"Clean" form factor

THe reent discussion of French/Swiss influenced barrel shapes /detailing (or lack of) reminded me of these. “URBAN 118”. Not “claimed” via other markings, I am pretty sure they were made by L+C HARDTMUTH /KIN for markets twhere they sold similar items under their better know names. These are spring clutch pencils for 1.18 mm lead, and as usual with L+C, came as a colored lead set. They also made an “URBAN” in 2.0 mm ( not sure if there are other barrel colors) and the “officey” looking version (with integral clip) for 2.0. Probably late '60’s, early '70’s (?).
(add) some of the very few anodized barrels by L+C/KIN…





7 Likes

These are very similar to the “Automat Krakow” 2.00mm leadholder (I remember we briefly discussed those here on the forum), even though that one only came in a stylish “bare-aluminum” finish. I would not be surprised if a stronger connection emerged.

Also, the Automat had a shorter version; maybe these Urban had a smaller companion themselves as well.

(As always, mouth-watering display of richness, depth, and breadth of a collection. Chapeau!)

5 Likes

Don’t know of a short one…do know that Krackov is a great city to visit…!


3 Likes

Ah! The URBAN 21. Cleanest of the clean. Andrey had several colors available on ebay and I always wanted one but never pulled the trigger before he closed up shop.

Here is the short Automat Krakow. https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalpencils/s/rE6RW5ufjx

3 Likes

Ha! That Varius! Not the FC one, but a Varius nonetheless. Spectacular! Love everything in that picture.

I assume there are no chances you are willing to let go that pair, aren’t there? :smiley:

2 Likes

These are keepers. I will get old and sell-off stuff eventually, if you can be patient. Or maybe I will die before I get to the downsizing bit. Collecting really puts mortality into focus for me. Maybe I should see my therapist.

2 Likes

“Cleanest” things I have= ever seen…zip, zero nada marking anywhere.. 5 5/8" long, 2 mm

4 Likes

I had imagined; I also had thought for a moment that some particular feature of those pencils could have ended up resulting boring or uncomfortable for you, so I had to ask — but I totally understand your point.

That remark about mortality really resonated with something I have been pondering about these last months. I am starting to think seriously about my goals as a collector, and where I should set up an ultimate boundary for my hunger.

At any rate, I do not plan to be a saprophage here, so I wish you a long and healthy life, full of even more pencils to play with; once the curtain closes, worrying about what we leave behind will become meaningless, and it will become someone else’s duty to carry on the collection, or dismantle it quickly. :slight_smile:

Let us celebrate the good stuff we found, and the joy of possessing some sparks of beauty and craftsmanship which may very well outlive us, while carrying a splinter of our affection, admiration, and care.

5 Likes

Doin’ the write thing: share, share, share…

Indeed. Certain fringe items lie outside of the CORE collection and on saner days I try to avoid collecting them because I know I will regret it. But some are so fringe and so extra that they have their own magnetism or gravitational pull. In rare cases, they become the center of side collections.

Which brings me to your point about ultimate boundaries. At some point I hope to make the full circle back to the point that started me on the journey - the best and brightest tools for the work in front of me: writing, drawing, art, architecture. I think 200 pencils ought to do it. The other 800 are probably excessive. Ha!

1 Like

seems about right…beware of spoilers…like arthritis…(arth-wrong-ness?)

1 Like

Wow, who do you guess made them?

I know. Just when I am starting to have time to enjoy extracurriculars like TKD, yoga, and swimming, my body is saying ‘good luck with that.’

LOL…d’accord…!!!

Not a leadholder but I think the Sailor 800 is quite clean or minimalist.


I especially like the fact that the nose cone is really just a cone.

3 Likes