courtesy Allan Macdonald collection

The Criterium "Automatic Pencil" was introduced by the Gilbert Pencil Co. in 1939. In 1945 they merged with the pen makers Blanzy-Poure becoming Gilbert & Blanzy-Poure. In 1960 Gilbert & Blanzy-Poure merged with Conté to become Blanzy-Conté-Gilbert. BIC aquired this company in 1979. In 1999, BIC rebranded all Conté products to be BIC Kids or, as with the Criterium, just BIC. The Criterium pencil was a great success and to this day "Criterium" is a synonym for mechanical pencil in France.

A very nice Criterium pencil and pen set circa 1957.	courtesy Allan Macdonald collection

 

	imprint reads: "2613 'Criterium' / Gilbert & Blanzy-Poure"	courtesy Allan Macdonald collection

	imprint reads: "France Conté – Criterium 2520"	courtesy Allan Macdonald collection

	Criterium 2806
	Criterium 2809	courtesy Paul Hunt collection