I can’t help thinking of it as heroic narrative: the late, great Blackwing pencil has returned, thanks to California Cedar Products.
I’m one of the fortunate people chosen to receive pre-production pencils. I’ll have a review in the near future. For now, The Blackwing Pages has photographs and a short review of the new Blackwing.
[Here’s the review: The new Blackwing pencil.]
Other Blackwing posts
Nelson Riddle on the Blackwing pencil
Stephen Sondheim on pencils, paper
John Steinbeck on the Blackwing pencil
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Blackwing 2: The Return
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comments: 17
Pencil porn?
Yes, but safer to type pr0n.
This is incredible news, Michael. I've been hoping for new Blackwing production for several years, and can't quite believe that it's actually happening.
I look forward to your review.
It’s a small, nice happiness in a rather crazy world. I guess I’m going to have to sharpen an old Blackwing for comparison. (Gulp.)
I'll be especially interested, but must admit to be a little dubious. I have some Palominos and, while they are nice, they are also much too soft. My single Blackwing is somehow just as smooth without being quite so mushy.
Sure, I'll buy a box or two once the new Blackwings are available for purchase, but I'm not sure if the newfangled re-release can really compete with the dowdy Dixon Ticonderoga (even if they are made in China, now).
I think the Blackwing, whatever its lead, will be far superior to the current Ticonderoga.
My recent 24-pack of Ticonderogas says “Made in Mexico.” Are they making Ticonderogas in China too?
The whole point of this enterprise, the re-release of the Blackwing, should be the replication of the Blackwing graphite formula. I have read elsewhere on the web that California Cedar Products Company bought the trademark "Blackwing," which is a necessary first step, but I wonder why we don't hear how they have acquired also the recipe and process for producing that fabulous Blackwing lead.
So I agree with "jw" above, that if the graphite in this new Blackwing is no better than the currently available Palominos, then I don't see what the fuss will be about. The only ones who will be pleased in this event will be the pencil fans who continually harp about the look of their pencils, which to me seems beside the point, pun intended.
In regards to Mexico vs China manufacture for Ticonderogas: whoops. I remember the move from USA made pencils a few years ago, and I guess I just grumbled my way into thinking it was China. The place of manufacture for the pencil in the composition book in front of me (located between my body and the computer, as if to ward off the encroaching technologism) isn't marked. It isn't Japan, that's for sure---so Mexico it is.
But I'm not sure I agree with your quick dismissal of the Ticonderoga, even the current batch. They're amazingly consistent, and for a cheap pencil, they're peerless. Sure, I enjoy my Palominos and my Tombow Monos, but the Ticonderoga is a fraction of the cost and nearly as nice to write with. And the current Ticonderogas are nicer, I think, that the current EF9000 or Golden Bear. Were I an economist, I'd say the Ticonderoga is the best pencil in production today. (I'm not an economist, so I'll have to stick with the Tombow Mono as my vote.) (And, of course, vintage pencils are another matter entirely. I'm sad to say that my aesthetically boring but wonderful nontheless General's Test Scoring 580s are now "vintage" since they're no longer in production. My current favorite is an Ascot Smoothwrite No.3 I discovered in my grandfather's toolbox many years after he'd died and have kept around for sentimental pleasure.)
I suppose it's fair to say that Nippyhedgehog and I are waiting for your review.
“I suppose it’s fair to say that Nippyhedgehog and I are waiting for your review”:
Me too! No pencils here yet.
I didn’t mean to dismiss the current Ticonderoga: I use Ticonderogas often. I like them. I meant what I said straightforwardly: I have to imagine that production values will make the new Blackwing a better pencil. But I’m planning on a blindfold test.
My favorite wooden pencils for everyday writing are No. 1 and No. 2 Mongols.
Ticonderogas are still pretty good daily users, with many inconsistent batches, to be sure, but on the whole not bad for the price---they're made BOTH in Mexico and China. It is comforting to see them around still, even if all the innocent Americana has been removed from the boxes, and even if the lead is not as rich and dark as the versions made in my childhood. But I see Michael's point: the new Blackwing promises to offer a smoother, darker, superior lead. We'll see if it delivers. My own samples have yet to arrive. Cal Cedar's regular Palomino is a very great pencil, in my opinion, so I doubt that their Blackwing will be unworthy of the original. Yes, the lead is most important, but I love the form, too: the ferrule is aerodynamic and just plain beautiful--that matters to me! I am looking forward to the reborn Blackwing. The project itself is so refreshingly non-Capitalist: where a big corporation cut a legendary product, regardless of its history and craft, and regardless of its use by countless writers and artists, here comes Cal Cedar and restores it, knowing that most likely it will only "break even" in terms of profit.
PS
Sorry, Michael, I forgot to ask: do you use original vintage Mongols or the Amspec versions made in Manila? The Philippine Mongols get bad reviews, but I am happy with them for daily use, especially the #1's.
Mine must be from the 1990s. I developed a serious habit only after reading Henry Petroski’s book.
P.S.: Adair, if you passed my name on to Cal Cedar — thanks!
Sorry, Michael, I would have, but I think Cal Cedar chose you because of your excellent blog. Speaking of blogs, Sean closed his superb Blackwing Pages---it will be missed!
Yes, I saw that today.
Did your pencils arrive today? (Mine, not yet.)
My pencils arrived today, finally. I hope that yours did, too. I'll be interested to see what you think.
Mine too. A review is coming soon.
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