View source for Parker Pen Company

{{short description|Writing pen manufacturer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Parker Pen Company
| logo = Parker Pen Company logo.svg
| logo_size = 150
| image = Former Parker Pen Headquarters, Railway Road, Newhaven (March 2011).JPG
| image_size = 200
| image_caption = The Parker factory on Railway Road in Newhaven, England
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| genre = 
| fate = 
| predecessor = 
| successor = 
| foundation = {{start date and age|1888}} in [[Janesville, Wisconsin]], U.S.
| founder = [[George Safford Parker]]
| defunct = 
| location_city = [[Nantes]]
| location_country = France
| area_served = Worldwide
| industry = [[Writing instrument]]s
| products = [[Fountain pen|Fountain]] and [[ballpoint pen]]s, [[mechanical pencil]]s
| parent = [[Newell Brands]]
| homepage = {{url|https://www.parkerpen.com/|parkerpen.com}}
}}
The '''Parker Pen Company''' is a manufacturer of luxury writing pens, founded in 1888<ref name=timeline>{{cite web|url=http://www.parkerpen.com/en/discovery/making_of/timeline|title=The Parker Pen history|website=www.parkerpen.com|access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725040734/http://www.parkerpen.com/en/discovery/making_of/timeline|archive-date=25 July 2010}}</ref> by [[George Safford Parker]] in [[Janesville, Wisconsin]], United States. In 2011, the Parker factory at [[Newhaven, East Sussex]], England, was closed, and its production transferred to [[Nantes]], France.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/sussex/8154432.stm|title=Pen factory closure plan revealed|date=16 July 2009|access-date=26 April 2018|via=news.bbc.co.uk|archive-date=9 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809180426/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/sussex/8154432.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
George Safford Parker, the founder, had previously been a sales agent for the [[John Holland Gold Pen Company]]. He received his first [[fountain pen]] related [[patent]] in 1889.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US416944A/en|title=George safford parker|website=google.com|access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426020807/https://patents.google.com/patent/US416944A/en|archive-date=26 April 2018}}</ref> In 1894, Parker received a patent on his "Lucky Curve" fountain pen feed,<ref>[https://patents.google.com/patent/US512319 US patent n.512319] .</ref> which was claimed to draw excess ink back into the pen barrel when the pen was not in use.  The company's first successful pen, released in 1899, was the [[Parker Jointless]]. The Lucky Curve feed was used in various forms until 1928.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fountainpen.it/The_Parker_Pen_Company/en|title=Parker/en – FountainPen|website=www.fountainpen.it|access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426020807/http://www.fountainpen.it/The_Parker_Pen_Company/en|archive-date=26 April 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Parker-51s.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Several models of the [[Parker 51]], regarded as the most widely used model of fountain pen]]
From the 1920s to the 1960s, before the development of the [[ballpoint pen]], Parker was either number one or number two in worldwide writing instrument sales. In 1931, Parker created [[Quink]] (quick drying ink), which eliminated the need for blotting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parkerpen.com/en/discovery/inks/quink|title=Sorry|website=www.parkerpen.com|access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527131803/http://www.parkerpen.com/en/discovery/inks/quink|archive-date=27 May 2013}}</ref> In 1941, the company developed the most widely used fountain pen model in history, the [[Parker 51]], which led to over $400 million in sales during its 30-year history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://parkerpens.net/parker51.html|title=Parker Penography: PARKER 51|website=parkerpens.net|access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022154247/http://www.parkerpens.net/parker51.html|archive-date=22 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.booksaboutpens.com/catalog_en/index.asp?id=2763|title=Books About Pens|website=www.booksaboutpens.com|access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708082949/http://www.booksaboutpens.com/catalog_en/index.asp?id=2763|archive-date=8 July 2011}}</ref> Manufacturing facilities were set up over the years in Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Mexico, USA, Pakistan, India, Germany (Osmia-Parker), Brazil and Argentina.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

