Inventor of the Fountain Pen

The invention of the fountain pen is accredited to different individuals over the course of time. Although much of the acclaim has been given to Lewis Watermen, there have been many others before him.

During the 1600s, hand-cut quills and ink jars were the tools used for writing. An essay called "Delicia Physic-Mathematicae" was published by Daniel Schwenter in 1636 and described the first known use of a quill pen. Later, in 1663, Samuel Pepys mentions the use of a fountain pen in his diary. In his diary, Pepys actually uses the term "fountain pen" to describe the writing instrument he was using on a trip.

The oldest known surviving fountain pen was formally described and developed by M. Bion. Bion was an instrument maker for the King of France in the early 18th century. In his essay, "The Construction and Principal Uses of Mathematical Instruments," Bion includes an illustration of a fountain pen.

During the 19th century, people began signing patents for fountain pens as they were developed. One of the first patents was for John Scheffer's design from 1819. The fountain pen he developed contained ink that was held in a quill that was covered with sheep gut. The section was held in a metal case. The ink would flow when a button was pressed. The button would place pressure on the reservoir and the ink would squeeze out of a feed cock. Scheffer's pen was manufactured by W. Rboson & Co and the patent for this pen was featured on an ad in 1823.

The next advancement in fountain pens was introduced by John Jacob Parker in 1832. Parker's development was the first self-filling fountain pen where the point would be placed in ink and the case would be turned to raise the piston.

In 1884, Lewis Waterman introduced and patented a newly advanced fountain pen. Waterman's fame is due to the fact that his pen was the first functional and reliable one. Compared to earlier fountain pens, Waterman's was leak-proof and was marketed to the masses successfully. Over the years, many new companies were introduced and the fountain pen evolved with newer designs, ink fill mechanisms and styles.

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