Blackwing Volume 343 - The Broadcast TV (12 pcs.)

The Blackwing Volume 343 is a limited-edition pencil from the Blackwing Volumes series – quarterly special edition pencils that draw on persons, places, and events from cultural history. The theme of Vol. 343 is analog broadcast television: The model number refers to the 343 scanlines of early CRT tube screens, while the color pattern is based on the NTSC test pattern. This pencil is a complete concept in graphic and craft terms, with each detail telling its own story.

Special Features

• Color bar lacquer finish in the style of the NTSC test pattern: The distinctive color pattern – alternating vertical bars in gray, yellow, cyan, green, magenta, red, and blue – sits as a glossy, fully lacquered color coat on the round wooden shaft. The design is instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with the analog test pattern.
• Extra-firm graphite: The pencil is equipped with the hardest graphite from the regular Blackwing range. Extra-firm graphite leaves a fine, even, minimally smudging line – ideal for precise handwriting, notes, and thin drawing lines on smooth paper.
• Model number in holographic foil: The inscription "343" is applied with silver-colored holographic foil printing that evokes the so-called TV snow – the characteristic noise of an analog broadcast without a signal. The foil printing shimmers depending on light incidence.
• Silver ferrule and black eraser: The silver metal band holds a black, rectangular eraser – the signature feature of all Blackwing pencils. The eraser is replaceable and can be pulled out and replaced.
• Limited edition: Volume 343 appears as part of the Blackwing Volumes series as a time-limited edition. Once sold out, it will not be reprinted.

Use & Tips

• Writing and notes: Extra-firm graphite is particularly well-suited for small handwriting and clear letterforms. The line remains dry and precise, smudging less than softer graphite grades – good for calendars, planners, and narrowly-spaced notebooks.
• Drawing with thin lines: Those who use the pencil for fine line drawings or technical sketches benefit from the durability of the tip. Extra-firm graphite rarely breaks with fine sharpening.
• Works well with smooth, sized paper: On calendered or ink-resistant paper – with minimal surface roughness – extra-firm graphite produces particularly clean lines. On rough paper, the tip wears away more quickly.
• Sharpen with a long-point sharpener: Blackwing pencils have an unusually long graphite tip when sharpened with a long-point sharpener (e.g., the Blackwing Long Point Sharpener). This is particularly durable with extra-firm graphite.
• Maintain the eraser: The replaceable eraser can be pulled out of the ferrule. To extend its life, you can flip it over and reinsert it – this doubles its lifespan.

For Pencil Enthusiasts

The model number 343 is not arbitrary: it refers to the 343 scanlines that built up an analog NTSC CRT image vertically. The NTSC test pattern – the template for the pencil's color design – was originally used to calibrate television sets; its color bar sequence follows a precisely defined technical standard. This pattern appears on the pencil shaft as a compressed yet authentic design. Blackwing's Volumes approach thus combines design reference and material concept: the graphics are not chosen for decoration but are thematically justified.

Technical Specifications