The Paul E. Wirt Fountain pen, invented and manufactured in Bloomsburg, was for a time, one of the best known fountain pens, used and endorsed by Mark Twain.
Paul E. Wirt was born in 1849, the son of Wesley & Susan Wirt. The family moved to Bloomsburg in the 1850s. During the civil war, Wesley wrote a long letter home to his 13 year old son, full of wisdom, in case he didn't make it home. The letter can be found at the bottom of this post, it was published in the Morning News in 1938.
Wirt received his first [known] fountain pen patent in 1882, and by 1885 he had established a factory for manufacturing them. Although often referred to as the "fountain pen inventor" in local articles, he was not the first to invent a fountain pen, merely the first to patent his specific style of fountain pen.
The Wirt pen design was so popular, it was endorsed by Mark Twain. At least until 1903, when Train switched to a new style of pen.
By 1910, Wirt had 28 different pen patents. He spent a fair amount of time taking others to court, as they copied his designs. In a Sept 26, 1895 article in the American Stationer: “So far as reported, thirteen fountain pen manufacturers and jobbers have reached an understanding with Mr. Wirt”.
.webp)
The Wirt Pen manufacturing company was located at the southeast corner of Iron and 8th Streets. It employed 30, and produced nearly 3,000 pens each week.
It was sold in 1925.
Wirt donated a bell St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Bloomsburg. The bell was made by the Meneely foundry, and is a near identical copy, at a smaller scale, of the one that foundry made for Independence Hall in Philadelphia, to replace the cracked Liberty Bell that is today on display in the courtyard there.
The bell Wirt donated is inscribed:
To The Glory of God
Given to St. Paul’s Church
Bloomsburg PA Oct. AD 1891
By Mr. Paul E. Wirt and Sara
His Wife In loving Memory of
Their Deceased Infant Children.
Of the four children born to Paul and his wife, Sara, only his first daughter, Pauline, outlived him. Their son Max died of sunstroke at 5 months, in 1886, and daughter Margery died at 7 weeks old, in 1890. A son, Karl, died in 1921, age 29.
The Wirt Home is located at 60 East 5th St, Bloomsburg Pa
A relators listing of the home can be seen here:
Paul Wirt died January 1935, at the age of 85.
He's buried in the family plot at Old Rosemont Cemetery, Bloomsburg Pa.
=================
READ MORE
================
================
Wesley Wirt, born in Espy and forty-two years old, was much older than the average soldier. In his early years he taught school in New Jersey and later established a school in New Columbus, Huntington Township in Luzerne County, that subsequently became a successful academy. At the age of thirty-one he decided to leave teaching to study law under attorneys John Cooper and Charles R. Buckalew and became a member of the Columbia County Bar. He and his wife, Susan, were the parents of seven children: Paul, William, Florence, Rueben, Augusta, Martha, and Charles. Two of their children, Rueben and Augusta, died in 1860 and 1861. The Bloomsburg Town Council elected him in 1873 as its secretary, which he held until his death on April 25, 1878. The letter follows:
Dear Paul:
You are now arrived at an age when you can begin to understand something of life, and when you should begin to examine intelligently whether or not you are as well prepared as other boys have been for the great contest in which all men have to engage. For a real contest you will find it if you live to the age of your father.
I have great confidence in your integrity, Paul. I know you to be an honest, as well as a sensible, boy; and unless something has changed, or does change, this early character of yours, you will come to be a man respected by the world and by yourself, which latter is of more importance than most people imagine. I do not propose to read you a long homily on the value of goodness, for most youths hear so much of this from inconsistent Sunday School teachers and ministers, and have it thrust before them so often in their schoolbooks, that they are apt to become disgusted - not with piety and morality themselves, but with the constant prating thereof. I only wish to give you my opinion as a
man of the world and as your nearest friend, except your mother, in the world. I do not propose to treat as most fathers do their sons, to give you cold and distant advice and imperious directions. It is as a friend and younger companion that I shall always treat you. This I desire to have impressed on your mind that you may be self-reliant and fearless, and actuated by the highest of motives; for as to positive punishment, you will, I think, never receive any from me, unless, in cases of dereliction of duty to yourself or to society, you will consider the disapprobation and indignant astonishment of your father as such. We all have faults and your father and, perhaps yourself, have grievous ones; but this should not hinder us while we strive in our love for correct principle to correct these faults from holding up our heads like men. For to err is human. As Burns says, "A man is a man for a’ that."
