Brown’s No. 5 Breech Loader Binder

15 Saturday Mar 2025

Tags

antique, binder, brown, staple, stapler, vintage, yarger

The No. 5 is one of those items where collectors know it exists, but nobody seems to know much about them. This may be because this wasn’t advertised as an office stapler in newspapers, available for sale by office suppliers, or written about in the office-related publications of the day. It was, in fact, made originally for book binding companies or companies with similar needs. You’ll see this mentioned in publications such as The American Bookmaker, The Inland Printer, and various Type Foundry Price Lists.

This fastener was designed and patented by William J. Brown Jr. who formed the Wire Staple Co and ultimately the Acme Staple Co in 1894.

The No. 5 was first advertised in 1886, the year it was released. It was made by the Wire Staple Co of Philadelphia. It was ultimately made in two versions, with the main visual difference between them a series of holes along the ridge for version 1 and with a solid ridge in version 2.

Brown’s No. 5 Breech Loader Binder version 1, missing paper stay and staple push

paper stay and staple push highlighted in yellow in the above picture

Version 1 measures 6.25 inches long by 1.625 inches wide by 8.25 inches tall and weighs 1 pound 13 ounces. It is made of cast iron and steel. This version was available until approximately 1890. It was manufactured by the Wire Staple Company at least until 1890 and possibly up until 1898.

1886 magazine ad

1888 magazine ad

Sometime between 1888 and 1899 Samuel J. Yarger started manufacturing and distributing the No. 5. Yarger began advertising this model in 1899 and it was available at least until 1912 (note 1). On many of the stapling machines of this period you’ll find a small one-inch oval brass plate attached with “S.J. YARGER PHILADELPHA” embossed on it.

It’s unknown what the relationship was between Brown and Yarger. However, once Yarger began manufacturing this, and other, staplers in this line the Wire Staple Co was no longer mentioned. It is worth noting however, that this was shown as the “Brown Breech-Loader” throughout its availability.

After several short years, the design of the No. 5 was changed by the Wire Staple Co to a version with a solid ridge. Once Yarger started manufacturing these they stayed with this design.

Version 2 of this stapler measures 6.25 inches long by 1.625 inches wide by 8.5 inches tall and weighs 2 pounds. Like the previous version, this is made of cast iron and steel. There were a few other minor changes, but these didn’t change its functionality nor did it have any obvious improvements. But many parts from versions 1 and 2 are not interchangeable.

1894 catalog ad

1906 catalog ad

1912 catalog ad

example of staples

Samuel J. Yarger, 1909

Samuel J. Yarger was described in 1909 as a “man of massive build”, “a conspicuous figure in any assemblage”, and a “man among men”. Born in 1837, he joined the Union Army during the American Civil War and was active in politics. Yarger was originally trained to be a paper hanger and worked decades in the field of paper hanging and wall-paper before eventually going into the manufacture of wire staple machines.

Patent and Other Information:

Patent 369916 Machine for Inserting and Clinching Metallic Staples (filed 10/13/1885, granted 09/13/1887

Notes:

The Early Office Museum site mentions that the No. 5 was advertised until 1923. It also states that Acme Staple Co introduced this model into its lineup as the Model No. 4. However, after extensive searching I cannot find any evidence of either of these statements. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t true, just unverifiable at this time.
Wire Staple Co, (1886, March), advertisement, The Inland Printer, page 357
Wire Staple Co, (1888, February), advertisement, Printer’s Circular
Chicago Type Foundry Price List, (1890), Chicago, IL, page 145
John Ryan Foundry, (1894, September), Latest and Standard Faces in Type, page 434
American Type Founders, (1906), American Line Type Book, page 1099
Sam Hudson, (1909), Pennsylvania and It’s Public Men, Hudson & Joseph
Frank A. Weeks Mfg Co Catalog, (1912), New York, NY, page 77

Help support the American Stationer. The site really needs your help in order to stay alive. Please become a supporting patron by subscribing to our Patreon at www.patreon.com/americanstationer.

Visit me at https://www.facebook.com/groups/americanstationer and let’s get all nerdy about office stuff 🙂

If you enjoy the American Stationer consider purchasing one of my books at Amazon.

You’ll get one-of-a-kind references and information you won’t find anywhere else and you’ll help me keep American Stationer going.

Herter’s Jiffy Opener

21 Tuesday May 2024

Posted by AmericanStationer in Letter Openers

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

envelope, herter, jiffy, opener, vintage

Herter's Jiffy Opener wm

Sturdy, long-lasting, and excellent at its solitary purpose, the Jiffy Opener Deluxe is one of those office items that you didn’t know that you need until you use one. This single purpose device is for opening envelopes. Simply slide the short end of the envelope into the slot and pull the lever and the Jiffy Opener will slice off a very slim portion allowing you to access the contents without fear of damaging them.

