Sengbusch No. 55 Self-Closing Inkstand

Tags

antique, ink, inkstand, inkwell, milwaukee, self-closing, sengbusch, stand, vintage, well

Sengbusch No. 55

If you’ve ever gone looking for antique or vintage office items, whether online, in antique stores, or whatnot, one of the items that you will run into time and again are ink wells and ink stands.  Now, ball point pens have been available for quite a number of decades now and fountain pens have been in use for centuries.  What these types of pens have in common is that they both contain their ink internally in the pen casing.  Prior to these technologies the only way to put ink to paper was with a dip pen.  And just as the name implies you would dip the pen nib into a specially made container that you would keep on your desk and that would be filled with ink.  Now dip pens at the end of the 19th and into the 20th century lived very comfortably alongside fountain pens.  Dip pens had some advantages over the fountain pens of the time, advantages such as simplicity of parts, ease of use, and inexpensiveness to name just a few.

If you examine most ink wells you’ll note that they are often essentially just a small bottle with a non-airtight removable cap.  You open the cap, dip your pen, and write. However, because these wells weren’t airtight and were often kept open for long stretches of time, it wasn’t unusual for the ink to accumulate dust and grit, evaporate as liquids are wont to do, and most dreadfully, spill all over your desk, your work, and your clothes if you were careless.

illustration demonstrating how the Sengbusch self-closing inkstand works

A man named Gustav Sengbusch was also well-aware of all of the shortcomings with ink wells and in 1902 filed two patent applications for self-closing ink wells.  These two patents, along with many, many others in the following years, formed the basis of the company he started; the Sengbusch Self-Closing Inkstand Company.

Over the years Sengbusch released a number of different ink wells and ink stands but one of the earliest and longest manufactured was the No. 55.

The No. 55 measured 3.25″ x 3.0625″ and weighed 1 lb and 4 oz.  It was constructed of pressed glass and hard rubber or plastic.  I can find specific references to the No. 55 as early as 1915 and as late as 1955.  However, it is my opinion that it would have been available a year or two earlier and likely produced until Sengbusch Self-Closing Inkstand Co. went out of business.

Because the No. 55 was made for such a long period of time it can be very difficult to date one.  One way is to look at the outer plastic top.  If there are patent dates on this then it will have been manufactured after the latest patent date.  However, sometime around the late 1920’s all patent information seems to no longer have been inscribed on these tops and instead started having only Sengbusch or Sengbusch USA inscribed.  Another way to date these is by the type of plastic material used in the construction of the self-closing mechanism and cap.  These parts were made of hard rubber until at least 1946 but by 1955 they started being made of hard plastic.

ad from March 30, 1905

Information on Gustav “Gus” Sengbusch and the Sengbusch Self-Closing Inkstand Company is sparse to say the least.  The earliest specific reference I can find to the Sengbusch Self-Closing Inkstand Co. is from March 30, 1905.  The latest specific reference I have found is from 1966 but this reference was from a periodical about radios, another product that Sengbusch was known for.  That means that this company was in existence from at least 1905 until 1966.   However, the 1966 reference was in regards to a still very active company, not one going out of business.  It seems fair to assume that the Sengbusch Self-Closing Inkstand Co. was in business until at least the 1970’s (see note 1).  Sengbusch was located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for its entire existence.  Sengbusch started out at 885 11th Street and in 1906 moved to the Montgomery Building.  In 1912 they were located in the Stroh Building and by 1938 they were in the Sengbusch Building.

The Sengbusch Self-Closing Inkstand Co. wasn’t only known for its inkwells.  They also manufactured radios, dip pens, pen nibs, paper sorters, ink stands, a mucilage (glue) applicator and the Ideal Moistener.  These last two items were brought under the Sengbusch umbrella in 1916 when the Ideal Moistener Co. of Findlay, Ohio was acquired by Sengbusch.  The Ideal Moistener was one of Sengbusch’s most successful products.

The Sengbusch ink stands were very successful and many businesses purchased these.  Some of their customers include:

• American Car & Foundry Co
• Baldwin Locomotive Works
• Bell Telephone System
• Board of Education Bloomington, IL
• Carnegie Steel
• DuPont Powder Co
• Equitable Life Assurance
• Ford Motor Co
• International Harvester
• Northern Life Insurance
• Northwestern Insurance Co
• N.W. Mutual Life Insurance Co
• Oregon Short Line Railway
• Pacific Telephone and Telegraph
• Pierce-Arrow Motor Co
• Prudential Insurance
• Red Wing Minnesota Public Schools
• Southern Express Co
• Standard Oil Co
• Swift & Co
• United Shoe Machinery Co
• US Navy
• Western Union Telegraph Co

Sengbusch ads also mention that hundreds of banks, state capitols, business houses, and government offices all used Sengbusch self-closing inkstands.

picture from a 1919 industry magazine showing a Sengbusch-themed window display

ad from 1922 industry magazine

Patent and Other Information:

• Sengbusch No. 55 Inkstand Directions
• 726194 Inkstand
• 726195 Ink Well
• 841345 Ink Well

Notes:

1. The Pen Collectors of America publish a fantastic newsletter titled the Pennant. In their fall 2009 newsletter William J. Cowell Jr. published a great article titled “An Inkwell and a Mystery”.  Cowell gives a lot of information about Gustav Sengbusch and the Sengbusch Self-Closing Inkstand Co. and while he mentions some of his sources in passing he doesn’t list them.  This means that I can’t independently verify his facts.  That’s not to imply I think his information is incorrect, far from it.  But since I cannot verify them I felt it prudent not to use this article as a reference.  However, I feel that it is of enough import that I greatly encourage you to seek this out and read the article if you’re interested in the Sengbusch Self-Closing Inkstand Company. While you’re at it, think about joining the PCA.
2. Sengbusch Self-Closing Inkstand Co. (1905, March). advertisement. Geyer’s Stationer, page 16
3. Editors (1909, March 25). Sengbusch Inkstand Factory Enlarged. Geyer’s Stationer, p. 10
4. Editors (1913, February 13). The “Sengbusch” Self-Closing Ink Stand. Geyer’s Stationer, p. 13
5. P. Burnap Stationery & Printing Co Catalog (1915), Kansas City, MO, page 144
6. Editors (1916, June 1). “Gus” Sengbusch Is Spreading Out. Geyer’s Stationer, p. 10
7. Sengbusch Self-Closing Inkstand Co. (1916, June). advertisement. Geyer’s Stationer, page 25
8. Editors (1916, June 22). Sengbusch-Ideal Moistener Nuptials. Geyer’s Stationer, p. 39
9. Sweet’s Architectural Catalogue (1918), Sengbusch Self-Closing Inkstand Company , page 7
10. Dameron-Pierson Co Catalog (1923), New Orleans, LA, page 69
11. Saml Dodsworth Stationery Co Catalog (1932), Kansas City, MO, page 21
12. Utility Supply Co Catalog (1940), Chicago, IL, page 290
13. Editors (1940, August), Army Grants Contracts With Wisconsin Firms, The Green Bay Press-Gazette, page 2
14. Sengbusch Self-Closing Inkstand Co (1957, June), advertisement, Alexandria Daily Town Talk, page 15
15. Editors (1966). Index Telegraphic Cable and Radio Registrations. Marconi’s International Register, p. 733

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McGill Paper Fastener Punch

Tags

antique, booth, fastener, haydens, holmes, mcgill, punch

Back in 1866, George W. McGill patented what is now one of the most basic of office supplies, the brass paper fastener. It was revolutionary at the time as it fundamentally changed how papers were organized and held together. They were safe, easy to use, and unpretentiously decorative.

