Who Invented the Paper Clip?
Johan Vaaler, a Norwegian inventor whom holds a degree in electronics, science and mathematics, invented the paper clip in 1899. He received a patent for this from Germany and years after, he received an American patent in 1901, a patent for abstract which can be bent into a rectangular, triangular, or otherwise shaped hoop. During the World War II during the Nazi Occupation, Paper clip has become a symbol of Norwegian nationalism. They are prohibited from wearing buttons imprinted with the Norwegian king’s initials; they fastened paper clips to their lapels in a show of solidarity and opposition to the occupation. During the World War II, wearing a paper clip was often reason enough for arrest. With that, even it was often a good reason for one to get arrested or jailed. In 1904, the Cushman & Denison Company obtained the trademark over the name. Despite Johann Valer’s paper clip innovation being used all over the world today, he never made much money from this. Copycats would get aro
