September 2008
I am often asked why I don't have very many comments in terms of ball point pens. Asked if I own any ball point pens, I have to say of course. Who could not have a ball point pen. Yes, they are important.
For the past month or so, in signing all the documents associated with closing out my dad's estate I was often stopped when I pulled out my fountain pen. A lawyers or paralegal would tell me that it would be best if I used a ball point pen. It was always such a pleasure to meet a lawyer who wrote with a fountain pen so could I could also. Wisely I brought a fountain pen filled with a rich black ink.
Recently Brian Deagon of investors.com contacted me about my views on Laszlo Biro, the credited inventor of the ball point pen. Brian asked if I had a view on ball point pens. Of course.
His article on Laszlo Biro is in the August 28th edition of investors.com and it provides a very full account of Laszlo and his invention of the ball point pen.
Just as the fountain pen that held its own ink supply was a significant achievement in writing tools for communications and moved the user from the dip pen sitting at a desk etc., the ball point was another such important move.
Just as there is the colourful history of Edson Waterman have an insurance sale fall apart because of the ink from his pen blotted over the contract; Laszlo is noted as feeling thatit was a mess in using the fountain pen that the fact that the nib would sometimes tear the paper that motivated Laszlo to invent the ball point pen. It was his observation of rotary cylinders used in a printing press that gave him the motivation for the design of the ball point pen.
While Laszlo worked on the design of the pen and the challenges he had with the mechanics involved, his brother George, who was a chemist, worked on getting the formula for ink right.
Well thanks Laszlo, as I finish the signing of what seems to be endless legal papers I must sday that your ball point pen is quite the invention. But, I hope you kept your fountain pen, as when you want to write correspondence that conveys meaning. well, your pen, is an expression of you, and a fountain pen gives more depth in character of writing.