“Firsts” in your collection?

[Gunther]

This German ad from 1979 presents the TK-matic as the world’s first non-stop pencil:

[Heath]

And here’s the back of that print ad with the date:

In the 83 catalog, they say both the DS-matic and TK-matic are the world’s first…

[Gunther]

Thank you! I forgot to show the back of the ad.

From the 1983 Faber-Castell catalogue:

[Pdunc67]

Thanks guys!

[First_Sail]

recommended selling price: DM 17,80 (green one) DM 25 (silver one)

[Vici81]

Those Deutsche Marks rolled into 2025, accounting inflation, amount to 19,4 and 27,25 euros respectively. Satisfyingly, I paid exactly 19 euros for my first green TK-Matic this spring.

[TomYang]

Incredible low price.

so lucky!

[Heath]

Just noticed this on pg 3 of the 1984 US catalog:

Totally separate, but also noticed this index page has some interesting notes about their model numbering system, which seems to have evolved a bit over the years, but it does introduce the 13 for mechanical pencil category and sets the stage for the 97 from the original 9725 model number…

Here they start using 13 for the Contura:

Here are some boxes with 13 97 63 for Green (this seems to follow the NAN because 63 is their old code for green):

and 13 97 11 for the L:

And this also makes me think the Black model 9725S came out fairly early on because there are plenty of boxes using the older model number format.