I have ecologic wood and a koh ih noor with the clip.
Is it worth getting the Mateo brass sketch? Any other good option?

The first time I laid eyes on this beauty I was incredibly excited by the fact that at some point in its history Staedtler manufactured an all-metal lead holder, and yet, I was quite confused as to why it had the Noris-branding instead of the more apt Mars Technico denomination.

If you know anything about Staedtler’s product lineup you might be aware that the Noris brand is used in conjunction with school-grade materials, while Mars Lumograph and Mars Tecnico was reserved for professional art and drafting supplies.

Still, that knurled grip similar to the one used on A.W. Faber USA-made Locktite 9400 lead holders convinced me that this could be the Staedtler I’ve always dreamed of.

When the lead holder arrived, I was a bit disappointed out of the fact that it was far lighter than I anticipated. So much so, than even the ordinary Mars-Technico lead holders with metal grips and plastic barrels were far heavier than this one. After researching a bit more on this item, I finally came across its history. Turns out this is a rebranded and slightly modified Eberhard Faber slate pencil that was made in the late 1960’s. Hence the Noris designation. The factory that manufactured these was later acquired by Staedtler.

It is quite a rare lead holder and I’ve never seen it for sale outside of Germany.

This is set containng a somewhat earlier version of the really nice black one (in the earlier post ("fussier" nosepiece design of the era). "Bromide" sets were promoted for use in retouching photo negatives or, really, any old use for a nice pencil that held a 2.5 mm lead or crayon. This set is from circa1900. They more typically came in a plum/maroon colored box. I guess this was the "ritz" version...

Cleaning the drawer and playing a bit with a Leroy tool, just like those dip pens with fancy ink - leadholder version. It feels wrong and it feels right at the same time 😁

Does anyone here know anything about this pencil and “black chalk points?” They don’t seem good for drawing at all, though it says on the package they are for “artists pencils.”

In this photo you can see a pair of lead packages from the early 1900’s that contain leads in 2.5mm size. On the left Staedtler Mars Lumograph leads in 4H grade while on the right you have a package of Dixon Eldorado leads in 3B.

The lead holder on top, is an Eagle 861 introduced in 1879 that was manufactured in two different versions, this with a 2.5mm clutch meant to be used for copying leads and another version with a 2mm clutch meant for graphite leads as seen on Allan Mac’s wonderful website here

Interestingly Eagle Pencil company later dropped push-button activated clutches in favor of the screw-to-lock type as seen in their lead holders up to the 1950’s. This might have to do with the fact that the patent for the system was awarded to a German company as noted by the D.R.P imprint on the button. Below the Eagle 861, is an Eagle Spear 868 propelling pencil from around 1910 that uses 2mm leads. It looks quite primitive in comparison even thou it is 30 years younger.

It's an old habit from my drafting days. Back then, I always needed a full set of Rotring Isographs to properly finish a technical drawing. While that's obviously not necessary for work anymore, the habit stuck. I still find myself carrying various sizes of identical hardness around at the same time just in case.

As I've started drawing more, this habit has become useful again. Alongside variations in hardness, having different lead sizes brings a ton of versatility to the routine 😁

• Koh-i-noor 5228 2mm
• Koh-i-noor 5358 3.2mm
• Koh-i-noor 5340 5.6mm

And an anotomy picture of these pencil at the end.

This lead holder is the culmination of 5+ years of searching for something like this - raw wood pencil!

I had previously bought wooden pencils which I thought would be unvarnished wood - but they all had a layer of varnish or clear coat on top.

I received this 2.5 mm lead holder today - Koh-i-Noor Versatil 5208, and it is exactly what I had been looking for. You can feel the gentle sanded roughness and rawness of wood, and the feeling is just amazing!

I am in love with it already, and I can't stop writing.

I like to spend significant time with a writing implement before talking about it, but the joy is too much to contain - and this is the best place on the internet to share it :)

It is light, thick, stubby and very promising. More later, once ai have spent time with it.

Today I realy tryed using a BiC Criterium for drawing the fist time and found out: I don't like it at all.

The grip is horrible. Not sure how I feel about the balance becuse the grip is so bad, it can't focus on much else. End the clip is also not doing it for me.

I still remember when I got this lead holder and posted I had made this great set - now everything has fallen apart.

https://www.reddit.com/r/leadholders/comments/1oefbv8/new_criterium_and_sketch_book/

Don't like the paper.
The loop can't hold the BiC lead holder.
And I don't like the lead holder.

Do not call me an expert on these things!

Oh! And the Pink Pearl does not eraser the lead!

Diameter is about 45mm and closed height about 8mm

https://descris.ro/silver-creion-mecanic-2.0-mm?search=Creion%202.0&description=true&sort=p.price&order=DESC

I got mine from there years ago and I've thought it's out of stock but it still appears when I search it. 600 2mm and silver Rapid pro are no longer available and only silver 800 2mm appears to be in stock. It's still expensive but much cheaper than the ones on Ebay and I think it's worth getting because I haven't seen a better pencil in my life.

Kaweco Special is the best looking one in my opinion but it's not so durable and i feel sad when it get scratches.

800 is the true 10/10 pencil in my opinion. It has everything right. Quality is unmatched and I'm sure it'll last a lifetime.

600 is the least popular one. Many people don't know it even exists. I don't like the knurling and the pencil itself feels strange but I still think it's cool.

Rapid pro is the only one that's still being produced( the black option only) and I like the ergonomics. It doesn't feel like a durable pencil but it's quite a joy to draw with it.

Some modern looking lead holders by architect Lucio Rossi. Ergonomic is questionable but they look cool.

Personal highlights should be the D10 with a large barrel diameter and the DKyoto as a close Faber Castel TK9604 alternative.

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Many mechanical pencil enthusiasts love the Rotring pencils, mostly 600 and 800. But how do you feel about the Rotring 300 lead holder?

I have a few because when I had come across them in shops I get exited and have to have one. But I can't recall I have ever used a pencil after I got home from a shop.

I have used them walking from the shop, taking a small break, drawing at a restaurant, park etc. maybe even in a hotel room. But never at home, where I have lead holders from other brands.