Washer Clip - patented on September 5, 1916. Allowed pen to be
placed deeply in the pocket.
Lucky Curve feed patented in 1894, the curved feed touches
the inside of the barrel and when the pen is inverted in a pocket,
capillary action draws the ink down out of the nib and back into
the reservoir.
Button Filler extends through the end of the barrel and is
protected by the blind cap.
When Kenneth Parker joined the family business in 1919, almost
all pens were black and sold for about $2.75. About that time, the
idea for a new pen was proposed. It was to be a large pen with a
large ink capacity and a large gold nib. It was to be produced from
a vivid red-orange material and sell for $7.00. A seven-dollar price
tag was more than twice the generally accepted price then for pens.
George S. Parker approved the start of the "Duofold pen
project" and assigned it to his younger son Kenneth.
The Parker Duofold pen was introduced in 1921 and was formally
launched in Chicago in March 1922 with intensive newspaper ads and
color posters.
Parker modified the highly successful Duofold line almost
continuously. As a consequence, collectors can establish the date of
their particular Duofold within a year or so:
1921-2 Senior style (only) with no cap band; made from a
heavy style hard rubber (HR).
The barrel imprint was large (sometimes termed "Giant
Imprint". Sold for $7.00
1922 Junior Duofold introduced at $5.00. In addition, a new
line called Duofold De Luxe was introduced with a very wide cap
band which completely covered and protected the cap lip.
1923 a single, slightly raised cap band was fitted to the
Senior and Junior Duofolds.
1923 towards the end of the year, black hard rubber (BHR)
Duofolds were introduced in all models in both the regular and
Deluxe lines. Parker rented a factory in Toronto, Canada and in
the following year, plants were making Parker products in numerous
plants around the world.
1924 a lighter style HR was introduced and the barrel
imprints were reduced in size. This so-called "medium
imprint", was used until 1926 when plastic models were
introduced. Parker established a subsidiary in England in 1924;
despite a shaky start, the UK branch became so successful that it
eventually took over the parent company.
1925 three new pencils were introduced. The Senior model
was nicknamed Big Brother and carried the inscription "Big
Bro on the barrel.
1926 pens made from a Dupont plastic material called "Permanite"
were introduced in both red and black. The barrel imprint was
redesigned and the cap band made slightly wider and fitted flush
with the cap.
The Jade Pens in three sizes and matching pencils were
identical to Duofold models but did not carry the Duofold
trademark until mid-1927
1927 two new colors, lapis lazuli blue and mandarin yellow
were introduced. Two further models of Duofold pens were
introduced Special and Juniorette. The Special has the girth
of a Junior but is almost as long as a Senior; the Juniorette is
identical with the Lady model but is fitted with a clip.
1928 The Company announced the Imperial Duofold, later
known as the Duofold De Luxe. The cream and black veined plastic
pen had a three-band cap and the nib was additionally engraved
with the word "De Luxe". The guarantee changed from 25
years to "lifetime".
1929 - The Lucky Curve feed was abandoned. The new feed
retained the familiar "spear feed" design but the
internal end was flat. The "Lucky Curve" banner was
removed from the imprint. The same imprint was used on the
so-called "streamlined" Duofolds which soon followed.
1930 Two new colors were introduced in 1930, burgundy and
black (with two cap rings) and the De Luxe green pearl and pearl
(three cap rings). Quink, a pen cleaning formula ink was brought
on the market.
1932 the final color of the Duofold line, sea-green pearl
and black. The pen appears to be of the De Luxe series, although
both two and three cap bands are found. Later in 1932 the three
cap rings of the De Luxe Duofold were modified such that the
center band is wider and the two outside bands are narrower.
Parker Vacumatics were introduced in 1932 and largely replaced
the Duofold.
