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.
Darba mehanizācija un masveida ražošanas attīstība pazemināja cenas, un 20. gadsimta sākumā zīmuļi jau bija kļuvuši tik ikdienišķi, ka tos lietoja pat skolas bērni.