A
Norwegian,
Johan Vaaler (1866–1910), has erroneously been identified as the inventor of the paper clip. He was granted patents in
Germany[10] and in the United States
[11] (1901) for a paper clip of similar design, but less functional and practical, because it lacked the last turn of the wire. Vaaler probably did not know that a better product was already on the market, although not yet in Norway. His version was never manufactured and never marketed, because the superior
Gem was already available.
Long after Vaaler's death his countrymen created a national myth based on the false assumption that the paper clip was invented by an unrecognised Norwegian genius.
