Think twice (for my students, past and present)

Who invented the pencil sharpener?

February 25, 2009 · 4 Comments

Of course the very first pencil sharpeners were knives and blades, but the first patent for a tool especially for sharpening pencils was made by Bernard Lassimone, a French mathematician, in 1828. It looked something like this:

This isn't Lassimone's sharpener but it is similar.

This isn't Lassimone's sharpener but it is similar.

However the first mechanical pencil sharpener was invented by Therry des Estwaux, also from France in 1847. It looked something like this:

The Marion pencil sharpener

The Marion pencil sharpener

Now there are sharpeners with revolving handles, and even battery operated electric sharpeners, but I like the simple wooden ones like this:

Simple is best

Simple is best

Categories: Pencil

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