Tag Archive for: Blackwing 24

Blackwing Legal Pad

John, Thom, and The (Il)legal Pad

When we were designing the Blackwing 24, our tribute to literary icon John Steinbeck, I had the honor of meeting John’s son Thom. Thom welcomed us into his home and, as we sat on his living room sofa, sipping coffee and marveling at the artifacts…
Mary Norris

Mary Norris on Impact, the Blackwing 24 and Pencil Hardness

Our favorite New Yorker Ok'r Mary Norris stopped by Manhattan's CW Pencils to film the most recent episode of her Comma Queen video series. In the episode, Mary discusses her dislike of the use of "impact" as a verb, gleefully discovers…
Steinbeck Pencil Length

The Steinbeck Pencil Length

John Steinbeck was very particular about his pencils. In addition to his 24 pencil ritual, John was also conscious of the length of his pencils. Once his pencils reached a certain length, commonly referred to as "the Steinbeck length," he would…
Steinbeck Typewriter

John Steinbeck’s Typewriter

John Steinbeck was known for writing his novels out by hand. Later in his career, however, he was forced to introduce a typewriter into his daily routine. John’s son Thom shared what brought about this change, and how his father coped with…
Steinbeck Print

Inside the Blackwing 24 Subscription – An Unreleased Portrait of John Steinbeck

By now, many of our subscribers have received their shipments containing the Blackwing 24, our tribute to John Steinbeck. In addition to pencils, past subscriptions have included extra goodies, including an Incense-cedar pencil slat with a map…
Our Day with Steinbeck

Our Day with Steinbeck

He entered the room with a presence befitting of his pedigree. His slicked-back hair and low-cropped beard had long since conceded their color, but his eyes were still piercing blue. His baritone was rugged but gentle: “I understand you’ve come here to talk about my father.”