who invented paper clips
The paper clip doesn’t have a single clear “inventor”: the first bent-wire paper clip was patented by Samuel B. Fay in 1867, while the familiar “Gem” style we use today emerged in Britain in the 1870s and was never formally patented. Johan Vaaler, often credited in popular stories, patented a different and less practical design around 1899–1901, so he did not actually invent the modern paper clip.
Quick Scoop
So… who invented paper clips?
- The first bent-wire paper clip patent went to Samuel B. Fay in the United States in 1867, originally meant to attach tickets to fabric (papers were mentioned as an extra use).
- Another early clip design was patented by Erlman J. Wright in 1877, advertised specifically for fastening loose papers, documents, and newspapers.
- The modern-looking “Gem” paper clip (the double-loop shape you know) was most likely made in Britain by the Gem Manufacturing Company in the early 1870s, but it was never patented.
- Norwegian inventor Johan Vaaler received patents in Germany (1899) and the U.S. (1901) for a different clip design that was more awkward to use and never caught on.
In other words, if you ask “who invented paper clips,” the most accurate answer is: several inventors contributed, but no one person can truly claim the modern Gem-style paper clip.
Key names at a glance
| Inventor / Name | Year | Country | What they did |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel B. Fay | 1867 | United States | Got the first patent for a bent-wire paper clip, mainly for attaching tickets to fabric. | [5][3]
| Erlman J. Wright | 1877 | United States | Patented a clip for fastening loose papers, periodicals, and newspapers. | [3]
| Gem Manufacturing Co. | Early 1870s | Britain | Produced the unpatented “Gem” paper clip, which became the standard modern shape. | [6][2][3]
| Johan Vaaler | Patents 1899–1901 | Norway (patents in Germany & US) | Patented a different, less practical clip design; later (incorrectly) celebrated as inventor of the paper clip. | [7][1][4][5][3]
Why the confusion about Johan Vaaler?
- Norway had no patent law at the time, so Vaaler filed abroad, which made his story stand out in historical records.
- His clip became a national symbol in Norway, especially during World War II, where the paper clip was used as a quiet sign of resistance, feeding the myth that a Norwegian had invented it.
- Later research showed that the Gem-style clip already existed and was superior, while Vaaler’s design was more complex and never manufactured at scale.
Mini timeline of the paper clip
- 1867 – Samuel B. Fay gets the first bent-wire paper clip patent in the U.S.
- 1870s – Gem Manufacturing Company in Britain starts producing the double-loop Gem clip, which becomes the standard office paper clip.
- 1877 – Erlman J. Wright patents another clip design for fastening loose papers.
- 1899–1901 – Johan Vaaler patents his own paper clip variants in Germany and the U.S., unaware that better designs are already in use.
Is this a trending topic or forum debate?
- On trivia forums and Q&A sites, people still argue over “who invented paper clips,” often repeating the simplified line that “Johan Vaaler invented the paper clip.”
- Modern historical overviews and museum-style writeups now tend to credit Fay with the first patent and the anonymous British makers of the Gem clip for the classic design, while clarifying that Vaaler’s role has been overstated.
So, if you want a neat takeaway for “who invented paper clips”:
- First patent : Samuel B. Fay (1867).
- Familiar modern design : the unpatented Gem clip from Britain in the 1870s.
- Famous but misunderstood figure : Johan Vaaler, whose design came later and was less successful.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.