Vintage Parker “Big Brother” Red Hard Rubber Senior Duofold Self-Propelling Pencil Complete with Original Box, USA 1920s
Rare, Museum Quality ** Vintage Parker “Big Brother” Red Hard Rubber Senior Duofold Self-Propelling Pencil Complete with Original Box, USA 1920s **
The “Big Brother” Self-Propelling Pencil is the companion writing instrument to the Parker “Big Red” fountain pen… The ensemble which “made” the Parker Pen Company!
Up until that time, almost all fountain pens and matching pencils, including those from Parker, were produced from black hard rubber. Consequently, Parker’s line of black Lucky Curve pens and self-propelling pencils, although selling well, had nothing truly “eye-catching” to set them off from other writing instruments on the market.
Meanwhile, Parker already had developed a process for making red-orange colored hard rubber, but hadn’t successfully marketed any pens or pencils made of this new material. Enter Lewis M. Tebbel a Parker district sales manager. He immediately “knew” that this was the break-through Parker was waiting for. Tebbel persuaded one of the machinists at the Parker factory to make him a model #26 Lucky Curve pen out of red hard rubber stock.
The prototype looked stunning! Tebbel named it “the Duofold”, and when he returned to the field several local pen retailers prompted him to ask the factory for a dozen. Although his request initially was refused, Tebbel persisted until finally he was granted his dozen… which immediately sold out.
Tebbel’s further request for even more “Red Duofold” pens… and especially that the company incorporate the Duofold into Parker’s regular line, to sell for a “whooping” $7 each… again met with Parker management’s refusal.
In desperation Tebbel successfully turned for support to young Kenneth Parker, son of Parker’s founder. He’d just joined the firm to follow in his father as well as elder brother’s footsteps… and was keen to make his mark! He’d also just returned from internship at an ad agency and was eager to try the power of advertising.
The first Duofolds premiered in early 1921… available in one (BIG) size only and solely in Red. The first matching self-propelling pencils immediately followed
Very quickly these unusually large brightly colored pens and matching pencils was nicknamed “Big Red”… Respectively”Big Brother; and within a few months became the best-selling high priced writing instruments on the market!
- Length: 14.5 cm
- Propelling Action: Rotating Top-Piece which also serves to hide the built-in Rubber Eraser.
- Material: Red Hard Rubber
- Condition: Excellent, Without any chips cracks nor other damage
- Imprint: Crisp, Clear… DUOFOLD “BIG BRO. PENCIL” JANESVILLE, WIS. U.S.A. PAT’D.
- Box: Original Parker Big Brother Box, signed: Parker Pencil within a decorative banner, PATENTED MARCH 22, 1921
- Condition: Excellent. Serviced and Tested.
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Parker Pen Company history
The Parker Pen Company was founded by George S. Parker in 1888. Dissatisfied with the pens available at the time, Parker’s mission was to produce an eminently reliable pen. This tradition continued admirably in the decades that ensued, with the Company becoming the number one leader in writing instrument sales from 1920 through the 1960s.
Parker also continued to regularly revolutionize the fountain pen and all that accompanied it. In 1931 Parker launched Quink, an ink that did away with the need for blotters. This breakthrough also paved the way for Parker’s launch in 1941 of the Parker 51, that would go on to become the most popular fountain pen of all times.
The Parker Pen Company also came to epitomize prestige, as well as the highest standards of craftsmanship, technology and design. As such, Parker pens were frequently selected to sign important documents, including the Armistice following World War II and the INF Treaty between President Ronald Regan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987.
