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The Parker Timeline

  • 1888 ¬– The Parker Pen Company is born with George Safford Parker’s motto: ‘It will always be possible to make a better pen.’
  • 1889 – George Safford Parker patents his first fountain pen.
  • 1894 – Parker launches the anti-leak Lucky Curve feed system.
  • 1899 – Parker introduces the Jointless, its first successful pen.
  • 1905 – Parker ‘Black Giant’ bold-profile pen is launched.
  • 1911 – Lucky Curve feed patented.
  • 1914 – Parker secure contract with US War Department to supply ‘Trench Pens’.
  • 1918 – Parker’s sales pass the $1million mark.
  • 1921 – Parker Duofold, the company’s most iconic design, is born. Several iterations and versions of the design follow, but it’s still in production today.
  • 1931 – Parker create Quink (quick-drying ink), eliminating the need for blotting.
  • 1933 – Parker introduce the Vacumatic, which holds twice the amount of ink as the Duofold. It was originally known as the Golden Arrow for its arrow-shaped clip, which would later become the company’s emblem.
  • 1941 – The all-new, cigar-shaped Parker 51 is launched.
  • 1945 – The WWII German surrender is signed by Eisenhower using a Parker 51, while the Japanese surrender is signed by General Douglas MacArthur using a Parker Duofold.
  • 1954 – Parker launches the ever-popular Jotter range.
  • 1957 – The T-Ball hits the market – a tungsten-carbide textured ball, which prevents ink blobbing, and still forms the basis of ballpoint manufacturing today.
  • 1962 – The company wins a warrant to supply Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Household.
  • 1966 – Parker’s first proto-rollerball, the Touche, was launched.
  • 1969 – A special edition Parker Classic is designed to commemorate the moon landings, containing a tiny amount of moon dust.
  • 1970 – The iconic Big Red, a take on the Duofold designs of old, was launched to regain some traction for the fountain pen within in a ballpoint’s market.
  • 1975 – Parker Systemark, the company’s first proper rollerball, was launched.
  • 1976 – Futuristic Parker 25 is launched, made to appeal to younger, fashion-conscious audiences.
  • 1981 – The still-popular Parker Vector is introduced, proving popular with executives for everyday use.
  • 1993 – The high-end Sonnet collection is born.
  • 1996 – The thermoplastic Frontier collection launches.
  • 2009 – Parker release the IM as a functional, affordable stalwart.
  • 2011 – Parker Ingenuity, using ‘Parker 5th mode’ technology, brings a new kind of effortlessly smooth writing experience to the market.