It’s that time of year when news stories are a bit thin on the ground and media outlets have no option but to publish press releases which have a tenuous link to local issues.
These articles have a tendency to be exceedingly long and incredibly boring, (almost as if they have been written by Dictator Dullard) but they help to fill the column inches and hopefully none of our readers will notice that they’ve just wasted ten minutes of their life reading utter tripe.
As the editor of SomersetClive I’m delighted to be able to reproduce in full this press release which we have received from the Smalltown and Dullbridge Paper Clip Manufacturing Company. It makes it look as if I’ve been really busy writing stuff, when in reality I’ve been propping up the bar in the Blitz Social Club.
The paper clip, a seemingly innocuous office supply, has a long and uneventful history that spans centuries. This article will delve into the origins, development, and various uses of the paper clip, highlighting its unremarkable but persistent presence in our daily lives.
The exact origin of the paper clip is shrouded in obscurity. Various claims have been made about its invention, but none seem to captivate the imagination. One theory suggests that the ancient Egyptians used rudimentary metal loops to hold scrolls together, though evidence remains scant at best. Other sources point to medieval European scribes employing similar devices to fasten parchment documents, but these findings fail to arouse intrigue.
Over the years, the paper clip underwent minor modifications, none of which could be classified as groundbreaking. In the late 19th century, a series of patents were filed for designs that resembled the modern paper clip. However, these modifications consisted mainly of minor alterations in shape and size, leading to a stifling sense of monotony in the realm of fastening technology.
The primary use of the paper clip remains consistent to this day: the mundane task of binding sheets of paper together. Whether used to compile official documents or mundane grocery lists, its role is one of simple functionality. Rarely has an invention been so universally applied without sparking even a modicum of excitement.
The history of the paper clip is a testament to the endurance of the mundane. Its unadorned existence throughout history highlights the value of utility over excitement. While other inventions may take centre stage with their grandeur and innovation, the paper clip remains steadfast in its banality, serving as a reminder that even in the world of office supplies, the unremarkable has its place.
The Smalltown and Dullbridge Paper Clip Manufacturing Company is proud to hold the Royal Warrant for supplying paper clips to HRH King Henry IX. We also supply paper clips to Smalltown and Dullbridge (SaD) Town Council, where we are told they are very handy to secure sheaves of paper together thus allowing them to be lost en masse.