Relic Find: Tube of Koh-I-Noor 2200 I/4B 2.5 mm graphite leads

Now that some Pearl stores have closed and the company continues its reorganization process, you might find some leftover unique and unusual art supplies and drafting items popping up in their specialty window cases and aisles. On my last visit to their South Miami store, I got this neat plastic red box of Koh-I-Noor 2200 I/4B 2.5 mm graphite leads. At the store both the helpful sales clerk and I thought they were dealing with 2 mm leads, but once I got home I quickly found out that they did not fit in any of my 2 mm leadholders but they worked in my 3 mm Caran D'Ache Fixpencil 3 leadholder without been as thick as the 3 mm Technograph lead. Just like with wooden pencils of today, it seems that some drafting leads were manufactured in larger diameters for the softer grades.The box was even marked down because a couple of the leads were broken and a small piece was missing. The tube originally held six 4B leads.
Storage box cap markings.
Once loaded in the Fixpencil, this graphite drawing lead proved to be fairly smooth, dark, and quite erasable for such a soft lead grade.
Relative size comparison of assorted leads and their packaging boxes: 0.5 mm Pentel Ain lead, 2 mm Caran D'Ache Technograph, 2.5 mm Koh-I-Noor 2200 I, and 3 mm Caran D'Ache Technograph.
If you enjoy sketching with leadholders, make sure to always pick up any box of lead refills (especially if they are softer than HB) you come across for they are disappearing from many retail outlets and they can be stored in good working condition almost indefinitely. I am quite pleased to have been able to add this rather rare 2.5 mm 4B leads to my collection since I can use them in my 3 mm leadholders.