Planetary Pencil Pointer Pencil Sharpener, 1896-1915

01

Artifact Overview

The Planetary Pencil Pointer, patented in 1896, provided an alternative to the small manual sharpeners that required users to turn the pencil against a fixed blade. By turning the crank, two milling disks rotate on their axes as they spin around the stationary pencil--like planets revolving around the sun--creating a usable point.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Pencil sharpener

Date Made

1896-1915

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2005.121.104

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Constance & James Levi.

Material

Iron (Metal)
Wood (Plant Material)
Brass (Alloy)

Color

Black (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 5 in
Width: 6 in
Length: 4.5 in

Inscriptions

brass label: PLANETARY PENCIL POINTER / MADE BY / A.B. DICK COMPANY / CHICAGO, U.S.A. / U.S. PAT. MAR. 17, 1896 / FOREIGN PATENTS PENDING