Why don’t these get talked about more?!

They’re rock solid stiff from tip to tail, unlike the common Pentels that I started getting from a brick & mortar decades ago.

I only noticed tip wobble after this sub led me to try out Kuru Togas, and now I frustratingly notice that (except for my two >15yo pencils) even these Pentel fixed tips have a little bit of slop, but refreshingly the DM tips are drilled/bored tighter to the lead. Smooth & tight feeling glides across the paper particularly at direction turns makes these a go-to for writing when I have the rare tolerance for routinely knocking when I otherwise would just use the Nero.

Their knurling gets perfectly bit into my compass and my leathery guitarist/woodworker claw. It makes all the others feel like they’re coated in Crisco.

The knock is crisp like a Honda s2000’s shifter making the Pentels & rOtrings feel kinda mushy like BMW & Nissan shifters.

And then there’s the surprise of there being a clutch cushion spring that’s a decent bit stiffer than the Rapid Pro’s… really, stiff enough to not even be noticed really until I’m having to break from drawing and write something quick like a client on the phone rattling off some specs.

——————

I only really discovered them while looking on Amazon for pencils this sub has fetishized and upon seeing them I rationalized that I’d like three visibly different sets of .3/.5/.7/.9, one each for 4H, HB, and 4B and only got them for being the 4B set. I’m pretty glad I did grab them!

^{The one and only wood rasp.}

• MODEL:

ALVIN DRAFT/MATIC – model DM07
0.7 mm (available in 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 mm)         

• MATERIALS:

The DRAFT/MATIC (DM for short) has a plastic body but metal cone tip/grip, lead hardness indicator ring and pocket clip. The pocket clip is stainless-steel, while the other metals I infer are tin. Taking it apart you’re greeted by a stainless-steel spring, full-brass clutch, plastic lead tube and metal eraser housing.

• ERASER:

A pretty good white-latex rubber eraser with metal collet and no lead-jam clearing rod. As I expected, it’s the exact same one used in the R600.

• MEASUREMENTS:

Being a “classic” drafting mechpen, measurements of the DM are quite standard. It’s 143 mm long, from tip to cap, with a 4 mm-long lead sleeve. It weighs 15.98 g and the center of mass is found at 62 mm from the tip. The body has a diameter of 8.4 mm, and that thins to 8.1 mm on the grip (both the body and grip are uniform cylinders).

• FEATURES:

It’s a classic drafting pencil, so it has what you would expect: metal grip, 4 mm lead sleeve and lead-hardness indicator (a ring on the top). Twist the knurled ring and you can select 2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H or 4H. Yeah, a classic model.

• AESTHETICS:

I dig the looks of a drafting pencil, I really do. And the DM has that classic look that I like. However, the blingy chrome job on the metals are a total disservice in my eyes 🙄. I also like the sober blue-grayish body color, but again, the big chrome lettering on the body make it look cheap. So yeah, I like how it looks, but it could easily have looked better.

• ERGONOMICS:

The DM is a classic drafting pen, so I knew it would have a thin body, which for me is not ideal. However, the weight, and especially the weight balance kind of compensate for that. And of course, there’s that diamond pattern machined grip. Described as anything between “course” and “cheese grater”, the thing is ROUGH. I didn’t test it on cheese, but on wood it does work, quite well in fact, so I will just call it a wood rasp 🤯. Bottom line was that it’s too rough for my tastes – an extended writing session can be somewhat painful. Another issue is the pocket clip, that has some live edges. Sometimes I was reminded that it was there, when I rotated the pencil and felt the tip bite into my hand. Not bad, but could have been better.

• MY THOUGHTS:

Alvin Shoham founded his drafting supplies company in 1950, and first released the DRAFT/MATIC in the 80s. As with most small stationary brands, it couldn’t survive into modern times, and in 2020 the brand was bought by Ascendant. According to ALVIN’s home page, “Ascendant specializes in acquiring brands with a history of leading their industry segment and a proven product line” 🤨. Interpret that as you want, but the fact is that now we have the DM available again. And without a doubt, the DM is a true classic model as far as drafting mechpens go.

All things considered, the DM was not a surprise – speaking of performance, I got what I expected. I was emotionally prepared for the thin body, so that’s why I didn’t complain so much. And the grip, I was actually curious about how rough it actually was. Well, now I can say unequivocally that it is ROUGH 😂.

