Inventor of the First Commercially Successful Ballpoint pen
Today is the death anniversary of László Bíró. He was the Hungary-born Jewish inventor who patented the first commercially successful modern ballpoint pen while living in Argentina. He died on 24th October 1985 (aged 86).
His invention of the ball point pen was a classic case of scratching his own itch. While he was working as a journalist, he noticed how newspaper ink dried fast and smudge free. However, the same ink does not flow as well in a fountain pen tip. After observing children playing marble by the water, he had the idea of using ball-shaped metal nib for writing. Thus, the design idea of a ball-point pen was born.
During World War II, Bíró and his brother fled the Nazis and was relocated to Argentina. While living there, they patented their design and later sold the patent to another businessperson called Marcel Bich. Marcel Bich used Swiss manufacturing tools to refine the pen design. The final product becomes the worldwide best-seller.
There are a few lessons here:
- Your problem is also someone's problem. First, solve your problem; others will want your solutions.
- You do not need to reinvent the wheel; you just need to make a better wheel.
- Observe the world with your senses and mind. Your next big idea could be from something mundane.