In 1981, in Janesville, Wisconsin, a man named George Stafford Parker founded the Parker Pen Company. Previously, Parker had been a sales agent for the John Holland Gold Pen Company. In 1889, Parker established his first fountain pen related patent. Later, in 1894, he obtained a patent on his “Lucky Curve” feed. The “Lucky Curve” feed was made to draw excess ink back into the pen body when the pen was not in use. This method was used in numerous forms until 1928.
Parker was either number one or number two in worldwide writing instrument sales from the 1920s to the 1960s, until the rise in popularity of the ballpoint pen. In 1931, the Quink was created by Parker. The Quink was “quick drying ink,” that eliminated the need for blotting. The Quink also led to the development of the Parker 51, the most widely used model of fountain pen in history. In its 30 year history, the Parker 51 was worth over $400 million in sales. Manufacturing amenities were set up over the years in Canada, England, Denmark, France, Mexico, and Argentina. The Parker pens were a favorite amongst signers who selected the pen to sign important documents such as the World War II truce.
Manpower was obtained by Parker in 1976, just as the temporary staffing market was unstable. Parker soon learned that Manpower provided more profits than the pen business. Although, in 1987, a management takeover occurred and moved the company headquarters to Newhaven, East Sussex, England. Then later in 1993, Parker’s company was obtained by the Gillette Company, who already owned the Papermate brand, already been titled as one of the best-selling disposable ballpoints. In 2000, Gillette then sold the writing instruments division to Newell Rubbermaid. Rubbermaid owned Stationery Division, Sanford, which became the largest in the world owning such brand names as Rotring, Sharpie, Reynolds, as well as Parker, Papermate, Waterman, and Liquid paper.
The Parker Fountain Pen Company is best known for making pens that are amongst the most prominent and collectible in the world.