We never tire of repeating that, although a ballpoint pen is an everyday item in our lives, the stories and other curious facts about ballpoint pens, as well as their uses, tricks and, of course, the endless options for models, colours and personalisation, are virtually limitless. Since it is an invention from the last century, there have been many years of changes and anecdotes surrounding what is the most widely used writing instrument in the world. Who doesn’t have a promotional ballpoint pen at home, on their desk or in their handbag? We all do, We use them every day in one way or another, yet we rarely stop to think about the history behind them, why they have the shape they do, or even who invented them.This time, there are 14 things to discover. 14 fascinating facts about ballpoint pens that will blow your mind. Let’s see which one surprises you the most!
- The World-Famous BIC Brand Sold More Than 100 Billion Ballpoint Pens by 2015. That’s Quite Something!
- We mentioned this earlier, but it’s worth repeating. The inventor of the ballpoint pen was László Bíró, a journalist who, fed up with the smudges left by fountain pens every time he took notes, was determined to invent a more practical and convenient alternative. Do you know what inspired him? A few points further down, we’ll reveal the mystery.
- The ink in a BIC ballpoint pen would allow you to draw a line no less than 2 km long. Would you dare to put it to the test? Could you work out how many letters could be written with that much ink? We’ll give you the answer further down, so… keep reading!
- Our friend László came up with 32 inventions in total. The ballpoint pen was his star idea, but his inventive mind also produced other projects, including the electromagnetic system for high-speed trains, a washing machine, an unpickable lock, and a clinical thermograph. The truth is, this Hungarian-born journalist certainly didn’t waste any time!
- A luxury item in its early years, the ballpoint pen was launched on the market at a price of $100 and was considered a toy. Today, ballpoint pens have become affordable to everyone and a corporate gifting favourite, thanks to the huge variety of cheap promotional ballpoint pens available from as little as £0.10.
- The hexagonal shape of the BIC ballpoint pen is designed to make the most of storage space when pens are stored and packed in boxes. However, there are many different shapes, designs, and materials available for personalised ballpoint pens.
- Do you know why the ink tube in a BIC ballpoint pen is never completely full? Further down, we’ll give you the answer and let you ponder the question in the meantime. But we can tell you that the ink in a BIC ballpoint pen would be enough to handwrite 232 A4-sized letters. What do you make of that?
- And speaking of the BIC ballpoint pen, have you ever noticed that there is a hole in the cap? The reason is very simple: it was introduced in 1991 for safety reasons, to prevent someone from suffocating if they accidentally swallowed the cap. It makes sense! With so many people having a habit of putting their pen in their mouth, it’s better to be safe, right?
- Let’s continue with holes, and this time we’re looking at the one in the body of a personalised ballpoint pen. Its purpose is to prevent the pen from bursting in high-pressure situations, such as on an aeroplane.
- Do you know what inspired László to invent the ballpoint pen? Something as simple as children playing with a ball and the trail it left behind as it came out of a puddle. That’s how the promotional ballpoint pen system works: a small ball that, depending on how it is pressed, allows the ink to flow or not.
- And since we’re revealing mysteries, you should know that if a ballpoint pen isn’t filled to the top with ink, it’s because ink expands when heated. When it comes into contact with your hand, it would otherwise overflow. Everything has been thought through!
- The BIC ballpoint pen is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
- The first ballpoint pens could only write on wood or cardboard. Paper came later, thanks to László.
- And finally… would you dare to guess the age of the BIC ballpoint pen? We’re not going to give you the answer to this one — you’ll have to find out for yourself!
So, what do you think? Did you know all these fascinating facts? We did, because we’re huge fans of ballpoint pens. We’d love for you to visit our promotional ballpoint pen catalogue, where you can discover the best prices and the widest range of models to help you choose the perfect personalised gift. Guaranteed!