STAEDTLER hat vier Bleistifte von PEFC-zertifizierter Kolorado-Tanne auf FSC-zertifizierte Linde umgestellt.
STAEDTLER tradition 110 aus Kolorado-Tanne (oben) und Linde (unten)
Neben dem tradition 110 (im Bild)1 betrifft dies den tradition 112 und den Noris 122 (beide mit Radiertip) sowie den unlackierten 123 60.
Im 17. Jahrhundert, als sich in Nürnberg das Bleistiftmachergewerbe entwickelte, war die heimische Linde (Tilia) die wichtigste Holzart für Bleistifte. Durch den späteren Erfolg der Zeder2 und ihren höheren Preis wurde die Linde bevorzugt für günstige Stifte wie z. B. Zimmermannsbleistifte genutzt (auch STAEDTLER bewarb sie vor gut 100 Jahren entsprechend). Doch der regionale Bezug, die lange Geschichte und vor allem höhere Umweltstandards machen die Linde inzwischen auch für andere Bleistifte attraktiv; von Vorteil ist zudem, dass die Linde im Gegensatz zur Zeder in Europa wächst und ohne Imprägnierung3 verwendet werden kann.
2015 hat STAEDTLER mit den Bayerischen Staatsforsten und dem PEFC Deutschland im Rahmen des Projekts „Von der Linde zum Bleistift“ für das zehnjährige Jubiläum der Bayerischen Staatsforsten einen Werbebleistift aus heimischer Linde gefertigt. Im selben Jahr folgte der STAEDTLER White aus Linde, der jedoch nur in Japan angeboten wird, und durch diese Umstellung kommt die Linde jetzt erneut als Holz hochwertiger Bleistifte auf den Markt.
- Damit kann man der Geschichte des Bleistifts „tradition“ ein weiteres Kapitel hinzufügen.↩
- Zunächst war es die Virginische Zeder (Juniperus virginiana), dann die Kalifornische Weihrauch-Zeder (Calocedrus decurrens); siehe auch „Bleistifthölzer (2)“.↩
- 2016 ist STAEDTLER bei den ergosoft-Stiften (Mars, Noris und einige Farbstifte) von imprägnierter Linde aus Ostasien auf unbehandelte Linde aus Europa umgestiegen.↩
The story on pencils is a great one. Thank you for highlighting this new chapter. Our man in Germany that notices such changes earliest. Linden wood is special. Grown locally and sustainably, it sure has some outstanding benefits.
Thank you for reporting on this interesting news!
Between the switch to „Upcycled Wood“ in some pencils and linden wood in others, there seems to be something going on at Moosäckerstraße.
Wowter: I’m happy to hear that you like that new chapter too! – I don’t know exactly where the linden wood comes from but I think it comes from Europe.
Stephen: You’re right – there really seems to be something happening. And I wonder what will come next!
I have seen some of the new stock linden Traditions on sale in my local WH Smith, so they are getting out there. However I purchased two blister-packs of the older, darker wood version. Thanks for the update!
Stationery Traffic, thank you for these details! I’m glad to hear that you were able to get two packs of the older version.
I bought 100 Traditions on eBay that were the new, linden-wood edition. They seem to be getting out into the supply chain quite quickly. One thing I’ve noticed about these, and also noticed about the Noris school pencils which used the same wood, is that the two halves appear to ‘split’ near the sharpened end. I’m not sure if it’s an actual split, or perhaps just the lead showing through the pale wood more. It doesn’t have any effect on the function of them, just looks a little odd.
I still prefer the older, cedar Traditions, and spent far longer than needed looking to stop up. Eventually I did find a seller on eBay that sold them by the gross at £29.99 plus postage. I gave in and bought far more than I needed.
The rate at which these new Traditions, and Upcycled Wood Norises, replaced the older ones was quite incredible. It shows how quickly these must sell that turnover is so fast. Now, the only wooden Norises I see in shops are the eraser-tipped ones, and my last few online purchases also arrived as Upcycled Wood rather than wooden.
Koralatov, thank you for these details and for sharing your observations. I have only used two new STAEDTLER pencils made from linden wood so far but haven’t seen something like a split near the point. Of course it’s visible where the two halves meet but I haven’t noticed something unusual.
You have found old tradition pencils made from cedar? That’s enviable! STAEDTLER switched from cedar to white fir in 2012 so these cedar traditions are quite rare.
I was also surprised how quickly the old Noris pencils were gone – yes, the turnover must be substantial.
This is the split I’ve noticed – so far, in all of the dozen or so linden Staedtler’s that I’ve used. It doesn’t seem to have any effect on the pencil and doesn’t ‘spread’ – just stays constant as you sharpen it down. I wonder if perhaps the linden doesn’t adhere to itself as well with the glue as the previous wood did?
The seller I got them from told me they were cedar, and they looked cedar to me. The cardboard boxes they came in weren’t ancient but were definitely old. I left the boxes at work so can’t check right now, but will dig them out and share a photo. The seller still has a few boxes left if you’d like the link?
Koralatov, thank you for the photo. The split looks odd, and I don’t think it has to be that way – for me it is simply too wide. Actually you should only see a thin line but no gap. The glue is adapted to the materials to be bonded, and so linden wood should bond just as well as white fir and cedar. Has the split been there from the beginning or did it occur after sharpening? It looks like it gets a little wider towards the tip; perhaps the tension caused by sharpening has separated the halves. (but that shouldn’t really happen either). Have you contacted STAEDTLER?
Yes, I would be very happy to get the link! I would really like to have a dozen of tradition pencils made from cedar. I only have a few, and some of them are damaged or used.