For over 100 years, Parker has been at the forefront of design, producing some of the best pens in the world. More than fluent tools, they are also there wherever we need them most - always making a contemporary statement, relevant to each generation. This has led to Parker pens achieving iconic status, sitting proudly amongst some of the best-designed and most admired produts of the modern era.

Like the car you drive, the watch you choose and the shoes you buy, the pen you use can send a signal about you. The diversity of the broad Parker product range helps different individuals express their progressiveness in different ways.

There are in fact three models of Parker pens that goes by the name of Arrow.
The first one was a Canadian pen, produced during the 1950's, with
many similarities to both the Parker "51" and the Vacumatic. It was in fact very similiar to the Parker "VS" which sold in great numbers and also was an open nib alternative to the Parker "51". The Canadian Arrow was also an attractive pen indeed. It came with a solid color barrel, probably black, green, red and blue and possibly grey. They sported a Parker "51" style body ring and a black section. The nib was the Vacumatic style in gold with an engraved arrow. The cap was the early style with a (vac filler) Parker "51" clip, and a brushed lustraloy cap. It was an air metric filler and had the additional imprint Canada Arrow as an addition to the normal filling instructions on the pli-glass ink sac-container. Although it was clearly a pen that was manufactured from left over parts from discontinued models, and by right should fall into the category, they are by no means second grade pens and are much sought for by collectors.
The second Arrow was a version of the Parker "45".
On the introduction of the Parker 45 Arrow in 1964,it had the name in white (which was instantly rubbed off at first use) on the body. The name survived only for a short while and was soon replaced by the denotation CT (Chrome Trim). This pen didn't have the steel cap, found on the other Parker "45", but was solely made out of plastic. This made production cheaper, partly because metal was more expensive than plastic, but also because of a new production process in which the entire pen could be made up from the same dyes, which sped up the production. A breakthrough that economized production costs. It was continually produced in the standard colors Black, Burgundy,Grey, Light Blue, Dark Blue and Green.
The body of the Parker 45 , introduced in 1960, was tapered at both ends, creating a slimmer and lighter pen than the Parker 51. The body also sported a metal ring and a completely new kind of nib. The nib was triangular and very small, compared to prior Parker nibs. The complete nib/feed could be unscrewed and easily replaced and many styles of nibs were offered. The 14 carat gold nib was very unusual on a pen that initially cost only $5.
The third, and the only true designed model of the Arrow, was introduced in 1982. It was a all metal gift-range school pen that sported a clean, straight cap with no cap rings and a newly designed clip, taken from the Parker roller ball pen "RB1". It had the appearance of an arrow with three facets. It had no engraved feathers and was a very modern and clean design. It has since made it on to other Parker models, notably the Vector, which succeeded the "RB1". The Arrow also had a metal and clip screw. The body had a broader body ring, which served to hold the cap in place. The nib was gold plated stainless steel and was of an almost tubular design with a black rounded cap-lip, which was part of the section. It had the imprint "Parker" in a semi-circle. It came in three designs: Brushed stainless steel, Anodized black matte and 12 carat rolled and silver plate. in 1983 the line was updated with a stainless steel and chrome plated trim model. In 1985 came the costume Arrow with a matte black barrel and 12 carat rolled gold cap. In 1986 lacquered finishes in Marbled green, Marbled blue, Marbled red, Marbled grey and one in Solid black were introduced. All models had gold plated trim, except the stainless model which sold with chrome trim as an option. In 1988 the pen was slightly redesigned and renamed the Parker "95".

If your ideal pen shop includes pens from all your favorite brands, displays of private collections and ephemera, and a quiet and relaxed atmosphere in which to try out a variety of pens and find just the right one, then stop at Berliner Pen.

Since opening in 1993, Berliner Pen has been a full service pen store that is, in the words of its proprietors, "devoted to the collector and owned by collectors." That devotion is rooted in the fact that business partners Geoffrey Berliner and Bernard Isaacowitz are both accomplished collectors, users and lovers of fountain pens.

