I posted recently about the pencil, so why not celebrate the ballpoint pen which was patented on 30th October 1888, by John J Loud. I know what you’re thinking, wasn’t it Lázló Biró who invented the ballpoint pen?
John J. Loud was a Harvard trained lawyer with a strong interest in engineering. He is best known as the inventor of the first ballpoint pen, a revolutionary tool that transformed how people write. His interest in engineering and problem solving led him to dabble in inventions outside his legal work. His practical mindset and keen eye for improvement ultimately led him to one of the most important innovations in modern writing.
In 1888, Loud noticed the limitations of fountain pens, which were prone to leaking, smudging, and could not effectively write on rough surfaces such as leather or wood. Motivated to solve these issues, he devised a pen with a rotating ball bearing that allowed ink to flow smoothly without leaking, even on challenging surfaces. Loud’s design was ingenious for its time: he used a tiny, spherical ball in the tip of the pen that would rotate as it was pushed along, continuously supplying ink. This early ballpoint pen design was practical and unique, leading to his patent for the “rolling point pen.”
However, despite the significance of Loud’s invention, it wasn’t an immediate commercial success. His design worked well for writing on coarse materials, but it wasn’t refined enough for smooth, everyday writing on paper. Consequently, the patent expired without further development or significant adoption.
Decades later, in the 1930s and 1940s, others like László Bíró further improved on Loud’s basic concept, eventually creating the ballpoint pen we recognise today. Despite not seeing commercial success, John J. Loud’s invention laid the groundwork for a tool that would become a staple in offices, schools, and homes worldwide. His innovative approach serves as a reminder of how even initial ideas can lead to major advances when combined with future development and innovation.