Fountain Pens New York
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 Lincoln Founain Pen 14k Gold Writing Instrument 1902 Ad Frazer Geyer NY $18.95 Time Remaining: 5h 50m Buy It Now for only: $18.95 |
 A 1918 WATERMAN FOUNTAIN PEN SANTA CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY WREATH NEW YORK IDEAL INK A $21.95 Time Remaining: 6h 18m |
 Think MLB NY Mets Baseball Fountain Pen NWT $155.99 Time Remaining: 8h 22m Buy It Now for only: $155.99 |
 A 1908 WATERMAN FOUNTAIN INK PEN NEW YORK HUDSON TERMINAL $31.95 Time Remaining: 9h 31m |
 A 1908 L E WATERMAN COMPANY GENERAL WRIGHT NEW YORK AD $37.95 Time Remaining: 9h 59m |
 1884 The Esterbrook Steel Pens Co Camden NJ New York $8.99 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 55m |
 Rare Pelikan M620 New York Special Edition FP 18K Gold $699.99 Time Remaining: 1d 4h |
 DUNN Pen New York BCHR ring top 2 Dunn Gold nib nice pen filler damage $13.88 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 6h 28m |
 Vintage Ink Pen E S Johnson New York $9.99 Time Remaining: 1d 12h 5m |
 Vtg Waterman Ideal 52 1 2 V New York 2 Flexible Nib Fountian Pen Chased Black $30.50 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 12h 21m |
 Very Old Harris Brothers New York Eye Dropper 14K Gold Nib Fountain Pen No Res $10.50 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 12h 54m |
 PELIKAN SOUVERAN M620 NEW YORK EDITION FOUNTAIN PEN NOS $180.00 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 13h 21m |
 VINTAGE SOLID GOLD FOUNTAIN PEN 14ct SWAN PEN MABIE TODD CO NEW YORK $1,500.00 Time Remaining: 2d 5h 55m Buy It Now for only: $1,500.00 |
 Vintage Edward Todd Co New York MOP and gold tip 2 fountain pen $59.99 Time Remaining: 2d 6h 5m |
 VISCONTI LIMITED EDITION RED DEMO XX 365 MADE FOR RM NY POWER FILL $325.00 Time Remaining: 2d 6h 53m |
 Waterman Ideal brown gold fountain pen Pat Sept 26 05 Nib W Ideal New York 2 $24.99 Time Remaining: 2d 6h 59m |
 VISCONTI LIMITED 18K BLUE RED XX 365 MADE FOR RM NY DOUBLE RESERVOIR $325.00 Time Remaining: 2d 7h 17m |
 VISCONTI LIMITED 18K PINK GRAY XX 365 MADE FOR RM NY DOUBLE RESERVOIR $325.00 Time Remaining: 2d 7h 27m |
 Antique 1920s era 14K Gold Nibbed Corbin Fountain Pen Albany NY Mint $15.00 Time Remaining: 2d 7h 52m |
 Pen O Pencil Company NY Twinpoint Pen and Pencil Combo Fountain pen $9.99 Time Remaining: 3d 6h 46m |
Fountain Pens New York
An Appreciation of Classic Ballpoint Pens
You use it every day without giving it much thought. You make your grocery list with it, use it to write in your journal, make to do lists with it, and utilize it to take important notes at work. It is a ballpoint retractable pen, and life would not be quite the same without it.
A seemingly insignificant object, ballpoint pens actually represent one of the most important inventions in modern history. Prior to their existence, fountain pens (and quill pens before them) were not very portable or user friendly. They often leaked and had to be refilled frequently; that is, if they could be refilled at all. As reading and writing became more and more widespread throughout the late 19th century, the demand arose for a reliable, self-contained, refillable pen that would not smudge or leak. This demand was met by ballpoint pens.
Ball point pens originated in 1889 when a leather tanner named John Loud had a need for a writing tool that would work on leather, which traditional fountain pens would not. He created a pen with a rotating steel ball that was held in place with a socket. This predecessor to the modern ball pen was not suitable for commercial use, however, because it was far too coarse to write on paper.
The next major breakthrough in the design technology of classic ballpoint pens came from Laszlo Biro, a Hungarian newspaper editor. His profession required him to spend the majority of his time writing and editing large amounts of text on fine newsprint. He found fountain pens to smudge too easily and take up too much time with their continuous need for refilling. They also had a tendency to tear the fine paper with which he worked. With the help of his chemist brother, Biro developed an ink similar to that used in newspaper printing. This ink dried quickly and did not smudge as easily. He placed it into a pen with a rotating ball that would consistently rotate to pick up ink and place it on paper. Biro patented his ball pen in 1938.
Ballpoint pens went on sale to the public for the first time in 1945, offered at Gimbels department store in New York City. At a price of $12.50 each, they did not seem like a household item every person would use on a daily basis. That changed as soon as the Bic Corporation invented a cheaper, disposable version of ball point pens later that year. Today, just as all facial tissue is often referred to as Kleenex and all photocopies are often called Xerox, the name Bic has become synonymous with any ballpoint retractable pen, regardless of its brand.
Classic ballpoint pens are available in two versions: disposable and refillable. Disposable ballpoint pens are made of plastic and designed to be discarded when empty. Refillable ballpoint pens, on the other hand, can be made of plastic or metal and allow for near endless use. No matter which type you prefer, next time you pick up a ballpoint retractable pen, consider how much more difficult the simplest tasks would be without it.
About the Author
Wayne Hemrick writes about--ballpoint pens and classic ballpoint pens