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id="toc-Lead_variations-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Diameter" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Diameter"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.1</span> <span>Diameter</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Diameter-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Length" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Length"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2</span> <span>Length</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Length-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Hardness" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Hardness"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.3</span> <span>Hardness</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Hardness-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Pigments" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Pigments"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.4</span> <span>Pigments</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Pigments-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Notes_and_references" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Notes_and_references"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Notes and references</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Notes_and_references-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Bibliography" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Bibliography"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Bibliography</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Bibliography-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" title="Table of Contents" > <input type="checkbox" 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type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 28 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-28" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">28 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%82%D9%84%D9%85_%D8%B1%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B5_%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%8A" title="قلم رصاص ميكانيكي – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="قلم رصاص ميكانيكي" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%90%D0%B2%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD_%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B2" title="Автоматичен молив – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Автоматичен молив" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portamines" title="Portamines – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Portamines" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikrotu%C5%BEka" title="Mikrotužka – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Mikrotužka" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druckbleistift" title="Druckbleistift – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Druckbleistift" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portaminas" title="Portaminas – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Portaminas" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eu mw-list-item"><a href="https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minatako" title="Minatako – Basque" lang="eu" hreflang="eu" data-title="Minatako" data-language-autonym="Euskara" data-language-local-name="Basque" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Euskara</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF_%D9%86%D9%88%DA%A9%DB%8C" title="مداد نوکی – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="مداد نوکی" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portemine" title="Portemine – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Portemine" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%83%A4%ED%94%84_%ED%8E%9C%EC%8A%AC" title="샤프 펜슬 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="샤프 펜슬" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hr mw-list-item"><a href="https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehani%C4%8Dka_olovka" title="Mehanička olovka – Croatian" lang="hr" hreflang="hr" data-title="Mehanička olovka" data-language-autonym="Hrvatski" data-language-local-name="Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Hrvatski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pensil_mekanis" title="Pensil mekanis – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Pensil mekanis" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portamina" title="Portamina – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Portamina" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-arz mw-list-item"><a href="https://arz.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%82%D9%84%D9%85_%D8%B1%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B5_%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%89" title="قلم رصاص ميكانيكى – Egyptian Arabic" lang="arz" hreflang="arz" data-title="قلم رصاص ميكانيكى" data-language-autonym="مصرى" data-language-local-name="Egyptian Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>مصرى</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pensel_mekanikal" title="Pensel mekanikal – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="Pensel mekanikal" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulpotlood" title="Vulpotlood – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Vulpotlood" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A3%E3%83%BC%E3%83%97%E3%83%9A%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%83%AB" title="シャープペンシル – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="シャープペンシル" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mekanisk_blyant" title="Mekanisk blyant – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Mekanisk blyant" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapiseira" title="Lapiseira – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Lapiseira" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ro