Waterman vowed to make a pen that would have its own ink supply so he would never lose a deal in this way again. The first fountain pens were hollow bodied and were filled by using an eyedropper.

Ballpoint pens distribute fast-drying ink without the ink drying in the pen itself. It uses a thick, oil-based ink that is dispersed by a small ball in a socket at the head of the pen. The ...