First GM left Janesville, Wisconsin after it's nearly 100 year association with the city this year. Now it appears that Parker Pens, founded in Janesville in 1888, might also be bidding ado to the city.
Parker Pens was the brainchild of George Stafford Parker, who was a telegrapher instructor and also a salesman for the John Holland Pen Company while living in Janesville, Wisconsin. When it seemed that all his time was spent repairing the pens he sold, he set out to design a better version of the fountain pen.
He founded his company in 1888 and the following year he received a patent for his first fountain pen. He found an investor in 1891, an insurance broker by the name of W. F. Palmer, who bought half of Parker's shares in the business for $1000.
By 1894, Parker patented his first major innovation to the fountain pen called, "the lucky curve," which reduced leaks. This design was used until 1928.
By 1908, his Janesville pen factory was supposedly the largest in the world. For 40 years, from the 20s to the 60s, Parker Pens was among the top two companies in worldwide sales.
Parker Pen Company acquired Milwaukee-based Manpower in 1976, and soon the staffing company was providing more revenue then the pen company.
The Parker Pen Company is currently owned by Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that they are considering closing the Parker Pens division in Janesville putting 153 employees out of work.
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