Types
of pens
The pen is undoubtedly
the most revolutionary invention in the world of writing instruments. The journey
from the basic dip pens, like reed pens and quill which were dipped in an
external ink source and then used for writing, to the modern tip pens like the
roller ball pens and sketch pens, has been a phenomenal one. Let’s take a brief look at this journey and
the different types of pens used today.
Fountain
Pens
Invented
in Paris by a student called Romanian Petrache Poenaru and later patented in
May 1827 by the French Government , Fountain
pens brought a transformation in the way the world wrote. It was the first
tip-pen that consisted of a metal nib and an internal ink reservoir. This pen
drew ink from the reservoir through a feed to the nib and then deposited it on
paper through a combination of gravity and capillary action. The ink reservoir
could be refilled using the internal mechanism of the pen which used the
principal of suction to draw ink into the reservoir. This re- filling could
also be done manually by using an eyedropper or syringe. Be it one with a
simple metal body or another with precious metal exteriors, fountain pens are a
treasured possession for most pen enthusiasts, pen collectors and antique
seekers. This traditional writing instrument which has long been a symbol of
timeless elegance is back in style again.
A cleaner and more convenient alternative of
traditional writing instruments like the fountain pen is ball pen. A ball pen uses
an advanced writing mechanism where a metal ball, generally made of brass,
steel or tungsten carbide, is placed at its point. The ink inside the pen is dispensed over this
metal ball to create neat, free flowing and smooth writing. The technology of a basic ball pen was first
patented on 30th October 1888 by John. J. Loud. Over the years this technology was improvised
and improved and finally it was a Hungarian Editor, László Bíró, who created the modern ball pen and acquired
patent rights on it in the year 1943.
Roller
Ball Pens
The Japanese company Ohto first introduced
Roller ball pens in the year 1963. A cross breed between fountain pen and ball
pen, roller ball pen displays the best traits of them both. Like a ball pen,
these pens also use the metal ball point writing mechanism that makes it
convenient and easy to use. However, roller ball pens do not carry the oil
based viscous ink like the basic ball pen. It rather uses liquid water-based
ink similar to a fountain pen which makes the writing more free flowing, less
messy and extremely attractive.
Gel
Pen
The first gel pen was manufactured in
Osaka, Japan by Sakura Color Products
Corporation in 1984. Gel pen uses a writing mechanism
similar to the regular roller ball pen. It looks like the latter and also consists
of a metal ball point and an internal ink source like a roller ball pen. The
size of the nib of gel pens ranges from 0.18 mm to 1.5 mm. However, unlike
the roller ball pens, gel pens contain a thick and opaque ink in which pigment
is suspended in a water-based gel. This makes the writing from these pens darker,
bolder and clearer compared to the other pens.
Fibre
tip pen or Felt pen
Fibre tipped or
felt tipped pens consist of a porous tip made of pressed fibre and an internal
ink source. The first felt tipped marking pen was patented by Lee Newman in the
year 1920. However, it was only in 1962 that the modern fibre tipped pen was
developed by Yukio Horie of Tokyo Stationary Company. Be
it a marker, sketch pen or drawing pens, fibre tipped pens are the most widely
used medium of art in the world.
Elkos Pens is one of the leading global manufacturers of pens. If you would like further information on
gel pens manufactured by Elkos Pens, visit our website at: www.elkospens.com
