Demonstrator mechanical pencils were created by writing instrument makers to show the operations of their internal mechanisms. Cutouts and clear barrels accomplished the goal. Shown here are pencils from the 1920s into the late '50s. Salesmen might carry these around to retailers or retailers might show them to customers. They typically were not 'for sale' items. From left to right here are Sheaffer, Sheaffer, Pelikan, Wahl-Eversharp, Sheaffer, Sheaffer, Parker, Sheaffer, Eversharp, Wahl-Eversharp, Sheaffer, and Eversharp. Outside the box: Parker (above) and Eagle (below).

   Victorian figural mechanical pencils were often styled as weapons. Known examples produced include handguns, rifles, swords, canons, and others. I'm showing today a combination mechanical pencil/toothpick built to resemble a long-barreled personal weapon (gun). The piece is unmarked. It was likely made in England around the 1880 period (give or take a decade or two). The pencil section and toothpick are deployed for use by button-controlled slider channels located on the underside of the barrels. They push the working sections in and out for use and storage. The device is about 2 3/4 inches closed and 3 1/4 inches ready for work.

  Omas produced short celluloid mechanical pencils in Italy. The dates of production were the late 1930s into the 1940s. Pencils I'm showing here measure approximately 3 1/4 inches in length.

  Thornhill of England produced this silver mechanical pencil fashioned as a mythical dolphin or maybe just a plain ol' fearsome sea creature. The material is silver. The writing section is deployed by pulling the whiskers away from the head of the beast. It was produced during the 1880 - 1895 period. Without the ring assembly, the pencil is 1 1/2 inches in length closed, and 2 3/4 inches ready to write.