Office Mgmt and Equipment 1947-07 p56 wm

Made of steel, zinc, and aluminum this measures in at 5.375 inches wide by 3 inches wide by 2.75 inches in height. It weighs one pound and 5 ounces. When you open an envelope, the paper scrap is moved to the inside which can be accessed by a sliding plate on the bottom. This means no mess and easy cleaning.

Herter's Jiffy Opener bottom closed wm

Herter's Jiffy Opener bottom open wm

The Jiffy Opener is only known to have been available in 1947. It was not heavily advertised nor did it seem to be offered by any of the big office suppliers. It seems unlikely to have been manufactured for more than two years.

The Jiffy Opener was made by Herter Machine Tool in Long Island, New York. They operated there until 1950. The company then moved to North Carolina where they manufactured precision airplane parts. Herter Machine Tool & Die Works was out of business by 1964.

Herter Machine Tool was started by William Herter who was born in Switzerland. He died on April 6, 1963 at only 53 years old. His death led to the closing of the company.

1947 Newspaper Ad wm

Notes:

Ulbrich’s, (1947, September 18), advertisement, Buffalo Evening News, page 35
Editors, (1947, July), New Things in the News, Office Management and Equipment, page 56
John F. Molloy, (1947, July 10), advertisement, Meriden Record, page 6
Editors, (1963, April 8), Herter Rites Held This P.M., Hickory Daily Record, page 8
Ben Hoffmeyer Auction Co, (1964, October 10), advertisement, Evening Herald, page 3

Visit me at https://www.facebook.com/groups/americanstationer and let’s get all nerdy about office stuff 🙂

If you enjoy the American Stationer consider purchasing one of my books at Amazon.

You’ll get one-of-a-kind references and information you won’t find anywhere else and you’ll help me keep American Stationer going.

Bump Paper Fasteners

20 Wednesday Mar 2024

Posted by AmericanStationer in Stapleless Staplers

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

bump, fastener, la crosse, paper, stapleless, vintage

Long before Kakuyo, long before Paper Welder, and long before Mosda, Chadwick, or any of the others, an early green way to fasten papers together was introduced by the Bump Perfected Paper Fastener Company. Introduced in 1910 the Bump Fastener was in direct competition for your desk space from other fasteners such as the Hotchkiss No 1 stapler. While it didn’t have the fastening capacity of the Hotchkiss, what it did bring, or rather didn’t, was the need for any additional supplies such as staples.

Fastening Sample

The fastener worked by pressing the handles together (or pushing the plunger cap on the model 2) where it would then perforate, turn, and fold back the created flap into a slot cut near the base of the U-shaped perforation. The models were rated to be able to fasten from 8 to 12 pieces of paper.

George P. Bump started the Bump Perfected Paper Co in 1910. The reported story is that when Bump invented this fastener he made a deal to split the patent with J.C. Hawkins who had the means to have them manufactured. Unfortunately, Bump didn’t get this agreement in writing and instead Hawkins started the Clipless Paper Fastener Co. Now on his own, Bump started manufacturing his fasteners on his own but brought Hawkins to court around 1910. Four long years of litigation later the courts found in favor of Bump. About a year later Bump took the Cliplox Co to court for patent infringement but a year later, about 1916, the courts found in favor of Cliplox.

colorized photos of George Bump from 1916 and 1930

George Bump started production of the Bump Paper Fasteners in 1910 in Newton, Iowa. The first fully-functional prototype of his fastener was completed on May 14, 1909 and by the next year manufacturing began. Sometime in 1910 Bump moved operations to La Crosse, Wisconsin and in 1919 built his own factory at 1830 West Ave S, La Crosse, Wisconsin. It would remain at the location until 1956 when it finally closed.

1927 colorized newspaper photo of Bump factory

When the company was first formed in 1909 it was named the Bump Perfected Paper Fastener Co. On April 20, 1914 it changed names to the Bump Paper Fastener Co. In 1930 the Bump Manufacturing Co was formed covering all of the different products being produced by that time but the Bump Paper Fastener was always stamped with “Bump Paper Fastener Co”. It was at this time another corporation purchased Bump Paper Fastener with George Bump no longer the owner of the business or patents.

During its entire production run, three models of the fastener were produced. The first model was the “model 00” which is an open plier-type which, when first introduced, had vines inscribed onto the sides of the handles. The “model 2”, a desk model, is known to have been in production in 1912. And finally, the “model 1”. The model 1 was first advertised in 1915.

Bump Paper Fasteners were advertised from 1910 to 1954. When introduced, the model 00 was $1.50 which in 2024 equates to about $50. This would have been considered a major office investment for an item like a paper fastener.

The following are the different models produced by the Bump Paper Fastener Co.

