Stapler of the Week Archive- Swingline 790

Swingline 790 plastic, steel, rubber

Swingline 790 plastic, steel, rubber

I have always enjoyed Swingline staplers for their sturdy metal construction much akin to the Tonka trucks of my youth.  At some point it must have become more profitable to forge the stapler of plastic rather than steel.  It was the same with Tonka trucks but the cost savings are lost in quality and longevity.  For example, here are two very nice Swingline 790 magazine staplers composed of at least 80% plastic.  Unfortunately, that plastic construction is liable to fail as is apparent on the white 790.

On the positive side, the 790 is innovative in both form and function; undoubtably, Swingline must have won some design award with it.  First off as a magazine stapler, the staples are coiled in a removable 5000 staple cartridge which is also used on several of Swingline's electric staplers.  Instead of a wire spool, the cartridge is a coil of flat glued staples from which the stapler separates the staple and forms legs to be crimped in the anvil.  On the mechanical scale of complexity, it's one step between a normal strip and a wire spool stapler.  On the Stapler of the Week scale it ranks just between nifty and very cool.

Excerpt from the Stapler of the Week, December 19, 2010.

Stapler of the Week- Elastic Juwel & Star Paper Fastener

Elastic Juwel steel chrome and paint finish

Star Paper Fastener steel chrome and phantom enamel finish

These two staplers really represent variations on a theme I have visited many times before.   I had previously mentioned the enameled ornamentation of the Hotchkiss No 54 but the Elastic Juwel goes one step further.  The Juwel is engraved with scenes of flowers and wildlife and in-painted to accentuate the engraving.  The Star Paper Fastener bears the faded remains of the enamel ornamented Hotchkiss No 54 and like the Juwel is yet another example of multiple companies producing identically designed staplers. But as the Antique Stapler Collector's Website notes the Star Paper Fastener Company became the E.H. Hotchkiss Company and continued to market staplers with the Star brand.  Also, frequently stapler patents were purchased from companies by their competitors and then sold under the new owner's name.  It's no wonder I keep talking about the same staplers every month or so.

Excerpt from the Stapler of the Week, August 12, 2010.

Stapler of the Week Archive- Novus B 7

Novus B 7 steel chrome, cream and gold finish

For your stapling pleasure, I present to you another simple yet elegant example from the Novus company.  The B 7 mirrors the design of the B 22 including the push button spring action loading.  The color scheme is a bit warmer than the blue and grey of the B 22 and coincidentally, it matches the corrosion of the steel.  Sometimes these happy accidents happen.

Excerpt from the Stapler of the Week, July 16, 2010.

Stapler of the Week Archive- Markwell "SX" Pacemaker

Markwell "SX" Pacemaker steel and rubber

Markwell "SX" Pacemaker box cardboard and paper

Markwell produced staplers with lettered staple size classifications and the "SX" Pacemaker marks another staple size not yet featured here.  It has some great ergonomic features from back when ergonomics were just called good design.  The base is completely rubber so there's no worry about this stapler sliding anywhere.  There is a  wedge-shaped plunger that makes stapling a pleasure.  I don't know if Markwell still honors its free service claim cited on the box but this stapler promises to keep the pace for years to come.

Excerpt from the Stapler of the Week, July 9, 2010.

Stapler of the Week Archive- Hotchkiss No. 53

Hotchkiss No 53 steel chrome finish

For some time I have been collecting versions of the Hotchkiss No 52, No 54 and No 57 and always had a sneaking suspicion there was something missing.  Certain Hotchkiss staple packaging notes the mythical No 53 and here it is, the heavy duty plier stapler.  It has the style of the Hotchkiss plier but unlike the others, the  No 53 will not fit in your pocket easily.  It may fit in your briefcase and it should because lets face it, this stapler means business.  


Excerpt from the Stapler of the Week, June 29, 2010.

Stapler of the Week Archive- ACCO 131 Frankenstapler

ACCO 131 steel, plastic

This stapler is one example of why I love my job.  On occasion, staplers get broken and they come to the workroom to be mended by the "Fiddler."  Usually it's only a staple jam or a slight adjustment, but sometimes greater measures are required as evident in the repairs needed by this patient.  Apparently, plastic was not the best design choice for the handle of a heavy duty stapler.  Maybe someone tried to staple one too many sheets of paper but in any case, this stapler was very close to making a trip to the dumpster.  With the addition of two mending plates, some machine screws, a bit of paint and some thumb tacks, this ACCO 131 was reborn as Frankenstapler.  There's no telling what's next in Frankenstapler's future, it's already mended the sandal of one research assistant.

Excerpt from the Stapler of the Week, May 28, 2010.

Stapler of the Week Archive- Nalclip Clip Niceler

Nalclip Clip Niceler plastic Nalclips steel black finish

Nalclip Clip Niceler box printed cardboard

My father in-law finds some very interesting things in his travels.  Although the clip niceler is not a stapler, it holds your paper together with metal nalclips which are similar to binder clips minus the arms for removal.  The nalclip is known by many aliases such as the Gachuck, Clam Clip, Paper Clamp, Supaclip, Super Clip, Magic Clipper or the Paper Shark.  As many names as there are for the nalclip, each uses the basic principle of a c-shaped steel clip that produces a pinch-point to hold the paper.  In operating the clip niceler, the nalclip slides over a pair of wedges on each side and opens allowing the paper to enter in and finally pinches as the nalclip exits the clip niceler.

The nalclip is pretty amazing in the fact that it causes little damage to the paper and is entirely reusable.  It does leave something to be desired in the operational experience.  The act of repeatedly applying nalclips feels a bit unnatural and would surely lead to carpal tunnel problems.  But I suppose it all comes down to personal preference.  I myself would choose the plunger-style buzzers of the Price is Right over the thumb-button trigger of the Jeopardy anyday.

nalclips advertisement

Excerpt from the Stapler of the Week, May 17, 2010.