The Legacy of Parker: How a Century-Old Pen Company Continues to Inspire Writers

Introduction

The Parker Pen Company is known as one of the world’s largest pen manufacturers, famous for their craftsmanship and extraordinary skill, expertise and passion for the art of pen making.

In this article, we will explore the legacy of Parker, and why they are known as “The world’s best pen manufacturer”

How It All Started

George Safford Parker was an American inventor and entrepreneur who founded the Parker Pen Company in 1888. Born in 1863 in Shullsburg, Wisconsin, George Parker later moved to Janesville where he started his own company. Before founding the Parker Pen Company, George worked as a pen salesman for the John Holland Gold Pen Company. However, he wanted the quality of the pens he was selling to be better and dreamt of creating the perfect pen.

This enduring philosophy still inspires Parker’s experts today. Throughout his career, He was dedicated to improving the writing experience for his customers and this commitment to excellence is evident in the continued success of the Parker Pen Company.

Under George’s leadership, the company developed many popular products such as Quink (quick drying ink) which eliminated the need for blotting and the Parker 51 fountain pen which is regarded as the most widely used model of the fountain pen. George’s legacy lives on through these innovations and through his commitment to fine pen craftsmanship.

The Parker Pens that led to Parker’s Success 

The Parker Duofold pen was first produced in 1921 and was made of red hard rubber. Later, smaller models were introduced. In 1926, new colours made of “unbreakable Permanite” were introduced. The parker duofold was dropped from 3000 feet and didn't break. This pen was given a 25-year guarantee of not leaking.

In 1933 Parker introduced ‘The Parker Vacumatic’, it managed to out-sell the Parker Duofold. It was originally called ‘The Arrow Clip’ because it was the first pen to feature Parker’s now iconic arrow clip, but it was then changed to ‘The Parker Vacumatic’ because of its unique ink-filling system that took 5 years to develop.

In 1941 Parker Released ‘The Parker 51’, known to be the favourite fountain pen of Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II. The pen and the ink were both named ‘51’ as it was the company’s 51st anniversary. 

In 1954 Parker introduced the ‘Parker Jotter’, a ball pen with a refill that has been made an international standard. Since 1954 over 750 million units of the Parker jotter have been sold.

Conclusion

For over a century, the Parker Pen Company has been igniting the imaginations of writers with their exquisite pens that embody innovation, quality and elegance. Whether you seek the fluidity of a fountain pen, the precision of a ballpoint pen, the smoothness of a rollerball pen or the vibrancy of a gel pen, you will find your heart’s desire in Parker’s collection. But Parker pens are more than mere writing instruments; they are symbols of sophistication and creativity that elevate your style to new heights. And with personalization options such as engraving or embossing, they make unforgettable gifts for any occasion. The legacy and experience of Parker are reflected in its illustrious users such as Queen Elizabeth II, J.K. Rowling and Arthur Conan Doyle.