The invention of the paper shredder is believed to have been Abbot Augustus Low, who patented a device that he referred to as a 'waste paper receptacle' in 1909. There was no major development of paper shredders until the late 1950s, when Adolf Ehinger manufactured a shredder that was inspired by a pasta maker. Although the original design was powered by a hand crank, when Ehinger found an increased demand for his product, a motor was incorporated into the design of his shredders, allowing for an increased ease of use, and providing the blueprint for the modern day the shredder.
The use of paper shredders was confined mostly to government offices until as recently as the late 1980s. Public demand for shredders increased as identity theft and privacy concerns heightened worldwide. The paper shredder is now a staple in almost all office settings, from government agencies and Fortune 100 companies, right down to your local Ma and Pa shop and home office.
