Albert G. Bagley Social Network
Bagley The Mason
Masons captured the allegiance of much of the early American elite. The back of the United States dollar bill depicts an eye over a pyramid. This is a Masonic symbol, produced by a secret society which has influenced American history from its beginnings. Membership was seen as a place for businessmen to engage in social gatherings, networking, and opportunities for charity.
Several of Mr. Bagley's later co-partnerships were established with individuals in his Masonic social circle. Albert G. Bagley, Charles F. Newton, and Joseph Monaghan were ongoing members and belonged to the Metropolitan Lodge, No. 273, formed by members of the Atwood Lodge No. 208 which underwent a dissolution in 1852 with the forming of the Metropolitan Lodge No. 273.
Masonic Leadership
Bagley formed close relationships with members of the Masons and assumed leadership roles.
Charles F. Newton was appointed Master of the Metropolitan Lodge, No. 273 and Albert G. Bagley was Senior Warden of the Metropolitan Lodge, No. 273 in New York City during October 1852.
Among the signatories were Joseph Monaghan and John S. Conklin.
Bagley Family Roots
Albert Gilman Bagley was born in Windsor, Vermont, a few miles east of Rutland, on April 10, 1814, to Winthrop Bagley and wife Susannah Willis. In or about 1864, Mr. Bagley moved his Gold Pen factory to Rutland, Vermont where family roots were located and continued production.
Bagley was known to have produced Gold Pen nibs stamped in his Albert G. Bagley name with at least one location other than New York, however; Mr. Bagley had business operations in multiple locations as he had always done with his Gold Pen nib business as well as other business interests.
Mr. Bagley was married and had at least one daughter, research is ongoing.
Bagley Company Timeline
Early Years
1838-1846 Sole Proprietor**Bagley Controlled Factory & Factory Employees
Albert G. Bagley, 1838 - May, 1846
1840, Albert G. Bagley Gold Pens was located at 1 Front St. in Brooklyn, and also 189 Broadway, New York, NY.
Newspaper Advertising began as early as April 5, 1842, in the Brooklyn Evening Star. Advertising as A.G. Bagley continued through various partnerships until May 12, 1870.
In 1843 at the Fair of the American Institute, Levi Brown won best specimen of gold pens, A.G. Bagley was recognized for excellent specimens of gold pens, and both initially listed addresses in Brooklyn, 10 and 1 Front-street respectively.
G. & E.M. Smith Copartnership
1846-1848 Co-Partnership with G. & E.M. Smith **
Bagley Controlled Factory - Not Factory Employees
Albert G. Bagley informal partnership - Albert G. Bagley, Gerrit Smith and Edgar M. Smith from May, 1846-November 30, 1846
Albert G. Bagley & Co., then Albert G. Bagley, Gerrit Smith and Edgar M. Smith from December 1, 1846-August 10, 1848.
In 1856, Bagley faced a lawsuit. A district attorney witness named W. Hawley purchased a pen from Bagley's store as evidence, and it was discovered that the pens were not stamped with the correct patent date as required by the patent law of August 29th, 1842. Bagley's pens were stamped with "A. G. Bagley Pat 1850" instead of "Jan 1, 1850," which could have resulted in a fine of $100 per item sold. Since Bagley was selling hundreds of these pens, he could have been ruined if he lost the case. However, Bagley argued that he was following the "spirit of the law" even though he failed to comply with some of the details. In the end, Judge Betts agreed with Bagley's argument and found him not guilty.
The Smiths informally announced dissolution of the co-partnership during Bagley's temporary absence from New York City on August 10th, 1848.
The Smith brothers took advantage of Bagley's patent marking legal case brought by the Manhattan District Attorney and used it as an opportunity to take his assets and start a new company called "E. and G. Smith Pen Co (Formerly AG Bagley)". Bagley was unhappy with this and took legal action against them, accusing them of breaching their partnership agreement and damaging his business through their advertisements. The judge ruled in Bagley's favor and awarded him a large sum of money for 1856, $7,500. The judgement prompted the Smith brothers to liquidate their jewelry business and they never advertised gold pen nib sales beyond 1856.
1848-1849
1848-1849 Sole Proprietor**
Bagley Controlled Factory & Factory Employees
Albert G. Bagley - August 11, 1848-late 1849 (between May and October)
Mr. Bagley continued manufacturing at volumes of 1,000,000 or greater numbers of Gold Pen nibs, covered elsewhere in these pages.
The Savannah Georgian Newspaper, June 27, 1849
1850-1856
1850-1856 Co-Partnership with H.H. Houghton**
Bagley Controlled Manufacturing Plant & Plant Employees
A.G. Bagley & Co. - Albert G. Bagley and Henry Harrison Houghton - late 1849 (between May and October)-December 31, 1855 Bagley, Houghton & Co.
Albert G. Bagley, Henry Harrison Houghton and Charles F. Newton - January 1, 1856-April 19, 1856. Houghton attempted to begin conversion of the Bagley brand to Houghton by engraving "H.H. HOUGHTON & C O. MFRS" to the back of nibs.
