Parker Pens

About Antique and Vintage Parker Pens

George Parker patented his first pen in 1889 when he was still teaching telegraphy students how to transcribe Morse code. In 1894, he invented and patented his "lucky curve" feed system, which greatly reduced the leakage that was a common problem of early eyedropper fountain pens. By 1905, Parker’s Lucky Curve pens were a force to be reckoned with in the growing fountain-pen industry.

The Parker Jack Knife Safety pen arrived in 1911. Its cap could be screwed down to the pen’s body, making it ink-tight. One especially prized model had a transparent, amber, Bakelite body. Other Parker pens from the 1910s include the no. 15, a ladies model with a mother-of-pearl barrel and black hard-rubber caps that were either crowned by a semi-precious stone or covered in gold-filled filigree. The Parker no. 16 was a very small pen with gold-filled filigree, while the descriptive name of the Black Giant pretty much sums up its utilitarian design...

The Jack Knife evolved into the "Big Red" button-filler Duofold in 1921, which was advertised to "rival the beauty of the scarlet tanager." Duofolds in Mandarin yellow and lapis lazuli followed in 1927. Vintage yellow Duofolds are extremely collectible, but a blue model named for the Zaner Blouser calligraphy school is one of the most rare Parkers ever made.

In fact, as a group, the vintage Parker Duofold fountain pens from the 1920s are extraordinarily beautiful writing instruments. Jade pens made out of a branded plastic called Permanite were sold in a variety of sizes (Junior, Ladies, Senior) and in sets with matching mechanical pencils. Some Duofolds had pearl handles and caps, veined with black plastic. Apple green and "Modernistic blue" were other popular colors, as were moiré-patterned fountain pens, which ranged from pink to blue.

The Vacumatics followed the Duofolds in 1932. These pens held twice as much ink as those that had preceded them (102 percent more, to be specific), and, for the first time, the clip on the cap was shaped like an arrow, which would become a symbol of the Parker brand. These were also Parker’s first mass-produced pens. Some had horizontal layers of silver alternating with translucent plastic, which allowed the user to see how much ink was left in the pen. Codes were printed on all Vacumatic barrels, making them relatively easy to date today.

A Junior Vacumatic was introduced in 1934—the Golden Web pattern from that series lasted only from 1936 until about 1938, making it a particularly prized Parker for collectors. Even more rare is the Imperial Vacumatic from 1939, which was produced to compete with the Sheaffer Crest.

That same year, 1939, the company finished developing the pen for which it would become best known, the Parker 51. Released in 1941, the pen used a new, quick-drying ink, which meant that the ink in the pen had to be carefully sealed from exposure to air. A molded internal "collector" kept ink at the ready without drying out. Its tough Lucite body was sleek, and its cap resembled the nosecone of a fighter plane—in fact, Lucite had been developed for the canopies on such planes. No surprise, then, that the Parker 51 was chosen to sign the peace treaty between the U.S. and Japan at the end of World War II.

The original Parker 51 had a quick-action, vacumatic-type filler, but in 1948, this was replaced with an aerometric filler, which was actually similar to some of the sleeve-filler systems that had been around for 40 years. 1948 was also the year the pen’s arrow clip was redesigned.

Parker 51s are not especially valuable, so collectors who want to actually use one to write with would do well to choose a post-1948 model, since they tend to work better. For collectors who want to find a 51 to put away, look for models with solid-gold caps, Empire 51s, pens with small aluminum "jewels" at the bases of their clips, and the pre-production models tested in Venezuela, Columbia, Spain, and other climates with high humidity to test the tolerances of the ink.

Other notable Parker pens from the post-war era include the Parkette, a low-priced, lever-filler model from the early 1950s that looked like a 51 but was marketed to students; the Parker Jotter, which was Parker’s 1954 entry into the ballpoint pen wars (the 51 Jotter resembled the famous Parker 51); the self-wicking (but, at $20, expensive for its time) Parker 61 from 1956; and the Parker 75 of 1964, whose silver, engraved, grid-pattern body was an instant classic.

