Old Pencil Sharpeners

thundermug · Sep 15, 2012

How many of you have an old pencil sharpener? I got into them about a year ago. I found one, minus the steel shavings catch. I did the research and felt that it would be worth a try at soldering brass and make a new shavings catch. I made a waterslide decal and applied it, however its not pictured.

Here is my rebuilt 1920s Dexter:

http://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/375204_559876421822_1614539763_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/393631_559876436792_2094905398_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/384778_559876466732_94065632_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/388809_559876451762_467977888_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/377311_559876486692_1182899216_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/384732_559876406852_241687892_n.jpg

OccupantRJ · Sep 15, 2012

I am truly impressed, as that ain't easy to build. Mad skills there, bro.

dladcock · Sep 15, 2012

Hey, WOW, if you can do that, then you can do about anything!?!?

Nice execution.

Lynn

RivennHewn · Sep 15, 2012

Very cool.

PETE14 · Sep 15, 2012

Outstanding. :thumbup:

That turned out REALLY nice. On the crank side, is that a spring & ball oil port for adding a drop of oil or two?

Very cool. Made back when things were built to last.

Pete

zuk123 · Sep 15, 2012

Wow, that looks great.

I have been picking up old sharpeners when I see them. I only have a few, as they seem much more rare than I would think.

A solid well made sharpener is a joy to use, and a flimsy one is pure frustration. Just like any other tool I guess.

Got any other favorites? Which ones are rare? Desirable?

zuk

srmofo · Sep 15, 2012

Man I want that soo bad. Now I have another thing to treasure hunt for

coldfusion21 · Sep 15, 2012

That's way neat! Used to have one just like that growing up. Makes me wish I had stashed it away somewhere.

thundermug · Sep 16, 2012

Thanks all. Its good to have a place to show projects. My wife is sick of hearing about all the stuff I work on.

Pete14 - Yeah, that's an oil port. A couple drops a year does the trick. I was using a utility knife before I found this. When I saw this relic from the machine age, I knew it had to be restored.

This is my favorite model. There were a lot of different sharpeners made by Dexter, Dollar Boston, Ideal, and others. I think my example might be more common, as I have seen it floating around on ebay and in antique shops. It was easy to research. Cash value on a something like I have ranges between $35-$65, depending on where you look and condition. There will always be lucky finds and anomalies.

This link is a valuable resource for researching and determining rarity: http://www.officemuseum.com/pencil_sharpeners.htm
There are all sorts of links at the bottom to photo galleries. Some really great stuff in there.

Jzytaruk · Sep 16, 2012

very interesting.. kinda cool!

CreteCoater · Sep 22, 2012

Can we get a pic of the water slide decal?

lilredex · Sep 22, 2012

That is impressive. If you solder brass, one of the biggest problems is keeping the solder under control. It tends to flow out everywhere. To corral it, you can run a sharpened piece of chalk around the to soldered area to set up a fence. That is, after you clean the area.

If you have an Oxy-Acetelyne torch you can do the same with a "smokey" flame and clean up the area to be soldered.

SweetD · Sep 22, 2012

Great topic!

I snagged my Grandfather's old sharpener when we cleaned out their place several years ago.

It says 'Berol USA, Division of Berol Corp., Danbury CT 06810' on the back of the shavings catch.

I'm thinking it's from the 1950s:

I need to oil it up a bit, but it works GREAT!

Dave

thruthefence · Sep 23, 2012

Any way to sharpen these things?

onewaydave · Sep 23, 2012

thruthefence said:
Any way to sharpen these things?

+1

I have several. I still use pencils often in the wood shop. One of the grand-kids put a screwdriver in one.

Dave, amazed at the OP's work here with brass sheet and...

Boyd · Sep 25, 2012

Re: Sharpening- An old fella once told me to wrap an unsharpened pencil with aluminum foil (2-3 layers). I tried it with mine and immediately noticed a difference. YRMV.

zip95864 · Sep 28, 2012

Looks awesome, nice job.

Wilbur · Sep 28, 2012

I got an old one for free from a buddy cleaning out his Dad's shop....still have it on a bench....I use that sucker a lot. Not sure the brand but like an old one from a school....works great.

