Tombow Mono 100, Mono R and Mono J pencils are coming to PencilThings.com

PencilThings.com is going to offer Tombow pencil varities not otherwise available in the United States, or anywhere outside of Japan. for that matter. They are: Mono 100; Mono R; Mono J; and 8900 HOP. In addition, we will offer Tombow colored pencil sets and erasers. We are beginning with the Mono 100, Mono R and Mono J, each in HB lead degree.

Tombow MONO 100. This pencil is designed for the widest range of professional writing, drafting and drawing uses. It is Tombow's flagship model. Tombow says that this pencil shares the same lead as the Tombow MONO, which is currently available in the United States. The body of the MONO 100 looks quite different from the current MONO pencil. You can see a picture of it at and read comments at the "paper and pencil" BLOG.

The MONO 100 is manufactured in 14 degrees: 6B 5B 4B 3B 2B B HB F H 2H 3H 4H 5H 6H. The pencils are boxed one dozen per degree, and the pencils and box are printed and packaged for sale in Japan. Our initial supply will all be HB. We think we will be able to sell this pencil for about $2.25 each.

Tombow MONO-R. This pencil is designed for professional drawing and writing.

The MONO-R is manufactured in 7 degrees: 4B 3B 2B B HB H 2H. The pencils are boxed one dozen per degree, and the pencils and box are printed and packaged for sale in Japan. Our initial supply will all be HB. We think we will be able to sell this pencil for about $1.25 each.

Tombow MONO-J. This pencil is designed for professional drawing, drafting and writing.

The MONO-J is manufactured in 9 degrees: 4B 3B 2B B HB H 2H 3H 4H. The pencils are boxed one dozen per degree, and the pencils and box are printed and packaged for sale in Japan. Our initial supply will all be HB. We think we will be able to sell this pencil for about $0.75 each.

If you have facts, anecdotes and/or personal knowledge about these pencils, please share them by posting a comment.

The acquisition of the made-for-Japan Tombow pencils and accessories is a major step for PencilThings.com. It ranks right up there with our decision to bring Mongol pencils back to the U.S. market and to offer the Helix Oxford pencil. While our commitment to Tombow is substantial and aggressive, we will pay very close attention to the comments and suggestions our U.S. and International customers make.

For example, among the three pencils we are starting with, there are yet 27 more degrees of hardness to consider! What should we do next? We are thinking that we should next bring in the Tombow 8900 HOP in HB, some erasers, and the Mono 100, Mono R and Mono J pencils in either 3B or 2B lead degrees. We lean towards 3B. We will appreciate reading your suggestions.

The quantity of these three pencils we will have on hand will be limited. If you are interested in reserving one dozen of one or more models, please send an email stating your non-binding intent to sales@pencilthings.com.

Anticipated arrival date is October 15, 2007.   |  Don Bell, Proprietor, Pencil Things

Comments

[Barrel Of A Pencil]

I too am in love with the graphics of the box the Tombow 8900's come in. Old school all the way! Also, can't wait to see the addition of Tombow erasers:>))).

[Barrel Of A Pencil]

No sense in trying to gild Alberto's lily :>))). Tombow Mono 100 2B would be good, but Mono 100 3B would be great! I also like Alberto's recommendation concerning the Hi-Unis in 2B-4B degree. There's a man speaking after my own heart.

[Alberto]

Good to know boxes of Tombow Mono 100 2B might be available by February next year. If you could lean as far as 3B even better. Might also be nice to be able to purchase dozen boxes of Mitsubishi Hi-Uni 2B-4B. They are all wonderful drawing pencils exquisitely packaged in those sturdy and functional pencil cases. Finally got a chance to try a handful of these premium pencils myself thanks to a relative that visited Japan recently. Also got a couple of boxes of Tombow Mono-J and Mitsubishi Uni-Star pencils from the West Coast, and they are certainly fine pencils. Yet, it's usually more productive to draw and paint with the best supplies available, and the Mono 100 and and Hi-Uni are certainly second-to-none supreme sketching tools.

[Patrick]

I'd also like to see the Tombow 8900 pencils in B and HB.

