The Legendary Parker Archives

[algabatz]

I returned from Newhaven on June 5th, after being invited to rummage through the legendary Parker archives.

I can tell You that it was a mindblowing experience!

 

Now there is a full report at my site THE PARKER ARCHIVES REPORT

 

I was not allowed to take catalogue quality shots and will not share the images other than on my site.

 

http://parkercollector.com/bilder_pennor/_parker_archives/parker_facade.jpg

 

 

Enjoy and pleese comment!

 

/Tony

Edited June 11, 2009 by algabatz

[philm]

Thank you for posting this and for the link to your site, which is exceptional.

 

Phil

[penmanila]

oh my god, tony, surely that has to be the trip of a lifetime. thanks for sharing the experience. see any intetesting vacs? (i'm sure you did, but i couldn't find them in the pictures.)

 

this part of the report made me want to weep: "At the time when the Parker Janesville factory was shut down Dave Ruderman was working in Boston. He got word that boxes and boxes, tons of spare parts and pens had simply been thrown away when repairs was moved to France."

[ianmedium]

Tony, thank you so much for taking the time and effort to publish this very valuable resource, I think this article should be a sticky, it is a very valuable piece of journalism.

 

I was absloutely bowled over by the condition of the Duofolds, magnificent!

I take it that the one under the first is the famed Pompeian Brown, I have never seen that one before!

 

Thank you again, what a resource! It is thanks to people like you that the every day heritage (the heritage that truly shows history I believe) is alive and well and secure for future generations, congratulations on a supurb article!

[skybird]

this part of the report made me want to weep: "At the time when the Parker Janesville factory was shut down Dave Ruderman was working in Boston. He got word that boxes and boxes, tons of spare parts and pens had simply been thrown away when repairs was moved to France."

The pictures made me weep.................oh well

[algabatz]

oh my god, tony, surely that has to be the trip of a lifetime. thanks for sharing the experience. see any intetesting vacs? (i'm sure you did, but i couldn't find them in the pictures.)

 

this part of the report made me want to weep: "At the time when the Parker Janesville factory was shut down Dave Ruderman was working in Boston. He got word that boxes and boxes, tons of spare parts and pens had simply been thrown away when repairs was moved to France."

 

Ye, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I mean, I've heard of these things going on in the fifties, but this was just ten years ago or so.

Thanks for Your kind comments. Much appreciated.

 

/Tony

[penmanila]

and to think that i was walking around janesville on a personal pilgrimage 20 years ago--more or less aimlessly, as i knew no one; heck, they could've sent me off with a suitcase full of "throwaway" vacs and 51s!

 

oh my god, tony, surely that has to be the trip of a lifetime. thanks for sharing the experience. see any intetesting vacs? (i'm sure you did, but i couldn't find them in the pictures.)

 

this part of the report made me want to weep: "At the time when the Parker Janesville factory was shut down Dave Ruderman was working in Boston. He got word that boxes and boxes, tons of spare parts and pens had simply been thrown away when repairs was moved to France."

 

Ye, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I mean, I've heard of these things going on in the fifties, but this was just ten years ago or so.

Thanks for Your kind comments. Much appreciated.

 

/Tony

 

[richardandtracy]

Just as well it was you rather than me. I'd have drooled all over the pens, and I'm not too keen on being emotionally incontinent in public.

 

That trip, though, must have been like being allowed to visit El-Dorado. You lucky thing. Thanks for the write-up, it gives a flavour of being there.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

 

[mana]

Wow! Many thanks for the article and pictures, they were wonderful, just wonderful.

[algabatz]

Thank you for posting this and for the link to your site, which is exceptional.

 

Phil

 

 

Your kind words are very much appreciated, thank You!

 

/Tony

[algabatz]

and to think that i was walking around janesville on a personal pilgrimage 20 years ago--more or less aimlessly, as i knew no one; heck, they could've sent me off with a suitcase full of "throwaway" vacs and 51s!

 

oh my god, tony, surely that has to be the trip of a lifetime. thanks for sharing the experience. see any intetesting vacs? (i'm sure you did, but i couldn't find them in the pictures.)

 

this part of the report made me want to weep: "At the time when the Parker Janesville factory was shut down Dave Ruderman was working in Boston. He got word that boxes and boxes, tons of spare parts and pens had simply been thrown away when repairs was moved to France."

 

Ye, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I mean, I've heard of these things going on in the fifties, but this was just ten years ago or so.

Thanks for Your kind comments. Much appreciated.

 

/Tony

 

He he, You never know the things You could find in the trash!

 

/T

 

[AndyH]

Unbelievable. Just. Unbelievable.

 

Thank you for this Tony; it is a true public service.

 

I hope that one day the information and examples will be widely shared, but just what you've posted on your site alone constitutes an incredible archive.

[algabatz]

Tony, thank you so much for taking the time and effort to publish this very valuable resource, I think this article should be a sticky, it is a very valuable piece of journalism.

 

I was absloutely bowled over by the condition of the Duofolds, magnificent!

I take it that the one under the first is the famed Pompeian Brown, I have never seen that one before!

 

Thank you again, what a resource! It is thanks to people like you that the every day heritage (the heritage that truly shows history I believe) is alive and well and secure for future generations, congratulations on a supurb article!

 

 

They do have plans to make a museum out of some of it. That would be great, but it's all about the money I suppose...

Thanks for Your input, very much appreciated.

 

/Tony

[Taurean]

What an intriguing and profound article.

A most absorbing read..and your website is a treasure algabatz.

 

Shubham

[algabatz]

What an intriguing and profound article.

A most absorbing read..and your website is a treasure algabatz.

 

Shubham

 

Thank You, You're very kind!

 

/Tony

[algabatz]

This is a petition to Newell Rubbermaid/Sanford Ecriture/the Parker Pen Company to keep the Parker Archives in Newhaven, UK. We are worried that this unprecedented piece of corporate history would be in peril if moved around further.

 

We would also like Newell Rubbermaid/Sanford Ecriture/the Parker Pen Company to investigate the possibility of opening a museum where selected pens and other products made by The Parker pen company would be on public display.

 

Newhaven is traditional Parker soil and the residents in Newhaven would be able to add many memories, things and stories to such a museum.

 

Please sign this digital newsletter to support this cause. The names and this petition will be forwarded to Newell Rubbermaid/Sanford Ecriture/the Parker Pen Company later in 2010.

 

 

http://parkercollect...er/?p=subscribe

[algabatz]

Regarding the move of the Archives:

http://gazettextra.com/news/2009/dec/24/what-will-become-parker-archives/

 

 

 

/Tony

[quinn359]

I will have to go there some time!

[tablaman]

The Tennessee lottery is at 190 million.....I am thinking of playing and moving the archives to Knoxville!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ThirdeYe]

I'm surprised one of the employees did not take the boxes of parts out of the dumpster. I would have