Model 00, version A

advertised from 1910 to 1912
measures 6.5 inches long by 3.7 inches high by .6 inches wide
weighs 6.2 ounces
made of 100% steel
vine decoration on handles, rondel decoration inscribed on center pivot pin, no other markings

Model 00, version B

advertised from 1927 to 1950, although almost definitely this version was available prior to 1927
measures 6.5 inches long by 3.2 inches high by .6 inches wide
weighs 6.3 ounces
made of 100% steel
inscribed on bottom PATD. 6-24-13
inscribed on top BUMP PAPER FASTENER CO. LA CROSSE WIS U.S.A.

Model 1

advertised from 1915 to 1946, but likely produced to end of the company
measures 5.5 inches long by 2.75 inches high by .7 inches wide
weighs 6.6 ounces
made of 100% steel
inscribed on top THE BUMP PAPER FASTENER CO. LA CROSSE, WIS U.S.A. PAT’D JULY 21:14
earlier models had the company info on one side of the body and a logo on the other (see below)
later models had the company info on both sides of the body

Model 2, version A

advertised from 1912 to 1915, but may have been introduced a year or two earlier
made of 100% steel

Model 2, version B

advertised from 1916 to 1954, but may have been introduced a year or two earlier
made of 100% steel
measures 3.75 inches long by 4 inches high by 2 inches wide
weighs 10.2 ounces
includes a quarter inch paper punch on the rear of the fastener which is actuated by using the same plunger handle
inscribed on front BUMP PAPER FASTENER CO LA CROSSE, WIS U.S.A. PATENTS PENDING. No other inscriptions
early models nickel plated, later models chrome plated
starting in late 1930’s, when the U.S. government started rationing metals like nickel and chromium, Bump started making the plunger handle black and eventually anodized the entire item in black. After the war it went back to being chrome plated.

Model 1 Logos

Logo A

This logo was known to be used in 1915 and 1916.

Logo B

This logo was first seen in advertisements in 1916 and was used in all advertisements through the 1950’s. As the model 1 itself never changed the fact that this logo was used in advertisements was likely just a cost saving measure. It is unknown, however, when it stopped being used on the actual fastener.

Logo C

The use of this logo on both sides of the fastener was done in later years. However, it was used in conjunction with logo B with logo B one side and logo C on the other for the entire run where logo B was used.

Besides the various court cases the Bump Paper Fastener was involved in, there are other stories of interest. A check payable to the company was amongst many of the articles recovered from the wreck of the Titanic. The bank reissued the check to them for payment once they received the original. A Bump Fastener was taken on the 1928 expedition to Antarctica by Admiral Byrd. It was sent back to the company and they asked for a new one which the company honored. The fastener was said to be an excellent device and worked admirably throughout. It is unknown what happened to the Antarctic Expedition’s original fastener unfortunately.

George P. Bump was born on May 14, 1869. He died in Dakota, Minnesota on February 19, 1947 at the age of 77. He was a true pioneer who’s idea didn’t just fade away in the 1950s, but lives on today in the multitude of similar fasteners made since the 1960s. Bump-type fasteners are still made and sold today everywhere.

Patent and Other Information:

Patent 1009644 Method of Fastening Paper Sheets and the Like (filed 05/14/1909, granted 11/21/1911
Patent 1065903 Fastening Device (filed 05/14/1909, granted 06/24/1913)
Patent 1104622 Machine for Fastening Paper or Like Sheets Together (filed 05/05/1913, granted 07/21/1914) improvement on patent 1104622 as stated

Notes:

Continental Art Co, (1910, April 30), advertisement, Saturday Evening Post, page 38
Editors, (1910, March), A New Paper Fastener, Office Appliances, page 110
Editors, (1915, August 28), Bump’s New Paper Fastener, The American Stationer, page 16
Bump Paper Fastener Co, (1922, February), advertisement, The American Stationer, page 206
Editors, (1927, June 26), Paper Fastener Advertises City Internationally, La Crosse Tribune and Leader Press, page 11
Editors, (1927, January), Something From Nothing, Geyer’s Stationer, page 240
Editors, (1929, August 25), Bump Paper Fasteners Advertise In All Provinces of the Globe, La Crosse Tribune and Leader Press, page 7
Editors, (1930, August 3), Corporation Takes Over George P. Bump Paper Fastener Firm, La Crosse Tribune and Leader Press, pages 1 & 6
Editors, (1930, August 3), Story of Bump Paper Fastener Combination of Romance, Struggle, La Crosse Tribune and Leader Press, pages 1 & 6
Sam’l Dodsworth Stationery Co Catalog, (1932), Kansas City, MO, page 32
Utility Supply Co Catalog, (1940), Kansas City, MO, page 331
Editors, (1947, February 20), George P. Bump, 77, Dies at Dakota, The Winona Republican-Herald, page 7
Utility Supply Co Catalog, (1948), Kansas City, MO, page 388
Frank A. Weeks Mfg Co Catalog, (1954), New York, NY, page 246
Editors, (2005, January 31), Ask the Trib, La Crosse Tribune, Section B
Editors, (2019, October 12), Bump paper fastener a Midwest innovation, La Crosse Tribune, page C3

Visit me at https://www.facebook.com/groups/americanstationer and let’s get all nerdy about office stuff 🙂

If you enjoy the American Stationer consider purchasing one of my books at Amazon.

