Any stapler historians on board?

[David Conwill]

Inspired by the “vintage office” posts on here, a couple days ago I bought this lot of Swingline staplers on eBay. They arrived today and I was able to inspect them. Three of the four are the old “Swingline 27" that was introduced in 1952. The third appears to be a Model 747 (the “Office Space” stapler - only mine’s gray). Aside from being very dirty and beat up, they’re in good shape.

I’m intrigued, though, by the fact that the Streamline Moderne base plates on the older Model 27s (I looked up the design patent, and it’s from 1937, back when Swingline was called the Parrot Speed Fastener Corporation) gave way at some point to the more generic base on the newer Model 27. Does anyone know when this occurred?

Also, does anyone know of a source for new name plates? The newer Model 27 and the 747 are missing theirs.

-Dave

 

[David Conwill]

Okay, I'd settle for if someone could just tell me how to lubricate these properly. Just by spraying WD-40 indiscriminately?

-Dave

 

[J.J. Gittes]

A bit of WD-40 should do the trick, just a dab, not to much. I have a model 27, love it to death.