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4000 BCE
First Writing Instrument
In around 4000 BCE, man began to record their ideas by scratching a moist clay tablet with a bronze or bone pen-like object. http://www.ringpen.com/history.html -
3000 BCE
The Egyptians' Pen
In around 3000 BCE, The Egyptians created their own system of Hieroglyphics were written as a series of pictures to convey a message. They used thin reed brushes or reed pens, which were cut from a reed or bamboo with a small hole in the thin tip, to write on papyrus scrolls. http://www.ringpen.com/history.html
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Jan 1, 600
The Quill Pen
In around 600, the quill pen was invented in Europe. It is unknown who created the first quill pen. The pen was made from the feather of a goose or other large bird and was dipped in an ink well. The invention of the quill pen led to the creation of beautiful calligraphy and manuscripts. http://www.ehow.com/about_5052136_history-quill-pen.html
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First Metal Pen
The first steel pen nib, tip, was invented in 1803 and patented by Bryan Donkin. However, it did not take off in the market until about 20 years later when his patent expired and John Mitchell. By 1850, the steel nib pen had taken over the market replacing quill pens. Steel pens then began to be tipped with strong metals such as alloys of Iridium, Rhodium and Osmium to increase their durability. http://www.historyofpencils.com/writing-instruments-history/dip-pen-history/ -
The Fountain Pen
Petrache Poenaru patented the first fountain pen on May 25th, 1827, as a solution to the usual issue of having to stop and dip for ink in older pens. The creation of this pen meant that you no longer had to be of a certain income in order to be able to write. https://www.bestfountainpen.com/who-invented-the-fountain-pen/ -
A Better Fountain Pen
Although Poenaru was the first to patent a fountain pen, Lewis Edson Waterman, insurance broker, is often credited with this invention. His patent in 1884 improved on Poenaru's design in that he created a pen which drew in air and, combined with gravity, drew the ink to the tip allowing for a free flow of ink without flooding the paper. https://www.bestfountainpen.com/who-invented-the-fountain-pen/ -
Almost a Ballpoint Pen
in 1931, László Bíró, a newspaper editor, observed how the ink of a printing press dried instantly. Considering the numerous annoyances of fountain pens, he attempted to create a pen that used an ink similar to the quick drying ink of newspapers. He soon realized that rather than improving on the fountain pen, his idea would require creating a whole new pen. This lead to the first idea of a ballpoint pen. However, he hadn't yet perfected the ink it used. https://goo.gl/aDVt85 -
The First Ballpoint Pen
In 1938, László Bíró finally created a functioning ballpoint pen. He and his brother, György, developed an ink that dried almost instantly, and still flowed well. So June 15, 1938, Bíró patented the first ever ballpoint pen suitable for the commercial market. http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/08/origin-ballpoint-pen/ -
The Cheap Ballpoint Pen
Because the first ballpoint pens were so expensive, French Baron, Bich, wanted to create a process to manufacture them for less. Bich began by purchasing a rundown factory in France. He then purchased the rights to Bíró’s ballpoint pen patent. Bich then worked hard to perfect his method of mass-production, and Once he had, he was able to create millions and millions of pens through the first industrial process for manufacturing affordable ball point pens. https://goo.gl/iWLmSf -
The Felt-tip Pen
In the 1960s, the felt-tipped pen was invented by Tokyo Stationery Company of Japan. This lead to the creation of the Papermate's Flair pen which was one of the first felt-tip pens to be introduced to the United States. The Flair pen quickly grew in popularity and even continues to persist through the 21st century. Because of its initial success, other products such as highlighters have taken on a design using a felt-tip. https://goo.gl/68O3DT
