Stapler of the Week Archive- Neva Clog D-40 & D-40X

Neva Clog D-40 brushed metal finish with corrosion

Neva Clog D-40X brushed metal finish and wood base

Neva Clog produced a line of desk top staplers in addition to their plier staplers. The D-30, D-40 and D-40X are the Neva Clog staplers recognized as being perhaps the most art deco in design. I'm not the best person to make that distinction, but they are very attractive. Their sleek lines and solid construction make them very pleasant to use. I don't use them much however because my supply of DJ-340 staples is low.

These staplers are remarkable for their styling and details, but beyond that, they are the most common types of staplers available. One need only look to the Ace Pilot for another example of these common desk top models. They function very much the same, yet they have very different aesthetic value. The D-40 is the standard model, similar to the Pilot, the D-30 is the compact model, and the D-40X is the extended reach model for stapling booklets & pamphlets.

The D-30 is featured on the Magazine Stapling Machines page of the Early Office Museum and one example was featured for sale by DecoWorld. DecoWorld was the first hit I found for replacement DJ-340 staples. I've since found other sources with varying prices, but haven't made a big order yet.

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

Stapler of Week Archive- Neva Clog S-100

Neva Clog S-100 black finish

Neva Clog S-100 chrome finish

Neva Clog produced many models of plier staplers to perform different tasks. As the J-30, J-60, and J-56R were more suited to the office, the S-100, F-100, and B-100 models were meant for tougher tasks. I've found reference to them used by leather workers and even corn breeders (Maize Newsletter Issue 15, 1941). As seen illustrated below, the S, F and B-100s varied in jaw opening size. The S-100 and F-100 used either A-1000 (1/4" leg) or L-1000 (5/16" leg), where as the B-100 had it's own B-staples. If you find yourself confused by all the stapler and staple model numbers, you're not alone. There's really no discernible logic to these names but it's interesting to hypothesize what different things one would staple with each model. I measured and my index finger would fit in a 1/2" jaw opening which brings back a rather unhappy childhood memory. You can fill in the details. Luckily, these S-100s only have 9/32" of clearance so I won't have to relive that experience.

Excerpt from the Stapler of the Week, October 18, 2007.

Stapler of the Week Archive- matac 7

matac 7 chrome and blue finish

matac box front (above) and back (below)

The matac 7 comes to the Stapler of the Week collection from Italy by way of Australia. I bought two, one in white and one in blue. I've had difficulty finding references to either the matac 7, catam (I do realize that's matac spelled backwards) or any recognizable markings on the stapler. It is, however, a near dead ringer for the Zenith 548 made by Balma, Capoduri & C.. Sure, there are some design differences in the casing and the obvious rear vs. front loading staples. I'm guessing the matac 7 was a design knock off marketed decades after the distinctive Zenith design was fairly well established.

Guessing aside, what interests me more are the differences is design sensibilities across cultures. It's not an original exploration by any means, but European staplers have a very different feel and look when compared to those in the USA. Their appearances are very clinical, almost like medical devices. I've found myself more drawn to these foreign manufacturers of office tools... the typewriters (3) I brought along on our move to NY are all Olivettis.

Excerpt from the Stapler of the Week, October 9, 2007.

Stapler of the Week Archive- MUJI stapler

MUJI stapler plastic and metal closed (top) and open (bottom)

Building on last week's staplers in Japan connection, here's a neat little compact fastener from MUJI. When not in use, a slight adjustment enables it to become even more compact as seen in the top illustration above. The MUJI "basic principle is to develop new simple products at reasonable prices by making the best use of materials while considering environmental issues." Now that's a pretty good principle, saving the environment and such with good design.

My wife was familiar with MUJI long before I was keen on office supplies. She first bought MUJI products in the basement of Selfridges & Co in London and then later shopped at one of the many the MUJI stores. I only mention this because a store is set to open in New York City this fall. I may acquire some more MUJI myself.

This particular example was a gift to the Stapler of the Week from one Aki Shibata, a MUJI disciple from Japan to Minnesota. Just a reminder...donate a stapler to the collection and you may get a mention.

Excerpt from the Stapler of the Week, September 24, 2007.

Stapler of the Week Archive-Hotchkiss No. 54

Hotchkiss No. 54 patent Dec 4, 1934 chrome finish

This specific stapler's design can be traced to one Fridolin Polzer through patent drawings provided by Old Staplers.com. It's also the unadorned version of a plier stapler in the modernism collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. I've been looking for one ever since I saw the MIA's example. It's movement is refined and concealed within its case. The staples are smaller than those of the Swingline "Tot" 50. Truly, it was meant to be ornamented and used by delicate hands.

In researching this stapler, I learned some interesting details about the Hotchkiss Company. Due to a bit of marketing genius by E.H. Hotchkiss, in Japan and Korea the word for stapler is Hotchikisu, according to Curtis Scaglione's Stapler Exchange. Apparently Hotchkiss sent a shipment of fasteners there and as they were the first fasteners the Japanese had ever seen, they naturally referred to them (and all that followed) by the Hotchkiss name.

Also, there's a question if there is any connections between the Hotchkiss stapler and the Hotchkiss machine gun used in WWI. Jim Breen, an Austrailian IT researcher, did a bit of digging here but couldn't find a definite connection, aside from the fact both families came from Connecticut.

Excerpt from the Stapler of the Week, September 16, 2007

Stapler of the Week Archive- Bump & Clipless Paper Fasteners

Bump Paper Fastener Patent Jul 21, 1914 black metal finish

Clipless Paper Fastener Patent August 2, 1910 chrome metal finish

These paper fasteners are the most recent additions to my collection. I first referenced these fasteners in the Stapler of the Week entry for the Chadwick Stapleless Stapler. As stated before, I have been fascinated by the stapleless fastener ever since I stumbled upon their existence. Whether they were created to conserve staples or just to compete with the stapler industry, they did not catch on the way one might think they should. Perhaps the fact that the process was a far less reversible than stapling is behind it not being a common household item. These two hand-held examples were also accompanied by desktop models which resembled staplers of the time.

The process by which the paper is fastened is I think exactly the same. It is more visible on the Clipless model. One can see what appears to be a smaller punch with an eye like a needle and then a larger chisel shaped punch. As you can guess, the larger punch creates the tab and the smaller punch the hole which the tab slips in. When the fastener is fully depressed, the tab is slipped into the eye of the smaller punch. As the fastener is released and the punches withdraw from the paper, the tab is pulled through, fastening the paper together.


Excerpt from the Stapler of the Week, September 10, 2007.

Stapler of the Week Archive- Arrow P66 Plier Stapler

Arrow P66 Plier Stapler Chrome and Red Finish

I had always associated Arrow with tacker/staple guns. In college, when I was starting to stretch my own canvases, I went straight to Menards and bought an Arrow A-T50. At the time, I was of the opinion that everything had to be heavy duty. Since then, I've come to appreciate the old adage that less is more. The P66 fits in the less category. It lives up to its description as a "small convenient mini plier type stapler with a two tone finish that fits in your pocket." That perhaps isn't the best product catch phrase, but I think it could get stuck in your head if you put it to the right tune.

This stapler was a gift to the Stapler of the Week from John Anderson, friend extraordinare.

Excerpt from the Stapler of the Week, July 17, 2007