The earliest mechanical pencil dates back to 1791 when one was found aboard the sunken HMS Pandora. The first patent for a refillable mechanical pencil was granted in 1822. Spring-loaded and twist-feed mechanisms were later introduced in 1877 and 1895, respectively. The mechanical pencil became popular in Japan in 1915 due to improvements by Tokuji Hayakawa and was introduced as the Ever-Ready Sharp Pencil, around the same time that Charles Keeran was developing a similar pencil in America.

3.  The earliest extant example of a mechanical
pencil, also known as an "Eversharp", has been
found aboard the wreckage of HMS Pandora,
which sank in 1791.
 The first patent for a refillable pencil with
lead-propelling mechanism was issued to
Sampson Mordan and John Isaac Hawkins in
Britain in 1822.

4.  The first spring-loaded mechanical pencil
was patented in 1877 and a twist-feed
mechanism was developed in 1895.
 The 0.9 mm lead was introduced in 1938

6.  The mechanical pencil became
successful in Japan with some
improvements in 1915 by Tokuji
Hayakawa, a metal worker who had just
finished his apprenticeship. It was
introduced as the Ever-Ready Sharp
Pencil.

7.  At nearly the same time, in America,
Charles R. Keeran was developing a
similar pencil that would be the
precursor of most of today's pencils.
Keeran's design was ratchet-based,
whereas Hayakawa's was screw-based.
These two development histories are
often combined into one.

8. Mechanism types
Tip of a Ratchet-based mechanical pencil

9. Mechanism types
A Pentel Sharp ratchet draughting pencil disassembled, showing three
0.5 mm graphite leads.

10. Propelling pencil
A Faber-Castell propelling pencil

11. Clutch pencil
A clutch pencil (or leadholder) tends to use thicker
leads (2–5.6 mm) and generally holds only one piece of
lead at a time.

12. Old Mechanical Pencils

13. New Mechanical Pencils