An ad for Gem paper clips appearing in Office Appliances, Volume 36, 1922. Courtesy of Slate.com (see article below).
Invented in 1899 and not improved upon since, the paper clip is the ultimate symbol of 20th century office life. Slate.com’s Sara Goldsmith’s article on the history of the paper clip covers much more than just the little bent wire we’ve all come to rely on. It’s a brief history of paper, the straight pin (the paper clip’s predecessor), the office clerk, and office furniture complete with not only historical etchings and photographs but also literary references from David Foster Wallace and Adam Smith. There even is a mention of one of our favorite websites, the Early Office Museum, which has a wonderful visual history of paper clips.
The article is a must read and we guarantee that you’ll never look at paper clips the same again.
[...] as the rust deteriorates paper over time.] These vintage paperclips reminded us of a recent post on the History of Paper Clips. Thanks to the Early Office Museum, we can identify these paper clips from 100 years ago. Who [...]