Soapstone holder

A holder for marking material;

• the holder comprising:
• a hollow housing having a first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall;
• at least one cavity formed in an inner surface of said first side wall;
• said cavity having a sloped surface;
• said second side wall having an inner surface shaped to correspond generally to the shape of the marking material;
• a collet having a body and an arm extending from said body;
• said collet arm having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• said arm inner surface being shaped to correspond generally to the shape of the marking material;
• said arm outer surface having a wedge positioned to be received in said housing cavity;
• said collet being movable between an extended position in which said sloped surface of said housing section engages said collet arm wedge to urge said collet arm transversely towards said housing second wall to frictionally grip said marking material in said holder and a second position in which said wedge is received in said housing projection such that no transverse force is applied to said collet arm, and said marking material can move freely relative to said holder;
• and,
• a spring positioned to bias said collet to said extended position.