British Aircrew Scripto Plastic Chinagraph Pencils
Ref No's: 48-359 (Blue) | 48-358 (Black) | 48-360 (White)
Used for writing on perspex kneeboards, an item I could find very little official documentation on, so I headed off to the PPRuNe forum for help.
Soon the overwhelming notion became apparent that aside from its use as part of an AEA this humble item (along with perspex sheet) was the unofficial backbone of the armed forces before computer technology took over.
The discussion that this brought about was fantastic (and well worth a read), as many people recounted service stories involving these pencils, and some very kind individuals sent me some pencils and spare wax leads to photograph for this web page!
Rough Timeline
According to comments in the PPRuNe thread, the Scripto Chinagraph pencils were in service roughly between the early 1960's and mid 2000's.
The thread also discovered that before and after these self-propelling Scripto pencils, wooden chinagraph pencils were / are in use.
Modifications
The same PPRuNe thread also reports of a modification introduced in the mid 90's by drilling a hole in the top and attaching a lanyard to save the pencil becoming a cockpit FOD hazard.
I've also been contacted by someone saying another modification was to use few wraps of adhesive tape near the top to keep them tight in the flying suit pencil pockets.
Exhibits
Scripto W610 Chinagraph Pencils
These three Scripto W610 Chinagraph pencils were kindly donated by members of the PPRuNe forum.
Black with black "lead":
Yellow with white "lead":
Red with red "lead":
Exploded view, shows all the parts:
Made In USA:
Service Images
Scripto Chinagraph Pencils
These screen shots were taken from this video on YouTube on F4 Phantoms in British QRA service.
The skill of writing backward on a perspex sheet, using a yellow pencil with white "lead":
Phantom pilot taking notes on the kneeboard of his Immersion Suit using a red pencil with blue "lead".
