tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post9009677268321957274..comments2024-03-28T10:34:56.034-04:00Comments on Philofaxy: Guest Post - What Should We Consider a Vintage Filofax? - AlanLauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03550291806241735598noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-14675486526778645172017-02-14T10:07:01.033-05:002017-02-14T10:07:01.033-05:00Interesting thread however Filofax has been in exi...Interesting thread however Filofax has been in existence since 1921, when Grace Scurr coined the name "Filofax". The Grace Scurr Anniversary binder was the company's 75th Anniversary.<br /><br />I have a beautiful Black Morrocan leather Personal binder stamped in gold foil "N & H London, BCM/Filofax London, Made in England E200 7/8<br /><br />Not sure when this was deebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08953781117704682886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-54072068695823760152016-02-25T22:05:12.098-05:002016-02-25T22:05:12.098-05:00I have a couple of the leathercloth ones that gmax...I have a couple of the leathercloth ones that gmax refers to. I have seen that vinyl and rubber ones on eBay. I have a Deskfax that is rubber.Alan Marshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12163255067102493914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-10788947589032903042016-02-23T15:33:35.651-05:002016-02-23T15:33:35.651-05:00Gmax, thank you for the reply. I was unsure since ...Gmax, thank you for the reply. I was unsure since the leather binders were discussed in this post. Behttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10482495677635690573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-73109949454208012882016-02-23T14:54:25.887-05:002016-02-23T14:54:25.887-05:00Hi Be - yes there were very sturdy non-leather bin...Hi Be - yes there were very sturdy non-leather binders finished in canvas and leather-cloth, as well as vinyl ones. And there was also a ribbed rubber model called Wellington.gmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17772023016889832202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-15851594183920481212016-02-23T14:31:12.812-05:002016-02-23T14:31:12.812-05:00Did Filofax manufacture non leather binders before...Did Filofax manufacture non leather binders before the move in production? Behttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10482495677635690573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-52140998218754429432016-02-23T13:43:23.542-05:002016-02-23T13:43:23.542-05:00Enjoyed the post thanks Alan.
The Facebook group d...Enjoyed the post thanks Alan.<br />The Facebook group description you mentioned coincides with my own particular interpretation of "vintage" Filofax, but perhaps there are grounds for having two groupings under the term <i>vintage</i> - "Golden Age" vintage (i.e everything up to around 1991), and "Declared" vintage, where a majority of the Facebook group agrees that gmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17772023016889832202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-26674104106843933432016-02-23T05:55:30.014-05:002016-02-23T05:55:30.014-05:00I actually pulled out my Lizard to check if it met...I actually pulled out my Lizard to check if it met specs for vintage. It only had the ring protectors, but I have to say it is the best made of my collection even more so than my Tejus.michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01824112543184228345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-12639226087628832122016-02-22T23:49:52.696-05:002016-02-22T23:49:52.696-05:00Vintage is about the age or era an item is from. I...Vintage is about the age or era an item is from. It's not about qualitative impressions or value judgments.<br /><br />I think using the term 'vintage' to ascribe qualitative aspects to an item is asking for confusion....<br /><br />Better to use a term like 'classic' to denote qualitative aspects such as it's design or other physical or perceived attributes.<br /><br />ArchiMarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00369127935933420679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-7036312393013691402016-02-22T21:35:02.325-05:002016-02-22T21:35:02.325-05:00I meant Michele! I used to work with an Anita Cit...I meant Michele! I used to work with an Anita Citrin!Alan Marshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12163255067102493914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-5865760636373185682016-02-22T19:42:04.286-05:002016-02-22T19:42:04.286-05:00Alan, I can only hope that some of the sellers on ...Alan, I can only hope that some of the sellers on e bay are reading this. They have no clue about either 'vintage' or 'rare'. Even more, I would hope that their potential victims are reading this!crofterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01977273055291702683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-46281358107923361422016-02-22T18:40:56.399-05:002016-02-22T18:40:56.399-05:00I hope people are not misreading. My purpose is to...I hope people are not misreading. My purpose is to encourage a discussion of what constitutes "vintage" and maybe implicitly, if "vintage" should be used differently from "classic". I tried to suggest a number of criteria, demonstrating that there is no definitive demarcation.Alan Marshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12163255067102493914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-78160436212654195452016-02-22T18:37:18.072-05:002016-02-22T18:37:18.072-05:00Using the criteria laid out in the penultimate par...Using the criteria laid out in the penultimate paragraph, the Sherwood, particularly the gilt cornered version, would qualify. They are old enough, roughly 25 years; are well-made with fine Scottish leather, and are somewhat rare. They were also made in the UK, at least initially. Likewise the exotics, are rare, have the quality, and are either marginally there or close, in terms of age. BTW,Alan Marshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12163255067102493914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-60480515093754108072016-02-22T16:07:45.955-05:002016-02-22T16:07:45.955-05:00It's an interesting conundrum. I am lucky enou...It's an interesting conundrum. I