Koh-I-Noor Hardtmuth has produced many fine pencils during the last 200 years. The Koh-I-Noor and L.C. Hardtmuth names both produced wooden and mechanical pencils. The company was founded in Austria in 1790 by Joseph Hardtmuth. Today the company is headquartered in the Czech Republic. Their first patent for pencil lead was granted in 1802. Showing today is a later model 4095 B mechanical pencil produced during the 1940's, possibly the late 30's. This one features a propel/repel twist mechanism. It is 5 3/4 inches long. It was inscribed and marketed as L.C. Hardtmuth.