Say Good Bye To The Parker Factory Newhaven...

[OcalaFlGuy]

  On 5/17/2014 at 5:51 PM, Darryl.k said:

 

The handles were very desirable, made from solid brass and well made. I think there were 2 or 3 pairs at Newhaven. There was also a pair at Bush House, London when the head quarters was there.

 

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/darryl_k/Brasshandle_zpse346af7a.jpg

 

Regards,

Darryl

 

If Parker had left those on the building and I could have gotten to them...

 

Oh hell yes.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[Dutchpen]

There was a pen store in Amsterdam (PW Akkerman) who had these door handles too.

 

Take a close look at the picture. You will see them on the door (the door is open).

The store was completely renewed some time ago and is gone now in Amsterdam.

I think these door handles were thrown away when they renewed the store.

 

 

[rochester21]

Now that`s depressing. Throw away quality and style and bring in junk. Human "progress" lets me down, as usual.

[Flounder]

Goodbye Newhaven. There's a couple of photos of the site post-closure and predemolition at the UK Urban Exploration forum.

[Darryl.k]

Hi all,

 

So... a couple of bricks fell off the back of a lorry right out side Parkers, Newhaven, what are the odds of that happening! This is what I have designed, simple, effective and with history. Yes it is just a brick, but it is an original brick from Newhaven, from the front of the building along Railway Road. Mounted on top, machined into a pen holder with a groove for any pen to sit in, is button polished English oak. In the rear is an aluminium insert with the number one stamped on it. This will be a very very limited run of desk / pen holders made by myself, an ex Parker Toolmaker. You can't get more authentic than that! Show your interest and I will make a few and I mean only a few more. This 51 was also made in Newhaven and has most certainly earned its place on this holder.

 

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/darryl_k/Front_zps73f03ce6.jpg

 

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/darryl_k/Rear_zpsa303e18e.jpg

 

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/darryl_k/Brick_zpsec4b0562.jpg

 

Regards,

 

Darryl

Edited May 24, 2014 by Darryl.k

[inkstainedruth]

  On 5/17/2014 at 5:51 PM, Darryl.k said:

 

The handles were very desirable, made from solid brass and well made. I think there were 2 or 3 pairs at Newhaven. There was also a pair at Bush House, London when the head quarters was there.

 

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/darryl_k/Brasshandle_zpse346af7a.jpg

 

Regards,

Darryl

Sadly, the odds are that they might not have been salvaged -- I don't know about in the UK, but here in the States there is a epidemic of people scavenging metal from places to sell to scrap yards for cash (I think a lot of times for money to buy illegal drugs). We had friends who used live about halfway across town from us. They moved to DC (and then later to somewhere in Alabama) before their house here got sold. And instead of having someone house-sit (there was someone who was also friends with them who was losing her lease) they let it sit empty. And came home for something six months later to find that someone had broken in and stolen all the copper piping....

Those do look like nice door handles. I'm with Bruce on this -- I would *so* like to have done a Search and Rescue on those. The operative word, of course, being "Rescue"....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[pen2paper]

  On 5/24/2014 at 11:29 AM, Darryl.k said:

Hi all,

 

So... a couple of bricks fell off the back of a lorry right out side Parkers, Newhaven, what are the odds of that happening! This is what I have designed, simple, effective and with history. Yes it is just a brick, but it is an original brick from Newhaven, from the front of the building along Railway Road. Mounted on top, machined into a pen holder with a groove for any pen to sit in, is button polished English oak. In the rear is an aluminium insert with the number one stamped on it. This will be a very very limited run of desk / pen holders made by myself, an ex Parker Toolmaker. You can't get more authentic than that! Show your interest and I will make a few and I mean only a few more. This 51 was also made in Newhaven and has most certainly earned its place on this holder.

 

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/darryl_k/Front_zps73f03ce6.jpg

 

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/darryl_k/Rear_zpsa303e18e.jpg

 

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/darryl_k/Brick_zpsec4b0562.jpg

 

Regards,

 

Darryl

Darryl, the public link with your signature leads to your Parker page with significant Parker history, including your eyewitness perspective as a Parker employee, and from a Parker employee family. I "get" the poignant example of the brick. Now, having spent a couple of hours reviewing your page, along with Tony's experience viewing the Archive, that you as toolmaker saw through the window, as well as other past employee accounts during the glory developmental years, and achievements, I want to pointedly state that Your gathered, and well-reported history should be included with Tony's (Fischier's) Parker reference work, and also Pinned here in the Parker History section.

 

While it's important to live in the here and now, while working towards a better future, we learn from accurately reported history. Chunks of this gets lost, and those of studying history waste a lot of time digging for detached remnants, and stitching these back together. Actual eyewitness accounts are invaluable in fleshing out the full history.

 

One FPN experience cause me to post this comment today. Once, some years ago, we had a gentleman post that he had information to share as, (if my recollection is clear), the last apprentice of the early Onoto De La Rue pen company. He shared a photo, in which he identified himself as the young man in the group of pen shop workers. Excitement! as we waited to here more, from an eyewitness, participant! ... nothing. I can only guess that he is gone, and those pieces of firsthand history gone with him. So close, but the opportunity was lost. So, please do share your story, along with your gathered Parker examples, and other facts, ephemera... Then, have it documented in a manner so that once you're gone, the history continues to teach others. This Means something. Don't let it become lost. Thank You.

blush, leaping off the historical brick...