McGill quickly realized though that one issue with using these is that you first needed to create a hole or slit in which to insert the brass fastener. Over the years he patented several different presses to perform this function but mostly they were large and heavy. But what could you do if you had mostly smaller jobs that didn’t really require the use of a two and a half pound solid cast iron press? That’s where the McGill Paper Fastener Punch came in.

Weighing 1.5 ounces, the McGill Paper Fastener Punch was 3.125″ L, 0.875″ W x 1.5″ H. So it was very small and light. The body was made of brass, the spike of steel and the top knob was made of plated steel. This made the Punch very strong. It was also relatively inexpensive. But the most compelling feature of the Punch was that it just plain worked. This combination of small, light, strong, cheap, and good design was a winning combination that made this a successfully selling item for over 40 years.

The Fastener Punch was patented on May 26, 1874 to George McGill. He was granted patent number 151236 for his invention. I can find sources that show the Fastener Punch being sold from at least 1879 through 1921. However, it is very likely that this was available from around 1874 through to approximately 1930.

The McGill Fastener Punch was also highly decorative with raised scrollwork and flowers on the top piece and a fasces imprinted on the bottom piece. The fasces is an old Roman symbol denoting unity and order which is certainly a duty performed by the Fastener Punch.  The punch is marked “G.W. MCGILL NEW YORK” on the top of the knob.

In 1876 George McGill entered into a 20 year contract with Holmes, Booth & Haydens for the manufacture of his fasteners. I have seen ads showing that with the purchase of certain fastener sets you received a McGill Fastener Punch for free. As Holmes, Booth & Haydens was one of the largest brass-works in the world, and as the Fastener Punch is made primarily of brass, it makes sense that these would also have been manufactured by Holmes, Booth & Haydens.

from 1892 industry magazine

The business of manufacturing McGill’s fasteners was exceedingly profitable to both McGill and to Holmes, Booth & Haydens. McGill was made a director in this corporation and the fastener business became a separate department under his control. McGill had an office at the New York City office of Holmes, Booth & Haydens where he directed the fastener business and oversaw the manufacturing of them. George W. McGill was also a patent attorney.

In about 1899 George McGill brought a lawsuit to bear against Holmes, Booth & Haydens for not honoring the payment terms of their contract. McGill did win this lawsuit but it seems to have been the end of their business relationship. In January 1899 the McGill Fastener Company was incorporated in New York. On October 17, 1901, Holmes, Booth & Haydens merged with several other brass-works in Connecticut to form the American Brass Company.

Taken together it appears that anything manufactured after 1899 would have been made by the McGill Fastener Company while anything manufactured before 1899 would have been made by Holmes, Booth & Haydens.

A comparison of this same Paper Fastener Punch against the original patent will show some obvious design changes to the punch. However, I do not know when this design change was made.

George Warrington McGill was born in Lancaster, Ohio on March 9, 1844. He started out as a civil engineer, then a lawyer, and finally an inventor and businessman. He was married to Mary Peebles Harry and they had one child, a son, named W. Harry McGill. George W. McGill died September 30, 1917.

Patent Information:

• US Patent 151236

Notes:

1. Editors (1879, June). Illustrated and Descriptive Price List of Stationery and Fancy Goods. The American Stationer, page 20
2. Editors (1893, February). McGill’s Assorted Fasteners. Books and Notions, page 14
3. Hall, Henry, America’s Successful Men of Affairs, New York, NY, The New York Printing Company, (1895). Print
4. National Reporter System, The Federal Reporter Volume 108, St. Paul, MN, West Publishing Co, (1901). Print
5. Lathrop, William G., The Brass Industry in Connecticut, New Haven, CT, The Price, Lee & Adkins Co (1909). Print
6. F.P. Burnap Stationery & Printing Co Catalog (1915), Kansas City, MO page 109
7. Editors (1917, November). Passed Away During the Month. Office Appliances the Magazine of Office Equipment, page 221
8. A.L. Salomon & Co Catalog (1921), New York, NY page 38

Hutchison Spool-O-Wire Fastener

Tags

antique, fastener, hutchison, spool, spool-o-wire, stapler, wire stapler

Miller Reese Hutchison was a successful man of business, a well-regarded engineer, and a prolific inventor.  In 1906/1907 he was dissatisfied with the various types of paper fasteners then available.  What’s such a man to do?  Well, if you’re a genius engineer and inventor you design and build your own fastening machine.

The prototype Spool-O-Wire was first conceived and built by Hutchison around 1906.  He applied for a patent in 1908 but it was not granted at that time.  Over the years he continued to tinker, modify, and improve the design until in March 1917 he re-applied for a patent and was granted patent 1235140 on July 31, 1917.

The Spool-O-Wire weighs 10 pounds with a full spool and measures 6.625″ W x 10″ L x 4.25″ H (lever when fully extended adds 5″ of height).  This was designed to bind from 2 to 40 sheets of paper at a time.  The wire used was a spool of special grade stitching wire measuring 1250 feet and would make upwards of 15,000 staples.  The operating parts of the Spool-O-Wire were made of tool steel.  The handle was nickel-plated.  According to a 1916 article “each machine is caused to make and clinch at least one thousand staples, as a test, before shipment.”

The Spool-O-Wire was a product of Hutchison Office Specialties.  This company was incorporated August  21, 1916.  The organizers and officers of the new corporation were:  M. Mayne, president; Miller Reese Hutchison, first vice-president; Robert A. Brown, second vice-president; and John Hobbs, secretary and treasurer.

ad from 1917

Hutchison Office Specialties was located at the following addresses:

• 1916-1917 – 327 Fifth Ave, NY, NY
• 1918-1926 – 501 Fifth Ave, NY, NY

While Hutchison Office Specialties owned and distributed this fastener it was manufactured for them by Remington (of Remington Typewriter fame) during its entire run.

On April 1, 1926 Remington Typewriter took over the manufacture and exclusive sale of the Spool-O-Wire.  In 1927 Remington merged with Rand Kardex and formed Remington-Rand.  That year Remington-Rand took over the manufacturing of the Spool-O-Wire.  That same year Remington-Rand acquired Victor Lock & Safe Co and this was subsequently renamed the Victor Safe & Equipment Co.  Possibly shortly after this, in 1927 or 1928, the Spool-O-Wire came under the direction of Victor (note 7).  It’s unknown exactly how long the Spool-O-Wire was available, but I have seen reference to it in 1937 and in 1941 I have found reference to a labor/union issue involving the Spool-O-Wire department of Remington-Rand.

The Spool-O-Wire enjoyed much success here in the US but was also exported to the UK, India, China, Philippines, Hawaii, Dutch East Indies, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, Brazil, Greece and Siberia (Russia).

label used from approximately March 26, 1917 to July 31, 1917

label used from approximately March 1919 to January 1921

label used from approximately April 1926 onwards. Photo used with the kind permission of the Early Office Museum

The early models of the Spool-O-Wire from 1916 and 1917 did not come with an attached wood board.  This feature wasn’t added until 1918.