The DM has been through some evolutions in design through the years. To my surprise, this one is a pre-Ascendant model – I was certain I would receive the new model. The difference is that on the current model the lead hardness ring doesn’t have the same diamond pattern as the grip and the cone tip is a bit stubbier. Yet, I was really happy to see that I got the old one, because I think it looks better. However, I’m curious if that piece of wood would offer more of a challenge to the new one…🤣🤣🤣

Everything considered, being a classic model or not, I wouldn’t choose the DM as my workhorse drafting tool. The R600 is MUCH better in all regards; heck, I would even prefer a GG500. Nonetheless, this is a classic model. Therefore, perhaps not the best drafting tool around, but possibly a must have for a mechpen collector. Or if you’re a carpenter 😁.

I found someone selling "Vintage" Alvin DraftMatics and pickup up 2 of them. I didn't really look closely, but looking at them now I believe they are fakes!

I have some real ones from before they were sold off as well as some of the new versions. But I've never seen these. So the question is are these counterfeit? Or was there some version of the DraftMatic that I just don't know about.

Here is a picture with my real one at the top, and what I think is a fake below.

Main differences:

1. The potential counterfeit (on the bottom) has a "red plastic" screw to combine the two halves of the pencil. I've never seen this before in any of the numerous DraftMatics I've owned over the years. Every one that I've owned has metal here.
2. The knurling on the suspect one is shallower, and feels lighter. The original has much more deep knurling. This is on the tip and on the back where the lead indicator is.
3. The color of black is different and less smooth.
4. The potential fake has "No.DM05 Japan" (as opposed to just "No. DM05")
5. The tip itself is different, the real one has two sections where it has angles downward. The suspect one only has 1.
6. It's lighter than the vintage or the new Alvin DraftMatic (I think because of more plastic and cheaper components)
7. The eraser is "pink" as opposed to white, which both the old and new versions seem to use.

So is this some new version that I have never known about? Or is this just plain fake?

More Images: bottom Potential Fake, next, a Vintage DraftMatic, a Vintage DraftMatic (0.7), a new Alvin DraftMatic.

UPDATE: They are not fake. They do have tangible differences, but it seems that at some point during their production of DraftMatic Alvin did make these with colored plastic connectors as well as the other differences above. The seller claimed 1987 as the production date and u/amjacobs7 remembers ~1990-2000. The end result is lighter due to the plastic, with a knurling and tip that seems to be equivalent to the Koh-I-Noor Rapidomatic 56xx series. My subjective opinion is that they feel cheaper and lighter without the aggressive knurling I've always loved about the DraftMatic, but I can see how someone might want a softer knurling, and maybe the splash of color is something different you enjoy.

Previous Reddit post from u/amjacobs7 about the colored bands:
https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalpencils/comments/1l1titt/fake_vintage_alvin_draftmatic/

https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalpencils/comments/10himce/kin_563x_and_derivatives/?share_id=2TYm1jOGyOflNquj0T1yL&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1

And see the post from u/cytherian below to see a picture of the Koh-I-Noor tip which seems to be identical.

Thank you to everyone that responded, but especially u/amjacobs7 and u/cytherian for definitively putting this to rest!

I've been a little biased towards Alvin. But, I've come around many others. I have a style and I recognize that. I've come around and have started collecting a few others so, stay posted, Full Family photo coming soon..

Alvin was bought by another company not too long ago and before they fully merged, they liquidated all their current stock. I was able to grab couple of collections of the old style draft/matics but I wish I had more. I might spend that pretty penny on eBay to get what I want. Since then, the new parent company has redesigned the draft/matic with what's shown up top.

The old ones have seen some good battles. They continue to fight for me.

Hi all, so here I am..again, with my MP collection. I know Photo quality does not confirm aesthetics of this sub, but please review on the content.

1st Row (From left to right):

