I hope someone can help me identify this old rOtring clutch pencil that I inherited from my father.
My father studied at Harvard University around 1960’s, and I believe he purchased this pencil in the United States during that period. He used it professionally, and I have been using it myself for more than 35 years.
Here are the details:
Confirmed rOtring (the logo has worn off completely)
2.0 mm lead
Clutch mechanism
4-jaw clutch
Overall length: 155 mm
Hexagonal solid aluminum body
Brass nose cone and brass push button
Originally painted orange (all paint has worn away)
No clip
The push button is stamped “G3”
No visible model number remains
I have searched online but have not found another rOtring matching these features.
Does anyone recognize this model or know approximately when it was produced?
The G3 in the circle almost certainly makes it an early version ( earliest ?) of the venerable KOH-I-NOOR 5616. Made in Italy, it held a 2.5 mm lead ( the soft grades) as well as the more typical 2 mm. The paint was actually more yellow than orange, but more in the ochre range ( call into my interior designer for a more chi-chi description…). It was made starting in the late 1950’s so that tracks. As you can tell by hefting it, it was/is a sturdy piece of goods. I use a pair of them every day …I call them the GOAT’s of leadholders. Draw -on…
