I always like when these antique showcase or restoring videos have them wearing the black nitrile gloves, so it lends a clean, fetishy air to the whole thing.
It depends on what you're doing. All elementary teachers I know have to sharpen their students' pencils because otherwise, kids will get up to sharpen their pencils when the teacher is in the middle of teaching a lesson. You'll want an electric sharpener after that. When I worked construction, we used utility knives to sharpen our pencils in different ways to suit what materials we were marking. I used to keep 2 construction pencils sharpened differently, 1 for rough work and 1 for finish work.
I'd suspect these weren't cheap in their time. I'd expect fewer people would have the need for them, and they'd be for tasks like drafting, mapmaking, things like that that would need precision sharpening. And one such sharpening instrument would be used by a whole team of artisans.
"The modern pencil was invented in 1795 by Nicholas-Jacques Conte, a scientist serving in the army of Napoleon Bonaparte." Somehow, in my head, they're all using quills at that period
I had a student in a new class whose father was very wealthy. Unfortunately, the kid had been kicked out of his private school and showed up at our public school. The first day of class he handed me a new pencil and said "How about sharpening this for me." He was smirking at the other students about it. I took the pencil to the sharpener, pushed it in really hard and spun the handle a few times. I handed him back the pencil which was ground down almost to the eraser. He never tried that again.
I could use some of these. The 1950s-era sharpener I have is too big for the maswaks I use to brush my teeth. Maswaks are made from licorice branches, and are about the size and shape of a pencil (but most are a little fatter). Scrubbing my teeth with their sharpened tips removes plaque better that a toothbrush with toothpaste does. I've even had a dental technician tell me I didn't really have to come in for cleanings anymore because my teeth were already so clean.
I like them, but of course they didn't gain the same widespread popularity of the common pencil sharpener. They're much more complex, require maintenance, and idiots would probably find a way to maim themselves.
That panasonic was the absolute best electric pencil sharpener ever invented. we used to have one where I worked and I still curse the asshat who lost or stole it.
RumRunner42
I always like when these antique showcase or restoring videos have them wearing the black nitrile gloves, so it lends a clean, fetishy air to the whole thing.
anjeleyezjr
And now, pencils are mostly not used.
nicknacksnackpack
1904 is a joke.
Exyr
Or you know...a pocket knife works.
dudethisbetternotbetaken
It depends on what you're doing. All elementary teachers I know have to sharpen their students' pencils because otherwise, kids will get up to sharpen their pencils when the teacher is in the middle of teaching a lesson. You'll want an electric sharpener after that. When I worked construction, we used utility knives to sharpen our pencils in different ways to suit what materials we were marking. I used to keep 2 construction pencils sharpened differently, 1 for rough work and 1 for finish work.
Mittensvonkittenstien
The ninja star one is my favorite.
ScottPerri
putcleverusernamehere
My fav is the 1886 version because of the way it throws pencil shaving dust all over the room
MrHappySmiles
“I believe you have my thtapler..”
ElbowDeepInTheElbowDeepBandwagon
If you're into sharpening pencils, click here for a good time from Stuff Made Here.
https://youtu.be/wh8ij9NnLIQ?feature=shared
radioactive551
Yes.
SignedEpsteinsMother
I'm still irritated that these aren't in chronological order.
CocaineAndSelfPleasure
Came to make the same comment.
HandoB4Javert
There's a point to it.
bbogs
lol watched it 2x to confirm this. probably the point of doing that.
CheezitBaron
Haha point
theskepticinme
https://youtu.be/wh8ij9NnLIQ?si=qpHQRmOaBtwwgL2H some modern ways to sharpen a pencil
joshcrimson
The urge to shove my fingers into the second one is strong.
PerpetualFollower
2023: Kuru Toga (yeah, pencil geek here)
evolution4407
These are all so much better than the crappy pencil sharpeners you find in the grocery store today.
