Guest Post: And Now…A Word From the Deskfax Appreciation Society: The Fraternal Order of Nine Rings

When one thinks about the variety of sizes Filofax produce for planners, the quick responders all yell out “A5”. This is correct. However, Filofax used to produce a wider variety of sizes including personal planners that made good use of the B5 paper size (mid-range of the B formats in terms of size; dimensions are 250 x176 millimeters or 9.84 x6.93 inches. These planners, ‘Deskfax’ models, were abruptly discontinued (I don’t know when exactly, Steve if you know I would appreciate data input here).

Today, Filofax still produce a meager variety of B5 inserts in an official capacity while various sources including eBay have a wider variety of much older, shall we say “antiquated” inserts, which despite their yellowed first few pages are quite usable. But to what end?

There is an underground movement afoot. Deep beneath the subculture of the planner obsessed, exists a group of people completely devoted to the showcasing, using and calling for the reinstatement of the Deskfax Filofax personal planners. So far, the “Fraternal Order of Nine Rings” or ‘brotherhood’ as they like to be called, (with every member being referenced as ‘brother’), collaborate with 35 brothers.

One of the biggest issues with Deskfax [models] is the lack of availability both for the planners themselves and 9-hole punchers. Through international collaboration however, the brotherhood has been able to obtain access to global stationers who still produce and can provide 9-hole punchers. The minimum order for these (as they are being sold wholesale) is 100 units. The brotherhood is making an official appeal through the printing of this story to support and join the Order.

The official link is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheFraternalOrderofNineRings/

Karine Tovmassian heads the brotherhood, established 2014 and would like to encourage all those who appreciate quality, vintage Filofax personal planners to join and support the brotherhood. Karine was inspired by a Red Deskfax sold to her by friend Alan Marshall. Aptly named, ‘Alan Marshall’s Red Deskfax,’ it serves as a testament to the beauty and Bauhaus functionality of this planner

So far, the brotherhood have sorted out 5 of their members with Deskfax planners obtained through international sources. The goal is to ensure that each member has at least one Deskfax. Through collaboration, sourcing, research and dedication, this goal is slowly becoming a reality.

Many users of A5 size are pleasantly surprised at the usability of the Deskfax and are switching over, completely abandoning their A5 sized planners. The only thing holding more people back is the inability to hole-punch B5 paper with homemade inserts, after all, 9 holes per page is quite the effort!

Most recently, LordDodo of DodoPad industries  (also a Brother) was pleasantly surprised to find a stationer in the UK who had 3 spare 9-hole punchers laying about. Two of these were immediately requisitioned for their B5 DodoPads, while a third made its way to another brother in San Diego, California, United States of America.

This Brotherhood, stands firm in the knowledge that larger real estate in planners means more thinking capacity, greater planning ability and a more comprehensive outlook for business-minded individuals who keep track of clients, run their own companies and despite all the odds, want Filofax to reconsider bringing back the Deskfax.

The Brotherhood have established a logo (though temporary at the moment) with the efforts of Brother Greer Dickson. The wreath symbolizes a peaceful, fraternal organization. The cross arrows, pointing upward symbolize the various members across the globe, intersecting at the very point where D (for ‘Deskfax’ and F for “Fraternal” meet.

The number 9 symbolizes the nine rings and together they make up the Fraternal Order of Nine Rings. Eventually, this logo (or a similar one once it is finalized) will be produced into a lapel pin, which can be worn during meetings and brothers will be assigned a membership card and sequence number. All Brothers work together to help other brothers obtain their Deskfax planners and assist with insert creation, printing and distribution.

Finding the 9-hole punchers has been a tremendous effort and now they just need your membership numbers to help place an order of 100 units to:

1. Help The Fraternal Order of Nine Rings become self-sustaining in their pursuit of owning and operating an analogue Deskfax.
2. Provide concrete numbers to Filofax for a demonstrative motive to reinstate the Deskfax.

Karine