Ballpoint Pens
DECEMBER 9
Extended Definition
Authored by: Elizabeth Patnode
Picture Credit: [Link]
day-3/
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Definition:
A ballpoint pen is a writing instrument with a metal ball (usually made from steel,
brass, or tungsten carbide) at the tip of the pen to dispense ink from an internal
reservoir onto a surface.
History and Why it was Invented:
The ballpoint pen cannot be traced to one person, but rather the pen as it is known
today came from an evolution of ideas as the device was reinvented by multiple
people. The modern ballpoint pen started with a man named John J. Loud in 1888
who designed a pen with a ball at the tip to dispense ink on leather. He tried to claim
the patent (Figure 1) in America but was not successful due to it being a commercial
failure as the pen not being able to write on paper (Brachmann, 2020). The
characteristic of a pen needing to write on paper in a way that was more effective
and less messy than the leather pen is what sparked the numerous evolutions and
renditions to follow.
Figure 1 Loud’s Patent
After Loud, Hungarian journalist Lazlo Biro invented the pen and patent that was
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designed with the ball socket at the tip, and it was made with the purpose to not
smudge or have the ink dry out as quickly as dip or fountain pens.
Biro filed patents in multiple European country, but it was not until he and his
brother fled for Argentina during the onset of World War Two that he was able to
start his company ‘Birome’ (Rothman, 2015). This ballpoint pen was adopted by
aircrewman after discovering that it did not leak due to altitude pressure unlike the
fountain pens previously used (Brachmann, 2020).
The ballpoint pen did not become a commercial success until Milton Reynolds saw
the pen after World War Two and redesigned it as his own “Rocket Pen.” (Figure 2) It
was with this redesign that he filed for an American patent (Rothman, 2015).
Figure 2 Reynolds Rocket Pen Ad
After Reynolds’ design became a huge commercial success, Marcel Bich (who later
dropped the ‘H’ off his name to rebrand his company as ‘Bic’) purchased the original
patent from Biro. With some redesigning, Marcel Bich was able to mass produce the
internationally recognizable Bic Pen, which became the biggest commercially
successful ballpoint pen ever produced. (Schultz, 2012) These reinventions of the
ballpoint pen completely changed literacy and handwriting and aided in the
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formation of modern-day standards. Students now were not burdened with the
necessity of dipping a quill in ink or having to continuously sharpen a graphite pencil.
Now, students could write with ease until the ink in the pen dried up. This was met
with some controversy with some teachers at the time stating “Ballpoint pens will be
the ruin of education in our country. Students use these devices then throw them
away. The values of thrift and frugality are being discarded. Businesses and banks
will never allow such expensive luxuries” (Collins and Halverson, p. 30). However, the
pen continued to prevail and is now used by students, teachers, professionals,
presidents, world leaders, and just about everyone and anyone.
Ballpoint Pen Versus Other Types:
A Ballpoint Pen utilizes a metal
ball and socket design at the tip
that allows for ink to be released
from the internal reservoir. The
oil-based ink is the specialized
feature of this pen, as well as the
mixture of ink and dye suspended
in alcohol and acids (A. Karleen,
2020). It can come in a variety of
tip sizes to create a thinner/more
precise stroke or a larger/more
defined mark. This type of writing
instrument can come in a “click” Figure 3 Ballpoint Pen Magnified
pen format, a screw-pen type, or a
pen with a cap. Ballpoint pens are designed for everyday use and writing.
A Gel Pen uses a tip that dispenses ink from the internal tube as one writes. The ink is
water-based and can smudge easily. The ink is thicker, thus lends it to remain wet on
the page longer than a standard ballpoint pen. Gel ink is considered acid free, unlike
ballpoint pen ink. This type of pen is the pen one should reach for when aiming for
vibrancy. (A. Karleen, 2020)
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A Rollerball Pen uses the same type of tip that can be found on a ballpoint pen, but the
ink is much thinner with allows for a flood of ink and a smoother flow. The rollerball
pen is the smoothest out of the three pens introduced thus-far in terms of writing, but
it is less vivid than a gel pen but more vibrant than a ballpoint pen. (A., Karleen, 2020)
The Ballpoint pen is the pen to use for if the writer desires less ink smudging, longer
writing usage, and better portability as it has the least risk for ink leakage.
Ballpoint Pen and How it Changed Literacy:
Thanks to the inventors of the many renditions of the ballpoint pen, students today
can take more notes quicker as they do not have to stop and dip their pen in ink,
writers can quickly jot down notes anywhere without the fear of a leaking ink
cartridge, and the world’s most convenient writing tool is available to everyone and
can be found in almost every household. Before smartphones, people could easily pick
up their trusty, portable ballpoint pen and write down any notes or reminders they
needed. Whether in the air or on the ground, in the classroom or the office, whether
the smartphone is dead or otherwise occupied, the ballpoint pen is the most utilized
and important gadgets in modern culture, and understanding how it works, where it
comes from, and why it is important can help everyday users appreciate one of the
most vital and underappreciated gadgets of the modern world.
References:
Figure 4 Sales of Ballpoint pen from 1929-1999
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A., Karleen. Types of Pen Tips: Fine, Extra Fine & Medium-Explained! 3 June 2020,
[Link]/blog/types-of-pen-tips/.
Brachmann, Steve. “The Evolution of Modern Ballpoint Pen: A Patent History - [Link]:
Patents & Patent Law.” [Link] | Patents & Patent Law, 2 June 2020,
[Link]/2014/12/10/the-evolution-of-modern-ballpoint-pen-a-patent-
history/id=52550/.
Collins, A., & Halverson, R. (2009). Rethinking education in the age of technology: The digital
revolution and schooling in america . New York: Teacher’s College Press. Retrieved from
[Link]
Rothman, L. (2015, October 29). Why the Invention of the Ballpoint Pen Was Such a Big Deal. Time.
[Link]
Schultz, Colin. “The Story of László Bíró, the Man Who Invented the Ballpoint Pen.” [Link],
Smithsonian Institution, 22 Aug. 2012, [Link]/smart-news/the-story-of-laszlo-
biro-the-man-who-invented-the-ballpoint-pen-30631082/.
Image Citations:
Figure 1. Loud’s Patent ([Link]
Figure 2. Reynolds Rocket Pen Ad
([Link]
nolds_rocket/)
Figure 3. By Carlos E Basqueira - Imported from 500px (archived version) by the Archive Team. (detail
page), CC BY 3.0, [Link]
Figure 4. Sales of fountain pens and ballpoint pens -in millions of units. 1929-1999. Source: Modis,
2003, p. 26.