pretty sure the lid has changed over that time... They added a hole at the top in case it got swallowed?
*Accoding that truth bearing publication R?eaders Digest... was added in 1991 (fvckin woke bullshit)
https://www.rd.com/article/hole-in-pen-cap/
...you probably never thought much else about ballpoint pens, including the fact that there’s a hole in the cap. What in the world is it doing there? Is it a mistake?
It’s no mistake. In 1991, companies including BIC began designing each ballpoint pen cap with a tiny hole at the top, leaving many to wonder what it means and the purpose it could possibly serve.
Here’s the deal: Not only is the hole in the cap protecting the ink in the pen, but it’s also protecting the user from potential safety hazards.