This made the grid-patterned silver pen only to grow more beautiful with time. During manufacturing the pens were made in smooth silver into which was later cut lines and a type of stain was added in the cracks to highlighten the rectangular plates. To make the pen in solid gold would have been too expensive so Parker decided on sterling (a very pure) silver. He borrowed the grid pattern from his cigarette case, made by a London silversmith. He borrowed the filling system (cartridge or converter) from the Parker "45". The conformed grip allowed the user to adjust the nib to his hand ".like one adjusts the lens of a fine camera.", as Kenneth Parker used to say. Kenneth Parker wanted the new pen to be aesthetic, innovative, expensive and a good writer.Į borrowed the idea of an adjustable nib from himself, from the, at the time, not very popular Parker "VP", Very Personal, which he and Don Doman also designed in the early 1960's, (it was launched in 1962). Kenneth Parker characterized the company as being "in the early stages of rigor mortis unless something is done to recapture the higher-priced, gift-oriented business". The Parker company was always reluctant to appear as anything but a high-classed company that made high-classed pens, and since the Parker "61" never became the ultra-seller Parker had hoped, KP (so called by his employees) wanted to introduce yet another top-line fountain pen.Īnother reason was that even if the Parker "45" and the Jotter sold very well, they also sold for very little money, leaving Parker with a small margin.
Parker tried (as they had before) to capture the broad markets with cheaper pens: Parker "21", Parker "41" and the Parker "45" (introduced in 1960, that was to become Parkers greatest seller in the low-priced area).
Parker was eventually introducing the Jotter ballpen which sold very well, one reason being that it fitted as a set to the Parker "51" which was just about in everybodys pocket anyway. He Parker "75" was designed by Kenneth Parker (son of the founder George Parker) and the designer extraordinaire, Don Doman (who also designed the Parker "45", Parker "61", Parker "T1", Parker "VP" and Liquid lead).Īfter the great success with the Parker "51" came an era of decline for the fountain pen, the ballpoints sold in greater and greater numbers.
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