What Is The Most Ridiculous Pen Gimmick Ever From A Major Pen Company?

[XiaoMG]

A bit off topic, but am I the only one who finds modermn wooden pencils to be WAY poorer in quality than 50 years ago?

Overall, sure, but some of the best pencils ever produced are still being made in Japan by companies like Mitsubishi and Tombow. Pentel very sadly seems to have mostly abandoned the wooden pencil market, though they were a key player for a while.

 

It is unfortunate that the American pencil industry has largely died out, and most of the available products there are rubbish.

[79spitfire]

A bit off topic, but am I the only one who finds modern wooden pencils to be WAY poorer in quality than 50 years ago?

 

Your not the only one! I find the Chinese ones simply abysmal. The Dixon/Ticonderoga pencils and the Generals seem ok for general use. The Japanese ones are stellar, but pricey. I'm afraid the market for good quality simple wooden pencils will dry up, just like it did for Fountain pens, due to the convenience and inexpensive value of modern mechanical pencils!

[JefferyS]

Office Depot brand seem to have inferior, roughwood, and even the Ticonderoga arrive with pre-shattered leads. I use them for drawing, but find myself sharpening down half of a new pencil to hit decent, unbroken lead or smooth wood. I have had to go to thick lead holders.

Edited November 16, 2011 by Jeffery Smith

[79spitfire]

Office Depot brand seem to have inferior, roughwood, and even the Ticonderoga arrive with pre-shattered leads. I use them for drawing, but find myself sharpening down half of a new pencil to hit decent, unbroken lead or smooth wood. I have had to go to thick lead holders.

Haven't had that happen. We use the Tri-conderoga (triangle shaped) pencils here and they seem to be good, but a lot of sharpeners don't work well with them. Have you tried the Rhodia pencils? They are great, but pricey!!

[JefferyS]

<br />

<br />Office Depot brand seem to have inferior, roughwood, and even the Ticonderoga arrive with pre-shattered leads. I use them for drawing, but find myself sharpening down half of a new pencil to hit decent, unbroken lead or smooth wood. I have had to go to thick lead holders.<br />

<br />Haven't had that happen. We use the Tri-conderoga (triangle shaped) pencils here and they seem to be good, but a lot of sharpeners don't work well with them. Have you tried the Rhodia pencils? They are great, but pricey!!<br />

<br /><br /><br />

 

Love the Rhodia, but thet don't fit my sharpeners. I have to use a pen knife.

[jaqcp]

I have always felt that when "actual material" from a moon rock or the Titanic, QE2, or possibly the Twin Towers (haven't actually seen it, but I am sure huckster did it) is used, the effect is to appeal only to the QVC quality collector. After all, will these materials make the pen write any better? Do they make it more visually pleasing? Can I know for a fact that is actually a moon rock and not Illinois gravel or a piece from a Chevrolet frame? I just trust someone to tell me that for a mere $1000 extra, there are three molecules of authentic Spanish gold evenly distributed in the micro-plating of an otherwise ordinary pen.

 

That is just selling a dream and imaginary status. No thanks. If I want status, I just toss the ball around with my kids or buy my wife flowers and a Hershey bar every full moon. That gives me some status and makes dreams come true!

Edited November 16, 2011 by jaqcp

[79spitfire]

<br />

<br />Office Depot brand seem to have inferior, roughwood, and even the Ticonderoga arrive with pre-shattered leads. I use them for drawing, but find myself sharpening down half of a new pencil to hit decent, unbroken lead or smooth wood. I have had to go to thick lead holders.<br />

<br />Haven't had that happen. We use the Tri-conderoga (triangle shaped) pencils here and they seem to be good, but a lot of sharpeners don't work well with them. Have you tried the Rhodia pencils? They are great, but pricey!!<br />

<br /><br /><br />

 

Love the Rhodia, but thet don't fit my sharpeners. I have to use a pen knife.

We need to stop now.. we're hijacking the thread!!

 

Major gimmick from a pen company.. :hmm1: The 'cartoon character' pens! such as the Batman and the Looney Tunes Vectors!

