LYRA Bleistift-Fabrik was founded in 1806 in Nürnberg, Germany (then Bavaria) by Johann Froescheis. By the late 1800s, LYRA was producing 53 million wood pencils per year, along with a number of other related products. The LYRA trademark was registered in 1868 and is believed to be the oldest pencil trademark still in use today.

By 1883, LYRA produced pencils in 14 degrees of hardness, and in 1895 introduced the brand name "Orlow" which is still in use. The company has received numerous medals and awards for quality and innovation throughout its history. A new factory was built in Nürnberg-Gebersdorf in 1987, and a production facility was opened in Nottingham, England in 1991. The company also has distribution outlets in France and Belgium.

Today, LYRA's catalog includes many pencil brands. Here are some of them:

VitaColor Alternative Fluorliner MegaLiner Orlow Art Design Steno Robinson Pro Natura

Osiris LYRATO Ferby Color Giants Youngster Wax Giants (LYRAX) Rembrandt Rembrandt Aquarell Rembrandt Polycolor

LYRA also produces a complete line of other drawing accessories including compasses, rulers, erasers, markers, mechanical pencils, pencil sharpeners, pencil cases, etc.

LYRA Bleistift-Fabrik GmbH & Co. D-90449 Nürnberg Willstätterstraße 54-56 Germany tel. (0911) 68 05-0 Web Site LYRA (UK) Ltd. The Pencil Works, Lenton Street Sandiacre, Nottingham NG 10 5 DX England tel. (0115) 93 96 266

Lyra's Original Logo, circa 1860