Who invented the ballpoint pen?

The ballpoint pen is an object for writing that has become an indispensable element in our daily lives. Believe it or not, the pens as we know it today is relatively young. Have you ever wondered who invented the pen and how it has evolved throughout history? Here's everything you need to know.

The pen , also known as the "ballpoint pen", was invented in 1938 by Hungarian journalist László Bíró. Bíró was tired of using fountain pens, which tended to stain paper and dry out quickly. So he decided to invent a writing instrument that used dry ink and did not need to be constantly refilled.

Bíró and his brother George, who was a chemist, experimented with different types of ink and materials until they came up with the perfect formula. The key was to use a viscous ink that dried quickly on contact with air and did not smear the paper. In addition, they created a spherical tip that allowed the ink to flow evenly and effortlessly onto the paper.

The first pen that Bíró and his brother created was called "Birome", after their surname, and it quickly became a success. In 1940, the American company Eberhard Faber acquired the patent for the pen and began mass producing it under the name "BIC", which is how we know it today.

Over the years, the ballpoint pens have evolved in terms of design, materials and technology. Today, there are pens with different colours, thicknesses and types of ink. There are also pens with retractable mechanisms, laser pointers, or digital pens that allow you to write on a touch screen. There are even personalised pens, on the barrel of which any logo, text or design can be engraved or printed.