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Making a Parker pen is a solemn act of creation. It not only requires experience but also rare technical competence in areas as diverse as mechanical design engineering, prototyping, and testing.
Aged 25, George applies for his first pen patent and begins the PARKER story with the driving philosophy: 'It will always be possible to make a better pen'.
George Safford Parker invents the pioneering anti-leak system, the 'Lucky Curve', PARKER's second patent and major breakthrough.
Inspired by the Art Nouveau movement, the gold and sterling silver PARKER Snake Pens are launched and will become valuable collector's items.
PARKER'S Trench Pen is designed for soldiers. The pen uses dry ink tablets that are activated by adding water. In this year, Russell Parker also joins the company.
PARKER's sales surpass the $1million USD mark for the first time.
PARKER launches Duofold, a large, bold, premium priced pen, which captures the spirit of the Roaring Twenties. Soon afterwards, Duofold becomes world famous with the 'Big Red' for its new bright orange colour and 25-year guarantee.
Duofold is now made with a beautiful and durable new plastic material proven to resist cracking, whether dropped from an airplane or to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. PARKER innovates in marketing and advertising.
The PARKER research department's first product arrives on the market. After three years and 1021 experiments, a quick-drying ink 'Quink' (formula #1022) arrives.This is the first pen-cleaning ink that dries fast on paper and needs no blotter.
The Vacumatic pen is developed together with the now famous PARKER arrow clip designed by Joseph Platt. The innovative pen holds more than twice as much ink compared to pens of its time and has a visbible ink reservoir.
To mark the company's 51st year, the Parker 51 is developed in 1939 and 1940 and launched in 1941. Inspired by Kenneth Parker's passion for aircraft aerodynamics, it appears 'Like a pen from another planet'.
It won the Academy Award for Best Design and is probably one of the best pens of the 20th century.
The World War 11 German surrender is signed with a Parker 51 provided to General Dwight D. Eisenhower by his friend Kenneth Parker. General Douglas MacArthur uses his wife's Duofold to sign the Japanese surrender.
Production begins on the Jotter, PARKER's ballpoint pen. The Jotter sells 3.5 million in its first year and remains popular today.
Designed in 1933 by Joseph Platt, a prominent designer of the 1930s, the famous Parker arrow was inspired by Kenneth Parker’s passion for revolutionary transportation and aviation. First featured as a clip on the Vacumatic pen, it symbolises PARKER's pioneering attitude. In 1957 it became the brand’s emblem and was evolved in 2015 to match the brand's modern standards of sophistication and luxury.
PARKER is awarded the Royal Warrant by Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the official supplier of writing instruments to the Royal Household.
The New York World's Fair opens. PARKER's pavilion features an IBM computer which matches 'pen friends' from all over the world, thus becoming the original social network.
To commemorate the American moon landing, a Special Edition PARKER Classic was created.The pen contained a small amount of moon dust.
PARKER launches the T-1. Made entirely of titanium, it became known as the 'space pen'.
In honour of the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, to Lady Diana Spencer, PARKER releases a unique Limited Edition of the Parker 105.
Four unique sterling silver Parker 75 pens are custom-made. The pens are used to sign the Intermediate Nuclear Arms Treaty by American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev on 8th December.
PARKER is granted a second Royal Warrant from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.
The first version of the Sonnet appears, continuing the use of the 'Cisele' pattern from the original Parker 75.
A commemorative Duofold edition pen is launched to acknowledge the American artist Norman Rockwell, who produced several pieces of artwork for PARKER dating back to 1929.
Parker Premier is launched, using innovative and aesthetic materials.
Parker 5th technology, together with Parker Ingenuity are introduced, revolutionising the pen industry with an innovative mode of writing.
PARKER celebrates the act of writing by collecting, exhibiting and sharing written words from global and local opinion leaders that inspire, pass through time and travel across nations for future generations.
PARKER announces enhancements to the Duofold and Sonnet collections alongside an elevated new take on the PARKER brand identity, encouraging people to slow down, organize their thoughts and embrace better thinking.
