The invention of the paper clip

A paper clip is a piece of iron bent in such a way that it can hold several sheets of paper together. Each year, 20 billion paper clips are produced, and they aren't all being used for holding paper together. Indeed, they can also be used as tie pin, as a cleaner for nails and ears, or as a toy to bend during a boring meeting.

History

The paper clip is not very old yet. At the end of the 19^th century, in 1899 to be precise, the Norwegian Johan Vaaler applied for a patent for his invention. Vaaler was a poor farmer's son and therefore he lacked the money to enter the market with his paper clip, or even to build a paper clip machine. Johan Vaaler died in 1910 due to a liver ailment, aged 44. Ten years later, after his death, Vaaler's designs for the paper clip were rediscovered.

By the way, in Vaaler's design, the paper clip did not have the same shape as our current paper clip. Vaaler's invention had one curve less. The extra bend was added later, because the end of the paper clip often damaged the paper.

In addition to Johan Vaaler, there were others who pursued the idea of a paper clip at the end of the 19^th century. The American Cornelius Brosnan invented his so-called "Konaclip". The British company Gem Manufacturing was the first to produce the paper clip with the oval shapes, just like the current paper clip. This clip was named Gem. Alfred Shedlock introduced his "Idealclip" in 1902. This clip was especially suited for thick stacks of paper. 1905 featured Joshua Hale with his Ringclip. This was a round paper clip consisting of two circles. This clip is still in use today. In 1934, Henry Lankenau introduced a paper clip that looked very similar to the Gem designed by Gem Manufacturing. There were some improvements, however: Lankenau's paper clip, which was called Gothic, had one flatter side, and the other end was made into a V-shape. Despite the improvements of the Gothic, the Gem became the standard paper clip.

But despite all these inventions and improvements of the paper clip, Johan Vaaler is still seen as its inventor.

Paperclip Brooch

The Norwegians are very proud of the fact that their compatriot invented the paper clip. During World War II many Norwegians wore a paper clip as a brooch on their coats. In this way they wanted to communicate that they belonged together. If the German occupants noticed a Norwegian with a paper clip, they would arrest him. To commemorate the victims who were arrested during the war, a paper clip 6 meters in height and 600 kilograms in weight was erected.

Windows logo

The paper clip has also been used as a logo. A familiar example is the paper clip in Windows, the "Office Assistant". Microsoft put this paper clip Office Assistant in its computer programs since 1997. However, because many people were immensely annoyed by the paper clip, which jumped up every once in a while (often without a good reason), Microsoft has decided to leave the "Office Assistant" out of all their future programs.

Sources: www.todio.nl