November 8, 1999
Centennial of the Paper Clip
Tidbit Archive
| 1999 is the centennial of the paper clip.
The invention is credited to Johan Vaaler, a Norwegian, who patented his
innovation in Germany because Norway lacked a patent law at the time.
Mr. Vaaler reportedly failed to exploit his invention, however, and year
later a U.S. patent for a paper clip was awarded to Cornelius J. Brosnan
of Springfield, Mass. The most popular current form of the paper clip,
known as the Gem clip, was invented shortly thereafter in England.
Among widely-used contemporary technologies, the paper clip is about as low tech as they come. Nonetheless, it is an indispensable part of everyday life in modern society. The paperless office is not yet here and without paper clips most of us would be drowning in loose papers instead of treading water among stacks. The links below explore some of the many dimensions of this ubiquitous technology. |
Links:
How do you make paper clips? from American Heritage of Invention & Technology (source of the animated gif at the top of this page) -- click on "They're Still There"
Statement of Peter Levy, president of Labelon/Noesting Company (the firm whose machine is shown above) regarding paper clips made by forced labor in China and dumped on the U.S. import market (from a May 22, 1997, congressional hearing)
Article about the paper clip (from @Issue, published by the Corporate Design Foundation)
Instructions on how to use a paper clip from the Galactic Guide
Discussion among archivists and conservationists concerning the damage paper clips can do to historical materials (from the Conservation OnLine site)
Paper Clip (a poem by Paul David Mena of Acton, Mass.)
Alternative uses for paper clips:
Modeling polymers (from Lawrence Berkeley Lab)Paper clips you can buy online:Classic Clips -- The paper clip of the future (also available in inspirational motifs)
SuperClips (a giant multi-purpose clip)
Italian Clipiola Paper Clips (for discerning paper-clippers)
