Hi,
wondering which pencil had a side-button first, we already talked about the Knips.
Sampson Mordan (SM), as you all know, is to mechanical pencils what Biro is to ballpoint pens. In the way that his doing made the breakthrough in manufacturing the writing instrument. (maybe a bit oversimplified)
The 19th century “Presto” (from italian ‘quick’) by SM (not the man himself as he was long dead, but by his company) was a pusher mechanism (and therefore relevant for this forum), although pushing just extended the whole pencil twist mechanism, not just the lead.
Which reminded me of some japanese vintage pencils, here’s a list:
- SM Presto: Front-drop pencil (button-actuated)
- Sakura Freematic: Front-drop pencil
- Uni Flicker, BOXY Flicker: Rear-drop eraser
- NEWMAN Ball & Sharp: Rear-drop ballpoint pen
If anyone knows how to find old GB patents, it’s 18435. But I can’t find anything with that number.
