Pencil Leads

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This page last updated 11/5/09

Vintage Scripto Pencil Lead Display
Sorry, not for sale!

We stock a variety of pencil leads, including some hard to find sizes. Please note that especially with the early Victorian leads, supplies may be limited.

LEAD DEGREES

Leads come in a variety of different degrees, also known as hardness which determines how dark or light they write. We've noted below wherever were able, the degree of the leads we offer for sale. General rule of thumb to remember is that the more H you see in the degree, the harder and lighter the lead will write. The more B you see in the degree, the softer and darker the lead will write. HB is the equivalent of the standard No. 2 pencils you probably grew up using.

Common Lead Degrees:

H - hard, light writing, equivalent to no. 3 pencil
F - hard, light writing, equivalent to no. 2 1/2 pencil
HB - in the middle, equivalent to no. 2 pencil
B - soft, dark writing, equivalent to no. 1 pencil

Common Vintage Lead Sizes

The most common sizes of lead for vintage mechanical pencils were 1.1mm and 0.9mm. 1.1mm leads were frequently referred to as "thick" lead and the 0.9mm size was often referred to as "thin" lead. Of course, today, there are much thinner diameter leads made, but we're talking antique pencil leads!

For your reference:
1.1mm = 0.46 inches
0.9mm = 0.36 inches

Victorian	Eversharp	Parker
Sheaffer	Others	Vintage Containers
Refill Instructions

VICTORIAN PENCIL LEADS

LD100	1.5mm VS, .75 inch length, pre-sharpened	$1 each
LD329	1.0mm Type M leads, 2 3/8 inches long, unusual size lead made for select Mordan pencils	$1 each

VICTORIAN DROPPER PENCIL REFILLS

Early Victorian Dropper pencils use a small diameter pencil. Refills measure .25 inch in diameter and are 3.25 inches long. Pre-sharpened.
DROPPER	Dropper Pencil refill	$1 each

EVERSHARP LEADS


LD354	Eversharp Red Top Lead, 1 3/8 in length, Thin 0.9mm, HARD. At least 10 leads per tube.	$4


LD362	Eversharp Red Top Lead - 0.9mm diameter, 1.75 inches long, Extra Hard. Bakelite black and red container holds about 20 leads. Note that some containers have small cracks in the cap, but seem to be pretty stable and caps come on and off easily.	$5
LD364	Eversharp Red Top Lead - 0.9mm diameter, 1.75 inches long, Firm. Bakelite black and red container holds about 20 leads. Note that some containers have small cracks in the cap, but seem to be pretty stable and caps come on and off easily.	$5
LD365	Eversharp Red Top Lead - 0.9mm diameter, 1.75 inches long, Hard. Bakelite black and red container holds about 20 leads. Note that some containers have small cracks in the cap, but seem to be pretty stable and caps come on and off easily.	$5


LD371	Eversharp Red Top Checking Leads, Red and White slide out sleeve style box, inner wood tray holds 6 black checking leads, 3.0mm diameter, 2 in long. Uncommon package! 6 leads in package.	$5


LD395	Eversharp Square Lead Tube, this is an unusual lead container, NO leads inside the container. Cardboard tube with bright yellow wrapper with black printing, one metal end cap, measures 4 inches long. Worn on one end. We've seen very few Eversharp yellow containers over the years!	$3

PARKER LEADS


PK-LEAD-5MM	Parker Leads, 0.5mm diameter, .75 inches long. HB medium, 20 leads per tube. This is new stock in a plastic tube, discontinued by Parker. Original retail: $4 tube Special offer: $2 tube	$2


LD415	Parker lead and eraser combo package. 12 each 0.5mm HB leads and 4 each 3.5mm eraser. Pink erasers with black plastic sleeve. Lead and erasers come in a Parker plastic tube. Erasers fit Parker 75 plastic pencils and other later 0.5mm lead models.	$2


LD417	Parker 0.7mm HB Polymer leads. Black. 3 inch length. 12 leads per cardboard tube.	$3


LD419	Parker 0.9mm leads. Black long thin medium leads. 12 leads per cardboard tube.	$3


LD420	Parker Duofold 0.9mm leads. Black. 20 leads per grey cardboard tube.	$3


LD421	Parker Bulk Lead in green cardboard box marked: Order No. 10285 Arrow Park 05-01 0.7mm diameter, NEOX HB. If I am reading the markings correctly, 40 G would stand for 40 gross of lead meaning there are about 5,000 pieces of lead in this box. Outer dimensions of box measure: 3.25 x 2.75 x 2 inches.	$25

SHEAFFER LEADS

Sheaffer Oversize Checking Leads in original wood tubes with paper labels, 8 leads per tube, 2.0mm diameter, 1 inch in length. These are "crayon" style marking leads. The paper wrapper states: "For All Standard Checking pencils and particularly Sheaffer's Pencils".
LD192	Blue	$5

Sheaffer Fineline Leads in bright yellow slide out tin case. 0.9mm 2.75 inch length.
LD186	Red, 8 leads per tube	$4

Sheaffer Pencil Leads - Loose

These came to us in a big clear box full of loose leads! We have put them into packs of 20 leads. 0.9mm 2.75 inch length. They'll come to you in some kind of tube or container, but not original Sheaffer container.