[jaqcp]

Office Depot brand seem to have inferior, roughwood, and even the Ticonderoga arrive with pre-shattered leads. I use them for drawing, but find myself sharpening down half of a new pencil to hit decent, unbroken lead or smooth wood. I have had to go to thick lead holders.

 

Though I can't disagree of your evaluation of the pencils, not much better can be said for the pencil sharpeners found in the schools. Most of them can't even hold it straight, but sharpen at an angle and even do that badly.

 

I recently substitute taught for two years straight. Most of the students used mechanical pencils out of defense because the sharpeners chewed up anything that was put in them.

 

 

 

[buffalowings]

Here are a couple that I think are pretty silly. One is a giant squid, associating itself with Jules Verne and the other with the Titanic

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii101/matthewsno/fullsize1.jpg

 

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii101/matthewsno/romainjerometitanicpens_khGS5_48.jpg

 

the titanic one does looks a bit rediculous...

 

oh well, at least it comes with a sailors hat (i hope)

[ANM]

Not wanting to side track the main topic, but the mention of pencil sharpeners in the classroom reminded me of the one we had that finally wore out and the custodians replaced it with some new junk. I got an electric sharpener with my own money and we used it until it broke then I saw this one in an antique store. It was so ugly that it was charming -to me- and i could not leave such character to languish unloved and alone in some dusty bin. I put it up and it worked very well until I retired and then took it with me.

 

 

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii101/matthewsno/DSCF3782.jpg

[79spitfire]

Good pencil sharpeners are also a dying breed, I hunt the thrift stores and turn up a good older one from time to time. (yes, my wife thinks I'm nuts for that too!)

 

 

Pens! this one is about pen gimmicks!!!!!

 

Synthetic DNA? give me a break!

[humsin]

Most epic pencil of all time must be the Staedtler 925-25 mechanical pencil. It's an all metal precision mechanical pencil, based on the regular 925 model. The -25 differs in its all-metal construction. It features a triple clutch holding system as well as a surgical-style diamond etch grip. It is made in Japan and only sold in Japan.

[Tuxedomoon]

Most epic pencil of all time must be the Staedtler 925-25 mechanical pencil. It's an all metal precision mechanical pencil, based on the regular 925 model. The -25 differs in its all-metal construction. It features a triple clutch holding system as well as a surgical-style diamond etch grip. It is made in Japan and only sold in Japan.

 

Not true, most epic is the rotring 800. Pencil-nirvana! And the 925 is also sold worldwide, you just have to find a supplier who orders for you...

[Sailor Kenshin]

We had one of those metal rotary pencil sharpeners, mounted on a wall.

 

Got rid of it, big regrets.

[Soulmaker1]

The Montblanc DNA ink they were offering (not sure if they stuill are, it was ink that incorporated some of your DNA to ensure the documents signed were from your pen with your ink. That to me seemed a bit ridiculous.

[Garageboy]

The Stipula Model T did come only in black when it first came out

[RvnHawk]

Your version of the name come from " During the jeep's service in Korea, the name was referred to as "Just Enough Essential Parts" by the troops due to the very basic design." Which would be consistent with the dark humor of the American service man referring to the tools he is given to work with...

 

Right up there with "Found On Road, Dead," "Fix It Again, Tony," "Poor Old Nutjob Thinks It's a Cadillac" (bowdlerized from a version with an ethnic slur), "Drips Oil, Drops Grease, Everywhere," and the ever-popular "Cheap Heap, Every Valve Rattles, Oil Leaks Every Time."

How about GTO--Gas,Trouble,and Oil

I love my Cherokee Sport with 200,000+ miles on it! It's only parked right now because I need a muffler to pass inspection.

[ThirdeYe]

The "Jet-O-Matic Activator" from Eversharp during the end of their lifespan. It was just a fancy word for a "lever-filler" at a time when other companies had newer filling systems. I laugh every time I read the instructions on my Ventura.

[dannzeman]

How about: "designed by Sylvester Stallone".

 

Here's my upvote to you, sir!

[Guest surrealdeal]

Noodler's offering a free bottle of HOD with their twenty dollar preppy.