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When Reynolds launched the first retail ballpoint pen, making $100,000 on Day 1

On October 29, 1945, Manhattan’s Gimbels Department Store buzzed with excitement as people lined up around the block for the latest invention—a pen that didn’t need refilling and could write instantly without smudging.
This was the Reynolds Rocket, the first ballpoint pen in the United States. Retailing at a steep $12.95 (about $200 today), it sold out by the end of the day, raking in a whopping $100,000 (about $1.1 million today).
This was no ordinary pen—it was the beginning of a new era in writing.
The story of the ballpoint pen’s launch in the US begins with Milton Reynolds, an ambitious Chicago entrepreneur. While travelling in Buenos Aires, Argentina, earlier in 1945, Reynolds spotted a novel type of pen created by Hungarian-Argentinian journalist Lászl³ B­r³.
Known as a ballpoint pen, it used a tiny, rotating ball to dispense quick-drying ink, ideal for avoiding smudges.
Biro had patented it in Argentina in 1938 and his pen was already on the market in Argentina and the United Kingdom.

Biro’s Birome (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Recognising its potential in the American market, Reynolds decided to recreate the design himself and rushed to bring the idea back home, skipping around existing patents.
With unwavering determination, he put his team to work. Four months later, Reynolds had his own version of the ballpoint pen, which he named the Reynolds Rocket. The US was ready for it.
After years of using messy, refillable fountain pens, people were thrilled at the idea of a pen that could write smoothly without hassle or leaks—at least, that’s what they thought.
On its debut at Gimbels, the Reynolds Rocket was an instant sensation. Despite its high price, customers were drawn to the pen’s revolutionary promise. People were willing to pay top dollar for the convenience of a smooth, portable pen, which felt modern and stylish.
By the day’s end, Reynolds had pocketed $100,000—a small fortune in 1945. This debut made headlines nationwide, marking the ballpoint pen as a must-have item.

Magazine ad for the Reynolds Rocket (Photo: thebeliever.net)

But while the launch was a smash hit, the initial hype soon wore off. The Reynolds Rocket wasn’t as reliable as people hoped. It leaked, and the ink often dried up too soon.
Many customers returned them or tossed them aside. Made from anodised aircraft aluminium, they featured a sleek, Art Deco design, giving them a modern look despite their functional flaws.
Prices quickly dropped from the initial $12.95 to under 50 cents by 1948, and by 1951, Reynolds’ once-thriving business venture had come to an end.
Today, the ballpoint pen is so ordinary that we hardly give it a second thought, but back then, it was a marvel of modern technology. While Reynolds’ initial product didn’t stand the test of time, it marked the beginning of a ballpoint pen revolution.
After Reynolds’ first venture failed in 1951, the ballpoint pen industry itself continued to grow, eventually driven by advancements from other companies that perfected the design and made pens more durable and affordable.

The Reynolds company too adapted and thrived, eventually establishing itself as one of the world’s top pen brands. after focusing on improving quality and innovating in the writing instruments industry.

Ad for the Reynolds Rocket ballpoint pen (Photo: glenridgelibrary.org)

The brand continued to grow, especially in international markets, with a strong presence in India, where it partnered with GM Pens in 1986 to produce affordable, reliable pens that quickly became popular.

Reynolds later diversified its product range, including gel pens, ballpoint pens, and stationery, securing its position as a trusted brand in writing instruments.
In 2016, the French stationery giant BIC acquired the brand, bringing it into a global network and expanding its reach even further.
Today, Reynolds is known for consistent quality and innovation in the global stationery market, retaining a significant market presence across Asia and beyond.

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