The Parker Pen Company is happy to have you visit us to view the Fountain of the Planets fireworks and water show. The sight that you will experience is so unique, we thought you would like to know more about the fountain, its design and its operation.

ASYMMETRY FOR DEPTH

The fountain is not symmetrical, but has been designed to create varying degrees of depth perception from any viewing point. According to Robert Langer of Hamel and Langer, who engineered the fountain, the view from the Parker Pavilion is perhaps the best to be had.

DESIGN

The water, light and color controls are so versatile that an infinite number of programs can be produced. But the creation of the five actual presentations provides a story in itself. Briefly, hundreds of water patterns were sketched onto transparent sheets and then, by laying one on top of another, patterns were selected to blend with the music. Coordinated colors were then added to the sketches.

The fountain is programmed electronically. Instructions have been fed into a computer which "memorizes" the data. Each performance is controlled for varying weather conditions to eliminate the possibility of heavy winds carrying water and fireworks into the crowd.

This new form of art has allowed the musician, artist and engineer to combine talents and produce an awesome spectacle. Jacques Belasco supplied the musical arrangements. Abby Bent did the art direction and Hamel and Langer coordinated the engineering feats. Abby supervises the performance almost every night from the control house at the left of the Bell pavilion.

THE FOUNTAINS

The pool covers six and one-half acres and holds 15 million gallons of water. The fountains are made up of some 2,000 nozzles ranging from one-half inch to over two inches in diameter. During the peak of a performance, as much as 100 tons of water are pushed into the air at one time, with some streams soaring to 150 feet. The water in the Fountains of the Planets is recirculated -- an important fact for thirsty New Yorkers.

LIGHTING

The light source incorporates a new type of lamp developed by General Electric specifically for this fountain. The actual color of the light is a warm white, instead of the usual harsh white characteristic of regular lamps, and it adds additional sparkle and liveliness to the fountain.

In order to make the most efficient use of this new lamp, Bausch and Lomb developed a color separation process called Dichroic filtering. The filters, clear rather than colored, separate the light like a prism, permitting the desired color to pass through without diminution of its natural brilliance. The result is pure colored light.

When the fountain is illuminated, 700,000 watts are used to attain 150 million candle power. Regular lights would require five million watts.

SOUND

The loudspeaker, another first, was designed by RCA and is the most powerful ever built. You can see it in the center -- 16 feet in diameter and weighing more than 7,000 pounds. It projects sound in a 360-degree pattern with exceptional fidelity and is made of materials not affected by moisture.

FIREWORKS

There are almost 500 cylinders located throughout the fountain. Early each morning, pyrotechnic experts walk out on ramps submerged just below the surface of the water. They clean out each cylinder, load the fireworks and snap on a thin plastic cover. This protects each charge from the fountain's splash until the moment of firing. The charge then blasts through the plastic on its journey skyward.

This two and one-half million dollar spectacular is truly an extraordinary display of water, color and sound. We at Parker are most fortunate to have a regular ringside seat which we are glad to share with you. Won't you and your family visit us again and register for an International Penfriend. Our amazing computer will match you with your just-right overseas pen pal in seconds.