Sadly couldn't get the same "deal" on the lathe...drill press....etc. LOL

RV'er_Nano-Shop · Sep 28, 2012

That is awesome, and thanks for the memories!

philip, in Oregon

theamcguy · Sep 28, 2012

Just bought one on eBay for $10.99 with the decal too. Thanks for the thread

SweetD · Nov 12, 2015

Pulling up an old thread tonight - working on my latest vintage pencil sharpener, nothing rare or unique, but it's all metal and sharpens a pencil like all hell!

Anyone else been messing with vintage pencil sharpeners lately?

:beer:

Dave

slow · Nov 12, 2015

I feel old. Those were standard issue in my schools in florida from 1989-1999

SweetD · Nov 12, 2015

Yeah me too! I think the design is originally from the 60's...

zeeke · Nov 12, 2015

Here is mine, I picked it up a couple years ago at a swap meet.

SweetD · Nov 12, 2015

^ that's cool zeeke - love the Lucite / clear shavings catch!

SweetD · Nov 12, 2015

Got it cleaned up a bit more...camera makes the metal look more dull than in person...

Now just have to find a place in the garage to hang it!

Dave

Dan in Pasadena · Nov 12, 2015

Hmmm, guess I'm the dumbschit. I have one of those ones with the clear shavings catcher and I painted the whole thing red. Oh well.

InPrimer · Nov 15, 2015

anytime you see an item with a 5 digit zip code it was made on or about 1963 before that it was like BKLN ny 11111

InPrimer · Nov 15, 2015

Any time if the Postal service showed only 2 # it was prior to 1963, That yr they instituted a 5 digit ZIP such as Dqnbury CT 06810

Bondo · Nov 15, 2015

Dan in Pasadena said:
Hmmm, guess I'm the dumbschit. I have one of those ones with the clear shavings catcher and I painted the whole thing red. Oh well.

Ayuh,.... I've got the same one too,....

The clear was cracked/ broken, so I ran a piece of aluminum duct tape 'round it, glued a big magnet to the base, 'n it lives on my frig,...

paulm12 · Dec 3, 2015

zeeke said:
Here is mine, I picked it up a couple years ago at a swap meet.

I remember that one in my dad's small shop area. Kind of cool. Thanks

SteveH-CO · Dec 15, 2015

I see some 'old' sharpeners here that look like those I used in elementary school, and I'm only 50.

My father gave me this one about 10 years ago, and it brought a tear to my eye (then and now), since it was a favorite of his, and he's now close to dying, at age 91.

Yes - I keep both oil cups filled - wouldn't want this to wear out! Patent dates are 1900 and 1906. It does an excellent job of sharpening pencils, and my kids get a kick out of using it.

bonneyman · Dec 15, 2015

My old school sharpener isn't as old as some of your guys'. Found it in my home's shop when we bought the house. 70's vintage Dixon. I made a knob out of a piece of fuel line, and repainted in the USA colors.

fullthrottle24 · Jun 23, 2016

Finally got my pencil sharpener cleaned up and mounted. It was covered in olive drab green paint, which upon removing, stamped into the shavings case I notice "US Property".

It probably will outlast me, then Uncle Sam can have it back.

SteveH-CO · Jun 23, 2016

Slick to have it be 'US Property' marked. Now you know why it had OD paint on it!

Bighead38 · Jun 23, 2016

fullthrottle24 said:
Finally got my pencil sharpener cleaned up and mounted. It was covered in olive drab green paint, which upon removing, stamped into the shavings case I notice "US Property".

It probably will outlast me, then Uncle Sam can have it back.

That model or one very similar was bolted to the wall of every classroom in the school I went to.

thundermug · Jun 25, 2016

Steve-H:

I have an old Dexter as well. Mine didn't come with the shavings box, so I made one from brass sheet. I'd like to find another with the original box.

bluebolt · Jun 25, 2016

Nice work Thundermug!

Woodtick · Jun 25, 2016

Well done Thundermug...

R.Anderson · Jun 25, 2016

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Dex...736906?hash=item1c693db88a:g:G2EAAOSwR5dXRK-S

Yours looks way nicer than the originals. What model is it? I find that #2 and #3 look the same.

Looks like they come in red too.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-192...413064?hash=item51e66f6d08:g:4VMAAOSwnNBXX0Fd

Need a new set of cutters.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dexter-No-2...681887?hash=item54318e999f:g:c2kAAOSwNuxXaWKa

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