Now then, Paul, (and I hope the advice is not necessary), make a man of yourself. This is to be done by education and the education I speak of is acquired by habits of thought and reflection, by observation and reading. These with the love for what is proper and honorable, and a due respect for yourself, will do the work. Mind, I stick for self-respect; for I have no patience with this feigned humility which is so fashionable among hypocrites. One man is as good as another, especially if he knows as much, as is as honorable and high-minded as the other. I may see very little of you in the future, for there is no telling when the war and the consequent separation of families will cease; and you will soon be a young man; and I may die any moment away from home. It is true I hope and indeed expect to spend many happy days with you and your mother and your brothers and sisters, but I cannot help feeling whenever I write that it may be my last letter.
Above all things, Paul, if you care for my esteem, and expect to be happy in the future, be kind to your mother; but this, too, I hope is useless caution. It will be well, however, for you to remember that nothing would alienate me from you so quick as unkindness to her, especially in my absence.
Write to me often; and be a little careful as to the style in which your letters are got up - folding, endorsing and all. Such things show the education, or the want of it, of the man; and from such things the world often forms its opinion. Doing things well is many times the only means which the world has of ascertaining whether you know how to do them. As to your studies, they, of course, must be mainly of the common elementary kind: but I am prepared to say that I think you had better soon begin to fit yourself for military life. Our nation is to be a military aristocracy and civilians in the country will soon be mostly found in the army. We will soon have a military aristocracy, and civilians remaining at home will be mere drudges, or at least be looked on as such. Society at home will mainly consist of two classes - the raisers of bread and meat for the army and the buyers and sellers of the same.
Practice mathematical drawings and get hold of mathematical science, such as algebra and geometry, themselves. You can do all this out of school as well, perhaps, as in. You may find it hard work at first, but stick to it, and you will your implements and materials in good order. In your studies, never "skip" a problem, thinking you cannot solve it and that you can understand it better by and by. This has been the ruin of many a student.
Keep your implements and materials in good order. In your studies, never "skip" a problem, thinking you cannot solve it and that you can understand it better by and by. This has been the ruin of many a student. Clear the way as you go, if it does take time. Leave no stragglers in your rear, or your onward progress will be continually hindered by attempts to bring up these neglected friends. You would never get on -- But I must close. I have written nothing as to what is doing here because I wrote to your mother fully a few days ago. Things remain about as they were then. You probably have had all the good advice I have written you, a hundred times before. Nevertheless I, for my part, feel the better for having given it to you. Now then, go in. Follow the dictates of your own conscience, obey the precepts of the Bible, for they contain a morality recognized as sound by all enlightened men in all ages of the world, put a proper trust in the Higher Power and you will not fail.
Your affectionate father, W. Wirt
======================
Paul Wirt, in his own words
by
L. Michael Fultz
On June 20, 1884, Paul E. Wirt filed an application for a U. S. Patent for his invention of a feed bar and other components for a fountain pen. On February 3, 1885, Wirt was granted Patent number 311,554. In October, 1886, Wirt filed a complaint at Equity in the United States Circuit Court for the Eastern District of New York against Francis C. Brown, the maker of the Caws fountain pen, for infringement of the Wirt Patent. In January, 1887, Wirt filed another complaint against Daniel W. Lapham and Francis H. Bogart, the makers of the Lapham’s Rival fountain pen. Wirt claimed that he was the sole inventor of the top feed fountain pen and that all others, including Brown, Lapham and Bogart were barred from using his invention unless and until they arrange a license from Wirt.
Mr. Wirt testified in both trials about his invention and about his business. At the time, he testified that he was 39 years old and residing in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. In his testimony, Mr. Wirt said: “I am, by profession, (an) attorney at law and also making and selling fountain pens. (I have) been making and selling fountain pens for about three years.” “I have been experimenting in fountain pens from the year 1880 or 1881.”
Wirt further testified that “The principle involved in the operation and construction (of my pens) is the feeding of ink to the top side of the pen, by laying a shaft over the pen, one end of the shaft or feeder projecting into the ink to lead and attract and keep the ink down around the heal of the pen, while the other end lies out over the pen for supplying it for writing.” “The shaft or feeder is held in the nozzle at an intermediate point of its length.”
“I made a computation of the number of pens sold in America and I fixed the number at 120,000.” “I have sold and introduced in the United States all... (the pens of my manufacture) ... excepting about, at a rough calculation, I should say twenty or thirty gross. (Those) have been sold in England, Germany, France, Mexico and Australia.”
Charles C. Wirt, Paul E. Wirt’s 27 year old brother and Superintendent of Manufacturing for the Wirt Pen Company, also testified in these proceedings. “I reside in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. I am engaged in the construction and repairing of Paul E. Wirt fountain pens (and have been so engaged for) nearly
four years.” Charles Wirt then testified about the details of several competing pens, pointing out how each of them violated or relied upon the principals of Wirt’s Patent.
