Tru-Point Taper Lead Pencil Sharpener

Vintage  Tru-Point Taper Lead Pencil Sharpener , with box, working, box is 9 cms x 9 cms x 7.3 cms, condition: very good.

We do a lot of pencil drawing at the studio and keeping a sharp point is an ongoing problem. A conventional pencil sharpener is adequate most of the time, but sometimes the point it offers just isnt sharp enough. Hand-sharpening a spear point with an x-acto knife and sandpaper works very well, but its time consuming and that long, delicate point is prone to break easily requiring yet more time spent sharpening. I flat-out refuse to do it anymore But what else is there?

One of our Weekday Atelier students recently brought us a treasure an original Tru-Point lead pointer. For those who dont already know, the Tru-Point is a rotary pencil sharpener designed specifically for use with lead holders or clutch pencils mechanical pencil casings that hold 2mm graphite leads for drawing. This particular model was made by the Tru-Point Company of Coloma, Michigan, probably sometime in the 1950s. Its cast iron and solid it feels like holding a meteorite in your hand. It sharpens a lead to a fine point by rotating it against an interior beveled cup with an abrasive coating. It says on the box that the Tru-Point produces long, slender, true, needle points for fine line work as required by Draftsmen, Artists, Engineers, Accountants, etc. and Im happy to report that this is no exaggeration. The weight and heft of the mechanism produces a rotary motion that is beautifully fluid, gliding the lead against the sharpening surface with ease. And the point is razor sharp.