History of Mechanical Pencil Day
Pencils were created around the time that graphite deposits were being discovered in Europe during the early 16th century.
The first primitive design of the pencil was invented in 1565 by Conrad Gesner, a naturalist, and bibliographer from Switzerland. These pencils were graphite sticks wrapped in string and later were designed with wood so it could be sharpened.
The first mechanical pencil that had tools to move the lead instead of manually sharpening the lead was patented in 1822 by Sampson Mordan and John Isaac Hawkins in Britain. From there, multiple companies began to begin mass producing mechanical pencils.
Mechanical pencils now operate by three types of methods; rachet-based, clutch-based, and screw-based. Today, mechanical pencils have different varieties of lead width and have multiple frames, including plastic, metal, and wood. These pencils are used for writing, but can also be used for art and design.
Due to the slick nature of the mechanical pencil, people now have the ability to create fine details and don’t have to use a pencil sharper. Mechanical Pencil Day celebrates the history of mechanical pencils and how it is today used in workplaces and schools all over the world.
People celebrate the holiday by collecting antique mechanical pencils, reading up on the history of these pencils, and appreciating its uses in daily life.