G. W. Woolley Mystery - Steel Dip Nibs From 1860's

September 19, 2018

Picked up a mixed lot of steel dip pens and hiding among the rusty and the common were these unusual nibs.

I have two styles of G. W. Woolley steel, fountain (reservoir), pens. I'm trying to figure out more about Woolley, and when, where, and by whom these pens were made.

What I've figured out is George Washington Woolley was a medical doctor in Philadelphia in the 1860/61 directory. His first patent, #30851, granted in December 4, 1860, was for this fountain pen. In the patent account he mentions that he was currently of Philadelphia, but formerly of San Francisco, California.

I've also found two more patents of his, 299,499 (1884) for a detachable reservoir, and 476,677 (1892) for a shield attachment for pens and pencils.

These pens I have are imprinted with his name and his 1860 patent date, but the mystery is where and when and by whom they could have been made.

Woolley was not listed in the Philly directory before or after 1860/61. I'm presuming the pens were made probably in the 1860's, otherwise the patent date would begin to look old if still kept on into the 1870's, but this is pure speculation.

In the whole of the 1860's I know of only five steel pen makers in the US: Washington Medallion, Esterbrook (1861 on), Warrington & Co. (1865 on), and Harrison & Bradford (1862 on). If there was another, I haven't discovered them. Since Woolley was in Washington, DC by the time of his second patent (1884), perhaps I should start checking there.

Of the two pens, the larger one is interesting not just because of the reservoir, but also because there are slits extending out from the hole back towards the heel, at an angle to the line of the pen. I've never seen another pen with that feature.

And here you can see the second grind as well as the odd slits from the hole.

The steel is thin and fairly flexible. The reservoirs are held in by the side flanges and are sprung by a bent flange against the body of the pen.

In the picture of the underside of the smaller (but still good sized) pen, what I'm calling a bank pen because it's the same shape and size as other bank pens, I have a couple of extra reservoirs that came with the pens.

If anyone has any more information about Woolley, I would be most appreciative. I will continue to search and If I find anything I'll be sure and share it.