Premier desk set

Added 06-30-2007

    

The Premiers are the only model related to the Parker 75 that had desk sets available in a 1-pen and 2-pen versions, excluding the known prototype 75 desk set in sterling grid and slim Classic versions, the latter being a very slim pen model which I do not consider to be part of the 75 family.

    

These desk sets were made in Japan and used Urushi lacquer over brass to give a refined elegance appropriate on the desk of high-level executives. Indeed the retail price of $350 and $500 in 1988 for the 1- and 2-pen versions respectively targeted only well-heeled customers with deep pockets.

The pens themselves were the Athenes model with matching pen holder and black tapered plastic end.  The working end would normally be a rollerball (default), but could easily be configured as a fountain pen with the FP section and nib.  In fact, the two-pen desk set consisted of one rollerball and one fountain pen.  

The pen holder was formed from an Athenes cap with an attached metal ball that fits into the concave magnetic base.  This Parker technique of mounting pen holders onto a base using a magnet was granted US Patent #3,120,216 and invented by Frank Meinhardt.

According to their own sales literature Parker printed a notation that these desk sets were only "Available in limited quantities".  Indeed they are hard to find.  (Click on the picture to view the full 1988 color catalog page.)

The package included an instruction booklet, rollerball refills (4 or 2, depending on whether you had the double or single pen set), and a brass nameplate for engraving the owner's name and gluing onto the red laquer base.  All these components rested in the box under the base.

    

    

The complete box goes into a cardboard slipcover so that the entire package resembled a notebook computer or a ream of photocopy paper.

 

Even more scarce were the prototypes made of brass which can be seen here.