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Interviews & Articles

An Interview With Vintage Fountain Pen Collector Jim Mamoulides

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]

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Parker Duofold Tiffany's Sterling Silver Fountain Pen$255.00 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 21 watchers
Parker Duofold International Fountain Pens Made In U.k$250.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 10 watchers
Parker 61 Pen - Solid Gold - Vintage - Rare$221.77 Ends Sunday 16 bids 56 watchers
Montblanc Meisterstuck Legrand 146 Fountain Pen. Nos$202.49 Ends Friday 2 bids 11 watchers
Parker Duofold Centennial Fountain Pen Pearl & Black M$201.01 Ends Sunday 5 bids 24 watchers
Delta Dreidel Black Fountain Pen Hanukkah$200.01 Ends Tuesday 9 bids 3 watchers
Antique Parker-heath Lucky Curve Sterling Fountain Pen$188.50 Ends Tuesday 6 bids 28 watchers
Pelikan M800 Demonstrator Fountain Pen Medium Nib$187.50 Ends Monday 6 bids 19 watchers
3 Parts Or Repair Parker "51" Vacumatic Fountain Pens$177.50 Ends Tuesday 13 bids 17 watchers
1945 Parker Blue Diamond Fountain Pen & Pencil$177.50 Ends in 19 hours 7 bids 11 watchers
Parker Duofold International Fountain Pen (m) Blk 03252$174.51 Ends Sunday 2 bids 7 watchers
Vintage Red Parker Lucky Curve Duofold Senior $158.50 Ends Sunday 15 bids 32 watchers
Parker 51 Fountain Pen + Pencil Set Satin Gold Jeweled$157.50 Ends Tuesday 6 bids 9 watchers
Montegrappa Eternal Bird Ltd Edition Fountain Pen $152.50 Ends Wednesday 4 bids 3 watchers
Parker Duofold (mint) Marble Blue Cent Fountain Pen$151.05 Ends Sunday 7 bids 31 watchers
Vintage Fantastic Parker Duofold Senior Lucky Coral Red$140.70 Ends Sunday 6 bids 15 watchers
Parker Duofold Fountain Pen Pearl International 18kt $138.38 Ends Monday 6 bids 19 watchers
Vintage Parker Duofold Lucky Curve Deluxe Fountain Pen$131.50 Ends in 11 hours 5 bids 5 watchers
Parker **imperial Vacumatic** Full Size, Restored $128.10 Ends Sunday 11 bids 47 watchers
Parker 61 Fountain Pen-red-silver Rainbow Cap-ex-works$124.99 Ends Tuesday 4 bids 13 watchers
Parker 51 Pen$123.50 Ends Sunday 5 bids 13 watchers
Near Mint Limited Edition Parker Rockwell Fountain Pen$122.49 Ends Sunday 4 bids 17 watchers
Very Rare French Parker " Duofold" Plexor Excellent$115.52 Ends Sunday 1 bid 4 watchers
Parker Duofold Black Dna Limited Edition Fountain Pen$113.02 Ends Sunday 6 bids 17 watchers
1946 Vintage Parker 51 Fountain Pen & Pencil Set W/box$112.50 Ends Monday 24 bids 7 watchers
Parker Mandarin Duofold Junior, 100% Original, C1927$110.50 Ends Sunday 6 bids 30 watchers
Maxima 1937 Parker Oversize Fat Vacumatic Fountain Pen$105.59 Ends Sunday 7 bids 38 watchers
Parker 61 Rage Red Fountain Pen, Rainbow Cap$103.51 Ends Monday 7 bids 3 watchers
Vintage Parker 17 Super Duofold F/ Pen &ballpoint-boxed$103.05 Ends Wednesday 14 bids 7 watchers
Parker Duofold Blue Marble Fountain Pen New & Sealed$102.50 Ends Tuesday 4 bids 25 watchers
Parker 75 Sterling Silver & Gold Ballpoint Pen - Usa $102.50 Ends in 23 hours 24 bids 16 watchers
Montegrappa Modigliani Fountain Pen$102.50 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 4 watchers
Pelikan M800 Demonstrator Fountain Pen O.m Nib$102.50 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 1 watcher
Parker 75 Silver Cisele Fountain Pen Flat End Mib $100.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 13 watchers
Parker Vacumatic Fountain Pen/pencil-gold/brown Striped$99.99 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 8 watchers
Parker Vacumatic Golden Pearl". Slender Maxima$98.89 Ends Sunday 1 bid 3 watchers
Vintage Parker " Moderne" C.1930/33 Gold And Green$98.89 Ends Sunday 1 bid 3 watchers
Parker 51 Blue Diamond Vacumatic---sterlin Silver Cap$91.01 Ends Sunday 3 bids 15 watchers
Parker "51" Fantasy "flighter" Rb, Ariel Kullock, New!!$89.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 4 watchers
Vintage Gold Double Jewel End Parker 65 Fountain Pen$88.00 Ends in 12 hours 12 bids 7 watchers
Parker 51, Gold Fill Cap, Excellent, Working$84.95 Ends Sunday 11 bids 48 watchers
Parker 51 Blue Diamond Vac Fountain Pen--w/case$84.95 Ends Sunday 1 bid 6 watchers
Parker 51 Fountain Pen (made In England)$82.26 Ends Monday 1 bid 2 watchers
Parker 75 Spanish Treasure Fleet Fountain Pen Buy it Now$78.77 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 15 watchers
Near Mint Parker Falcon Set C.1980 - England Beauty!$78.12 Ends in 15 hours 4 bids 16 watchers
5 Antique Large Sheaffer & Parker Fountain Pens/pencil$78.00 Ends in 19 hours 7 bids 29 watchers
Parker Duofold Centennial Fountain Pen - No Reserve$76.00 Ends Tuesday 3 bids 22 watchers
Vtg 1974 Parker 75 Pen Pencil Fountain Pen Set W/extras$74.99 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 11 watchers
Vintage 1948 Parker 51 Gold Filled Fountain Pen$71.00 Ends Sunday 7 bids 6 watchers
Parker75 Sterling Silver Fountain Pen 14kt Vintage$71.00 Ends in 14 hours 7 bids 7 watchers
Super Vintage Parker Vacumatic Shadow Wave Fountain Pen$69.99 Ends in 12 hours 1 bid 9 watchers
Vintage Parker Vacumatic Fountain Pen. Restored$69.00 Ends Monday 1 bid 6 watchers

