Mechanization and mass production drove prices down, and by the start of the 20th century, even schoolchildren were using pencils ​ — unpainted “penny pencils, ” as they were called in the United States.
Pliiatsitootmise mehhaniseerimine ja masstoodang langetasid toote hinda ning 20. sajandi alguseks oli isegi koolilastel võimalik pliiatseid kasutada.