Automatic Pencil Sharpener Co., 58 E. Washington St., Chicago, IL [Downtown/The Loop]
This patina-riffic “Chicago No. 2” brand pencil sharpener is one of nine Automatic Pencil Sharpener Company pieces in our collection. It’s also probably my favorite, but until I become the center judge in a pencil sharpener beauty contest, I’m not sure how much weight that opinion carries. In any case, you can read our full history of the Automatic Pencil Sharpener Co., aka APSCO, over on the page for the company’s “Giant” brand sharpener.
MORE OF THE CHICAGO NO. 2:
can i buy a decal of the original automatic pencil sharpener from about 1920s
Hello–
I just cleaned up my Chicago No. 2 pencil sharpener, which was sold through a New York stationer called the Kanter Press on E. 23rd St. It apparently still exists, at a slightly different address (to be verified). It looks amazing. I found it in a closet in an apartment I bought in 1981, and took it with me when I sold my share. When I finally cleaned off all the old paint and tarnish, I was amazed to see the “Automatic Pencil Sharpener Division” logo, as well as “to take off, turn.”
My “Chicago” label is below the Automatic Pencil Sharpener metal label, instead of above, as in your model.
Any idea how old this one might be?