Blog #4: The Fountain Pen

The development of the fountain pen didn’t occur until the late 1820s, which meant before this, there were different techniques that were used. Dip pens were once the writing utensils that people most popularly practiced. Because of how much skill went into making one singular pen, they were primarily used by wealthier individuals.

They consisted of a quill that was then dipped into ink to write. Goose feathers or large swan feathers became the material of choice for quill pens which were whittled into the necessary shape. This may have been the primary approach to writing back in the day, but there were many problems with this method.

 
Quills required constant work and skill to make. In fact, the ability to cut a good quill was just as important as the ability to write. Each quill could write for a few pages before needing to be retrimmed, and a good quill would only last about a week. Dip pens also required constant, dipping, which meant inconsistent ink flow as the ink would run out every few words and have to be re-dipped.

Furthermore, these pens also constantly leaked, were prone to ink clogging the pen, and were messy to refill. It made the writing look uneven with dark and light ink on the paper, and it took a very long time for someone to write out everything they wanted to.

 

All of this to say… there were lots of problems with this style of writing, that is, until they discovered how air pressure affects airflow.

Understanding the role of air pressure made the first invention of the fountain pen possible in 1884. For years, individuals produced a variety of patents, but Lewis Waterman was the one who created the first successful patent for the modern pen by using the science of airflow. From there, it started to become manufactured and used worldwide.

 

The fountain pen completely changed our world of writing, as it was an unending flow of ink that needed no interruption. They were invented to create a writing instrument that would provide continuous writing without constantly having to dip the pen in new ink. A continuous writing pen would also allow anyone to write without having to acquire skills in cutting quills.

This invention was the basic foundation for the ballpoint pen we all know and use today. The discovered structure of the barrel of the pen was crucial in understanding how to get a perfect flow of ink.

Many people say this form of writing works to actually improve handwriting as well. There are many elementary schools in countries that actually require students to use a fountain pen today, and through my research, I learned that many individuals will choose to use these pens on their own. It is also popular in today's world to use fountain pens to form calligraphy to create a decorative style of writing.

Ultimately, the invention of the fountain pen was the writing revolution that changed our world of communications and made a significant impact on the way we write today.