Achtung!

So it turns out that binders are a German invention too:

German Friedrich Soennecken invented ring binders in 1886 in Bonn, Germany. Friedrich Soennecken made also his patent on November 14, 1886 for his Papierlocher für Sammelmappen (hole punch). German Louis Leitz, founder of Leitz made later some important changes in development of ring binders in Stuttgart-Feuerbach. Leitz introduced the hole in the side of the file. The 2 holes are 80 mm apart, according to ISO 838. The 4 holes version has no ISO standard, the distances are 80mm, 80mm and 80mm.