Montblanc of Germany produced the model 92 pencil from 1935 thru 1952. Here showing are 3 examples of the breed. The pencils feature a repeater (top button push activated) lead mechanism. Pushing and holding the button while manually pushing the lead back into the body retracts the lead for carrying. Nice pencils!

  People ask what is my favorite Victorian pencil. I always say and mean, 'All are my favorites'. Today I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Pickwick of Charles Dickens fame. By way of more impossible introduction, he is certainly a sterling, figural pencil designed and produced by Sampson Mordan of England in around the 1890 period. Pulling the hat off his head reveals the working end of a mechanical pencil. He stands about two inches tall pencilless. I am personally astounded by the quality of the sculpture in the revelation of the man. He's one of my favorite Victorian pencils.

  Today I'd like to show a couple very early concept metal pencils. The style is called porte crayon. Earliest examples go back to the second half of the 18th century. They were produced well into the 1940's. Here I'm showing two different styles. Top two pieces are single lead holders (with an associated refill in the middle).
The bottom piece is the more common double ended lead holder.

  Today I'd like to show a French, silver carpenters pencil with elephant head similarities. Pencils in this style get their name from being designed to not roll off a surface. Circa 1900. Piece is 3 1/8 inches long in the closed position and 4 1/2 inches in length when ready to write.

  Today I'd like to show a silver mechanical pencil represented as a boat oar. Probably British. Circa 1900. Diminutive. 3 1/2 inches in length.

Great stuff comes from the Post Office. Here showing are four American mechanical pencils. From top to bottom: a very hard to find Leadograph by Inkograph, an Eclipse, Mabie Todd Fyne Point and Mabie Todd Swallow. All pencils produced during the 1920's and 1930's. Longest piece is the Leadograph at a hair over 5 1/2 ''.

Eagle Pencil Company produced many mechanical pencils featuring quite unique design features. Here I'm showing three examples of their gravity based/button activated dropper pencils and knives. Pressing the button while holding the tip downward causes the knife or pencil piece to release and fall into working position. Reversing the procedure puts the unit back to the closed carry position.

The top piece is a combination knife and pencil. The activation method is interesting. The heart of the system is a removable, reversible button/pencil unit. One end of the unit is the button as explained above. The other end is the pencil. Pencil end is filled with fresh lead while the unit is out of the main housing by pushing on same button, releasing the jaw/tip end, allowing new lead to be installed. Releasing the button of course secures the lead via the jaws for writing.

The longest piece is 3 1/2 inches in the closed position. Circa 1890 - 1900.