Abstract: In a method of making a pencil core having a plurality of substantially flat laminations wherein at least one lamination at the center of the core is wider than the other laminations, a flat strip of core steel is fed into a progressive die, and a plurality of scrap region blanking stations is provided each of which blank out two spaced parallel regions from the strip, but with each of the scrap region blanking stations blanking out the regions at a different spacing. At an embossing station, at least one embossment is provided in at least each of the laminations preceding the last lamination.