Chronology - Burge Warren
and Ridgley : Neptune
Circa 1850 Messrs Burge & Warren established as successors to English branch of
Charles Goodyear & Co of USA. Makes Vulcanite products including Jewellery.
1856 William Bartlett Warren born , New Rd ( now Euston Rd) London NW.
1871 William Bartlett Warren joins the firm as a boy of 14.
1879 Messrs Bradbury Wilkinson, security printers and stationers commission
Burge & Warren to manufacture a stylographic pen similar to those by Cross
and Mackinnon.
1880 First order of 2,000 stylographic pens delivered to Bradbury Wilkinson.
B.W. advertise the pens in the Trade journals of September that year.
1883 Ridgley joins company, now known as Burge Warren and Ridgley. Advertising
of the stylographic ceases possibly due to patent infringement litigation.
1884 William Warren and John Hodges granted patent for improved feed for a fountain pen
(British patent No.3285 March 29th1884)
1888 The "British" stylo launched.
1892 The "Neptune" eyedropper fountain pen advertised for the first time.
1897 Factory and Office move from Clerkenwell Green to 91/92 Great Saffron Hill, EC.
Simplex stylo introduced.
1899 Neptune 99 introduced.
1901 Neptune Twin Feed & Fluent fountain pens and Argus & Special British Stylos introduced.
1902 The Warren eyedropper pen and a new syringe filler fountain pen the Efficient are introduced
along with two new stylo models the Suit-all and the Speedy.
1906 The Tom Thumb stylo introduced.
1907 Elf and Red Elephant Stylos introduced.
1908 The Efficient syringe filler introduced.
1910 The Dirigible ( Airship shaped) and Empire stylo models introduced.
John Blair assigns UK licence to BWR for their Nozak self filling pen.
1914-1918 The Great War.
1920 Tom Thumb stylos produced in Sage Green and Terra Cotta.
1921 Double ended pens and stylos branded Duple were marketed for the first time.
1922 Neptune lever fillers introduced in various sizes.
1923 The Reverso pens and pencils introduced.
1925 The Neptune Push Fill , using the cap as part of a vacuum filling system,
possibly using a similar process to John Blair Nozak pens marketed for the first time.
1929 BWR's pens withdrawn from the protected list, presumably to allow discounting during
the height of the depression , and indicating troubled times for the company.
Circa 1930 BWR's pen making is transferred to The Jewel Pen Co Ltd.
1933 William Warren dies in November 1933 at the age of 78.
1934 Jewel Pen Co advertise The Neptune No.7 a range of colourful lever fillers.
1943 BWR/Jewel are listed as having Saffron models 1,2 & 3 probably as part of the war time quota system.
1945 The Saffron models still listed and at present this is last known reference to the company's pens.