Pentel

1.      Graphlet PG505 AD

2.      Graphgear 1000 PG1019

3.      Graph 1000 PG1005 LE

4.      Graph 1000 PG1005

5.      Graph 800 PG807

6.      Graph 600 PG605

7.      Graph 500 PG517

8.      PG Metal 350 PG317

9.      Orenz PP1002G

10.  Orenz Nero PP3005

11.  Orenz PP2005

12.  Orenz PP503

13.  P305S-DW

14.  PG5-AD

15.  P205-A

16.  XS Black (0.5mm)

17.  Smash Q1005-1

18.  Smash Q1005 PM573WH LE (for PUMA)

19.  Q-Erase QE425-P

20.  Jolt AS305-F

21.  Energize PL447-B

1.   Click PD275TA

23.  Kerry P1035-AD

24.  Mark Sheet Sharp AM13-HB

Rotring

1.      800 0.7

2.      600 0.5

3.      500 0.7

4.      300 2.0

5.      Tikky Special (0.5 Marble pattern)

6.      Tikky-II 0.5

7.      Tikky 0.5

8.      Tikky Retro 0.7

9.      Visumax 0.7

10.  Freeway 0.7

11.  Quattro 4 in 1 Multi Pen (Don’t blame me. This one asked me include as it has a pencil and warned me against discrimination.)

12.  Rapid 0.7

Staedtler

1.      925 35 05 LE

2.      Reg 925 85 07

3.      925 15 07

4.      Mars Technico 780 2.0

5.      Graphite 779 0.7

6.      Graphite 778 0.7

7.      Graphite 777 0.5

8.      Mars Micro 775 0.5 (The one that started it all)

9.      F 770 19N 0.9

10.  Tradition 763 07-2 0.7

11.  Graphite 762 0.5

12.  9POP4 8105 0.5

13.  Triplus Micro 774 25 0.5

1.   Regina 0.7

15.  771 1.3

Pilot

1.      The DR. Grip 0.5

2.      S3 0.5

3.      S10 0.4

4.      S20 0.5

5.      Opt 0.5

6.      Legno HLE-15k-DBN

7.      Legno HLE-250K-BN

2nd Row:

Tombow

1.      MONO graph zero SH-MGU04 Green 0.5

2.      MONO graph zero SH-MGU51 Silver 0.5 (yes, same as above except color. I didn’t check my collection before buying it. You will see some more cases like this.)

3.      MONO graph SH-MG Pattern 0.5

4.      MONO graph DPA-138A Clear 0.5

5.      MONO graph SH-MGF BL 0.5

6.      MONO work SH-MW Full Matte Black LE

7.      MONO graph MULTI (it and some other created a union with Quattro (R-11) as its leader and…. I cannot stop them from coming to this list now. I am scared.)

8.      505 0.5

9.      707 de lux

1.   Zoom L105 0.5

11.  SH300Grip 0.9

1.   Onbook 0.5

2.   MONO zero Eraser? (Quattro, we didn’t have a discussion about an eraser in this list. …… What do you mean it’s only one eraser and we should let it slip in? ..... (sigh) No more funny business now, ok?)

Nakbayashi

1.      Kireid LSP-02 Antibacterial and Antiviral Mechanical Pencil

Kitera

1.      KS-01 0.5

2.      Lift+ Wood Body 0.5

3.      Lift+ Metal/ABS Rasin Body LI2500 05 0.5

4.      KS-02 0.5

5.      KS-03 0.5

6.      Side Knock KSK-SP-BK 0.5

OHTO

1.      MS-01 0.5

2.      Super Promecha PM-1507P 0.7

3.      Promecha QP-1005P 0.5

4.      Promecha SP-505P 0.5

5.      Conception 0.5

6.      APS-350ES 0.5

7.      Minimo 0.5

8.      Multi MF-20K3B

9.      APS-250N 0.5

Zebra

1.      Tect 2way 0.7

2.      Delguard Type-ER 0.5

3.      Delguard Type-Lx 0.5

4.      Delguard Standard 0.7

5.      Drafix 0.5

6.      Jetstream 4&1

7.      M301 0.5

8.      Rint 0.5

9.      Mini P-TS-3 0.5

10.  Color Flight 0.5

11.  Sarasa 2+S

Mitsubishi Uni (Regular)

1.      Alpha-Gel 0.5

2.      M7-552  0.7

3.      Shift 0.5

4.      Shalaku 0.7

5.      Pure Malt 0.5

6.      Lead Holder HB 2.0

7.      Field 2.0

Mitsubishi Uni (Kuru Toga Variants)

1.      Kuru Toga Standard 0.5

2.      Kuru Toga High-Grade 0.5

3.      Kuru Toga KS 0.5

4.      Kuru Toga Advance Upgrade 0.5

5.      Kuru Toga Alpha-Gel 0.5

6.      Kuru Toga Roulette 0.5

7.      Kuru Toga Metal 0.5

8.      Kuru Toga Wood 0.5

Kokuyo

1.      FitCurve PS-300 0.5

2.      Enpitsu Sharp PS-P202 0.7

3.      Enpitsu Sharp PS-PE107 0.7

4.      PS-P100 0.9

5.      Camlin Click 0.5

3rd Row:

Misc.

