Josef Hardtmuth

Josef Hardtmuth was an Austrian entrepreneur and the founder of Koh-i-noor Hardtmuth, a company established in 1790 in Vienna. Initially focused on producing stoneware, he revolutionized the pencil industry by patenting a recipe for pencil lead in 1802, allowing for cleaner use of graphite encased in wood. His innovations set the foundation for a brand that would become iconic worldwide.