| National Museum of American History

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .

IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.

View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Description:

Autopoint, a firm that makes mechanical pencils, was founded in Chicago in around 1918. Bakelite acquired a large interest in the firm in the 1920s. J. Harry DuBois acquired this mechanical pencil from Rupert Lowe, an associate of Leo Baekeland. One inscription reads “Autopoint / Pat’d and Patents Pending / 114K Green Gold Filled.” The “G. C. Gunderson” inscription refers to Gothfried C. Gunderson, a mechanical engineer from Norway who spent many years working for Bakelite in New Jersey.

Ref. “Gunderson, Engineer, Dies at 105,” The Coast Star (Nov. 17, 1988), p. 2.

Date Made: ca. 1925

Maker: Autopoint, Inc.

Location: Currently not on view

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Chemistry

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Gift of J. Harry DuBois

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1984.0138.09Catalog Number: 1984.0138.09Accession Number: 1984.0138

Object Name: Mechanical Pencil

Measurements: overall: 143 mm x 10 mm; 5 5/8 in x 3/8 inoverall: 5 5/8 in x 3/8 in; 14.2875 cm x .9525 cm

Metadata Usage: CC0

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a0-e705-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_791

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.