mw-list-item"><a href="https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creion_mecanic" title="Creion mecanic – Romanian" lang="ro" hreflang="ro" data-title="Creion mecanic" data-language-autonym="Română" data-language-local-name="Romanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Română</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D1%85%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%88" title="Механический карандаш – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Механический карандаш" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sq mw-list-item"><a href="https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapsi_mekanik" title="Lapsi mekanik – Albanian" lang="sq" hreflang="sq" data-title="Lapsi mekanik" data-language-autonym="Shqip" data-language-local-name="Albanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Shqip</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stiftpenna" title="Stiftpenna – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv" data-title="Stiftpenna" data-language-autonym="Svenska" data-language-local-name="Swedish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Svenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tr mw-list-item"><a href="https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/U%C3%A7lu_kalem" title="Uçlu kalem – Turkish" lang="tr" hreflang="tr" data-title="Uçlu kalem" data-language-autonym="Türkçe" data-language-local-name="Turkish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Türkçe</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D1%85%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%96%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%96%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%86%D1%8C" title="Механічний олівець – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Механічний олівець" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vi mw-list-item"><a href="https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%BAt_ch%C3%AC_b%E1%BA%A5m" title="Bút chì bấm – Vietnamese" lang="vi" hreflang="vi" data-title="Bút chì bấm" data-language-autonym="Tiếng Việt" data-language-local-name="Vietnamese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Tiếng Việt</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-yue mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%89%9B%E5%BF%83%E7%AD%86" title="鉛心筆 – Cantonese" lang="yue" hreflang="yue" data-title="鉛心筆" data-language-autonym="粵語" data-language-local-name="Cantonese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>粵語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E9%89%9B%E7%AD%86" title="自動鉛筆 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="自動鉛筆" data-language-autonym="中文" data-language-local-name="Chinese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>中文</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q908237#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="vector-page-toolbar"> <div class="vector-page-toolbar-container"> <div id="left-navigation"> <nav aria-label="Namespaces"> <div id="p-associated-pages" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet 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data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.unpin">hide</button> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Pencil with a replaceable and mechanically extendable solid pigment core</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Mechanical_Pencil_Diagram.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Mechanical_Pencil_Diagram.svg/300px-Mechanical_Pencil_Diagram.svg.png" decoding="async" width="300" height="254" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Mechanical_Pencil_Diagram.svg/450px-Mechanical_Pencil_Diagram.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Mechanical_Pencil_Diagram.svg/600px-Mechanical_Pencil_Diagram.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1382" data-file-height="1170" /></a><figcaption>A typical construction of a <a href="/wiki/Ratchet_(device)" title="Ratchet (device)">ratchet</a>-based mechanical pencil</figcaption></figure> <p>A <b>mechanical pencil</b> or <b>clutch pencil</b> is a <a href="/wiki/Pencil" title="Pencil">pencil</a> with a replaceable and mechanically extendable solid pigment core called a "lead" <span class="rt-commentedText nowrap"><span class="IPA nopopups noexcerpt" lang="en-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Help:IPA/English" title="Help:IPA/English">/<span style="border-bottom:1px dotted"><span title="/ˈ/: primary stress follows">ˈ</span><span title="'l' in 'lie'">l</span><span title="/ɛ/: 'e' in 'dress'">ɛ</span><span title="'d' in 'dye'">d</span></span>/</a></span></span>. The <a href="/wiki/Pencil_lead" class="mw-redirect" title="Pencil lead">lead</a>, often made of <a href="/wiki/Graphite" title="Graphite">graphite</a>, is not bonded to the outer casing, and the user can mechanically extend it as its point is worn away from use. The vast majority of mechanical pencils have <a href="/wiki/Eraser" title="Eraser">erasers</a>.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2025)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>Other names include: microtip pencil, automatic pencil, drafting pencil, technical pencil, draughting pencil, click pencil (generally refers to a specific brand), pump pencil, leadholder, Pacer (Australian English, ca. the 1980s), propelling pencil (British and Australian English, often refers to higher-end mechanical pencils),<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> pen pencil (Indian English), and lead pencil (Bangladeshi and American English). </p><p>Mechanical pencils are used to provide lines of constant width, without need of <a href="/wiki/Pencil_sharpener" title="Pencil sharpener">sharpening</a>, for tasks such as <a href="/wiki/Technical_drawing" title="Technical drawing">technical drawing</a> as well as for clean looking writing. They are also used for fine-art drawing. Since they do not have to be sharpened, they are also popular with students. Mechanical pencils were first used in the 18th century, with many designs patented in the 19th and 20th centuries. