The Parker Pen Company

The founder of Parker Pens was George Safford Parker. He was once a salesman for the John Holland Gold Pen Comapy. In 1889 he received his first pen related patent. Then in 1894 he received a patent for his "Lucky Curve" feed whick drew excess ink back into the pen body when the pen was not in use. This design was in use until 1928.

Parker pens was number one or two in worldwide pen sales from the 1920s through the 1960s. In 1931 Parker created "Quink"...quick drying ink. This eliminated the need for blotting. This led to the development of the Parker 51, the most widely used model of fountain pen in history with over $400M in sales worldwide in its 30 year history.

Manufacturing plants were set up all over the world. Parker pens have frequently been selected to sign important document. Most often this was the choice of signers as their favorite pen. Often commemorative editions were created and offered to the public.

Parker Pens has dabbled in other areas besides pens such as Norm Thompson catalog company, Manpower temporary staffing and Sintered Specialties (SSI Technologies - automotive sensors). In 1987 a management buyout move the headquarters to Newhaven, East Sussex, England. This was the original location of the Valentine Pen Company (previously acquired by Parker).

In 1993 Parker Pens was purchased by the Gillette Company. Gillette already owned PaperMate. Then in 2000 Gillette sold its writing instruments division to Newell Rubbermaid. This made their Stationary Division, Sanford, the largest in the world owning Rotring, Sharpie, Reynolds, PaperMate, Parker, Waterman and Liquid Paper.