[[File:Duofold Desk Set.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Parker Duofold]] desk set, 1930]]
[[File:Parker-jotter.jpg|thumb|[[Parker Jotter]] pen]]
In 1954, Parker released the [[Parker Jotter]] ballpoint<ref>{{cite web |title=Parker Jotter |url=https://unsharpen.com/pen/parker-jotter-ballpoint-pen/ |website=Unsharpen.com |access-date=31 January 2021 |archive-date=14 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214033500/https://unsharpen.com/pen/parker-jotter-ballpoint-pen/ |url-status=live }}</ref> pen with its original nylon body and inverted "V" clip. The Jotter would go on to sell over 750 million units during its history. In 1955, the company introduced its Liquid Lead pencil, which used liquid graphite to write like a pen.  However, the [[Scripto]] company had introduced a similar product called Fluidlead a few months prior. To avoid a costly patent fight, the companies agreed to share their formulas with each other.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://parkerpens.net/liquidlead.html | title=Vintage Pen Blog | publisher=GoPens.com | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906034612/https://parkerpens.net/liquidlead.html | archive-date=6 September 2017}}</ref>

The company bought retailer and catalog company [[Norm Thompson (company)|Norm Thompson]] in 1973, and then sold it in 1981.<ref>{{cite news | title=Portland's Norm Thompson is 40 and still growing| last=Hambug| first=Ken  |date=20 November 1989|work=The Oregonian| page=C9}}</ref> In 1976, Parker acquired [[Manpower Inc.|Manpower]] just as the temporary staffing market was surging.  In time Manpower provided more revenue than the pen business.  A 1982 spinoff, Sintered Specialties, Inc., became SSI Technologies, a manufacturer of automotive sensors.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

A management buyout in 1986 moved the company's headquarters to [[Newhaven, East Sussex]], England, which was the original location of the Valentine Pen Company previously acquired by Parker. In 1993, Parker was purchased by the [[Gillette Company]], which already owned the [[Paper Mate]] brand – the best-selling disposable ballpoint. In 2000, Gillette sold its writing instruments division to the company [[Newell Rubbermaid]], whose Sanford Stationery Division became the largest writing instrument manufacturers in the world at that time, simultaneously owning such brand names as [[Rotring]], Sharpie, Reynolds as well as Parker, PaperMate, [[Waterman pens|Waterman]], and [[Liquid Paper]].{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

After Parker's unique design [[patent]] for its Jotter classic metal ink refill cartridge expired, low cost generic copies produced in [[China]] led to increased commercial competition. Parker's sales began to see drastic adverse effects as a result. In July 2009, ''Newell Rubbermaid Inc.'' in response announced that it had decided to close down the Parker production factory at Newhaven in England, with the dismissal of 180 employees from the facility, and relocate production to France.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/sussex/8154432.stm Sussex Edition] ; [[BBC News]].</ref> The following month, Newell Rubbermaid Inc. announced that the factory in [[Janesville, Wisconsin]], was also to close the remaining operation there producing Parker Pens (which eliminated a further 153 manufacturing jobs). The company press release stated: "This decision is a response to structural issues accelerated by market trends and is in no way a reflection on the highly valued work performed by our Janesville employees over the years." Newell Rubbermaid offered 'transitional employment services' along with severance pay in compensation to the dismissed workforce.<ref>[http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/4497779.Parker_Pen_Newhaven_closure_plan_revealed/ Parker Pen Newhaven closure plan revealed] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610193630/http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/4497779.Parker_Pen_Newhaven_closure_plan_revealed/ |date=10 June 2015 }}, The Argus, 16 July 2009</ref><ref>[http://host.madison.com/news/local/article_51d86c10-921d-5dc0-bbd8-9479f584fd01.html Sanford leaving Janesville] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823233657/http://host.madison.com/news/local/article_51d86c10-921d-5dc0-bbd8-9479f584fd01.html |date=23 August 2012 }}, Madison.com, 19 August 2009</ref>

Subsequently, Parker has abandoned its traditional retail outlets in North America. While some of its former staple Jotter pens may be found in retailers such as [[Office Depot]], the Parker line has been moved to upscale "luxury" retailers in an abandonment of its former business model of quality manufacture combined with mass market appeal and pricing.{{Citation needed|date=November 2011}} With this commercial strategic move, Parker also altered its traditional product warranty on its high end pens, changing the former lifetime guarantee to a two-year warranty limitation.<ref>[http://www.parkerpen.com/en-US/warranty Parker Official Website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309120736/http://www.parkerpen.com/en-US/warranty |date=9 March 2014 }}</ref>

