Parker Pen vs Sheaffer: Difference and Comparison

Writing is a useful hobby, and many a time even a professional necessity for several people. In such cases, an individual may find it helpful to have a good pen that is smooth on paper and comfortable to hold.

Interestingly, there are numerous other features that form a good pen. Industry forerunners such as Parker and Sheaffer are good examples of this.

Key Takeaways

1. Parker Pen is a renowned American brand known for its innovative pen designs, including the iconic Parker 51.
2. Sheaffer is another American pen manufacturer with a long history, famous for its elegant fountain pens and the invention of the lever-filling mechanism.
3. Both brands offer high-quality writing instruments, but Parker is associated with innovation, while Sheaffer is known for its timeless elegance.

Parker Pen vs Sheaffer

Parker pens are a line of fine writing instruments that are well-known for their sleek, modern designs and high-quality construction. Sheaffer pens are known for their ornate and decorative designs, with intricate engravings and details that add a touch of elegance to any writing experience.

Parker pens come in two major types – fountain and ballpoint pens. Apart from this, the company also manufactures mechanical pencils.

Each of them falls under the category of luxury products, yet, they are available in numerous price ranges. These pens are one of the most reputable products in the market.

Their premium quality had been maintained throughout the years.

Meanwhile, Sheaffer pens come in fountain and ballpoint form as well. The company also manufactures and sells ink, cartridges, pen pouches, and several other luxury products.

However, despite being one of the top-ranking contenders in the market, the products fall behind in terms of quality when compared with Parker pens.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Parker Pen	Sheaffer Pen
Launch	It was launched in 1888.	It was launched in 1912.
Popularity	It is popular for its series of ballpoint pens.	It is popular for its series of fountain pens.
USP	The company provides official refills for pens at an affordable price.	They offer premium quality bottled ink for their pens.
Ink Colour Range	They do not come in many colors.	They have a diverse variety of colors.
Quality	It has better overall quality as compared to the latter.	It has relatively lower quality, especially in recent years.
Sales	The products have been making good sales.	The products are not making good sales in recent time.

What is Parker Pen?

Parker pens are luxury writing instruments that are designed, manufactured, and sold by the American giant, Parker Pen Company. The organization was founded in 1888. It was named after its founder, George Safford Parker.

Since then, it has garnered a positive reputation for its quality products that are available in numerous price ranges.

Parker pens are available in fountain and ballpoint types. The ballpoint pens are the most popular product across the world.

This is because the company focuses majorly on this product. Moreover, it offers official refills at an affordable price which is attractive to customers.

Owing to the superb quality that Parker pens offer, the product line has managed to make tremendous sales throughout the years. Even in recent times, the figures only show a positive increase.

The company has also managed to constantly integrate innovation into its products.

However, a downside of these pens is that they are not available in many colors. The ink of the pens only comes in blue and black colors, which is a narrow range as compared to other competitors in the industry.

Despite this, Parker pens are a forerunner because of their luxurious design, smoothness on paper, and even comfort while handling.

What is Sheaffer?

Sheaffer is another brand of luxury writing instruments that competes at par with Parker. These pens are designed, manufactured, and distributed by the American company, Sheaffer Pen Corporation.

This organization was founded in 1912 by Walter A. Sheaffer. Since then, it has been one of the most popular brands among enthusiasts.

These pens are available in the fountain and ballpoint type. The company majorly focuses on fountain pens, which is why it is the most famous product among the public.

These pens come with premium quality bottled ink which removes the hassle of getting the pen refilled officially.

Moreover, the color range of the ink that the pens come in is wider as compared to other competitors in the market. This has been a major selling point for the company throughout its years of operation.

There are also several other products such as inks, cartridges, and even pen pouches that attract the attention of customers.

However, the overall quality of these pens is relatively lesser when compared with Parker pens. They are also not as smooth to use on paper.

The company has also faced criticism for its decreasing quality of production. Due to this, the sales garnered by Sheaffer pens have also been considerably low in recent years. 

Main Differences Between Parker Pen and Sheaffer

1. Parker pen was launched in 1888 whereas Sheaffer was launched in 1912.
2. Parker pen is popular for its series of ballpoint pens whereas Sheaffer is popular for its series of fountain pens.
3. Parker pen company provides official refills for pens at an affordable price whereas Sheaffer offers premium quality bottled ink for its pens.
4. Parker pens do not come in many colors whereas Sheaffer offers a diverse variety of colors.
5. Parker pen has better overall quality as compared to the latter whereas Sheaffer has relatively lower quality, especially in recent years.
6. Parker pen products have been making good sales whereas Sheaffer products are not making good sales in recent times.

References

1. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2001/an/b103042f

Last Updated : 13 July, 2023