M + R 709840000 Crank Sharpening Machine Die-Cast Housing, Silver

I usually buy and use M&R products as something of a ‘go to’ ever since buying a little brass sharpener some years ago at an art store that seemed like a work of art. Since then I’ve trusted them for drafting tools as my jobs started to require them, and have always been happy.However, this sharpener arrived today (slightly late) and it’s not up to their usual standard at all:- it’s made in Taiwan. M&R’s catalogue (I have one here somewhere) used to state “Made in Germany means Made in Germany” on the first page.- when I set it on my glass light desk to use it for the first time, it wobbled with a sharp clunk and when I investigated, a rubber foot was missing. I subsequently found it in the plastic bag that it came in inside the box, but it falls out every time I move the sharpener. If I am to keep it, I’ll need to superglue it in. Not great.- the pencil ‘cone’ adjustment and the housing for the geared parts are very soft, flimsy plastic. Honestly why make the housing such heavy-duty metal and then construct moving parts out of toy-grade materials?I don’t know whether to send it back yet, as it’s fairly heavy I’ll have to eat the return shipping cost.Sad to see one of my favourite companies putting this out.

Took a bit of getting use too. Once I found it was using how to learn to use it correctly, it sharpens your pencils very well, trimming them rather than taking away too much like a traditional sharpener.

Quality product