MonoMonday 19th century invention. Fountain pen - a pen which has a nib and a reservoir of ink
 Before the 19th century sharpened reeds, sticks or quills had been used for writing until 1822 when steel-point pens which could be dipped in ink, were produced on a mass scale enabling many people to write.  Then in 1827 The first patent on a fountain pen was awarded for a pen that had a barrel made from a swan’s quill as an ink reservoir.  However. the design had major flaws as the flow of ink was irregular resulting in either no ink at all or many blots.  Subsequent developments in pen design could not eliminate ink leaking from the barrel until George Parker received a patent in 1894 for his "Lucky Curve" fountain pen feed, which could draw excess ink back into the pen barrel when the pen was not in use. Until the development of the ballpoint pen, Parker pens were amongst the top in sales throughout the world and were much valued as special gifts.
Now fountain pens are seldom ever used since ballpoints, smart pens and modern technology have taken over. 
There are still many occasions when legal documents have to be signed in wet ink and the top Parker has been used numerous times over the years for signing legal documents in black ink and the other Parker and Scheafer pens have been carried as a spare for such occasions. 
I have never used a smart pen but remember my early school days using a pen dipped in the inkwell then being thrilled when I received my own fountain pen as a Christmas present.  Ballpoint and fine felt tip pens felt so much better later with no need to fill up a pen with ink and like most people now I seldom write on paper.