Prior to the appearance of Twitter user DAISUKEOGO in late 2021, the consensus amongst (Japanese) collectors was that Newman’s printed note from 1971 of the SUPER 2 being ‘the world’s first 0.2mm mechanical pencil’ was a spurious claim, as Newman was not ‘known’ for its technical innovation. I had also speculated whether Pentel was paid to develop it for Newman, if such a business arrangement was possible.
However, Daisukeogo has family credentials: his grandfather was the founder of Newman, and his mother shared lots of anecdotes about the family business. One surprising obscure fact: his grandfather was at one time the president of the ‘Japanese Mechanical Pencil Manufacturers’ Association’ (or equivalent term). This business association kept official records of member companies’ patent filings and innovations.
The gist of Daisuke’s posts is that Newman was indeed the legitimate inventor of 0.2mm polymer leads and pencils to use them. A supporting FACT: the 0.2mm leads in Newman pencils are finer than any Pentel version. Contemporary Pentel 0.2 leads will not feed through a Newman SUPER 2. Daisuke’s research and documentation asserts that with the dissolution of Newman as a business entity, Pentel used the fog of time to lay claim to their version of history. See this blog for a compilation of Newman’s history.
Thus, when I read the story above, it is interesting to note how Pentel phrases things regarding their claims to 0.2mm innovation. See this paragraph:
Contrary to popular belief, Orenz isn’t the first mechanical pencil with a 0.2mm lead. The “Graph Pencil,” a 0.2mm mechanical pencil for drafting, was sold back in 1981. The Graph Pencil was specifically intended for a limited range of occupations.
Note, it doesn’t actually say “The PG2 was the first… etc”.
Also see subsequent paragraph about the Slide 02 from 1973:
Dating even further back, in 1973, a mechanical pencil with a 0.2mm core called the “Pentel Sharp Slide 02 (PS1042)” was sold. This was not a drafting pencil, but a general one. Priced at a hefty 1,200 yen, it was indeed a luxury item for its time.
Again, it does not actually CLAIM to be the first.
All this circumspect wording just reinforces Daisuke’s assertions.
Addendum: Japan’s ‘Stationery King’ Masayuki Takahata has done a pretty good job of real-world investigating into the origins of 0.2mm leads. Finding analog sources of contemporary reports from 1970s etc. that are not accessible via the otherwise almighty Google.