图书序言
康特:铅笔制造商
Very different from the invention of the pencil, Conte also has the reputation as an expert in balloon warfare which ensured his inclusion in the party of some 200 academics and scientists to accompany Napoleon on his expedition to Egypt in 1798.
Unfortunately, the event ended as a disaster. The balloon caught fire and the Egyptians received the impression that what had been demonstrated was a machine of war for setting fire to the enemy encampments. What a pity.
Prior to Conte’s pencil invention, the writing material had been nothing but a lump of pure graphite putting into a wooden stick.
Instead of using the pure English graphite, Conte found a way to mix graphite in a powdered form with clay and then baked it in a way that the lead could be produced in varying degrees of hardness.
Conte not only made the manageable writing material, but is also credited with inventing the machinery needed to make round lead which no other inventors who credited for pencil creation did.
Up until today, Conte’s brand name is still known as the pencil manufacture in France.
与铅笔的发明大不同的是,康特也享有气球战专家的美誉,并在 1789 年与 200 位学者与科学家一同陪同拿破崙远征埃及。
不幸的是,活动在灾难中结束。热气球起火,埃及人便认为这是一台为了火烧敌人营地而设计的战争机器。真是可惜。
在康特发明铅笔之前,书写材料一直只是将纯石墨泥投入木棍之中。
代替使用纯英国石墨,康特发明了一种混合石墨粉末与粘土的形式,然后经过烘烤,发展出可以制造不同硬度的铅。
康特不仅发明出容易控制的书写材料,发明制作了圆形笔芯所需的机也归功于他,这是其他铅笔创造人没做到的 。
直至今日在法国,康特的品牌名称仍然被称为铅笔制造商。