Parker Pen Co. was an aviation pioneer. The interest of Parker Pen Co. in aircraft came from Kenneth Parker, son of the founder; he enlisted in the fledgling air service and, after flight training at Miami Air Base, he was assigned to officer training in tactical maneuvers at Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida. From their first company business plane, the Parker Duofold Fairchild, they used it as an innovative advertising weapon inviting{{clarify|date=May 2023}} his dealers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Parker An Invitation to Fly|url=https://parkersheaffer.com/book-0-contens/|website=www.parkersheaffer.com|date=23 May 2020|access-date=30 May 2020|archive-date=29 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729111437/https://parkersheaffer.com/book-0-contens/|url-status=live}}</ref> Between the 1920s and 1960s, Parker maintained a considerable air fleet.

==Models==
Key models in the company's history include:
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Parker Jointless|Jointless]] (1899)
* Jack Knife Safety (1909)
* [[Parker Duofold|Duofold]] (1921) 
* [[Parker Vacumatic|Vacumatic]] (1932) 
* [[Parker 51|51]] (1941) 
* [[Parker Jotter|Jotter]] (1954) 
* 61 (1956) 
* 45 (1964)
* 75 (1964) 
* Classic (1967) 
* 25 (1975) 
* 180 (1977)
* Arrow (1982) 
* Vector (1986) 
* Duofold International (1987)
* 95 (1988) 
* Sonnet (1993) 
* Parker 100 (2004)
{{div col end}}

=== Parker Jointless ===
{{Excerpt|Parker Jointless|paragraphs=1-3|files=no}}

=== Parker Duofold ===
{{Main|Parker Duofold}}

=== Parker Vacumatic ===
{{Excerpt|Parker Vacumatic|files=1}}

=== Parker 51 ===
{{Excerpt|Parker 51}}

=== Parker Jotter ===
{{Excerpt|Parker Jotter}}

=== Parker 25 ===
The Parker 25 was a pen introduced by the Parker Pen Company in 1975. Created by the designer [[Kenneth Grange]] based on a detailed brief,<ref>See Malcolm Toak, ''Pen to Paper, The Story of Newhaven's Pen Factory'', New Anzac Publications, 2005</ref> it was manufactured in [[Newhaven, East Sussex|Newhaven]], England and produced in a variety of different versions until 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parker Pens Penography: PARKER 25 |url=https://parkerpens.net/parker25.html |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=parkerpens.net |archive-date=24 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224013026/http://www.parkerpens.net/parker25.html |url-status=live }}</ref> An eye-catching, contemporary-looking pen, with mainly steel components, the Parker 25 was intended to revive the company's fortunes. As ''The Guardian'' wrote, '(Grange's) classic Parker pen had the machined lustre of a bullet. In fact, its tapering barrel was inspired by an American space rocket, a form that enabled the lid to be the same diameter as the pen no matter which end it was attached to.'<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-07-19 |title=Kenneth Grange: A very British modernist |url=http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/jul/19/kenneth-grange-british-modernist |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=the Guardian |language=en |archive-date=22 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122160623/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/jul/19/kenneth-grange-british-modernist |url-status=live }}</ref> It was affordable enough to become a staple entry-level pen for both work and leisure uses – and for secondary school students at a time when fountain pens were still obligatory in many British schools. Advertising slogans used to market Parker 25s included 'Modern as Tomorrow', 'Space Age Design, Space Age Performance', 'European Styled' and 'Contemporary, Highly Functional Design'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=publications-and-prices |url=https://www.moreengineering.co.uk/publicationsandprices |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=My Site 15444 |language=en |archive-date=22 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122160706/https://www.moreengineering.co.uk/publicationsandprices |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Parker 25 flighters.jpg|thumb|250px|Parker 25 flighters]]
Parker 25s were issued in several variants: initially, fountain pen, ballpoint, fibre point and mechanical pencil.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moreengineering.co.uk/models/458277434|title = Moreengineering}}</ref> A rollerball model was introduced in 1981, and fibre tips were phased out a couple of years later. While the great majority of Parker 25s were 'flighters', with a brushed steel finish, matte black and later white versions were issued between 1978 and 1987. The pens had four different trim colours: blue (the most common), black, green, and most rarely of all, orange. Orange trim Parker 25s were discontinued in 1976 following a copyright dispute with [[Rotring]], and surviving examples are very sought after. A striking feature of all Parker 25s is the square plastic tassie logo on the clip.

