The Parker Jotter

The decade is over. Time for a new one. This one went out with a rough year, both financial and medical. But I'll post about that another day.

So far, I haven't written about pens so it's high time I start. My current and favorite hobby has been collecting, restoring, selling, trading and acquiring fountain pens. Primarily vintage going back to the turn of the last century. I do not typically get involved with ballpoints, with one exception. The Parker Jotter.

When I was in elementary school in the early sixties, we were allowed to write with pencils only until about 3rd or 4th grade. We were then introduced to the ubiquitous ballpoint. I and my fellow classmates had just missed the age of the fountain pen so we never got to try out an Esterbrook or Sheaffer, typical student pens of the time.


The ballpoints were available at the principal's office for each student (imagine that, giving out ballpoints!). We were even allowed to replace one as it wore out, got lost or was damaged. It was an inexpensive, institutional looking gray plastic bodied pen that had a long, thin taper and indentation just above the end for your thumb, index and middle finger to grip. It even had ribs formed into the plastic where you grip it. Basic-basic. And yes, they all leaked and left blobs of ink where you didn't want it.


As time went on, the kids began bringing their own from home as they were now allowed to use ballpoints. THE primo, uber-cool ballpoint to have was none other than the Parker Jotter. Nobody knew it was called the Jotter. We just called it "a Parker". There was only one to us. If you had a Parker, you were respected. You were COOL.

As I got older and the Bic Cristal (no one knew it was called that either) led to more throwaway pens. The Parker Jotter never left my possession; even with the genesis of the throwaway.

However, the Bic was anachronistic. It was immediately a legend because of it's capability to be converted to a spitball shooter. All you had to do was forcefully remove the ball point end from the clear plastic barrel. You were left with a clear, hollow barrel. A weapon. One that lent itself well to....well....shooting spitballs! But, I digress.


I played with other pens as I got older. Multi colored pens, cartridge filled fountain pens, felt tips (that was also cool when Papermate introduced the FLAIR). The Jotter, however, was always there in my rotation.

It wasn't until I was much older that I discovered that the Jotter was made in a host of different colors as well as a few unusual styles. There was a couple of "Ladies" Jotters; from the feminine metal patterns without a clip (a purse pen per se) to "Mini" Jotters, a scaled down size of the full size Jotter. Those did not last long as they were not runaway successful in the marketplace like the full size Jotter.

As I learned more about the colors and styles available, I discovered that a mini-collection could be put together resulting in hundreds of variants of the basic Jotter. I then expanded my Jotter collection to augment my fountain pen collection. Here is a sample of my Jotters.






As you can see, there are several different styles shown. Besides the standard colored-barrel Jotter (the barrel is made of styrene), there are the Calendar Jotters, the Window Jotters, Logo Pens and even a few matching mechanical pencils in the top row.



The bottom row consists of relatively modern (90's & 00's) colors with a sprinkling of Window Jotters. The latter is a standard Jotter with a message printed on a white ink cartridge. There were four messages placed 90 degrees from each other imprinted on the ink cartridge. Every time the button is pushed, the ink cartridge rotates 90 degrees. This shows a different message in the window each time the button is pressed. Obviously, four messages could be used. The rotation was designed into the cartridge with a ratchet-style plastic top to the cartridge in order to equalize wear on the Tungsten-Carbide ball (hence, the "T-Ball" Jotter cartridge). Ingenious.



I will write more as I feature different Jotters. Fountain pens will debut soon. The Jotter collection continues to grow. This is just a portion. :)

Levittown, New Jersey & The Beginning of Suburban Life

I recently found a website, http://www.levittownbeyond.com/ , which shows some of the history of Levitt & Sons (among others), including the development of Levittown, New Jersey. The first was Levittown, NY on Long Island where Levitt & Sons built 17,447 homes from 1947-1952. The second was Levittown, PA where they built 17,311 homes from 1952-1958. Third and the largest was Levittown, NJ where 15,000 homes were planned. In actuality, ~12,000 were constructed from 1958-1972 in Levittown, NJ, now known as Willingboro, NJ. Many other communities were built by Levitt & Sons and it's decendants to this day, though just these three were called Levittown.

New Jersey's Levittown is significant because it was where my parents decided to locate their first purchased home as a family. Dad was a US Air Force Captain and Aircraft Commander and mom was discharged from the US Air Force when I was born in 1957. Both met at and were stationed at nearby McGuire AFB/Fort Dix. I was born at the base hospital and was an "Air Force Brat" by default.

Levittown, New Jersey was open for home sales June 17, 1958 and the first home occupied was at 51 Sussex Drive by Leo & Joan Mount in October 1958. Coincidentally, that was the same month that our model was redesigned and introduced for the 1959 models.

Though I don't recall our original address, it was likely part of the first neighborhood of Levittown, NJ, Somerset Park.

Point of note, Levittown, NJ was originally called Willingboro and was changed in 1959 to Levittown, lasting only 4 or 5 years when they voted to change it back to Willingboro. The reason given was that this was only 12 miles away from Levittown, PA and confusion with the postal service and others was frequent. Some blamed political pressures on the change back.

Searching the site, I dug up the original specs for "The Rancher" which was our Kirk family first house. I constructed the photo montage to the left, illustrating this with our original home photo recently scanned from slides. No coincidence, that had to be the one as the elevation is dead on right down to the angle of the photo and the landscaping (note the tree).

I've been told by dad that the Buick under the snow in the driveway belonged to my grandfather. He passed away in March 1959. The photo was taken some time in December 1959.

