A lot can change in more than a century ~ but classics know how to stand the test of time
If you travelled back in time to a classroom in 1901, you’d find blackboards instead of interactive whiteboards; and the word ‘tablet’ wouldn’t mean something with a touchscreen!
But there is one familiar staple you might still recognise ~ the STAEDTLER Noris pencil.
The iconic tool celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2026 and to mark the occasion, we’re taking a trip through the pencil case of history (all the way back to 1901!) to celebrate.
Since then, Noris ~ just like the classrooms it’s found a home in ~ has evolved. So let’s start at the very beginning…
It all started in 1901…
The pencil used back then looks quite different to the Noris we recognise today, but 1901 marks the beginning of its story ~ when it was first trademarked. Little did STAEDTLER know that it would become such a staple of pencil cases and classrooms across the globe!
From humble pencil to classroom staple
As education changed throughout the 20th century, naturally, Noris changed with it.
By 1919, Noris was already becoming more than a pencil. STAEDTLER’s illustrated Price List from that year featured the Noris name almost 37 times ~ across everything from pencils and sharpeners to pastels and copying pens ~ giving us an early glimpse of Noris finding its place in the classroom.
Then, in 1934, came a design that’s now instantly recognisable…
Those black and yellow stripes
The distinctive Noris design has become synonymous with the brand and, for generations of pupils, with school itself.
The iconic design has been there for first attempts at handwriting, hurried sums, spelling tests, sketches in the margins and countless classroom creations.
By the 1950s, school products were an established part of the Noris story, while the following decades saw the range continue to develop alongside changing approaches to learning, writing and creativity.
The evolution hasn’t only been about how Noris looks…
The way it’s made has changed too. Today, Noris pencils are made using STAEDTLER’s upcycled wood manufacturing process, showing that even after 125 years, there’s still room for a classroom classic to evolve.
Remember those tablets we mentioned earlier? Well, Noris has found its way onto those too. The Noris Digital EMR Stylus Pencil ~ designed to look and feel like a classic pencil ~ brings the familiar Noris shape to tablets, smartphones and digital notebooks.
Here’s to the next 125 years ✏️
From classrooms in 1901 to classrooms filled with technology in 2026, quite a lot has changed. However, generations of pupils continue to use a Noris to this day. In fact, in 2025 45 million Noris pencils were sold in the UK alone!
Do you remember using a Noris pencil at school? Or are they currently filling the pencil pots in your classroom? Let us know over on the Teachers’ Club social channels ~ we’d love to hear your Noris memories.
