04 September 2012

Free For All Tuesday No 83

Tuesdays are your chance to ask any Filofax related questions you might have.

However, I've been sent a couple of pictures of a Filofax can you help identify which model it is?



Thanks for your help


39 comments:

  1. I'm not much help, but if people are in filofax id-ing mode I'd be interested in finding out which model this one is

    http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=508804847

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    1. That's a Winchester... same as the one I have!

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  2. hello! i hope all is as happy and well as possible for the moment - happy september! so i'd been sneaking some surfing in as i regularly do and found this on the ff france site:

    http://www.filofax.fr/store/organiserdetails.asp?sizeId=5&rangeId=169&dsizeId=5

    it seems like the super crazy beautiful true open a5 20mm binder people may be looking for complete with super crazy horribly expensive price tag

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    1. Wow thanks for sharing, I want one but can't justify it - not at that price, resist, resist, resist !!! :)

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  3. This looks super similar to my ('vintage') Lincoln Filofax, which was purchased (I believe) some time in the 1990s, but a bit more up market.
    Exterior: http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/651/imagewvc.jpg
    Interior: http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/6899/imageeiy.jpg
    I know I'm not 'old,' but the thought of something being 'vintage from the nineties' makes me feel ancient T.T

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  4. Hi guys! I'm a lurker here, but finally caved and bought my first (and hopefully only) Filo! Im so excited! :D I bought the aqua chameleon since it was on clearance. Im so excited for it to arrive!

    Quick Q, can the page file templates be printed on standard North American letter sized paper or should I just buy some A4? I'm a Canadian here so A4 isn't very readily available.

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  5. I have that exact same model Filofax - tan leather personal, gold coloured metal corners on the front and gold coloured 7/8" rings. I've looked it over and nowhere does it even hint at what it's called (unless it's a 'Real Calf'!) and I've been thinking about asking this very same question for a while now. I acquired mine sometime in the late 80s and it replaced a grey Winchester - I think it was shortly before I met my other half, which was '89 if knowing the age is of any help in identification. It's a shame they don't make 'em like that any more - mine is a bit scuffed and dented but still fully functional and the rings still meet precisely with a satisfying click when opening and closing. I haven't used it in anger for the best part of a decade but it could come back into service tomorrow at a pinch...

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    1. Hi Paul

      I am the owner of the filofax in the picture, having been a philofaxy reader for a while but not commenting until now. I kind of like the idea of a model called "Real Calf" and am glad someone else has the same model as me. I'm relatively new to filofaxes and am still trying to find a set up that works for me but am looking forward to using "Real Calf" within that setup.

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  6. steve take a look at this listing - http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260982617995 no name given but the card is presant and the pics are good.

    The next image from flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmarkbertrand/3452297247/ has the text from the back side of the card....
    The reverse of the card reads: "The Living Quality of Fine Scottish Leather. Every piece of leather has its own character in grain and texture. Leather from National Chrome Tanning gains extra individuality from its Scottish heritage -- tanned using the softest water in the world with skills built up over generations. Like wood, leather is one of the few materials that grows more beautiful with use, the grain acquiring a natural patina."

    No name yet though...
    Tracy

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  7. Is it possibly a personal Portland?

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    1. It's definitely NOT a Portland - I have one and they are completely different (and have their names on the inside too). A portland has a gusseted zipped pocket on the left and 6 card slots on the right and a full-height pocket behind the card slots.

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  8. Or a Personal Sherwood, as in this photo:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmarkbertrand/3452298235/in/photostream/

    It certainly has the same internal layout with two pen loops, the numerous card slots and the zip pocket in the back cover.

    There was never one called 'Real Calf' that's a type of leather you will find it in a lot of Filofax organisers of that age!

    Steve

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    1. I *was* joking! It's just that they usually have an imprint saying 'Filofax personal xyz, italian leather/real calf/whatever'. It's just a bit odd that the model number or name doesn't seem to be included in the imprint on this one for some reason. Maybe Filofax were in limbo between naming conventions around that time?

