Review of Graham Hogg's The Parker Ballpoint Pen, second edition 2004

Gents: I just received a copy of the above mentioned book and
immediately started to devour it for its knowledge. There is a
preponderance of books on the fountain pen and they are greater in
number than those about ball point pens. No disrepect intended to
those who own and use fountain pens, but there are many of us who love
using ball point pens and even collect them. So, to those interested
in ball point pens, this book is a wonderful addition to your library.

The author is a dental surgeon and magistrate in the City of
Liverpool, England. In his spare time, he is an avid ball point
collector and researcher. He is a member of the Writing Equipment
society. He welcomes all comments about this book as well as
ballpoint pens and can be reached at

I have another book "The Incredible Ball Point Pen" by Gostony &
Schneider (1998). This book was the first book in print exclusively
focusing on ball point pens and it focuses on all makers of ball
points. Graham Hoggs book focuses only on Parker ball point pens and
does add background history on how the ball point pen evolved from the
earliest American patent issued on a ball point design in 1888 to a
Massachusetts banker named John J. Loud to the one patented by Laszlo
Jozsef Biro in 1938 to the efforts of Milton Reynolds who started to
develop a ball point pen in 1945. Hoggs then focuses on the Parker
Pen company's efforts to develop a ball point pen, culuminating in its
Jotter in 1954.

Very entralling is the engineering digression in Hoggs book on the
formation of the Textured Tungsten Carbide Writing Point and on how a
ballpoint pen works. Hoggs spares no expense in adding engineering
drawings of what he is trying to point out. He has drawing sof the
refill unit, and comparision drawings of clip-screw styles, cap-clip
screw as it pertains to certain models.

The most interesting part of the book is the photographic color
displays of various Parker pens and the descriptive wording of each
plate number picture. Hoggs was able to obtain or borrow Parker
prototype ball point pens for inclusion in his book. They make
interesting readings. For the Parker Jotter ball point lover, you
have pictures of different kinds of ball point pens and you have a
smile on your face if your pen is featured in the book.

Hoggs warns the reader that there is a preponderance of Parker ball
point pens of different colors, materials and models and that it was
not possible to include every possible Parker ball point model in the
book. Since Hoggs lives in England, there is a large mention of
Parker ball point pens made in England. Some models were not included.
one that brings to mind is the 1958 T-ball Jotter flighter laboratory
model made in the US. Perhaps Hoggs did not have that particular
model in his collection and could not include it in his book.

Nevertheless, Graham Hogg has made an outstanding effort to chronicle
the history of the Parker ball point pen. His book is a worthly
additon to your library and you will not be disappointed in the
contents. There is very little in research and books done on the ball
point pen and this book will add to your knowledge. Strongly suggest
you contact him at his website and he will reserve you a copy and tell
you his preferred method of payment. The shipping from England is
very fast, about a week from his home to yours in the United States.
For your convenience, his email is and the
book is available from www.ballpointpen.co.uk

James K. Goodwin

"James Goodwin" wrote in message
m...
Gents: I just received a copy of the above mentioned book and
immediately started to devour it for its knowledge. There is a
preponderance of books on the fountain pen and they are greater in
number than those about ball point pens. No disrepect intended to
those who own and use fountain pens...

Nor, may I assume, to the Ladies who read and post to this group?


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