Geoff and BernieBerliner has also been restoring pens since 1988. He serves on the board of directors of the Pen Collectors of America and writes for its journal, The PENnant, in addition to authoring a long-running "Restoration" column for PWI. He began collecting over ten years ago while a graduate student in religion and philosophy at Harvard. He found pens made during the 70 or 80 years between the Victorian Era and the Machine Age to be historically interesting as well as beautiful and well made. "Vintage pens evoke the past," says Berliner. "They involve a standard of craftsmanship, quality and materials that perhaps doesn't exist today." Berliner's personal collection reflects his love of vintage instruments and includes an extensive collection of early Waterman and early Parker pens. He has also focused on early Maki-e, Parker 51's, vintage Omas and current Omas limited editions.
Isaacowitz joined Berliner Pen as a partner in 1996, bringing a strong business background from a career in hospital administration. He has been collecting for about four years now, ever since receiving a book on collectible pens from his wife and purchasing his first pen - an Astoria No.2 black hard rubber safety - at a flea market for $4. His flea market habit proved fateful when he met Berliner there. These days, his collection includes more than 110 early Waterman and early Parker pens.

The shop has recently celebrated the grand opening of its new location on Broadway, between 21st and 22nd Streets in New York's Flatiron district. The expanded shop has 520 square feet of retail space - nearly twice that of the original location. The increased space has allowed the owners of display portions of their personal collections - which include over 1,100 pieces combined - in a special "museum" section of the shop. In addition, the museum occasionally features vintage pen repair tools and other ephemera.

The shop's interior is designed to be just as pleasing as the pens it showcases. Pen-related advertisements and artifacts line the walls. Vintage cases are always stocked with an array of vintage pens, vintage accessories and books. A variety of high-quality contemporary pens and limited editions from Omas, Parker, Waterman, Shaeffer, Pelikan and Aurora are also offered.

Parker Alive! Pen will animate Christmas with a new range of fun pens hitting the shelves in time for the holiday season.

The Parker Alive! range, perfect for pre and early teens, is available in three unique designs each with a unique personality that allow the user to make a statement about themselves.

Build up that special someone with Buttercup Daydream in warm pink and plum tones contrasted with vibrant yellow buttercups. Hosting a pretty-in-pink female character with wild flowing hair, Buttercup Daydream will prove it is more than just the thought that counts.

Be a charmer with Underwater Love in a powder blue and aubergine finish. Sure to make a splash, Underwater Love features a shell bikini-clad mermaid and cute deep sea creatures.

Space Age Glamour will take you into the future in style. Featuring a precious princess figure surrounded by sparkling stars on a lime green and navy blue barrel, Space Age Glamour will leave your friends star gazed.

Under the unique barrel and cap designs of Parker Alive! is a Vector Gel Ball Pen, featuring Parker’s Gel Ink Refill Technology for smoother and brighter writing - guaranteed by a full lifetime warranty.

250,000 Dollar Fountain Pens!? by John Morris

Many individuals would probably raise an eyebrow when they hear someone willing to spend $40,000 to buy a fountain pen. Renaissance Pen Co founder Patrick Pinkston, however, says that the amount - apparently exorbitant for what is seemingly 'only' a writing instrument - is a reflection of the fact that these pens are also considered special works of art.

1. Insanely Expensive Pens Are Works Of Art

The high price fountain pens fetch are also due to the approach taken by Fisher, Michel Perchin and other industry leaders to make their product available on a limited edition basis. This trend first emerged in the early 1990s, creating a new market of pricey items that Fountain Pen Hospital President Terry Wiederlight said made the pens more like jewelry.

The price range for fountain pens is quite extreme. A Fisher pen capable of writing upside down is available for $15. On the other hand, the Modernista Diamonds pen from Caran D'Ache - which has over 5,000 small diamonds - will cost the interested buyer $230,000. The bottom line is that fountain pen enthusiasts are eager to flaunt, admire or simply collect the specially-designed fine writing instruments.

2. Where The Passion Started

Although pens with their own ink cache have already been available earlier, the first patented fountain pen is attributed to insurance salesman Lewis Waterman in 1884. In his case, the motivation came from failure to close a major contract after the pen he was using spilled ink onto the document. Waterman's efforts grew the business from a simple hand-made operation based in a cigar shop to one with annual sales of 350,000! Nephew Frank D. Waterman launched the company abroad after his uncle died in 1901.