      It is very similar to the Personal Sherwood, I agree, but the Sherwood doesn't have the metal corners on the front cover and its rings are chrome. This particular model has gold rings.

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    2. Sherwood was available either with a gilt ring mechanism and gilt corners, or with a standard ring mechanism and without gilt corners. Colours were black, burgundy and tan. The one pictured above is likely to be burgundy.

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    3. It would date from circa 1992, and was priced at £49.95.

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  9. I thought about that one but it's got a slip pocket the one in your picture doesn't have... but the leather looks similar

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  10. I also think it is a Sherwood, I have an identical model in Black. This is the first one that I have seen in brown, and I think it is quite nice.

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  11. Thanks all for your comments. The filofax is actually red, however the light was not good when I was photographing it and I couldn't get the exposure right on the camera, hence it looking more brown/tan than red.

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  12. I have a question.. does anyone know of any US online stores that sell Filofax's, inserts, accessories etc. for cheaper than the Filofax website? I know Ebay sometimes have stuff but I find that they are just as pricey (if not sometimes more than the Filofax USA website). Thank you!

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    1. You should check out Pens and Leather. The binders are always about 20% off, but it can be a while before they have the newest models available. I believe the refills and inserts are essentially all full-price, though. Good luck!

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  13. Well, whatever this binder is called it is lovely. I really wish they would do more in the gold coloured ring mechanisms. I have an Ivory Panama with the gold rings which is lovely - sadly I don't care for the closure so I may have to sell it on.

    On another note I would just like to make a comment about planners. I've spent a fortune on diary inserts (mostly prior to the Steve & Ray collaboration). I tend to see others using a particular layout and strive to follow suite. I've been through just about every option. I really, really wanted to TM weekly and daily ones to work, but sadly I couldn't live up to them. Then I discovered that the one diary layout that I thought would never work is perfect for me - the week on one page with notes (where you have the week on the left and the facing page is for notes). Although I run my own business, I find the granularity of one page or two page a day too much to cope with. I don't have a lot of appointments, but I have tasks and projects which I want to be reminded of all the time. So I divide the notes page in two with a red line and put work projects on one side and personal ones on the other. I find I don't have to keep re-writing every day - but it does give me a real sense of what I need to get done each week, and how I am doing on the progress front. I plan to refine this further with some colour coding - say one colour for customer tasks and another for business ones.

    A further observation is that I have also diligently kept a month to view, but have no idea why as I use Outlook and regularly look at that. So I plan to scrap the month to view, and perhaps just use a set to plan something like blog posts.

    I don't need to long lists of tasks - I've basically identified a list of projects and created a mindmap for each project with all the tasks on and printed it out and folded and punched into my A5. This way I can still have the pleasure of my preferred view (i.e. mind map) but can also have the pleasure of crossing off tasks on a larger project to give me a feeling of progress. So I keep my list of projects, and behind that a mind map for each one. This leaves me with much more room for things like checklists (e.g. one for when I have to work away - what to take, or a list of items to take to training sessions I run, or a list to run through when editing and proofing documents).

    I'm going to re-set up another binder for my home/diet/meal planning/exercise and recipe topics. This won't have a diary as such, but I'll utilise one to record my meals and snacks.

    I just then need to decide whether I set up a separate binder for hobbies or not. I'll know more when I've bedded in my planner one (which covers work and home) and I can see how much ring space is available. I've more or less given up on the idea of using a personal size - I don't go out that much so can take the A5 when I really need it. For personal use I have my diary and contacts on my phone - so I needn't look like to bag lady hauling around loads of stuff I don't really need (I'm all for travelling light!).

    I think this has all come about because I felt the FF was ruling me rather than the other way round and I was seriously thinking about not using it at all - I'd fallen out of love because it wasn't delivering the help I needed. Has anyone else had a real change in the way they use or set up their binders recently?

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  14. It looks just like the very first Filofax I bought back in 1989...my model was called Lincoln and it was brown.

