Parker 51 Pen & Pencil Set

Q:        My Parker 51 pen and pencil set is in its original black box. The caps are 14K gold. The set is in good condition. How old is it?

A :        George Safford Parker founded the Parker Pen Co. in Janesville, Wis., in 1888. The Parker 51 pen was developed in 1939, the company’s 51st year. After testing it in other countries, it was introduced in the United States in 1941. The pen has a Lucite body and 14K gold nib. It was made in several colors, with slight design changes over the years. The Parker 51 was made until about 1972 and became the best-selling pen in the world. The company was bought by Gillette in 1993 and became part of Newell Rubbermaid in 2000.