History and Story Behind Inventions: Fountain Pen

About the story behind the invention of fountain pen, history and biography of inventor Lewis E. Waterman.

INVENTION: Fountain Pen

INVENTOR: Lewis E. Waterman, U.S.

YEAR: 1884

HOW INVENTED: The 1st patent for a continuously flowing fountain pen was issued in 1830 to one D. Hyde, of Reading, Pa. But it was Waterman who constructed a practical, workable fountain pen. His own firm manufactured these earliest handmade pens, 200 being produced in 1885.

Later, Waterman developed a machine to turn out the pens en masse.