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mechanical_pencil&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Sampson_Mordan_1822_pencil-holders_patent.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Sampson_Mordan_1822_pencil-holders_patent.png/220px-Sampson_Mordan_1822_pencil-holders_patent.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="140" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Sampson_Mordan_1822_pencil-holders_patent.png/330px-Sampson_Mordan_1822_pencil-holders_patent.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Sampson_Mordan_1822_pencil-holders_patent.png/440px-Sampson_Mordan_1822_pencil-holders_patent.png 2x" data-file-width="864" data-file-height="550" /></a><figcaption>Detail of the first patent for a mechanical pencil. Sampson Mordan, 1822.</figcaption></figure> <p><a href="/wiki/Conrad_Gessner" title="Conrad Gessner">Conrad Gessner</a> described a lead holder pencil in 1565, but the lead had to be manually adjusted to sharpen it.<sup id="cite_ref-HP11_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-HP11-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The earliest extant datable example of a mechanical pencil was found aboard the wreckage of <a href="/wiki/HMS_Pandora_(1779)" title="HMS Pandora (1779)">HMS <i>Pandora</i></a>, which sank in 1791.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The first patent for a refillable pencil with lead-propelling mechanism was issued to <a href="/wiki/Sampson_Mordan" title="Sampson Mordan">Sampson Mordan</a> and <a href="/wiki/John_Isaac_Hawkins" title="John Isaac Hawkins">John Isaac Hawkins</a> in <a href="/wiki/United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland" title="United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland">Britain</a> in 1822. After buying out Hawkins' patent rights, Mordan entered into a business partnership with Gabriel Riddle from 1823 to 1837. The earliest Mordan pencils are thus hallmarked SMGR.<sup id="cite_ref-LHM_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-LHM-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Hill_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Hill-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> After 1837, Mordan ended his partnership with Riddle and continued to manufacture pencils as "S. Mordan & Co". His company continued to manufacture pencils and a wide range of silver objects until <a href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a>, when the factory was bombed. </p><p>Between 1822 and 1874, more than 160 patents were registered pertaining to a variety of improvements to mechanical pencils. The first <a href="/wiki/Spring_(device)" title="Spring (device)">spring</a>-loaded mechanical pencil was patented in 1877. Two of the most popular 19th-century lead sizes were 1.5 and 1.03 mm, "VS" and "M", respectively. Many other sizes were in use, however, before the Eversharp's success made its .046 inch lead size a de facto standard (this size has been variously metricized as 1.1, 1.18, and 1.2 mm, all nominal sizes). Thinner .036 inch (0.9 mm) lead was introduced in the later 1930s and gradually became the new standard, eventually being displaced by 0.7 mm. Many thinner sizes are now available, as well as thicker leads such as 1.4 and 2.0 mm. </p><p>The first modern mechanical pencil was the <a href="/wiki/Eversharp" title="Eversharp">Eversharp</a> (originally "Ever Sharp"), invented by <a href="/wiki/Charles_R._Keeran" class="mw-redirect" title="Charles R. Keeran">Charles R. Keeran</a> who applied for the key patent in 1913.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It has been described as "the first mass-produced mechanical pencil to combine a simple propelling mechanism with large lead capacity and robust, ergonomically sound design . . . that redefined the mechanical pencil as a mass-market product, to the extent that "eversharp" came to be widely used as a generic term for a mechanical pencil."<sup id="cite_ref-TaleOfTwoPencils_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TaleOfTwoPencils-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> More that 12,000,000 Eversharp pencils had been sold by the early 1920s, and its design was widely copied.<sup id="cite_ref-TaleOfTwoPencils_7-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TaleOfTwoPencils-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>A pioneering mechanical pencil in <a href="/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japan</a> was invented in 1915 by <a href="/wiki/Tokuji_Hayakawa" title="Tokuji Hayakawa">Tokuji Hayakawa</a>, a metalworker who had just finished his apprenticeship. It was patented in Japan in 1920 and marketed as the "Ever-Ready Sharp Pencil". Although it has been claimed that large numbers were sold, surviving Ever-Ready Sharps are rare.<sup id="cite_ref-Sharp_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Sharp-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 1923, the Hayakawa Brothers factory was destroyed in the Great Kantō earthquake. By 1924, Tokuji Hayakawa had turned his attention to the manufacture of radios, but his first invention was immortalized in the name of his new company: <a href="/wiki/Sharp_Corporation" title="Sharp Corporation">Sharp</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Sharp_8-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Sharp-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Manufacturers">Manufacturers</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mechanical_pencil&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Manufacturers"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Some present-day manufacturers are: <a href="/wiki/Pentel" title="Pentel">Pentel</a>, <a href="/wiki/Pilot_(pen_company)" title="Pilot (pen company)">Pilot</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tombow" title="Tombow">Tombow</a>, <a