Eberhard Faber Pencils
How They Are Made

EBERHARD FABER : NEW YORK binding medium for the graphite, and is used also to produce the desired degree of hardness. The greater the proportion of clay the firmer the lead. Where a lead is made in fifteen degrees of hardness, such as in our “Van Dyke” drawing pencil, it is obvious that the proportion of clay to graphite must determined. The Lead Graphite and clay in cor- rect proportions are ground together for long periods to insure a perfect mix- ture. This mixture goes through a washing and filtering pro- cess and in a plastic mass resembling black be very exactly ough, is placed in heavy steel cylinders in the bottom of which a sapphire or dia- id die the gauge of the required lead. Under enormous pressure it is forced through this die, issuing from it with the appear- ance of a round shoe string. After cutting to certain lengths and care- fully straightening, it is set aside to dry. It is then cut to pencil length, placed in crucibles and subjected to a heat of over 2,000 degrees. The heating or burning process tempers and Page 6 THE OLDEST PENCIL FACTORY IN AMERICA