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"PIONERO" rubber eraser (grade no. 202)
Object/Artifact
A small rectangular rubber eraser with rounded edges, the surface aged to a soiled tan/brown with darker staining at one corner and a worn, finely pitted texture. One face is marked in black: "BATABANO / Cuba" at upper left, a seahorse (caballito de mar) device at upper right, the brand "PIONERO" across the center in mixed boxed/ransom-style capitals, and "202/30" at lower right. The markings identify a Cuban-made school/office eraser; the discoloration and surface wear are consistent with an aged, used rubber eraser (Cuban erasers of this type were known to harden with age).
2025.1.152
With the office supplies of Leopoldo Arús Gálvez
The Cabrera Arús family collection
2025.1
Some duplicates were received as gifts
Fábrica Cubana de Lápices José A. Fernández
Batabanó
Mayabeque
Cuba
Caribbean
Central America
Pionero
Maker: Fábrica Cubana de Lápices "José A. Fernández," Batabanó, Cuba (later the Empresa de Muebles y Artículos Varios "Signo," Dujo group). The factory was founded 30 March 1961 and produced pencils, erasers, and related items; "PIONERO" is one of its eraser brands. Per the Cuba Material project's research; specific plant attribution firm, brand-to-line detail as published there. Date: circa 1960s–1980s (the José A. Fernández factory was founded in 1961, placing Pionero production post-1959; in range).
"BATABANO / Cuba"; seahorse device; "PIONERO" (brand); "202/30" — where "202" is a hardness/grade figure under an international eraser classification (bands 1–249, 250–499, 500–999, 1000+; "202" falls in the lowest band), with "/30" a further designation (not interpreted).
Materials: Rubber eraser compound (specific composition undetermined); printing ink for the markings. Technique: Molded rubber eraser; brand, place, device, and grade applied by ink stamp/printing.
Fair
Leopoldo Arús Gálvez
owner
Havana
Cuba
Caribbean
Central America
use
Batabanó
Mayabeque
Cuba
Caribbean
Central America
production
The "202/30" stamp is a grade indicator: per the same source, an international hardness classification (1–249, 250–499, 500–999, 1000+) printed near the brand, used among Cuban erasers only by Pionero and Dual. "202" sits in the lowest (softest) band; "/30" recorded but not interpreted.