3. How Fountain Pens Work

Earlier attempts to patent their creation before Waterman - including the self-filling pen of John Jacob Parker in 1831 and the quill-and-metal pen of John Scheffer in 1809 - either failed or posed other problems that prevented these products from taking off. Since a fountain pen's internal supply of ink is crucial, many inventors and pen makers going back to the early 19th century explored various ways to come up with the optimum reservoir design. One that emerged during the period was the self-filling design, which spawned several patents that included the Parker Pen Co's Button Filler in 1905, Walter Sheaffer's Lever Filler in 1908 and the Weidlich Company's Matchstick Filler in 1910.

Another key figure in the development of fountain pens is George Safford Parker, who worked as a distributor of John Holland fountain pens to supplement his salary as a school teacher. His frustration with the quality of the pens he sold to students compelled him to repair the faulty ones, eventually making him learn how fountain pens were made and convincing him that he could make pens of higher quality. The now 110-year-old Parker Pen Company was incorporated by Parker in a team-up with insurer W.E. Palmer in February 1892, helped by several Parker patents, including The Lucky Curve. This innovation made use of capillary attraction that fully drained ink from the pen's feed tube, preventing the liquid from expanding and reaching the tip to ensure that no ink will blot the user's hand when the cap is removed.

4. Fountain Pens Of Today

Entering the 20th century, fountain pens have become more than writing instruments. Ownership became a clear symbol of prestige, with holders of the pen seen as an educated class, who at that time were the only individuals recognized for their reading and writing skills.

Disposable ink cartridges for fountain pens emerged in the 1950s and became a market success, primarily due to the ease with which they could be inserted in pens and a design that practically prevented any spillage. Ballpoint pens were later developed and eventually surpassed fountain pens as preferred writing instruments. Despite the competition, fountain pens remain a collector's item.

The world's foremost fountain pen brands can all be found at the Fountain Pen Hospital in New York. Besides the fine-writing instrument, Fountain Pen Hospital also offers desk sets, leather pen cases, pen displays and other accessories. Among the top labels available at the dealer are Germany's Graf von Faber-Castell; Cartier; Italian maker Aurora; high-tech proponent Rotring; Sheaffer; Michel Perchin; Waterman and Parker.

Despite all the hype, no one can guarantee that today's Super Bowl match-up between the Patriots and Eagles will be riveting, or that Sir Paul's performance at halftime will make us forget last year's wardrobe malfunction. But there is one sure thing: It's still the Super Bowl of Advertising, as a 30- second TV spot will set you back a mere $2.4 million.

In honor of those pricey spots and the nervous ad folks who created them, we've decided to take a look at a few classic campaigns gone wrong.

Behind the Iron Curtain: Clairol in Germany

A few years back, Clairol, the hair products company, introduced a curling iron called the "Mist Stick" to the world. The vapor wand was all the rage with stylistic vunder-babes and sold like hotcakes worldwide ... except when Clairol execs brought the beauty product into Germany. Turns out that "mist" is German slang for "manure" or "excrement." And while many farmers may have had a use for a Manure Stick, fair-haired beauties did not. On a related note, Rolls-Royce had a mighty hard time marketing its "Silver Mist" coupe to Germans.

A pun in the oven: Parker pens in Latin America

In 1935, the Parker Pen Co. invented and marketed a truly innovative product: a reliable fountain pen. Most businessman of the day carried their pens in sparkling white shirts, and the Parker model offered them the promise of being able to holster those puppies without worrying whether they would leak or stain. The pen was a wonder, and the ad slogan "Avoid embarrassment, use Parker Pens," was a huge success. The next step? Go global, of course.

When they first expanded their market to Latin America, what the folks at Parker wanted to say was, "It won't leak in your pocket and embarrass you." Problem was that the Spanish word "embarazar" has a double-meaning; it means "to embarrass," but it also means to "impregnate." So, to some unsuspecting souls, the ad read: "It won't leak in your pocket and make you pregnant."

Beginner of The Parker Pen Manufacturing, George Safford Parker, was determined to make a better pen when he couldn’t find one that wrote well and didn’t leak. The name Parker has become synonymous with high quality writing instruments, bringing to mind descriptors such as reliability, dependability, tradition, streamlines, style, prestige, innovation and timelessness. George Parker began his career as a teacher of telegraphy and to supplement his teaching income, he started selling pens for the John Holland Pens Company.

