{"product_id":"thoreau-son-finest-pencil-set-counter-display","title":"Thoreau \u0026 Son - Finest Pencil Set Counter Display Bundle","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2 bundles each of all 4 Pencil Hardness Grades\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e12 sets of 4 Packs sets\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCounter Display\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e----------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJohn Thoreau entered the pencil business in 1823, after his brother-in-law discovered a vein of plumbago, or graphite, in New Hampshire.  Thoreau \u0026amp; Co. quickly gained recognition for their high-quality pencils.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBy 1829, their pencil manufacturing moved to Concord, MA\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e John’s son, Henry David Thoreau, became involved in the business and started to dig into the manufacturing problems that had made American pencils notoriously inferior to European imports.  After researching it at the Harvard Library in 1840, he hit upon the idea of using clay—rediscovering what the French had figured out 45 years earlier—to make the perfect graphite mix.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHenry’s formula for kiln-fired pencil leads—a mix of finely ground graphite and clay—could be reliably graded from hard to soft.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJohn Thoreau \u0026amp; Co. was the first American pencil manufacturer to market pencils using a standard of hardness, graded 1-4.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe improved Thoreau product appealed especially to engineers, surveyors, carpenters, and artists who valued its consistency.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1844, Henry made another breakthrough, inventing a grinding machine that produced exceptionally fine graphite powder—the key to a strong, even point. Thoreau pencils won more awards in 1847 and 1849. No one in the United States made better pencils than the Thoreau’s, and the reason for their success was Henry.  Around 1849 John Thoreau changed the name of the family business from J. Thoreau \u0026amp; Co. to J. Thoreau \u0026amp; Son.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJohn Thoreau entered the pencil business in 1823, after his brother-in-law discovered a vein of plumbago, or graphite, in New Hampshire.  Thoreau \u0026amp; Co. quickly gained recognition for their high-quality pencils.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBy 1829, their pencil manufacturing moved to Concord, MA\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e John’s son, Henry David Thoreau, became involved in the business and started to dig into the manufacturing problems that had made American pencils notoriously inferior to European imports.  After researching it at the Harvard Library in 1840, he hit upon the idea of using clay—rediscovering what the French had figured out 45 years earlier—to make the perfect graphite mix.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHenry’s formula for kiln-fired pencil leads—a mix of finely ground graphite and clay—could be reliably graded from hard to soft.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJohn Thoreau \u0026amp; Co. was the first American pencil manufacturer to market pencils using a standard of hardness, graded 1-4.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe improved Thoreau product appealed especially to engineers, surveyors, carpenters, and artists who valued its consistency.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e----------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e(We limit one counter display per customer. For subsequent orders for this bundle after the first we will only ship product without prior approval. If you need a second display please contact us directly)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Big Wheel Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44118898442291,"sku":"BWPN-TS5","price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1788\/4761\/files\/ThoreauPencilDisplay.jpg?v=1773674993","url":"https:\/\/www.bigwheelpress.com\/products\/thoreau-son-finest-pencil-set-counter-display","provider":"Big Wheel Press","version":"1.0","type":"link"}