Hello all!
I’m opening some packages and came across something that I am not sure what it means. Here is a photo of a set of yellow Gomdale 300s:
The markings are different for each. The pencil on the far right has a “4J” near the eraser, the pencil in the center has a “7A” in the same spot, and the pencil on the left is without this two character code. Anyone able to help me decipher?
Thanks so much! -Erskine
I believe the 4J was manufactured in October 1994 or 2004, and the 7A probably in January 1997.
The one without the marking may be marked on the reservoir on the inside.
All of this comes from the number being the last digit of the year, and the letter is A to L representing January to December.
As far as I have bene able to determine, the QE305 Gomdale were manufactured between 1988 and the early 2000’s, and thus my guesses for the dates.
This is the date code that is currently in use, and has been primarily since the mid to late-80’s, although there is an example of it’s use back in the late-70’s (I believe).
The earlier date code was stamped (usually on the inner reservoice) with yymmdd, although sometimes the leading y was left off. This code was in use between December 1975 and the mid to late-80’s.
There is an article about this in the back of the Pentel ID Book.
Thanks so much! Appreciate the explanation!
When I see “…The 2-character Date Code is beneath the clip”
Do you need to remove the clip to see this?
Are you talking about the PG203/PG205…?
In that case, no, you just need to rotate the clip to see it stamped into the body.
In the case of the P115/P115A, it is stamped on the inside of the clip, and you have to look along the barrel to the underside of the clip.
I was - thank you!
That also applies to all modern P200 pencils, if they have the Date Code, which some of the limited editions don’t (that I could find).
I am fairly new to this forum. Im not sure where to ask this: Recently I got a Pentel Graphgear 500 PG517 (0.7) in April. It came in the original Pentel plastic package with Japanese writing. The marking at the end says 3L. I know L means December. What about the 3? Package looks fairly new, so is it 2023 or 2013?
Also the lead hardness indicator has only 2H, H, HB, and B markings, the other postions are blank. Is it normal?
Hi. As detailed in Nimrodd’s Pentel Pencils ID Book, sometimes there isn’t a fixed answer especially if a pencil model has been in production for several decades.
Hello - welcome to the forum.
The Graphlet has been around since 1982 so it might be hard to tell.
Nimrod’s Pentel ID book says that in the late-90’s, Pentel changed the labeling on these pencils from “Graph 500” to “Graphlet”. Hope that helps.
Thanks for the reply. I am referring to the GraphGear 500. You seem to be talking about Graphlet. I guess they are different. Or am I missing something?
Oh OK the GG500 is PG527. It was made from 2000’s to current so it’s going to be hard to tell. Do you have a picture of the packag? That will help
Yes, I went through that. Thanks. But by looking at the state of the packaging, I think it is 2023.
Pentel Pencils Identification Book
PG513 / PG514 / PG515 / PG517 / PG519 GraphGear 500 Automatic Drafting Pencil
Mine is the above : PG517.
I too was confused initially. There are two models of GraphGear 500: PG51X and PG52X.
The Graphlet or Graph 500 is PG50X.
I know the pic is not very clear (low lighting). But it does say 3L after the Pentel logo. At the back of the packet it says XPG517.
If Pentel packages a single item like this, then the package ID is “X” + the model number, in this case XPG517.
That being said, this appears to be the newer style packaging, so yes, it is probably December 2023.
My versions of the GraphGear 500 (PG510 series) was purchased back in 2009, and have date codes 7G, 8G, 8I, 8L, 9A, meaning they were manufactured in 2007 to 2009.
I have not purchased any newer versions to compare the Lead Hardness Indicator with, but I will try to remember to look at what are on mine when I get home tonight.
I don’t think that they will have changed much, but I seem to remember reading that over the life of the Mechanica pencil, the range of hardness’ changed.
Thanks a lot. I did not know the meaning of “X”.
