History Parker Pen Company

a gold parker i.m. pen

george safford parker, founder, had been sales agent john holland gold pen company. received first fountain pen related patent in 1889. in 1894 parker received patent on lucky curve fountain pen feed, claimed draw excess ink pen barrel when pen not in use. company s first successful pen, released in 1899, parker jointless. lucky curve feed used in various forms until 1928.

a parker frontier ball-point pen

from 1920s 1960s, before development of ballpoint pen, parker either number 1 or number 2 in worldwide writing instrument sales. in 1931 parker created quink (quick drying ink), eliminated need blotting. in 1941 company developed used model of fountain pen in history (over $400 million worth of sales in 30-year history), parker 51. manufacturing facilities set on years in canada, united kingdom, denmark, france, mexico, usa, pakistan, india, germany (osmia-parker), brazil , argentina.

parker duofold desk set, 1930

in 1955, company introduced liquid lead pencil used liquid graphite write pen. unfortunately, scripto company had introduced similar product called fluidlead few months previously. avoid costly patent fight companies agreed share formulas each other.

the company bought retailer , catalog company norm thompson in 1973, , sold in 1981. in 1976 parker acquired manpower temporary staffing market surging. in time manpower provided more revenue pen business. 1982 spinoff, sintered specialties, inc., became ssi technologies, manufacturer of automotive sensors.

a management buyout in 1987 moved company s headquarters newhaven, east sussex, england, original location of valentine pen company acquired parker. in 1993 parker purchased gillette company, owned paper mate brand - best-selling disposable ballpoint. in 2000 gillette sold writing instruments division company newell rubbermaid, sanford stationery division became largest writing instrument manufacturers in world @ time, simultaneously owning such brand names rotring, sharpie, reynolds parker, papermate, waterman, , liquid paper.

with commercial competition increasing upon parker jotter s classic metal ink refill cartridge design low cost generic copies produced in china, parker s unique design patent cartridge expired, parker s sales began drastically adversely affected. in july 2009 newell rubbermaid inc. in response announced had decided close down parker production factory @ newhaven in england dismissal of 180 employees facility, , relocate production france. following month, newell rubbermaid inc. announced factory in janesville, wisconsin, close remaining operation there producing parker pens (which eliminated further 153 manufacturing jobs). company press release stated: decision response structural issues accelerated market trends , in no way reflection on highly valued work performed our janesville employees on years. newell rubbermaid offered transitional employment services along severance pay in compensation dismissed workforce.

subsequently, parker has abandoned traditional retail outlets in north america. while of former staple jotter pens may found in retailers such office depot, parker line has been moved upscale luxury retailers in abandonment of former business model of quality manufacture combined mass market appeal , pricing. commercial strategic move parker altered traditional product warranty on high end pens, changing former lifetime guarantee two-year warranty limitation.