Today I'm showing a Fairchild Company (of New York, New York), telescopic dip pen/mechanical pencil It features a reversible writing unit. It is properly marked Fairchild on the case and the nib. It came in a wooden container. Nice touch! Circa 1890 - 1910. Closed the piece is 3 5/8 inches in length. Fully extended with the dip pen ready to write the length is a whopping 6 7/8 inches.

For Saturday's S & T, I'm showing another group of mechanical pencils. Circa 1920 - 1950. From left to write they are Wahl-Eversharp, an unmarked English, Waterman's, Wahl-Eversharp, 2 Waterman's, Parker, Montblanc, Wahl-Eversharp, 2 Wahl-Eversharp cutout demonstrators, and a Salrite. All were made in America except the English and the German Montblanc. To help size the pencils, the box is 7 7/8 inches long and 5 5/8 inches wide.

   I'm showing today a dip pen and mechanical pencil set produced by Sampson Mordan of London, England. The pattern is called 'The Popular'. The pencil is known to come in 3 lengths. I know of only 1 length for the dip pen. Circa 1890.