A very interesting find made in a New Bern, North Carolina antique store several years ago. This is an Aikin Lambert combination retracting dip pen holder and retracting twist mechanical pencil c. 1880-90s, complete with the original box. Fully open, as shown, the instrument is 4 7/8 inches long. Closed, it's a tiny 2 11/16 inches long. The nib extends by pushing the knurled band on the barrel from the pencil end toward the open end where the nib is hidden. The nib slips onto a tab that holds it in place and is kept inside the barrel when not in use. The very flexible gold nib is stamped AIKIN over LAMBERT over & CO over No 4 over M, a medium flexible nib. The mechanical pencil extends by pulling it out from the barrel and the lead advances and retracts by twisting the knob near the tip where the lead comes out. A beautiful and complex tiny writing instrument that is as much jewelry as it is functional.
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