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23 January 2013

New vs. vintage Ascot

I purchased my beautiful Ascot from the Adspot page, and before I swapped it for my Malden the lovely seller realised that she was feeling a bit sad about selling it! She then found a company still offering them in blue but they only deliver in the UK, so she asked if it could be sent to me and then forwarded onto. I was more than happy to help and was delighted when she gave me permission to open the package to photograph the Ascots together. Opening any filofax is an exciting prospect for me, even if it's not mine!

Here's a little Ascot eye-candy for you :)






After taking some photographs and showing it to my hubby, I quickly popped it back in the box ready for posting as I definitely prefer the blue to the black and didn't want to be tempted to buy one... Having a nose on the company's website, it seems that they sell a range of binders not normally available new such as the Kensington or the Belgravia, which I thought I'd share for the vintage fans out there.
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22 comments:

  1. Jani23 January, 2013 00:39

    Ooooh, they are gorgeous! You were right to wrap up Blue again very quickly, I too am sorely tempted by that one.

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  2. Cheryl23 January, 2013 02:56

    I planned to buy one last week until I received word they do not ship to US and also I was confused by the VAT which I didn't think people outside the UK had to pay. But then since they don't ship to US I guess if it were purchased by someone in the UK and shipped to me personally then I would pay VAT. That plus shipping costs probably put it outside my budget. Quite disappointed unless I misunderstood?

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    1. Anita23 January, 2013 06:25

      I'm no expert on this, but yes, you may need to pay some kind of import tax. I purchased a CD boxset from the US some time ago and had to pay tax, but found something online that gave me an idea of how much it would be before I purchased the item.

      In the UK, it depends on how much the item is & then if the tax is below a certain amount it won't be charged anyway.

      Delete
    2. Cloudberry23 January, 2013 14:30

      Hi Cheryl, I recently shipped a blue Ascot to the USA to a lady who saw my blog on mine. It was from the same supplier - the price has sneakily gone up since November.....when it was £54.65 including VAT. Postage was another £15.57. From the shriek of joy when she received it, I guess that she was a very happy bunny!

      I believe VAT is payable if the purchaser is resident in the UK (even if it is a gift for someone overseas). I think you can get VAT exemption (or claim it back) if the purchaser is non domiciled here, but I'm sure someone here could advise.

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    3. Cheryl23 January, 2013 17:40

      Thank you for the replies! I would shriek too but with the new pricing that's about $150 US dollars not including shipping. Sigh. Have to think about that but then probably will sell out. I LOVE the blue...my favorite! I may write back if I decide to get it to see if some lovely person here would ship it to me. :) :)

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    4. Cloudberry24 January, 2013 14:34

      Happy to help out Cheryl. I'm trying to arrange a trip to NYC in March. I could bring it with me to save on shipping.

      Delete
  3. Alison Reeves23 January, 2013 04:26

    How does the Ascot compare to the Amazona? Does anyone know?

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    1. Anonymous23 January, 2013 05:18

      can't really be of much help Alison but I think from looking at these pics that the Amazona looks more bumpy and puffy whereas these have a more or less flat uniform surface.

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    2. Anita23 January, 2013 06:07

      I think that the Ascot is quite similar to the Osterley, and the Amazona is much more bumpy (like thisbugslife.com says).

      Delete
    3. Alison Reeves23 January, 2013 06:34

      I was wondering if the quality was similar?

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    4. Ena23 January, 2013 09:57

      Hi Alison, as you could see on my Blog "Filo-Manie", I'm owning both of them. So I would consider them to be of the similar quality! Both of them are high quality binder.
      To me the main difference is outside the more even surface of the Ascot (as Anita said, like the Osterley) and inside the different division.
      Ohhh, I do love both of them!!!

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  4. Paul Taylor23 January, 2013 07:52

    I have two Ascots - an A5 and a personal, both in black. The quality of them is superb. The leather seems rather similar to the Osterley, but more robust and perhaps thicker. The rings on both filos are the 'old' style, no visible rivets, and both are rock solid and meet perfectly. The personal Ascot has ring protectors for those of you who like them. I've been carrying my A5 around in my kitbag for months ever since I got it, and it's showing absolutely no signs of wear from that. Pen loops on the A5 - two of them - are different sizes and hold my Parker '51' pen and pencil set very nicely. The single pen loop on the personal is rather small and not elasticated. The only parts of either showing wear are the ring protectors and closure tab on the personal - the ring protectors have dents in them from the rings and the closure tab shows extra creasing like a well used pair of patent leather shoes.

    I don't know when the Ascot was current production - 10 years ago? - but Filofax would do well to return to this level of quality!

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  5. Ena23 January, 2013 10:00

    Hi Anita,
    I've been looking forward to this post since you announced it to me... ;-)
    On the pictures my Blue one seems to be a little bit bigger than the Black one... is these because the usage?
    And Anita..... as you say you loved the Blue... it really is recommandable!!! :-)))

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    1. Anita23 January, 2013 11:11

      Hi Maus, glad I did the post :)
      I see what you mean about the size difference & I'm not sure. Maybe it is usage or is it because they say black is more slimming? Yes, the blue is lovely but I'm going to be faithful to my Malden as my main organiser, with the A5 Holborn for projects.

      I think the only other binder I may consider in the future is maybe swapping the Faber-Castell binder for a pocket Malden if my iPod touch dies, & I'll go back to a paper diary.
      And I promise that would be it! :)

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  6. Cloudberry23 January, 2013 14:33

    Hi Anita - I have a photo of a pair of Blue Ascots as I shipped one to the USA recently! The pattern varies tremendously, so I think of them as non-identical twins!

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  7. Unknown23 January, 2013 19:17

    Ohhh I LOVE that blue!!!

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  8. Easy cooking with YIAH24 January, 2013 17:49

    ha ha black is more slimming - luv it! LUV that blue that may even be my next filofax if I can part with my crimson malden :)Don't know if I can get it in Oz.

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  9. Anonymous25 January, 2013 20:25

    I was the proud owner of a personal Ascot in Brown which I purchased about 15 years ago...it was special as it was an import (only the A5 and pocket size were on UK sale at the time)

    I still think it is one of the best designs outside and inside I have ever come across

    Clearly my wife thought so too as I didn't it have it much longer after it caught her eye!

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  10. Unknown19 April, 2013 11:45

    I have been looking for the ascot in royal blue----- and I can only find it online at in the UK! I contacted them but they won't deliver to me in the United States..... Any chance you would help me? The Mayfair Stationers have one in the pocket size.....I'm desperate!!!

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  11. Unknown19 April, 2013 11:47

    I have been desperately searching for the ascot in royal blue.....I can only find it at the Mayfair Stationers in the United Kingdom!! I contacted them and they wouldn't ship it to me in the U.S. Can you help me? I am dying for one in that color!! It would be my first filofax :)

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