I often buy mixed lots of writing instruments for the sake of a pen among them that I particularly want. Then I am left with various odds and ends of pens that have little value and the usual collection of old mechanical pencils. In a way, I’m surprised that they’re not more of a collector’s item. They seem to me to be a perfect example of the small object of desire: often beautifully finished, technically interesting and quite low cost.
I am gradually learning a little about them and I can usually load a new lead if I happened to have the right size. Sometimes it goes wrong though. Yesterday I prepared to load a new lead in a Parker Duofold pencil. Before my astonished eyes it fell apart and nothing that I could do would induce it to go together again. Most disappointing.
I don’t think I will ever go out of my way to buy vintage pencils but I must continue learning about them because they so often appear in mixed lots. If any among you has the skillz, I would love a tutorial on mechanical pencils.
Goodwriterspens's Blog 
Jim Marshall is the man to talk to, once through the “crusty”(sorry Jim) veneer, he is a wealth of fine and freely given information
Thanks, Eric.
I do not have the requested skills, but I DO have some beautiful (and odd) vintage pencils from my mom, from whom I inherited my love of writing instruments. If I could figure out how to include a photo, I would do so.
To be honest I’m not sure how to include a photo in a comment either!
On Wed, Jun 7, 2017 at 2:27 AM, Goodwriterspens’s Blog wrote:
> goodwriterspens posted: “I often buy mixed lots of writing instruments for > the sake of a pen among them that I particularly want. Then I am left with > various odds and ends of pens that have little value and the usual > collection of old mechanical pencils. In a way, I’m surprised t” >
I understand exactly. I too have the same issue. Recently I ran out of pens to restore so I started examining them more thoroughly. I’m particularly interested in the engineering design. They really are amazing and most often overlooked. Unfortunately one of them has a completely rusted clutch mechanism and I have no idea where to get replacements.
They are quite fascinating. I suppose replacement parts will only come from another pencil.