The Parker Duofold line was updated to the 'New Duofold' with the introduction of the aerometric filling system on fountain pens in 1953. In 1962 the Parker 17, launched as the Parker 17 Duofold, was added to the line, it ceased production ten years later.
Finished in red with gold filled trim, the pencil is in immaculate condition throughout, showing no signs of use. The Gold filling is pristine, and the surface has a factory finish with a crisp imprint.
The pencil has a rotary action which is operated by twisting the cap to extend and retract the lead. The cap can be removed to expose an eraser, I have not attempted to remove the eraser as they become very brittle with age and can shear off.
Mechanical pencils have seen an upsurge in popularity recently with new models ranging from a few pounds to over two hundred. The vast majority of these use a simple and cheap to make 'click action' continuous feed mechanism which depends upon plastic 'catches'. The original rotary mechanism, as in this pencil, is much more robust and is only found towards the top of the price spectrum.
At around sixty years old the pencil is clearly of collectable quality but it would also make an attractive and practical every day writer.