To the point

To the point
Originally uploaded by alexsk

For centuries it has been the faithful recorder of our thoughts and artistic abilities. With it men have created masterpieces of literature, children have transferred their imaginations to paper and artists have drawn superb pictures. Yet, throughout all of this, the humble work-horse behind it all has gone unrecognised. Who gives a thought to the pencil? Well, it’s about time this injustice was corrected. So, lets take a closer look at our trusty servant – the pencil.

The word pencil is derived from the Latin pencillus, meaning ‘painters’ brush.’ The earliest pencils were, in fact, fine brushes that hardly resemble our modern version. When graphite was discovered in Bavaria, however, the fine hairs of the brush were replaced with this new find and encased in wood. Graphite was originally known as plumbago – acting like lead –and up to this day people still believe that pencils contain lead, which is not the case.

The type of graphite used today wasn’t discovered until 1564. This solid, high purity graphite gave a far better result than that previously used. This graphite was initially held in the hand without any covering, The mess it made of the writer’s hand, however, became a major hassle and soon efforts were made to overcome this problem. The graphite was wrapped in a waxy material by some, enclosed in a metal tube by others and wrapped with cord or string-like material by still others. A wood encased graphite rod pencil wasn’t manufactured until 1660. This was further refined in the late 1700s when a method of grinding graphite with clay to produce a much finer, more consistent and smoother pencil was found. Thus, the modern pencil was developed into a form which has remained substantially unchanged for 300 years.

How is a pencil made? It all starts with the grinding of graphite and clay into a stiff, doughy consistency. This is then extruded through a small hole in a tungsten carbide die. The finished graphite is then cut into about 7 inch lengths. These individual ‘leads’ are then dried and fired in a kiln and then impregnated with a lubricant to make them smoother for writing. The gradient of the pencil is dependant on the amount of clay initially added to the mixture.

The wood used to encase the graphite must be soft enough for sharpening, yet stable enough that it will not bend. Red cedar is the most popular timber chosen for this purpose. The timber is first milled into slats about seven inches long, by two inches thick. Next, six half round grooves are machined along one side to accept the graphite leads. Then two such grooves are glued together with the lead in between them. After the glue has cured, the pencil is cut to shape by a special machine. Painting follows, and, finally, the name, identity and grade of the pencil are printed on the side. In all, 125 different operations have gone into the making of each pencil.

So, next time you utilise the humble pencil, take a moment to appreciate where it’s come from and where you’d be if you didn’t have it as your faithful transmitting device.

Glossy or just a color

heart's affair
Originally uploaded by alexsk

It is recognized that the Egyptians of long ago wore lipstick. Since Cleopatra in 60 BC, women have applied the cosmetic to their lips. From existing depictions of the Ancient Greece we can see that they wore wigs, kohl, and henna made of plant dye from fucus algin and bromine (which was poisonous) on their lips. Queen Elizabeth, a trend setter and ruler, wore red on her lips. Not everyone loved the lipstick. In 1770, the British Parliament passed a law that said a woman wearing lipstick could be tried for witch craft. Queen Victoria of Britain said it was considered “impolite” to wear any make-up. In the 1800’s wearing red on your lips meant you were “fast” however, in the Roaring 20’s, the suffragists wore red as a symbol of their new found power. Hollywood starlets such as Gloria Swanson and Lana Turner helped increase the popularity of the lipstick. Elizabeth Arden opened a beauty parlor in the 1930’s that helped the average woman access make-up. And in1949, Hazel Bishop perfected a long lasting lipstick. Lipstick is colored by pigments from red to brown. Two of many dyes used are bromo acid and D & C red No. 21. A chemical called titanium oxide is added to give brightness. Cetyl alcohol is the ingredient which prevents lipstick from melting. Lipstick and lip gloss can come packaged in the tube or in a cylinder with an application swab. A lipstick that is frosted contains bismuth oxychloride for luster. A matte lipstick will last longer than a glossy one. A sheer lipstick contains more oil and less pigment color. The oils used can be petrolatum, castor oil, lanolin, cocoa butter, olive oil, or mineral oil. If the product contains a sealant, the lipstick will be long-lasting. A glimmer or sparkle is given to a lipstick by adding bits of mica or silica particles. Lipsticks production today no longer includes animal testing. People tend to think that rosy cheeks and lips are sensuous and a sign of good health.

To produce the cosmetic the mixture is first ground up. Then the wax and oils are added. The hot solution is poured into cold molds and then chilled. The lipsticks are then inserted into ornate twist tubes.

Did you know there is a plant called the lipstick plant? Its scientific name is Aeschynanthus pulcher and it is native to Malaysia. The vine cascades with red tubular flowers. Lipsticks come in browns, reds, purples, oranges, pinks, and even odd colors such as blues and purples.