📝1890: In the 1890s, pencil sharpeners were typically hand-cranked mechanical devices. One common type was the “planetary“ or “planetary motion“ sharpener, which featured rotating cutting blades. These sharpeners often had a metal or wooden casing with a handle or crank on the side, and the pencil would be inserted into a hole and manually rotated to sharpen the lead.

📝1920: By the 1920s, pencil sharpeners had evolved to include both manual and electric options. Manual sharpeners still featured the hand-crank mechanism, while electric sharpeners were becoming more popular, especially in office and school settings. Electric sharpeners used an electric motor to rotate the cutting blades, providing a quicker and more efficient sharpening process.

📝1886: In 1886, the first known patent for a pencil sharpener was granted to a man named J.L. Love. This patent described a manual sharpener that used a rotating mechanism to sharpen the pencil lead. Love's design laid the foundation for subsequent pencil sharpener inventions and improvements.

📝1910: In the early 1900s, the Boston Pencil Sharpener Company introduced a popular pencil sharpener known as the “Boston Model.“ This manual sharpener featured a handheld design with a cylindrical body and a rotating helical blade. The Boston Model became widely used in schools and offices during this period.

📝1904: In 1904, another significant development in pencil sharpener design occurred when William H. Harford patented the “rotary sharpener.“ This sharpening device used a hand-cranked rotating mechanism and was notable for its compact size and portable design. The rotary sharpener became a popular choice for travelers and those who needed a small, portable sharpening option.

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