| The Quill pen was reputedly first used as a writing | | | | named Ladislo Biro who in 1930's introduced what we |
| instrument early in the seventh century, typically | | | | today know and call "the biro" |
| shaped from a "donated" goose feather. Quills whilst | | | | The biro revolutionised the writing instrument market |
| not that easy to use were relatively easy to shape | | | | because it was easy to use, inexpensive, and |
| with a penknife and once a nib or writing tip was | | | | disposable! It needed no separate ink well or ink store |
| fashioned you simply dipped the Quill tip into ink you | | | | and rather than refilling it when it was empty its low |
| had a trusty writing instrument that remained popular | | | | cost meant you simply threw it away and purchased |
| for centuries. | | | | a new one. Today hundreds on millions of biros are |
| Although popular the Quill had a habit of wearing out | | | | purchased every year and every person in the |
| quickly and needed constant re-working so it was no | | | | western world will use one. |
| doubt a relief to all concerned when in the early 19th | | | | So where next for the ubiquitous pen? Well, one new |
| century the first metal writing tips were introduced. | | | | development is the combination of the biro with digital |
| These were manufactured from sheet metal, they had | | | | storage. The USB Pen is a standard biro with a USB |
| holes punched into them to help retain/store ink, they | | | | flash stick built into the body of the pen. The barrel of |
| were cheap and they guaranteed a uniformity of | | | | the body discretely hides the USB connector and the |
| shape that could not be matched by Quills. Although | | | | USB flash memory giving the user not only the ability |
| the metal tips addressed several shortcomings in the | | | | to write with the pen but store thousands of |
| Quill pen it was still necessary to travel with a | | | | documents on the integral flash memory. |
| separate supply of ink. This issue was ultimately | | | | Available in a range of styles and colours these USB |
| addressed in 1884 by Lewis Waterman who invented | | | | pens make excellent gifts for busy executives or |
| the first proper fountain pen with its own integral ink | | | | fabulous promotional products for companies targeting |
| supply. | | | | high net worth clients. |
| Waterman's invention was an instant hit and spawned | | | | It's far to say that the humble pen has certainly seen |
| many competitors many of whom are still household | | | | significant development over the centuries and despite |
| names today; Sheaffer, Parker and Montblanc to | | | | the growing dominance of electronic gadgets, mobile |
| name but a few. But, fountain pens were relatively | | | | phones, PDA. Laptops etc. it looks like its going to be |
| expensive and still a little fussy and messy to use so | | | | with us for many years to come. |
| the market was left open for a Hungarian journalist | | | | |