The Neptune Fountain Pen
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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.