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Getting to the (Ball)Point

Short answer: A ballpoint pen dispenses thick, oil-based ink over a hard ball, usually steel, brass or tungsten carbide, seated in a socket at the tip.

As the ball rolls across the paper, it picks up ink from the reservoir on one side and lays it down on the other, while also acting as a cap that keeps the ink inside from drying out. John J. Loud patented a ballpoint on October 30, 1888, for marking leather, but it was too coarse for letters. Hungarian newspaper editor László Bíró, noticing that newspaper ink dried fast and didn't smudge, developed a pen with viscous ink and filed for a British patent on June 15, 1938. He and his brother György later moved to Argentina, where their pens went on sale. The footage shows close-ups of pen tips, the ball and a pen being machined.

VideoWrite-up2 sources

In collections:Everyday Physics

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What should you know about Getting to the (Ball)Point?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Ballpoint tips use steel, brass or tungsten carbide balls.

    DD-304-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Hard ball tip)

  2. László Bíró filed his British patent in 1938.

    DD-304-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit E (Bíró's 1938 patent)

Video transcript: Getting to the (Ball)Point: A Ballpoint Writes With a Tiny Rolling Ball

DID YOU KNOW? Ballpoint pens work through a simple yet efficient mechanism. Inside the pen there's a small metal ball usually made of brass, steel or tungsten carbide. Seated at the tip of the pen, this ball rotates freely in its socket acting as a buffer between the ink reservoir and the writing surface. As you press the pen to paper and move it, the ball turns picking up ink from the reservoir and depositing it onto the paper in a smooth controlled manner. The ink used is oil based which prevents it from smudging and allows for quick drying. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 26.8s Reel ·

Video coming soonGetting to the (Ball)Point · Instagram Reel
Getting to the (Ball)Point: A Ballpoint Writes With a Tiny Rolling Ball Instagram Reel · · 26.8s

The write-up

A ballpoint writes with a tiny rolling ball. John J. Loud patented a ballpoint in 1888; László Bíró's 1938 design caught on.

  1. Exhibit A

    Hard ball tip

    The ball is usually steel, brass or tungsten carbide.

  2. Exhibit B

    Rolling ink

    As the ball rolls, it carries ink from the reservoir onto the paper.

  3. Exhibit C

    Thick ink

    Ballpoints use viscous, oil-based ink that dries quickly on paper.

  4. Exhibit D

    Loud's 1888 patent

    John J. Loud patented a ballpoint on October 30, 1888.

  5. Exhibit E

    Bíró's 1938 patent

    László Bíró filed for a British patent on June 15, 1938.

Questions people ask about Getting to the (Ball)Point

What are ballpoint balls usually made of?

They have to resist wear.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Hard ball tip) · Wikipedia: Ballpoint pen

How does the ink reach the paper?

The ball also seals the reservoir.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Rolling ink) · Wikipedia: Ballpoint pen

What kind of ink do ballpoints use?

Bíró got the idea from newspaper ink.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Thick ink) · Wikipedia: Ballpoint pen

Who patented a ballpoint in 1888?

It was meant for marking leather.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Loud's 1888 patent) · Wikipedia: Ballpoint pen; Google Patents: US392046A, Pen (John J. Loud, 1888)

When did László Bíró file his British patent?

June 15, 1938.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Bíró's 1938 patent) · Wikipedia: Ballpoint pen

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What are ballpoint balls usually made of?

    1. Steel, brass or tungsten carbide
    2. Glass
    3. Plastic
    4. Gold
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Steel, brass or tungsten carbide They have to resist wear. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Hard ball tip) · Wikipedia: Ballpoint pen

  2. How does the ink reach the paper?

    1. The rolling ball carries it
    2. Gravity drips it
    3. A pump sprays it
    4. A felt wick spreads it
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. The rolling ball carries it The ball also seals the reservoir. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Rolling ink) · Wikipedia: Ballpoint pen

  3. What kind of ink do ballpoints use?

    1. Viscous, oil-based ink
    2. Water-based ink
    3. Powder
    4. Gel only
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Viscous, oil-based ink Bíró got the idea from newspaper ink. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Thick ink) · Wikipedia: Ballpoint pen

  4. Who patented a ballpoint in 1888?

    1. John J. Loud
    2. László Bíró
    3. Thomas Edison
    4. Marcel Bich
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. John J. Loud It was meant for marking leather. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Loud's 1888 patent) · Wikipedia: Ballpoint pen; Google Patents: US392046A, Pen (John J. Loud, 1888)

  5. When did László Bíró file his British patent?

    1. 1938
    2. 1888
    3. 1965
    4. 1912
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 1938 June 15, 1938. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Bíró's 1938 patent) · Wikipedia: Ballpoint pen

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Getting to the (Ball)Point." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-304, last updated Aug 19, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/getting-to-the-ballpoint/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/getting-to-the-ballpoint/ · Last updated

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Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-304-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/getting-to-the-ballpoint/#DD-304-F01

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