Model, Year, Maker

Bates Wire Staplers:  According to a statement made by the company in January 1931, “The original model of the stapler came into possession of the Bates firm four years ago, but was not satisfactory. The company’s engineers went to work on it and four totally different models were prepared in the next three years, each better than the last. The fourth model was tried out under actual working conditions, but certain imperfections were found, and the product went back to the engineering department for study. In the summer of 1929 the final model was turned out and tested until early in 1930, when distribution began in limited territory. Now the staplers are being offered all over the country.”  The “original model” to which reference is made in the preceding quotation is explained in U.S. Patents No. 1,610,632, Dec. 14, 1926, and No. 1,637,357, Aug. 2, 1927, both issued to Sven Svenson, Fond du Lac, WI. Svenson’s original application, which was filed in 1924, was based on a design that was substantially different from the Bates machine that was marketed.

Later in 1931, Bates introduced the Model B. According to a product description, “There are three basic and important improvements in this new model stapler. The base and the body are more heavily reinforced, the new patented refill can be quickly and easily inserted, with all separate parts eliminated, and last, the new wire refill is tangle proof and it is impossible for the wire to become snarled or loosened. From now on, orders for Bates staplers will be filled with the new model B. The new model B refill…will not fit the old Model A stapler.” (Sept. 1931)

Various styling changes were made during the 1930s. Earlier machines (1930-35, including Model A and Model B’s) have round knobs and open sides so that you can see the vertical spring. Later machines (1935 onward, including Model B’s) have rectangular "knobs" and closed sides.  A lower capacity Model D was introduced in 1941 at $3.50. Model C was being marketed in 1950 at $6.50.