Miller Reese Hutchison, Ph.D. ca. 1918

Miller Reese Hutchison was born on August 6, 1876 in Montrose, Alabama.   He was married on May 31, 1901 and had four children.

Hutchison was the Engineering Advisor to Thomas Edison.  He was a member of the Naval Consulting Board of the United States; President, Treasurer and Director of Miller Reese Hutchison Incorporated of New Jersey; and Vice President and Director of Hutchison Office Specialties Company of New York.

Besides the Spool-O-Wire, Hutchison is best known for two of his other inventions, the auto klaxon horn and the Acousticon.  The Acousticon was the first electrical hearing aid and was introduced in 1895 as the Akoulathon.  By 1902 he had made many improvements and began marketing the aid as the Acousticon.  The Acousticon was so successful that the company is still in business today making various hearing aids and related devices.

In 1911 Hutchison became associated with Edison in the development of the Edison Storage Battery for submarines.  In 1912 he was appointed Chief Engineer of the Edison Laboratory, Edison Storage Battery Co., and Thomas A. Edison (Inc.) and Chief Engineer to and Personal Representative of Mr. Edison.  In 1916 he was made Engineering Advisor to Mr. Edison. Of course, as noted above Hutchison Office Specialties was incorporated in August 1916.  On January 1, 1917, Miller Reese Hutchison, Inc. was organized by Dr. Hutchison and took over the exclusive sales-rights of the Edison Storage Battery for all military and naval sales.

Hutchison died February 16, 1944 in New York.

An interesting side note, it appears that Hutchison had broad-ranging interests which included his attendance at one very special seance.  While not particularly pertinent in discussions regarding the Spool-O-Wire I found this very interesting nevertheless;

Brooklyn Daily Eagle 1933

ad from 1918

ad from 1919

ad from 1921

ad from 1922

Patent Information:

• US Patent 1235140
• US Patent 1235140 re-issue
• US Patent 1296960
• US Patent 1365408
• US Patent 1345190

Notes:

1. Editors (1916, September). A New Stapling Machine. American Stationer and Office Outfitter, page 30
2. Editors (1916, August). New Incorporations. New York Times, page 16
3. Editors (1917, November). Hutchinson [sic] Spool o’ Wire. American Stationer and Office Outfitter, page 24
4. Sackett, William E. New Jersey’s First Citizens Volume I, Paterson, NJ, J.J. Scannell (1918). Print
5. Editors (1920, March). Wire Fastener Attracts Many. Oakland Tribune, page 4
6. Editors (1926, June). Remington Typewriter Co. “Spool-O-Wire” Fastener.  American Stationer and Office Manager, page 122
7. Curator, (©2014), Spool O Wire Fastener. Retrieved January 10, 2015, from http://www.officemuseum.com
8. Editors (1944, February). Hutchison Dies. Bakersfield Californian, page 3

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Gem Pencil Sharpener

Tags

antique, cook, gem, gould, leominster, pencil, sharpener

I love old mechanical things, history, antique office equipment and my home town. So what do these things have in common? Why, the Gem Pencil Sharpener of course!

And what’s not to love?  Hand cranked, gear driven with a rotating disk that holds sandpaper.  Even the pencil rotates while being sharpened.  This may be the coolest pencil sharpener ever.

Manufactured in Leominster, Massachusetts, the Gem Pencil Sharpener was made of solid cast iron with the only non-iron piece being the wooden handle cover on the crank. It measures 7.5″W x 7.75″ H x 7.5″ L and weighs over 5 pounds. Embossed on the base is the following:

GOULD & COOK,
LEOMINSTER, MASS
PAT. MAY 25 86

And just like the apocryphal quotation from Henry Ford you could purchase the Gem in any color you wanted – so long as it was black. The Gem was packed in a box that included several sandpaper disks as well as a small can of oil.

I’ve seen the Gem in two different versions. One of them is as you see in the picture with a flat, square base that you would screw into a surface. However, there was also a version with a vise base that could be secured to a table or bench edge without the need for screws.

The Gem consists of a disk which holds a movable surface of sandpaper. A rotary movement is communicated to this disk and to the “chuck” for holding the pencil (much like on a drill) from a cog-wheel at the back of the machine, the wheel itself being moved by the crank. The chuck is swung on a pivot so that a point with either a long or short bevel can be given to the pencil. The machine operated by taking the lead or slate pencil to be sharpened and pushing it through the chuck until the end is over the sandpaper. The chuck is put in position so as to force the pencil against the sandpaper, the wheel is revolved and after a few turns the pencil is pointed.

What isn’t immediately evident is that while it worked well at sharpening, and it was tough as nails, it did have one major shortcoming. And that, simply put, was that it made an absolute huge mess. If you’ve done any wood sanding in your life you know how a large amount of [saw]dust is made in just a short time. The Gem didn’t have any kind of bucket, drawer, dust collector, or anything to catch all the dust created by sanding the pencils sharp. It wouldn’t take more than a few pencils to create the illusion that you worked in a wood mill and not an office or school.

And speaking of schools, while the Gem was marketed towards businesses its main success was its sales to schools where “many thousands” were sold. It was also exported to Europe, India, and China.

ad from 1895

Another thing you’ll find about the Gem was that many of them ended up being modified to do other jobs. I’ve seen several of these that have been rebuilt to perform other chores, my favorite being the modification I once saw when someone a long-time ago re-worked the Gem to be a miniature sharpening wheel for knives.

The Gem Pencil Sharpener was patented on May 25, 1886 by Charles Gould and Frank Cook of Leominster, Massachusetts. The patent number is 342350. The sharpener was first advertised in 1887 and the last reference found is from 1914 from a local advertisement. This would have been the time period all of these sharpeners were manufactured.

ad from 1888

The Gem was originally introduced and manufactured by Gould & Cook of Leominster, Massachusetts. When Charles Gould died in 1894 the name of the company was changed to F.H. Cook & Co. F.H. Cook & Co continued making the Gem until 1914. Oddly though, I’ve never seen an example of the Gem cast with the name of F.H. Cook & Co on the base, only Gould & Cook. The history of this company is as follows:

• Gould & Cook – Central Street, Leominster – started in 1884 and was there until 1887
• Gould & Cook – 75 Water Street, Leominster – moved here in 1888 until 1894
• F.H. Cook & Company – 75 Water Street, Leominster – company name changed in 1894 until 1920
• Standard Tool Company – 75 Water Street, Leominster – company name changed in 1921

75 Water Street, Leominster, today

C.E. Gould was born in Chelmsford in 1842 but lived in Leominster for many years. He passed away in 1894. F. H. Cooke was a Leominster native, born in 1852 and educated in the local public schools.

ad from 1906

ad from 1906

ad from 1914

Patent Information:

US Patent 342350

Notes:

1. Editors (1887, February). Gem Pencil Sharpener. American Stationer, page 186
2. Editors (1887, February). Trade Novelties “Gem” Pencil Sharpener. American Stationer, page 293
3. pages 271-272, William A. Emerson (1888) Leominster Massachusetts Historical and Picturesque, first edn., Gardner, MA: Lithotype Publishing Co.
4. Editors (1889, May). Gem Pencil Sharpener. Scientific American, page 290
5. Editors (1906, June). Gem Pencil Sharpener. American School Board Journal, page 19
6. Editors (1906, July). A Pencil Sharpener Manufacturer. American School Board Journal, page 17
7. pages 31 & 90, Editors (1914) Leominster Directory 1914, first edn., New Haven, CT: The Price & Lee Co.
8. pages 27 & 85, Editors (1921) Leominster Directory 1921, first edn., New Haven, CT: The Price & Lee Co.