[Don]

We've had a lot of comments and suggestions about how to expand the Tombow line at PencilThings. Most people are interested in the erasers, and in many more lead degrees in the Mono 100 series. The intense nterest in the Mono 100 series has surprised me because, by comparison, interest has been just average for the Mono J and Mono R series. We will place our next Tombow order by mid-December, expecting delivery in early February. Right now I'm leaning towards ordering HB in the 8900 HOP series, all of the erasers, and 2B in the MONO 100 series.

Don

[Tom]

You mentioned possibly importing Tombow 8900 pencils. I am in love with the box they come in:
http://www.tombow.com/en/catalog/pencils/wood_pencils_05.html
These would make swell gifts. I use only B and HB, usually preferring B.

Thanks for making this stuff available.

[Mark]

Charles, thank you for taking the time to expand upon your thoughts about the Tombow Mono 100 and the Mitsubishi Hi-Uni. I have tried the Tombow Mono-J in 4B and 3B, and the Mitsubishi Uni-Star in 3B and 2B, and found them to be exceedingly smooth. Since the Mono-J and the Uni-Star are priced lower, and I assume of lower quality, than their counterparts the Mono 100 and the Hi-Uni, I am looking forward to testing these top-of-the-line pencils from Tombow and Mitsubishi.

For what it's worth, I did notice, in the Mono-J and the Uni-Star, the lack of waxiness you mentioned.

[Charles Everitt]

These are suggestions, and nothing more. You might want to experiment yourself to see what results you get.

But I'd suggest at least a 4B in the Tombow Mono 100, and start with a 2B in the Mitsu Hi-Uni. Mitsu Hi-Unis tend to run pretty soft; their HB feels more like other makers' 2B—to me.

Again, these are opinions; I have no objective testing to back this up at all. Someone else out there might try these and feel I'm completely off-base. And that's fine with me.

One last thing—in my previous post, I said these two Japanese pencils could give a Blackwing more than a run for its money. I wouldn't go so far as to suggest they are direct replacements. In some ways—just softness, feel and perhaps less smudging, I prefer the Japanese pencils. There is, however, a certain waxy feel to the Blackwing that is missing.

I've tried to provide as complete an answer as possible. Without doubt, many of you will disagree. No problems. Just, please, no death threats for imagining I've impugned the Blackwing. ....

[Mark]

Charles, thank you for your comments on the Tombow Mono 100 and the Mitsubishi Hi-Uni. As a Blackwing fan myself, I'd love to know what grade of the Mono 100 and the Hi-Uni that you would recommend for those of us looking for a Blackwing replacement.

[Charles Everitt]

I've tried both the Tombow Mono 100 and the U.S.-spec Tombow Mono, and I can say with some assurance the leads are not the same. There is a subtle yet noticeable difference between the two, with the Mono 100 being slightly smoother and darker.

Given the choice, I would purchase the Mono 100 over the Mono any day of the week, even at a higher price.

Which is a clumsy way of saying you can count me in for a box or so every couple of months. If I could afford to buy a gross, I would. ...

As an aside, this is another pencil—along with Mitsubishi's Hi-Uni—that can give a Blackwing more than a run for its money. I've used all of them, and can say the Japanese pencils—in the proper hardness/softness—can in many cases equal the Blackwing, and in others exceed it. Blasphemy? Try them and see, then decide for yourself.

Thanks very much for making this splendid pencil available in this country. It's obvious how hard PencilThings.com is working to give us pencil junkies what we want, and should be commended and rewarded for it.

[Alberto]

To be able to order Mono 100 3B online would be great.

[Mark]

Thanks for making the Mono 100 available! I would love to see a 4B made available, but given the choice between 2B and 3B, I vote for 3B.

[Ethan]

This is exciting news. I have been wanting to try these but was unsure where to get them, so it's good to know they will soon be available from Pencil Things.

[A.E. Baxter]

Awesome! I first tried Tombow pencils as a member of the pencil of the month club, and they have been one of my favorites ever since. I can't wait to order some.

[Stephen]

Congratulations on stocking these top pencils!

I regularly get enquiries on where to buy the Mono 100, and know a lot of people will be happy with your news.