We’ve discussed the parts of a stylus.  But what do the various parts do?

As I noted, all standard styluses are basically composed of two parts: a metal wax reservoir with writing tip, and a handle (generally wooden or plastic).  In the traditional styluses, the reservoir is attached to the handle either by wrapping with wire, or with a wire hook.  In the electric styluses, the reservoir is set into the heating element, which is the upper extension of the handle.

(Non-standard styluses–calligraphic pens and drop-pull styluses–will be discussed in depth separately on their own pages.)

Connecting wire:  In earlier times, wax was not melted by scooping it into the reservoir and heating it in a candle flame, as we generally do today.  Rather, a bowl of molten was used; the wax was kept liquid by keeping the bowl on the піч (stove), or by nestling the bowl of wax in a larger bowl of embers

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