Special Thanks:

To the various librarians at the Leominster Public Library. Not only were they helpful, but they were happy to do be so and were genuinely interested in what I was doing. Furthermore, while I spent a very long time in their special records room going through old records and books, they did some research without my asking and found the picture of C.E. Gould I have. I’ve always thought this library was one of the best in the U.S. and my opinion has only been strengthened. You ladies rock!

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Century Stapling Machine

Tags

antique, burridge, century, pin, stapling machine, sun

Industrial, rugged, a bit crude, and built for practicality are only a few of the descriptions you could use for today’s antique item – the Century Stapling Machine

The Century Stapling Machine takes a pin (brass or copper but preferably not steel), lops off the ends, folds the middle portion of the pin into a staple shape and then inserts and fastens that newly made staple into your papers. All this is done with a single sharp blow to the plunger. While common pins are no longer used in offices, when this was introduced pins were more often used than clips to secure papers together. Brass and copper pins can still be purchased from your local craft store and will work just fine with this machine.

office pins of the type that would have been easily available in the late 1800’s and which could have been used in the Century Stapling Machine.

The Machine measures 3.375″ L x 2.4375″ W x 5.75″ H and weighs 1 pound 6 ounces. It is made from hardened steel and is nickel-plated.

The patent for this item was applied for on January 4, 1897 and granted on July 13, 1897. US patent 586515 was granted to Lee S. Burridge and assigned to the Century Machine Company.

The first known advertisement for the Century Stapling Machine was September 1897 and the latest known advertisement was in April 1902. It seems unlikely that the Century Stapling Machine was around much longer than 1902. However if you look at the main picture above you’ll note that it states PAT. APPL’D FOR on the plunger slide. This means that the machine in the picture was likely made between January and July 1897. Taken all together the evidence indicates that the Century Stapling Machine was available from approximately January 1897 until at least April 1902.

I’ve found ads for the Century Stapling Machine from Washington state all the way to the United Kingdom and most points in between. While the Machine doesn’t seem to have been available for a very long time it was heavily advertised and widely available during the time of its manufacture.

magazine ad from 1897

The Century Stapling Machine was introduced to the trade by Albertus A. Weeks, who was a pioneer in the stationery trade and involved with many of the early fastening machines, although not always in a positive way. The Philadelpha Novelty Company had sued him for patent infringements of their Novelty Paper Fastener for example.

You may have noticed that the Century Stapling Machine operates very similarly to the Pin Stapling Tool. You wouldn’t be alone. In the U.K. especially, whenever the Century Stapling Machine was written about it was invariably compared to and advertised with the Pin Stapling Tool. The New York Carbon & Transfer Paper Company also noticed the similarities and in October 1897 published the following letter to the Century Machine Company and A.A. Weeks:

I can find no proof that there ever actually was a lawsuit. However, the short life of the Century Stapling Machine may be partly due to this notice of intent to file one.

The Century Machine Company specialized in working with individuals in manufacturing their patent ideas. These kinds of companies are still around and if you watch enough late-night television you’ll see their ads (always with the concluding statement “most inventions are not successful and Bill’s experience is not typical of what an inventor can expect”). I’m unsure why Lee S. Burridge decided to go this route although it may have been a way to distance himself and the Sun Typewriter Company from possible lawsuits.

ad from the American Machinist, September 1897

Lee S. Burridge was not only the inventor of the Century Stapling Machine, but patented and manufactured a similarly working item advertised as the Sun Stapling Machine. The Sun Stapling Machine was patented on March 15, 1898 under patent 600510. This machine was advertised by the Sun Typewriter Company from 1900 to 1906.

Mr. Burridge was born in Paris, France on September 22, 1861 while his parents were traveling abroad. Educated in England, he came to the U.S. to take a position with C.A. Aufmordt & Co in New York. There he became interested in the manufacture of mechanical toys.

In the early 1880’s he took up the development of typewriting machines, being one of the very first inventors to foresee the development and ultimate adoption of the visible typewriter. In 1887, at only 26 years old, he started the Sun Typewriter Company. He was president of this company until his death.

His knowledge of typewriter construction and patents was so comprehensive as to create a strong demand for his services as an expert in patent litigation, in which field of work he became noted. He was a prominent figure in many historical patent suits. Again, his experience in patent litigation may be the reason his patent for the Century Stapling Machine was assigned to and manufactured by the Century Machine Company.

In 1908 he became interested in aviation and together with some like-minded enthusiasts purchased the first aeroplane [sic] ever sold. He arranged the first public exhibition of flying that was given by Curtiss at Bronx Park. This aeroplane was sent on an exhibition tour throughout the United States and Canada, solely to foster and create public interest in aviation, and was in a large measure the start of practical aviation in this country.

He founded the Aeronautical Society of America and was the president for several years. He was also a member of the Aeronautical Engineers Society, the Automobile Club of America, the National Geographic Society, and the Aero Club.

Lee S. Burridge died on May 4, 1915 at his home on 160 West 54th Street in New York. He was only 54 years old. He appears to have never married.

Lee S. Burridge

Patent Information:

• US Patent 586515

Notes:

1. Century Machine Company (1897, May). advertisement. American Machinist, page 38
2. Century Machine Company (1897, September). advertisement. American Machinist, page 10
3. Editors (1897, September). “Century” Stapling Machine. The American Stationer, page 549
4. Editors (1897, October). Prospective Lawsuits. The American Stationer, page 568
5. Editors (1898, January). The Pin Stapling Tool, and “Century” Stapling Machine. The Photographic Dealer, page 76
6. Editors (1902, June). Century Stapling Machine. New England Stationer and Printer, page 76
7. Editors (1915, June). Death of Lee S. Burridge. Typewriter Topics, page 76

Alligator Check Protector and Letter Opener

Tags

alligator, antique, atwater, check protector, letter opener

“The Alligator check protector and letter opener is a novelty that a man keeps and shows to his friends. It costs but little but does not look cheap. It can’t wear out and is used daily for two important purposes. One end is a paper knife. The other end, the handle, is open and corrugated inside the handle, making a convenient and absolutely safe check protector. The article is made of handsomely polished nickel plated steel and is furnished in quantities at attractively low prices.”

The American Stationer, July 1910, Novelties for the Trade – The Alligator

The above quote from 1910 is a fair description of the Alligator. It is a device that combines a letter opener with a check protector. The letter opener is of a design that hasn’t changed in over a century. You can still find this type of letter opener today. The check protector portion is built into the two-piece handle and works by embossing a quilt-type pattern in a rectangle measuring approximately 2″ x .5″. You would write out your check and then emboss over it. This was to discourage trying to make changes to the check after the fact.

sample of embossed check

The Alligator weighs in at 2 ounces and measures 7.5625″ L x .9375″ W. It is made of nickel-plated steel. It is a very high-quality item, extremely durable and well-built.

This was patented as a check protector under U.S. patent 826135. The patent was applied for on May 31, 1904 and granted on July 17, 1906 to Silas I. Atwater. It was first advertised in 1904. If you find this item stamped with PAT APPD FOR then you know it was manufactured between 1904 and 1906. Otherwise, they are all stamped PAT’D JULY 17’06.

