Despite the evolution of computers, smart phones and other types of technology, pens, pencils and other types of office stationery still fulfil a massive role in everyday life, even though many people thought that everything would now be on a screen rather than a notepad.
If you go into any office, in any country, you will see the same few things, paper, whiteboards and notepads, all of which require some type of pen or pencil to write on them, proving that no matter how far forward we go with technology the old methods will still be in existence. Pens have been around for thousands of years, with the first pen rumoured to have been recorded way back in the day of Ancient Indians, which were thought to be made out of bird feathers and possibly bamboo sticks. Reed brushes were said to be used by the Egyptians and were said to have been used right the way through to the Middle Ages.
Around the year 79, a copper nib was first discovered and the first ever patent for a metal nib was filed in 1803, but due to the lack of action take upon it, Birmingham based John Mitchell started to make these pens around 1823, which was a massive evolution for the pen world at this time as the pens became much easier to use and less reliant on ink levels to really perform. It was down to a French student to invent the fountain pen, something which the Government at the time went on to patent in the late 1820's. John J Loud was the first person to issue a patent when he invented the ballpoint pen towards the end of 1888 and the world renowned biro pen first had its patent passed in 1938, which really became one of the first commercial pens to hit the market, the same make we all still use today.
In the early 1980's the first Rollerball pens were developed and launched to an awaiting market, with these clever pens having a tiny rolling ball inside which helped to produce a much smoother writing style and really helped to develop the technology which we now know in most modern pens.
The history of pens contains many more dates, events and chapters than we see above, but even just taking into account these key ages that have been mentioned, it is clear to see how the pen has developed into something that despite all of the advances in technology, something we all still use on a daily basis, no matter where we are or what we are doing.
Ben Pugh works for the Pen Collection , an online retailer selling some of the finest pens to both customers and collectors. Pen Collection has been launched to give the widest choice of quality pens at the lowest prices.
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