NationalistCanadianMooseWarrior
I mean.. are they? A modern pencil sharpener does the same thing for like 3 cents with zero moving parts.
bozonebum83
I'd suspect these weren't cheap in their time. I'd expect fewer people would have the need for them, and they'd be for tasks like drafting, mapmaking, things like that that would need precision sharpening. And one such sharpening instrument would be used by a whole team of artisans.
skipweasel
When I was small and five, I found a pencil sharpener alive!
He lay in lonely grasses, Looking for work.
skipweasel
I brought a pencil for him, He ate and ate until all that was
Left was a pile of wood dust. It was the happiest pencil sharpener
I ever had
skipweasel
- Spike Milligan
warrenwoodworks8888
"The modern pencil was invented in 1795 by Nicholas-Jacques Conte, a scientist serving in the army of Napoleon Bonaparte." Somehow, in my head, they're all using quills at that period
Fl0zilla
good point
Whatdoyousaytoanicecupoftea
I knew that Napoleon commissioned the research for the canning process, but pencils is a new one on me.
OuchYoureonmyhair
Funny. I was just going to comment that I feel some of these were invented before the pencil.
foreverinchains
The modern pencil was invented in 1795. https://blogs.bl.uk/untoldlives/2019/05/the-history-of-the-pencil.html#:~:text=The%20modern%20pencil%20was%20invented,the%20army%20of%20Napoleon%20Bonaparte.
Heelcat70
I had a student in a new class whose father was very wealthy. Unfortunately, the kid had been kicked out of his private school and showed up at our public school. The first day of class he handed me a new pencil and said "How about sharpening this for me." He was smirking at the other students about it. I took the pencil to the sharpener, pushed it in really hard and spun the handle a few times. I handed him back the pencil which was ground down almost to the eraser. He never tried that again.
cuddleskunk
That one from 1890 looks like the best pencil sharpener ever...that point is magnificent.
SirKaill
slidewhistlesymphony
My great grandmother knew how to sharpen a pencil. She was born in 1886.
tinyfootprints
I could use some of these. The 1950s-era sharpener I have is too big for the maswaks I use to brush my teeth. Maswaks are made from licorice branches, and are about the size and shape of a pencil (but most are a little fatter). Scrubbing my teeth with their sharpened tips removes plaque better that a toothbrush with toothpaste does. I've even had a dental technician tell me I didn't really have to come in for cleanings anymore because my teeth were already so clean.
UsuallyARabbit
I only sharpen my pencils with handcrafted Amish lasers.
DestroyAllMonsters
Still not great points.
TossABabyYodaToYourWitcher
Idk why but the one from the 1890's looks more practical than the cheap bladed ones we have now
MrWobblyHead
The cheap ones of today waste too much of the pencil. The 1890s one looks like it barely takes any material off. And it's such a simple design.
jhilden0022
What's the point?
steerpike
Why you gotta wear gloves just to sharpen a pencil?
circlebreaker
I like them, but of course they didn't gain the same widespread popularity of the common pencil sharpener. They're much more complex, require maintenance, and idiots would probably find a way to maim themselves.
Lysergian
I think I like the 1886 best
wheredidwegonow
Drugs
Zapathasura
I mostly remember this one..
stargrey
That panasonic was the absolute best electric pencil sharpener ever invented. we used to have one where I worked and I still curse the asshat who lost or stole it.
nightripper
Oh I 'member. 'member these?
georgedragonslayer
You used that when you wanted to show off your new Jodache Jeans and the highlights in your mullet at school.
Zapathasura
Yeah I do. Cranked that shit till it took a full pencil down to a nub.
Kyen155
Ah yes, The Knucklebuster 3000.
WoofBastard
Those were the BEST pencil sharpeners ever.
NationalistCanadianMooseWarrior
Both my elementary and high schools used those. They probably still do, because I am younger than the lion king.
tpanyS
There's a like 60 year old one still mounted to a post down in my parents basement I think.
aThingWithTheStufAndTheJunk
Are you my non-existent sibling?
Teratoid
My mom has one on the door frame in her pantry.