The Alligator was manufactured by S.I. Atwater, later known as S.I. Atwater Specialties Company. It was available starting in 1904 and the latest reference I can find that specifically mentions the Alligator is in May 1920. However, as a low-cost “novelty” item it never did receive a lot of advertising. It is entirely possible that the Alligator was available after 1920.

The first mention I can find of S.I. Atwater is for 1904. During the sixteen years that I can find reference to they were located in the following places:

• 1904-1910:  369 Broadway, New York, NY
• 1910-1918:  335 Broadway, New York, NY
• 1918-1920:  105 Lafayette St, New York, NY – Now shown as S.I. Atwater  Specialties Co
• 1920:  337 Broadway, New York, NY

In the January 1908 issue of the American Stationer it is mentioned that Hampden Hoge of the Hoge Specialty Co “has taken over the entire line of stationery specialties formerly manufactured and controlled by S.I. Atwater”. As S.I. Atwater is the only company ever mentioned in ads it sounds like S.I. Atwater simply became a subsidiary company under the Hoge Specialty Co.

ad from 1904

ad from 1905

ad from 1910

sample of Alligator used as a marketing item

 

Patent Information:

• US Patent 826135

Notes:

1. S.I. Atwater (1904, September). advertisement. The Book-Keeper and Business Man’s Magazine, page 514
2. S.I. Atwater (1905, May). advertisement. Scientific American, page 393
3. Beach, E.H.., Tools of Business, An Encyclopedia of Office Equipment and Labor Saving Devices, Detroit, MI, The Book-Keeping Publishing Co Ltd (1905). Print
4. Editors (1907, June). Atwater’s Specialties. Geyer’s Stationer, page 25
5. Editors (1908, January). Trade Items. The American Stationer, page 11
6. Editors (1910, July). Novelties of the Trade. The American Stationer, page 14
7. Editors (1920, May). Buyer’s Reference Bureau. The American Stationer and Office Outfitter, page 99

Greenfield Stapling Machine

Tags

antique, fastener, greenfield, stapler, stapling machine, vintage

By 1925 there were a number of different companies making paper fasteners using different solutions. You have the single-stroke staplers as exemplified by the Novelty Paper Fastener, magazine fed staplers using an early form of cohered staples exemplified by the Acme Sure Shot, stapleless staplers exemplified by the Bump and Clipless fasteners, and strip staplers exemplified by the Hotchkiss No. 1. These four represent the major technologies at that time.

Single-stroke fasteners were obsolete by this time and although still sold they were not used much in business. Bump-method fasteners were (and still are) used but never achieved widespread adoption because of the fastening limitations of this technology. It should also be noted that the Bump Fastening Method was patented in 1911 making this a relatively new technology when the Greenfield was introduced.

Magazine fed staplers with cohered (or frozen wire) staples were becoming more common and eventually won the technology war but in the early 20th century this crown was still up for grabs as the competing and well-established staple strip fasteners were still popular and widely used.

Today’s near-antique item is the Greenfield Stapling Machine. Introduced in April 1917, patented in 1914, the Greenfield introduced a number of improvements to the strip stapler. References to the Greenfield Stapling Machine are first found in advertisements starting in 1917. The company was still reported as manufacturing these in 1922 but it is likely they were available for at least a year or so after that.

It also appears that the Greenfield was referenced in a number of different ways during its manufacture. I’ve seen it referenced as; the Greenfield Stapling Machine, the Machine, Greenfield Stapling Device, Greenfield Stapler, Greenfield Paper Fastener, Greenfield Fastening Machine and the Greenfield Fastener. I understand that all of these descriptives are basically stating the same thing but this is the only office item I’ve ever come across with so many nomenclatures attached to it.

ad from 1917

This model of the stapler measures 4″ L x 2″ W x 4.6875″ H and weighs 14 oz empty. Compare this to the 20 oz that the Hotchkiss No 1 weighed. That’s a 30% weight difference.

There are three known distinct models of the Greenfield which for convenience I’ll label as models A through C.

• The model A was advertised in 1917
• The model B (shown in the picture above) was patented in 1918 and advertised in 1919
• The model C was first advertised in 1920
  

  model A advertised 1917

The model A (above) is the first known model. However, it should be noted that it doesn’t quite match the patent drawings. The two main improvements of this machine over the competition was weight and the “feeding dog”. The feeding dog is that inverted L-shaped part that runs from the top of the stapler down the front. Its purpose was to direct the feeding of the staples to the plunger and allowed the use of the entire staple strip. Other staple strip staplers couldn’t use that last staple because of the way they were fed.

model B patented 1918, advertised 1919

The model B had several minor improvements (which included a better “feeding dog”), a new design, and one newly patented feature. This newly patented feature was part of patent 1287584 and was an anvil stapling position lever (highlighted in the illustration above in yellow). This is the first known stapler that allowed you to choose either permanent or temporary fastening of paper. This new design is also reflected on patent 1287584. Oddly though, on the bottom of the base it still states “PATENTED FEB 10.14.” which is a reference to patent 1086362. It is unknown why the older patent is stamped on the base but not the newer one, or both. Note that the body of the illustration above does not show the feeding dog stop that is on the main picture above. This stop also doesn’t seem to be illustrated on the patent. I’m unsure if this stop was added later or if it was just an artistic consideration to leave it off the illustration(s).

a 1917 illustration showing the new features of the model B

model C advertised 1920

The model C seems to be the last version of this stapler. There are some obvious design changes but overall the differences between this and the model B are fairly minimal. Note the anvil stapling position lever highlighted in yellow above.

Edwin T. Greenfield had four patents directly connected to the Greenfield Stapler. These were:

• Patent 1086362 which was for the original model stapling machine. This patent was granted on February 10, 1914.
• The second was patent 1106938 for a staple-strip. This patent was granted on August 11, 1914.
• The third was patent 1287583 for the “Art Relating to the Stapling of Sheets”. This patent was granted on December 10, 1918.
• The fourth was patent 1287584 for the models B and above stapling machines. This patent was granted on December 10, 1918.

A fifth patent, 1024889, was the original patent for what would become the “feeding dog”. This patent was meant as a general improvement to staplers of this type but he is the only one to ever incorporate this feature as far as I can currently tell. This patent was granted on April 30, 1912 to Edwin Greenfield.

The company that made the Greenfield Stapling Machine was Greenfield Manufacturing Company. However, the first reference I find for this company is in 1918. Patent 1024889 was assigned by Edwin Greenfield to the Greenfield Automatic Fastener Company and it is possible that the model A was released under their name.

I can find references to the Greenfield Automatic Fastener Company starting in 1894 until 1912. The first reference I can find for the Greenfield Manufacturing Company is in 1918 and the last one is in 1922.

These two companies, both owned by Edwin Greenfield, operated at the following addresses:

• 1895 – 44 Broad St, NY, NY
• 1919 to October 1920 – 552 Pearl St NY, NY
• October 1920 to 1921 – 87 35th St, Bush Terminal Bldg 5, Brooklyn, NY (main office, at this time they also opened a plant in Boston)
• 1922 – 104 South 4th St, Brooklyn, NY

As you can see, the dates above aren’t quite continuous. These dates are ones that I can find specific references to. It is likely, for example, that the Greenfield Automatic Fastener Co inhabited the 44 Broad Street address in New York from 1894 through 1918. However, I can only find specific reference for the year 1895.

