I feel like the French pencil houses deserve some love, so thought it might be nice to collect some examples together.
Here’s a few Criteriums to start with-
The first pencil to bear the Criterium name is their first iteration of the model 2301, shown here (bottom) alongside its second later iteration.
As far as I can see, the Criterium was launched in 1939 by Gilbert & Blanzy Pour of Boulogne-sur-Mer in the North West of France, after the Gilbert pencil company merged with ‘Blanzy Poure & Compagnie’. This initial design, with it’s push-button 3 jaw visible clutch holding a 1.18mm lead, survived the second world war which began that year, still appearing in print advertisements until at least 1950, 11 years after its launch. This is one of only two examples I’ve seen turn up in 10 years searching and this one is the only one I have found with its chunky angular clip still present, stamped with the round GBP logo. The clip is formed stamped aluminium alloy pressure cynched onto the body, meaning the clip often wore loose and came away from the barrel. All the metal Criterium models are made from a 4% copper, 96% aluminium alloy called ‘Dural’ to prevent oxidisation and corrosion, so it’s still in fairly decent condition, even after it’s 70 or 80 years of use. The other newer iteration is the more recogniseable Criterium form, though a tiny version of it.
I have only ever seen this one example. It doesn’t apear in the excellent ‘Le criterium au fil du temps’ list… yet, though I note one commenter refers to it existing on that site. Again it’s a 3 jaw pushbutton clutch holding 1.18mm lead. In the other image I’ve thrown in the longer 2603 and midi sized 2403 for comparison.
I really love these holders and their historic role in French industrial design and architecture holds much mistique, for me.