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Recent News: Parker Pens

Source: Google News

Cutline Cutline CutlineLOS ANGELES TIMES / ANGELINA QU
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, November 17th

Chinese government archives say the locals also found a parachute, firearms and a Parker pen. Even after all the large pieces of the plane were taken,...Read more

US warplane fell from the sky and into obscurity
Los Angeles Times, November 16th

Chinese government archives say the locals also found a parachute, firearms and a Parker pen. Even after all the large pieces of the plane were taken,...Read more

New Lidl supermarket planned for Newhaven
Sussex Express, November 13th

Cllr Steve Saunders said: "I think with the closure of Parker Pen it's going to be an opportunity - some of the people may be up for re-employment...Read more

Employee reunion offers past Parker Pen workers a chance to bid farewell to ...
Janesville Gazette, November 13th

13, 2009 Julie Treiner, seated, is surprised to see Tammy Waller at the Parker Pen employee reunion dinner held Thursday at the Pontiac Convention Center in...Read more

Sanford closing cuts 140 jobs
Janesville Gazette, November 11th

The Sanford operation is one of the last tangible remnants of The Parker Pen Co. founded in Janesville in 1892. In 1986, Parker's investors and managers in...Read more

Sanford sets timing of Janesville layoffs
Milwaukee Business Journal, November 9th

Sanford, which owns Parker Pen Co. and is a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Newell Rubbermaid Inc., announced in August that it would shutter its Janesville...Read more

Dorothy Parker Evening, Wished on the Moon, Plays Don't Tell Mama Nov. 4
Playbill.com, November 3rd

In the evening, Scott does not portray humorist Dorothy Parker, but seeks "to capture her essence through a character that's inspired by Parker's pen...Read more

The two faces of Park Chung Hee
JoongAng Daily, October 28th

He used a Parker pen to stimulate Korean pen makers; a foreign-made tie because the knots on Korean ties often came untied; and an electric shaver from...Read more

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