Memm: Based on https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blackwing_602 see contributors there

2022-12-15T13:56:12Z

Based on https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blackwing_602 see contributors there

New page

[[File:Blackwing 602.jpg|thumb|Fourth Generation Blackwing 602|alt=]]The '''Blackwing 602''' is a [[pencil]] that is noted for its soft, dark graphite, unique flat square [[ferrule]] and replaceable eraser. It was manufactured by the [[Eberhard Faber]] Pencil Company from 1934–1988, then by the [[Faber-Castell]] pencil company from 1988–1994 and by [[Sanford L.P.|Sanford]] from 1994–1998.<ref>Ward, James. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=NH8YBAAAQBAJ&dq The Perfection of the Paper Clip: Curious Tales of Invention, Accidental Genius, and Stationery Obsession]''. Page 99. April 21, 2015.</ref> The pencil initially sold for 50 cents each. After it was discontinued single original pencils were found on eBay for over $40, with some older (and rarer) ones being sold for over $100. Originals are becoming increasingly rare. As of 2012 a different pencil using the same name is being manufactured by Palomino.<ref>Gardner, Ralph Jr. [https://www.wsj.com/articles/ralph-gardner-jr-road-tests-the-blackwing-pencil-1405994722 Ode to the Write Stuff.] The Wall Street Journal. July 21, 2014.</ref>

== History ==

=== 1934–1998 ===

The Eberhard Faber Pencil Company began production of the Blackwing 602 pencil in 1934.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4807:a4op7.2.19|title=TESS -- Error|website=tmsearch.uspto.gov}}</ref> Stamped on the side, opposite the brand mark, was the slogan "Half the Pressure, Twice the Speed". This claim was meant to appeal to [[stenographers]], as the 602 possessed the unique softness and smoothness of a 3B/4B lead but with the rate-of-wear of an HB;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blackwingpages.com/2011/08/26/finding-a-place-for-the-blackwing-602/|title=Finding a Place for the Blackwing 602|date=August 26, 2011}}</ref> however the 602 quickly evolved from an office tool to that of the artist. Among these were animators [[Chuck Jones]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.chuckjones.com/chuck_redux/2011/05/the-brouhaha-over-blackwing-pencils-may-19-2011.html|title=Chuck Jones's Favorite Pencil Is Back!|first=Robert|last=Patrick|date=May 20, 2011|website=Chuck Jones Blog}}</ref> and [[Don Bluth]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://onanimation.com/2011/03/26/don-bluths-animation-school/ |title=Don Bluth's Animation School | on Animation |access-date=2017-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208071259/http://onanimation.com/2011/03/26/don-bluths-animation-school/ |archive-date=2015-12-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> authors [[John Steinbeck]]<ref>Steinbeck, John. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=Kqa-LNTu_TkC Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters]''. Page 34. Penguin, December 1, 1990</ref> and [[E.B. White]], <ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kKyRbFeeARMC&q=EB+White+Blackwing&pg=PA1 |title = In the Words of E. B. White: Quotations from America's Most Companionable of Writers|isbn = 978-0-8014-6367-9|last1 = White|first1 = E. B.|date = 2011-10-06}}</ref> composers [[Aaron Copland]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2011/10/lgbt-history-month-profile-composer-conductor-aaron-copland/|title=LGBT History Month profile: Composer, conductor Aaron Copland|first=via Equality|last=Forum|date=October 9, 2011|website=www.lgbtqnation.com}}</ref> [[Leonard Bernstein]],<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yYI1mfvuH2sC&q=blackwing |title = Dvorák to Duke Ellington: A Conductor Explores America's Music and iItsAfrican American Roots|isbn = 978-0-19-535695-3|last1 = Peress|first1 = Maurice|date = 2004-03-25}}</ref> [[John Williams]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kusc.org/series/kusc-interviews/|title=KUSC Interviews – Classical KUSC|website=www.kusc.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-04}}</ref> [[Stephen Sondheim]],<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dBSr1MLX3hkC&q=stephen+sondheim+finishing+the+hat+blackwing&pg=PR18 | title=Look, I Made a Hat: Collected Lyrics (1981–2011), with Attendant Comments, Amplifications, Dogmas, Harangues, Digressions, Anecdotes and Miscellany| isbn=978-0-307-59341-2| last1=Sondheim| first1=Stephen| year=2011}}</ref> [[Nelson Riddle]],<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m8X6WkxjyS0C&q=Nelson+Riddle+Blackwing+Pencil&pg=PA9 |title = Arranged by Nelson Riddle|isbn = 978-1-4574-6792-9|last1 = Riddle|first1 = Nelson|year = 1985}}</ref> and [[Quincy Jones]],<ref>Jones, Quincy. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=IdidgShgxQcC Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones]'' Crown/Archetype, April 23, 2002.</ref> playwrights [[Eugene O'Neill]],<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gV2Hou1bPiIC&q=Eugene+O%27Neill%2BBlackwing+pencil&pg=PP10 | title=Exorcism: A Play in One Act| isbn=978-0-300-18605-5| last1=O'Neill| first1=Eugene| date=2012-02-28}}</ref> and [[Arthur Laurents]],<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0XbXeMf8LOsC&q=blackwing | title=Original Story by: A Memoir of Broadway and Hollywood| isbn=978-1-55783-467-6| last1=Laurents| first1=Arthur| year=2001}}</ref> the filmmaker [[Todd Field]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/winslet-nom-as-desperate-housewife-144832|title=Winslet likely nom as desperate housewife|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jYCGAAAAIAAJ&q=Todd+Field+Blackwing+Pencil |title = Little children: The shooting script|isbn = 978-1-55704-777-9|last1 = Field|first1 = Todd|last2 = Perrotta|first2 = Tom|date = 2007-01-02}}</ref> and the poet [[Archibald MacLeish]].<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KI0ESFOvi5QC&q=Archibald+MacLeish+Blackwing+pencil&pg=PA524 |title = Collected Poems, 1917–1982|isbn = 0-395-39569-0|last1 = MacLeish|first1 = Archibald|year = 1985}}</ref>

