No. 31.— 1885.] 



PLUMBAGO. 



259 



from the celebrated Cumberland graphite, more than three cen- 

 turies ago. 



"At the end of the last century Conte of Paris invented an 

 entirely new system in the manufacture of lead pencils, and arti- 

 ficially produced them in various degrees from inland graphite 

 mixed with clay, ascribing to them the term "Polygrades" derived 

 from the Greek words "Zpcupeiv" (to write) and " rroXvg* (many), 

 signifying a writing material possessing many degrees. 



" Conte being the original inventor of the above system, all 

 other statements are incorrect. 



"In the year 1761 the ancestor of Johann Faber established a 

 factory under the title of A. W. Faber, and in 1840 Johann 

 Faber and his brother Lothar (the present proprietor of the firm 

 of A. W. Faber) succeeded their father at Stein in the manage- 

 ment of the business. From that period dates the success and 

 popularity which the firm of A. W. Faber has enjoyed. Whilst 

 Johann Faber devoted himself exclusively to the manufacturing 

 department, Lothar Faber occupied himself with opening business 

 connections throughout the civilized world. It may therefore be 

 stated, without any pretence to ostentation, that the reputation 

 which the A. W. Faber pencils have acquired is due to the inde- 

 fatigable energy and labour of Johann Faber, and to his experience 

 as a pencil manufacturer during a period of upwards of 37 years. 



"In 1876 Johann Faber withdrew from the business of his father, 

 and in 1880 established under his own name, " Johann Faber," a 

 new establishment for the manufacture of black and coloured 

 lead pencils, &c. 



" It need scarcely be mentioned that the goods now produced by 

 Johann Faber are of the same excellent quality as those which he 

 previously manufactured for the old firm, and his newly-invented 

 system of grinding the graphite and clay, called " System 

 Graphite Broye," has enabled him to produce the most perfect and 

 uniform quality of lead which the modern pencil industry can 

 furnish to-day. 



" The present production and sales of Johann Faber's pencils are 

 now (after only four years' existence) about 3,000 gross per week, 

 and he employs 200 hands. These figures will speak for them- 

 selves." 



This firm is, of course, but one of many engaged in turning out 

 250 millions of pencils per annum in Albert Durer's ancient city. 



The following details as to quality of black lead pencils are 

 given : — 



"Designation of the Degrees. — The below-mentioned marks 



