While researching the origins of the Pentel S55 Classic Deluxe, which I recently added to my collection, I came across Pilot’s claim that they were the first to include an eraser beneath the push-button of a mechanical pencil.
That seems hard to believe, especially as late as 1965. The Pentel Five clearly has an erase too.
Most propelling pencils I’ve seen already had an eraser, though perhaps not under a cap linked directly to the lead advance mechanism.
I also wonder which company, Pilot or Pentel, first introduced a design like the S55, combining aluminum and plastic.
From what I can see in catalogues, Pilot offered a much wider range of such pencils, in more colors and price points, than Pentel, which leads me to believe they were either the first, or at least the most active, in this market segment. But going so far as to hint they might have invented the eraser under the cap in 1965. Hmm… not sure about that.
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I don’t know when it came out, but the Pentel Sharp 9 (PS-100) was I believe Pentel’s first pencil with a built in eraser.
I think it was probably in response to someone else doing this, because it is just a expanded piece at the back to hold the eraser, while the rest of the reservoir is still the limited 1-2 lead capacity.
It appears that the first full size reservoir was the Pentel 11 with a 12 lead capacity and the eraser. I believe this came out in 1965 the next Book will correct this.
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I don’t know when it came out, but the Pentel Sharp 9 (PS-100) was I believe Pentel’s first pencil with a built in eraser.
I’ll defer to your expertise on this. I’ve only encountered it in photos, never in person or with the eraser visible.
Pilot 100 Years (1918-2018) book, page 284
替えゴム付き。
Which, according to Google Translate, means “Comes with replacement rubber.” Maybe by ゴム (gomu), they mean, like in French, gomme à effacer, “rubber for erasing”.
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When I say “I don’t know when it came out…”, I mean with in 1964-66.
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