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.

Stapler of the Week Archive- Markwell Staple-Master

Markwell Staple-Master chrome and silver painted metal with rubber foot

This Markwell was the second in a line of stapler gift from my in-laws. I have to say, I have yet to truly understand it. It is a front loading stapler, by way of the unpainted clip cover. Above is a little lever which is under a label reading, "Press up gently and then release quickly before loading." I haven't really found more info on this exact model. What I like about this Staple-Master is the markings. There is a identity tag on it with a shield and the numbers "12-2244." I don't know what that means but it's intriguing. On the plunger top is written in cursive script, "Markwell RF Master," the Markwell name is engraved in the rubber foot, and the name, "Staple-Master" is proudly engraved in all-caps on the very front of the stapler. Markwell still produces and sells office staplers, but most of its business is specialty and industrial staplers and tackers.


Excerpt from Stapler of the Week, May 30, 2007.

Stapler of the Week Archive- Neva Clog J-56

Neva Clog J-56-R brushed metal

Neva Clog is perhaps my favorite of all stapler companies and yet I know very little about it. Located in Bridgeport, CT, Neva Clog produced staplers geared toward very specific tasks. Their "J" line was geared toward the clerical side of the stapling public. But they also produced a whole line of more industrial staplers intended for use in factories, farms, warehouses, upholstery, and leather work. The Model J-56-R is perhaps the most interesting of the "J" line because it features a built-in stapler remover, that folds out not unlike the blade of a jackknife. I'm pretty sure the "R" stands for remover, but I can't be absolutely sure about that. We can look forward to many more Neva Clogs in future Stapler of the Week Posts...I guarantee it!


Excerpt from Stapler of the Week, May 25, 2007.

Stapler of the Week Archive - Swingline 615 Saddle Stapler

Swingline 615 Saddle Stapler grey painted and chromed metal with rubber & plastic features

The first time I saw a Swingline 615, was in 2004 during a premarital counselling session with the white-haired scandinavian Pastor at my grandmother's Lutheran Church. I commented on the stapler and my fiance (now my wife) said she had used them many times (perhaps at the historic house museum or the University mail room she worked in during college.) I was entranced by it. I had made a few booklets in college but had never knew there was a stapler with the expressed purpose of binding these booklets. I had learned about the saddle stitch binding while working at West Publishing. In my two months at Kinko's, I learned to operate copy machines that would copy, fold and staple a booklet. The fact that these operations were happening with the use of machinery did not amaze me, it was the fact that such an odd looking thing would be designed for use by the general public.

In my pursuit of owning a saddle stapler, I found examples of electric foot-pedal activated saddle staplers for high volume booklet making. I almost bought one, but then, when would I ever be saddle stapling enough booklets to need it. The Swingline 615 is in no way vintage. This particular model is fairly modern and is still available for sale. If you search it out on the internet, you'll find it's not a cheap item new ($80 - $100) and that it takes special #35150 round wire staples. I have yet to buy a box and start making some more booklets. As the complete finishing service copier moves out onto the Kinko's self-service floor, I think a my studio and a Lutheran Pastor's office will be the only place to find one.

Excerpt from the Stapler of the Week Archive, May 15, 2007

Stapler of the Week Archive - Chadwick Stapleless Stapler

Chadwick Stapleless Stapler chrome finish with rust accents

So, this isn't technically a stapler. But, when I started learning about the world of stapleless staplers, I had to have one. My first pursuit was after a stapleless paper fastener made by the Bump Fastener Company from La Crosse, Wisconsin. There was also the Clipless Paper Fastener Company of Newton, Iowa, who eventually bought out Bump. Above is pictured a Chadwick Stapleless Stapler , which functions on the same principle. A hole and a tab are punched after which the tab is folded into the hole fastening the paper together without a staple.

Excerpt from the Stapler of the Week Archives, May 11, 2007