Tag: ways-and-means

Neil Thompson asked:

It was on December 10, 1889, when George Parker was given his first ever patent for his fountain pen. This did not stop him from finding ways and means to develop his fountain pens and making them better in terms of quality. In the span of just 18 short months, Parker was given yet another 2 patents for his pens. At this point in time, his pens were considered much of an improvement in the industry as well.

It was in 1892 when Parker decided to partner with William F. Palmer. Both had been friends for quite some time, with Palmer being one of the successful insurance workers or agents at the time. With their partnership sealed came the rise of the Parker Pen Company. The next few years saw a lot of promise for the partnership, with Parker acquiring more and more patents for his pens.

One particular patent that caught the attention of many people in the market is that of the Lucky Curve pen, which was patented back in 1894. This pen was one of the first to make use of capillary action. What happens here is that the pen’s design has been developed to prevent the warming of the ink when exposed to temperature from the grip of the fingers. Also, the curve helps in avoiding the ink from getting soiled, especially when the cap is removed. In 1898, the Lucky Curve pen was redesigned by Parker himself, making it an underfeed pen now, and giving it a more appealing appearance to the eye.

With the onset of the next century, the fountain pen was increasingly becoming a status symbol amongst the elite. This can be attributed to the fact that only the educated and the elite could read and write, thus, being the only ones who would have the need for a fountain pen. Having a reliable Parker Pen in tow is a strong indication that the owner is as educated as the elite should come. What’s more, the underfeed fountain pens developed at the time came with gold nibs, making them all the more expensive to the sight. During the period of 1900 and 1915, Parker developed silver, gold, mother of pearl, or gold-filled fountain pens, which are now treated as collectibles in the industry.

It was also around this period when the Snake Pen was developed. This legendary pen was made of black rubber that was hard to the touch. The pen was eyedropper filled, and had a snake that was wound around the barrel and the cap. The snake came in either gold or sterling silver. The snakes also came with emeralds or rubies for their eyes. Truly one of the impressive collectibles you can ever find in the market.

But it was in 1906 when the company’s Emblem pen was developed. This was the pen that first carried logos associated with secret societies. Have you ever heard of the Knights of Columbus? The Parker Emblem pen has carried their logo as well. Today, the Parker Pen Company can vouch for 60,000 logos that they have in their database. These logos are representatives of all sorts of businesses and companies around the world.

In 1921, though, the company launched yet another first in fountain pen history, the Parker Duofold. This fountain pen was quite oversized, bearing the bright color of orange. The Duofold was clearly a leap from the contemporary style and design that has long been associated with the fountain pen. But the public adored it, making the pen a huge success right then and there!

Today, the Parker Pen Company has expanded overseas, with branches in Canada and in England. The huge empire built by George Parker is definitely one that is here to stay, particularly in the fountain pen industry.