Lychen, a small town in north-east Germany , is known for an unexpected claim to fame—the invention of the flat-headed thumbtack. According to local history, Johann Kirsten developed the flat-headed thumbtack to make it easier to secure drawings and papers. However, the story isn’t entirely settled. Some sources instead credit Heinrich Sachs , who is said to have invented a similar design in 1888. The town still embraces this part of its history, and flat-headed thumbtacks continue to be produced by small local factories today.