Zimmbro Classic Pencil - Hand Made Wooden Clutch Pencil History of the Zimmbro Classic Pencil as designed and executed by three friends:
Don Bell, proprietor of PencilThings.com, wanted an elegant clutch pencil of the classic design you see, to be made for daily use. It had to hold a standard length 2mm (standard pencil-size lead) or 3mm lead. It must hold leads of any degree of hardness or color, be made out of beautiful, managed-forest exotic wood, and made with no visible manufactured materials showing. Eugene Zimmermann - by profession a mechanical engineer specializing in prototype design - invented the Zimmbro's unique clutch mechanism and also continues to invent and design the technical aspects of all other Zimmbro Classic Pencil accessory items. The clutch deserves special mention. It maintains a tight grip on leads of slightly varying diameters and hardness, while requiring only a small, hidden brass ring to contain rotary forces.
Eugene then challenged his brother, Roger - whose earlier profession was electrical engineering and management in the electric generating business - to convert his technical successes into useful, beautiful pencils. Eugene's challenges are significant, because while his inventions work magnificently, they look (to be charitable) "mechanical engineerish"! Roger Zimmermann is a world renowned wood pen turner and inventor, holding several patents relating to tools for making wood pens. He accepted Eugene's challenge and designed the beautiful proportions of the Zimmbro Classic Pencil. He experimented with many exotic woods for the barrel and nib of the pencil. There's a lot to consider - overall weight, balance point, placement of a finger grip, varying barrel diameters to emphasize style but with a critical eye on maintaining a comfortable hold for the user, and extremely variable wood characteristics, including aging requirements. Roger both found and invented the tools needed to achieve the delicate design you see. The Zimmbro Classic pencil is made in five woods:
Bubinga with Ebony Nib
Tiger Maple with Ebony Nib
Bloodwood with Ebony Nib
Cocobolo with Ebony Nib
Red Flame Box Elder with Bloodwood Nib Under Development:
A single and double stand/rest for Zimmbro Classic Pencil and Eraser. Final prototype completed and approved. Available mid-2009.
A Zimmbro Classic Eraser - same body as pencil, with eraser nib which accomodates a 5/32" x 3-7/8" white eraser. Economics in question. Expensive. Decision mid-2009.
A Zimmbro Classic Pencil Lengthener. Difficult decisions about appearance. Maybe available in late 2009.
A Zimmbro Classic Sandpaper Board. Looks ugly when used, beautiful when not. Questionable product.Accessories Included with Each Zimmbro Classic Pencil:
KUM Lead Pointer with container, 2-hole polystyrene inner sharpener for 2mm and 3.15mm lead, specially hardened blade, including 2 spare blades, deluxe model with sand paper and sponge pencil-tip cleaner.
Two leads in a plastic tube - your choice of hardness.
SKU: ZBC1
Weight 0.00 lbs
