Who Invented the 3 Ring Binder?
The three ring binder serves as an integral component to any office, home, or educational facility. It keeps papers organized and neat, and presents them in a professional manner. The invention of the three ring binder led to other inventions and innovations related to office implements.
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The Three Ring Binder
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The three ring binder (sometimes referred to as a file in Great Britain) was invented by Friedrich Soennecken in 1886. The design is similar to the cover of a book: two rigid folders held together with a spine. Within the spine of a three ring binder are three equidistant rings that can hold paper or documents in place. The rings of the binder are spring loaded and, most often, circular. The ISO, or the International Organization for Standards, sets the distance between the rings at 80 mm apart.
Friedrich Soennecken
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Friedrich Soennecken was born in 1848 in Sauerland, Westphalia. His father was a blacksmith, and as a result Soennecken was exposed to ingenuity and creativity at an early age. On May 27, 1875, he founded the F. Soennecken Verlag, an office supply company in Remscheid, Westphalia.
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Soennecken's Other Inventions
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Soennecken's main invention was the creation of the nib, or a round tip at the end of a pen. Along with this invention, Soennecken developed the "round writing" style of calligraphy. Round writing was designed to be both aesthetically pleasing and easy to learn and utilize. It is still used today. He also published several books in numerous languages, one of which is entitled Methodical Text Book to Round Writing, explaining this style of penmanship. In addition, Soennecken also invented and developed the two-hole punch. In 1888 in a letter to a friend, famous German philosopher Friedrich Nietzche praised the quality of the paper and pens Soennecken's company produced. Soennecken died in Bonn in 1919. The company went bankrupt in 1973 and its trademark rights were purchased by BRANION EG in 1983.
Louis Leitz
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The design for the three ring binder was further improved by another German inventor named Louis Leitz. He introduced the hole in the side of the file for which the ringed clamps are fastened. Leitz was the founder of Esselte Leitz GmbH and Co KG. He was also a trained woodturner and worked as a mechanic.
Andreas Tengwall
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Another design for the three ring binder was developed by Swedish designer named Andreas Tengwall and patented under the name Trio binder. Tengwall's design had four rings with two coming from each side in a fork-like fashion. The hole placement of Tengwall's design is still used in Sweden for hole punching under the name "triohalning." The holes in this design are 21 mm, 70 mm and 21 mm apart.
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