Thursday, August 11, 2016

Invention Of The Ball Point Pen...!

Here is some history about something we have all probably used from time to time.

This is one of those things that we all kinda take for granted. Imagine if you will, trying to solve all the problems of creating a workable model of a ball point for the first time. The next step was in trying to convince folks to actually user it!

Ballpoint Pen



The first patent on a ballpoint pen was issued on 30 October 1888, to John J. Loud, a leather tanner, who was attempting to make a writing implement that would be able to write on the leather he tanned, which the then-common fountain pen couldn’t do. The pen had a rotating small steel ball, held in place by a socket. Then, fifty years later, with the help of his brother George, László Bíró, a chemist, began to work on designing new types of pens. Bíró fitted this pen with a tiny ball in its tip that was free to turn in a socket. As the pen moved along the paper, the ball rotated, picking up ink from the ink cartridge and leaving it on the paper. Bíró filed a British patent on 15 June 1938. Earlier pens leaked or clogged due to improper viscosity of the ink, and depended on gravity to deliver the ink to the ball. Depending on gravity caused difficulties with the flow and required that the pen be held nearly vertically. The Biro pen both pressurized the ink column and used capillary action for ink delivery, solving the flow problems.

Amazing how such a common thing today was almost a miracle back in the old days.

Coffee out on the patio this morning. It's hot, but not so bad if we start early.

9 comments:

  1. Interesting, Mr. Hermit! I still like to use a straight pen and ink, though!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I never really thought about where a ball point pen came from - very interesting. Would love to sit on the patio; save my spot on the swing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Still reading and enjoying your blog. Thanks for publishing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. When we lived in Australia, all pens were called "Biro"s, just like we say all tissues are Kleenex. Now I know where the term came from! Thanks Bubba!

    Bug hugs ~

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very interesting. Now they have so many brands. I like a nice smooth flowing pen.

    We didn't get the nasty storm they had predicted yesterday and this morning it isn't bad at all. Good morning for sitting out.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hey Phyllis...
    I think it's great that you are still using a regular pen. Not that many folks do anymore, I think
    Thanks for stopping by this morning!


    Hey Linda...
    I reckon that many folks don't give much thought to something like that.
    Thanks for coming by today!


    Hey Barney...
    I appreciate that, I really do!
    Thanks for the visit today!


    Hey Sis...
    Funny how we adapt to calling an item by it's nickname, isn't it?
    I thank you for coming over today, Sis!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Back in the olden days our school taught "penmanship" to second graders. Imagine a class full of second graders using fountain pens -- a messy affair. My favorite color ink was turquoise. Being left handed, I was relieved when the ballpoint pen came along.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The first ball point pen I used was a Parker in the early 50s

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hey Janet...
    It would have been a mess for sure. I used a regular fountain pen most of my days in high school!
    Thanks for coming by today!


    Hey Ted...
    I believe that Parker was my first one as well. Pretty popular back in the day !
    Thanks for the visit today!

    ReplyDelete