The Parker 21 first saw the light of day in 1949. It is said that Parker, becoming fed up with other companies attempting to copy the Parker 51, decided that, as a company, they were best equipped to produce a '51 copy' at a competitive price and so entered the '51 copy' market themselves.
This set, comprising a fountain pen and pencil, is the Mk.I. version, made untill around 1955. It is distinguished from the later pens by the larger opening for the nib assembly and the 'bulbous' feed. The pen carries a 1954 English date code and the pencil a U.S.A. code for 1950. This is not unusual as there was close collaboration between branches and sets were matched as they left the Parker distribution separtment.
Finished in blue, the pen and pencil have a showroom finish and ding free lustralloy capsand flawless chrome plated clips. The box has seen better days and is rather tatty but is certainy original so should be kept together with the set and has performed its task of protecting the set over the last seventy odd years.
The pen is an 'Aerometric' filler, an adaptation of the one used in the Parker 51, it is reliable and easy to use. The Parker 'Octanium' nib produces a fine to extra fine line, ideally suited to someone with a small 'hand' or for more detailed work. The pencil has a smooth rotary action operated by turning the cap.
The Parker 21 is a good pen, it writes well, is practical and well built with an impeccable pedigree and is the first choice of many collectors as an every day writer so it comes well recommended. Complete Parker 21 Mk. I. sets come along very infrequently.