A pencil with a replaceable and mechanically extendable lead.
1Interestingly the next picture shows a gold propelling pencil in the shape of a musket also dating from the 1880's.
2I was one of those children who received an embossed propelling pencil and teaspoon at primary school to commemorate the coronation in 1953.
3When the partner drew a diagram the Irishman moved it closer with the rubber of a propelling pencil so that he left no fingerprints.