The Ostehøvel, or Osthyvel as it is known in Sweden, has come to symbolise breakfast in the two countries in the years since it was patented by the Norwegian inventor Thor Bjørklund back in 1925.
Linus, the unemployed journalist managing @Sweden, Sweden's official Twitter account, this week began posting pictures of himself holding the instrument on Wednesday, apparently ignorant of its Norwegian origins.
This is what we in Sweden call an "osthyvel". pic.twitter.com/cxalRbO3PZ
— @sweden / Linus (@sweden) June 9, 2014
He posted a series of jokey follow-ons, including:
This is what we in Sweden call an "Osthyvel". #throwbackthursday pic.twitter.com/6KUk4NE9DL
— @sweden / Linus (@sweden) June 12, 2014
But then Johannes Björk, a Sweden PHD student living in Barcelona, pointed out that the implement was not in fact Swedish.
@sweden Osthyveln- probably one of the greatest inventions in modern time. But as shocking as it might sound- it's an #norwegian invention!
— Johannes Björk (@AwfulDodger) June 12, 2014
At this point, Sweden's official Twitter account took the momentous step of threatening to "annex" the invention.
The threat generated an immediate response from Norwegian Twitter users (well, one Norwegian Twitter user)..@AwfulDodger This cannot, WILL NOT, be accepted. We will annex the Osthyvel. It is our birthright.
— @sweden / Linus (@sweden) June 12, 2014
@sweden @AwfulDodger Oi. Don't steel one of the two things we are famous for (paperclip).
— Dan F. (@avatar81) June 12, 2014
Björk then stepped in and graciously asserted Norway's right to take credit for the much-loved implement.
@sweden @avatar81 Ok, you can have it! Since your list of inventions http://t.co/OFFM77WjJj aren't as long as ours http://t.co/8J4DE4Mxuv ;)
— Johannes Björk (@AwfulDodger) June 12, 2014
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