Stapler of the Week Archive- Hotchkiss No 1

Hotchkiss No 1 age-patinated cast metal

The Hotchkiss No 1 is the first strip stapler I have seen in person. Instead of the fine wire staple strips we load into today's modern stapler, the No 1 used a strip that had been punched and formed from a flat strip of metal. The resulting staple was much more substantial than our modern day staple. The Hotchkiss No 1 was also sold with a tail (as in this example from the early office museum), which I imagine allowed for longer strips of staples to be used. Without having seen one operate, I cannot be sure.

This stapler was on loan to me from the Jack Pavlik collection. We had a great conversation about stapler and he lent me a few examples to document for the Stapler of the Week.

Excerpt from the Stapler of the Week, June 29, 2007.

Stapler of the Week Archive-Markwell HANDI-CLIP

Markwell RX HANDI-CLIP Chrome Finish

Another beautiful plier stapler, the Markwell RX HANDI-CLIP wins for compactness. It nestles directly in the palm of one's hand and is easily concealable...if one needed to conceal a stapler. As the STAPLEMASTER featured on May 30, 2007 used RF staples, the HANDI-CLIP requires Markwell's brand RX staples. Markwell followed the classic company store strategy, creating a product which you will need to purchase exclusive brand accessories to use. Markwell continues to provide replacement staples for this and several other antique models, including Neva Clog.

Excerpt from Stapler of the Week, June 28, 2007

Stapler of the Week Archive- Neva Clog J-30 & J-60

Neva Clog J-30 chrome finish


Neva Clog J-60 tarnished chrome finish

When I first became interested in staplers, my father-in-law gave me my first example of a Neva Clog. That stapler is the J-30 pictured above and came to me along with three or four boxes of Salco replacement DJ-340 staples. It sparked my taste for the stapler plier and the box of Neva Clog staplers in my studio is perhaps evidence of that fact. I've given J-30's as gifts to friends and nephews. They all have had the distinct N-C mark, but only the example given to me by my father-in-law bears the fantastic representation of what the stapler does. The J-60 may not be pretty, but it does have one added feature the J-30 doesn't. With aid of the switch on the bottom, the J-60 has the ability to staple and pin. This may be a feature we take for granted these days, but it wasn't always an option. There is still much more to the Neva-Clog story and as I learn more, you can be sure you'll be the first to hear about it.

Excerpt from the Stapler of the Week, June 12, 2007.