href="/wiki/Uni-ball" title="Uni-ball">Uni-ball</a> and <a href="/wiki/Zebra_(pen_manufacturer)" title="Zebra (pen manufacturer)">Zebra</a> of Japan; <a href="/wiki/Faber-Castell" title="Faber-Castell">Faber-Castell</a>, <a href="/wiki/Lamy" title="Lamy">Lamy</a>, <a href="/wiki/Rotring" title="Rotring">Rotring</a> and <a href="/wiki/Staedtler" title="Staedtler">Staedtler</a> of Germany; <a href="/wiki/Koh-i-Noor_Hardtmuth" title="Koh-i-Noor Hardtmuth">Koh-i-Noor Hardtmuth</a> of the Czech Republic; <a href="/wiki/Soci%C3%A9t%C3%A9_Bic" class="mw-redirect" title="Société Bic">Bic</a> of France; <a href="/wiki/Monami" title="Monami">Monami</a> of <a href="/wiki/South_Korea" title="South Korea">South Korea</a>; <a href="/wiki/PaperMate" class="mw-redirect" title="PaperMate">PaperMate</a> and <a href="/wiki/Parker_Pen_Company" title="Parker Pen Company">Parker</a> of USA; <a href="/wiki/Caran_d%27Ache_(company)" title="Caran d'Ache (company)">Caran d'Ache</a> of Switzerland and numerous Chinese as well as other Asian and European manufacturers. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Mechanism_types">Mechanism types</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mechanical_pencil&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Mechanism types"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Mechpencil05.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Mechpencil05.jpg/220px-Mechpencil05.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="129" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Mechpencil05.jpg/330px-Mechpencil05.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Mechpencil05.jpg/440px-Mechpencil05.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1300" data-file-height="763" /></a><figcaption>A <a href="/wiki/Pentel" title="Pentel">Pentel</a> Sharp ratchet drafting pencil disassembled, showing three 0.5 mm graphite leads.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Staedtler_925-25_05_Mechanical_Pencil.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Staedtler_925-25_05_Mechanical_Pencil.JPG/220px-Staedtler_925-25_05_Mechanical_Pencil.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="218" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Staedtler_925-25_05_Mechanical_Pencil.JPG/330px-Staedtler_925-25_05_Mechanical_Pencil.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Staedtler_925-25_05_Mechanical_Pencil.JPG/440px-Staedtler_925-25_05_Mechanical_Pencil.JPG 2x" data-file-width="924" data-file-height="915" /></a><figcaption>A <a href="/wiki/Staedtler" title="Staedtler">Staedtler</a> 925-25 05, assembled (top) and disassembled (bottom).</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Pentel_Graphgear_0.5mm_explosion.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Pentel_Graphgear_0.5mm_explosion.jpg/220px-Pentel_Graphgear_0.5mm_explosion.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="113" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Pentel_Graphgear_0.5mm_explosion.jpg/330px-Pentel_Graphgear_0.5mm_explosion.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Pentel_Graphgear_0.5mm_explosion.jpg/440px-Pentel_Graphgear_0.5mm_explosion.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4872" data-file-height="2496" /></a><figcaption>A Pentel GraphGear 1000, featuring a clip-operated retractable lead guide pipe and lead hardness grade indicator set at HB.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Rotrinclose.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Rotrinclose.jpg/220px-Rotrinclose.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="122" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Rotrinclose.jpg/330px-Rotrinclose.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Rotrinclose.jpg/440px-Rotrinclose.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2719" data-file-height="1502" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Rotring" title="Rotring">Rotring</a> 600 metal body with matte coating.</figcaption></figure> <p>Mechanical pencils can be divided into two basic types: those that both hold the lead and can actively propel it forward, and those that only hold the lead in position. </p><p><a href="/wiki/Screw_(simple_machine)" class="mw-redirect" title="Screw (simple machine)">Screw</a>-based pencils advance the lead by twisting a screw mechanism, which moves a propelling pin or lead carrier down the barrel of the pencil. Lead is not fed from an internal reservoir, but must be replaced manually, usually from the front. This was the most common type up until the earlier part of the mid-twentieth century. Most have a mechanism that retracts the lead when twisted the other way, but many older designs do not and the lead must be pushed back into the pencil manually. </p><p>A clutch pencil (or leadholder) tends to use thicker leads (2.0–5.6 mm) and generally holds only one piece of lead at a time. A typical clutch pencil is activated by pressing the eraser cap on the top, to open the jaws inside the tip and allow the lead to freely drop through from the barrel (or back into it when retracting). Because the lead falls out freely when the jaws are opened, its forward movement cannot be controlled except by external means. This can be easily done by keeping the tip of the pencil a few millimeters above a work surface or the palm of one's hand. Some clutch pencils do have mechanisms which incrementally advance the lead, such as the Alvin Tech-Matic leadholder, but these are not normally considered to be in the same category as most pencils with propelling mechanisms. </p><p><a href="/wiki/Ratchet_(device)" title="Ratchet (device)">Ratchet</a>-based or "repeater" pencils are a variant of the clutch pencil, in which the lead is held in place by two or three small jaws inside a ring at the tip. The jaws are controlled by a button on the end or the side of the pencil. When the button is pushed, the jaws move forward and separate, allowing the lead to advance. When the button is released and the jaws retract, the "lead retainer" (a