The first major technological breakthrough for the company came in 1894 with the Lucky Curve ink feed system. The feed system was designed to drain the ink back into the reservoir by capillary action when the pen was upright in the pocket of its owner. Parker became a major player in the fountain pen industry with the introduction of the Lucky Curve. In 1900, The Gold Filigree Lucky Curve Pens were introduced. Also that year, Parker patented the taper on the inside of the outer cap, a design improvement to make it fit more securely. In 1911, an improved Lucky Curve feed was patented and in 1912, a new form of the safety cap was introduced.

Unexpectedly, the pens he sold, mainly to his telegraphy students, malfunctioned and he felt obligated to fix them. Soon becoming overwhelmed with repair work, he decided to invent his own version of the fountain pen. In 1888 the Parker Pen Company was born. The following year he patented his first fountain pen. In 1891 he found an investor, insurance broker W.F. Palmer, who initially invested $1,000.00 and bought half of Parker’s shares in both the patents and the business.

After years of intensive research, Parker launched the first self-filling fountain pen, the Parker 61, in 1956. Engineered to “self-draw” ink from the bottle, the Parker 61 could hold enough ink to last for six hours of steady writing. The British Royal Household awarded Parker the Royal Warrant as its sole supplier of pens and inks in 1962. Also in that year, subsidiaries opened in Peru and Columbia.

There were several precursors (The Black Giant, The Emblem Pen, The Sterling Silver and Gold Snake Pen, The Trench Pen and The Jack Knife Safety Pen) to Parker’s next star: The Duofold. In 1921, the company’s biggest and most important launch to date was that of the Duofold fountain pen that earned Parker its reputation as the pen company that produces the most dependable, as well as the most fashionable writing instruments on the market. The Duofold, nicknamed “Big Red,” embodied the feel of the Roaring Twenties – big, bold and very jazzy. Now synonymous with vintage fountain pens, The Duofold proved its durability and Parker decided to guarantee these pens for twenty five years. Parker’s Duofold family expanded in 1926 and 1927 to include Jade Green, Mandarin Yellow, Lapis Blue and Pearl and Black. All of these pens were available in a first-of-its-kind durable plastic called Permanite. The new material replaced the traditional vulcanized rubber, which tended to be brittle.

Celebrating the company’s 100th birthday in 1988, Parker relaunched the most famous Parker pen, the Duofold, now recognized as the Duofold Centennial. Parker established the Platinum Club in 1989 in the United States and Australia for Duofold owners, offering elite privileges and complementary services.

For more than a century, Parker has been a leader in the writing instruments industry. After years of diligent and determined attempts “to make a better pen,” this world famous idea of George Safford Parker came to life. Today, The Parker Pen Company continues their commitment to strive towards scientific improvements and excellency. With the latest technologies, traditional skills, using the finest materials, techniques and craftsmanship, Parker Pens are “beyond words!”

I used to stay at Nizam Palace in Kolkata, and had quite a big group of friends, one of whom was Shalini, a part-time ramp model in Kolkata. She used to rub shoulders with the then models of Kolkata like Bipasha Basu [Images].

Celina used to frequent Shalini's home, where we met on numerous occasions.

I still remember a funny incident, where she needed to sign on some paper but was not carrying a pen. I had a Parker pen with me, and offered it to her. She took it, but somehow forgot to return it the same day. Later, I pulled her leg for almost maaro-ing my Parker and she laughed it off.

She had a beautiful face even then, but her hairstyle was quite different from what it is now.

I was very thrilled to know that she had bagged a role opposite Fardeen Khan [Images] in Jaanasheen.

The Parker 45 is the best selling low priced pen in the history of Parker. Not necessarily the greatest title to obtain but one obtained through longevity and a quality design. The Parker 45 was one of the first pens given to me by my Grandmother. It belonged to my Grandfather and was given to me when I was about fourteen. She always kept a collection of old pencils and pens around to draw and write with on rainy days. On this day, I asked he if she had anything different to write with and she gave me a Parker 45 and an Eversharp Skyline. I was hooked.

