I had a favorite kind of mechanical pencil in college.  My last one
broke the other day and (figuring I was in for a trip to office depot)
I threw it away.  It turns out, nobody seems to sell them anymore;
though, I had seen one at a store just a few months ago.  A quick
websearch turned up Koh-I-Noor Rapidomatic looking like almost the
right pencil.  In fact, they look almost identical!

http://voltar.org/pics/Koh-I-Noor.rapidomatic.jpg

The pencil I'm looking for is _precisely_ that shape and with the
metal grip -- I'm after the 9mm variety.  I have no idea what brand of
pencil (though, I have reason to believe it's this koh-i-noor just by
the grip) it is that I'm looking for but the differences from the
model pictured above include:  The shaft was firm rubber instead of
plastic and it was a rust color rather than blue.

In almost every other way this is the pencil I want, but if someone
were clever enough to find exactly the correct make/model, I'd be very
grateful.

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Request for Question Clarification by googlenut-ga on 11 Jan 2003 16:46 PST

Hello spottedkangaroo-ga,

Could this be the pencil that you are looking for?

http://members.aol.com/topdogsnoopy/pencil.jpg

The barrel is rubberized and the finger grip is knurled
stainless steel.

The 0.9mm is maroon (not rust but somewhat similar).

Googlenut

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Request for Question Clarification by duncan2-ga on 12 Jan 2003 01:29 PST

Hi spottedkangaroo-ga, 

There are a number of manufacturers who make pencils similar to the
one you provided.  Can you remember any other details that might
narrow the results down?  From the picture and your description, I'm
assuming the barrel was round, not hexagonal.  Was there a 'lead
level' indicator?  An eraser?  Colored markings near the end?

---

Clarification of Question by spottedkangaroo-ga on 13 Jan 2003 05:20 PST

> Could this be the pencil that you are looking for? 
>  
> http://members.aol.com/topdogsnoopy/pencil.jpg 


Yeah, that's the one.  That is most definitely the one.  I posted the
picture here (http://www.votlar.org/pics/my_favorite_pencil.jpg) just
in case.  Maroon?  Rust?  I don't think I could make that distinction
accurately, but I see what you meant.

---

Clarification of Question by spottedkangaroo-ga on 13 Jan 2003 05:21 PST

I spelled voltar wrong... For completeness, it's:
http://www.voltar.org/pics/my_favorite_pencil.jpg

Hello spottedkangaroo-ga,

That pencil is the Alvin Draft/Matic DM09.  For a detailed description
of the pencil, see the Alvin & Co. website
(http://www.alvinco.com/detail.asp?f=&FamilyID=8660&cat1=Pencils%20and%20Lead&cat2=Mechanical%20Pencils&cat3=Alvin%20Draft-Matic&cat4=&cat5=).
 They describe it as follows:

“ALVIN Draft/Matic Mechanical Pencils
Designed for professionals, these auto feed pencils feature rubberized
barrels, knurled stainless steel finger grips, rotating lead degree
windows and shock-absorbing reflex points for comfortable writing
control and minimal lead breakage. The 4mm long stainless steel lead
sleeve supports the lead and provides drawing accuracy even with thick
straightedges. Offered in four lead diameters. Built-in eraser under
cap with cleaning needle. Sold individually or in a leather-look
pocket pouch as a set of two or three. 12/box.”

Alvin only sells to authorized dealers; however, they do provide a
dealer locator (http://www.alvinco.com/dealerloc.asp) where you can
look for a dealer in your area.

I did find it for sale at a few places online:

Dick Blick Art Materials, $7.99
http://www.dickblick.com/zz206/22/products.asp?param=0&ig_id=4480

DraftingSteals.com, $7.50
http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/nsearch?catalog=draftingsteals-store&query=draft%2Fmatic&.autodone=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.draftingsteals.com%2Fnsearch.html

SuppliesNet.com, $6.83
http://www.suppliesnet.com/Mechanical_Pencils/draftmatic_mechanical_pencil.htm#


I found the picture at LeadHolder.com
(http://www.leadholder.com/images/leadholders-thin/alvin/alvin.html)


If you have any questions or if you need more information, please
request clarification prior to rating the answer.

Googlenut


Search Strategy:

Google Search Terms:

Koh-I-Noor mechanical pencil
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&safe=off&q=Koh-I-Noor+mechanical+pencil

Koh-I-Noor mechanical pencil rubber
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&safe=off&q=Koh-I-Noor+mechanical+pencil+rubber&btnG=Google+Search
 
"mechanical pencil" OR "lead holder" rubber "metal grip"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&safe=off&q=%22mechanical+pencil%22+OR+%22lead+holder%22+rubber+%22metal+grip%22

Alvin draftmatic
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&safe=off&q=Alvin+draftmatic&btnG=Google+Search

Alvin pencil
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&safe=off&q=Alvin+pencil&btnG=Google+Search

Alvin & Co.
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&safe=off&q=Alvin+%26+Co.&btnG=Google+Search

mechanical pencil alvin
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&safe=off&q=mechanical+pencil+alvin

alvin draft/matic
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&safe=off&q=alvin+draft%2Fmatic


Yahoo shopping search
alvin pencil
http://search.shopping.yahoo.com/search/all?clink=&p=alvin+pencil&did=

Froogle search
Alvin pencil
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=Alvin+pencil

Wow.  Honestly, I spent an hour google searching just to find the
koh-i-noor.  Fantastic answer.  :)