small rubber device inside the tip) keeps the lead in place, preventing the lead from either falling freely outward or riding back up into the barrel until the jaws recover their grip. Other designs use a precisely-fitted metal sleeve to guide and support the lead, and do not need a rubber retainer. </p><p>In one type of ratchet-based pencil, shaking the pencil back and forth causes a weight inside the pencil to operate a mechanism in the cap. A button may be present on the top or side of the pencil, to allow the user to advance the lead manually when necessary. Another variation advances the lead automatically. In this design, the lead is advanced by a ratchet but only prevented from going back into the pencil, just held from falling by a small amount of <a href="/wiki/Friction" title="Friction">friction</a>. The nib is a spring-loaded collar that, when depressed as the lead is worn away, extends out again when pressure is released. </p><p>An advanced ratchet type has a mechanism that rotates the pencil lead 9 degrees counter-clockwise every time the lead is pressed on to the paper (which counts as one stroke), to distribute wear evenly. This <i>auto-rotation</i> mechanism keeps the lead 50% narrower than in the common propelling mechanical pencils, resulting in uniform thickness of the lines written onto the paper. The design was first patented by Schmidt of Germany, and later developed by Mitsubishi Pencil Company of Japan, and named <i>Kuru Toga</i> under the Uni brand.<sup id="cite_ref-Kurutoga_Website_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Kurutoga_Website-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This type of pencil is most suited for Asian languages that have multiple strokes per letter or word, where the pencil is frequently lifted off the paper. The mechanism is less suitable for cursive writing used in western scripts. Another recent auto-rotation movement by Uni rotates the lead 18 degrees per stroke (or 20 strokes per complete revolution), which is better suited for western scripts. </p><p>There exist protection mechanisms that prevent the lead from breaking (within certain limits) when excessive pressure is exerted while writing. A mechanism employed in the <i>DelGuard</i> system by Zebra of Japan causes the lead sleeve to extend outward when excessive pressure is applied at an angle. When excess vertical pressure is applied on the lead, the lead is automatically retracted inwards. </p><p>Higher-end mechanical pencils often feature a <a href="/wiki/Pencil_hardness" class="mw-redirect" title="Pencil hardness">lead hardness grade</a> indicator and sometimes feature a retractable lead guide pipe. This allows the lead guide pipe to retract back into the pencil body, which will keep it protected in storage and during transit and makes it 'pocket-safe'. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Lead_variations">Lead variations</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mechanical_pencil&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Lead variations"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Faber-Castell_TK_lead_sharpener_and_2_mm_pencil_lead.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Faber-Castell_TK_lead_sharpener_and_2_mm_pencil_lead.jpg/220px-Faber-Castell_TK_lead_sharpener_and_2_mm_pencil_lead.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="142" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Faber-Castell_TK_lead_sharpener_and_2_mm_pencil_lead.jpg/330px-Faber-Castell_TK_lead_sharpener_and_2_mm_pencil_lead.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Faber-Castell_TK_lead_sharpener_and_2_mm_pencil_lead.jpg/440px-Faber-Castell_TK_lead_sharpener_and_2_mm_pencil_lead.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2566" data-file-height="1656" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Pencil_sharpener#Specialized_pencil_sharpeners" title="Pencil sharpener">Lead sharpener/pointer</a> and 2mm pencil lead in a clutch-type <a href="/wiki/Leadholder" class="mw-redirect" title="Leadholder">leadholder</a>.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Caran_dache_fixpencil_0012.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Caran_dache_fixpencil_0012.jpg/220px-Caran_dache_fixpencil_0012.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="148" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Caran_dache_fixpencil_0012.jpg/330px-Caran_dache_fixpencil_0012.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Caran_dache_fixpencil_0012.jpg/440px-Caran_dache_fixpencil_0012.jpg 2x" data-file-width="715" data-file-height="480" /></a><figcaption>A mechanical <a href="/wiki/Crayon" title="Crayon">crayon</a> holder by <a href="/wiki/Caran_d%27Ache_(company)" title="Caran d'Ache (company)">Caran d'Ache</a>.</figcaption></figure> <p>In spite of the name, pencil leads do not contain the toxic chemical element <a href="/wiki/Lead" title="Lead">lead</a>, but are typically made with graphite and clay, or plastic polymers. The downside of mechanical leads are that they are not as strong as traditional pencils. Wooden pencil lead is bonded to the outer wooden case, therefore providing more lead protection and strength. This changed in 1962, when Pentel launched new mechanical pencils with the diameters of 0.5mm and 0.7mm. These pencils contained a new type of lead formulated with polymers that act as a binder to strengthen the lead. This polymer replaced the clay in mechanical pencil lead and made it easier for manufacturers to produce lead with smaller diameters.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Compared to standard pencils, mechanical pencils have a smaller range of marking types, though numerous variations exist. Most mechanical pencils can be refilled, but some inexpensive models are meant to be disposable and are discarded when empty. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Diameter">Diameter</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mechanical_pencil&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Diameter"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Lead_container.