John G. Wilson

John Guy Wilson (1842 – 1892) [ [http://www.wilsongunn.com/about_us/history.html Wilson Gunn] ] was a Manchester-based patent agent and was the founder of Wilson Gunn, one of the oldest firms of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys in the UK.

In 1864, when Queen Victoria was on the throne and Abraham Lincoln was President of the U.S.A., John Guy Wilson, opened his office at No. 109 Market Street, Manchester, and after a few months removed to No. 24 Market Place, Manchester, where he practised as Patent Agent, Practical and Mechanical Engineer, and Draughtsman, under the title of John G. Wilson & Co. and as a side line acted as agent to the Alliance Insurance Company. There is no record that Mr. John G. Wilson ever became a member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents but this is in no way surprising since during the period between 1885 to 1895 there were no less than 28 active Patent Agencies in Manchester and only two or three of the individuals concerned were members of the Chartered Institute. A few of the old names still appear in the titles of some of the present-day agencies.

Market Place in those days was bounded by a warren of old buildings, mostly converted dwelling houses, and formed a maze of tiny offices and other premises, usually very dark and approached by narrow stairways and corridors, the type of place so well described by Charles Dickens in some of his novels. Leading off Market Place were a number of narrow courts or alleys with similar buildings, so narrow that it was possible to lean across from the windows of opposite buildings and shake hands. Market Place itself, besides being lined with offices and shops of various kinds, was also crowded with open stalls displaying all kinds of goods, especially foodstuffs, and the resultant noise could not have been conducive to quiet thinking about patent specifications! It may be that a search for a quieter locality caused Mr. Wilson, after a brief sojourn in 1868 at No. I Imperial Chambers, Market Place, to move to Mitre Buildings, Church Gates, Cateaton Street, which he did in 1869. This locality, which is now known as Cathedral Gates, is opposite the side entrance to Manchester Cathedral, which Mancunians then called "th'owd Church".

Probably because he found this locality rather out of the way for business callers, Mr. Wilson moved in 1871 to No. 7Ia Market Street where he remained until 1887, when he again removed, this time a little lower down Market Street to No. 55 at the corner of Back Cannon Street and Market Street.

John G. Wilson built up the business until his death in the 1890s.

An extract from a Manchester trade journal of the time is shown below:

Mr. John G. Wilson, Practical Mechanical Engineer, Draughtsman, and Patent Agent, 55 Market Street – To the inventor and man of genius labouring to bring out some important creation of his own ingenuity, there is no more important institution than the Patent Office and Registry of Designs, where he can protect and make secure the results of his labours. At the offices of Mr. John G. Wilson is established the British and Foreign Patent Office, Trade Marks and Designs Registry. Mr. Wilson, having had twenty-five years' experience in this business, is able to decide or advise upon the practical utility or otherwise of any invention, thus saving intending patentees an immense amount of time and money. As a practical mechanical engineer, Mr. John G. Wilson enjoys a high reputation in this city, and has a large practice. The business of his firm in connection with British and foreign patents extends to all parts of the world. He has had a long and honourable connection with this city, and possesses the esteem and confidence of a very extensive and valuable connection.

References

External links

* [http://www.wilsongunn.com Wilson Gunn Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys]
* [http://www.cipa.org.uk/pages/home The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA)]