Bic Cristal
The Bic Cristal, was designed by the Décolletage Plastique Design Team and is an inexpensive, mass-produced ballpoint pen. It is made from polystyrene (transparent barrel), polypropylene (cap), tungsten carbide (ball) and brass/nickel silver (tip) and comes in four colors: blue, black, red and green. The pen's lid has for the past few decades had a small hole in it to prevent choking if accidentally swallowed.[1]
In countries like the UK, a Bic Medium variation is sold where there are a few minor differences: different lid, different nib, logo is Bic Medium in white letters rather than the engraved 'Bic' and the end cap is fixed in and non-removable with engraved letters 'Bic Medium' circled around it. In the U.S., this design is known as the NS.
It is so ubiquitous that, for many people in the western world, it is the archetypal ballpoint pen. Many people would simply call it a Biro. Marcel Bich secured the patent rights to the ballpoint pen, invented by Ladislao Biro and in 1950 gave the world the Bic pen. He chose the name Bic as a shorter variation of his own name because he feared that English speakers might mispronounce Bich "bitch." Over time, from what was once seen as a disposable, humdrum writing implement it has, in some circles become an industrial design classic. Its ease of use, reliability and in many ways its ubiquity have all helped it achieve its classic status. The Bic Cristal pen forms part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Other uses
The Bic pen, due to its widespread adoption in the Western world, has found a multitude of alternative uses. One popular use is to use the pen as a barrel for a skewer shooting device.[1] The standard Bic Crystal can also be used to wind a Compact Cassette, as it is six-sided and its spools are of a similar diameter.[citation needed]
See also
References
- Bic web site. Also here and here
- Humble Masterpieces exhibition list, from MoMA.
- BIC Promotional Pens
External links
- Bic Cristal web page
- Bic Cristal at MoMA and from Bic's web site
- Bolígrafos de tinta azul: Muy diferentes en precio y duración. The Spanish Consumer Eroski magazine reviews eight blue-ink ballpens in September 2007 and conclude that Bic Cristal has the best quality-price ratio and is the lightest and least resistant to crushing. Bic Cristal Gel is the most expensive, and lasts the least.