Showing today are two Victorian mechanical pencils with built in whistles. The gold piece is marked Sampson Mordan. Silver piece is unmarked and likely Mordan. Both were produced in the last quarter of the 19th century. Length measurements without the stirrup and ring for the gold piece are 2 1/4 inches closed and 3 1/4 inches extended. The silver unit is 2 1/2 inches closed and 4 inches extended.

  This metal Sheaffer's sign showed up at the recent Philly pen show. It quickly grabbed a serious mechanical pencil collector. Very likely, it was displayed for many years in a stationary shop. 'The 'Waspalumin Carrier (innards of the pencil)' phrase likely dates the piece to the 1920's. Approximate dimensions are 8 inches in length by 3 1/2 inches in width. It had a hard life.  😀

  Montblanc of Germany has created many mechanical pencils during the history of the company. Showing here is their smallest model produced to date. The pencil was designated and marked the 001 model. Dimensions are 2 3/8 inches in length and 1/8 inch in diameter.The barrel is rounded in shape and made of hard rubber. Circa late 1920's - early 1930's.

  Johann Faber was an involved family member of the A.W. Faber writing instrument empire during the second half of the 19th century. He left the family business in 1876 to form his own Johann Faber Company of Nuremberg, Germany.  Today I'd like to show an example of one of the new companies' products. This set of useful items was likely carried during the course of the day. It includes a pencil, dip pen, knife and toothpick. Johann Faber merged with A.W. Faber in 1929. Later, the company name was changed to the familiar Faber-Castell of today. This grouping was likely produced in the 1890's.

I'm showing today a simple sterling axe as mechanical pencil. Exceptionally well made. Produced by Sampson Mordan of London, England. The piece was made in the vicinity of the 1880's. Writing tip is deployed by a button activated slider channel. The pencil is 3 5/8 inches long closed and 4 3/8 inches extended. It's time to go chop some wood.

 

Sampson Mordan of London, England created this figural mechanical pencil; represented as a sword with sheath. Material is silver. The pencil dates to the 1880's period. The writing section is deployed by pulling the pommel (ball) away from the body. This extends the two stage telescopic writing section. The piece is then ready to write. Pushing in on the pommel returns things to the carry position. Sheathed the piece is 4 1/2 inches inches in length. Extended, the writing section is 5 5/8 inches long.

Today I'd like to show a figural mechanical pencil presenting the Budda in his classic sitting position. The piece was produced by the Leroy Fairchild Company of New York, New York. Circa 1880, give or take a couple years.. The pencil mechanism is deployed by pulling the ring away from the body. This action simultaneously induces an outward push of the tip section to the writing position. Magic pencil is the descriptive name for instruments of this type. The pencil is of all metal construction. Lengths without the top ring unit are 1 1/8 inches closed and 2 1/8 inches extended