You’ll get one-of-a-kind references and information you won’t find anywhere else and you’ll help me keep American Stationer going.

Image

Check Out the New Merch Store

09 Tuesday Jan 2024

Tags

merch, merchandise, sale, sell, store, tshirt

their stapler is boring and dull…

a stapler that will make your TPS reports proud

a small sample of the designs you can find in the shop

Check out our new merch store! Above are just a few of the many designs you can get. Now available are men’s and women’s t-shirts, mugs, stickers and much more! Many different designs and growing daily.

Posted by AmericanStationer | Filed under Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Markwell Staple Chief RF3 Stapler

22 Sunday Oct 2023

Posted by AmericanStationer in Staplers

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

chief, markwell, rf3, staple, stapler, vintage

Markwell Staple Chief RF3 wm

The Markwell Staple Chief RF3 is a stapler from a company that very few ever give much thought to. I think the reason that Markwell fasteners don’t receive much love from collectors and those putting together a vintage office was their insistence on using proprietary sized and shaped staples. While built to last, the difficulty in finding staples is a major drawback to their overall collectability.

The Staple Chief is the half-size sibling to the Staple Master. Similar in every way except in a smaller package. The Staple Chief has a capacity of approximately 100 staples or a half strip. It is capable of permanent clinching and pinning simply by sliding the anvil forward or backwards. It can also be used as a tacker when separated from the base. It uses Markwell’s RF staples which are of a proprietary size.

Measuring 6.5 inches long by 1.8 inches wide by 3.6 inches high, this model weighs in at 14.2 ounces empty. It is an all-steel stapler and came in two finishes, chrome plated and in black crackle. It has two rubber pads on the bottom to protect desk surfaces.

The Staple Chief is a front loading stapler. To refill, unclip the gate on the front and simply slide your staples in. The lever on the side is used to remove staples. Lean the stapler forward while holding down the lever and any staples will slide out.

1939 newspaper ad

The first known advertisements for this model were in 1939. It was heavily advertised and available from office suppliers through 1954. By 1955 the Staple Chief was being advertised as a clearance item and no longer available from suppliers.

1946 newspaper ad

Markwell sold quality fasteners and this model is no exception. These were manufactured for Markwell by Bostitch who were also known for their high quality staplers. The most likely culprit for the Staple Chief’s demise was the high manufacturing cost and Markwell’s having other half strip models which cost less and were more competitive.

Notes:

Sherman County Times, (1939, August 23), advertisement, Sherman County Times, page 2
Editors, (1939, February), Markwell Adds “Staple Chief” to Line, Office Appliances, page 39
Utility Office Supply Catalog, (1945), Chicago, IL, page 389
St Edward Advance, (1946, August 15), advertisement, St Edward Advance, page 2
Latta’s School Supply Catalog, (1948), Cedar Falls, IA, page 80
Outlook Stationery Store, (1950, June 16), advertisement, The Alexander City Outlook, page 6
Hester’s Office Supply Co, (1954, September 12), advertisement, Avalanche Journal, page 3
Valley Office Supply Co, (1955, February 21), advertisement, The Bakersfield Californian, page 7

Visit me at https://www.facebook.com/groups/americanstationer and let’s get all nerdy about office stuff 🙂

If you enjoy the American Stationer consider purchasing one of my books at Amazon.

You’ll get one-of-a-kind references and information you won’t find anywhere else and you’ll help me keep American Stationer going.

Arrow Commander Stapler

25 Sunday Jun 2023

Posted by AmericanStationer in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Introduced in early 1940 by the Arrow Fastener Co, the Commander is a simple, pressed steel stapler. It was specifically designed to be manufactured quickly and inexpensively. This can be directly attributed to the US entering World War II and the rationing of metals.

The Arrow Commander measures 5 inches long by 1.725 inches wide by 3.2 inches high. Empty, the Commander weighs a slim 8 ounces. It is made of 100% steel with pressed parts for ease of manufacturing. The Commander uses standard size staples and can load a half strip in the magazine. On the rear of the base are two ears through which is a bolt with a knurled edge. By removing this you can use the stapler to tack.

1940 newspaper ad

In the early years, the Commander came in two colors: red and blue. These had painted bases and plunger caps with the body being polished steel. Later it was also released in brown except now the body was also painted. All models of the Commander were inscribed on the bottom of the base with;

MFG. BY

ARROW FASTENER, INC

NEW YORK, N.Y.

