Firstly thank you for all the birthday wishes earlier in the week, they were coming at me from all over the place. Sorry if I missed responding to anyone, but it was great to get the Happy Birthdays from all around the world.
So I'm still here in UK and my A5 Holborn Zip is proving to be the right choice for the trip back here to UK.
It is like a mobile office in a way, I can pick it up, unzip it open it up, put it down and it's like being at home again. It is there with all the information I need to hand to keep things ticking away here on Philofaxy, whilst I'm busy doing plenty of other things around Kent, London etc.
How well do you cope with travelling with your Filofax?
But of course it is Friday so you can of course discuss anything Filofax related.
Random question on durability. I own a 1999 Kensington which I purchased used off Amazon. It's in remarkably good condition for it's age. I also own a Rio, but it's already showing much wear and tear (I purchased it about a year ago, new from a store that was selling out all it's Filofax inventory). However, I'm noticing a huge difference in old school versus new school quality. The former has it, the later doesn't.
ReplyDeleteWhat 'old school' models do you have that are holding up beautifully?
I actually just received a personal kensington today, and I too am amazed at the difference in quality from the newer binders I've seen. It arrived in very poor condition but I've been caring for it allday and it is looking much better already, and it looks like it will last me for many years to come!
DeleteLiz,
DeleteHave you used a leather cleaner on it? When I ordered, I thought I was buying a Finsbury. But I think I like this style better instead. There is a flap to cover the zipper that I think will make it last. Just wish the rings were a bit wider.
Thanks for the comment, Liz!
I have a Buckingham that I bought in 2001 and it's like nothing in the Filofax lineup today. The leather is thick and smooth, and after more than a decade of heavy use it looked great. Unfortunately the cover got damaged from being tightly squeezed onto a shelf next to a Domino, whose elastic ban dug into the leather. But even with the marring, the Buckingham still holds up far better than any of my newer ones. And the rings snap shut completely tightly, unlike the newer ones!
DeleteIf Filofax ditched the "soft smooshy leather, lies flat immediately, comes in pink" thing, and went back (just for one model, not the whole range) to the equivalent of proper brogues which need to be polished and worn in before they mould themselves to your feet, and resoled/stitched from time to time, would there be a market for the Model T Ford Filofax?
DeleteFour sizes.
One design.
Natural tanned (not dyed) brown leather.
Five card slots, no zips or anything to go wrong.
Big rings.
I would pay good money for something like that.
Absolutely yes, in fact many of us have been crying for something like this for years!
DeleteYou haven't seen all of the new range yet..... there _might_ be something that fits this description....
DeleteNow that is VERY exciting.
DeleteWhen will we hear?
Steve I'm really hoping they are full-grain leather and not just the thin leather reinforced with card that we've had in recent years.
DeleteSTEVE!
DeleteI know you're bound to secrecy or the Filofax Police (clad in runway looking attire with make-up akin to the Hunger Games) will fetch you, ESPECIALLY since you're in the UK...but can you at least tell us WHEN you can tell us???
There is another of series of press releases coming on Sunday... but it doesn't contain the rest of the new range... only some more of it... there is still more to be revealed... and some more that I know you are going to like...
Deletelbff: Sounds like you're describing the organizers made by Coach, Bridge and some Succes! L'Agenda Moderne my suit what you want.
DeleteOr also look at GlenRoyal:
Deletehttp://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2011/12/guest-review-glenroyal-organiser-gerard.html
Alan and Steve,
DeleteThanks for the heads up. However, I'm in the US, so shipping (plus the cost of their binders) adds an extra layer of cost. I've seen the Coach planners but I don't think they're much to write home about.
However, it's ALWAYS good to know your options. And to set up a saved search on eBay, heh heh!
Ibff,
DeleteWhat style of Little Black Filofax did you purchase? And do you enjoy it?
Alan Marshall, I have a Coach pocket size binder from the late 80's and its leather is spectacular, but I don't think they make binders anymore. They have covers for spiral agendas and notebooks, but I don't see ring binders.
DeleteJust had a look at the Glen Royal site, those binders are amazingly gorgeous. In their Women's collection they have binders in light blue, pink, lavender and red, and in the men's collection they have the traditional colors. I love the workmanship of these, and of course that they are handmade in Scotland! Does anyone know how much they cost? There are no prices listed on their website and I'm afraid maybe it's "if you have to ask you can't afford it."
DeleteLaurie,
DeleteYes, they are gorgeous. But when I saw that, I too cringed at the thought!
Steve,
DeleteSo press releases happen Sunday, right? Good to know!
I recently purchased a Glenroyal binder. It is beautiful and has the most gorgeous leather. It cost (wait for it) £153. Worth it though.
DeleteYes yes oh yes to what lbff said. I think I described nearly that same wish last week. I better start saving!