There is much interesting information on the web site detailing Levitt & Sons groundbreaking efforts in shaping suburban living after WWII. The first Levittown was reputedly a quick response to a bright idea taking advantage of the post war housing shortage occurring at that time. The second Levittown was in response to a new employment center (a US Steel Mill) in Pennsylvania. Levitt homes included appliances and landscaping with each home. Levitt seemed to have the golden touch.

William Levitt is generally referred to as the inventor of the modern American suburb. Each neighborhood had, within it's boundaries, land donated by Levitt & Sons for a public elementary school, though this was temporarily abandoned in retaliation by Levitt when Levittown, NJ, voted by referendum to change the name back to it's original name of, just a few years earlier, Willingboro, NJ.

Locations for churches and other public facilities were set aside on main thoroughfares, donated to religious groups and other organizations. Other amenities included Olympic sized public pools, "greenbelt" parks, baseball fields, playgrounds and shopping centers. This sounds very familiar to me for reasons explained in the next paragraph. Residents were frequently called "Levittowners" and a sociological book was written in 1967 detailing the ways of life of the New Jersey Levittowners. Subsequently, we didn't stay there very long as GMATS and civilian life was a-calling.

In November 1960, we moved to Farmington, Michigan after dad exited the Air Force to accept a Pilot job with General Motors Air Transport Section. Our neighborhood was designed in classical Levitt fashion where my two brothers and I grew up. We were raised in typical baby boomer suburban style, as many were. Much of this suburban lifestyle was pioneered by Levitt and Sons. I'm glad it was. We were very lucky to grow up the way we did.

Opening day at Levittown, N.J., June 7, 1958.

Potential buyers line up to inspect the House B (Rancher)sample home; House C (3-Bedroom Colonial) and House A (Cape Cod) follow, with the modern all-glass Exhibit Center in the background.

Ten Years

Every year, in August, my employer has a corn roast for all the employees at our headquarters. This amounts to about 200 or so people enjoying a typical burger, dogs & corn on the cob picnic in the center of the factory. It's a clean factory since our products are mostly made of stainless steel, with the occasional brand new diesel engine making its way around the assembly area.

The lunchtime gala concludes with presentation of the service awards to employees making their milestones in 5 year increments. Those who qualify, get one of those corporate gift catalogs earlier in the year, to select their award. Usually cheesy, tacky gifts, but it's the thought that counts. This year, on November 15th, marks my 10th year with the company. I received the 10 year catalog a couple of months ago. Most gifts had little appeal to me until I got to the watch & clock page. While there were no Jaeger LeCoultre Atmos clocks on that page, I spied a decent looking Swiss Army watch.

I have never owned anything Swiss Army other than a knife and it was probably a knockoff. I decided to select it. Then I promptly forgot what I selected until my name was called this past Wednesday and I opened up the box. To my pleasure I inspected the wristwatch pictured here.

It is a Swiss Army Mens Calendar Garrison model #241083. Though a quartz and not an automatic or manual wind, I am immensely pleased with it's look and 40mm diameter. Nice leather band, too. Sized perfectly for my wrist.

I do think it's high time to own a military watch. Don't you?

My Time Connection

A couple of days ago, I turned 52. Nothing special here. Move along.

Next year I will be as old as my maternal grandfather ever was. He died at the young age of 53 when I was a mere 2-1/2 years old. That was in 1959. I never knew him or remember him. I'm told he was a fisherman and looked forward to taking his one and only grandson fishing when he got older. Unfortunately, that never happened. God has a reason for everything.

Next year my dad will be the same age as his dad ever was. My grandfather died at 78. It seems 2010 will be a pivotal year in our family. I sure hope God has a slightly different plan for dad and I. ;)

I am privileged to be the careful keeper of my grandfather's wristwatch, in his possession when he passed. Two or three times a year I wear it. Christmas and my birthday at the very minimum. Perhaps Father's Day will become another day of wearing honor.

The watch is a high quality brand for the time, an Illinois. It sports a classic 1950's vintage wristband. Perhaps hideous for today's styles but I rather like it. The flex part is on the underside so there's no buckles or latches.

I haven't had it apart for any reason yet. Though it works, the movement is in desperate need of cleaning and lubrication. I will know more about it when I get a look at the movement and the serial number on it. I estimate it to be from the late 20's, early 30's but no later. I am content with it for now.

The original radium is still evident on the hands and the art deco numerals. Sadly, the ladies that the wristwatch companies hired to paint radium on the watch faces and hands typically developed cancer from this unknown work hazard. Many died, too. The watch should be safe to wear. Keep in mind that these ladies had their hands in this stuff day in and day out for their jobs.

The back of the wristwatch has an ornate engraving of my grandfather's initials. LRO encapsulated in a diamond shape. That would stand for Lorenzo Roger Ouellette. I suspect that my French-Canadian grandparents living in Maine, where he was born, had a thing for Italian names. His one and only sibling was Emilio Ouellette.

I will post more on this wristwatch when I get further into it. For now, I'm satisfied to wear it on these occasions and frequently admire it sitting in my wristwatch storage case. I have others, but none connect me to the past like this one....for obvious reasons.

Indeed, I also have a grandson. He is 5 years old. Though I am not a fisherman, I will gladly take him on other expeditions. I will write about him soon.

On all Facebook pages, there is a box for a "What's On Your Mind" statement. On my birthday, I posted only one word in mine. TIME. Nothing more to be said here. Move along.

The Beginning

This is the beginning of my blog. Haven't done this before so anything goes. I started with Facebook and have enjoyed connecting with long forgotten friends, acquaintances and even family. We'll see where this blog goes.

Since I travel extensively, I may or may not have the time in hotels to keep this thing going. And.....we're off!