1900 PARKER FOUNTAIN PEN CATALOG

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In late 1898 the Parker Pen Co. purchased the four-story McKey block property for $9,500 with the intent to refurbish their upper floors. In the middle of 1899, Parker moved its facilities from the Myers Opera House, corner Milwaukee and Bluff Streets, to these three upper floors of the McKey Building Block at 17-19 South Main Street. On the left enclosure of this building had a large-scale ad, where they could read: THE HOME OF PARKER JOINTLESS LUCKY CURVE FOUNTAIN PEN.

Parker Pen at 17-19 South Main Street, Janesville. The Home of Parker Jointless Lucky Curve fountain pen.

The “Home of the Jointless Lucky Curve” occupied an entire building, save a first-floor storeroom. The entire second floor was devoted to the executive offices, the remainder of the building to the various department of manufacture. Here, with an equipment incorporating al modern improvements and conveniences, all parts of the pen were made and assembled.

“We take the credit”, said George S. Parker then, “of being the largest bona fide manufacturer of fountain pen in the world; by the term “bona fide” meaning those who made every part of the pen, instead of farming out particular features of the work “

In 1900 Geo. S. Parker found a solution for the caps, then brittle and expandable hard rubber: it could separate from the barrel inside the pocket and were very fragile in its mouth, where the closing pressure was applied, being prone to cracking. Parker patented an anti-break cap whose slightly tapered interior, approximately half its length, widened its walls being there, in a thicker area and without a profile prone to cracks, that the closing pressure was supported.

Parker anti-break cap US653,818 patent

In 1900 the Parker Pen Co. added a deparment for the manufacture of ink to its business.

The new style appeared in 1898 with a tapered barrel end is discontinued.

Parker Silver Dollar pen.

The Special is now underfeed being called New Special. The Silver Dollar is furnished in either black or mottled rubber and could also be supplied as “Palmer Pen” name. In a known barrel imprint we can read “PALMER’S IMPROVED FOUNTAIN PEN”. The shorthand pen will be called Shorthand and Bookkeeper, from now on.

Parker no. 024 black and red mottled. Price $4.00
Parker No. 026 Jointless.

This year was presented model no. 26 as a regular Goliath. “It might be too large for you, but there are many people who find pleasure and comfort in using such a pen. It, of course, holds an immense supply of ink. It has a “feel” to it that is only afforded by such a pen, and it has many warm friends.”

Parker continued offering models no. 18 and 2X series in version screw joint.

Parker no. 020 jointless (above) and no. 20 (note ringed section)
Parker no. 1 plain barrel raven black and red and black mottled. Price $1.50, originally selling for $2.00.
Parker overfeed model no. 3 barrel chased. It could be furnished with straight or taper cap and regular or ladies' size upper or lower feed. Price, $2.00. Courtesy of Tsachi Mitsenmacher.
Parker no. 5 Twist red mottled overfeed taper cap. Courtesy of Tsachi Mitsenmacher.
Parker No. 8 Hexagon. Price was $3.00, now reduced to $2.50.
Parker no. 10 Twist red mottled.
No. 11. Silver cable chased, price $5.00. Gold same pattern, $6.00. Photo-composition by the author.
Parker No. 11 Aluminum. Price $3.50

 

The old-style models #1, #3, #5, and #8 reduced its price by $ 0.50.

The Parker screw joint numbers #18 to #24 have a ringed section at barrel end for better grip.

This year, Parker presents the following models:

  • No. 30 barrel and cap covered with 18 k. gold in rich design, with a retail price of $ 10.00. Featured with a new style grip with just one striated ring.
  • A formidable No. 26 Jointless, price $ 6.00.
  • No. 021 jointless, price $ 3.50. a variant of No. 20 mounted with two gold bands in the barrel.
"If you want to make some dear friends a present that will be treasured for a life-time, and be handed down as an heirloom the No. 30 will fill the bill". Photo courtesy of PBA Galleries, Berkeley, CA. (image © Justin Benttinen)
No. 021. Jointless. Price, $3.50. This Is really a very pretty pen. It is practically the no. 020 with the addition of the gold bands and a size larger gold pen. So popular indeed is this style that we have had some difficulty in keeping up with the demand for It. It Is about the neatest and most pleasing looking gold mounted pen we have ever seen. If preferred can supply with Screw Jolnt when so ordered. Courtesy of http://www.fivestarpens.com.
Parker No. 30 highly-repoussé diamond and snail pattern, end piece imprinted "PATENTED" with no other imprints. 135 mm. legth.
Parker Jointless Physician's Thermometer unmounted. Courtesy of Alex Kislia.

