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It works just like one of the old Eagle Automatic Stop Gauge pencils . . . but externally, it looks just like the Eagle Spear:
This is no Spear though . . . it is the number 805 “Prestomatic”:
So why do both the Spear and the Prestomatic share the same patent date of September 22, 1908?
The answer is found in American Writing Instrument Patents 1799-1910 (a great book, really – you can get it at https://www.legendaryleadcompany.com/store/p14/American_Writing_Instrument_Patents_1799-1910.html). Two design patents were issued on that date, both assigned to the Eagle Pencil Company. The first, number 39,560, is arguably for the least inspiring design of all time, issued to Harry Heymann:
The second design patent was issued to veteran Eagle inventor Claes Boman, and it never made sense to me why a second patent would be issued for something so similar, with just a bit more detailing on the end:
With the Prestomatic in hand, though, it makes sense. Heymann’s patent was issued for the Spear, while Boman’s was issued for the Prestomatic. Mystery solved.
The other two Eagles I have to show you today turned up in one lot online, and I had never seen either one before:
Both are leadholders - the knobs at the top turn one way to release the lead and the other way to grip it. Behold, the Eagle No. 527 “Clutch”:
and the No. 528 “Short Stop”:
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