Unknown Maker – Gold Fluted

This pencil could be solid gold for at least the barrel and fittings as there is a fair bit of wear & rubbing and yet no base metal is showing through. The barrel extends in the middle; the pen nib is attached to the slider and the pencil is advanced by twisting the upper and lower barrels. It is not marked but it is identical to a fluted barleycorn Mabies Patent combo in Deb Crosbies book (pages 61 and 189). Slight bend to pencil tip but does not affect operation. The replacement nib is marked Esterbrook. There is a small cartouche on the upper barrel engraved “T.L.C. 1886”.