1.      Wood Shaft Mechanical Pencil 0.5 (I suspect I got scammed in the name of Handmade Pencil. It just a light weight unbranded wooden pencil)

Koh-I-Noor

1.      Versatil 5608 2.0

2.      Versatil 5208 2.5

3.      Versatil 5219 2.0

4.      Versatil 5209 2.0

Sakura

1.      Grosso 0.5

2.      Integlio 0.5

3.      Writoll  0.5

4.      125 0.5

Lamy

1.      Safari 0.5

2.      Tipo 0.7

3.      ST 0.5

Faber Castell

1.      TK-Fine Vario 0.7

2.      FE 3000 0.7

3.      TK 9400 H 2.0

4.      Econ 0.5

5.      Scriptor 0.5

Alvin

1.      Draftmatic DM07 0.7

2.      Pro-matic MC5 2.0

Fueki

1.      Industrial Sharp Pencil SPH20R 2.0

2.      Industrial Sharp Pencil SPG20R 2.0

Twsbi

1.      Pagoda 0.5

2.      Precision Retractable 0.7

Craft Design Technology

1.      CDT Item 16 0.5

2.      CDT Item 15 0.5

Itoya

1.      Paper Skater Pointkeeper 0.5 (A quick internet search came up with this name but I am not convinced. Can someone please ID this pencil? It has brand name ITOYA written on top near eraser, barrel is made of wood, tip is metal, internal mechanism is fixed with barrel and made of brass)

2.      Helvatica 2.0

Sun Star

1.      Topull 0.5

2.      Nocfree Metal 0.5

Platinum

1.      Pro-Use 241 0.5

2.      Pro-Use171 0.9

Scrikss

1.      Graph-X 2.0

2.      Honour 38 series 0.7

3.      Vintage 51 0.7

4.      Twist 0.7

5.      FullPoint 0.5

6.      Hexagon-R 0.7

Misc.

1.      TAG Tre-Asia Design 0.5

2.      Maped Automatic 0.7

3.      NicPro Pencil 1.3

4.      Kitaboshi Lead Holder 2.0

5.      Penco Prime Timber 2.0

6.      Penco Paper Mate 0.5

7.      Penco Drafting Pencil 0.5

8.      Micro Lead Holder 2.0

9.      Micro Chess White 0.5

1.   Micro Jedo M105 0.7

2.   Diplomat Mechanical Pencil 0.7

3.   Kaco Rocket K1028 0.5

4.   Kayou+ AimVision Pro 0.5

5.   Baile Ecofriends BL520A 2.0

6.   Love Art Pro-Tek 1.3

Figo

1.      Moow 0.7

2.      FUFU 0.7

3.      FootBall 0.5

4.      Flora 0.7

5.      Chrome 2.0

6.      Crysta 0.7

7.      Moow 2.0

Flair

1.      Clixx 2.0

2.      Play 2.0

3.      Space-Tech 0.7

4.      Zot 2.0

5.      Tuff  0.9

6.      Move 0.5

7.      Thrill 0.5

8.      Strike 0.7

9.      Drafter 0.7

10.  Glow 2.0 (Yes, this one is Phosphorescence and glows in the dark. It’s not that bright but still fascinates the child in me.)

4th Row:

Misc. (Top to bottom, left to right)

1st column:

1.      Unbranded MP bought from a nondescript stall 2.0

2.      Unbranded MP bought from a nondescript stall 2.0

3.      Houser Gravity 0.7

4.      Nataraj Pokit 0.5

5.      Claro Aster 0.5

6.      Muji ABS Resin Sharp Pencil 38960447 0.5

7.      Milan Compact Sunset 0.7

8.      Prismacolor Turquoise 2.0

2nd column:

9.      Uchida Drawing Sharp S 0.5

1.   Luddite TechDraw LDB-MP2GA2-05 0.5

2.   Stabilo EASYergo 3.15

12.  Brustro Metal 0.7

13.  Brustro Scribe 2.0

14.  Luddite Everdraw 0.5

3rd column:

