Arguably one of the most successful stapler designs ever, today’s vintage item is the Neva-Clog model S100 plier stapler. Billed throughout the 1930’s as the “first successful portable fastening device ever made”, the model S100 was an extremely high-quality fastener that was widely used in many industries and not just in an office setting. There are many examples of these being used in shops, farms, leather-working, florists, shipping rooms and such which showcases their utility and durability.
The model S100 measures 7.125″ L x 0.875″ W x 4″ H and weighs 10 ounces empty. It is made of polished steel with not a speck of plastic anywhere to be found. It uses special-sized A1000 or L1000 Neva-Clog staples.
front and rear views of box of A1000 staples
The S100 was one of the successors to the model 100 which was made from approximately 1926 until 1936. The model 100 was nearly identical to the model S100 with only minor differences. In 1936 the Model 100 was split into several different models differentiated by the type of work to be done. The first mention of the S100 was in 1936 as an office-use stapler. Other models introduced this year based on the model 100 were the B100, F100 and M100. The uses of these models were described as follows:
- B100 – heavy duty model
- F100 – florist and shipping room model
- M100 – mattress model (yes, they made a stapler specifically for construction of mattresses)
- S100 – office use model
The basic patents behind the model 100, and by extension the above models, are patent 1654170 and patent 1836944. Patent 1654170 was filed 02/19/26 and granted 12/27/27 to F.G. Hubbard and assigned to Neva-Clog Products Inc. Patent 1836944 was filed 06/20/29 and granted 12/15/31 to Max Vogel and assigned to Neva-Clog Products Inc.
The model S100 was sold from 1936 until at least 1983. However, they were very likely sold and available for a longer time.
Neva-Clog Products was started in 1921 by Max Vogel and incorporated in January 1925. The Neva-Clog trademark expired and was not renewed in 1987. By 1990 the state of Connecticut shows them as no longer a corporation. The last known “registered agent” of Neva-Clog Products Inc was Kurt Vogel, one of Max Vogel’s sons. Neva-Clog Products seems to have been in business at least until 1983 as models were still being sold by office suppliers and marketed by Neva-Clog which means that we can reasonably date the end of Neva-Clog between 1983 and 1987.
Want to know more about the S100 or Neva-Clog? Purchase Staplers, Stapling Machines, & Paper Fasteners Volume 2: Neva-Clog by American Stationer and available on Amazon.
Patent Information:
Notes:
- Wascher’s Office Supplies & Stationery (1936), Champaign, IL page 211
- Utility Supply Co (1936), Chicago, IL page 172
- Union Stationery Corp (1941), New York, NY page 171
- Utility Supply Co (1942), Chicago, IL page 391
- Horder’s Office Supplies (1961), Chicago, IL
- Royalco Office Products Catalog (1974), Toledo, OH page 451
- “Neva-Clog Products Incorporated”, Connecticut Companies Index , n.d., web, April 6, 2014
Special Thanks:
To Mark, the curator of the Early Office Museum website for scanning and sharing with me pages from several office supply catalogs in his references. Those, along with my own catalog references, helped me to be much more accurate in determining the dates the S100 was available.
American Stationer 
I have one of the 1926 to 1936 S100 staplers that was used for the GC MURPHY COMP outside Pittsburgh PA. I used to manage a Murphy Var. store in Anna ILL back in 1976. It was there that I obtained the stapler when the store closed down. I still use it. Works great. A wonderful product.
CLIFF FARLEY
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Reblogged this on Chirpy's Blog.
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I had one of these in my possession
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So fun to come across this! Thanks for sharing your research. We have a NevaClog J-30. My husband’s great uncle was Kurt Vogel.
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I too have an S-100 model but not sure when it was manufactured. Was used in a dry cleaners shop in Montreal Canada to staple tags on clothing that was to be dry cleaned. I was 5 years old when I remember playing with it in my father’s shop, I am 66 today. My father opened his shop in 1959 and prior to this, he work from home but I can’t say when he got it.
When he closed up the shop, I was 12, and I kept the stapler as a reminder, a reminder to what, I have no idea, but I still use it today for my paperwork here at home.
Maybe when I die, this item should go to a museum, I am sure an immigration museum might be interested.
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