A stylus (v. griech.: grapheion, recorder) is a pin for the inscription of a Schiefertafel or a wax board. It was used first in Mesopotamien for the inscription by cuneiform script boards. Many tools, which cut the surface of a workpiece, are called styluses.

Write stylus

A special form of the stylus is still older generations than write styluses in good memory, because to center of the Achziger years 20. Later century had pupils of the lower classes them on Schiefertafeln (with slate styluses) and/or also on plastic boards (then with chalk styluses or chalk) to write and expect.

Form and appearance

Approximately turned, solid pins of 4-6 mm in diameter, those, like the Schiefertafel, from slate were existed. They were with one or more situations paper tape usually.

Function mode

Since the board and the stylus had same hardness, by the stylus fine traces were drawn into the board, which appeared grey because of the material abrasion. These could be eliminated by wiping off with water again. In the course of the use the surfaces of the boards became ever rougher. In particular harder inclusions in the stylus led to deep traces.

Advancements

In the fifties therefore styluses came on the market, which similarly as a pencil was developed. The mines surrounded by wood coverings were pressed from different powdered materials (e.g. chalk) with bonding agents. Beside the indulgence of the boards one achieved also smaller write pressure, what facilitated the letter substantially. In addition were they much more easily anzuspitzen. Because of their softness they were called in pupil circles butter styluses. However this no more stylus was in the technical sense, since they did not cut the boards any longer, but material of the mine as abrasion on the board left.

See also: Stylus

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