Faber-Castell
Founded by the cabinetmaker Kaspar Faber in Stein near Nuremberg; one of the world’s oldest pencil companies. The Castell 9000 (1905) is the classic.
Kaspar Faber began making pencils in Stein, and his descendant Lothar von Faber made the firm international in the 19th century. He introduced standard lengths and grades of hardness and protected the brand against imitations.
When Lothar von Faber's granddaughter Ottilie married Count Alexander zu Castell-Rüdenhausen, the name became Faber-Castell. The green Castell 9000 of 1905 was made in many grades, and the company is still owned by the family.
A. W. Faber on older pencils, Faber-Castell from the 20th century; the jousting knights on the logo.