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Lead_container.jpg/220px-Lead_container.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="124" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Lead_container.jpg/330px-Lead_container.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Lead_container.jpg/440px-Lead_container.jpg 2x" data-file-width="720" data-file-height="405" /></a><figcaption>Container for storing a mechanical pencil's lead.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:A_container_of_0.50_milimeter_polymer_mechanical_pencil_leads_20230315_184725.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/A_container_of_0.50_milimeter_polymer_mechanical_pencil_leads_20230315_184725.jpg/220px-A_container_of_0.50_milimeter_polymer_mechanical_pencil_leads_20230315_184725.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/A_container_of_0.50_milimeter_polymer_mechanical_pencil_leads_20230315_184725.jpg/330px-A_container_of_0.50_milimeter_polymer_mechanical_pencil_leads_20230315_184725.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/A_container_of_0.50_milimeter_polymer_mechanical_pencil_leads_20230315_184725.jpg/440px-A_container_of_0.50_milimeter_polymer_mechanical_pencil_leads_20230315_184725.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3755" data-file-height="2817" /></a><figcaption>Polymer pencil leads with 0.5mm diameter.</figcaption></figure> <p>Mechanical pencil mechanisms use only a single lead diameter. Some pencils, such as the <a href="/wiki/Pentel" title="Pentel">Pentel</a> Function 357, place several mechanisms within the same housing, so as to offer a range of thicknesses (in this case three: 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 mm). 1.00 mm leads also exist, but they are very rare. </p><p>Different sizes of lead diameters are available to accommodate various preferences and pencil builds, as shown in the table below. The most common lead sizes are 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm, whose line widths provide a favourable balance between precision and strength. Less common lead sizes can range from 0.2 mm up to 5.6 mm. <a href="/wiki/Pentel" title="Pentel">Pentel</a> has also previously demonstrated a prototype 0.1 mm pencil.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Pencils with sub-millimeter leads can usually hold multiple leads at the same time, reducing the frequency of refills. One exception was the Pentel 350 E, possibly Pentel's first mechanical pencil,<sup id="cite_ref-Pentel350_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pentel350-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> which could only hold a single stick of 0.5 mm lead. Refill leads can be bought in small tubes and inserted into the barrel as needed. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Diameter<br /> (mm)</th> <th>Diameter<br /> (in)</th> <th>Uses </th></tr> <tr> <td>0.20</td> <td>(0.008)</td> <td>technical work </td></tr> <tr> <td>0.30</td> <td>0.012</td> <td>technical work (also known as 0.35 mm in certain German manufacturers) </td></tr> <tr> <td>0.40</td> <td>(0.016)</td> <td>technical work (only available in Japan & S.Korea) </td></tr> <tr> <td>0.50</td> <td>0.02</td> <td>general writing, general technical work, beginner's technical work </td></tr> <tr> <td>0.60</td> <td>(0.024)</td> <td>general writing (only available in Japan, discontinued by Tombow)<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>0.70</td> <td>0.028</td> <td>general writing </td></tr> <tr> <td>0.80</td> <td>(0.031)</td> <td>general writing </td></tr> <tr> <td>0.90</td> <td>0.036</td> <td>students/general writing (sometimes labeled as 1.0 mm by certain German manufacturers) </td></tr> <tr> <td>1.00</td> <td>0.040</td> <td>rare, used in early Parker repeater cartridge inserts for ballpoints </td></tr> <tr> <td>1.18</td> <td>3/64 or 0.046</td> <td>older, used in pencils like the <a href="/wiki/Yard-O-Led" title="Yard-O-Led">Yard-O-Led</a>; a nominal size, same as 1.1 and 1.2 </td></tr> <tr> <td>1.30</td> <td>(0.051)</td> <td>Staedtler and Pentel (colour leads only for Pentel) </td></tr> <tr> <td>1.40</td> <td>(0.055)</td> <td>Faber-Castell e-Motion and the new Lamy ABC as well as some Stabilo children's pencils </td></tr> <tr> <td>2.00</td> <td>0.075 or 0.078</td> <td>drafting and artist’s clutch pencils </td></tr> <tr> <td>2.80</td> <td>approximately 0.112</td> <td>carpentry clutch pencils </td></tr> <tr> <td>3.15</td> <td>1/8 (0.138)</td> <td>artist’s clutch pencils </td></tr> <tr> <td>5.60</td> <td>7/32 (0.220)</td> <td>artist’s clutch pencils </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The bracketed values in inches were found by calculation and rounded to 3 decimal places. </p><p>The diameters, however, are not exact. The exact diameter is usually slightly larger. The Japanese <a href="/wiki/Japanese_Industrial_Standard" class="mw-redirect" title="Japanese Industrial Standard">JIS</a> standard for mechanical pencil leads, states that the actual diameter for "0.5 mm" lead (for example), should range from 0.55 mm to 0.58 mm. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Length">Length</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mechanical_pencil&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Length"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>For sub-millimeter diameter leads, the standard length of the cylindrical stick for all grades is 60 mm. However, some manufacturers make leads that are 75 mm long, for selected grades. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Hardness">Hardness</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mechanical_pencil&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Hardness"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>As with non-mechanical pencils, the leads of mechanical pencils are available in a range of <a href="/wiki/Pencil_hardness" class="mw-redirect" title="Pencil hardness">hardness ratings</a>, depending on the user's desired balance between darkness and durability. A commonly-used mechanical pencil lead is identical in density, but not in thickness to a traditional <a href="/wiki/Number_two_pencils" class="mw-redirect" title="Number two pencils">HB (US#2)</a> pencil lead. The hardness depends on the proportion of polymer or resin and graphite in the lead.