
Janesville: Two Names
Clip: Special | 8m 7sVideo has Closed Captions
Through technical advances and marketing genius, Parker Pen put Janesville on the map.
In 1890, George Stafford Parker patented his first fountain pen, the "Lucky Curve," which made several improvements. The Parker Pen Co. became one of Wisconsin's first nationally-known companies, and by 1908 was the largest pen-manufacturing company in the world. Proudly written on each pen was the name Parker, as well as the place it was made--Janesville, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Hometown Stories is a local public television program presented by PBS Wisconsin

Janesville: Two Names
Clip: Special | 8m 7sVideo has Closed Captions
In 1890, George Stafford Parker patented his first fountain pen, the "Lucky Curve," which made several improvements. The Parker Pen Co. became one of Wisconsin's first nationally-known companies, and by 1908 was the largest pen-manufacturing company in the world. Proudly written on each pen was the name Parker, as well as the place it was made--Janesville, Wisconsin.
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