How we got from Sticks to Pens? Here's a Brief HISTORY!

Summary

This video explores the history of pens, from ancient Egypt's reed pens to today's ballpoint pens. It highlights innovations in writing instruments, including the development of quill pens, steel point pens, and fountain pens. The introduction of the ballpoint pen revolutionized writing due to its convenience and quick-drying ink. The Hungarian journalist László Bíró is credited with refining the modern ballpoint pen, which became popular during WWII. The video explains the mechanism of the ballpoint pen and its evolution from a costly tool to an affordable, everyday item.

Takeaways

• 📜 Pens have been around since 2000 BC, with the ancient Egyptians using reed pens for writing.
• 🖊️ The ancient Egyptians used hollow stems of marsh plants like bamboo to create reed pens, filling them with writing fluid.
• 📝 Egyptians also wrote on papyrus, a paper-like material made from the papyrus plant, which had various other uses.
• 🪶 Quill pens, made from bird feathers like swans, turkeys, and geese, were popular in Europe starting around 680 AD.
• ✂️ Quill pens were dried, sharpened, and dipped into ink, with the feather's shaft acting as a reservoir for the ink.
• 🚂 The steel point pen was introduced in 1822, which was more durable and affordable than quills.
• 💧 The first functional fountain pen, designed by Lewis Waterman in 1884, revolutionized portable writing with its smooth ink flow.
• ✍️ The ballpoint pen, credited to Laszlo Biro in 1930s, solved the messiness of fountain pens by using thicker, quick-drying ink.
• ✈️ The British Air Force purchased 30,000 ballpoint pens during WWII for use at high altitudes, where fountain pens failed.
• 💵 The price of ballpoint pens drastically dropped from $10 in 1946 to just 19 cents by 1959, making them widely affordable.

Q & A

When did the earliest known use of pens date back to?

The earliest known use of pens dates back to 2000 BC, used by the ancient Egyptians.

What writing tool did the ancient Egyptians use, and how did it work?

The ancient Egyptians used reed pens, made from hollow stems of marsh plants, particularly bamboo. One end was shaped into a point, and the stem was filled with a writing fluid that flowed down to the nib when squeezed.

What material did Egyptians commonly write on, and how did it influence the word 'paper'?

Egyptians commonly wrote on papyrus, a plant-based material. The word 'paper' is derived from 'papyrus.'

What were quill pens made from, and when were they introduced?

Quill pens, introduced around 680 AD, were made from bird feathers, primarily from swans, turkeys, and geese.

How did quill pens work, and what preparation was required before using them?

Quill pens worked by dipping the hollow feather shaft into ink, which acted as a reservoir. The end of the feather had to be shaped and sharpened with a knife before use.

What was the main innovation of the fountain pen, and who was credited with its development?

The main innovation of the fountain pen was its ink barrel, which allowed for a continuous flow of ink without needing to dip the pen in ink frequently. Romanian inventor Petrache Poenaru received the first patent for a fountain pen in 1827, although it was later perfected by Lewis Edson Waterman in 1884.

Why were ballpoint pens developed, and who played a crucial role in their invention?

Ballpoint pens were developed to eliminate the inconvenience of filling fountain pens with ink and waiting for the ink to dry. Hungarian journalist László Bíró played a crucial role in perfecting the ballpoint pen design in the 1930s.

What was John Loud's contribution to the ballpoint pen, and why did his design fail?

John Loud patented the first ballpoint pen in 1888, but his design failed because it did not produce a satisfactory flow of ink for writing.

How did László Bíró and his brother improve the ballpoint pen design?

László Bíró, with his brother Georg, improved the ballpoint pen by experimenting with thicker, quick-drying ink, which prevented the ink from leaking. They also refined the ball tip mechanism to ensure a smooth flow of ink.

How does the mechanism of a ballpoint pen work?

A ballpoint pen works with a small ball located between the ink reservoir and the paper. As the pen moves, the ball rolls, transferring ink from the reservoir to the paper, while simultaneously sealing the ink from the air to prevent drying.