subject: The Stapler Has Come A Long Way [print this page] These days a stapler is a very common piece of office equipment. It can be found in homes and classrooms as well. Several manufacturers have met the demands of the consumer with vast product lines. Companies like Remington and Swingline Stapler have innovated models that can be traced back to the early days of the original patents. Even pop culture has embrace the stapler as in one episode of "The Simpsons" and the Hollywood movie "Office Space". Given the indispensable roll the stapler has played in our lives, there is almost a sense of nostalgia as some companies have already begun to reissue vintage models.
While we may take it for granted, the stapler has a very rich and interesting history. According to oldstaplers.com, the modern-day stapler was born out of a wide range of contraptions throughout the 19th century beginning with King Louis the 15th. Inevitably, many inventions were patented throughout this period but it took a while for what most would consider to be the first stapler to come along, as it did with the inventor Henry R. Heyl in 1877.
From a modern day perspective it is worth noting and perhaps a bit obvious that office equipment made before our time was built to last. We can all relate to the fact that many of the things we buy today are of poor quality. In contrast, even staplers made during periods of World War, were constructed with sturdy material and design.
It is also worth noting that certain designs have stood the the test of time and are used in our modern day staplers. As illustrated on officemuseum.com, the Acme #1 Staple Binder, born around the turn of the 20th century was produced up until 1950. However, they closely resemble some of the heavy duty stapler class or the long arm staplers that are popular today.
Sadly but not surprisingly, it seems the effects of mass production and other economic forces sacrifice quality to some degree nowadays. One can simply log on to the Internet to find some blogger complaining about a stapler that was purchased but rendered useless because it was jammed or has malfunctioned in some way. Then there are those who were once proud owners of functioning staplers but co-workers had stolen them because of their durable and reliable performance. It is odd that the oldest technology that we own in our office environment is either MIA, in short supply or broken.
By present day standards the old antique staplers would be cumbersome to operate and costly to repair if broken. In today's business culture, if you broke a $15 stapler, you would go out and purchase a new one. Not the most ecologically sensitive course of action, but accepted as the practical thing to do. Indeed the times have changed.
