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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballpoint_pen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballpoint_pen -- Wikipedia suggests that the ball point pen was first invented in the

by rtb 11y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballpoint_pen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballpoint_pen -- Wikipedia suggests that the ball point pen was first invented in the late 19th century, but that they didn't catch on until after WWII because they need "modern chemistry and precision manufacturing capabilities", which sounds consistent with the claims in this article.

achow 11y ago
In USA Ballpoint pen was introduced on 29 Oct 1945, but the reliable ones (made by BIC) was launched in 1959. http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-enduring-genius-of-the-ballpoint-pen-1433512313 http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-enduring-genius-of-the-ballp... Anything produced in 50s, I'm sure can be easily produced by any nation today, leave alone China.
- rayiner 11y ago
  Any nation could produce supersonic aircraft, nuclear reactors, and satellites and the launchers to send them to space?
  - achow 11y ago
    > Any nation could produce supersonic aircraft, nuclear reactors... These are not industrial mass produced items made by machines. 1950s industrial setup can be duplicated by any country today on their own.
iSnow 11y ago
But the article claims you need "state-of-the-art machinery and cutting-edge computerized measurement equipment with pinpoint precision to produce, not to mention the ability to produce the high-quality steel material of which it is made." None of this was available post-WW II, like the advanced steel alloys the article talks about. China's industrial capacity is more advanced than the US's was in the 1950's and if China does not produce those little metal spheres there must be something else at play. My guess would be that thanks to modern production processes, a competitor with older machinery would not stand a chance in the marktplace and investing in the production of those balls is economically not very attractive because margins are already razor-thing. But I'd like to read from someone who actually knows.

by rtb 11y ago

achow 11y ago

In USA Ballpoint pen was introduced on 29 Oct 1945, but the reliable ones (made by BIC) was launched in 1959. http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-enduring-genius-of-the-ballpoint-pen-1433512313 http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-enduring-genius-of-the-ballp... Anything produced in 50s, I'm sure can be easily produced by any nation today, leave alone China.

rayiner 11y ago
Any nation could produce supersonic aircraft, nuclear reactors, and satellites and the launchers to send them to space?
- achow 11y ago
  > Any nation could produce supersonic aircraft, nuclear reactors... These are not industrial mass produced items made by machines. 1950s industrial setup can be duplicated by any country today on their own.

iSnow 11y ago

But the article claims you need "state-of-the-art machinery and cutting-edge computerized measurement equipment with pinpoint precision to produce, not to mention the ability to produce the high-quality steel material of which it is made." None of this was available post-WW II, like the advanced steel alloys the article talks about. China's industrial capacity is more advanced than the US's was in the 1950's and if China does not produce those little metal spheres there must be something else at play. My guess would be that thanks to modern production processes, a competitor with older machinery would not stand a chance in the marktplace and investing in the production of those balls is economically not very attractive because margins are already razor-thing. But I'd like to read from someone who actually knows.