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Last bit of pencil geekery, I promise...
But, because vintage pencils aren't as cheap as going to the Wally World and picking up a bulk pack, I use them down to the nub.
Below is a General's pencil extender that allows you to do just that--comfortably.

It's got a Kimberly "F" graphite drawing pencil in it. Kind of close to the Venus Velvet 2 2/3, but still not the same pizzazz.

17542FE2-FF6A-45B5-B4EC-C5C567396712_zpsmknpvhgr.jpg
 
Jonny1280 said:
Venus Velvet is also The Gunyon's stage name, alter ego, and alias.
It's just an extreme coincidence that he enjoys the pencils with the same name.
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Have you seen my act? You should have stopped backstage after the show. I would have signed Ethan's name on a Becker for you.
 
Guyon said:
Last bit of pencil geekery, I promise...
But, because vintage pencils aren't as cheap as going to the Wally World and picking up a bulk pack, I use them down to the nub.
Below is a General's pencil extender that allows you to do just that--comfortably.
Click to expand...

Pencil extender did take it to a whole other level of geekery. But, that kind of commitment is pretty awesome.
 
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Guyon said:
http://www.brandnamepencils.com/brands/venus/velvet_firm.shtml
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Thanks a bunch. I just wasted spent several minutes perusing the stock for sale and laughing - partly at the absurdity of it, and partly at myself for my prurient interest and a small but noticeable desire to buy some of those.....I used to draw for a living, so I have a special kinda relationship with my collection of pens and pencils and old Koh-I-Noor lead holders, but - and I say this with all due respect, mixed with a smidgen of awe and a dollop of admiration - you are in a whole other universe of geekery, one that I had no earthly idea existed over the more than 5 decades of my existence. Were you even alive when those - I hesitate now to refer to them simply as "pencils" - writing implements were manufactured?

DunkEm said:
Pencil extender did take it to a whole other level of geekery. But, that kind of commitment is pretty awesome.
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That kind of commitment will, in other areas of interest, get you jailed. Impressive, to say the very least. I had absolutely no idea that sort of thing existed.
 
granitestateofmind said:
Thanks a bunch. I just wasted spent several minutes perusing the stock for sale and laughing - partly at the absurdity of it, and partly at myself for my prurient interest and a small but noticeable desire to buy some of those.....I used to draw for a living, so I have a special kinda relationship with my collection of pens and pencils and old Koh-I-Noor lead holders, but - and I say this with all due respect, mixed with a smidgen of awe and a dollop of admiration - you are in a whole other universe of geekery, one that I had no earthly idea existed over the more than 5 decades of my existence. Were you even alive when those - I hesitate now to refer to them simply as "pencils" - writing implements were manufactured?



That kind of commitment will, in other areas of interest, get you jailed. Impressive, to say the very least. I had absolutely no idea that sort of thing existed.
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I must be tired... For a second I thought "graphitestateofmind" had just posted... Or maybe it's all this talk of pencils... :confused:

So on that note, good night to all.
 
Well, it's cooled down to the point that I thought I'd turn the heater on for the first time since the move this summer. Nothing doing on either. Electronic pilot lights that won't light. Looks like I'm going to have to call the HVAC guys tomorrow.

Guess that's what I get for trying to turn it on so early in the year.

Now to look for a blanket.
 
DunkEm said:
Well, it's cooled down to the point that I thought I'd turn the heater on for the first time since the move this summer. Nothing doing on either. Electronic pilot lights that won't light. Looks like I'm going to have to call the HVAC guys tomorrow.

Guess that's what I get for trying to turn it on so early in the year.

Now to look for a blanket.
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Hah!! You'd last about five minutes north of the 43rd parallel. ATM on the seacoast of NH, it is ~40°, there are moths all over my garage door for some inexplicable reason (and my cars and windows, too), it's 65° in my house (it would be 60°, but the pet hedgehog can't put on a sweater) and I'm in shorts. If nuclear winter ever happens, I'll be GTG. If it gets much warmer tho, imma have to move to Inuit country - lest I melt.
 
granitestateofmind said:
Thanks a bunch. I just wasted spent several minutes perusing the stock for sale and laughing - partly at the absurdity of it, and partly at myself for my prurient interest and a small but noticeable desire to buy some of those.....I used to draw for a living, so I have a special kinda relationship with my collection of pens and pencils and old Koh-I-Noor lead holders, but - and I say this with all due respect, mixed with a smidgen of awe and a dollop of admiration - you are in a whole other universe of geekery, one that I had no earthly idea existed over the more than 5 decades of my existence. Were you even alive when those - I hesitate now to refer to them simply as "pencils" - writing implements were manufactured?
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong. I'm a user, not a collector. It all started when a colleague (enabler) passed me a remake of the famous Palamino Blackwing pencil. Smooth but soft. Clear quality above and beyond your average box store supply. Then, she gave me one of her prized Venus Velvets, which offers, in my estimation, the perfect balance of durability and stroke. Real wood and noticeable craftsmanship. Made with pride in the US. Before I knew it, I was stalking fleaBay for the occasional box resurrected from Grandpa's closet. I have a pretty good hoard already, but this latest score of 12 dozen was like finding three Cincinnati Machaxes and having them offered up in a private sale.

And no, I was not alive when the last Venus Velvets were made.
 
granitestateofmind said:
Hah!! You'd last about five minutes north of the 43rd parallel. ATM on the seacoast of NH, it is ~40°, there are moths all over my garage door for some inexplicable reason (and my cars and windows, too), it's 65° in my house (it would be 60°, but the pet hedgehog can't put on a sweater) and I'm in shorts. If nuclear winter ever happens, I'll be GTG. If it gets much warmer tho, imma have to move to Inuit country - lest I melt.
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I can survive just fine slightly north of the 43rd parallel - from June to August, at the very least. Maybe even a month or two more. Maybe.

It's 47 outside here right now and the house is about 68. I actually don't mind this kind of weather. I just hate that when it gets here it's dark by the time work gets over. It would be nice to be out in the sunshine and not be sweating after work.

My wife however, is looking for a parka to sleep in. She's pretty convinced that living here about 15 minutes north of I-10 makes us Northerners.
 
So glad this week is over! It's been hectic.

ac700wildcat said:
Nice looking pooch you have there WW. I think I mentioned that we got a new pup about 2.5 months ago. He's been tons of fun and a challenge as well. Our older dog, Lucky, likes him, but she just needs a break from him once in a while. He's got a ton of energy and he's go go go, but she just likes to chill most of the time.

I was posting a pic of Lucky and Hank, but once it was sized to fit a computer screen, I realized that it sucked. I'll have to get one sometime this week and post it up
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Thanks man. Leo is way too hyper for battle. He will entertain him for a few minutes but if Leo keeps jumping in his face... He grows and then bites at him... Then Leo leaves him alone lol

Dogs have to find their place in the chain of command... And then spend the rest of their lives challenging that place lol.



Speaking of pencils... I love my KOH-I-NOOR 5635. Wish i Had a couple more of them.
 
Pencils? Where's this thread going :D

No honestly, my father's family owned a local grocery store 'till the mid 1990s. Since they retired (and sadly passed away now ten years ago, the story is in a different thread here on BF), they left a good deal of stuff, going from old pencils, to paint brushes, pens, all kinds of desk utensils. Pretty cool, especially the feeling of opening one of those old boxes. They used to sell all of that next to food, drinks,... and mostly candy since they were the closest store next to the local school. Not sure if any of the old boxes or pencils are still untouched, gotta look 'em up.
 
Back here pretty soon, found the box of old office goodies. Some of you may like 'em, here's some pics.

Parker Pens, NIB! Only $4.98, lol :D


Pencils, eh?


Thumbtacks, tons of these vintage boxes lying around.


Rudimentary fountain pens. Gotta pull out the black plug, turn it around, put it back in aaaand GO! (--> Please read this line in the original context in order to avoid confusion :D)


Some old pencil sharpener? On the left are strips of coarse abrasive, on the right it's pretty smooth.


Old callipers and assorted stuff in their original boxes.



Cool cool! Fun to dig into that box again :)
 
Jerry D. said:
Yea, I'll do $5 for that dark blue Jotter set.
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Hahaha, I'm sure you would. It's cool to see that pretty much all of the stuff is labeled in all kinds of languages. The Parkers are labeled in English, the tacks in German, the pencils in French... And all of them have the original price on them, whereas some of 'em have the selling price in Belgian Francs still tagged on them. Way before there even was a Euro as a means of payment.

daizee said:
Sweet finds, GShark!
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Not really finds, have had them for 15 years or so, but it was good digging these up again for sure.

DunkEm said:
That fountain pen is cool.
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There's tons of those too. Often tried using these as a kid but never excelled at it.
 
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