisle at Staples for pens and pencils is pretty extensive, even if wood-cased pencils specifically no longer make up a large share of the selection. So much of the Blackwing story is strange. I still cannot believe, for example, that a pencil such as the Turquoise—in my experience, quite mediocre—could have outsold the Blackwing and earned continued production. Or the No-Blot—a beautiful pencil but of very limited use: it continued being made until fairly recently. The No-Blot sold more than the Blackwing? Come on! And it boggles the mind that Sanford/Papermate, witnessing the huge outpouring of interest in the Blackwing and its skyrocketing value on the vintage market, could remain indifferent and not revive production. A reintroduction of the Blackwing and, say, the Mongol, I feel would have proved a profitable strategy, even at the crass basic level of “retro” and nostalgia appeal. (While we’re at it, why was the Mongol suspended but the inferior Mirado kept?) There is still much to discover and untangle!

There is definitely a book here, Sean, and your journey of exploration is as fascinating as the pencil itself. Time to find a publisher and get cracking! All pencil lovers should be grateful to you; I certainly am!

Great post!

Well done – thanks for generously sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm.