Wilrite?

 Or, should the question be, 'Will It Write?'

Myself, and others, are collectors of Wilrite fountain pens and pencils. Why? I am not sure. My collection began in about 2000 when they were cheap, dirt cheap. Most still are. An associate started collecting out of curiosity. Maybe that's how we all get into something. 

Many years ago I drafted a brief history of Wilrite that was posted on a pen board. It's still around and some treat it as gospel. It is incorrect and out of date - the internet has allowed many new research opportunities.

Wilrite is the story of two brothers. It is a 'Coming To America' story where two Jewish boys from Russia kinda sorta did well. Below is some of the history of them and the company. It is not all. There is more to come that will be told in a forthcoming article in a pen magazine. Scroll further down for some images and advertisements.

William(Aron Wolf) A.(Abram/Aaron), b. 1884 Kovno arr. America: Jine 29, 1893 1915: February 25. Geyer’s Stationers. February 16. Rappeport-Luxenberg incorporated. Rappeport at 611 Willoughby, Bklyn. “Silversmiths and dealers in fountain pens.” 1916: With Rappeport-Luxenberg, silversmiths. New York City Directory. 1917: 1525 East 5th Street, Bklyn, NY. Draft Reg.  Manager at 178 Centre Street. 1920: Census. 748 East 10th Street, Bklyn, NY. Proprietor - Fountain Pen Factory. 1922: Mentioned in Jobbers Handbook, selling “mountings for fountain pens.” Address is 312 Lafayette. 1930: Census.1429 Carroll Street, Bklyn, NY. Merchant – Fountain Pens 1942: Naturalization Petition. 1761 East 16th Street, Bklyn, NY. Interior Decorator and Metal Worker. 1950: Census. 67 East 15th Street, Bklyn, NY. Selling from home.

Gustave(Guttman), b. 9-22-91 Kovno arr. America: Jine 29, 1893 1910: Census. Occupation – Fountain Pens. 19y.o. 1911: 505 New Jersey Avenue, Bklyn, NY 1917: NY Draft Registration, 2130 64th Street, Bklyn, NY. Worked at Kaunograph Co., dry trademark transfers. 1919: 1770 55th Street, Bklyn., NY 1919: Naturalization. 346 Sherman Avenue, New Haven, CT 1920: Census. 346 Sherman Avenue, New Haven, CT. Thermometer manufacturer. 1930: Census. Listed as “Chasing Engineer”.

1922 – Wilrite advertisement in Trow’s as “Manufacturers and Distributors” of fountain pens. Address 1493 Broadway.

Patent for Self Filler Lever Device For Fountain Pens filed December 30, 1922 by William Rappeport and Charles Hardie. Attorney L. XXXXX Hardie. Granted July 26, 1927.

1923 - Mention of Wilrite pencils in advertisement. This early! Am wondering if these were the all-metal or the start of plastic models.

Retained Charles L. Otto as sales representative for the mid west.

1924 – W logo trademarked. Wilrite incorporated in August.

Israel Krutt files for patent of Fountain Pen Clip. Granted March 16, 1926. Assignor to William Rappeport. Attorney L. Sanford (?) Hardy. The clip is not the type used on Wilrite pens.

Israel Krutt is noted in publications as a machinist and tool maker.

July 11, 1924. Charles Hardy files for patent of Fountain Pen Clip. Assignor to AMSCO Products, Inc. Attorney L. Sanford (?) Hardy. Granted November 17, 1925. This is the typical Wilrite clip found on Wilrite pens. AMSCO is the American Metal Stamping Company, at 416 Broome Street, New York.

Incorporators: G. Rappeport, H.Klosner, and J. Hanks. A NY Times article mentions a J. Habas instead of Hanks.

H. Klosner might be M. (Morris) Klosner, manufacturer of Klosner Rheostats. Was it coincidental that AMSCO also marketed rheostats? Rheostats of the era required metal work of the type performed by Hardy. H. may be for his original name, Hirsch, or misprint of M. Records are not clear.

1925 – Patent granted for the AMSCO clip. The Z-clip models were early production.

Filed for Wilrite logo in script trademark. Claimed in use since 1922. Gustave Rappeport mentioned as Secretary and Treasurer.

Offices and factory moved to 312 Lafayette Street

1926 – A L. Hawtof is mentioned as a sales representative for New York.

1928 – Court judgement vs. Improved Seamless Wire Company of Providence, RI. They made laminated metals of the type used for pens.

1929 – A Wilrite pen depicted in a photography publication.

1930 – Census. Gustave termed himself a ‘chasing engineer’ and “owner” as occupation. 

Patent #1883741 issued to Israel Krutt for Pencil, Assignees William A. Rappeport 5%, James J. Deegan 7.5%, and Jean U. Koree 47.5%. This was for a magazine pencil. Jean U. Koree was an important prolific inventor.

1941 – Last mention of Wilrite in advertisements.

Giveaway for supporting Hoover Dam?

 

Top Two Photographs courtesy Pete Sacopulos

1925, Note plastic models and Z-clip. No writing on clip or lever. Probably a generic image.

1926. Appears to be plastic or ebonite pen. A ring top model.  Wilrite on lever.

The above is from a 1930 catalogue.

Second from the top and the bottom pencil are Wilrite pencils. The second from top notes four color combinations. The turn up at online auctions regularly and there may be more than four. They used to be more available in half-decent condition but, like many older pens and pencils, have become collectables.

Some time ago someone noted how similar the celluloid used for Wilrite pens and pencils was to that used by Wearever. Were they sourced from the same company? Did Wilrite source the barrels and caps from Wearever?