302,015. Kohler, P., and Schaefer, C. Oct. 28, 1927. Pencil holders. - A pencil holder is provided with a number of screw-propelling pencilholder elements mounted in corresponding guide sleeves so that any of the elements can be advanced to writing - position while the others are retained in inoperative position, and an adjusting-device for the pencilholder elements actuated' by spring-controlled locking-rings, and a hand or automatically operated device for retaining the selected element in writing- position are also provided. Each pencil-holder element 17 is provided with a slidable pusher engaging a longitudinal slot and a helical slot respectively in two relatively-rotatable parts. The helically-slotted member is retained on the longitudinallyslotted member by collars, and is secured to the front part 24a of the casing of the pencil-holder element. The longitudinallyslotted member is extended beyond the end of the casing and is flattened to form a spring 16 which, at its outer end, is soldered to an octagonal guide sleeve 9, formed with a longitudinal slot 10 which is enlarged at the rear end and formed with a notch 13 at the front end. The guide sleeves 9 are secured to a member 7 rotatable in a collar 4 fixed in the end of the casing, and attached by a sleeve 37 to a cap 38. An octagonal member 25, held from rotation in the octagonal casing 1, is mounted in a slot formed at the upper end of the sleeves 9, and engages with slots 15 in the members 14, a slot 26 being provided in the member 25 to permit the projection of the member 14 carrying the desired pencil-holder element 17. Adapted to engage with the slot 15 of the selected member 14 is a pin 28 projecting through a slot in the outer casing 1 and the slot in the sleeve 9, from a ling 27 slidable on the outer casing. The slot in the casing may be formed with a notch directed to the left and corresponding with the notches 13 to prevent the pencil-holder element from being pushed back into the casing during writing. A spring-pressed sleeve 32, rotatable with the cap 33 and sleeve 7, is formed with teeth engaging teeth on the collar 4 to hold the sleeves 9 in adjusted position, and marks are provided on the outside of the sleeve 37 to indicate which element 17 is in position for projection. The vertical faces of the teeth of the sleeve 32 may be in line with the slots 10 in the sleeves 9, or may be slightly offset as shown in Fig. 3. In this case, when the parts are in the position of rest, the slot 10 of the sleeves corresponding to the selected element 17 does not lie directly under the slot in the outer casing because of the action of the teeth, and, when the ring 27 is moved forward, the sleeves are rotated slightly, through the engagement of the pin 28 with the enlarged portion of the slot 10, against the action of the spring. When the ring 27 reaches its extreme limit of forward movement, the sleeves will be turned by the spring to cause the notch 13 to engage over the pin 28. In this case, the notch at the end of the slot in the outer casing may be dispensed with, or a notch directed towards the right may be provided. The elements 17 are directed to the cylindrical bore of the point of the casing against the action of the springs 16 by the conical inside wall of the point. The interior of the sleeve may serve as a receptacle for refills. The whole of the mechanism can be removed from the casing by unscrewing the pin 28 and the pin securing the collar 4 in place.