The earliest Mark I Parker 25 fountain pens dating from the first year of production feature a distinctive breather hole in the nib. While the original models had a flat plastic circle on top of the cap, Mark III and IV pens have a round ridge on this inner cap. Pens manufactured from 1980 feature letter date codes which were changed every quarter. Those manufactured from 1990 are stamped 'Made in UK'; earlier pens were inscribed 'Made in England'. Pens without any manufacture stamps, or inscribed 'Made in Aust', are very rare. Parker 25s were all assembled in Britain by hand<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.moreengineering.co.uk/introduction/4582901246|title=Introduction – moreengineering|access-date=8 April 2020|archive-date=28 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228083415/http://www.moreengineering.co.uk/introduction/4582901246|url-status=live}}</ref> – unlike Jotters, Vectors and other mass market pens – and were very minimalist, comprising between 9 and 11 components.

The 25 was an extremely successful pen for Parker commercially, especially during its first decade or so of production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://parkerpens.net/parker25.html|title=Parker Pens Penography: PARKER 25|access-date=8 April 2020|archive-date=24 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224013026/http://www.parkerpens.net/parker25.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A number of promotional versions were made up to order, featuring company logos on the barrel (the matte black and white versions were often branded in this way), clip or cap.

Some pen fans are rather disparaging about the Parker 25, which lacks the status of the [[Parker Duofold]]<ref>See David Shepherd and Dan Zazove, ''Parker Duofold'', Surrenden Pens Ltd, 2006.</ref> or the storied [[Parker 51]].<ref>See David Shepherd and Mark Shepherd, ''Parker "51"'', Surrenden Pens Ltd, 2004.</ref> But in recent years they have been enjoying a revival, their space age look evoking nostalgia for the final quarter of the twentieth century. The Parker 25 was even given the accolade of an exhibition stand at the [[Victoria and Albert Museum]].<ref>Kenneth Grange at the Boilerhouse, Parker 25, ''Design Council Slide Collection'', Victoria and Albert Museum, https://vads.ac.uk/large.php?uid=53760&sos=0</ref>

=== Parker 180 ===
The Parker 180 was developed in the 1970s. Introduced to market in 1977 as an attempt to modernize the then-floundering fountain pen industry, the 180 was a slender pen with a very unusual flat [[nib (pen)|nib]] design.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://parkerpens.net/parker180.html|title=Parker Pens Penography: PARKER 180|website=parkerpens.net|access-date=2014-01-14|archive-date=2014-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115071417/http://parkerpens.net/parker180.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  The "180" is a play on [[Degree (angle)|180°]], because the pen was meant to be used in either a rightside-up or upside-down orientation to modify the width of the line drawn by the pen.  It was offered in either an "X/M" ("Extra-Fine / Medium") or "F/B" ("Fine / Broad") configuration. Towards the end of its production the nibs made were not two point nibs, and was marked as X, F, M or B.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://richardspens.com/?page=ref%2Fprofiles%2F180.htm|title=RichardsPens.com • Pens That Write Right!|website=richardspens.com|access-date=2023-04-03|archive-date=2022-12-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213235812/http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref%2Fprofiles%2F180.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Like many Parker fountain pens, the 180 had a flexible ink sac reservoir.  To load the pen with [[ink]], one would remove the outer casing of the pen body, lower the nib into a bottle of ink, and squeeze-and-release the ink sac, drawing ink into the pen as the springy rubber sac returned to its rest shape.

