Bíró shared his idea with his brother, György, a chemist, and together they embarked on research and experimentation. Their goal was to create a new type of pen that utilized a ball-bearing mechanism.

After numerous trials, they discovered the ideal combination: a viscous ink paired with a tip featuring a small, freely rotating ball. This design allowed the ink to flow smoothly while preventing it from drying out.

In 1931, the Bíró brothers presented their revolutionary invention at the Budapest International Fair. They patented their creation in 1938, but it was not immediately brought to market.

The outbreak of World War II prompted the brothers to emigrate to Argentina, where they set up a company in a garage. Initially, their product struggled due to high costs, but a significant breakthrough came when they secured a contract with the British Air Force. The military required a reliable writing instrument for high-altitude operations, and the Bíró pen met this need perfectly.

In 1943, the brothers licensed their invention to Eversharp Faber in the United States for $2 million. This marked the beginning of the ballpoint pen's commercial success. By 1950, Marcel Bich had acquired the rights to the pen.

On the advice of an advertising expert, he simplified his surname, founding the now-famous BIC Group. That same year, the first BIC Cristal was launched. This pen, with its simple yet efficient design, became an instant hit. Today, over 20 million BIC Cristal pens are sold every day worldwide.

Since its introduction in 1950, more than 100 billion BIC Cristal pens have been manufactured, cementing its status as the best-selling pen of all time.

The ballpoint pen, a simple yet transformative invention, owes its existence to the ingenuity and persistence of the Hungarian Bíró brothers, whose legacy continues to impact the world of writing.

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