Who invented the ballpoint pen and when? In what year did they invent the ballpoint pen?

Since the time when the ancient man first began to learn drawing and writing, a lot of adaptations for this appeared. At first the role of writing instruments was played by a wooden stick and stone. They could leave images on the sand or on the rock. In the 4th century BC. E. People began to write with the help of bones or wooden sticks on water-clay tablets soaked in water. In ancient Greece, a wand with a pointed end (stylus) and a plate covered with a thin waxy layer was used for this. Today we take advantage of all the benefits of civilization, and we simply do not pay attention to such a simple and seemingly uncomplicated tool like a pen. Still would! This product in any stationery store (and not only) in excess: ball, gel, oil, ink ... The assortment is so wide that the eyes run. But it was not always so. Let's follow the history of the development of this product and find out who and when invented the ballpoint pen.

Prehistory. Find in the pyramids

Who invented the ballpoint pen and when? In fact, the answer to this question is not so straightforward - some researchers believe that for the first time the idea of creating this writing belonged to the ancient Egyptians. In the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen was found the progenitor of a modern handle - a tube made of lead and having a pointed end. Scientists believe that in her cavity was placed a reed filled with ink, and, thus, the device was used for writing.

Then, when the parchment was invented, we noticed a quill pen. It is believed that the first time to use feathers for writing began the Spaniards. To prepare for use, the pen was first held in hot sand, and then sharpened at a certain angle. Depending on this angle, the style of writing could change. So capital letters were invented. Most often, feathers of geese were used for writing. Rarely met crows and even peacock feathers. A good pen was considered a prestigious gift, as today, say, the products of the brand Parker or ST Dupont. But who and when invented the ballpoint pen?

From goose feather to capillary rod

At the end of the 18th century, a pencil lead was invented for the first time. This was done independently by Australian and French inventors. These times are considered the beginning of the development of the stationery industry. In 1803 a prototype of a steel pen appeared. Initially, there was no longitudinal slot at the tips of such feathers, so writing them was inconvenient. In 27 years, steel tips for feathers appeared in their improved version. And already at the end of the 19th century metal feathers were completely superseded from the ordinary, made of silver, steel and gold.

American inventor Lewis Waterman was offered a new version of a written instrument - fountain pen. The principle of its operation was based on the flow of ink through additional openings. Waterman founded Ideal Pen, but very soon his invention had a new competitor - a ballpoint pen.

In what year did they invent the ballpoint pen for the first time? The idea of John Laud

The process of creating a ballpoint pen with the course of history went on. Probably, once there was a man who invented the pen first. One can not say for sure who it was and when. Invented the ballpoint pen in the form in which we know it today, we are an American from Massachusetts John Laud. The patent for it was received on October 30, 1888.

In many ways, the first design resembled modern ball deodorants. Inside was a thick rod, which gradually let the ink to the paper, leaving traces on it. The first pen was filled with ink, different from those used for pen pens. Therefore, soon Laud appeared a lot of competition - many wanted to get their own patent for the manufacture of ink. It is interesting that John Laud at the time of the invention of the ballpoint pen was 44 years old, and he was an ordinary bank employee.

However, nobody could get the desired profit, because the inventor carefully concealed his secrets, remaining the undisputed leader. The pens that competitors tried to sell on the market were of poor quality - the ink leaked, often a ball dropped out of them. Although the invention of John Laud had its own shortcomings. For example, ink from his ballpoint pen leaked in hot weather. In the winter, on the contrary, they froze.

Lazlo Biroau's pen enhancement

Researchers, figuring out who invented the ballpoint pen, often note the name of the journalist from Hungary László Bíró. Thought visited the inventor at a time when he was watching the printing of newspapers on a typewriter. Laszlo wondered if it was possible to invent such a pen so that the ink in it would dry up as quickly as in the printing process. He succeeded in capturing this idea of his brother George, who was a chemist, and already in 1938 an improved version of a ballpoint pen was created.

Production start

The brothers were able to obtain a patent in Paris, but they were unable to open a mass production because of the political situation of that time. In fact, the fate of the first production of ballpoint pens was in the hands of chance. When a Hungarian journalist invented a ballpoint pen, he had no sponsors who could help him with the release and sale of the product. Once Biro was resting on the Mediterranean coast and there he accidentally met Augusto Justo, who at that time was the president of Argentina. The head of state was so interested in the invention of the brothers that he offered them to open in their country a factory for the production of ballpoint pens.

Five years later, the brothers still managed to translate their idea into reality. They emigrated to Argentina and they asked for help from Juan Mein, a major investor. Their pens were sold under the name Birome - from the combined names of Biro and Maine. In Argentina, until now, any ballpoint pen is called "bire".

Competitors: the struggle to advance

When they invented a modern ballpoint pen (László Bíro did not know that this discovery had already been made in America), it was decided to expand the market for its sale and withdraw sales outside South America. However, the brothers Biro and their sponsor has already outstripped the traveling salesman Milton Reynolds, who previously visited Argentina and managed to patented the production of the product in the US. Handles have become very popular among entrepreneurs - and this despite the price of 12.5 dollars apiece!

And the ball pen came to the Soviet Union in the 60s. Initially, the rods were in short supply, so for citizens organized refueling pens in the home appliances workshops. In our time, about 92% of the population of the entire globe use a ballpoint pen.

It is difficult to name the exact date when the ballpoint pen was invented. Laszlo Biro, John Laud, Lewis Waterman - each of these inventors contributed to the overall process of creating and improving the pen, so that as a result it becomes the same as we see it today. Laszlo Biro himself died in 1985 in Buenos Aires. Since then, every year in Argentina on the day of his birth - September 29 - celebrate the Day of the inventor.