I'd like to show today a pair of 19th Century writing instruments. First off (bottom position in first picture), is a metal, silver finished pen with telescopic case. Yes, nib's or tips were referred to as pens in those days. The second piece - same material - is a slightly more conventional mechanical pencil. Both feature an inscribed United States, February 13, 1883 design patent protecting the three chased ring design. The patent assignee was Eberhard Faber (today known as Faber Castell). The pen with case in the carry position is approximately 4 1/8 inches long. Unextended and ready to write the pen is 5 3/8 inches. With full extension to write the piece is 6 7/8 inches. The pencil is a solid 4 1/8 inches long. A picture is included to show the double ended pen outside of it's case. The pen of course could have been produced by a third party.

Eclipse Fountain Pen Company of New York City also produced mechanical pencils. Showing here are four examples from their 1920's lineup. Each piece is shrouded with a gold filled filigree overlay. The largest comes in at 5 1/2 inches in length The three shorter examples are 5 1/4 inches.

  Part of the unique experience in collecting old Victorian pencils is the ingenious, sometimes unique ways the devices work. Clockwise from the top are five distinctly designed champagne bottle mechanical pencils, each using a different tip deployment method.

From the top is a solid mounted push / pull telescopic
followed by a bottom ring twist activation mechanism
followed by a push / pull activated magic pencil
followed by a button activated gravity based dropper
Center position is a pull out / push in external collapsible

All pieces are silver based metal and were produced circa 1885 - 1895 .
Sizes closed range from 1 3/4 inches to 2 3/4 inches.

  Note books have certainly become a bit more utilitarian down through the years. Showing here is an earlier example by Sampson Mordan of England. Hallmarked 1897. The case is hallmarked sterling and heavily engraved. This one is unused. The outer shell is approximately 2 inches across by 2 1/4 inches tall by 1/2 inch deep.

  The Indian combination fountain pen and pencil on the far left might be the most recognizable of this bunch. Second and third from the left are classic fountain pen and pencil respectively - made by Waltham. All are properly marked on the shirt clips. The far right stubby pencil is unmarked. Some experts agree all were probably made by Waltham. The pattern came in 3 or 4 color combinations. Circa 1935.

In the later half of the 19th century mechanical pencils represented as many diverse objects were popular. One of these groupings was creatures or animals. Figural pencils resembling fish, elephants, and many other things that moved, were created. Showing here are a pair of owl figural pencils. The piece on the left was produced in England by the Sampson Mordan Company. The right piece was likely made by the William S. Hicks Company in the United States. Both pencils deploy the writing tip via the magic pencil mechanism (pulling out one end simultaneously pushes out the opposite working end). Magic! Both were produced circa 1880. The Mordan is 1 1/4 inches long closed and 2 1/4 inches extended. The Hicks is 1 1/8 inches long closed and 2 1/4 inches extended. Who?

Wahl-Eversharp produced many metal mechanical pencils in the early part of the 20th century. Metal in the period was the primary pencil material. W-E's pencils were extremely popular. Mechanical pencils were sometimes referred to as eversharps. Much less commonly found today is the smallest of the brand - The Tiny Eversharp. Circa 1920's. Produced in the United States and England. The pencils are 3 1/8 inches long and no more than 1/8 of an inch in diameter. Tiny!