The Eberhard Faber company began as the U.S. arm of the German A.W. Faber company. It became Eberhard Faber in 1898 after a dispute with the parent company. The company retained strong ties with Germany and (what follows is part speculation) at some point established manufacturing facilities there. As similarly happened to the U.S. instances of German companies during World War II, the German Eberhard Faber was transferred to local ownership. The U.S. and German Eberhard Faber companies then operated for a time independently. I believe this pencil is a product of the diverged product lines that were a result of the fracturing of the company.


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	5H and HB models courtesy Allan Macdonald collection Fett model courtesy Laurie Schmidtke collection

Van Dyke 606

Eberhard Faber, Germany

lead diameter mechanism composition variations production date origin	2 mm (3 mm for softer models like the “Fett” above) pushbutton spring clutch wood barrel, metal mechanics, plastic endcap degree imprints on tailpiece: Fett, B, 2B, HB, H, 2H, 5H, ? (1950) Germany	instruction sheet detail
special features	soft degrees are true 3 mm, not the more common 3.15 mm
see also	Eberhard Faber of Germany History Eberhard Faber (USA) drafting leadholders

Eberhard Faber "Van Dyke" 606 5H package


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Eberhard Faber 612

Eberhard Faber, (Germany)

purpose lead mechanism composition variations production date origin	slate board marker (I think) 2 mm (unknown composition) pushbutton spring clutch aluminum barrel, brass clutch, plastic pushbutton barrel color: blue, gold, red, ? (1950s) Germany

see also	Eberhard Faber of Germany History Slate Marker (unknown maker)

Slate board markers typically have thick soapstone or soft slate leads. This lead is only 2 mm which is too thin to be formed from natural stone, so it must be some kind of ceramic composite.

Eberhard Faber 612, blue Eberhard Faber “Dem Braven Kinde” (The Good Child) slate marker kit no. 0369


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	courtesy Allan Macdonald collection

Van Dyke 650

Eberhard Faber, Germany

lead diameter mechanism composition variations production date origin	2 mm pushbutton spring clutch plastic barrel, metal mechanics pushbutton imprinted with degrees (1980s) Germany

see also	Eberhard Faber of Germany History


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