Parker – the most famous pens in the world
The pen was named after the Colt 45 pistol. At that time, Western films were very popular, where fearless heroes used this type of weapon. One of the designers suggested using this as a marketing gimmick, and the new pen was shaped like a cartridge. The first Parker 45 pens were released in 1960 and became the first model to use an ink cartridge.
Initially, this pen model was characterized as an economy-class writing instrument for everyday use. It belonged to the lower price category and was intended for people with modest financial means, such as junior clerks, pupils, and students. Parker 45 pens were like "workhorses," with a correspondingly unpretentious and inexpensive appearance. The price of the Parker 45 was set at $5, but its affiliation with a global brand did not allow it to be considered a cheap writing instrument.
With this model, the Parker Pen Company decided to test several new technologies. The first was a removable nib unit that could be disassembled much faster. The second was an innovation in the ink supply system. This was the first pen that worked with a disposable cartridge that could be replaced, as well as a piston converter and a Squeeze filler based on a squeezable rubber container.
Parker 45 pens had a small nib, available in several types: gold, steel, and gold-plated. By reducing the size of the nib, manufacturers tried to lower the cost of the finished product to make it cheaper. Another cost-saving step was replacing the metal cap, which was used in early versions of this model, with a plastic one. This version was called the Parker 45 Arrow.
To move Parker pens into a more expensive category, in several variants of the model, designers used polished stainless steel for the body and also gold-plated some pen parts. Entire gift sets were also created, consisting of a Parker 45 pen and some other stationery item. However, all these attempts did not achieve the same success as the original Parker 45 version. Parker 45 pens were produced until 2006, when production was stopped.
_