LD185

HB Medium


LD226	Sheaffer leads, yellow metal slide out container, 0.9mm dia, H, 1 3/8 inch length, 18 leads per container.	$3


LD229	Sheaffer leads, yellow metal slide out container, 0.9mm dia, HB, 1 3/8 inch length, 24 leads per container.	$4


LD258	Sheaffer pencil leads, 0.9mm, 2.75 inch, red leads in a translucent yellow plastic container, 12 leads per pack.	$4


LD357	Sheaffer 0.9mm 2B VERY soft pencil leads, 3 inch length, 12 per pack. These leads write very dark. New old stock.	$3


LD349	Sheaffer No. S72 Fineline Leads in blue - rather plain white slide out style box with a 1/2 gross (72) 0.9mm diameter leads inside, 1 3/8 inches long - that's a lot of lead and far more than is normally in a package! New old stock that came to us in the original outer carton. Mint condition.	$10


LD378	Sheaffer Ultra-Fineliner Pencil cartridge lead refills, 0.5mm dia, cartridge length is 2 inches. Instructions included.	$2


LD383	Sheaffer Fineline pencil leads in black plastic container with ribbed blue lid. 0.9mm dia, 1 3/8 in length, F Firm lead, 3 leads in tube.	$3


LD423	Sheaffer Pencil Leads - Odd little box of loose pencil leads. My guess is these were sent to Sheaffer by a lead manufacturer for their inspection. I don't know that for certain, it's just my best guess! Box has metal reinforcement wires on the corners and is labeled as noted in the photo. Box is stamped Jun 12, 1986. 0.9mm dia, 2B, about 125 leads in this box.	$10


LD427	Sheaffer Pencil Leads - Odd little box of loose pencil leads. My guess is these were sent to Sheaffer by a lead manufacturer for their inspection. I don't know that for certain, it's just my best guess! Box has metal reinforcement wires on the corners and is labeled as noted in the photo. Box is stamped Jun 12, 1986. 0.9mm dia, H, about 50 leads in this box.	$10


LD428	Sheaffer Pencil Leads - Odd little box of loose pencil leads. My guess is these were sent to Sheaffer by a lead manufacturer for their inspection. I don't know that for certain, it's just my best guess! Box has metal reinforcement wires on the corners and is labeled as noted in the photo. Box is stamped Jun 12, 1986. 0.9mm dia, 2H, about 200 leads in this box.	$10


LD429	Sheaffer Pencil Leads - Odd little box of loose pencil leads. My guess is these were sent to Sheaffer by a lead manufacturer for their inspection. I don't know that for certain, it's just my best guess! Box has metal reinforcement wires on the corners and is labeled as noted in the photo. Box is stamped Jun 12, 1986. 0.9mm dia, 3H, about 100 leads in this box.	$10

A.T. CROSS LEADS

AT Cross leads, metallic gold cardboard tube, 0.9mm dia, HB, 2.75 inch length, 15 leads per container.
LD315	Cross Leads	$3

AUTOPOINT LEADS - VINTAGE


LD271	Autopoint pencil leads, HB Medium, 0.5mm dia, 1.5 inches long, silver and black cardboard tube. 12 leads per tube.	$3


LD398	Autopoint Pencil Leads No. 512, H Hard Lead, 0.9mm dia, 1 3/8 in long, 20 leads in tube, Silver and black cardboard tube.	$3

BEROL


LD321	Berol Pencil Cassette Cartridge, 0.5mm dia leads inside cartridge, HB, erasers still erasing, but not as soft as original. Fits Berol Cassette Pencils.	$2

BEXLEY MINI-MAX

Bexley Mini Max refills are 3.15mm diameter


MINIMAXHLT	Pack of 12 assorted color Mini-Max Highlighter Refills	$5

BEXLEY MULTI-MAX

Bexley Multi Max refills are 5.38mm diameter


BEXLEAD	Pack of 3 Multi-Max Pencil Lead Refills	$5


BEXHLT	Pack of 3 Multi-Max Highlighter Refills, one each yellow, green and orange	$5

EAGLE LEADS


LD400	Eagle Thin Leads Container - brown, black and white printed paper wrap over wood tube, HB Black. Wrapper worn on ends, but art deco Eagle logo is intact, NO lead inside, container only.	$2


LD430	Eagle Leads, Bulk Box of 110 gross of leads (15,840 leads - I didn't count, but the box is full!). 1.1mm diameter, 4H, 2.75 inches long. This box of lead is fully marked Eagle, but actually came out of the Sheaffer Pen Factory here in Fort Madison and was purchased in February 2007 at the Sheaffer industrial auction. There is a handwritten label on the top of the box that Sheaffer would have attached marked October 31, 1962.	$25

