How pencil erasers became popular

You have probably used a pencil many times, especially during childhood.  But have you ever wondered why some pencils have a small eraser attached to the back?

The answer is simple people make mistakes and children often make even more of them. The eraser is designed to remove pencil marks so you can correct a mistake and write again.

It makes writing easier and more convenient. Before pencils had attached erasers correcting mistakes could be more difficult.

People had to use separate erasers or other methods to remove unwanted marks. It is believed that in the 1850s, Hymen Lipman introduced the idea of attaching an eraser to a pencil and later patented the design.

He eventually sold the patent rights to Joseph Reckendorfer for $100,000. At the time, Lipman may not have known how useful his simple idea would become.

Today the pencil with an attached eraser is a familiar tool used by students artists and writers around the world.