History of the Parker Pen Company

We all know how popular the brand of the Parkernot fit for the life of a farmer. He had developed a
Pen is. In fact, there are so many people who prefervast interest in both travel and technology that he
to use this brand of pen all over America, and evenfelt settling for the farming life would mean settling
in other parts of the world. There is actually onefor less in the long run. Parker then attended Upper
particular reason that is worth mentioning as to whyIowa University. When he saw an advertisement for
the brand of Parker has become so strong. Beforea school in Janesville known as Valentine School of
this reason is disclosed, it would be proper to discussTelegraphy, Parker took it upon himself to move to
the humble beginnings of the pen making industry inWisconsin to try his luck there.
America.After graduating with a college degree to his belt,
This industry dates way back to 1809, when theParker then started teaching telegraphy to the
demand and the need for pens became quite strongstudents in the area. He also took a job on the side
from customers all over the country. Sadly, it wasselling John Holland Fountain Pens. He focused on his
not until the 1880's that the Parker fountain pen wasstudents for his market; however, it soon became
conceptualized. But what's even sadder than this isvery noticeable that the pens were not of superb
the fact that the pens that were in the circuit beforequality. More often than not, his students would
the Parker fountain pen was developed werecomplain to him that the pens he sold them were
deemed unreliable. Oftentimes, the pens would bevery prone to leaking and breaking. There were also
found to blot on paper. If the pens were not blotting,times when the pens would contain too little or too
they were either drying up or leaking. All of thesemuch ink, and rarely the right amount of ink.
changed with the coming of the Parker fountain pen.Pretty soon, Parker began to notice that he was
This is basically why the foundation of the pen hasexerting as much time and effort fixing the very
always been strong in the industry of pen making.pens he sold to his students, as that of selling the
Born on November 1, 1863, George Stafford Parkerpens to them in the first place. But then, his students
grew up in Shullsberg, Wisconsin, under the care ofbecame very impressed with the way he fixed the
parents Norman S. Parker and Jane Parker. George'spens that he sold to them. Soon, his sales figures
parents were considered very influential at the time,began rising because he became very trustworthy
when the town of Shullsberg was still flying on itswhen it came to repairing the pens. However, with
young wings. As a young lad, Parker helped his fatherthis success came frustration on George Parker as
out with the chores that came with farming. Thewell. The more pens he sold, the more pens he had
fields and the nurseries were just some of the manyto repair! His frustration became so intense at one
spots Parker tended to as a young child. During thepoint in time that he decided to think of ways of
cold winter months, Parker attended classes at thebuilding a better pen for himself. Not long after that
school that was located just in his town. Beingmoment came the momentous decision to indeed
exposed to the many lessons during winter season, itbuild a better fountain pen, thus laying the foundation
did not take long for Parker to realize that he wasof the Parker Pen Company.