In 1888, John J. Loud received a patent for a ballpoint pen designed for marking leather and other rough surfaces. His invention used a rotating ball bearing to apply thick ink. While the pen was not practical for writing on paper, Loud's patent is recognized as the first for the ballpoint pen concept and laid the groundwork for the successful ballpoint pens developed decades later.

Although Loud's design was a failure as a writing tool, it was a crucial conceptual step. His patent demonstrated the principle of the rolling ball, which would later be perfected by László Bíró. This early experiment shows that the desire for a cleaner, more convenient writing instrument was a recurring theme throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. It is a testament to the enduring human quest for a perfect writing tool, a quest that continues to shape how poets and writers work.