Bic Cristal

The Bic Cristal is an inexpensive, mass-produced ballpoint pen sold by Société Bic of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France. It was designed by the Décolletage Plastique Design Team. It is made from polystyrene (transparent barrel), polypropylene (cap), tungsten carbide (ball) and brass/nickel silver (tip) and comes in blue, black, red and green. The pen's lid has a small hole to prevent choking if swallowed. [ [http://www.bicworld.com/inter_en/stationery/faq/index.asp Stationery FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Stationery Products ] ]

In countries like the UK, a Bic Medium variation has a different lid and different nib; the logo is Bic Medium in white letters rather than an engraved 'Bic' and the end cap is non-removable with engraved letters 'Bic Medium' circled around it. In the U.S., this design is known as the NS.

Marcel Bich secured the patent to the ballpoint pen, invented by László Bíró, and in 1950 gave the world the Bic pen. He chose the name Bic as a variation of his name because he feared English speakers might mispronounce it "bitch." It has become an industrial design classic. Its ease of use, reliability and ubiquity have helped it. The Bic Cristal forms part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Other uses

The Bic pen has found alternative uses. One is as a barrel for skewer-shooting. [ [http://www.instructables.com/id/Skewer-Shooter-Modified./ Skewer Shooter Modified. - Instructables - DIY, How To, offbeat - Entry ] ] The standard Bic Crystal can also wind a Compact Cassette; it is six-sided and its spools are of similar diameter.

ee also

* Société Bic

References

* [http://www.bicworld.com/index_en.asp Bic] web site. Also [http://asia.bicworld.com/productcategory.cfm?categoryrefno=21&productrefno=5 here] and [http://www.bicworld.com/inter_en/pdf/2005/stationery_presentation_jul_05.pdf here]
* [http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/2004/pdfs/humble_checklist.pdf Humble Masterpieces] exhibition list, from MoMA.
* [http://www.bicpromopens.com BIC Promotional Pens ]

External links

* [http://www.bicworld.com/inter_en/bdd/product_writing.asp?product_id=41 Bic Cristal] web page
* [http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?object_id=82141 Bic Cristal] at MoMA and from [http://www.bicworld.com/inter_en/art_gallery/index.asp# Bic's web site]
* " [http://revista.consumer.es/web/es/20070901/actualidad/analisis2/71826_3.php 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.