LD433	Eagle Drafting Leads, B, 2.0mm dia, 5 in length. Pre-sharpened one end. Bulk lead is not in original package. These also fit a few early Victorian 2.0mm diameter pencils. Pack of 12 leads.	$12
LD437	Eagle Drafting Leads, 3H, 2.0mm dia, 5 in length. Pre-sharpened one end. Bulk lead is not in original package. These also fit a few early Victorian 2.0mm diameter pencils. Pack of 39 leads.	$25
LD438	Eagle Drafting Leads, 4H 2.0mm dia, 5 in length. Pre-sharpened one end. Bulk lead is not in original package. These also fit a few early Victorian 2.0mm diameter pencils. Pack of 2 leads.	$2
LD439	Eagle Drafting Leads, 5H, 2.0mm dia, 5 in length. Pre-sharpened one end. Bulk lead is not in original package. These also fit a few early Victorian 2.0mm diameter pencils. Pack of 2 leads.	$2

HOGE LEADS

Hoge Mfg Co, 2.1mm black leads (medium softness), 2.5 inch length. Very old wood tube with paper label. Label reads: 3 Leads for No, 306 Modern Clutch Pencil The Hoge Mfg. Co New York City USA. Each tube contains 3 leads. Labels are mostly readable, but quite shop worn.
LD210	Hoge Leads	$5

KREISLER LEADS


LD239	Kreisler Leads, bright orange tube, 0.9mm dia, HB, 1 3/8 inch length, 12 leads	$2


LD263	Kreisler pencil leads, 0.9mm dia, 1.5 inches long, HB in a bright orange cardboard tube. 12 leads per tube.	$3

LISTO LEADS


LD394	Listo Leads No. 162 Black, Pull out style black and white box contains 6 leads and 1 extra metal lead sleeve. 1.25 in long, 4.0mm dia, thick crayon type leads for Listo Refillable Marking Pencils.	$2

RITE-RITE LEADS

LD376

Rite-Rite pencil leads, 0.9mm dia, 2.75 in long, Blue. Dark blue plastic lead container is embossed: Dixon Rite-Rite Leads Threadline, Chicago ILL. 5 blue leads inside tube.

SCRIPTO LEADS


LD402	Vintage Scripto Thick Leads No. G920, crayon type marker refill, RED, 3.0mm diameter, 3 leads in container in wood tray.	$2
LD403	Vintage Scripto Thick Leads No. G920, crayon type marker refill, RED, 3.0mm diameter, 4 leads in container in w3od tray.	$2


LD405	Vintage Scripto Thick marking leads, unusual size is 2.2mm diameter, 2.75 in long, black, 1 lead in container in wood tray.	$1


LD406	Vintage Scripto Pencil leads, 0.9mm diameter, 2.75 in long, HB Medium Soft, 6 leads in container in wood tray.	$3


LD412	Vintage Scripto Thin Leads No. F840-HB, 0.9mm dia, 4 in long, HB Medium degree, 6 leads in container in wood tray.	$3


LD413	Vintage Scripto Thick Leads No. G920, crayon type marker refill, RED, 3.0mm diameter, 4 leads in container in wood tray.	$3

STAEDTLER MARS LEADS


LD-300	Staedtler Mars Micrograph leads, 0.9mm diameter, 2H, 12 leads per tube.	$3
LD-301	Staedtler Mars Micrograph leads, 0.9mm diameter, 4H, 12 leads per tube.	$3
LD-303	Staedtler Mars Micrograph leads, 0.9mm diameter, 3H, 12 leads per tube.	$3
LD-304	Staedtler Mars Micrograph leads, 0.9mm diameter, H, 12 leads per tube.	$3
LD-306	Staedtler Mars Micrograph leads, 0.9mm diameter, HB, 12 leads per tube.	$3

MISCELLANEOUS LEAD


LD390	Red Supreme Checking Leads by the General Pencil Co in Jersey City, NJ. Bright red and white paper wrapper encircles this old wooden lead container. This tube has been opened and it has several sticks of red lead inside. Very good condition.	$5


LD391	Highest Grade Blue Lead No. 2507. Dark blue and white paper wrapper covers the wood lead container. There is no indication at all as to who made or was distributing this particular lead, very odd since in this day and age brand name and as much info as they could squeeze into the space was always included! The tube has been opened, no leads inside. Very good condition.	$5

Refilling your
Vintage Mechanical Pencils

Most mechanical pencils made before the late 1960s and some even after that are refilled by feeding lead in from the Point End. Those that feed from the barrel (below the eraser) are a fairly modern invention! Don't be fooled by leads in the barrel, in older pencils, that was simply a space to store a few extra leads, but that's it - just storage. As always with vintage writing instruments, exceptions will crop up!

The instruction below are from a Sheaffer package insert, but apply to most older mechanical pencils.

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Refilling your Vintage Mechanical Pencils

Refilling your
Vintage Mechanical Pencils