Biro ballpoint pen

Made:
1945-1948 in Reading
manufacturer:
Miles Aircraft Co
inventor:
Bíró László József
Biro ballpoint pen, 1945-1948

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Biro ballpoint pen, 1945-1948
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Biro ballpoint pen, 1945-1948, manufactured by the Miles Martin Pen Company Limited, Reading, England, invented by László József Bíró, c. 1931

The ballpoint pen was invented by László Bíró (1899-1985) in about 1931. László's brother Georg helped him to develop the viscous ink for the pen. The first 'Biros' were made by the Miles Aircraft Company in the UK in about 1943 but, by the end of 1945 (after WW2), the Miles Martin Pen Company was formed as a separate company to manufacture them.

Details

Category:
Printing & Writing
Object Number:
1949-174/2
Materials:
plastic (unidentified) and metal (unknown)
Measurements:
overall: 15 mm x 160 mm x 20 mm, .005kg
type:
ballpoint pen
credit:
Miles Martin Pen Company Limited