In an interview given to the Salt Lake Herald in 1906, Eberhard Faber II offered some sage advice to pencil users. While most of what he said borders on common sense it’s still illuminating to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth so to speak; like Bach himself telling you that sevenths should resolve downward by step, or Ted Williams telling you to keep your eye on the ball.
“Never bite the end of a pencil. It ruins the glue used in holding the pencil boards together causing them to separate.”
“Never place the lead point of a pencil in the mouth. It tends to harden and harm the lead.”
…no mention of possible harm to the person on the other end of the pencil.
“Never sharpen a pencil when in a hurry. The result will be that more points are broken and material wasted than if sharpened leisurely.”
As true today as it was 110 years ago.
“Buy only the best pencils. The others are a snare, a delusion and utterly useless.”
To be fair he didn’t say buy only Eberhard Faber pencils, but rather “the best” pencils. I wonder who makes those.
“When buying pencils select grades suited to your work. Too hard or too soft pencils never work well.”
There you have it, and remember, stay away from those delusional pencils.
Contrapuntalism 