Kanoe Multi Pencils

Kanoe Multi Colour Mechanical Pencils

Here’s two vintage Kanoe multi colour pencils that I have. Kanoe was a Japanese company, now long gone, and I don’t know much about them. I have found some information indicating Kanoe was a brand of the Morita Seisakusho company and they exported primarily in the decades prior to and after World War 2. I can only assume they must have exported quite a lot because although they are not common down in my part of the globe, you don’t have to look too long or hard to find a Kanoe. They seem to be quite well made and most are still generally in good condition.

First then the lower of the two multi-pencils shown above – it’s a two colour round bodied model. The clip is marked “PAT” “KANOE” and “JAPAN”. You slide the appropriate slider button down to extend the colour tip of your choice – red or black. Black is of course just ordinary graphite.

The other model is a four-colour octagonal bodied multi pencil. The clip is marked “PAT” “KANOE / PEACE”. I have noted some pencils to be marked with and without the word Peace and wonder if that might date them to prior / post war? The colours are red, green, blue and black (graphite). The leads are all 1.18mm, same as the two colour model.

Spare leads are housed beneath the top cap.

Having selected the tip of your choice, to actually advance more lead you push the slider down even further to push the tip further out of the body and then you rotate the tip to wind more lead out. It’s a one way system – once wound out the lead cannot be wound back in.

I have read some statements that the bodies are mirror polished stainless steel, but I figure both of mine are plated brass.