
<	Drafting Leadholder Thumbnail Index	direct link http://www.leadholder.com/lh-draft-fugle-leadlok.html#silver-no_grip	^ top

D.J. Fugle Leadlok

(without vinyl grip)

Fugle-Mellet Products Inc., Miami, Florida, USA

lead diameter mechanism composition variations production date origin	2 mm pushbutton spring clutch all metal pushbutton color: black, blue, red, silver, ? c1950 USA

see also	Fugle Lead Pointer Fredrix Artists Materials catalog, 1964, p 132

The earliest Fugles, like those above, did not have the familiar black grip.

Here are some details about the D.J. Fugle Leadlok’s namesake:

Delmar J. Fugle
born 1902 January 2, Michigan
died 1971 August, El Portal, Dade, Florida

Fugle-Mellet Products, Inc.
Chamber of Commerce Building
Miami, Florida

D.J. Fugle Lead Sharpener
US Patent 2,557,646
filed march 10, 1949
awarded June 19, 1951


<	Drafting Leadholder Thumbnail Index	direct link http://www.leadholder.com/lh-draft-fugle-leadlok.html#silver-grip-smooth	^ top

D.J. Fugle Leadlok

(silver with grip and smooth metal pushbutton)

Fugle-Mellet Products Inc., Miami, Florida, USA

lead diameter mechanism composition variations production date origin	2 mm pushbutton spring clutch all metal with vinyl grip pushbutton color: black, blue, gold, green, purple, red, silver c1950s USA
special features	soft grip
see also	Fugle Lead Pointer

The silver colored models above are slightly different in construction than the gold ones. The segment of the barrel including the nosepiece and grip is threaded to shank of the barrel. In the gold models only the nosepiece is separate from the rest of the barrel.


<	Drafting Leadholder Thumbnail Index	direct link http://www.leadholder.com/lh-draft-fugle-leadlok.htmlgold-grip-knurled_btn	^ top

D.J. Fugle Leadlok

(gold with grip and knurled metal pushbutton)

Fugle-Mellet Products Inc., Miami, Florida, USA

lead diameter mechanism composition variations production date origin	2 mm pushbutton spring clutch all metal with vinyl grip pushbutton color: black, blue, gold, green, purple, red, silver (1960s to 1970s) USA
special features	soft grip
see also	Fugle Lead Pointer

Later Lead locks, such as the group below had knurled pushbuttons apparently to facilitate the spinning of the pencil when sharpening the lead with a Fugle Lead Pointer.

Box of one dozen gold Leadloks with variously colored metal pushbuttons.


<	Drafting Leadholder Thumbnail Index	direct link http://www.leadholder.com/lh-draft-fugle-leadlok.html#gold-grip-plastic_button	^ top

D.J. Fugle Leadlok

(gold with grip and plastic pushbutton)

Fugle-Mellet Products Inc., Miami, Florida, USA

lead diameter mechanism composition variations production date origin	2 mm pushbutton spring clutch all metal with vinyl grip and plastic pushbutton pushbutton color: black, blue, red, silver, ? (1980s) USA
special features	soft grip
see also	Fugle Lead Pointer

The last produced Fugle Leadloks had plastic pushbuttons.

D.J. Fugle Leadloks seem to attract a loyal following. I’ve received more inquiries from those looking for Fugles than any other single model. The inquirers are nearly always looking to replace a lost pencil, as Leadloks never wear out.

Here is a charming anecdote about one man’s search for more Fugles:

I work in land surveying and mapping in Hickory North Carolina. I have used a D. J. Fugle leadholder for about 12 years. I knew little about them until I visited Leadholder.com. I bought my first two (only two) at Rex F. Miller Co. in Hickory. I currently use one of them, but the other was partially destroyed in the washing machine. I still have the body and some parts. I tried to find out where there might be some for purchase from one of the long time employees at Rex F. Miller and was told they were assembled by a little old lady somewhere in the midwest or central region of the US. That was five or six years ago [written in 2000]. The employee gave me a name and a number, which I tried to contact at the time. A recorder answered the phone with a child’s voice and I left a detailed message explaining who and what I was looking for. My call was never returned and I assumed it was now someone else’s phone number. I have since misplaced the name and number and Rex F. Miller Co. is now defunct. – Rick Rozelle


		© 2001 to 2010 Dennis B. Smith	^ top