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is determined by a numerical scale: the higher the number, the harder the lead. Similarly to standard wooden pencils, the lead is distinguished by grading scales. H stands for hardness; as they are typically harder and produce a light gray color. B stands for blackness; they produce a darker color and are typically softer. F stands for fine; it is in between H and HB on the lead grading scale.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Compared to standard pencils that have 24 grades of lead, there are only 10 grades of mechanical pencil lead, ranging from 4H-4B.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Pigments">Pigments</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mechanical_pencil&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Pigments"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Mechanical pencils with colored leads are less common, but do exist. <a href="/wiki/Crayola" title="Crayola">Crayola</a>'s "Twistable" product line includes two different types of colored pencils (erasable and non-erasable) with mechanical feed mechanisms that are dispensed by twisting, but does not offer refill leads. Several companies such as <a href="/wiki/Pentel" title="Pentel">Pentel</a>, <a href="/wiki/Pilot_(pen_company)" title="Pilot (pen company)">Pilot</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Uni-ball" title="Uni-ball">Uni-ball</a> (Mitsubishi Pencil Co.) currently manufacture colored refill leads in a limited range of diameters (0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, or 2.0 mm) for their own products, as well as "variety packs" consisting of different colors of leads for those who want to trial different colors of lead. <a href="/wiki/Koh-i-Noor_Hardtmuth" title="Koh-i-Noor Hardtmuth">Koh-i-Noor</a> makes mechanical colored pencils with replaceable leads in 2.0, 3.15 and 5.6 mm sizes.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mechanical_pencil&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Technical_drawing_tools" class="mw-redirect" title="Technical drawing tools">Technical drawing tools</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes_and_references">Notes and references</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mechanical_pencil&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Notes and references"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 30em;"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and 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Pen Collectors of America.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+PENnant&rft.atitle=A+Tale+of+Two+Pencils%3A+Keeran%27s+Eversharp+%26+Hayakawa%27s+Ever-Ready+Sharp&rft.ssn=winter&rft.date=2001&rft.aulast=Nishimura&rft.aufirst=David&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vintagepens.com%2FEversharp_history.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMechanical+pencil" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Sharp-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Sharp_8-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Sharp_8-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sharp-world.com/corporate/info/his/only_one/index.html">"1915: Hayakawa Mechanical Pencil"</a>. <i>Product Story</i>. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">28 July</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.britannica.com&rft.atitle=Pencil+%7C+Graphite%2C+Wood+%26+Lead+%7C+Britannica&rft.date=2023-07-04&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.britannica.com%2Ftechnology%2Fpencil-writing-implement&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMechanical+pencil" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://cowans.org/blogs/cowans-art-knowledge-know-how/making-sense-of-pencil-leads">"Making Sense of Pencil Leads"</a>. <i>Cowan Office Supplies</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Retrieved on 14 October 2011.</span> </li> </ol></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Bibliography">Bibliography</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mechanical_pencil&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Bibliography"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Deborah Crosby, <i>Victorian Pencils: Tools to Jewels</i>, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., Atglen, PA, 1998</li> <li>Jonathan A. Veley, "The Catalogue of American Mechanical Pencils", Greyden Press, 2011</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mechanical_pencil&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:var(--background-color-interactive-subtle,#f8f9fa);display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1;min-width:0}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1250146164">.mw-parser-output .sister-box .side-box-abovebelow{padding:0.75em 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .sister-box .side-box-abovebelow>b{display:block}.mw-parser-output .sister-box .side-box-text>ul{border-top:1px solid #aaa;padding:0.75em 0;width:217px;margin:0 auto}.mw-parser-output .sister-box .side-box-text>ul>li{min-height:31px}.mw-parser-output .sister-logo{display:inline-block;width:31px;line-height:31px;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .sister-link{display:inline-block;margin-left:4px;width:182px;vertical-align:middle}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox{display:none!important}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}</style><div role="navigation" aria-labelledby="sister-projects" class="side-box metadata side-box-right sister-box sistersitebox plainlinks"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style> <div