Before the eraser bread was used to remove pencil marks

Before the Eraser: The Surprising Use of Bread to Remove Pencil Marks

It’s hard to imagine a time when the simple act of erasing a pencil mark was not so straightforward. Before erasers became commonplace, people had to get creative in finding ways to remove mistakes from their paper. One surprising method that was used before the advent of erasers was the use of bread. Yes, you read that right – bread!

The Time Before Erasers

Before we dive into this unique use of bread, let’s take a step back to the time before erasers. Pencil marks were a common sight on paper, and removing them was a challenge. Rubber erasers, as we know them today, were not widely available until the 19th century. So, what did people do to correct their mistakes? They had to get inventive.

Bread: A Surprising Erasing Tool

In the absence of erasers, bread became a popular substitute for removing pencil marks. Thick and soft, bread was excellent at picking up graphite from the paper. By simply rolling or pressing the bread over the unwanted pencil mark, the graphite adhered to the bread’s surface, leaving the paper clean.

How Bread Removes Pencil Marks

The trick to bread’s erasing ability lies in its texture. Bread has tiny pockets of air within its soft structure. When pressed against the surface of the paper, these air pockets create a gentle stickiness that attracts and lifts the graphite particles from the page.

Here’s how you can use bread to remove pencil marks effectively:

1. Start with a fresh slice of white bread. The softer the bread, the better the results.
2. Roll or fold the bread into a small, compact shape.
3. Gently press the bread onto the pencil mark and roll it over the affected area.
4. Lift the bread and marvel at how the pencil mark has transferred from your paper to the bread.

The Proliferation of Erasers

While using bread as an eraser may seem bizarre today, it’s a testament to human ingenuity. As time went on, erasers became more readily available, and people no longer needed to rely on unconventional methods. Modern-day erasers made from synthetic rubber effectively remove pencil marks by gently abrading the graphite away.

Conclusion

The use of bread as an eraser may seem like a long-forgotten practice, but it serves as a fascinating glimpse into the resourcefulness of our ancestors. The advent of erasers made correcting pencil marks a breeze, but the humble slice of bread deserves recognition for its ersatz erasing abilities.

Source: ThoughtCo - How Do Pencil Erasers Work?