[OcalaFlGuy]

Look what just fell into my lap while I was looking for Parker bird info.

 

http://ournewhaven.org.uk/page_id__2455_path__0p2p107p.aspx

 

Wow.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[Darryl.k]

  On 5/28/2014 at 2:05 AM, OcalaFlGuy said:

Look what just fell into my lap while I was looking for Parker bird info.

 

http://ournewhaven.org.uk/page_id__2455_path__0p2p107p.aspx

 

Wow.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

 

Hi Bruce,

 

Some of those images are from Malcolm Troaks book - Pen to Paper. Worth buying it's a great read. I showed my farther and he recognised many old faces in the book and various parts of the factory, machines and operations from when he worked there. I then learnt that half my family worked there at one point or another!

 

Darryl

[sunburyboy93]

Well, last week i drove down to the Newhaven Site, and even since Daryl's Photo's, much more has now sadly gone from this Once Iconic Building

 

it won't be long now before it's all gone, such a shame really, i took a few snaps from what i could actually see, but with net covered steel grill fencing around the whole site, and private Security Companies watching it 24/7 it's difficult to see or do much really, there is an antique shop opposite the site, i asked the guy in there if he knew anything about where the contents of the Building went, he said that there was tons of stuff that came out before demolition started, it was all sent to the salvage company in portsmouth, and from there god only knows....

 

Here are a few snaps from my visit:

 

http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad235/sunburyboy93/Fac1.jpg

 

http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad235/sunburyboy93/Fac2.jpg

 

http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad235/sunburyboy93/Fac3.jpg

 

http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad235/sunburyboy93/Fac4.jpg

 

http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad235/sunburyboy93/Fac5.jpg

 

http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad235/sunburyboy93/Fac6.jpg

 

http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad235/sunburyboy93/Fac7.jpg

 

http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad235/sunburyboy93/Fac8.jpg

[sunburyboy93]

As it won't be long before the whole site is gone, i wanted a Personal memento from my visit and something to save for posterity from the site, so i grabbed some fragments of brick from the demolished building i could only grab a few pieces as there is a camera watching the whole front of the building.

 

So this weekend i got some pieces from the Craft/ DIY and Engravers and made myself my own personal bit of "Parker History" i know it's silly really but at least something to remember my visit:

 

http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad235/sunburyboy93/IMG_1485.jpg

 

http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad235/sunburyboy93/IMG_1482.jpg

 

http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad235/sunburyboy93/IMG_1483.jpg

 

http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad235/sunburyboy93/IMG_1484.jpg

[furious]

Thank you for documenting the sad demise of a great pen factory. It's a real pity that so much has been scrapped, but I suppose that it's better for the material to be recycled and serve in some form again than to have it end up in a landfill.

[william2001]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

It's a sad fact I must accept.

-William S. Park

[Darryl.k]

Last section of wall left at the Newhaven site. They were held up as they didn't realise how much asbestos was in there which took longer to clear. Also the Herring gulls had nested on part of it, hence they had to stop knocking it down until they left.

 

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/darryl_k/IMAG1262_zps9fdb775e.jpg

 

Regards,

 

Darryl

 

www.moreengineering.co.uk

[pen2paper]

"...it was all sent to the salvage company in portsmouth, and from there god only knows...."

 

Thanks for sharing the sad conclusion.

Of course, per the quoted bit just about, I never think things are entirely concluded. Just where did all historically significant stuff go? to France? or lingering in, or outside of some warehouse in Portsmouth?

 

Valid Asbestos concerns aside, understand that my late mentor, (another study interest), gathered a group of collectors 65ish years ago, and drove cross country USA to see the Ball & Socket Manufacturing site, and by hand labor, dug until they found glass bits that dated back to the early 19th century. Though she's been gone for 20+ years, the study continues.. Just recently, a deaccessioned museum piece confirmed what she taught me, that while most people thought this object was worn on gentleman's garments, in fact, here was a dated/documented original ladies garment, dated from after the patent date, and not long after manufacture began. All that just to say, if Parker historians would like to extend their journey, fill in more gaps, it seems there may yet be a trail to follow???

[Darryl.k]

17.08.14 nothing left.

 

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/darryl_k/IMAG1360_zpsac1ca4ba.jpg

 

Regards,

 

Darryl

[Gerd W]

Incredible and very sad.

However, many thanks for sharing pictures and information!

[Ceilidh]

So this weekend i got some pieces from the Craft/ DIY and Engravers and made myself my own personal bit of "Parker History" i know it's silly really but at least something to remember my visit:

 

 

That's actually a very attractive memento.

[georges zaslavsky]

Sadness. Newhaven made awesome quality Parkers. Not sure that French made production Parkers will be better than UK made onew and Newell Rubbermerde has been foolish to kill one of the most business oriented and customer focused manufacturing places from Parker.

[Pingu]

I got my first Parker pen in the 1980s when I was 8 years old, my mother helped me choose a Parker Classic in gold barleycorn finish, which I still have to this day. They had so many wonderful pens in varieties of finishes available back then. Sad to see decline of Parker today. The current owners seem to have downgraded the brand. The current range is rather limited and uninspiring, IMHO.

Edited October 11, 2014 by Pingu