Some answers and info based on the Parker 1930's Premier and Moderne "quiz", requesting info
about other pen makers' uses of two plastic patterns (we'll call Green/Black and White-Veined Blue/Bronze)
seen occasionally in these funky Parkers.

Two pics are included below. Look first at the smaller pic. The two color patterns under
discussion are placed in the upper left of the image. Each pattern, along with three color patterns
of so-called "Thrift Pen" which have more recognizable appearance amongst other makers' pens, are shown. T

After the small pic, the pens that match the two "quiz" colors will be identified,
along with the other pens shown. Then see the big
pic



The Green/Black Parker Moderne set is matched by a MOORE CLASSIC, which appears to be a
low-line pen from that company. I do not know date of production but a guess to mid 1930's likely
not too far wrong.

The White-Veined Blue/Bronze Parker Premier pen is followed by another Moore (hmmmm....). This one is the
MOORE SERVO. To my eye, construction seemed to show higher quality work.

Following these we have a few more Parker pens with matched "other pens".

The blue Premier is matched by a Wahl Personal Point, for which this is a well known color.

The Black-veined green is matched by a Conklin Endura pencil, which is catalog-described in that color.

The "Turquoise" which is Waterman's name for a blue/bronze color is matched by a Waterman patrician with unusual (late?) trim.

At the bottom is my Parker Premiere which matches the Waterman 94 in "Mahogany".

Of note, i had the chance to photograph quite the large collection of Parker Premier and Modern pens at the Ohio Pen Show,
thanks to collector Wayne Bladorn. That opportunity was most appreciated :-)

Here is the larger pic, for show n' tell



regards

david

So this makes me wonder...

As far as I know, there was a consortium of sorts made in the 30's between many of the large pen makers to consolidate the production of celluloid to reduce costs and quite often, 2nd tier manufacturers used the same materials that the 1st tier companies used in their top of the line models. They bought the excess celluloid stock and used it to make their own less expensive models which were differentiated mostly in their nibs and quality of trim.

I have seen quite a few 2nd and 3rd tier pens from the 30's that were made with the most stunning celluloids and would have been great pens had they been fitted with better nibs and better trim.

This leads me to think that Parker took a lesson from other economy pen makers and purchased over runs of certain prime celluloid stock such as was used in the PAtrician and Wahl to make these less expensive Thrift time pens and perhaps other major companies were doing the same.

I suspect by being less expensive means that put these in the four to five dollar price range. This would have been quite a bit less than a top of the line Parker but was still money well spent in that it got you a quality pen in wonderful materials.

And to think, Patricians originally sold for a whopping $10.00 (about a weeks pay in the 30's).

Although I had no clue what the matching pens were, I found this topic quite interesting.

Keith, I wonder who would have been able to afford those 30's prices at the time? High level execs? Was there much of a market at that time for expensive pens?

Gee, I wish I could spend a week's pay on a pen today. Well, a week's worth of my husband's pay, and no, that is neither feasible nor even remotely probable.

interesting ideas.

Certainly the notions are reasonable. Whether parker did it that way? Dunno.

The Parker Premier and Modern were likely sub $4 pens, though i don't insist.

Neat pens though.

Pens were expensive then, as they were bought for the long haul AND made a big fashion statement. Sort of how we buy cars today ;-)

david

I learned quite a bit from a few of my senior friends and family when it comes to knowing what they were making in the 30's... my grandfather was a farmer and carpenter and was making $2.00 a day (which was usually a 12 hour shift). A nice pen would have cost him a few day's pay and buying a pen like a Patrician would have been unimaginable.

When we see many vintage pens with engraved names and dedications it is probably because they were bought and given as special gifts and something the recipient would have treasured. I look at my Waterman 7 Emerald Ray which was second only to the Patrician and cost $7.00 back in the 30's and see this as another pen that would have been a serious investment for most people and something only the well to do could afford.

Fast forward to the 50's and pens like the Parker 51 and Sheaffer Snorkel also cost the equivalent of a week's pay for most average folks and even an Esterbrook cost nearly a day's pay. Nurses were making around $17.00 / week, mechanics were making 15.00 / week, and my mom made $12.50 a week (.30 cents hr) as a hospital aide.

A good fountain pen has always been a pretty serious investment and this explains why there are millions upon millions of 2nd and 3rd tier pens out there that originally sold for less than a dollar since this is what the average person could afford.

Getting back on topic, it would be interesting to know how Parker acquired the high quality materials for their Thrift Time pens, wondering whether they were the initial buyer of certain runs of celluloid or took the other path and purchased over-runs or surplus stocks to offset cost. It does seem that with the Parker models like the Thrift Time, Parkettes, and Challengers, that they used some rather unique and beautiful materials that were not offered with their top of the line pens.

The quality of these "lesser" Parkers is still rather excellent as Parker would not put their name on an inferior product lest that affect their reputation in what was a very competitive and lucrative market.

Sheaffer did the same with their WASP line as everyone knew who made these pens and a sub standard product would have had a negative impact on the parent company. The WASP Clippers sold from 1.95 to 4.95(?) so perhaps the Thrift Time and Parkettes were priced similarly to remain competitive in a post depression market.

Very nice pens... Ihave question though. I am partial to using a black color pen (barrel) mainly because I don't want something too outlandish in color at work. Although a brightly colored pen is very beautiful, I probably wouldn't buy one because I would think--gee how would that look at work.

Therefore my question is. Did people actually use the brightly colored ones for seriuos meetings? Or was the fashion statement at work to actually get the biggest brightest one you could find?

Anyone know?

To resurrect an old post, I offer my find in the wild today. A no-name mahogany celluloid similar to you-know-what. I have another at home (currently posting on the road from a hotel room) that I will add later.

The above grouping is one of my more favorite eye candy photos from David. Here's my latest find.

Think i have a wearever in that plastic too.

d