Apsco Chicago Deluxe 51 Box Art - Apsco Man - reconstructed

Antique Find: Apsco “Deluxe Chicago” Pencil Sharpener

My grandmother-in-law is 101 (soon to be 102) and stopped driving at around the age of 99. When she moved in with my in-laws, I was given a workbench that used to belong to her late husband. Attached to that bench was this beautiful piece of industrial history.

This is the second antique pencil sharpener I own (you can read about the first one HERE). It does a great job considering its age. The insides could use a bit of cleaning, to say the least, but it is interesting to see the various patina colors on the blades.

previously, I wasn’t sure of the age, but after some research, I’ve identified it as the Apsco “Deluxe Chicago”.

History & Identification

This sharpener was manufactured by the Automatic Pencil Sharpener Company (APSCO). Originally founded in Chicago around 1905, the company moved its manufacturing to Rockford, Illinois, in 1913, where it became the largest producer of pencil sharpening machines in the world.

Product Details:

Model: “Deluxe Chicago” (Model 51)
Era: 1910s – 1920s
Construction: Heavy-duty metal with a transparent celluloid shavings receptacle.

The “Chicago” design was iconic for its durability. Unlike earlier methods of whittling, this machine used a hand crank to drive internal gears and rotating cutters, producing a consistent point every time. While APSCO dominated the market for half a century, they eventually struggled to compete with the rise of electric sharpeners in the 1970s and were acquired by Berol.

This specific unit features patent dates ranging from 1900 to 1921, placing it firmly in the golden age of American school and office supplies. Working models in this condition are becoming increasingly rare finds.