Pentel
Ball Pentel R50 (1970), Yukio HorieFounded in 1949 as the Japan Stationery Co., Pentel is a privately held Japanese manufacturer of stationery products, credited for inventing the world’s first felt-tipped pen. Instrumental in the development of all the products was Yukio Horie, the President of the company until his death in 2010.
Although rollerball pens were introduced by the Japanese company Ohto in 1963, Pentel managed to design an affordable version, popularizing the rollerball category in general. Launched in 1970, the iconic green-barrelled R50 is one of the most distinctive pens on the market. With over five million produced each year, the R50 is a true design classic and one of the most successful pens in the world.
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