The depicted trade bill advertising Bagley Gold Pen [nibs] and pen holders, signed by Houghton and Bagley.
Houghton then Newton
The depicted Gold Pen nibs are Bagley production with a twist.
Houghton continued to produce Bagley Gold Pen nibs but with his own name on the nib. During Houghton's time in control of manufacturing, on the reverse or underside of each nib was stamped H.HOUGHTON &CO. MFG.
When C.F. Newton was in control of manufacturing, he began to flip the Bagley Gold Pen nibs over and stamped with C.F. NEWTON while the reverse or underside was left stamped with the original Albert G. Bagley name branding.
See the images of a single Houghton nib and two C.F. Newton "Bagley" Gold Pen nibs.
1856
H.H. Houghton & Co. - Henry Harrison Houghton and Charles F. Newton - April 19, 1856-October 27, 1857
1857-1860 Co-Partnership with C.F. Newton**
Bagley Controlled Factory & Factory Employees
C.F. Newton - Charles F. Newton - October 27, 1857-December 31, 1860.
1857-1860
1857-1860 Co-Partnership with C.F. Newton**
Bagley Controlled Factory & Factory Employees
Newton becomes successor to Bagley, Houghton Co-
New York Times 30 Dec 1857
Newton advertising Bagley's Gold Pen Nibs including The Congress Pen, The Eagle Pen, etc. Newton advertising for The Congress Pen - The Eagle Pen- Bagley's United States Pen and other Gold Pen Nibs and extension pen holders. Wilmington Daily Herald 28 Jun 1859
C.F. Newton - Charles F. Newton - October 27, 1857-December 31, 1860.
1861-1865
1861-1864 Co-Partnership with C.F. Newton, Byrne, Monaghan & Kurtz**
Newton & Co. - Charles F. Newton, James P. Byrne and Joseph Monaghan - January 1, 1861-December 30, 1863
BAGLEY OPENED FACTORY IN RUTLAND, VERMONT 1864** - SELLING TO THE TRADE
C.F. Newton & Co. - Charles F. Newton, James P. Byrne, Joseph Monaghan and Keller Kurtz - December 31, 1863-December 31, 1864
1864 A.G. Bagley Pen Maker ** Bagley Controlled Factory & Factory Employees
1865-1867
1865-1867 Newton, Kurtz & Co.**Bagley Controlled Factory & Factory Employees
Newton, Kurtz & Co. - Charles F. Newton, Keller Kurtz and Joseph Monaghan - January 1, 1865-May 1, 1867
1867-1870 Co-Partnership with Kurtz & Monaghan** Bagley Controlled Factory & Factory Employees
Kurtz & Monaghan - Keller Kurtz and Joseph Monaghan - May 1, 1867-March 18, 1870
C.F. Newton exits the Gold Pen business May1, 1867.
1865-1870+ A.G. Bagley Pen Maker ** Vermont Bagley Factory Controlled Factory & Factory Employees
1866 Bagley selling Bees in Rutland Vermont**
1871-1884
Advertising in St. Louis, Mo. with a storefront at 324 Olive Street. Research continues regarding business from 1871-1875.
1870 Co-Partnership with Joseph Monaghan**
Bagley Controlled Factory & Factory Employees
Joseph Monaghan, March 18, 1870-September 1, 1870
1870-1884 Co-Partnership between Edward Todd & Co. & Joseph Monaghan **
Bagley Controlled Factory & Factory Employees until his death
1870 Co-Partnership with Joseph Monaghan Edward Todd & Co. -
Edward Todd and Joseph Monaghan - September 1, 1870-February, 1884
Albert G. Bagley Death
Albert G. Bagley died on or about November 10, 1876, after being hit by a train.
According to newspaper accounts, he had 20 of his gold pens in his pocket. Mr. Bagley was fishing on a bridge and failed to avoid an oncoming train.
Bagley was in his 60's.
1884-1932
1884-1886 Co-Partnership between Edward Todd & Co. (includes Todd Jr.) and Potts
Edward Todd & Co. - Edward Todd, Joseph Monaghan, Edward Todd, Jr. and Henry C. Potts - February, 1884-February 1, 1886
William C. Marion retired from his role as Foreman of the factory in 1885, having headed the operation for over 30 years, through various successors.
1886-1897 Co-Partnership between Edward Todd & Co. includes Freer
Edward Todd & Co. - Edward Todd, Edward Todd, Jr. and Charles S. Freer - February 1, 1886-November, 1897
1898-1932 Edward Todd & Co. Incorporated
Edward Todd & Co. (Incorporated) - February, 1898-1932
The Edward Todd & Co. Extension Pen Holder depicted is marked 10k and ”Edward Todd & Co.” This is the same pen holder found sketched in the Mabie patent, originally and always produced by the Bagley factory including “To-The-Trade” branded versions.
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