STAEDTLER® Comfort Mars® Precision 6" Compass (556 WP00A6) 347377

The name Staedtler (stylized as STAEDTLER) is closely linked with Nuremberg's pencil history. Long before J.S. Staedtler founded his pencil making factory within Nuremberg's old city walls back in 1835, the Staedtler family had already been hand-making this well-loved writing instrument for generations.

The roots of the name Staedtler can be traced back to 1662, the year in which the first references to Friedrich Staedtler as a pencil-making craftsman were made in the city annuals. On 3 October 1835, J.S. Staedtler received permission from the municipal council to produce blacklead, red chalk and pastel pencils in his industrial plant. In 1866, the company had 54 employees and produced 15,000 gross (2,160,000 pencils) per year.

Between 1900 and 1901 the Mars and Noris brands were created. In 1922 the US subsidiary (located in New York) was established, which was followed by the Japan subsidiary four years later. In 1937 the name was changed to Mars Pencil and Fountain Pen Factory and the product was range expanded to include mechanical writing instruments. In 1949 began the production of ballpoint pens, which began to be widely used instead of fountain pens (although Staedtler still produces the latter today).

In 1950 propelling pencils (or mechanical pencils) began to be manufactured, the first being made out of wood. Four years later, the "Lumocolor" brand was registered. This brand was used to design the wide range of Staedtler markers. In 1962 Technical pens began to be produced.

As from 2010, FIMO, MALI, Aquasoft and further brands are being marketed under the Staedtler name. In addition, the company celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2010.

• Sturdy plastic and metal. Interchangeable needle. Maximum circle of approximately 225mm. Length 154mm. With pouch and box of leads.
• Draw precise circles with this Staedtler-Mars spring-bow compass. Its central-wheel design lets you adjust the diameter to just the value you need and holds its position to make as many identical circles as your work demands.
• Use this Staedtler-Mars spring-bow compass to get the circles and arcs you need for your work or school assignments, regardless of how many curves are needed. Its central wheel holds the arc distance at exactly the value you set for reliable graphing with every stroke. Central Wheel The Staedtler-Mars spring-bow compass is adjustable, with a central wheel that lets you set your circles' diameters to any value up to 255 mm. Once adjusted, the compass stays in place, ensuring uniform circles, arcs, and plot lines. Sturdy Frame The frame of the Staedtler-Mars spring-bow compass is made from high-quality plastic and metal for strength and flexibility. The durable, lightweight plastic base securely holds the tough metal extensions without slipping, bending, or twisting out of alignment and negatively impacting the accuracy of your circles. Replaceable Needle The arms of the Staedtler-Mars spring-bow compass terminate in sturdy lead and needle brackets. Both brackets unlock to allow for easy replacement of either component. When the original needle wears out, or when the demands of your work call for a different needle attachment, simply pop open the needle bracket, change the needle, and lock the new one in place. The compass then holds the new needle as firmly as it did the original.