History and Story Behind Inventions: Pencil with Eraser

About the story behind the invention of the pencil with eraser, history and biography of inventor Hyman L. Lipman.

INVENTION: Pencil with Eraser

INVENTOR: Hyman L. Lipman, U.S.

YEAR: 1858

HOW INVENTED: Until the advent of Lipman, people used separate erasers when writing, drawing, figuring. This Philadelphian conceived the simple idea of combining pencil and eraser in one. His invention offered a pencil with a groove on top into which "a piece of prepared rubber" was glued.

He sold his patent for $100,000.