Parker Duofold Fountain Pen

Description

Parker Duofold Fountain Pen

George Parker, the founder of Parker. Received his first pen patent in 1889. Five years later he received a patent on his “Lucky Curve” fountain pen ink feed. This patent claimed, that found a way to draw excess ink back into the pen barrel when the pen not in use. The company’s first successful pen, “Parker, Joint Less” released in those years.

In the 30’s their engineers created the Vacumatic, a mechanism that held over twice as much ink as the pens use to. At the same time, Joseph Platt designed the Parker arrow clip. In 1937 The company lost its founder, George Parker

Before the apparition of the ball pen, from 1920 to 1960, Parker had a first position in worldwide pens sales. In the 30’s Parker also created the “Quink” ink. In The 40’s the company developed the most widely used pen in history , the Parker 51. Hence, they established manufacturing facilities in Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Mexico, USA, Pakistan, India, Germany, Brazil and Argentina.

Parker’s Ink Pellets

During World War I, Parker signed a contract with the US for the Trench Pen, a pen holding black pellets that when added to water transformed into ink. This assured financial success for the company during the war.

In the 50’s, Parker introduced the Liquid Lead pencil which used liquid graphite to write also like a pen. But, the Scripto company also has a similar product called Fluid-lead, developed a  few months before. To avoid a costly legal fight they agreed to share their formulas.

During the 80’s, a buyout moved the company to New haven, in England, -Original location of the Valentine Pen Company, previously acquired by Parker-. In the 90’s  the Gillette Company bought Parker, Gillette, already owned the Paper Mate brand. In 2000 Gillette sold its pen business to Newell Rubbermaid, whose Sanford Stationery Division, became the largest pen manufacturer in the world.

For over a century, Parker Pens have been recognized for their quality, writing, and style. The company’s many pens lines and list of innovations earned them its reputation.

Parker seems to have moved to upscale “luxury” products embracing a new business model of quality manufacture without mass marketing.