The Parker 75 was named after Parker's 75th Anniversary Year (1963) and released in 1964 as a high end fountain pen that was a more modern alternative to the Parker 61 with some little innovations that would set it apart.
The shell section was shaped and textured where a users fingers would grip the pen whilst the nib was a friction fit that could be turned around easily. A silver metal collar with engraved reference marks completed the set up, which was designed to allow the user to personalise their pen by setting the nib up to the angle that suited them best when holding the pen.
Earlier pens pre 1970 had longer textured finger grips and a 0 reference on the nib collar as well as flat "Tassies" (the end piece at each end of the pen). Later pens lost the 0 reference and had indented tassies that were able to hold a small round disk with an initial printed on it as a way of further personalising the pen. Originally they were also sold with a nib adjuster tool so the owner could turn the nib without getting ink on their fingers.
The pen was originally released in the sterling silver Cicelé (or Ciselle) pattern which consisted of a cross hatch grid of tiny squares engraved into the pen, supposedly inspired by the pattern on a cigarette case purchased from a London Jeweler, and set off with gold plated end pieces and a gold arrow.
In early 1981 production ceased in the US but carried on in France until the Parker 75 was finally discontinued in 1994 |