Speaking of 1895, I have come across a reference in an industry magazine which states; “The Jones Manufacturing Company, successors to The Greenfield Automatic Fastener Company, New York, office 44 Broad street, has brought out what is certainly a world beater.” To be honest, I’m not quite sure what to make of this reference. The story goes on to speak about the Greenfield Automatic Pin -Tag Machine. I can find no other reference regarding any kind of connection between Jones Manufacturing and the Greenfield Automatic Fastener Co.

Edwin T Greenfield was granted 83 patents (that I can currently find) between 1879 and 1921 (although I’ve seen written that his first patent was granted in 1866). Twelve patents regarding staplers and staples were granted between 1894 and 1918. He also had patents regarding telephones, telegraphs, electricity related, paper tubing, paper milk bottles, vehicle speed indicators, heating systems, process for making tires, parachute for removable seat in an aeroplane (the forerunner to an ejection seat), and various manufacturing machines.

Greenfield also patented the spiral “tail” seen on early Hotchkiss staplers under patent 572293 in 1896.

Edwin Truman Greenfield (photo provided by and used with the kind permission of W. Rumble)

Born in 1847, Edwin T. Greenfield died April 2, 1920 at 73 years of age at his home in New York City.  He was married three times in his lifetime.  His first wife passed away of tuberculosis in 1879.  His second wife died of a heart attack in 1915 and he married again in 1917.  He and his first wife had three daughters.  The first, Emma, died at the same time as her mother.  The second two were named Sarah and Ida. He and his second wife then had a son whom they named Edwin.

A self-made man, he had few advantages early in life.  He enlisted in the Navy on September 7, 1861 in New York City shortly after the beginning of the Civil War. He was sent to the receiving ship North Carolina at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.  On October 1, 1861 he was transferred to the Mississippi Squadron and served on the gunboat Linden, the mortar fleet, and the USS Tyler taking part in all of the major engagements on the river.  He was in the Black River and Steele Bayou Expedition and in the Yazoo River Expedition when the Confederate navy yard in Yazoo City was destroyed.  At the seige of Vicksburg he was wounded and afterwards promoted for his bravery in action.  He was made a gunner and served until the closing of the war being discharged on June 13, 1865.

Later in life, he was elected commander of the Alexander Hamilton Post of the G.A.R. and he was also Grand Marshal of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) in New York City.  He was always referred to as “Colonel” after being made Grand Marshal as a sign of respect.

In 1903 Mr. Greenfield ran for the County Assembly in New York as a Democrat but lost.

Besides the Greenfield Automatic Fastener Co and Greenfield Manufacturing, Mr. Greenfield started at least one other company. This was the Greenfield Paper Bottle Company. His paper bottles were made specifically for milk and were the forerunners of the modern milk carton.

Early in Edwin Greenfield’s career he patented a very large number of electrical-related safety items for the Interior Conduit And Insulation Company.   He is listed as their “Electrician”. Now, in the 19th century the title of electrician didn’t mean what it does today. In other words, he wasn’t considered a tradesman. Electricians then were a type of electrical engineer and was considered a subfield of physics.  Edwin also worked with Thomas Edison as his aid in New Jersey and was close enough that Edison gave him personal gifts and kept up correspondence with him.  In 1915 Edwin had been and was still working at General Electric.

Edwin Greenfield was not only a prolific inventor, sailor, veteran, and politically active but a scientist as well, not to mention a successful businessman.

One gets the impression that if Mr. Greenfield hadn’t passed away when he did then his Stapling Machine would have had much more success. As it is, it seems that all of Mr. Greenfield’s endeavours were either sold off or no longer in operation within a few years of his death.

Patent Information:

• US Patent 1024889
• US Patent 1086362
• US Patent 1106938
• US Patent 1287583
• US Patent 1287584

Notes:

1. Editors, (1903, October 16), The Democratic Ticket, Monticello New York Republican Watchman, page 44
2. Tower Mfg. and Novelty Co (1917, April). advertisement. American Stationer and Office Outfitter, page 63
3. Editors (1917, April), A New Fastener. Walden’s Stationer and Printer, page 126
4. Editors (1919, April). A New Stapling Device of Great Merit. The Bookseller, Newsdealer and Stationer, page 364
5. Editors (1919, March). New Stapling Machine. Geyer’s Stationer, page 24
6. Editors (1920, April). The Greenfield Fastener. Geyer’s Stationer, page 19
7. Editors, (1920, April 9), Col. E.T. Greenfield Died Suddenly, Monticello New York Republican Watchman, page 1
8. Greenfield Mfg. Co (1920, October). advertisement. Geyer’s Stationer, page 69
9. Editors (1920, October). Greenfield Mfg Company Move. Geyer’s Stationer, page 26
10. Editors (1922, March). Buyer’s Reference Bureau. American Stationer and Office Outfitter, page 64
11. Editors (1922, March). What’s Going On. Typewriter Topics, page 314

Special Thanks:

To William “Bill” Rumble, the great great grandson of Edwin Greenfield.  Mr. Rumble sent me lots of information and helped direct me in further research of E.T. Greenfield.  He also spent a good deal of time speaking with relatives in an attempt to provide a picture.  Fortunately, that hard work paid off and I have posted what is the only known photo of Edwin Greenfield.  It’s always a bit of thrill for me to speak with folks with such a close connection to the pioneers in this field.  It’s been a privilege to research and write about a person of such accomplishments as E.T. Greenfield.

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Acme Sure Shot Stapler

Tags

acme, antique, camden, staplecraft, stapler, sure shot

While they didn’t manufacture rocket-powered roller skates or jet-propelled unicycles, if Wile E. Coyote needed a stapler he knew exactly where to go and what to get. Of course, we’re talking about one of the best-selling offerings from the Acme Staple Company, the Sure Shot stapler.

The Sure Shot was the first stapler offered under the Acme name. William J. Brown founded the Acme Staple Company in 1894. However, prior to that year he had released other staplers that were distributed for him by S.J. Yarger of Philadelphia. William Brown was a pioneer of early office technology.

The Sure Shot was released in 1894 and was sold as late as 1941 and likely even later. The initial patent, 532136, was applied for on January 25, 1894 and granted on January 8, 1895 to William J. Brown. An improvement to the staple driver was made soon afterwards and patent 552254 was granted on December 31, 1895. This patent was applied for on July 3, 1895 and was granted to Elwood Michener and Winfield Ashbey and then assigned to the Acme Staple Co of Philadelphia.

It can be difficult to date a Sure Shot especially as they were manufactured for such a long time. Of course, if you see “Camden, NJ” stamped on the base you can date your item to a 50 year period of between 1909 and 1959. However, the lack of place stamp on the base or elsewhere does not necessarily mean it was made in Philadelphia. Another way to date your item is if you have the original packaging. Starting around 1934 Acme started using the “StapleCraft” trademark. If the original box has the StapleCraft logo you can date your stapler to 1934 or after.

The photo above matches exactly with the original patent illustrations. However, there were two basic designs that were available. These two designs differed mainly in body style. The original had a smooth, convex back while a later design had a concave portion towards the rear.

