Holiday of inventors in Argentina

It is no coincidence in choice of such a date: this day in 1899 is known as a birthday of Bíró László, the inventor of modern ball-point pen.

László József Bíró was born in Budapest, but in 1938 he moved in Paris, and in 1943, in his turn, – in Argentina. Idea of creation of new type of pen came to him, when he found out that writing ink used for publishing dried out and did not leave spots.

Because of depth such ink could not be used in dip pen that is why together with his brother, chemist, he invented a new type of pens in which a turning ball was used for moving of inks to paper.

In 1938 Bíró patented his invention in France, and in 1943 – in Argentina, where he established a company producing ballpoint pens (in Argentina these pens are called «birome» in honour of their creator). Pens of Bíró were purchased, in particular, for needs of Royal Air Force of Great Britain (in circumstances of high attitude, ballpoint pens worked better than pen-type ones).

Bíró spent rest of life in Argentina where he died in 1985 in Buenos Aires. In tribute to him Inventor Day was announced which is celebrated by Argentinian up to now.