Blackwing 602

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 to 1988, then by the Faber-Castell pencil company from 1988 to 1994 and by Sanford from 1994 to 1998.[1] 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.[2]

Fourth Generation Blackwing 602

History

1934–1998

The Eberhard Faber Pencil Company began production of the Blackwing 602 pencil in 1934.[3] 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;[4] however the 602 quickly evolved from an office tool to that of the artist. Among these were animators Chuck Jones[5] and Don Bluth,[6] authors John Steinbeck[7] and E.B. White, [8] composers Aaron Copland,[9] Leonard Bernstein,[10] John Williams,[11] Stephen Sondheim,[12] Nelson Riddle,[13] and Quincy Jones,[14] playwrights Eugene O'Neill,[15] and Arthur Laurents,[16] the filmmaker Todd Field,[17][18] and the poet Archibald MacLeish.[19]

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.[20]

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.[21]

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.[22] A box of these pencils is held in the Harvard University Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments.[23]

After the pencil became unavailable, individual Blackwing 602 pencils have regularly commanded $40 or more on auction sites like eBay.[21]

2008–present
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.[24] However, this is only an approximation of the original Blackwing, lacking the graphite formula of the original, Blackwing in name only. 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.[25]

References
  1. Ward, James. The Perfection of the Paper Clip: Curious Tales of Invention, Accidental Genius, and Stationery Obsession. Page 99. April 21, 2015.
  2. Gardner, Ralph Jr. Ode to the Write Stuff. The Wall Street Journal. July 21, 2014.
  3. "TESS -- Error". tmsearch.uspto.gov.
  4. "Finding a Place for the Blackwing 602". August 26, 2011.
  5. Patrick, Robert (May 20, 2011). "Chuck Jones's Favorite Pencil Is Back!". Chuck Jones Blog.
  6. "Don Bluth's Animation School | on Animation". Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
  7. Steinbeck, John. Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters. Page 34. Penguin, December 1, 1990
  8. White, E. B. (2011-10-06). In the Words of E. B. White: Quotations from America's Most Companionable of Writers. ISBN 978-0-8014-6367-9.
  9. Forum, via Equality (October 9, 2011). "LGBT History Month profile: Composer, conductor Aaron Copland". www.lgbtqnation.com.
  10. Peress, Maurice (2004-03-25). Dvorák to Duke Ellington: A Conductor Explores America's Music and iItsAfrican American Roots. ISBN 978-0-19-535695-3.
  11. "KUSC Interviews – Classical KUSC". www.kusc.org. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  12. Sondheim, Stephen (2011). 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.
  13. Riddle, Nelson (1985). Arranged by Nelson Riddle. ISBN 978-1-4574-6792-9.
  14. Jones, Quincy. Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones Crown/Archetype, April 23, 2002.
  15. O'Neill, Eugene (2012-02-28). Exorcism: A Play in One Act. ISBN 978-0-300-18605-5.
  16. Laurents, Arthur (2001). Original Story by: A Memoir of Broadway and Hollywood. ISBN 978-1-55783-467-6.
  17. "Winslet likely nom as desperate housewife". The Hollywood Reporter. December 2006.
  18. Field, Todd; Perrotta, Tom (2007-01-02). Little children: The shooting script. ISBN 978-1-55704-777-9.
  19. MacLeish, Archibald (1985). Collected Poems, 1917–1982. ISBN 0-395-39569-0.
  20. "Brand Name Pencils – Blackwing 602 by Faber-Castell". Archived from the original on 2016-06-30. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  21. Taylor, Alex III. The Great Blackwing Pencil Brouhaha. Fortune.com. May 19, 2011.
  22. "Behind the Blackwings of Boston: An Interview with Lionel Spiro". 4 March 2012.
  23. "Blackwing pencils "Athenaeum"".
  24. "Blackwing 602 Pencil". Blackwingpages.com. Blackwingpages.com. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  25. "Blackwing Foundation – Strengthening arts education through community action".
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