DeleteI have two Coaches, both picked up on eBay. One is on the way, but the one I have has gorgeous leather.
DeletePaperMeister, you might also want to check succes (only 1 "s" at the end) When I go to succes.nl it only links me to the Canadian site and won't let me search for the US site.
Ecven more expensive than the Glen Royal is Gold Pfeil, which is sold only out of Canada on eBay. They are very nice leathers, but I'm not sure that the quality is any better than Glen Royal and the selection certainly doesn't match.
DeleteAlan Marshall,
DeleteI looked at the Succes website. They had a few reasonable binders (I especially liked the black junior Cadiz)but I wouldn't pay for a new one. I got my used Kensington for $30 through Amazon=23 Euros (is it plural?) or 20 pounds.
I do, however, agree with your sentiment. If Filofax would get back to their basic standard, and offer it for the next 10 years, they'd start a paper Renaissance.
trina thanks very much for divulging the price! I was expecting 200 or more for quality like that. I think that's a very reasonable price considering people pay more than that for the "higher end" Filofaxes with lower-quality dyed leather and faulty rings!
Deletetrina, is the leather as thick and strong as it looks online? And, what do you think about the stud closure? And rings? I would love to get one of these binders in the future, but it would be something I'd have to save up for and buy as a binder to last me for life. Do you think the quality is up to that level? Thanks for any info!
I've just found a Kensington on a certain bid site. I might well have bid on it - make that I have bid on it!
DeleteIt looks a bit scratched, but I'll get the leather cream out if I get it.
Susan Sharpe
Been out bidded, mind you I didn't 'need' another did I?
DeleteSusan Sharpe
Any tips on using the FF Professional Week on Two Pages?
ReplyDeleteI opened mine up when it arrived yesterday, and unlike other "fills" it seemed to me that it would benefit from being jiggled about rather than just plonked into the rings.
I have divided it so that the monthly view which folds out, is used as a flap around each 4 week block of Wo2P ( I will put pictures on the new blog at the weekend to explain better) - but I have no idea if this is how it was designed to be used and despite searching, I can't find a single blogger out there who has blogged about their set up using this pack of inserts so I am making it up as I go along!
Having said that, I installed it in the A5 yesterday and feel pretty much instantly more in charge!
Paper is not dead!
ReplyDeletehttps://vimeo.com/61275290
I sure hope you can link to this and enjoy! Happy Friday!
Fab
DeleteLove the paper video!!!!
DeleteOh that's wicked. ROFL!
DeleteVery, very good :)
DeletePriceless!
DeleteHaha love it!!
DeleteRe: traveling with Filofax, my question is how to travel WITHOUT it. I can't. In the past when I've tried, I feel hopelessly lost without it. And that's true whether it's a two hour train ride, or a multi-week journey to another continent. My motto for my Filofax is: Don't leave home without it!!
ReplyDeleteThat's the truth! Anytime I go anywhere, I grab it to go with me. I never know when I might need something in it.
DeleteAmerican Express should collaborate with Filofax!
DeleteI have a question for everyone that my reply above made me think of: at which point does your Filofax become too precious to leave the house?
ReplyDeleteMy Filofaxes that don't leave the house are my irreplaceable ones: my Buckingham, which is my first ever Filofax, and my ivory Deco which is so beautiful I don't like it getting scratched up in my bag. (It's also a bit heavy to carry to be honest.) I enjoy using these Filofaxes at home, but the worry of either of them being lost or stolen makes me not want to take them out of the house.
Do you have any Filofax or other binders that you keep at home only?
I think I would be more worried about losing what's inside it, than losing the binder.
DeleteHaving all those thoughts and memories and plans stolen, or leaving them on a train, or a bus would matter much more to me than losing the binder which holds them.
Same as you Laurie - my green filofax finchley (and first filo also) has on very few occasions left the house, and each time I was terrified it would get scratched or get some other mark on that beautiful, soft, light green colored leather. I don’t feel comfortable taking it out and about because I know I could probably not replace it if I lost or damaged it.
DeleteI've not had this problem. My favorite things get used constantly, and if I own things which I do not use I tend to consider selling them or giving them away. I am not a minimalist at ALL but do like to use the things I love most. My red Winchester is lovely and would be very difficult to replace, but I take it everywhere and love it dearly. I also am more likely to lose things I don't use regularly than to lose those things I carry with me every day.
DeleteGeneral question: I have found websites which list the diameter of various good pens but how can I measure what size pen will fit into the pen loops on my filofax, especially the elasticated ones which are not amenable to a ruler being placed next to them. Specifically i am coveting a Cross Sauvage pen. ( well actually I am coveting evry model of the Cross Sauvage range!)but I would have to buy on line. Anyone have one and can tell me which filos you also have that it would fit into?
