The fountain pen marked a major development in the evolution of writing instruments. Pens - specifically, writing instruments that use ink - began with the use of reeds in ancient Egypt, which developed into the use of feather quills by the 16th Century. http://www.luttmanns.com/pens/intro.html Hollow reeds and then quills could be "re-loaded" with ink via dipping the tip into an inkwell, but were messy and difficult to transport. Fountain pens solve the problem by including a reservoir inside the pen itself, which can then be filled and refilled as needed.
Al-Muizz Lideenillah, a Caliph of Egypt, is credited with having brought about the first reservoir style pen in 953 A.D. when, frustrated with the mess of writing with a quill style pen, demanded a better design. http://www.spec2000.net/02-inventionstimeline.htm Many other reservoir pens were proposed, designed and patented from the early 1800's on, but none of them caught on or were suitable for mass production. http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/11388-a-quasi-complete-list-of-patents-upto-1873/page__p__104523#entry104523 http://www.ptdla.org/history/ That changed in 1884, when Lewis E. Waterman, an insurance salesman and amateur inventor, filed a patent for the first practically reproducible and reliable design. Waterman's design included not only the internal reservoir, but also a capillary feed that controlled the flow of ink to the tip of the pen. Following Waterman's innovation, the fountain pen became the writing instrument of choice for about 55 years, until the invention of the ballpoint pen in 1938. http://books.google.ca/books?id=rPrmMwU7nnwC&pg=PA61&lpg=PA61&dq=Ladislas+Biro&source=bl&ots=Rrzwjvh6wX&sig=wWrepRB5Wn9GhjJWqo8T_hrT_6s&hl=en&ei=m0hcTLjCF8KfsQbru5ydAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CEAQ6AEwCDgK#v=onepage&q=Ladislas%20Biro&f=false
Design and Evolution
All fountain pens feature the same basic parts: the reservoir, the feed, and the nib or tip. http://www.luttmanns.com/pens/intro.html There were many innovations and improvements on Waterman's original design, which required an eye dropper to refill the reservoir with ink, including a rubber reservoir that filled itself, replaceable ink cartridges, and variations on the materials used. http://enc.slider.com/Enc/Fountain_pen Early manufacturer's include Waterman's own company, along with names that are still prominent in the field, like Schaeffer's and Parker Pens.
While it has been replaced by the ballpoint pen for practical reasons as the writing instrument of choice in the modern era, the elegance and history of the fountain pen continue to attract enthusiasts and collectors. http://www.pencollectorsofamerica.com/ Vintage fountain pens can fetch upwards of hundreds of dollars each, with older and rarer models continuing to rise in value, and an active international collector's market. http://www.fountainpenemporium.com/
An Early Fountain Pen
A close up look at an early fountain pen, made by Waterman, the manufacturer owned by the Lewis E. Waterman, generally accepted as the inventor of the first practical fountain pen design in 1884. This brief look includes a demonstration of how to write with the pen using the elegant calligraphy of the era.
References
Fast Facts
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953 A.D.
Al-Muizz Lideenillah, a Caliph of Egypt, is said to have commissioned the first reservoir style pen
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February 12, 1884
L. E. Waterman obtains a patent for what is genreally accepted as the first practical fountain pen design
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September 12, 2003
A black Waterman fountain pen presented to Senior Minister Lee at the signing of the Constitutional Agreement with the British back in 1957 was auctioned for 350,000 Singapore dollars (or $175,000 USD)
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June 26, 1945
The United Nations Charter was signed with a Schaeffer fountain pen.
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World's Most Expensive Pen
The Aurora Diamante features 30 carats of De Beers diamonds and a barrel of solid platinum retailing for $1.3 million.