The buyer had a choice of seven nibs from the Accountant Extra Fine to Stub. The pen was the first commercially successful implementation of a cartridge/converter system by Parker. Adjusted for inflation, the Parker 45 would cost about thirty-one dollars today. The recently re-introduced version of the Parker 45 can be found for under thirty dollars from most shops. The 45 also had an even cheaper cousin that shared a similar aesthetic but had a different nib design. The Eversharp version had an all plastic body with a metal clip and retailed for $2.98.

Parker introduced the 45 in 1960 as their quintessential “school pen”at a price of five dollars. The 45 was designed by Don Doman who had also designed the very successful Jotter line and would later design the classic Parker 75. The pen shared some initial styling cues from the clip on the cap of the Parker 51 Special. The Pen had a taper design that ended in flat indented ends reminiscent of the Doman designed Parker 61 . The 45 was designed to be thinner and lighter than the 21/41/51/61 line probably a purposeful design goal given that the pen was meant for younger smaller hands. Another interesting design feature of the pen was that it had a removable nib/feed section.

Many people who first came to fountain pens came to them via pens like the Parker 45. It had a reputation of being an affordable pen that was also very reliable. It took cartridges so you could keep your hands a little cleaner if you wanted to avoid filling from a bottle. Some people have commented on how pedestrian the 45 is in terms of design. I would have to disagree. To some degree, the 45 inspired what is probably the best looking design of Parker's recent history – the Parker 75. By the time the Parker 45 was introduced the 51 had been replaced as their premiere offering by the 61. Also by this time the design of the 51 and similar 61 went back nearly 20 years. Parker needed new blood and a new image. In many ways, the 45 was the pen that provided the image shift that was needed.

Parker produced 254 pens to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1968. The pens were made in part from the Atlas booster rocket which launched John Glenn on his historic 1962 orbital Mercury flight.

The flown booster material used by Parker was recovered in Africa. After its discovery, it was sent to NASA, which subsequently verified its origin.

Of the 254 produced, all but four were Parker Classic 75 models, sterling crosshatch grid ballpens with its push button clicker fashioned from the booster material. Never released for sale to the public, George Parker presented the ballpoint pens to heads of state and NASA officials.

Engraved around the cap lip was the inscription:

U.S.A. into Space.
20 II 1962.

The remaining four were fountain pens. The entire cap and barrel material was made from flown metal. Parker kept two of the pens for its internal use while the others were presented to Glenn and President Johnson.

Engraved on the barrel of the pen was the inscription:

This Pen is Made from a Fragment of the Rocket which Boosted Astronaut John Glenn into America's First Orbit Space Flight 20 February 1962.

Of the two kept by Parker, one recently surfaced at a Chicago pen show and auction in 2000. There, the rare fountain pen sold for a hammer price of $3000. Subsequent to the auction, this pen and another produced by Parker with Apollo-recovered moon dust (see below) sold for approximately $20,000.

On February 23, 2001, this same set of space pens changed hands once more via a Bonhams auction. ÊIncluding the buyer's premium of 15%, the Mercury fountain pen sold for over $22,500 alone.

In 1972, Parker produced five fountain pens entirely from titanium with the exception of a special plate mounted to the barrel. To distinguish these pens from all others, moon dust collected by Apollo 15 astronauts David Scott and James Irwin was mixed with powdered gold to mint the attached panels.

The plate was then engraved to read:

Traces of Lunar Material
Apollo 15

At first it was thought that only three of these pens were made and presented to the US State Department. President Nixon kept one and took the other two on his historic trip to China in 1972. The President presented the the two moon dust-embedded fountain pens to Yao Wen-yuan, Municipal Representative of the City of Shanghai, and Nan P'ing, the Chairman of Chekiang Provincial Revolutionary Committee.

It was later learned that Parker secretly produced an additional two moon dust pens. One of these pens surfaced at a Chicago pen show and auction in 2000 and sold for $4500. Subsequent to the auction, this pen and another produced by Parker with Mercury-Atlas 6 flown metal (see above) sold for approximately $20,000.

On February 23, 2001, this same set of space pens changed hands once more via a Bonhams auction. Including the buyer's premium of 15%, the moon dust fountain pen sold for over $26,500 alone, likely the record for the single highest price ever paid for a Parker 75 fountain pen.