| Strategic Inflection Points in the writing instrument | | | | demands of engineering, for aesthetics have also |
| industry has been due to a shift from fountain pens | | | | played an important role. |
| to ball point pens to gel pens. What we need to | | | | The look of a writing instrument, its size, weight, |
| understand is can fountain pens be resurrected to its | | | | color, and the materials used in its construction all |
| original status and if so, how? | | | | contribute to its success. Despite the ascendancy of |
| We see the beginnings and transition of writing | | | | the cartridge pen and ball point pen and gel pen, the |
| instrument industry which was possible because of | | | | nostalgic tastes of a fountain pen ensure the |
| new emerging technology. In Competitive Intelligence | | | | desirability of the fountain pen both as collectible item |
| when we monitor New Emerging Technology to | | | | and functional tool. |
| manage uncertainty and change, we notice the | | | | 1. Waterman Eye-dropper - 1903 |
| following: | | | | 2. Parker Lucky Curve - 1916-23 |
| By 1900, the main principles for a successful fountain | | | | 3. Conklin Crescent Filler - 1923 |
| pen had been established: | | | | 4. Parker Pearly Vacumatic - 1935 |
| 1. A reservoir for ink. | | | | 5. Parker 51 - 1948 |
| 2. A filling system. | | | | 6. Parker 61 - 1956 |
| 3. A method of supplying ink to the nib. | | | | 7. Sheaffer Pen for Men - 1960 |
| Finding the most successful challenge, with 3 | | | | 8. Montblanc 149 Masterpiece - 1970 |
| American companies - Parker, Waterman and | | | | 9. Parker 180 - 1980 |
| Sheaffer - dominating the market. The design of the | | | | 10. |
| writing instrument has not relied solely on the | | | | |