The Air Pencil

Apr. 28, 2008 — The 1907-1908 supply catalog of the Detroit School of Lettering has a page on the airbrush’s forgotten cousin, the “air pencil.” It was used by show-card writers to create raised-letter effects. You could buy a nice little air-pencil kit, for just $.75 (about $17.00 today), which included the following items: “one bottle of liquid, one box of compound, one air-pencil, one funnel, one bottle gold bronze, one air-pencil specimen, and full directions how to use.” Here is the description from the catalog: “Air-pencils may be used to splendid advantage in the work of the card writer. With this instrument the raised-letter effect illustrated [here] may be produced. The work is very fascinating and may be executed with rapidity and ease. Anyone can manipulate the air pencil with just a few minutes practice. With the use of various colored bronzes, flitters, diamond dust, tinsel, etc., very elaborate and handsome effects can be obtained by the most inexperienced.”