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  15. Steve.. I don't know if there is such a thing out there... but I've been looking for a metal closure for the front of my binder. Let me explain. When I go to WH Smith or Staples I buy many a big A4 ring file and in some, they have a metal clamp type clip to hold down the paper inside, so the paper is pressed down and held securely... visible when you open the folder... it is a mixture between a clip and a clamp device. These do not however fit the A5... or indeed A4. I would love a paper clamp clip. Anyone know of anything out there to fit the bill??????

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    1. Hi Jane
      I know what you are talking about, normally seen in lever arch files/ring binders

      I doubt if you will ever find one for an A5 Filofax because the rings spacing isn't common to anything else.

      But an A4 Filofax is the same ring spacing as a normal 2/4 ring A4 folder (80mm) have you tried using one of those clamps to see if it works or not?

      Steve

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    2. Yes Steve, I did try one and strangely enough, the thing didn't work in my A4 Strata. Would be really handy for A5, as I've just swapped from larger ringed Finsbury to smaller ringed Cuban ink coloured Filofax.... taken stuff out I don't need and made a separate reference Filofax....for things I need occasionally ie maps,Filo info notes eg European Union etc, but not stuff I use each and every day. Have been ruthless about pruning, and now have the benefit of an A5 binder, but a lighter and nicer A5 binder. Would now be handy to have a clippy thingymawhotsit for my A5!!!! Think you are right though..... I'll be darned lucky if I find one that fits. Worth asking though!! xx

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  16. Here's one for all you restorers out there: my Buckingham has some rust on the ring mechanism. Is there any way to remove it without damaging/ staining the surrounding leather? Thanks for any info!

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    1. Could you post/share a photo so we can see where the rust is? Thanks
      Steve

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    2. Sorry no because my post-malware computer is still having problems loading photos and it would take about 45 minutes to load the one photo. But the location is at the base of the top lever, where it meets the metal spine of the mechanism. There's not a lot of rust, but I'd like to nip it in the bud before it spreads if I can.

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    3. Can you get a small bit of wire wool on the end of a cotton bud to it, to rub it down may be?

      Sorry I didn't realise you were still suffering with the dreaded Malware... Ubuntu CD time...

      Steve

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    4. To be honest I think it's as much a problem with Kodak software as the malware issue.

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    5. Laurie you might check for a product called "Never-Dull". It is described as Magic wadding, and is often found at truck stops in the States. You might look on Amazon and see if it is available over there. If need be, I will buy a can and mail it to you. I am sure it will work.

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    6. Thank you crofter, I will look for it!

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    7. Anvismart defender.... a free download... is brilliant at detecting and removing the most current malware. Run the quick clean and the long clean and all click threats removed. Also has a de- frag built in. I also run clean on C- Cleaner.... another freebie download. My dad was a systems analyst and recommended these, which he uses himself, alongside Norton. xxxxx

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  17. I have a couple of questions both of which are probably very noobish and silly, so I apologise, but...

    1) I have a lovely zipped Lyndhurst that had an unfortunate meeting with a hardback book when I was carrying it, and now has indentations from the book's cover in the leather, which is making me very upset. Is there any way to 'undent' the leather?

    2) Is there a way to remove the binding mechanism entirely from a Filofax? Before everyone screams, I have a binder with broken rings which I don't want to throw away.

    Thanks guys :)

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  18. I know ice cubes remove indentations from sofa legs etc etc in carpets ......may stain a Filofax though!!!!Worth looking up on Google???? Sorry.... not much help.... most folks on this forum send their binders back to Filofax for ring mechanism repairs/replacement..... they are usually very helpful that way so I hear. xxxx

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  19. I'd never heard of that before, but I certainly will Google it, thank you!

    I don't think Filofax would be too pleased to get back my old binder though! It's not even a leather one, but I do like it, and I can think of other uses for it - if I can get the rings out! But I can't work out how to get the rivets out.

    Thanks!

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    1. There's a guest post from Tim Edwards on July 11, 2012 where he discusses removing a ring mechanism from a binder and installing it in a flex. It could be helpful.

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