The History of Paper Punch

The paper punch was created by a ticket collector named Benjamin Smith in 1885. He created his invention to mark tickets as he collected them, and his original design is actually quite similar to the modern hole punch device. Charles Brooks patented another paper punch in 1893. Over the years, the three-hole paper punch was created, as well as international designs that punched two or four holes instead of three in order to accommodate paper holders used outside of the United States. The paper punches sold in stores today are not too different from the ones first created in the late 1800s, although some models are now made from plastic instead of metal to keep costs low. The product is still a necessity for students and office workers across the world.