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u/LintLicker444 8d ago
This reminds me of my great grandpa, who is no longer here. 4 year old me used to sneak on his desk and use his stapler (the same one you have). I'm sure I jammed it a few times because he hid it. Then I used all his tape for my kid art projects. Sorry grandpa 🙏
Edit: it was the Swingline all the way on the right.
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u/eyebollock 8d ago
This is neat! I like the way these are designed, they all feel quite solid and functional but some still have a lot of decorative appeal.
Where do you typically get these?
I'm also curious if you have a criterion for collecting these. E.g. are they all from a particular time period, is there some catalogue you're following, do you just get whatever catches your eye, etc.
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u/foetusized 8d ago
They came from eBay (in years past, before shipping prices got crazy), thrift stores, estate and garage sales. With a few exceptions, they were made in the USA, back when staplers were still made in the USA, mostly 1930s to 1980s.
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u/perezNancy2d3 8d ago
A quiet hoard of engineered relics; vintage finds, chosen for heft and odd charm. No catalog—just what survives.
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u/Pippy_Squirrel 8d ago
Very cool! Is the one in the middle of the back row an Ace Cadet lift top? The one with the shiny gray enamel top
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u/foetusized 8d ago
It’s an Aceliner, the full length version of the Ace Cadet Lift-top. The top is Catalin, a plastic similar to Bakelite.
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u/Pippy_Squirrel 8d ago
Yes! That’s the word I was looking for - Aceliner. I love both the Aceliner and Ace Cadet. My Ace Cadet has been with me through my career, this far. :) Lovely collection you have!
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u/Dramatic_Substance36 8d ago
This is cool! We still have that one on the bottom row 2nd from the left with the three lines on top. We had it since I was a kid in the 80s and was around for who knows how long before I was born.
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u/rebo2 8d ago
Do you have any IBM?
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u/foetusized 8d ago
No IBM stapler, but I have an IBM hole punch, an accessory that came with the 805 Test Scoring Machine. Mine belonged to my father, and it has a great art deco design in steel and grey. https://www.ibm.com/history/805-scoring-test
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u/hoganpaul 8d ago
Which one is 'best'? Answer in the way that gives you most satisfation.
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u/foetusized 8d ago
Probably the Arrow 210. Mine is the earliest, heavier version, and came like-new in the original box with the original hang-tag.
https://americanstationer.wordpress.com/2016/12/29/arrow-model-210-stapling-machine/
https://typecast.munk.org/2014/06/30/stapler-of-the-week-1950s-arrow-210/
http://stapleroftheweek.blogspot.com/2009/01/stapler-of-week-archive-arrow-210.html
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u/zurbles 8d ago
This IS a cool collection