ReplyDeleteMaybe Steve could start a document in 'Files' where we can write the diameter of the pen loops in specific binders? That would make it easy for people to work out if a pen will fit, if you know the dimension of the pen! :)
DeleteWe should add that as a field in the Filofax Models database.
DeleteHelen - you could try the Fountain Pen Network Forum - they have a specific board for Cross pens - at the very least I'm sure someone would be able to measure the circumference of the pen, then you could check this measurement against other pens you have to see if it will fit.
DeleteHey everyone, I have a question about a specific Filofax model. I bought this beautiful brown-orange leather Filofax and on the inside it says: “Personal Bridle Italian leather”. I haven’t seen or heard anything about this model before, (apart from very few pics on the web) and I’m just a bit curious about it. Does anyone know which model I am talking about? Do you know what year it’s from? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any pictures of it, may be share it on Flickr
DeleteThat doesn't read like the markings of a Filofax Brand organizer. Instead, I suspect that is just the type of leather. Bridle leather is one of the highest quality, long wearing types of leather. If that was a Filofax there would be a model name and either "Made in England"of "Filofax of England".
DeleteFilofax you are talking about sold around 2004. I have a black personal and tan pocket. They are one of the best quality binders they have made in the last ten years - hold on to it. The model name is Bridle.
DeleteI forgot to mention that it the retail price was about $145.
DeleteLet's get this one added to the Database!
DeleteOh thanks everyone :) I was so curious about it since I hadn't seen it before, so its really good to hear that you know about it. I only have a few photos of it at the moment:
Deletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/78554968@N06/8560662440/in/photostream
and of the inside of it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78554968@N06/8559554925/in/photostream/
It has a few minor scratches, but I absolutely love it.
I haven't traveled without a FF for the last three years, and switch between sizes depending on length of trip and need for pocketability. My standbys have been a personal Guildford and a slimline Classic. The former I especially enjoy carrying, for the geeky reason that the oversize pocket on the left side, below the card slots, perfectly fits a passport.
ReplyDeleteI use the binder as wallet, calendar and notebook at the same time. I haven't been able to use Pocket or Mini, as the pages are too small for me to write effectively.
The FF has even influenced clothes. Each jacket I have will pocket at least the Slimline.
Speaking of Coach, the co founder and wife of the owner just passed. She was his wife and the reason the brand moved from solely men's leather goods into 'pocket books' and other cross gender leather good. When she suggested making the signature leather 'shopping bag' he laughed and said that would never sale. Just happened to pick up the story on NPR driving into work one morning :-)
ReplyDeleteThat's very sad about the passing of the cofounder/ wife of the owner. She obviously had very good taste and business sense!
DeleteI totally agree that the vintage models are far sturdier than the new lines. With perhaps one exception: my crimson Malden is extremely hardwearing. I'm convinced that it'll last decades really.
ReplyDeleteOh and btw: I still have a navy blue personal Buckingham for sale. Brand new! ;-)
Jotje,
DeleteSadly, the personal is too big for me. I love the pocket and mini!
Jotje,
DeleteSadly, the personal is too big for me. I love the pocket and mini!
Can anyone explain why most of the quality planner production companies are based outside the US? Tradition? Heritage? Multi-generational family businesses?
ReplyDeletePaperMeister that is an excellent question, and I wish I knew! Many US planner companies have their paper made in China or elsewhere in Asia, often for cost but also because of the long tradition of excellent paper production there (Japan for example).
DeleteQuo Vadis, who I hold up as the standard of best paper (in my personal preference) has a long tradition of making their own paper in France, where their company is based, but the US planners are printed and bound in the US.
The Success Choice planners are made entirely in the US, paper and all. But they are the only one I can think of off the top of my head who makes and prints their own paper in the US.
Does anyone else know of planner companies who produce their own paper in the US? I would love to know!
Laurie,
DeleteI can understand on the paper production. But surely there are plenty of leather craftsman in the US. Perhaps the craftsman feel the market is currently flooded? That Vimeo 'paper is not dead' video I'm sure sums up how many view paper.
If anyone can offer information on the subject, it's sure be interesting to hear.
Hi Steve,
ReplyDeleteI am about to purchase an A5 Luxe because I want a slim A5...
Without wanting you to breach your NDA :), please confirm there is no "slimliner" A5 version coming along....
thanks,
Stefaan
Sorry I missed Saying "Happy Birthday!" Happy Belated Birthday from New Jersey!
ReplyDeleteOK, So it does not seem like I was on the WRONG page. I the Happy Birthday was for Steve and also just letting the folks from the U.S know that Pens and Leather carries some really nice Filofax binders at a discounted price. Wishing Everyone Well!
ReplyDelete