Back to School Trivia
Ever wanted to know where pencils and other school supplies came from? We've got the lowdown on back to school trivia!
August 4, 2010, 2:41 p.m.
It's that time of year again - summer is winding down and kids everywhere are dreading the return to school, while parents are excitedly counting down the days! If you enjoy learning random trivia that you can pass on to others, we've got details that might get even the most stubborn child interested in school.
When you toss a package of pencils into your shopping cart, do you ever wonder where they came from? Well ever since ancient Rome, scribes were using rod-like instruments made out of lead to make marks on papyrus (an old form of paper). The marks weren't nearly as visible as the ones modern pencils are able to make, because pencils today aren't made out of lead at all, contrary to popular belief.
In 1795, N. J. Conte created the first pencil, by combining crushed non-toxic graphite with clay, rolling the putty into thin lines and then firing them in a kiln. At first the pencils were wrapped in string so they were easier to hold, but eventually people started carving pieces of wood to fit around the base. Imagine how much you would appreciate your pencils if you had to hand-carve holders for each one! Now mass produced pencils are simple cut from blocks of wood in thin lines, coated with wax to make writing flow smoothly, filled with graphite and painted. Did you know the hexagon shape that pencils have today was created so they can't roll off a desk?
Photo of the oldest pencil.
Everyone makes mistakes, lets face it. Instead of having to start all over again every single time a mistake is made, Hyman Lipman created the first patent for erasers in 1858. Back then they were commonly known as "rubbers" and still are called that in Europe! While erasers are commonly made from rubber, more and more are being fashioned from vinyl, because it's much more durable and flexible than plastic.
Did you know that a pencil can write upside down, under water and in zero gravity? A typical pencil can also draw a line for 35 miles before running out! It's incredible that these little writing instruments can do so much with so little! So next time someone asks you to borrow a pencil, you'll have plenty of trivia to share!
