Victorian Pencil, Nickel plated 19th Century, Propelling mechanism, Hexagonal, slider
Extended 4 1/4". Retracted 3 1/8"
Lead diameter 0.9 mm
The earliest pencils, such as the Mordans, are simple, propelling pencils. The lead is manually pushed down a tube of matching diameter and is friction fit. A small rod inside pushes the lead forward, as needed, usually with a twist action mechanism. When done writing, the user twists the mechanism in reverse, and manually pushes the lead back down into its socket.
Some of these pencils are simple, some are fancy. With lead-storage compartments, erasers hidden inside the finial, or even finial-mounted engraved