In 1988, Eberhard Faber was acquired by Faber-Castell, who rebranded the pencil as the Faber-Castell Blackwing 602. In 1994, the line was acquired from Faber-Castell by the Sanford division of Newell Rubbermaid, who reverted the pencil back to its Eberhard Faber Blackwing 602 branding.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://brandnamepencils.com/brands/fabercastell/blackwing_fc.shtml|title=Brand Name Pencils – Blackwing 602 by Faber-Castell|access-date=2016-05-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630173947/http://brandnamepencils.com/brands/fabercastell/blackwing_fc.shtml|archive-date=2016-06-30|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During this same period, the machine used to produce the metal clip in the pencil’s unique ferrule and eraser system broke. At this time, Sanford was manufacturing roughly 1,100 gross of Blackwing 602 pencils a year. Because the volume was so low, the decision was made to cease production and sell through the remaining stock. The Eberhard Faber Blackwing 602 was officially discontinued in 1998.<ref name="The Great Blackwing Pencil Brouhaha">Taylor, Alex III. [http://archive.fortune.com/2011/05/18/smallbusiness/blackwing_pencil_controversy.fortune/index.htm The Great Blackwing Pencil Brouhaha]. Fortune.com. May 19, 2011.</ref>

The final Blackwing 602 pencils included perhaps the only version bearing custom printing. As Eberhard Faber was poised to discontinue manufacturing, Lionel Spiro, a Trustee of the [[Boston Athenaeum]], placed an order for 25 gross (i.e., 3600 pencils, or 300 boxes of 12) which he gave to the Athenaeum.<ref>https://blackwingpages.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/behind-the-blackwings-of-boston-an-interview-with-lionel-spiro/</ref> A box of these pencils is held in the Harvard University Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments.<ref>http://waywiser.fas.harvard.edu/objects/22571/blackwing-pencils-athenaeum;ctx=c7ab53f3-f9b8-40c8-89ff-6cbc15e66949&idx=8</ref>

After the pencil became unavailable, individual Blackwing 602 pencils have regularly commanded $40 or more on auction sites like eBay.<ref name="The Great Blackwing Pencil Brouhaha" />

=== 2008–present ===

[[File:Palomino Blackwing 602.jpg|thumb|right|Palomino Blackwing 602]]In 2008, California Cedar Products Company acquired the Blackwing name and reintroduced the Blackwing 602 pencil under its Palomino division in June 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blackwing 602 Pencil |url=https://blackwingpages.com/history/ |website=Blackwingpages.com |publisher=Blackwingpages.com |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> This is the closest approximation of the original Blackwing. It was launched exclusively on Pencils.com, but has since launched its own website and blog, and is distributed to retailers around the world.

A portion of all Blackwing pencils sold benefits the Blackwing Foundation, which was established to support music and art education in schools.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blackwingfoundation.org/|title=Blackwing Foundation – Strengthening arts education through community action}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

[[Category:Pencils]]
[[Category:Discontinued products]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 1934]]
[[Category:Products and services discontinued in 1998]]

Blackwing - Revision history

Memm: Based on https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blackwing_602 see contributors there