Pencil Leads

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This page last updated 2/2/12

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 = 0.046 inches
0.9mm = 0.036 inches

Victorian Lead Designations

Many old pencil makers such as Mordan, Baker and others and especially in England and Europe used a letter designation to indicate the diameter of the lead used. There was no standard for this, so it's always best to try and spec out your lead diameter with an electronic micrometer or caliper. Here's a listing of lead designations we've compiled:

AM = 1.5mm
H = 0.80mm
M = 1.0mm
VS = 1.5mm
W = 2.0mm

Victorian	Eversharp	Parker
Sheaffer	Others	Vintage Containers
Refill Instructions

VICTORIAN PENCIL LEADS

LD100

1.5mm VS, .75 inch length, pre-sharpened

$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


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


LD509	Wahl Metal pencil lead container is marked HB The Wahl Co Made in Chicago USA on one side and Red Top Eversharp Trade LEADS Mark on reverse side. Metal lead painted bright red. Includes 12 leads, 1.1mm diameter, length is 1 3/8 inches long, HB.	$5


LD517	Red Top Eversharp Checking Leads, The Wahl Co, Roscoe St Chicago USA. Inside wood tray holds 4 pieces of black checking lead and 2 short pieces of yellow checking lead. 3.0mm diameter, Black leads are 3 in long, yellow leads are 1 1/8 inches long. These are crayon marking or drawing type leads.	$5


LD518	Eversharp Red Top Pencil Leads, black, white and red cardboard tube. Holds 12 leads. 1.1mm diameter, 1 3/8 in long, RED lead.	$5


LD519	Eversharp Leads, black, white and red cardboard tube. Holds 7 leads 0.75 in diameter(quite large!), 1 3/8 in long, GREEN lead. This is a soft consistency for checking or drawing.	$5

PARKER LEADS


LD162	Parker Writefine Pencil Leads in black bakelite container with ivory bakelite lid. 0.9mm diameter red leads are 1 3/8 inches long. 12 leads per container.	$5


LD338	Parker Vacumatic Lead Cartridge, black and silver metal tube holds 12 pieces of 1 3/8 inch long leads. 1.1mm diameter leads. Hard eraser at end plug the container. Marked Firm. Container is 1.75 inches long	$5


LD339	Parker Vacumatic Lead Cartridge, black and silver metal tube holds 12 pieces of 1 3/8 inch long leads. 1.1mm diameter leads. Hard eraser at end plug the container. Marked Red. Container is 1.75 inches long.	$5


LD341	Parker Vacumatic Lead Cartridge, black and silver metal tube holds 12 pieces of 1 3/8 inch long leads. 1.1mm diameter leads. Hard eraser at end plug the container. Marked Blue. Container is 1.75 inches long.	$5


LD342	Parker Vacumatic Lead Cartridge, black and silver metal tube holds 12 pieces of 1 3/8 inch long leads. 1.1mm diameter leads. Hard eraser at end plug the container. Marked Hard. Container is 1.75 inches long.	$5


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


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


LD493	Parker 51 Pencil Leads, 0.9mm diameter, 2.75 inches long. B (soft, dark), 12 leads per glass tube.	$5


LD520	Parker Writefine Pencil Leads, Art Deco black and ivory bakelite container. 22 leads in container. 0.9mm diameter, 1 3/8 in long, marked Medium (HB).	$5


LD521	Parker Writefine Pencil Leads, Art Deco black and ivory bakelite container. 15 leads in container. 1.1mm diameter, 1 3/8 in long, marked Firm (H).	$5


LD522	Parker Writefine Pencil Leads, Art Deco black and ivory bakelite container. 6 blue leads in container. 0.9mm diameter, 4 in long, marked BLUE.	$5

SHEAFFER LEADS


LD169	Sheaffer Pencil Leads, yellow metal slide out container. 0.9mm diameter, 2.75 in long, 2H (very hard), 12 leads per container.	$3

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


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


LD345	Sheaffer Pencil Leads, yellow metal slide out container. 0.9mm diameter, 1 3/8 in long, 2B (very soft), 18 leads per container.	$3


LD346	Sheaffer Pencil Leads, yellow metal slide out container. 0.9mm diameter, 1 3/8 in long, B (soft), 18 leads per container.	$3


LD473	Sheaffer Pencil Leads, yellow and black slide out tin container, 0.9mm diameter, Medium HB, 1 3/8 inches long. 18 leads per container	$3


