No 2 pencil why

In reality however, there is no specific industry standard for the darkness of the mark to be left within the HB or any other hardness grade scale. Thus, a 2 or HB pencil from one brand will not necessarily leave the same mark as a 2 or HB pencil from another brand.

Most pencil manufacturers set their own internal standards for graphite hardness grades and overall quality of the core, some differences are regional.

In Japan, consumers tend to prefer softer darker leads, so an HB lead produced in Japan is generally softer and darker than an HB from European producers. Suddenly the New England graphite could be used to make a pencil that didn't leave giant smears, and the Thoreaus' business took off. By the middle of the 19th century, the Thoreaus were selling pencils with varying graphite hardness, which they numbered one through four. Blame shoddy 16th century chemistry for this one.

When a giant graphite deposit was found in England during the 16th century, it eventually found a use as a writing implement. However, early chemists weren't exactly sure what the useful gray substance actually was. According to most stories, our pencils are yellow as a result of a clever marketing gimmick. In , the Hardtmuth company of Austria introduced a new line of fancy pencils at the World's Fair in Paris. The pencils were named Koh-i-Noor after a famed Indian diamond, and they contained the world's finest graphite from the Far East.

They were also painted yellow, which was unusual at the time. Some historians claim that the Austrian company painted their pencils yellow as a subtle nod to the yellow on the flag of Austria-Hungary. Current Members Educators. Today's Hours : 10 am—5 pm.

Indoor: 10 am—5 pm Outdoor: Closed for the season. Access Pass. All Exhibits. Indoor Exhibits Year-Round. Outdoor Sports Experiences March-Nov. Future Exhibits. Live Theater Shows. Press Room. Annual Report. Official Partners. Make a Donation. Donor Memberships. Become a Member. Can I even get a 1 pencil, or a 5, or a 3. Please enlighten me, o wise tutor! Wonder no more, my friends, for I shall educate you on the surprisingly interesting history of the humble, useful, and indispensable 2 pencil.

No, seriously: I spent way more time down the rabbit hole of YouTube videos about pencils while researching this post than I ever expected. Higher numbers indicate a harder lead, which gives you a finer point and crisper lines. Lower numbers indicate a softer lead, which is good for shading.