The woman I got this one from told me that it used to belong to her father, who was a teacher and had it in his classroom for 40 years, and that he loved writing and sharp pencils. She said that he has Alzheimer’s Disease now and can’t even hold a pencil. Lots of backstory for a simple pencil sharpener.

The Boston Pencil Sharpener Company was founded in 1899 and purchased by The Hunt Manufacturing Company, maker of pens and office products, in 1925. The Boston name, through corporate convolution, is now owned by Elmer’s. Similar sharpeners are still being made by them, but they’re branded X-Acto and are made in China.

I’ve used this one maybe three or four times a week for about five years now and it always sharpens perfectly.