SOURCES:

  • Fountain Pen and Pencil. The Golden Age of  Writing Instruments. G. Fischler & S. Schneider. Ed. Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. 1990.
  • Plumas Estilográficas. Jonathan Steinberg. Ed. Edimat Libros. 1998.
  • Tsachi Mitsenmacher pens collection.
  • 1896-1900 Parker Side Talks, the Parker´s dealer magazine.
  • 800 Parker ads. Pre-Duofold.
  • Parker patens US 512,319, US 606,231 and US 653,818.

1901 PARKER CATALOG

No. 23. Price $3.00.
Parker no. 1 plain barrel raven black and red and black mottled. Price $1.50, originally selling for $2.00.
Parker No. 6. Courtesy of John Danza.
No. 11. Gold, price, $ 6.00. Silver, same design $5.00. This is a most beautiful pen. The barrel is covered with 14k rolled gold of rich design. Photo-composition by the author. Courtesy Luiz Leite.
Parker No. 30 highly-repoussé diamond and snail pattern, end piece imprinted "PATENTED" with no other imprints. 135 mm. legth.
Parker No. 021 Jointless.

1903 PARKER FOUNTAIN PEN CATALOG

Parker, which had already been offering a one-year warranty on its anti-break cap, in 1901 extended it to the entire holder through the Lucky Curve Accident Policy.

In 1902, Parker incorporated a new improvement in the Parker Lucky Curve feed, which they called the Bell-Shaped Lucky Curve on account of the peculiar bell shape of the feed finger. It was made to correspond to the widening of the pen at the shoulder. The feed was fitted to the pen that there is a uniform space between the pen and the feed the entire length of the feed finger, presenting a vast amount of adhesive surface for the retention of the ink. This improvement was incorporated in all Parker Lucky Curve underfeed.

The catalog reproduced here contains models #23 (1902) and #40 (1903) but not the SpearHead feed (late 1903), so we can date it with great security.

The Parker Bell-Shaped Lucky Curve feed. Top and bottom views.
1903 cover Parker Pen catalog. Courtesy of Graham Jasper.
Parker imprint used in 1903.

The Silver Dollar have screw joint and without Lucky Curve feed. It could be furnished upper or lower feed as desired.

Parker no. 1 plain barrel raven black and red and black mottled. Price $1.50, originally selling for $2.00. A neat little pen. Has the "Lucky Curve." Screw Joint. Does not have the Anti-Break Cap. Over feed. A very good pen and warranted. It is the lowest price of any Parker “Lucky Curve” made.
Parker No. 3. Straight or taper cap. Price $ 2.00. Considerably larger than the ladie's size of the same number. Has the "Lucky Curve." This is one of the oldest styles, yet it is a popular pen today. Comes with a great variety of patterns on barrel. Courtesy of http://www.fivestarpens.com.

Parker introduced the Bulldog Special $4.00. The pen could be furnished in Black or Mottled and in versions Jointles or screw joint. “This pen -Bulldog Special- we offered for the first time in this country in the October 1902. The immediate response that this pen has called is really quite remarkable. It shows that there is a big demand for it, from buyers such as businessmen, the older student, professional men who do not like to carry a fountain pen partially exposed. It has proven to be especially popular with the miner and military man. It is, as previously stated, a pen that we have sold, in large numbers, during the past two years, to one of the largest Stationery firms in London, England. It is essentially an English idea. It is made to carry in the lower vest-pocket with the pen lying flat in the bottom. It will, if kept properly filled, never permit ink to get into the cap, even when carried in this position. It cannot be lost, can hardly be broken, is handy, and has many good points in its favor. It is just 4 inches long when closed, and on of its short, stubby appearance is called The Parker “Lucky Curve” Bulldog Special.

Parker no. 024 Bull Dog Special.
Physicians Pen. Price, $ 5.00. Fitted with no. 4 or no. 5 gold pen. In opposite end of fountain is fitted Registered Fever Thermometer with certificate showing corrected readings for physicians' use. The most useful, convenient combination ever put in a physician's pocket.
Parker Jointless Physician's Thermometer. Courtesy of Alex Kislia.

The Jointless #023 model, a new Hexagon version was presented in 1902 (April, Side Talks and 1902 Sep. 06 ad in Saturday Evening Post). This Hexagon didn’t had the cone cap of the #8 nor the three staggered twist rings chased, separating the body and section. It could be manufactured in black or mottled.

Just out. The coming favorite. Seems to just strike the fancy of those who are looking for something new in the way of a fountain pen.

Parker no. 023 Hexagon jointless black. Price, $3.00.
Parker no. 023 Hexagon Jointless mottled. Courtesy of Tsachi Mitsenmacher.

The Screw Joint pens continue with the ringed section for a better grip.

Parker no. 020 jointless (above) and no. 20 (note ringed section)

Models # 18 screw joint and # 018 jointless, # 20 and # 020, #23 and # 023 # 24 and # 024. # 25 and # 025, are kept in the catalog.

