9 Amazing Facts About Erasers You Never Knew: Discover the Fun Behind These Everyday Tools

1. Bread Bewilderments

Before rubber stepped up to sweep away our pencil-wrought woes, erasers were dough-ing their best: The first erasers were actually made from bread until rubber became the available material, sourced from both natural latex produced by rubber trees and synthetic rubber derived from chemicals found in petroleum.
Source => madehow.com

2. Maya Ballgame Brouhaha

Before there were bowling balls wreaking havoc on wooden lanes, the ancient Maya took rubber balls seriously enough to risk losing their heads: The Maya ballgame, pitz, utilized a rubber ball weighing up to 20 pounds and required players to don protective gear, with the game even leading to sacrifices of captured royalty and losing opponents as a show of devotion to the gods.
Source => umaine.edu

Did you know Crayola had a messy past producing lampblack, charcoal, and red iron oxide paint before becoming the colorful crayon company we know today? Discover more intriguing Crayola facts!

=> Fun Facts about Crayons

3. Eraser Debris Evader

Fear the wrath of tiny rubber tornadoes no more, art enthusiasts and perfectionists: the MONO Dust Catch Eraser by Tombow is here to save your masterpieces from eraser debris destruction, thanks to its tacky polymer design that magically grabs hold of pesky residue while you erase.
Source => rawmaterialsla.com

4. Rubber Eraser Ruckus

When a Brit offers you a rubber, don’t get your knickers in a twist: they are simply referring to what Americans call an eraser. This linguistic quirk is due to the fact that the word "rubber" originally meant eraser, and while it has evolved into new meanings stateside, it has remained steadfast on the other side of the pond. So, keep calm and carry on rubbing out those pencil marks – just be sure to use the word "eraser" when chatting with our cousins across the Atlantic to dodge any awkwardness.
Source => english.stackexchange.com

5. Buzz-worthy Erasers

While artists often go "bzzz" with inspiration, sometimes their tools follow suit - literally: Electric erasers are favored by artists and designers for their precision, ability to erase graphite, colored pencils, and charcoal without smudging, and come in various sizes, styles, and charging options, like battery-operated and rechargeable models, with replaceable eraser refills and brushes to keep things neat and tidy.
Source => artltdmag.com

6. Pink Accident Alliance

Pink-y promise, the origin of the classic eraser's hue purely accidental? You'd better believe it: The Eberhard Faber Pencil Company happened to use a blend of natural rubber and Italian pumice, which serendipitously turned out pink, leading to a pedagogical partnership and popularity in the United States – though Europeans barely bat an eye at this eraser-less oddity.
Source => artsy.net

7. Chameleon Kneaded Wonders

Picture a chameleon in an art studio, shifting shapes and swallowing mistakes like it's going out of style: that, my friends, is the life of a kneaded eraser. These squishy shape-shifters can not only stealthily remove graphite, charcoal, pastel, and chalk blunders, but they're also experts at subtractive drawing techniques like highlighting and blurring edges without damaging the delicate paper beneath them.
Source => artnews.com

8. Ink-redible Hulk Eraser

Who knew the humble eraser could pull an "Ink-redible Hulk" and take on indelible ink? Enter the Pelikan BR40 eraser, swooping in to save the day with its dual-ended super abilities: On one side, it features an orange end for eradicating pencil marks, while the blue end effectively vanquishes ink without a trace, provided you use your newfound erasing power gently to avoid paper-tearing chaos or pesky orange stains.
Source => davesmechanicalpencils.blogspot.com

9. Erasers Go Phthalate-Free

Erasers have been hitting the gym, shedding some unwanted weight, and saying "phthalate-later" to harmful plasticizers: Many reputable eraser brands, like Factis and Faber-Castell, have switched to phthalate-free formulas due to the negative effects of phthalates on the human hormone system, making their products healthier for their consumers.
Source => jacksonsart.com