The Engineer - Late, great engineers: Robert William Thomson - of aerial wheels and fountain pens
![The Engineer - Late, great engineers: Robert William Thomson - of aerial wheels and fountain pens](https://www.theengineer.co.uk/media/bhop5kls/lge2.jpg?width=1002&quality=80)
#xA0;One of Scotland’s ‘forgotten engineers,’ Robert William Thomson was a prolific 19th century engineer who took out patents on the pneumatic tyre as well as the refillable fountain pen. Written by Nick Smith.
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The Engineer - Late, great engineers: Robert William Thomson - of aerial wheels and fountain pens
![](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330378418/figure/fig5/AS:715167667089408@1547520667515/Braun-and-Hogenberg-plan-of-Palmanova-from-Civitates-Orbis-Terrarum-1623.jpg)
6 Braun and Hogenberg, plan of Palmanova from Civitates Orbis Terrarum
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Robert William Thomson
![](https://www.scotsmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2020/06/w.jpg)
Robert William Thomson - The Scots Magazine
![](https://www.historic-uk.com/assets/Images/RobertThomson.gif?1390900228)
Robert William Thomson, Scotland's forgotten inventor
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The Engineer - Nick Smith
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Robert_William_Thomson_-_Illustrated_London_News_March_29_1873.png/1280px-Robert_William_Thomson_-_Illustrated_London_News_March_29_1873.png)
File:Robert William Thomson - Illustrated London News March 29 1873.png - Wikimedia Commons
Did you know, the original inventor of the pneumatic tyre is Robert William Thomson. He's also famously known for inventing the fountain pen!, By Continental Tyres
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Birth_of_a_Bomber-_Aircraft_Production_in_Britain%2C_1942_D7080.jpg)
List of British innovations and discoveries - Wikipedia
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/1847_US_Patent_5104_Robert_William_Thomson_Carriage_Wheel_with_air_cushion_cropped.jpg)
File:1847 US Patent 5104 Robert William Thomson Carriage Wheel with air cushion cropped.jpg - Wikimedia Commons