PAT. PEND.

however, while a patent was likely submitted it doesn’t seem to have ever been granted.

The Arrow Commander was advertised from 1940 to 1957. That’s a pretty good run considering the post-war competition of other staplers. While the Commander was available for 17 years, they are not as common as you would think. Also, due to the materials used many of them now found are in rough shape.

While the Commander was made from simple pressed steel and an underwhelming paint job, it’s overall quality was quite good. If you find one, they often need work to make them useful and will almost definitely suffer cosmetically. However, they are in actuality a great little stapler.

1957 newspaper ad

Notes:

Liggett’s, (1940, April 4), advertisement, Boston Globe, page 14
Liggett’s, (1941, March 5), advertisement, Alton Evening Telegraph, page 14
Wallace, (1948, April 23), advertisement, The Blizzard, page 3
Fringelin’s Stationery Shop, (1949, September 19), advertisement, Transcript-Telegram, page 4
Branch & Chambers, (1954, February 26), advertisement, Hartford Morning Journal, page 24
Pay-N-Save Drugs, (1957, August 28), advertisement, The Edmonton Journal, page 8

Visit me at Facebook and let’s get all nerdy about office stuff 🙂

If you enjoy the American Stationer consider purchasing one of my books at Amazon.

You’ll get one-of-a-kind references and information you won’t find anywhere else and you’ll help me keep American Stationer going.

Giftcraft Shop-N-Add

30 Sunday Oct 2022

Posted by AmericanStationer in Adding Machines, Calculators

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

adder, adding machine, gift craft, giftcraft, shop-n-add, vintage

shop n add pic wm sm

The Giftcraft Shop-N-Add is the first of a small number of three digit dial-adders that were popular for a short time in the late 1950’s. These were marketed almost exclusively towards women since, I assume, men never go shopping. This is a “handbag accessory” adding machine that can help “her” track grocery items and its “purse size” makes it easy to carry. Although, to be fair, it was also stated that this would be useful for students.

The Shop-N-Add is a basic three dial adder with automatic carry. Subtraction can be done on this by simply turning the dials counter-clockwise but complements aren’t posted on the face. When sold, this came as part of a set that included a Shopping Index that was cleverly designed with most common grocery items so that you could easily track what you needed.

Shopping Index

The Shop-N-Add and the Shopping Index were both made from pressed steel. They came in two colors, black and gold (see photos above). The Shop-N-Add measures 2.7 inches in length by 1.9 inches wide by 0.3 inches in height and weighs 2 ounces with the stylus included.

The set of the adder and index was advertised from 1955 to 1957. By 1957 you see it mostly being offered as a clearance item. The Shopping Index was sold separately though from 1954.

1955 Oct Green Bay Press Gazette ad wm sm

1955 Newspaper Ad

This type of adder was popular for a short time. By the 1960’s you start seeing plastic manual adding machines that can be used with one hand and these ended up dominating the market for some time. However, if you’re a collector of mechanical calculators and adding machines this is really a must-have.

Patent and Other Information:

Instructions for Shop-N-Add

Notes:

Macy’s, (1954, November 22), advertisement, San Francisco Examiner, page 15
Jones, (1954, December 8), advertisement, The Kansas City Times, page 7
Pah-low’s, (1955, October 12), advertisement, The Green Bay Press Gazette, page 2
S-Silver, (1955, November 30), advertisement, The Bridgeport Telegram, page 12
Grozow’s, (1955, December 12), advertisement, The Kansas City Times, page 8
Pah-low’s, (1956, July 12), advertisement, The Green Bay Press Gazette, page 2
Dayton’s, (1956, November 25), advertisement, Star Tribune, page 5
Pah-low’s, (1955, October 12), advertisement, The Green Bay Press Gazette, page 2
Dayton’s, (1957, August 8), advertisement, The Minneapolis Star, page 2B

Visit me at https://www.facebook.com/groups/americanstationer and let’s get all nerdy about office stuff 🙂

If you enjoy the American Stationer consider purchasing one of my books at Amazon.

You’ll get one-of-a-kind references and information you won’t find anywhere else and you’ll help me keep American Stationer going.

Greenfield Automatic Fastener (Wire)

10 Wednesday Aug 2022

Posted by AmericanStationer in Staplers

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

antique, fastener, greenfield, jones, stapler, wire

Greenfield Automatic Fastener Wire wm sm

In 1894 The Greenfield Automatic Fastener Company released the Greenfield Automatic Fastener. While seemingly a new and revolutionary idea, this could probably be best attributed as being evolutionary rather than revolutionary. In the mid to late 19th century most stapling machines worked by only loading and using one pre-formed staple at a time. What Greenfield has done is take technology used by the publishing industry and converted it to a small, usable form.

