Welsharp

[penspouse]

Does anyone know any history of the Welsharp Company? When and where were the pens made, and for how long. Was it a subsidiary of another company? Any information would be appreciated.

[Johnny Appleseed]

Welsharp was, I believe, a sub-brand of the Welsh Manufacturing company in Providence RI. They made pretty much 3rd tier pens - some of the lesser 3rd tier pens too I think. I don't know a whole lot about them.

 

James Welsh was the original owner. The company has a host of patents from 1930-1968. They seem to have made goggles and glasses as well, as many of their patents are related to glasses, goggles, hard-hats, nose-guards etc. - Patents. (Patent search thanks to David Nishimura posting on Lion and Pen). However, one of their writing instrument patents is for a process to make cylindrical tubes from celluloid sheets, so they were probably actual manufacturers of pens and pencils, and not mearly a distributor or jobber having pens made with their name on them.

 

John

[penspouse]

John,

 

You are a fountain of wonderful information. Thanks.

[cvcwoz]

Does anyone know any history of the Welsharp Company? When and where were the pens made, and for how long. Was it a subsidiary of another company? Any information would be appreciated.

 

I have a WILRITE 14k gold filled pen from the 1920s and the nib is a WELSHARP. The stainless nib has 14k gold filled lettering on it that reads, 'Welsharp' (in script)

and beneath it, 'STAINLESS 14K GOLD FILLED MADE IN U.S.A.' I understand that the Wilrite company used other manufacturer's parts, hence the Welsharp nib.

I'm thinking of selling the pen, but don't know what its value would be in very good exterior condition. The ink filling fountain might be deteriorated, as the

filling lever does not move but a quarter inch and I don't want to force it. This would need repairing to be perfect and useable as a writing instrument.

 

[Aunt Jill]

I found a Welsharp pen at the Gaithersburg Fairgrounds Antique Show yesterday. The nib is broken off, but I couldn't resist it. The seller said it was Bakelite, but I doubt it. I haven't cleaned it up or anything. Maybe with a new nib someone named Vicky would like it. Anybody seen one of these before? Any comments?

 

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4652879506_35b7189694.jpg

 

The white marks are label gunk, not damage.

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4652879382_ae3cb0cc0b.jpg

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4652260141_ff1294c006.jpg

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4652260291_e28fdea91a_m.jpg

 

 

There were a few pens at the show that I liked, but no purchases. There was another pen person there too, but I didn't run into him.

 

Pens: There was a brass dip-looking pen that you fill by removing the mother of pearl letter opener on the other end. Nib curved down but in good condition. There was a short brass and ivory dip pen, and a long silverplate dip pen priced at $95, and a blue pocket pen set in pretty good condition with beat-up but still whole case (no name anywhere). Nibs seemed pretty good on all, but letter opener nib was very much stained, don't know if it would clean up.

 

That was my Saturday morning.

 

—Jill

Edited May 30, 2010 by Aunt Jill

[dinkie]

I picked up a Welsharp in the UK - thanks for the information on it John. Mine measures a tad over 3 inches long, it has a 14K gold plated (bent) nib and needs repair. I am going to have a go a restoring it.

[Strang]

I have a full-sized Welsharp made from end-of-the-day plastic. Unfortunately, the nib was toast and needed replacing. A pretty pen but very third tier to be sure.

[fenriz]

I have an end-of-day celluloid Welsharp that I just re-sacked and shined up. Tested it out and the funny "STAINLESS 14K GOLD PLATED" nib writes very nicely. The feed lays down an even, dry line, and the nib is uniformly smooth, but definitely not slick. It's got feedback like a dull pencil. Writes nicely and cleaned up very well! Good looking pen.

[podvodnik]

I just picked up a Welsharp myself, cleaned, re-sacced and gave it a try writes well with a dry feel.

[podvodnik]

Oh, and I should show the nib as well.