The convex model weighed 3lb 12 oz (60 oz) and measured 8.25″L x 2.5″W x 6.25″H. The concave model weighed 3lb 6 oz (54 oz) and measured 8.4375″L x 2.5″W x 6.25″H. As I noted above, I believe the concave design to be later based on the following:

1. The patent illustration and all of the early advertisements show the convex design.
2. The concave design was 10% lighter than the convex. Since the Sure Shot was a long-time seller, as the design got older and competition grew it seems reasonable to think that the profit-margins for this item would decrease over time. Due to the older design and more updated fastener technology available to the buying public it is unlikely that they could raise the price to keep up profits. One way to make this item more cost effective to produce would be to reduce the amount of materials (specifically iron) that would be needed, thus increasing their profit without raising prices.

The Sure Shot was available in two finishes; a black japanned finish and a nickel finish. The nickel finish was more expensive. Also, for most of its run the Sure Shot did not have a plunger return spring. Ostensibly this was to make it so less force was needed when depressing the plunger. However, some Sure Shots did have a plunger return spring. It is my opinion, that like the nickel finish, you could get the option of plunger return spring for an additional cost. Also note that other add-ons were available like the staple anvil platform shown in the picture near the end of this post.

The Acme Staple Company, Limited, was founded in 1894. The original location was 500 North 12th Street Philadelphia, PA. They were at this location from 1894 until May 1909.

2007 photo of 500 North 12th Street in Philadelphia. I’m unsure if this is the same building that originally housed Acme or if this was built later. Photo from Google Maps.

They then moved to 112 North 9th Street Camden, NJ on May 17, 1909 and were at this location until 1914.

illustration from a 1909 industry journal showing 112 No 9th St Camden, NJ

ad from 1912

They then moved to 1643-1647 Haddon Avenue, Camden, NJ and were there from 1915 to 1959. The original factory was approximately 15,000 square feet. An interesting side note; in 1919 Acme purchased Allen & Co of Philadelphia. Allen & Co was located in the old S.J. Yarger plant in Philadelphia and was a manufacturer of staple-binders.

from 1915 trade journal

note the addition to the right side of the building in the two pictures above. Planning for this addition started in 1919 and was in place by 1930. The above photos are from http://www.dvrbs.com.

ad from 1919

Acme Staple Co is still in business today and is located at 87 Hill Road, Franklin, NH. They’ve been at this location since 1959.

photo from Google Maps, 2014

an original box of Sure Shot staples

example of Sure Shot with concave back, nickel finish, plunger return spring and special anvil stapling platform. Note the additional stamping of “Camden, NJ, U.S.A.” on the base dating this sometime between 1909 and 1959.

Patent Information:

• US Patent 532136
• US Patent 552254

Notes:

1. Editors (1901, May). The Sure Shot Binder. Geyer’s Stationer, page 1
2. Editors (1909, May). Philadelphia News Letter. Walden’s Stationer and Printer, page 16
3. Editors (1909, May). Acme Staple Company to Move. Geyer’s Stationer, page 7
4. Editors (1915, May). Acme Staple Co.’s New Daylight Factory. American Stationer, page 16
5. Editors (1919, November). Acme Staple Co. Expands. Geyer’s Stationer, page 18
6. Union Stationery Corp (1941), New York, NY page 171
7. Cohen, Phil, (2014), Camden, New Jersey Acme Staple. Retrieved April 19, 2014, from http://www.dvrbs.com
8. Acme Staple Co, About Acme Staple. Retrieved April 3, 2013, from http://www.acmestaple.com

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Ashcroft Paper Tester Type T

Tags

antique, ashcroft, manning, maxwell, moore, paper tester

By the early 20th century there were a large number of brands of paper available. There were differing levels of quality depending on your need but there wasn’t any dependable, inexpensive, and independent way to ensure that you were getting what was advertised in terms of quality. There also wasn’t a way to accurately compare the quality of two or more different brands. You could, of course, buy based on brand name and company reputation but, just like today, there were lesser known manufacturers who also made quality products available at much lower cost than the brand names. If your business depended on your use of a certain quality of paper (for example, printers and publishers) than you needed a way to accurately determine that quality. Enter the Ashcroft Paper Tester.

According to the Ashcroft Steam, Pressure and Vacuum Gauges catalog G published in 1920 the paper tester worked as follows. “The Ashcroft Paper Tester furnishes a positive mechanical means of determining the strength of paper. The paper to be tested is inserted in the clamp and secured by turning the knurled disc to the right. The handle of the tester is designed at the end to receive the forefinger of the operator, and by turning the handle to the right, pressure is brought to bear on the paper within the clamp. As the handle is turned, this pressure is indicated on the dial until the breaking point of the paper is reached, at which time the hand on the dial remains stationary, indicating the bursting strength of the paper in pounds per square inch.”

While there were other paper testers available before the Ashcroft, these used rubber diaphragms that tended to wear, stretch and dry out. Others used a metal crown-shaped plunger which would actually stretch the paper giving you an inaccurate result. The Ashcroft Paper Tester was introduced after years of testing and was a high-quality, reliable, accurate, and relatively low-cost instrument.

When introduced the Ashcroft Paper Tester sold for $20 which when adjusted for inflation comes to approximately $475 in 2014. The case was extra.

The Ashcroft Paper Tester was introduced in 1912. I’ve found advertisements and references to the tester up till 1948, but it would have been available for a longer time. A patent was applied for on July 5, 1912 and patent number 1048488 was granted December 31, 1912. The tester pictured above is marked on the dial “PAT. DEC.31,1912” which means it was made in 1913 or after. However, I have seen models that show “PAT. APPD. FOR” which means that Ashcroft Manufacturing started making these in 1912.

There were two versions of the tester available. One, pictured above, tested bursting strength up to 140 lbs per square inch. The second one was for lighter paper types and tested up to 20 lbs per square inch. Modern standard 20 lb copier paper I’ve tested bursts at 35 psi.

I noted above that the Ashcroft Paper Tester was available until at least 1948, but that’s not technically correct.  By the mid-1940’s Ashcroft had become the Minden Paper Gauge Company.  Below is a paper tester from Minden and you can clearly see on the dial that it states “formerly Ashcroft”.  While this is the second version paper tester for lighter types of paper it shows that these type gauges were still being made into the 1940’s.  Note the black crackle finish that was universally used during WW2 and helps date this particular item to the 1940’s.

Ashcroft Manufacturing was started by Edward H. Ashcroft of Lynn, Massachusetts in 1851. Offices were opened in New York City and in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Mr. Ashcroft was more interested in engineering and sold his interest to his then head of sales, Charles A. Moore, eventually of Manning, Maxwell & Moore (MM&M). Charles Moore had purchased an interest in Ashcroft Manufacturing in 1873 and this may be when he took over Edward Ashcroft’s interest. One particular source I read on the internet gave 1912 as the date that Ashcroft Manufacturing became part of the MM&M family and this source has been quoted several times in this regard. However, records show that MM&M had acquired Ashcroft Manufacturing much earlier with reference found that this had not yet happened in 1878. However, references show that in 1888 Maxwell was President, Moore Vice President, and Manning Treasurer of Ashcroft Manufacturing. Since MM&M was incorporated in 1880 it would seem that by 1888 Ashcroft Manufacturing was part of MM&M and by 1896 it was explicitly stated in various advertisements and articles.

advertisement from 1912

The Ashcroft Paper Tester weighs 2 lbs and measures 5.5″ L x 4″ H x 1.25″ W, and is made primarily of steel and a hard bronze composition. The body, clamp disc and plunger handle being made of chrome or nickel plated bronze.

