Today from left to right I'm featuring 12 mechanical pencils. The first five are Parker's. Then come Eagle, Grieshaber, Carter's Conklin, Redipoint, Sheaffer's, and Waterman's. Circa 1925 - 1945. All were made in America.

Today from here is a noname flat-sided silver, gravity-operated dropper pencil Deploying the pencil section for writing, one holds the pencil vertically and pushes down on the button. The pencil section will drop out of the bottom of the case by the force of gravity to the stop/write position. The procedure is reversed for storage (gravity again). Circa later 19th - early 20th centuries. Likely made in America or England. The piece is 3 1/8 inches long in the closed position.

A few mechanical pencils for the weekend. All were produced in America except the Conway Stewart's and the Hvilson. Circa 1925 - 1955. Left to right they are: Parker, the next 5 are Conwart Stewart (England), Waterman's, Waterman's, marked Hvilsom Special (I suspect a Scandinavian Mont Blanc model), John Holland, Waterman's, and Parker.

Victorian figural mechanical pencils were often created to resemble critters. This one thinks it's a croc or a gator. The pencil is metal-bodied with a gold finish. Circa 1880. It is unmarked, likely made in England, America, or maybe France. The writing tip is deployed for writing by pulling out the tail of the beast - simultaneously pushing the tip out for business. The procedure is reversed to close for storage. This big reptile is 2 inches long closed and 3 1/2 inches in length extended.