===Parker Vector===
[[File:Parker Vector Stainless Steel Ballpoint Pen.jpg|thumb|250px|Parker Vector stainless steel ballpoint pen]]
The precursor to the Parker Vector was introduced in 1981.  It was a simple cylindrical plastic cap and barrel [[roller-ball pen]] called the "Parker RB1".<ref>Note: The RB1 name stands for "Rollerball 1".</ref> In 1984, Parker added the FP1 ("Fountain Pen 1"), with essentially the same design.  The RB1 and FP1 models were produced until 1986, at which time Parker revised the pen by lengthening the cap and shortening the barrel and renaming the new pen the "Vector Standard".  Presently, there are four models available (in plastic and steel): the fountain pen, capped rollerball, pushbutton ballpoint, and pushbutton pencil.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jr |first=Ralph Gardner |date=2010-12-09 |title=When Parker Pens Ruled |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703493504576007640835661876 |access-date=2022-11-22 |issn=0099-9660 |archive-date=12 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812073307/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703493504576007640835661876 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== US Presidential Parkers ==
[[File:Bill Clinton Parker Insignia Set.jpg|thumb|250px|Bill Clinton Parker Insignia Set]]
Parker Jotters were a favorite choice of President [[John F. Kennedy]] for signing legislation and to give as gifts.<ref>{{cite web|title=John F. Kennedy Parker Jotter Pen|url=http://store.jfklibrary.org/john-f-kennedy-parker-jotter-pen/paaaiacnmfeikfdc/product|website=John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum|publisher=JFK Library and museum|access-date=3 February 2017|quote=President Kennedy's Favorite Pen|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905183343/http://store.jfklibrary.org/john-f-kennedy-parker-jotter-pen/paaaiacnmfeikfdc/product|archive-date=5 September 2015}}</ref> Successive presidents from Kennedy to Clinton used Parker pens for these purposes, and Parker retained a special representative, John W. Gibbs, to handle White House orders. In one of his early years in office, [[Lyndon Johnson]] ordered no less than 60,000 Parker pens. LBJ would use up to 75 pens to sign each important document and bill, writing different strokes of the letters of his name with different pens, and giving them all away to allies and supporters with little typed certificates. After Parker ceased to be an American-owned company, later presidents switched to using [[A. T. Cross Company]] pens.<ref name="Loring">{{cite web|last1=Loring|first1=John|title=The Presidential Pen – the first fifty years|url=http://www.loringpage.com/attpensetc/penbookupdate.html|publisher=John Loring|access-date=3 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227012404/http://www.loringpage.com/attpensetc/penbookupdate.html|archive-date=27 December 2016}}</ref>

==Products==
Products offered by the Parker Pen Company {{Asof|2012|lc=y}}:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parkerpen.com/#/en/press|title=Welcome to Parker|website=www.parkerpen.com|access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315102238/http://www.parkerpen.com/#/en/press|archive-date=15 March 2018}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;margin:1em auto;"
! Type !! Model
|-
| align="center" | 5th Technology  || I.M., Ingenuity, Sonnet, Urban
|-
|align=center| [[Fountain pen]]s || [[Parker Duofold|Duofold]], Premier, Frontier, Sonnet, Facet, Esprit, Urban, I.M., Vector, [[Parker Jotter|Jotter]]
|-
|align=center| [[Ballpoint pen]]s || Reflex, Facet, Executive, Esprit, Frontier, Urban, I.M., Vector, Jotter, Classic
|-
|align=center| [[Ink]]s and refills || [[Quink]], 5TH Mode
|}

==See also==
* [[List of pen types, brands and companies]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website}}
* [http://www.parkercollector.com Information site for 130 years of Parker pens]
* [http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Parker/Parker.htm Parker pens gallery on Penhero site]
 
{{Newell Brands}}
{{Pen manufacturers}}
{{Fountain pen manufacturers}}
{{British Royal Warrant holders}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Parker pens|*]]
[[Category:British royal warrant holders]]
[[Category:Fountain pen and ink manufacturers]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1888]]
[[Category:Newell Brands]]
[[Category:Pencil brands]]
[[Category:Ink brands]]
[[Category:Pen manufacturers]]
[[Category:1993 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2000 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]