This is a very interesting ring-top mechanical pencil from pre-war Czechoslovakia. Probably made of brass it features an interesting embossed name : "R. Steyspal   Praha 917/VII".  I know that it is a pre second world war pencil because it uses the roman numerals for the Prague District (VII), a practice abandoned around the outbreak of the war. Searches of business directories of the time reveal two "R. Steyspal"s, one a paper maker and the other a cake shop, but neither operating in Prague 7. If I had to guess I'd go for the paper maker, which was based in nearby Troja, but obviously I cannot be sure.

The pencil takes a sizeable lead (over 2mm), but as the mechanism doesn't function this is academic. The pencil is offered as an interesting example to a writing equipment collector.

This pencil is offered for sale as a non working item