It only takes a brief flip through a catalogue or browse of a website to discover the wide variety of promotional pens. Not only are there multiple styles and colours to choose from, but the mechanics of printed pens are also varied and complex. Sadly, the average individual is likely to take for granted the unique intricacies of pen design and is more concerned with practicalities such as cost, attractiveness, and durability. Yet, the genius behind the invention of promotional pen mechanisms is well worth exploring. Here we will look at the ins and outs of the ballpoint pen.
Ballpoints are perhaps the most common printed pens in use today. Engineered using a ball-and-socket mechanism, promotional ballpoint pens rely on the ball’s rolling action to pick up viscous (or “thick”) ink held in an internal cylindrical chamber. As the ball rotates, the ink is transferred to the writing surface in much the same way as a sponge roller applies paint to a wall.
The ballpoint pen was invented by Laszlo Biro in 1938. Biro observed that the ink used to produce newspapers was quick-drying and smudge-free, unlike the ink in the promotional fountain pens of his day. Earlier ballpoint prototypes clogged easily or leaked due to improper ink viscosity and this resulted in an uneven delivery of ink to paper. Biro developed a pen that released the ink through capillary action via a pressurised ink chamber, thereby stabilising the flow and creating a clear, even line.
Because the Biro pen depended less on gravity and was more legible than other promotional pens, it was better suited to a wider variety of environments. During WWII, for example, the British Royal Air Force began supplying their pilots with Biro pens for in-flight use. Previously, RAF pilots had utilised promotional fountain pens, but these were unable to cope with higher altitudes, resulting in leakage. The success of Biro’s printed pens in RAF trials thrust the ballpoint into the spotlight.
Biro’s ballpoint has evolved over the years, but today’s promotional ballpoint pens can generally be broken into two categories: refillable and disposable. Refillable ballpoints are usually constructed of high-quality plastic or metal. When the ink refill is empty, the entire tip and internal ink chamber are replaced. Disposable printed pens are typically crafted of an inexpensive plastic that can be discarded once the ink is consumed.
Other promotional pens that rely on the ballpoint writing mechanism are printed rollerball pens. In contrast to their counterparts, rollerballs use gel- or water-based inks, which have a lower viscosity than the oil-based inks found in traditional promotional ballpoint pens. The result is a “wet ink” effect similar to that of printed fountain pens.
The invention of ballpoint promotional pens revolutionised the world of writing instruments. Today, variations of Biro’s ballpoint can be found at any number of business locations, from the dry cleaner to the bank, or purchased from your local office supply store.
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