Faber, Johann

Johann (1817-1896), a noted manufacturer. He was born in Stein, six miles from Nuremberg. Faber is noted as the founder of the manufacture of lead-pencils on a large scale. In earlier days, lead-pencils were made by hand in a small way. Faber built up a large factory at Stein and practically monopolized the lead-pencil business in Europe. His methods are not known generally, as visitors were not admitted. As the business enlarged, offices were opened in the large cities. A branch factory established near Paris employed over 1,000 operatives. Eberhard Faber, a younger member of the family, established first, a selling office in New York City, and later, a factory in the vicinity.