Unused felt pens (15) are stored in stockers (22) engaged in caps (23) with their writing tips (18a) sealed airtight to prevent ink drying out. A pen in use is held in a pen holder (8). To remove the pen from the holder (8), the holder is inserted in a stocker until the head (16a) of the pen is gripped by the cap. The holder is then pulled out of the stocker, but by virtue of the grip of the cap the pen remains in place in the stocker. To take up a pen in the holder (8) the holder is inserted in the stocker, to take up the pen. A lever (24), having a forked end which engages the pen, is operated to withdraw the head (16a) of the pen from the cap.