1.99.305 a,b

Sharpener, pencil

1898 Approximate

Guhl & Harbeck Jupiter Cast Iron Pencil Sharpener. (a) Sharpener. Material: metal, wood. Size: 6 3/4" W. x 13 1/2" L. x 5 1/8" H. Description: black enameled cast iron, horizontal pencil holding shaft with moveable gears attached above a long rectangular base; turned wooden knob on one side turns notched wheel that operates a cogged gear sharpener; three metal ears extend from base for desk attachment; gold painted print on side: "Favor Ruhl & Co. New York" and "Pencil Pointer Jupiter N."; printed on backside: "Made Only By Guhl & Harbeck Hamburg Germany U.S.P." and "Wipe the round and flat sliding rod every day with petroleum, then rub with a dry cloth, so that the carriage slides easily"; raised lettering and logo on a silver colored, oval shaped metal plate attached to front: "Guhl & Harbeck Original Maschine Hamburg". (b) Shavings receptacle. Material: metal. Size: 2 3/4" W. x 3 1/2" L. x 1 1/2" H. Description: black painted cast iron rectangular box located under sharpener area.

The first Guhl & Harbeck Jupiter Pencil Pointer is a German machine that was patented in 1897 and marketed in the U.S. until the mid-1910s. The Jupiter is a large machine 13 inches long, 5 lb. 8 oz., with a 3" diameter reversible rotary cutter-disk with thirty-four cutting edges radiating from the center on each side. Priced at $10 when it was introduced, compared to $2 to $5 for most other machines, this was the most expensive early mechanical pencil sharpener.