Wire stitching was used by book binders, et al, and consisted of large, complicated machines, usually foot-driven. Greenfield shrunk the mechanics and designed a desk sized machine that would fasten small stacks of paper with what is a modern staple.

Made of iron, steel, zinc, and with a wooden spool the Greenfield Fastener was both ingenious and simple, but most of all it was well-built and could stand up to the rigors of everyday use. The one I have in my collection works fine after 128 years! With the spool the fastener weighs 2 pounds and measures 5 inches long by 2.5 inches wide by 5 inches high.

A full spool for the Greenfield Fastener could make 1,200 staples using 25 gauge steel wire and would have been an incredible bargain. The staples it made were very close in size to a modern standard staple with a crown size of 0.42 inches compared to the 0.50 inches of a modern staple. The one odd thing with this was that it made staples in a vertical position as opposed to the horizontal as most do and have historically done.

1894 Hartford Courant Ad wm sm — 1894 newspaper ad

Edwin Greenfield applied for, and was granted, a patent for this device in 1894. It was being marketed while the patent was being granted and was discussed in many various industry publications. It was also well-advertised in this year. However, 1894 is the only year that this was manufactured and distributed as in 1895 Jones Manufacturing Company became the successor to the Greenfield Automatic Fastener Company. In 1895 Jones Manufacturing would release the Greenfield Automatic Pin-Fastener based on this same technology.

Edwin Greenfield wm — Edwin T. Greenfield

As this fastener didn’t use pre-formed staples, but instead formed them from strands of steel wire, the mechanics were a bit more involved than with your usual stapler. If you look at figure 1, you can immediately see the difference.

Greenfield Automatic Fastener Wire Up wm sm — figure 1

Figure 2 below shows the stapling mechanism up close. The way it works is that when you depress the plunger handle several things happen simultaneously:

The plungers (in red) move downward cutting the wire on both ends
The plunger push the wire over the staple forming mandrel making a staple
While the plunger is moving downward the mandrel is being moved into the enclosure so that the staple can then be pushed through the paper and onto the anvil
the staple ends strike the anvil and are clinched inward – and your papers are stapled!

Greenfield Automatic Fastener Wire Up Closeup wm sm — figure 2: stapling mechanism shown artificially colored for clarity

The wire is fed via a ratcheting system where you lift the body about 95 degrees. This feeds another strip of wire. There is a groove on the bottom of each piece of the plunger and on top of the mandrel to keep the wire straight.

Pages from Hardware Dealers Magazine 1894 October wm sm — 1894 magazine article

It’s unfortunate that this fastener only had one year of availability as it could potentially have become the primary way to fasten documents as opposed to strip or magazine staplers. It was well-built, could make upwards of 1,200 staples without reloading, used inexpensive wire spools, and was relatively easy to load. If you’ve ever tried to load the wire on Bates Models A through D staplers you know how important that is.

Patent and Other Information:

Patent 520734 Book-Stapling Machine (filed 01/02/1894, granted 05/29/1894)

Notes:

Editors, (1894, May), The Greenfield Automatic Fastener, The Electrical Age, Page 226
Editors, (1894, June), Automatic Fastener, The American Stationer, Page 1222
Plimpton Manufacturing Co, (1894, June 11), advertisement, The Hartford Daily Courant, page 10
Editors, (1894, June), The Greenfield Automatic Fastener, The Iron Age, Page 1257
Editors, (1894, June), The Greenfield Automatic Fastener, The Manufacturer and Builder, Page 138
Editors, (1894, July), A New Automatic Fastener, The Inland Printer, Page 372
Scrantom, Westmore & Co, (1894, October 23), advertisement, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, page 9
Editors, (1894, October), Automatic Fastener or Binder, The Hardware Dealer, Page 229

Visit me at https://www.facebook.com/groups/americanstationer and let’s get all nerdy about office stuff 🙂

If you enjoy the American Stationer consider purchasing one of my books at Amazon.

You’ll get one-of-a-kind references and information you won’t find anywhere else and you’ll help me keep American Stationer going.

Swingline Model 333 Stapler

12 Sunday Jun 2022

Posted by AmericanStationer in Staplers

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

333, stapler, swingline, vintage

Swingline 333 Deluxe Stapler Brown wm sm

In the late 1950s/early 1960s the big stapler companies each released deluxe staplers. It started with the Bostitch model B12 in 1958, then the Arrow model 210 in 1960, and finally the Swingline model 333 in 1963. While Swingline was a bit late to the party they seemed to have used that time well as they produced one of the best looking staplers ever made.

The model 333 was released in two versions, the Executive model and the Deluxe model. The difference between the two was in the handle top. The Executive model 333 had a handle in smooth enamel while the Deluxe model came in either woodgrain or Moroccan. Moroccan was a very thin layer of leather-type material attached to the top of the handle while woodgrain was a process wherein Swingline made the top look like walnut.

