fountain pen

The first known fountain pen was invented over a thousand years ago in the Middle East. In 953, the caliph of Egypt commissioned a pen that could be filled with ink and then be carried around without leaking. He was subsequently presented with a pen with a reservoir of ink that was delivered to the nib by gravity and capillary action.

The fountain pen was largely unknown in the Western world until the 19th century. Several different types of fountain pen were invented in the first half of that century. Early models were, however, fraught with problems, and they did not become popular until the 1850s when there were three important inventions: hard rubber, free-flowing ink and the iridium-tipped gold nib.

Lewis Waterman is credited with inventing the first practical fountain pen in New York in 1884. Mass production was now possible, and the fountain pen became more accessible for the general public. Nevertheless, the pens often leaked, and filling them entailed an awkward and messy procedure with an eyedropper.

A number of different self-filling mechanisms were subsequently introduced in the early 1900s. The issue of leakage was addressed soon thereafter when “safety” fountain pens came onto the market. There was one type with a nib that formed a cork for the ink cavity when retracted, and another that featured a screw-on cap with a protective inner cap.

There were further technological improvements over the next few decades. New filling techniques appeared, and new designs and colours were introduced when celluloid replaced hard rubber.

Then in the 1960s, most people started switching to ballpoint pens when they became cheaper and more reliable. Fountain pens came to be seen as old-fashioned and inconvenient. The fountain pen is enjoying something of a renaissance now, though, and has gained a loyal following among those who appreciate the craftsmanship, heritage and flexibility of this expressive writing instrument.