The historical Pen
- Joseph Bruza Johnson

- Nov 6, 2023
- 2 min read
The pen is a writing instrument that has played a significant role in human history. The earliest ancestor of the pen was probably the brush used by the Chinese for writing in the 1st millennium BCE 1. The early Egyptians employed thick reeds for pen-like implements around 300 BCE 1. The quill pen made of bird feathers was probably in use at an even earlier date 1. Quill pens provided a degree of writing ease and control never realized before and were used in Europe until the mid-19th century, when metallic pens and pen nibs largely supplanted them 1.
John Mitchell of Birmingham, England, is credited with having introduced the machine-made steel pen point in 1828 1. Two years later, the English inventor James Perry sought to produce more flexible steel points by cutting a center hole at the top of a central slit and then making additional slits on either side 1. The inconvenience of having to continually dip a pen to replenish its ink supply stimulated the development of the fountain pen, a type of pen in which ink is held in a reservoir and passes to the writing point through capillary channels. The first practical version of the fountain pen was produced in 1884 by the American inventor L.E. Waterman 1. Ballpoint pens date from the late 19th century. Commercial models appeared in 1895, but the first satisfactory model was patented by Lázló Bíró, a Hungarian living in Argentina. His ballpoint pen, commonly called the “biro,” became popular in Great Britain during the late 1930s, and by the mid-1940s pens of this type were widely used throughout much of the world 2.
The pen has been used to record history, write literature, and communicate ideas. It has been used to sign treaties, write letters, and create art. The pen has been used to document the human experience and has played a significant role in shaping our world. It is a testament to human ingenuity and creativity.
In conclusion, the pen has played a significant role in human history. From the earliest brushes and reeds to the modern ballpoint pen, the pen has evolved to meet the needs of society. It has been used to record history, write literature, and communicate ideas. The pen is a symbol of human creativity and ingenuity, and it will continue to play a vital role in shaping our world.
As per google.




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