| It only takes a brief flip through a catalogue or | | | | was more legible than other promotional pens, it was |
| browse of a website to discover the wide variety of | | | | better suited to a wider variety of environments. |
| promotional pens. Not only are there multiple styles | | | | During WWII, for example, the British Royal Air Force |
| and colours to choose from, but the mechanics of | | | | began supplying their pilots with Biro pens for in-flight |
| printed pens are also varied and complex. Sadly, the | | | | use. Previously, RAF pilots had utilised promotional |
| average individual is likely to take for granted the | | | | fountain pens, but these were unable to cope with |
| unique intricacies of pen design and is more | | | | higher altitudes, resulting in leakage. The success of |
| concerned with practicalities such as cost, | | | | Biro's printed pens in RAF trials thrust the ballpoint |
| attractiveness, and durability. Yet, the genius behind | | | | into the spotlight. |
| the invention of promotional pen mechanisms is well | | | | Biro's ballpoint has evolved over the years, but |
| worth exploring. Here we will look at the ins and outs | | | | today's promotional ballpoint pens can generally be |
| of the ballpoint pen. | | | | broken into two categories: refillable and disposable. |
| Ballpoints are perhaps the most common printed pens | | | | Refillable ballpoints are usually constructed of |
| in use today. Engineered using a ball-and-socket | | | | high-quality plastic or metal. When the ink refill is |
| mechanism, promotional ballpoint pens rely on the | | | | empty, the entire tip and internal ink chamber are |
| ball's rolling action to pick up viscous (or "thick") ink | | | | replaced. Disposable printed pens are typically crafted |
| held in an internal cylindrical chamber. As the ball | | | | of an inexpensive plastic that can be discarded once |
| rotates, the ink is transferred to the writing surface | | | | the ink is consumed. |
| in much the same way as a sponge roller applies | | | | Other promotional pens that rely on the ballpoint |
| paint to a wall. | | | | writing mechanism are printed rollerball pens. In |
| The ballpoint pen was invented by Laszlo Biro in 1938. | | | | contrast to their counterparts, rollerballs use gel- or |
| Biro observed that the ink used to produce | | | | water-based inks, which have a lower viscosity than |
| newspapers was quick-drying and smudge-free, unlike | | | | the oil-based inks found in traditional promotional |
| the ink in the promotional fountain pens of his day. | | | | ballpoint pens. The result is a "wet ink" effect similar |
| Earlier ballpoint prototypes clogged easily or leaked | | | | to that of printed fountain pens. |
| due to improper ink viscosity and this resulted in an | | | | The invention of ballpoint promotional pens |
| uneven delivery of ink to paper. Biro developed a pen | | | | revolutionised the world of writing instruments. |
| that released the ink through capillary action via a | | | | Today, variations of Biro's ballpoint can be found at |
| pressurised ink chamber, thereby stabilising the flow | | | | any number of business locations, from the dry |
| and creating a clear, even line. | | | | cleaner to the bank, or purchased from your local |
| Because the Biro pen depended less on gravity and | | | | office supply store. |