am lucky enough to own a (very worn) early tan Sherwood with the gilt corners on the front cover and despite its age it has held up really well. There are also Winchesters and Deskfaxes in my collection - including a 6 ring Deskfax. But I have to wonder what your position might be with regard to the exotic leather models - the lizard skin, pigskin, ostrich, Paul Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08853136637362400990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-57432433766764991112016-02-22T10:11:41.391-05:002016-02-22T10:11:41.391-05:00After considering your thoughts on this Tim, I hav...After considering your thoughts on this Tim, I have to change my opinion on my Italian Filos from Vintage to just a nice well made organizer.crofterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01977273055291702683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-58760753960031909532016-02-22T09:35:20.403-05:002016-02-22T09:35:20.403-05:00.. Maybe - but surely it's much more about the..... Maybe - but surely it's much more about the purpose and tradition of the company than the quality of the binders. None of the binders you mention were even made by Filofax! Prior to 1991 everything was manufactured by Filofax themselves in their own premises, by their own staff and that's surely what makes the products vintage. Lovely as my Kendal is, it was made on the other side of Tim Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04320789185450598620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-5384552868838764482016-02-22T07:54:14.282-05:002016-02-22T07:54:14.282-05:00Yes, however another weakness can be the leather c...Yes, however another weakness can be the leather cracking near the spine (I have returned two purchases with this fault) and at times the thread used in the stitching was somewhat suspect. I plan to work with Robert to get more specific information, such as Italian leather, documented on Filowiki.<br />Alan Marshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12163255067102493914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-861670851248964102016-02-22T07:51:20.932-05:002016-02-22T07:51:20.932-05:00Thank you Anita. I'm thinking it is time to c...Thank you Anita. I'm thinking it is time to cull the collection somewhat.Alan Marshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12163255067102493914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-21519586545747905922016-02-22T07:50:48.947-05:002016-02-22T07:50:48.947-05:00While I agree with much of what you say, I think t...While I agree with much of what you say, I think there are many examples of very well-made binders post-1991. The American range of Dorchester, Connaught and Ascot, the Italian Leather ones crofter referred to (Buckingham, Belmont, etc.) some more recent yet classic like the Kendal and Kensington, plus some very nice premium low-volume models like the Burlington and Rochester.Alan Marshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12163255067102493914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-73938498199727295882016-02-22T07:43:32.944-05:002016-02-22T07:43:32.944-05:00I'm contemplating a perceptual map graph with ...I'm contemplating a perceptual map graph with age on one dimension and quality on the second, which might help sort out this question a bit.<br />Alan Marshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12163255067102493914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-17924535508427890142016-02-22T07:41:32.903-05:002016-02-22T07:41:32.903-05:00That year of Latin in high school paid off!That year of Latin in high school paid off!Alan Marshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12163255067102493914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-8589662936738844262016-02-22T06:48:48.640-05:002016-02-22T06:48:48.640-05:00Hi Alan, excellent post to read. I really enjoyed...Hi Alan, excellent post to read. I really enjoyed looking thru your collection of vintage Filofaxes at our meet-up in Toronto last year. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-85185532135552402542016-02-22T03:29:29.557-05:002016-02-22T03:29:29.557-05:00Well done Alan - a brave attempt to tackle a subje...Well done Alan - a brave attempt to tackle a subject that has no answer! <br /><br />As you describe, 1991 was the watershed year for Filofax. It was then (following a change of ownership) that the decision was taken to move the brand downmarket, cut costs by shifting manufacturing overseas, price the product at a much smaller premium to it's competitors and drastically cull the range of Tim Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04320789185450598620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-42084941079475281642016-02-22T02:51:39.130-05:002016-02-22T02:51:39.130-05:00Excellent post Alan, thank you. I agree on your pe...Excellent post Alan, thank you. I agree on your perception of what constitutes 'vintage'. I have a number of Winchesters, I think the only weak point to them was the popper cover frequently comes off. I would have to include some of the B-5 desk fax as vintage also, tho I 'm not sure if any of those were off shore or not. Also to be considered are some that were made in Italy of crofterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01977273055291702683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-88713122800740215462016-02-22T00:20:17.641-05:002016-02-22T00:20:17.641-05:00Alan,
Very good and thoughtful overview and lots ...Alan,<br /><br />Very good and thoughtful overview and lots of good info about Filofax.<br /><br />As for the issue of defining vintage Filofaxes, I can see that this can easily become a very complicated one.<br /><br />When I looked up the word 'vintage' at Merriam-Webster dictionary online, two of the definitions listed think could apply and are relatively simple ideas:<br /><br /><br /ArchiMarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00369127935933420679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497333.post-29676865503782437462016-02-22T00:13:42.666-05:002016-02-22T00:13:42.666-05:00So nice to see someone else use the word 'crit...So nice to see someone else use the word 'criterion'!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10541238627141626564noreply@blogger.com