Parker no. 020 can be had in fine, medium, coarse or stub point as desired. This style can be supplied with beautiful gold mountings on barrel for $1.00 extra, or $3.50 for gold mounted No. 021.

Nos. 020, 023 and 024, fitted especially for shorthand writing and bookkeepers when so ordered. Same numbers supplied with pens especially for manifold purposes, only when specially ordered.

Parker no. 024 black and red mottled. Price $4.00
Parker no. 5. Spiral, black, or mottled rubber. Price, $2.50. The barrel is made with corrugations, which are spiral. It presents a rough surface for the fingers to grasp. Either upper or lower feed. Courtesy of http://www.fivestarpens.com.
No. 6. Ladies´size Gold Mounted. Price, $3.00. Has beautifully chased barrel in a great variety of patterns, fitted with gold bands. It is made in regular and ladies' size considerably smaller. Courtesy Luiz Leite.
No. 8. Hexagon. Price $2.50. Barrel and cap are cut hexagon shape, so the fountain will not roll when placed upon a desk. Can be supplied in black or mottled rubber.
No. 9. Gold mounted. Price, $ 4.00. This Is a gentleman’s pen exclusively. It is by all odds the most handsome of the large sized fountains. An ample ink reservoir. Beautifully gold mounted. A superb pen in every way.
No. 10. Twist. Price, $3.00. This pen is preferred by many who like the corrugated handle, which gives the fingers something to grasp and prevent from slipping when moist or sweaty. Courtesy Luiz Leite.
No. 11. Silver, price, $ 5.00. Gold, same design $6.00. Either upper or lower feed. This is a most beautiful pen. The barrel is covered with 14k rolled gold of rich design. Photo-composition by the author.
No. 11. Aluminum. Price, $ 3.50. Richly engraved in a variety of patterns. Upper or lower feed as desired.
No. 12. Full Pearl. A Beauty. Price, $6.00. Upper or lower feed. Inlaid pearl with gold bands. If you want to own something out of the ordinary or make a present that would be treasured for a lifetime, you need go no further.
No. 021. Jointless. Price, $3.50. This Is really a very pretty pen. It is practically the no. 020 with the addition of the gold bands and a size larger gold pen. So popular indeed is this style that we have had some difficulty in keeping up with the demand for It. It Is about the neatest and most pleasing looking gold mounted pen we have ever seen. If preferred can supply with Screw Jolnt when so ordered. Courtesy of http://www.fivestarpens.com.
Parker #14 silver mounting. Courtesy of Luiz Leite.
Parker No. 30.
"If you want to make some dear friends a present that will be treasured for a life-time, and be handed down as an heirloom the No. 30 will fill the bill". Photo courtesy of PBA Galleries, Berkeley, CA. (image © Justin Benttinen)
Parker pen no. 40. Price $20. 00. Barrel and cap covered with solid 18k. gold. Parker does not expect this pen will ever come into very general use. Yet for wedding presents, a birthday present, a present to some honored member of a Society. It would make a lasting reminder of the donor. It Is difficult to conceive how a more beautiful pen could be made. The flowers, leaves, vines, etc., stand out in relief as the body of the barrel Is cut down by engraving to give prominence to the beautiful, raised work. Space Is left on the barrel in place reserved for it to engrave the name of owner. With this pen was sent with a plush or morocco box without additional charge.

In September 1, 1903, Parker introduced a new improvement in this “Lucky Curve” feed with a new patent “Spear Head” overflow ink preventer. It was a bell-shaped, but it had with lateral cuts like teeths creating the shape as a harpoon. We can see this feeder with 1 or 2 cuts on each side. This improvement was to prevent ink dripping from the nib when it is under pressure by low level of ink. The silhouette that we know as “Christmas Tree” would still have to wait a couple of years.

Parker pen with a original Lucky Curve feed spear head. From Michael Fultz collection.
1903 Parker catalog last page. First model design of the Lucky Curve Club membership certificate. It stands out for its high lithographic quality with a certain resemblance to banknotes with two winged effigies and the name of the printer, the August Gast Bank Note & Lithograph Co., St. Louis.
Parker Jointless.

SOURCES:

  • Fountain Pen and Pencil. The Golden Age of  Writing Instruments. G. Fischler & S. Schneider. Ed. Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. 1990.
  • Plumas Estilográficas. Jonathan Steinberg. Ed. Edimat Libros. 1998.
  • Tsachi Mitsenmacher pens collection.
  • Luiz Leite pens collection.
  • 1896-1903 Parker Side Talks, the Parker´s dealer magazine.
  • 800 Parker ads. Pre-Duofold.
  • Parker patens US 512,319, US 606,231 and US 653,818.
Frontpage Parker Catalogs
Parker 1906 catalog
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