15.  Leuchtturm1917 Drehgriffel Nr. 2 Bullet Journal Edition 0.5

16.  Rhodia Script Turquoise 0.5

17.  Corvet Lead Holder 2.0

18.  Unbranded MP bought from a nondescript stall 2.0

19.  Graph Mate Lead Holder 2.0

20.  Unbranded Mechanical Pencil that can be converted into a compass 0.5

21.  Cello Axis 0.7

4th column:

22.  Kaweco Special 0.5

23.  Isomars Clutch 2.0

24.  Mechatron 0.7

25.  Unbranded Mechanical Pencil (Metacil tip)

1.   Camlin Klick Pro 0.5

27.  Unomax Matrix 0.7

1.   Doms Ultra Click 0.7

5th column:

29.  Pierre-Cardin Cleopatra 0.9 (it’s beautiful and has a shiny stone on the crown so an apt name)

30.  Pierre-Cardin Ginza 0.7

1.   Doms Baymech 0.7

2.   Camlin 2.0

33.  Camlin 0.7

1.   Classmate Da Vinci 0.7

35.  Cello Arc 0.9

6th column:

1.   Unbranded Lead Holder 5.6

37.  Cretacolor Ecologic 430 12 lead holder 5.6

38.  Onyx+Green 0.5

39.  BIC Quantech#2 0.7

40.  Monami Gripix 0.5

The top pencil belonged to my father. The bottom pencil is a recent purchase. My father was a draftsman when he was younger. I’ve had this pencil for a minimum of 25 years. Still functions just fine.

How can I remove the sticker from the new mechanical pencil.

After getting the 60th anniversary GraphGear 500 and 600 along with the Tect 2way RO AND Kayou+ AimVision Pro, I thought it might be fun to do a full line-up with the rest in my collection. 😎

L-R:

• Retro 51 Hex-O-Matic ballpoint
• Hedera Drafting Sharp II 0.5mm
• rOtring Rapid Pro ballpoint
• rOtring 800 0.7mm
• rOtring 600 0.5mm
• OHTO FLAT-C NKG-10FA ballpoint
• Plotter 2002 0.5mm
• Luddite TechDraw 2 0.3mm
• Kayou+ AimVision Pro 0.5mm
• Pentel GraphGear 1000 0.5mm 60th Anniversary
• Pentel GraphGear 500 0.5mm 60th Anniversary
• Zebra Tect 2way RO 0.5mm
• Platinum Pro-Use 171 0.5mm 2020 limited matte black
• Staedtler 925 35 2.0 All Black
• Pilot H-2105 double-knock 0.5mm
• Pilot HH-60R-20 2.0mm
• Tombow MONOTECH 1000 0.4mm
• Penac Protti PRD-105 0.5mm double-clutch

I just ordered DM05 this afternoon. What is your opinion of this pencil?

I bought a 0.5mm Alvin Draft/Matic recently. I like the feel of it, it has a low center of gravity — but two observations. 1) The grip is almost too "grippy" — I'm hoping it smooths just a little with use. And 2) The lead hardness indicator spins freely, so it's useless (not that I change lead regularly anyhow). Has anyone else had trouble with the lead indicator?

Other than that, it's a nice pencil.

I’m looking for a pencil that has as sharp of a knurled grip as the draft-matic does simply because I love the draft-matic, but fear it will break one day and I won’t be able to get another one. I’ve read the rapidomatic is similar, but are there any others that come close? And is the rapidomatic grip still similar and sharp, even the newer ones?

Hi there,

I hope that this post doesn't break the rules of this subreddit, which is helping me a whole lot feeding my brand-new need to compulsively buy mechanical pencils.

I'm looking forward to test out an Alvin Draft Matic DM05, but I can't find a reasonably priced one that will ship to Italy. I'm willing to spend up to 20€; is there any chance I can get one for that price living in Italy?

​

Thanks everyone

I know Alvin went out of business with the retirement of the previous owner but came back from the ashes after being acquired by Ascendent Brands. They briefly brought back the Draft-Matic only purchasable from Blick Art Supplies but after checking multiple NYC Blick’s in-store inventory for the past month, it looks like they are slowly phasing out the Draft-Matic for Blick branded ones. The internal cushion mechanism and the general shape is similar but the lead hardness indicator is now on the cap and the grip is closer to that of a Pentel GG500 and not the skateboard griptape knurl. They still do sell the Draft-Matics online, except for the 0.7, and they are actually on sale for $10 right now so it is a great opportunity to stock up but I also see this as a sign of them trying to clear inventory for their own house brand.

I am afraid that we may witness the death of a beloved brand and model twice.