What Can I Do With a Paper Clip? Quiz

Answer: Johan Vaaler

The Norwegian inventor Johan Vaaler patented a paper clip design in 1899 and received a German patent for it, followed by a U.S. patent in 1901. However, it wasn't widely used because his design didn't have an inner loop, making it less effective. Around the same time, a Gem clip was being made in Britain.

It wasn't patented, though. Therefore, Vaaler is often credited with being the sole inventor of the paper clip.

Answer: Microsoft

Microsoft created the paperclip logo, which was linked to 'Clippy', the animated Office Assistant, from 1997 to 2003. Clippy was meant to help users, but became infamous for being annoying, as some people didn't like it. Microsoft eventually removed it, but it remains a pop culture icon, popping up in memes and even making a comeback as an emoji in Microsoft 365.

Answer: Steel wire

The majority of traditional paper clips are crafted from galvanised steel wire. This is coated with zinc to prevent rust and corrosion. However, some are nickel-plated, plastic-coated, or even made from brass or titanium for speciality uses. The material used to make paper clips needs to be both strong and flexible to hold papers securely without snapping.

Answer: Vinegar

Out of these four options, the one to use for the removal of rust is vinegar. You can take a small container and fill it with vinegar. Then put the rusty paper clip into it, making sure it's fully covered. A little salt can be added to make the process swifter. Let the paper clip stay in the water overnight to loosen the rust.

Then scrub the rust off with a toothbrush or steel wool. Wash it and make sure to dry it thoroughly, or it might get rusty again!

Answer: Gem clip

The Gem clip was created in 1907. It is another name for the paper clip, which is a small metal wire bent into loops to hold papers together. It was first made by Gem Manufacturing Ltd. in England, though a Norwegian inventor, Johan Vaaler, patented a similar design in 1899. However, the Gem clip itself was never patented.

Answer: Sandviken

The Monument to the Paper Clip is a 9-meter (30-foot) tall stainless steel sculpture located in Sandviken, Sweden, which was once home to the largest paper clip factory in the world, having a long history of making paper clips. It was designed by Lars Vilks in 1989 and was built to honor the city's history as a center for paper clip production.

The sculpture weighs around 450 kg (990 lbs) and has become a local landmark.

Answer: A house

Kyle MacDonald, a Canadian blogger, started with a red paperclip and traded it up through a series of increasingly valuable items like a pen, a stove, a snowmobile, and even a movie role, until he eventually got a house in Saskatchewan. All through bartering, no money involved! He got the idea for it from a game he once played called 'Bigger, Better'.

It involved 14 items being traded and took him a year to complete, and it inspired other people to try to do likewise.

Answer: Bangladesh

In 2019, Imran Sharif from Bangladesh set a Guinness record for creating the longest chain made by an individual person using paper clips. He assembled it on a street in Dhaka. The chain he made measured 2,527 metres (8 feet 19 inches). He broke the previous record, which was set by Julie McKinney from Indiana, U.S., in 2014.

Answer: Norway

In Norway paper clips were worn on lapels as a symbol of resistance against Nazi occupation during World War II. They used it to represent their defiance. It was a way of silently showing opposition to Nazi rule. When the Nazis banned it, many Norwegians continued to wear it in secret, making it a powerful symbol of their fight for freedom. To Norwegians, the paper clip represented unity (holding things together), and it was small enough to wear without being noticeable.

Answer: Removing a phone's SIM card

If you need to replace your SIM card, but you don't have the official ejector tool, a simple paper clip can do the trick! Find a small paper clip, a standard metal paper clip works best. Avoid plastic-coated ones, as they may not fit properly. Straighten one end, unfold part of the paper clip so you have a small, firm point. Locate the SIM tray hole, insert the paper clip and gently push the straightened end into the hole until the tray pops out.

Then remove the SIM card.