class="side-box-abovebelow"> <b>Mechanical pencil</b> at Wikipedia's <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikimedia_sister_projects" title="Wikipedia:Wikimedia sister projects"><span id="sister-projects">sister projects</span></a></div> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-text plainlist"><ul><li><span class="sister-logo"><span class="mw-valign-middle" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/06/Wiktionary-logo-v2.svg/27px-Wiktionary-logo-v2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="27" height="27" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/06/Wiktionary-logo-v2.svg/41px-Wiktionary-logo-v2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/06/Wiktionary-logo-v2.svg/54px-Wiktionary-logo-v2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="391" data-file-height="391" /></span></span></span><span class="sister-link"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Search/Mechanical_pencil" class="extiw" title="wikt:Special:Search/Mechanical pencil">Definitions</a> from Wiktionary</span></li><li><span class="sister-logo"><span class="mw-valign-middle" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/20px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="20" height="27" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/40px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></span></span></span><span class="sister-link"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mechanical_pencils" class="extiw" title="c:Category:Mechanical pencils">Media</a> from Commons</span></li></ul></div></div> </div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sharp-world.com/corporate/info/his/only_one/index.html">Sharp's history of the mechanical pencil</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.vintagepens.com/Eversharp_history.htm">History and development of Keeran's and Hayakawa's pencils</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20061109115543/http://www.leadholder.com/">Leadholder Museum</a> (History and images of Leadholders)</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141222022355/http://www.sampsonmordan.com/">Sampson Mordan.</a> First patent for a mechanical pencil</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/inventor-never-got-rewards-of-pencil-business/article_1941d5f0-ec13-11e2-83ac-001a4bcf887a.html">Inventor never got rewards of pencil business - Pantagraph</a> (Bloomington, Illinois newspaper)</li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl 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<li><a href="/wiki/Light_pen" title="Light pen">Light</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Marker_pen" title="Marker pen">Marker</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Marker_pen" title="Marker pen">dry erase</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Highlighter" title="Highlighter">highlighter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Paint_marker" title="Paint marker">paint</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Permanent_marker" title="Permanent marker">permanent</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/UV_marker" title="UV marker">UV</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Qalam" title="Qalam">Qalam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quill" title="Quill">Quill</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rastrum" title="Rastrum">Rastrum</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reed_pen" title="Reed pen">Reed</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rollerball_pen" title="Rollerball pen">Rollerball</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ruling_pen" title="Ruling pen">Ruling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Skin_pen" title="Skin pen">Skin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stylus" title="Stylus">Stylus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Technical_pen" title="Technical pen">Technical</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Parts and tools</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Blotting_paper" title="Blotting paper">Blotting paper</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Desk_blotter" class="mw-redirect" title="Desk blotter">Ink blotter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inkwell" title="Inkwell">Inkwell</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nib_(pen)" title="Nib (pen)">Nib</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Flex_nib" title="Flex nib">flex nib</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Penknife" title="Penknife">Penknife</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pounce_(calligraphy)" class="mw-redirect" title="Pounce (calligraphy)">Pounce</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Ink" title="Ink">Inks</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group 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title="Counterfeit banknote detection pen">Counterfeit banknote</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Birmingham_pen_trade" title="Birmingham pen trade">Birmingham pen trade</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Pen_Museum" title="Pen Museum">Pen Museum</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pen_computing" title="Pen computing">Pen computing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pen_gun" title="Pen gun">Pen gun</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Penmanship" title="Penmanship">Penmanship</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pen_painting" title="Pen painting">Pen painting</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pen_spinning" title="Pen spinning">Pen spinning</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Retipping" title="Retipping">Retipping</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Calligraphy" title="Calligraphy">Calligraphy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cartoonist" 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