December 4, 2008
Telegraphy teacher George Parker, dissatisfied with his students’ pens, invented and patented his own feeder in 1894, making ink spills less common by drawing excess ink back into the pen. By 1908 Parker claimed to be the largest pen manufacturer in the world, and in 1941 the Parker 51 model (considered by many the finest American pen) made pen history with its quick drying ink, 14k gold nib, and quick action filler.
The widely imitated Parker 51, with 300 million produced (through 1972 in the U.S.) offers many variations and has become very popular with collectors in recent years. The original models had 14kt gold nibs fitted inside a hood to avoid leaks, and a sleek Lucite body. They used a specially developed, fast drying ink which came in four colors.
Parker 51 collectors typically seek clean, unblemished caps. Brushed stainless steel caps are the most common, followed by gold filled caps, sterling silver caps and solid gold caps. Gold filled, sterling and solid gold caps are unusual to find in pristine condition, and typically have dings or dents, which diminishes their value.
When I got my first job out of college, I did what a lot of people do: I ran out and bought myself a Montblan… [more]
The Parker "51," produced by the Parker Pen Company, is considered by many collectors to be the best pen ever… [more]
Ernesto Soler's extensive homage to one of the most popular pens ever produced, the Parker "51," introduced in 1941… [more]
Jim Mamoulides' vintage and modern pen-cyclopedia. Start at the main gallery, featuring detailed articles (with pho… [more]
This site has lots of great photos and descriptions of rare vintage ink bottles. In particular, check out the Water… [more]
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