When Was the Ball Point Pen Invented?

For centuries, man used what he could to write down words or symbols. Over the years, rocks, sticks and quills were used to help with written communication. It wasn't until the nineteenth century that people began being obsessed with finding a writing utensil that was economical, easy to use and not messy. The history of the ball point pen began with an idea and has transformed into the modern writing utensil that it is today.

Working Use

Stories are told about inventors trying to create ball point pens as early as the 1600s. It was American leather tanner John Loud, however, that officially patented the first "roller ball tipped marking pen" in 1888. Loud never produced the pen that he had patented.

No Spills

In 1935, Hungarian newspaper editor Ladislas Biro started looking for an alternative to the messy fountain pen. Biro's creation, which didn't need to be filled like the fountain pen, was patented and called the Biro. The word "Biro" is still used in England and Australia today when referring to ball point pens.

A Better Pen

In the early 1940s, Brio set up a manufacturing company to produce pens in Argentina. This updated version of the ball point pen used gravity to bring ink to the roller ball. The roller ball now also acted like a sponge to allow the ink to smoothly flow from the pen to the writing surface.

No Smears

In 1949, Patrick J. Frawley bought an ink formula from chemist Fran Seech. Frawley produced pens using this new "smudgeless" ink. Frawley called his new pen a "Papermate."

The Bic

After Biro's company ran out of money in the early 1950s, he was hired by Frenchman Marcel Bich. With Biro's help, Bich created the first inexpensive ball point pen. Bich's invention had a clear barrel, was smooth-writing and did not leak. Bich named the pen "Bic," after himself.