Swingline 333 top comparison v2 wm sm

There was also another version of the Executive model numbered the model 333G. This was the standard Executive model except that instead of having chrome plating was gold plated.

The Executive model was available in ebony (black), brown, grey, and topaz (beige). The Deluxe model was only available in ebony (black) and brown.

The 333 is made of steel and plastic. It measures 2 inches wide by 2.5 inches high by 8 inches long. It holds a full-strip of standard staples and is rated at 20 pages. There is a sliding anvil that allows for both pin and permanent clinches.

1963 newspaper ad

First advertised in 1963, the 333 was last advertised in 1989. As a deluxe stapler it was more expensive than Swingline’s other offerings of the time. During the 26 years it was available it underwent no noticeable changes, but there are some to look for if you’re trying to determine a timeframe for your stapler.

swingline 333 bottom v1 wm sm

For the earliest version, the bottom of the body is inscribed “Swingline Inc. Long Island City 1, NY”. The “1” after Long Island City denotes a city postal zone. This was the system in use before the current zip code system. While zip codes were introduced in 1963 it likely took several years for Swingline to update the engraving. On the bottom of the base is inscribed three patents. This oldest version weighs in at 1 pound 4.8 ounces.

swingline 333 bottom v2 wm sm

The second version has nearly the same inscription as the earlier one, but now has the zip code instead of a city postal zone. The bottom of the base is inscribed with three patents plus “& FOREIGN PATS.” This version weighs in at 1 pound 3.3 ounces.

swingline 333 bottom v3 wm sm

This third version has the same inscription as the second except for the addition of a six symbol alphanumeric code stamped beside it. The bottom of the base is inscribed with three patents plus “& FOREIGN PATS.” This version weighs in at 1 pound 2.7 ounces.

1967 newspaper ad

1977 newspaper ad

1989 newspaper ad

The Swingline model 333 is a great example of mid-century modern design. It is of better build quality than the average Swingline model and will give many years of service. For those putting together a vintage MCM styled office this is a must have accessory.

Swingline 333 Executive Stapler Brown wm sm

Patent and Other Information:

Patent 2424649 Stapling Machine (filed 06/07/1937, granted 07/29/1947)
Patent 3144653 Stapling Machine (filed 09/19/1962, granted 08/18/1964)
Patent D192544 Stapling Machine or Similar Article (filed 04/10/1961, granted 04/03/1962)

Notes:

Ivan Allen, (1963, September 23), advertisement, The Macon Telegraph, page 7
Swingline, Inc., (1963), catalog, Swingline Staplers & Staples, Long Island City, NY
Wosco Catalog, (1963), Greensburg, PA, page 5
McDonald, Stingel and Bush Office Supply Catalog (1964), Saginaw, MI, page 350
Northern Office Suppliers, (1967, March 2), advertisement, Petosky News-Review, page 9
Arrow Office Supply Co Catalog, (1969), Chicago, IL, page 187
Union Paper & Supply Co Catalog, (1974), Wilkes-Barre, PA, page 57
Shirley Office Supply Catalog, (1975), Pennsauken, NJ, page 199
Pembroke’s, (1977, May 31), advertisement, Salt Lake Tribune, page 5
Hartford Office Supply Catalog, (1982), Hartford, CT, pages 144-145
Sam’s Office Furniture, (1989, February 28), advertisement, Tyler Courier-Times, page 8

Visit me at https://www.facebook.com/groups/americanstationer and let’s get all nerdy about office stuff 🙂

If you enjoy the American Stationer consider purchasing one of my books at Amazon.

You’ll get one-of-a-kind references and information you won’t find anywhere else and you’ll help me keep American Stationer going.

Wilson-Jones T-155 Buddy Stapler

01 Tuesday Mar 2022

Posted by AmericanStationer in Staplers

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

ace, att, buddy, jones, stapler, T-155, tatum, vintage, wilson, wilson-jones

Tatum Buddy T-155 v1 wm sm

In the 1950s the Wilson-Jones Company decided to go all-in on the stapler market by introducing a number of generally low cost fasteners. And while they had some success in doing this probably their most successful stapler was the Tatum Buddy.

First advertised in 1953, the original Buddy stapler was a low cost, no frills, stapler that provided good value. It was solid enough for regular office use yet inexpensive enough to purchase for home use. The design, although patented, could best be described as basic. But that’s ok as that is exactly what this is, a basic stapler.

1954 newspaper ad

The Buddy is an all steel half-strip stapler that uses standard size staples. One of the ways it originally saved manufacturing costs was by not having an anvil. The anvil is generally a chrome-plated or polished steel plate fastened to the front of a stapler and which has grooves to fold the staple legs when you press down on the handle. What the Buddy has instead is simply two indents molded onto the base thereby using the base itself as the anvil. When you look at one of these today you will notice that in every one there will be scratches and paint loss in this area of the base due to this.

