Preceden

History of Paper Clips Timeline

(1867–Present)

The history of paper clips traces the development of simple wire fasteners into a practical, globally recognized office supply. Less

Go to: Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early designs and patents

Adolphus Ackermann sells Spencer’s binding-pin

1846 - 1847

Adolphus Ackermann manufactured and sold Herbert Spencer’s binding-pin for over a year after its registration. Advertisements presented it as a practical fastener for papers and manuscripts.

Herbert Spencer registers a binding-pin

Sep 2, 1846

Herbert Spencer registered a device called a “binding-pin” on 2 September 1846. It was made and sold by Adolphus Ackermann for more than a year and advertised for holding loose manuscripts, sermons, weekly papers, and other unstitched publications.

First U.S. bent-wire paper clip patent

1867

According to the Early Office Museum, the first patent for a bent-wire paper clip in the United States was awarded to Samuel B. Fay in 1867.

Fay’s design differs from the modern paper clip

1867

Although Samuel B. Fay’s design was functional and practical, it was not reminiscent of the modern paper clip design known today.

Samuel B. Fay receives patent 64,088

Apr 23, 1867

Samuel B. Fay received U.S. patent 64,088 on 23 April 1867 for a bent-wire paper clip design.

Erlman J. Wright patents another paper clip

Jul 24, 1877

Erlman J. Wright received a United States patent for another paper clip design on 24 July 1877. The patent was numbered 193,389.

Wright’s patent is numbered 193,389

Jul 24, 1877

The paper clip patent granted to Erlman J. Wright on 24 July 1877 was recorded as U.S. patent number 193,389.

The early Gem’s appearance remains uncertain

1883

Because the 1883 article about Gem Paper-Fasteners contained no illustration, the early product may have differed from modern paper clips sold under that name.

Gem Paper-Fasteners are praised in print

1883

An 1883 article discussed “Gem Paper-Fasteners,” praising them as better than ordinary pins for binding papers on the same subject, bundles of letters, or pages of a manuscript.

Early patented designs remain unlike the modern clip

1899

More than 50 paper clip designs had been patented before 1899, but these designs, including Fay’s, are not considered reminiscent of the modern paper clip.

Norwegian attribution and cultural legacy

Vaaler becomes office manager

1892 - 1910

After beginning work at Alfred J. Bryns Patentkontor, Johan Vaaler was promoted to office manager, a position he held until his death.

Vaaler begins work at Alfred J. Bryns Patentkontor

1892

Johan Vaaler began working for Alfred J. Bryns Patentkontor in Kristiania in 1892.

Johan Vaaler submits a German patent application

1899

The celebration of the alleged Norwegian origin culminated in 1999, one hundred years after Johan Vaaler submitted his application for a German patent.

Johan Vaaler is identified as the inventor

1899

Norwegian inventor Johan Vaaler was identified as the inventor of the paper clip in a tradition that contributed to the later Norwegian attribution.

The paper clip is falsely celebrated as Norwegian

1899

The Gem-type paper clip was celebrated as a Norwegian invention in 1899, despite the account identifying that attribution as false.

The Gem clip becomes a symbol of inventive design

1899

The Gem-type paper clip came to symbolize inventive design, although its later celebration as a Norwegian invention was historically false.

Vaaler receives German and U.S. patents

1901

Johan Vaaler was granted patents in Germany and the United States, including a U.S. patent in 1901, for a paper clip of similar design.

Vaaler’s patented clip is less practical

1901

Although Johan Vaaler’s patented paper clip had a similar design, it was less functional and practical than the modern Gem-type paper clip.

Johan Vaaler dies

1910

Johan Vaaler, who had worked as an office manager at Alfred J. Bryns Patentkontor, died in 1910.

Norwegian encyclopedia notes the resistance symbol

1952

A supplementary volume of the leading Norwegian encyclopedia mentioned the paper clip’s role as a symbol of resistance in 1952, but did not yet proclaim it a Norwegian invention.

Resistance symbolism is attributed to France

1974

According to the 1974 edition of the Norwegian encyclopedia, the idea of using the paper clip to denote resistance originated in France.

Giant paper clip honors Vaaler near Oslo

1989

In 1989, a giant paper clip almost 7 meters, or 23 feet, high was erected on the campus of a commercial college near Oslo in honor of Johan Vaaler, ninety years after his invention was patented.

Norwegian paper clip celebration culminates

1999

The celebration of the alleged Norwegian origin of the paper clip culminated in 1999, marking one hundred years since Vaaler submitted his German patent application.

Paper clip becomes the Year of Design logo

2003

The paper clip was appropriated as the logo of Barcelona’s Year of Design, L’any del disseny, in 2003. It appeared on posters, T-shirts, and other merchandise.

Norwegian biography calls Vaaler the inventor

2005

In 2005, Norway’s national biographical encyclopedia, Norsk biografisk leksikon, published a biography of Johan Vaaler stating that he was the inventor of the paper clip.

Modern paper clip development

The Gem name is linked to use since 1892

Mar 1, 1892

The 1904 trademark announcement stated that the Gem name had been used since 1 March 1892, which may indicate when the product was introduced in the United States.

The Gem Paper Clip receives its earliest illustration

1893

The earliest known illustration of the paper clip’s current form appeared in an 1893 advertisement for the Gem Paper Clip.

Gem Paper Clip advertising shows the modern form

1893

The 1893 Gem Paper Clip advertisement provides the earliest illustration identified for the modern form of the paper clip.

The modern paper clip is documented by 1899

1899

A patent granted in 1899 provides definite proof that the modern type of paper clip was well known by that year at the latest.

William Middlebrook patents a clip-making machine

Apr 27, 1899

William Middlebrook of Waterbury, Connecticut, received a patent on 27 April 1899 for a “Machine for making wire paper clips.”

Cushman & Denison registers the Gem trademark

1904

In 1904, Cushman & Denison registered the “Gem” name as a trademark in connection with paper clips.

Paper clip appears as a flexible disk-drive stop

1980

A paper clip could be installed in a Commodore 1541 disk drive as a flexible head-stop.

United States imposes tariffs on Chinese paper clips

1994

In 1994, the United States imposed anti-dumping tariffs against China on paper clips.

Key Facts

  1. Samuel B. Fay received a U.S. patent in 1867 for an early paper fastener made from bent wire.
  2. The Gem paper clip, introduced in the late 19th century, helped establish the familiar double-loop design.
  3. William Middlebrook patented a machine for making Gem-style paper clips in the United States in 1899.
  4. Norwegian inventor Johan Vaaler patented a similar clip in 1899 and 1901, but he did not invent the modern paper clip.
  5. Paper clips became a symbol of Norwegian resistance during World War II because wearing them suggested unity without displaying forbidden political symbols.

Source

This History of Paper Clips timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.

Want a timeline like this one?

Generate yours with AI or build it from scratch, for free.

Try It for Free