Sterling Plastic Pencil Box

Here we have two versions of the Sterling Plastic Pencil Box. The ones on the left are the Multiplier Pencil Box #555 and the ones on the right are the Pencil Box #524. As you can see if you click on the picture that some had advertising on them and were probably given away to customers. The boxes had a pencil sharpener, 6" ruler that doubled as a sliding lid, and two or three pencils. The most popular is the Multiplier Pencil Box and had a plastic slide for use in multiplication.

Sterling Plastic Educator Pencil Cases

The first item we will be looking at are the Sterling Plastic Educator Pencil Cases. I have found 5 different ones in the #558 and #562 series. In most cases Sterling Plastic assigned a #500 series number to their items. The one pictured here is the Presidents #562 which ends with President Nixon, but I also have the Presidents #558 ending in President Johnson and ending with JFK. The other 4 are the States and Capitals, Important Dates in American History, Map of the World, and Our Solar System. Since some of these cases are #558 and #562 series then we can assume that the #558s were made first followed by the #562s. at the bottom of the lid you can turn the dials to see other Presidents or other info.

Sterling Plastic Office/School Supplies

Here we have a small part of my collection of school/office supplies made by the Sterling Plastic Company of New Jersey. These items pictured range from the late 50s to the 80s. The small one hole punch in the bottom left went with me to Desert Storm while I was still in the Army. Growing up in the 60s most all your school supplies were made in the USA. I lived in California, Oklahoma and Virginia as a kid and could always find these items in the local stores. These items are part of our school/office supply History. At least one item should be in your collection.

Sterling Plastic Educator Pencil Case

Here on the left we have a complete, inside look at the Educator Pencil Case. The card on the back of the lid would have additional facts and information. You would have 2 pencils, 4 or 5 colored pencils, an eraser, pencil sharpener, a 6" Sterling Plastic Ruler #512 and a Sterling Plastic Protrangle #532. I have seen the ruler and the protrangle in at least 3 different colors and I am sure it had to do with the color of the pencil case. As I stated in the last post the reverse side of all 5 pencil cases had the Pat. number and the date 1960. The Pencil Case on the right is newer, the date on the back is 1967. It is also an Educator Pencil Case but this one is called the Modern Math Pencil Case #556. You could if working properly add and subtract, fractions and multiplications all on the lid. The card on the inside of the lid is missing.

Welcome to my blog. I have a very large collection
of pens, pencils and school/office supplies
that I have collected since the 60s. My collection
covers those items that I used in school and during
my 21 years in the Army. I will be reviewing
Papermates, Lindy, Bic, Pentel, Scripto and the
Sterling Plastic Company, maker of slide rules,
pencil boxes, pencil sharpeners. I hope these reviews
spark some interest in you to add these items from our
stationery history to your collection.