I think this one's a real looker. It is an unmarked, metal, Victorian mechanical pencil. Likely made in England or possibly America. Lead diameter is thicker than usual. Circa 1895. Six inches in length.

  A pair of cherry red Lifetime Sheaffer's mechanical pencils in shirt clip and ring top configurations. Circa 1920's.

  Showing here is a three piece Victorian, mechanical pencil haul from the recent Ohio Pen Show. Top to bottom is a no name mummy, followed by a Mordan rowboat and -not very- and lastly, a nice Fairchild. Circa 1880 - 1920, with the rowboat being the oldest and the mummy the youngest. Great style points on the Fairchild.

  This contraption ran into me at a recent pen show. Insisted I take it home with me - so I did. Come to find out it's a very nice Parker, 1930's combination pen and pencil. Truth: when I saw it on a sellers table, an amount of money lept out of my hand in a blur. Great piece.

  A. T. Cross (Alonzo T. Cross), has been making mechanical pencils for a very long time. The name of course, was at some point shortened to 'just' Cross. Shown here are likely some of the company's earliest pencil efforts. Two or three of the examples showing are marked A.T. Cross. Two or three are inscribed with Cross patent dates for August 29, 1882 and April 8, 1884. More than one of these are unmarked but are very likely Cross. Materials are hard rubber and gold filled finished metal. The longest piece is 4 15/16 inches. Red hard rubber rules!

  Waterman's Lady Patricia model mechanical pencils in sterling and gold fill overlays. Made in the United States. Circa 1930's. 4 1/4 inches in length.

  For some pencil people it does not get any better than this. Showing here is a metal store display sign, circa 1920's. The pencil featured is from the Sheaffer's Lifetime model lineup. The model design featured various sizes, materials and finishings. The sign is fifteen inches long. Thank you Daniel Kirchheimer!