While this was something of a specialty item, it was a good seller in the U.S. and seemed to do well in foreign markets as well. They were made of such quality that even after a 100 years they work just fine.

advertisement from 1912

Patent Information:

US Patent 1048488

Notes:

1. page 81, Manning, Maxwell & Moore Inc. Ashcroft Steam, Pressure and Vacuum Gauges, Chicago, IL: Manning, Maxwell & Moore Inc., (1920). Print
2. Engineering Society of the University of Michigan, The University of Michigan Technic, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Register Publishing House, 1888. Print
3. The Inland Printer Company, The Inland Printer volume 49, Chicago, IL, The Inland Printer Company Publishers, (1912). Print
4. Editors, “The Aschcroft Paper Tester”, Paper Trade Journal, November 1912: 54. Print
5. Editors, “Charles A. Moore”, American Machinist, December 1914: 1098. Print
6. Hill, John W., A Manual for Engineers and Steam Users, Providence, RI, William A. Harris Publisher, (1878). Print
7. Leonard, John W., History of the City of New York 1609-1909, New York, NY, Joseph & Sefton (1910). Print
8. Hering, Carl, “Digest of Current Electrical Literature American and Foreign”, The Electrical World, April 1898: 564. Print
9. “Ashcroft Manufacturing Company History”, Antique Clocks Guy , n.d., web, January 2, 2014

Novelty Paper Fastener

Tags

antique, clip, fastener, novelty, paper, philadelphia, stapler

Like so many other products, the early history of office staplers is not clear-cut.  There are overlapping patents, differing technological solutions, conflicting information, lawsuits, and debates about what type of dates should be used as the “start” date for something.   In general though, it can be said that the nascent phase for office staplers started around the 1870’s.

The Novelty Paper Fastener was one of the earliest staplers made specifically for fastening papers.  It was manufactured by the Philadelphia Novelty Manufacturing Company which was based in Philadelphia, PA and they eventually also had offices in New York City.  The Philadelphia Novelty Manufacturing Company was established in 1874 and incorporated in February, 1885.

Novelty Paper Fastener box and unopened packages of staples

The Novelty Paper Fastener consisted of two parts; one was a horizontal spring loaded paper clip made of cast iron that had a purpose-built holder at the clip end.  This holder was designed for the second part which was a steel single-stroke staple driver.  It was a fairly simple device and straightforward to use.  You would take the driver out of the clip, lift the plunger and insert a single staple into the slot.  You would then take your papers to be fastened and clip them using the spring-loaded clip.  The driver would be inserted back into the slot on the clip end and then you’d strike the plunger with as much force as you could muster to force the staple through the papers.  When that was done you’d remove the papers from the clip, turn the stack over and manually bend the legs.  Simple but it could be hard work.

package of staples and samples

The clip portion of the fastener weighs 3 ounces and measures 4.5″ L x 1″ W x 1.438″ H.  The driver portion weighs 2 ounces and measures 1.125″ L  x 1.125″ W x 4″ H.  Combined it weighs 5 ounces and measures 4.5″ L x 1.125″ W x 4.125″ H.

There are three U.S. patents referenced on the Novelty Fastener.  These are patents 56884 granted on August 7, 1866, 226402 granted April 18, 1880, and 274941 granted April 3, 1883.  The item patented under U.S. patent 274971 was also patented in England on April 14, 1880 under number 1535.  The first two patents are referenced on the driver while the third is referenced on the clip.

There seems to be some debate as to why the Philadelphia Novelty Manufacturing Co listed patent 56884 on this item.  While this patent is for a stapler, it is for a device for holding and driving staples for wire fences.  Patent 226402 does reference patent 56884 and states;

“In the original form of portable staple-driver, upon which this is an improvement, (A. O. Betts, August 7 , 1866,) the bar is raised mechanically, and has been found preferable to one working automatically.”

While I personally feel that their explanation for inclusion is something of a stretch, the U.S. Patent Office approved this and I would have to assume that they concurred with that statement.  However, I would agree with the Early Office Museum in saying that patent 56884 should not be considered as the beginning of the desktop stapler since that item was designed for a much different purpose.

The Early Office Museum states that the Novelty Paper Fastener was advertised from 1880 to 1909.  I have found ads starting in 1880 but only through 1896.  The Early Office Museum is a reputable site so I’m confident that they have seen ads from 1897 through 1909.  I have found references to the Novelty being sold as late as 1920 so the Novelty Paper Fastener seems to have been a very successful product.  An advertisement from 1887 shows this being sold for 50 cents, a box of 1000 staples for 30 cents, and a box of 1000 suspension rings for 60 cents.  I’m unsure of when manufacture ceased for the Novelty but I do know it was exported in large numbers which may partially explain its longevity as a product.

ad from 1882

As I noted in the beginning of this post, there is a lot of debate regarding early staplers.  However, this debate goes all the way back to when this field was young.  The pioneers of paper fasteners all ended up taking each other to court numerous times over patent arguments.  Pioneers such as George McGill, Albertus Weeks and the Philadelphia Novelty Manufacturing Co. seemed to constantly be after one another.

The Philadelphia Novelty Manufacturing Company sued Albertus Weeks and effectively lost.  In 1894 they appealed and the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals determined the following:

1.  The Heysinger patent, No. 226,402, for a stapling machine for filing and binding papers, must be limited, in view of the prior state of the art, to the specific structures described and claimed; and its claims covering a clinching base, a staple driver, and both in combination, are not infringed by an apparatus which lacks a part of each device either expressly incorporated in the claims, or described in the specifications as essential. 52 Fed. 816, affirmed.

2.  Altering the slots of the guide clip of a stapling machine so as to permit the staple driver to be inserted both crosswise and lengthwise, or so as to give sufficient room to drive a staple with a projecting eye, does not involve invention. 52 Fed. 816, affirmed.

3.  The Heysinger patent, No. 274,941, for a stapling machine, is void for want of invention. 52 Fed. 8l6, affirmed.

Not the outcome they hoped for I’m sure, but it didn’t seem to affect them too much in terms of sales.

Despite the fact that these were made a hundred plus years ago, they were made in such numbers and for such a long time that there are still a lot of them out there to be had.  Couple this with the fact that they were made of iron/steel and consisted of about 6 parts in total and you have a combination that makes this item relatively easy to find in decent shape.

A final general word of caution; old metal, especially cast iron, tends to get brittle with age.  While, if you have one, the mechanics still likely operate, you shouldn’t actually try to use it to staple something.  You might get away with it once or twice but the most probable outcome of your experimentation will be a broken heart when you snap your stapler into several pieces.

Patent & Other Information:

• US Patent 56884
• US Patent 226402
• US Patent 274941
• Novelty Paper Fastener Instructions
• Novelty Paper Fastener Instructions (older version)

Notes:

1. Editorial Staff of the National Reporter System. United States Circuits Courts of Appeals Reports. Washington D.C. West Publishing Co, copyright 1894
2. Editors (1885, October).  Correspondence – Philadelphia. American Stationer, page 408
3. Editors (1920, January).  Stationers Information Bureau.  American Stationer, page 24
4. Editors (1880, August).  Trade Gossip.  American Stationer, page 21
5. Curator, Single Shot Staple Machines.  Early Office Museum. Retrieved January 2014 from www.officemuseum.com/stapler_gallery_single_staple.htm