Electric Pencil Sharpeners

Fiesta dinnerware, Selectric typewriter, Baby Brownie camera honored on new ...

WASHINGTON — Remember that colorful Fiesta dinnerware on your mom’s or grandma’s dinner table? How about the Baby Brownie camera she took snapshots with? Or that heavy, black telephone to chat on?

Those and several other classics of American design are featured on a new set of postage stamps being issued Wednesday. The stamps are designated “forever” and will sell for the first-class rate, currently 44 cents. First-day ceremonies for the stamps will be held at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York City on Wednesday, the same day the stamps go on sale nationwide.

The set honors a dozen pioneers of American industrial design, with one of their works on each stamp.

Included are:

— Frederick Hurten Rhead for the sleek and brightly colored Fiesta dinnerware introduced in 1936.

— Walter Dorwin Teague, known as the “dean of industrial design,” who created several popular cameras, including the 1934 “Baby Brownie.”

— Norman Bel Geddes, a founding member of the American Society of Industrial Designers and a champion of streamlining. He created new looks for cars, trains, planes, buildings, typewriters, stoves, household furnishings and the portable radio shown on the stamp.

— Raymond Loewy, who helped define the look of modern America. He believed products should be simple, functional, and appealing, He designed everything from trains and cars to household appliances, corporate logos and even office tools like the pencil sharpener prototype shown on the stamp.

— Donald Deskey is best known for the lavish art deco interiors he designed in 1932 for Radio City Music Hall in New York City. He was also an innovative industrial designer of furniture and lighting, like the table lamp shown on the stamp.

— Gilbert Rohde was an influential and innovative furniture designer in the 1930s and 1940s. His work included modular and sectional furniture made of wood, chrome, Bakelite, Plexiglass, and other new materials, as well as clocks such as the one shown on the stamp.

— Greta von Nessen specialized in lighting, and none of her designs is better known than the “Anywhere” lamp shown on the stamp.

— Russel Wright focused on household products, creating affordable modern furniture and tableware characterized by minimal but elegant forms. Each stainless-steel piece of Highlight/Pinch flatware, pictured on the stamp, featured an organically shaped handle and no applied ornament.

Four Great Swingline Electric Pencil Sharpeners

Swingline is well known for producing high quality staplers, but they also create some other great office products as well. For example, the company produces four of the best electric pencil sharpeners you can buy and they re great for anyone needing a sharpener. Here s a brief look at Swingline s terrific lineup of sharpeners. Maybe you ll find one that s right for you and all of your writing instruments.

1. 29965 the Compact Electric Sharpener. The 22965 is a great option when you want the performance of an electric sharpener in a small package. This product runs quickly and quietly, plus it can be used anywhere from the classroom to the office. Each unit has a lead saver feature that will sharpen your pencil to perfection without over sharpening it. You can either power this device with batteries or the included AC adapter. It is covered by a limited two year warranty.

2. 29966 the Personal Electric Sharpener. This is a slightly larger device than the 22965 but it offers a lot of the same features. The 29966 also has a lead saving feature to lengthen the life of your pencils and it operates quickly so you won t disturb your colleagues or classmates while you re using it. In the back of the device is an organizational area to keep your writing instruments in order. Plus, the shavings cup is easy to empty. The 29966 is backed by a limited two year warranty.

3. 29967 the SpeedPro Electric Sharpener. The 29967 offers great performance and super fast sharpening. This device has carbon steel blades and a dial you can rotate so you can sharpen up to six different types of pencils, including triangular ones. Each unit has a thermal cutoff to prevent overheating. Plus, the 29967 runs quietly. There s a transparent shavings cup that s resistant to spills and like the 29966, there s an organizer in the back of the device. This machine is covered by an incredible five year limited warranty.

4. 29968 the Optima Electric Sharpener. Finally, there s the Optima (also known as the 29968), which is the best product in this lineup. This device has all the best features of the other Swingline sharpeners including a thermal cutoff to prevent overheating, the ability to sharpen six different types of pencils, a lead saving feature, and whisper quiet operation. It also has a roomy translucent shavings cup and a pencil organizer. Your satisfaction with this product is 100 guaranteed.

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