===========================
The first true fountain pen manufacturer. Before Wirt there were some minor companies that made a few pens that sometimes worked. The best of which was the MacKinnon stylographic pen. Wirt sold a dependable pen right from the start in the early 1880s. LE Waterman is often called the father of the fountain pen, but when he started selling pens a year or 2 after Wirt, he sold dozens when Wirt was selling hundreds. Wirt was the biggest seller of fountains pens before 1900. Wirt still had a good fountain pen after 1900, but he was no longer a major player in the market by 1910. By the 1920s he was basically selling a lever filler which was the same as others on the market with no major appeal except that they worked.
=====================
WIRT TIMELINE
- June 25th, 1849 Paul E. Wirt is born in Cambra, PA to the parents of Wesley and Susan Wirt.
- 1850's Wesley Wirt, Paul Wirt's father, moves his family to Bloomsburg PA
- September 12th 1862 Wesley Wirt, Paul E. Wirt's father, enlisted as a Private in Company D, 13th Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania.
- September 26th 1862 Wesley Wirt mustered out Company D, 13th Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, PA
- October 28th, 1862 Wesley Wirt re-enlists as a Sergeant Commission in Company S, 171st Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania
- August 8th, 1863 Wesley Wirt Mustered out of Company S, 171st Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, PA
- September 4th, 1877 Paul Wirt is admited to the Columbia County, PA legal Bar
- January 1st, 1878 Paul Wirt marries Mirrita Sarah Funston
- April 25th, 1878 Wesley Wirt, Paul's father dies of a stroke
- Summer 1880 Paul Wirt begins experimenting with fountain pens.
- October 11th, 1882 Paul Wirt's First fountain Pen patent is granted.
- Summer 1884 Paul Wirt begins preparations to open a fountain pen business.
- November 1884 George Robbins and Charles Peacock of Bloomsburg become General Agents for the Paul Wirt fountain Pen.
- Feb 3rd, 1885 Paul Wirt patents his first overfeed fountain pen design.
- Spring 1885 Paul Wirt opens his factory on Iron street of Bloomsburg and begins production of his fountain pens.
- April 5th 1886 Max E. Wirt, Paul's son, dies at the age of 5 months.
- Feb 8th, 1887 Trial of Paul Wirt Vrs. Francis Cashel Brown of Caw's Pens begins.
- October 18th, 1887 Trial of Wirt Vrs. Lapham and Bogart of the Rival Fountain Pen begins
- January 23rd, 1890 Margery Wirt, Paul Wirt's daughter dies at the age of seven weeks.
- Feb 1890 Paul Wirt advertises in Ainslee's Magazine that 350,000 of his fountain pens are in use. The ad features the quote from Mark Twain: "An absolutely perfect reservoir pen, a pen compared with which all other pens are frank failures."
- August 13th, 1890 Paul Wirt orders 150 gross of hard rubber cases from H.P.E. & Day Rubber company of Seymore Ct. This early rubber company supplied cases for Waterman, Caws, and many other fountain pen makers. Waterman moved in and eventually acquired the rubber company for himself, while Wirt began making his own hard rubber cases.
- May 1891 Paul E. Wirt becomes trustee of Bloomsburg Normal School
- Feb 1892 Paul Wirt advertises in Harper's Magazine that 450,000 of his fountain pens are in use. The ad features the quote from Mark Twain: "An absolutely perfect reservoir pen, a pen compared with which all other pens are frank failures."
- Nov 1892 Paul Wirt advertises in Century Magazine that a Half Million of his fountain pens are in use. However the Mark Twain Quote is dropped from the advertisement.
- Dec 1893 Paul Wirt Advertises that A Million of his fountain pens are in use.
- April 20, 1903 The Great Paul Wirt Fountain Pen Writing Contest (see the clippings)
- October 17, 1905 Pauline Wirt, Paul E. Wirt's Daughter marries John A. Roche Jr in New York City. Roche was the son of Chicago Mayor John A. Roche Sr., who served as mayor from 1887 to 1889. This Marriage ended in divorice before 1910.
- May 28, 1914 Susan S. Wirt, Paul Wirt's mother dies at age 84
- July 21, 1921 Karl Wirt, Paul Wirt's only son to live to maturity dies of a stroke at the age of 42.
- May 11, 1925 Paul E. Wirt Pen Company is incoporated in the State of Deleware
- May 19th, 1925 Paul Wirt signs over his fountain pen company and its assets to B. F. Maize and Robert H. Knoor for $10,000
- October 4th, 1934 Paul Wirt Honored by Rotary Club for lifetime acheivement.
- January 21, 1935 Paul Wirt dies at his home at 1:45 AM
- January 31, 1935 Paul Wirt's will is read. Most of his estate goes to his daughter, Pauline Wirt Roche.
Lots of photos here:
No comments:
Post a Comment
I'll read the comments and approve them to post as soon as I can! Thanks for stopping by!