This was first advertised in 1953 and available at least until 1964. In 1969 the Buddy was again being advertised although now it was being sold by Ace Fastener. Ace Fastener advertised the Buddy until 1976, When introduced this was available in gold, green, grey, gunmetal (dark grey), red, yellow, and beige. However, while the body was generally chrome-plated this was also available in gold-plate. Gold plate was an odd choice for such a basic stapler.

1956 newspaper ad

There were three total variants for the Buddy. While the differences between v1 and v2 are readily noted, the difference between v2 and v3 is simply the inscription on the side. The following shows what to look for.

Tatum Buddy T-155 v1 side wm sm

version 1

length: 5 inches
width: 1.4 inches
height: 1.9 inches
weight: 6 oz
anvil: no
side inscription: Tatum
patents listed: 1

Tatum Buddy T-155 v2 side wm sm

version 2

length: 3.8125 inches
width: 1.8 inches
height: 2 inches
weight: 7.5 oz
anvil: yes
side inscription: Tatum Buddy
patents listed: 2

Tatum Buddy T-155 v3 side wm sm

version 3

length: 3.8125 inches
width: 1.8 inches
height: 2 inches
weight: 7.5 oz
anvil: yes
side inscription: Buddy
patents listed: 2

The Buddy Stapler produced by Ace Fastener is identical to version 3 with the only difference being that “ACE FASTENER CO” is inscribed on the bottom of the base instead of Wilson-Jones and the model number was now No 155 instead of No T-155.

1958 newspaper ad

1960 newspaper ad

1964 newspaper ad

While Wilson-Jones officially became a company in October of 1913, it’s history starts long before that. The Chicago Shipping & Receipt Book Co was founded in 1896 in Chicago, IL and in 1899 Ralph B. Wilson took over control of the company.

By all accounts Ralph Wilson was a formidable individual. Oddly however, he began his adult life working for the circus hanging leaflets and other such work. But by the age of 29 he had become a business owner.

Ralph B Wilson wm sm

IMPORTANT DATES IN WILSON-JONES HISTORY

Chicago Shipping & Receipt Book Co founded in 1896
Ralph Wilson took over the Chicago Shipping & Receipt Book Co in 1899
Jones Improved Loose Leaf Specialty Co founded by Harvey T. Jones in 1899
In October 1913 Chicago Shipping & Receipt Book Co purchased the Jones Loose Leaf Specialty Co and changed names to Wilson-Jones Loose Leaf Co with Ralph Wilson as President and Treasurer
Wilson-Jones accepts Swingline’s offer to purchase stock in the company in 1958
Swingline gained full ownership of Wilson-Jones in 1963
In 1986 American Brands acquires ACCO
In 1987 American Brands merged ACCO with Swingline
Wilson-Jones is currently part of ACCO Brands

version 3 box

Tatum Staples T501 box wm sm

Patent and Other Information:

Patent D164376 Hand Stapler or Similar Article (filed 08/29/1950, granted 08/28/1951)
Patent D161851 Staple Driver or Similar Article (filed 08/29/1950, granted 02/06/1951)
How to Use and How to Reload Your Wilson-Jones Stapler brochure
Fastens Closes Fixes As Easy As Snapping Your Fingers brochure

Notes:

Editors, (1913, October), C.S. & R.B-Wilson Combine, The American Stationer, page 6
Editors, (1913, October), Western Loose Leaf Firms Consolidate, Geyer’s Stationer, page 41
Wilson-Jones Loose Leaf Co (1920, June), advertisement, Office Appliances, page 75
Editors, (1920, October), Wilson-Jones Company Reorganize, Office Appliances, page 28
Crown Drug Stores, (1953, August 27), advertisement, The Leavenworth Times, page 17
Sears, Roebuck & Co, (1954, January 3), advertisement, San Francisco Examiner, page 26
Corrick’s, (1956, June 17), advertisement. Press Democrat, page 5A
Weaver’s, (1958, February 3), advertisement. The Sheboygan Press, page 13
Weaver’s, (1960, July 25), advertisement, The Sheboygan Press, page 3
The Missouri Herald, (1964, April 2), advertisement, The Missouri Herald, page 4
McDonald, Stingel and Bush Office Supply Catalog, (1964), Saginaw, MI, page 355

Help support the American Stationer. The site really needs your help in order to stay alive. Please become a supporting patron by subscribing to our Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/americanstationer.

Visit me at https://www.facebook.com/groups/americanstationer and let’s get all nerdy about office stuff 🙂

If you enjoy the American Stationer consider purchasing one of my books at Amazon.

You’ll get one-of-a-kind references and information you won’t find anywhere else and you’ll help me keep American Stationer going.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

version 1

version 2

version 3

IMPORTANT DATES IN WILSON-JONES HISTORY

Share this: