Does the perfect desk exist? (It did in 1954)

I just won a K&E Leroy and was researching it a bit and remembered that I have an old K&E catalog from 1954. I did indeed find the Leroy but it uses ink.
BUT
I found this amazing desk. I’m thinking the perfect combination desk and pencil storage solution. (And one that my wife would probably not take issue with)

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@erhunter71
This would be a great addition to any office!

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Which one? Their “020” pencil, the “022”, the “036 Draughtsman’s”, or the “LEROY 0.5mm” made by Pentel?

K+E branded many more models, but those were all imported by other manufacturers (KIN Italy, Berol, Faber-Castell, etc.), whereas their LEROY-only models were developed and manufactured internally, I believe — save for the full-metal last model, which should be from Pentel.

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this one - I know next to nothing about it, except it’s old, short and I liked the way it looked lol

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It is a very nice model, and while it is sold as a “022” (which ought to be equivalent to a 0.5mm), the super-short lead cores you can find in the white box tend do be slightly slimmer than a true 0.5, so I’ve convinced myself that, back in the old days of imperial size, the 022 was actually closer to a 0.4mm — hence the difficulty I have to fit standard-size lead in that pencil, which seems to work fine only with its original cores.

It is, also, the progenitor of an entire super-niche series of pencils whose special tip was designed to be gripped by the LEROY Scribers by Keuffel & Esser — the already-mentioned 022 and 0.5mm.

For a group picture, see here (by none else than Dan Linn): https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalpencils/comments/12x69xs/ke_leroy_scriber_pencils/

You have now at least two more pencils to chase. Feel free to thank me later… :smiley:

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I have the 020 and a version of the 022 and I also struggled to understand why the 020 did not accept regular 0.5mm lead even though 0.020” = 0.5mm, mathematically.

The 020 Leroy lead is almost exactly 0.5mm diameter and may predate thin lead ISO standardization. Per ISO standard, 0.5mm lead is actually 0.565mm +/-.

Noting that 0.565mm = 0.022”, it appears that there was an adjustment by Leroy from the early 020 model to the later 022 model to conform to the ISO standardized lead size coming into production from the likes of Pentel and others.

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Thank Dan Linn as @Leonov mentioned for helping me with half of these!
@ulfesharpe helped with the silver LEROY which might be my favorite.
@drifand mentioned to me that the silver IS the reason for the stepped drafting tip being so popular today.

Actually Dan helped with 3/4 , I only found a few without him.

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Brilliant set. Thanks for sharing. So much K&E love!

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I love that they’re from New Jersey! Makes finding them or someone who knows where to find them fairly easy here in the states.

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Your optimism is impressive. I certainly agree that finding USA midcentury items is easier from within the USA. But I am sure I couldn’t find anyone in NJ to help me with my pencil searches!

Edit: Spoke too soon. @cytherian, let me know when you open for business.

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I’m very tenacious. If I buy from someone anywhere that I can message them, I ALWAYS message them to see what else they have. That’s how I met Dan. I like “bundle” deals. Show me everything you have to sell and let’s see what can fit with how much I’m willing to pay and how much you’re willing to be rid of.
I’m really working on a Faber Castell collection currently and I WILL find what I’m looking for.

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Nice. Good on you. We love to see the results.

If I am tenacious, it is in a very patient way. ‘Long-suffering’ for the long-coveted items.

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Each frame of mind has its strengths and limitations.

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Gosh, it is even more beautiful in real life. The slanted drafting surface, with the parallellograph straightedge…

One day, I’ll have a huge hangar where to put all these kinds of stuff to play with. [It is my dream, please don’t shatter it with what you call reality.]

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Yeah, back in the day, when everybody basically did whatever they pleased with tolerances, standard dimensions, and patented clutch pencils.

Love that confusing time, even if it means that, once the last tiny core in the “020” container is consumed entirely, the LEROY pencil becomes de facto useless. :slight_smile:

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I am curious about the “036”: how does it feel in the hand? I have many mixed feelings about this model: I’d like to get it, but I am afraid it might be a huge disappointment — or a huge surprise, it really could be anything in between.

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Wow! You’re on a roll, DWD!! I guess this is where a little forward initiative works better. I think asian collectors tend to be more reserved? I’ve seen some Japanese collectors get ostracized online for openly posting WTB messages for r@re items. Different strokes and all that…

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If you’re a forward pencil gripper then it isn’t so different from a microlette 9502/05, but if you grip further back it is noticeably different because it doesn’t have the rounded semi knurled grip. You feel the hard corners in the cusp of your forefinger and thumb.

If you’re buying it for everyday use and not just for admiration then I’d say don’t bother, just buy a microlette.