LD498	Sheaffer Ultra Fineline Pencil Leads, 0.5mm diameter, 2.25 in long, BLUE, 9 leads in tube. Bright yellow plastic tube with blue lettering. Unusual imprint on the tube: W.A. Sheaffer Pen Co Fort Madison, Iowa Made in Japan, Caution: Designed for use in Sheaffer Ultra Fineline Pencils Only".	$5


LD525	Sheaffer Fineline Pencil Leads in yellow and blue metal slide out container. 6 leads in container. 0.9mm diameter, 2.75 in long, HB.	$3


LD526	Sheaffer Fineline Pencil Leads in yellow and blue metal slide out container. 8 blue leads in container. 0.9mm diameter, 2.75 in, long, BLUE.	$5


LD527	Sheaffer Fineline Pencil Leads in yellow and blue metal slide out container. 18 leads in container. 0.9mm diameter, 1 3/8 in long, H Medium Hard.	$4

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

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

EAGLE LEADS


LD142	Eagle Mirado Semaphore pencil leads, bright yellow and red box with Art Deco Graphics. Leads slide out of outer container in a small wood tray. 6 leads in container. 1.1mm diameter, 4 in length, F (medium)	$3


LD253	Eagle Mirado Semaphore pencil leads, bright yellow and red box with Art Deco Graphics. Leads slide out of outer container in a small wood tray. 6 leads in container. 1.1mm diameter, 4 in length, Red	$3

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


LD492	Eagle Mirado painted metal pencil lead container in the shape of a wood pencil. Container is marked: S174 Eagle Mirado Made in USA Red. Contains eight 1 3/8 in long red leads, 1.1mm diameter.	$10


LD505	Eagle Electronic Leads No. 3602 red. No lead inside, just the cool Art Deco silver and red metal tube with stepped cap ends. Measures 3 1/16 in long.	$3


LD506	Eagle Electronic Leads No. 3602 HB Black, 6 leads inside container. Art Deco silver and black metal tube with stepped cap ends. Measures 3 1/16 in long.	$5

KREISLER LEADS


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


LD343	Listo No. 076 Dark Red crayon style marking leads, red and white paper wrapped wood tube contains 10 leads. 1 3/8 in long, 1.8mm diameter. For Listo Refillable Marking Pencils.	$3


LD344	Listo No. 076 Blue crayon style marking leads, red and white paper wrapped wood tube contains 10 leads. 1 3/8 in long, 1.8mm diameter. For Listo Refillable Marking Pencils.	$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


LD495	Pentel Hi-Polymer lead, 0.9mm diameter, 2.25 inches long, 15 leads per tube, HB, recent production lead in plastic container with yellow cap.	$3


LD497	Scripto F350 Pencil Leads, 0.5mm dia, 2.25 inches long, HB, 12 leads per tube. Transparent grey plastic tube with white lettering.	$3


LD508	Dixon Rite-Rite Threadline Pencil Leads, black plastic embossed container, 4 HB leads, 0.9mm diameter, 3 inch length.	$2


LD510	Dixon wood tube lead container with red and white paper wrapper. Marked: Dixon 830-12-HB. Made in USA by Joseph Dixon Crucible Co, Jersey City, NJ. Includes 7 leads, 1.1mm diameter, length is 1 3/8 inches long, HB.	$3


LD511	Dixon wood tube lead container with red and white paper wrapper. Marked: Dixon 830-12-HB. Made in USA by Joseph Dixon Crucible Co, Jersey City, NJ. Includes 12 leads, 1.1mm diameter, length is 1 3/8 inches long, HB.	$3


LD512	Dixon Long Thin Leads, small wood tray holds 10 4 in long leads. The tray originally held 12 leads. Green and yellow paper slide wrapper on outside. 1.1mm dia, HB.	$4


LD513	Dixon Long This Leads, small wood tray holds 9 4 in long leads. The tray originally held 12 leads. Metallic gold and royal blue box. 1.1mm diameter, HB	$4


LD514	American Pencil Co Velvet Leads, very unusual black and dark red bakelite Art Deco container. Holds 20 leads. 1.1mm diameter, 1 3/8 in long, HB.	$10


LD515	Rite-Rite Pencil Leads, slide out style black and white box originally held one gross of leads. Now holds 48 leads. 1.1mm diameter, 1 3/8 in long, B Soft.	$15


LD516	Unknown Maker, older clear tube with white plug holds 6 leads. 1.1mm diameter, 4 in long, HB.	$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