We can't be 100% certain on the exact date of this brochure, but Monday 4th June occurred in 1979 and 1984. I'm focusing on 1980 as the publication date based on the source of the brochure and his correspondence with Filofax UK at that time.
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I think it was probably published late1978 or early 1979. Whitsuntide (Pentecost) varies each year. The diary leaf shows it as Sunday 3rd June which can only be 1979. It was a week later - the 10th in 1984. Diary pages would have been printed a year earlier and Filofax has nearly always used “future pages” in its marketing. If published in 1980, the would have had 1981 pages to use!
ReplyDeleteI’ve seen a 1979 price list that still shows old N&H model designations, so I suspect the photo predated the publication of this leaflet, and that the new designations here were introduced when David Collischon took over in 1980.
DeleteThe eagle-eyed will have noticed that the American Express card used (with an expiry date of March 1980!) is that of David Collischon, the man behind the rapid expansion of Filofax in the late 70s. He bought the company outright in 1980, on the back of this type of persuasive marketing.
ReplyDeleteOn the second scan in the lower left corner, you can read: "Established in 1920." - not 1921!
ReplyDeleteThat would mean we’re missing the 100th anniversary!
DeleteI think 1921 is correct as 6th June 1921 was the date that Norman & Hill Ltd was first registered as a limited company. The company remained as Norman & Hill until 10th December 1986 (Source: Companies House, London) despite being better known by the name of its main product!
DeleteDavid Collischon was chairman of N&H from as early as 1976, so, I still think this leaflet is a bit earlier than 1980 - a time when Collischon increasingly pushed the Filofax brand name in his pitch to take over control.
Not sure about the chairmanship? The obituary in the Telegraph said that David and his wife set up a business called Pocketfax in 1976, became major customers of Norman and Hill, and bought out the principal shareholder in 1980. I think this leaflet reflects the point where he was finally able to make sweeping changes, including a new logo, rationalising the product range and redesigning all the leaves.
DeleteSo interesting especially the pencil loop label, not a pen loop! xx
ReplyDeleteI think 1921 is correct as 6th June 1921 was the date that Norman & Hill Ltd was first registered as a company. The company remained as Norman and Hill until 10th December 1986 (Source: Companies House, London)
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ReplyDeleteDo we know when Filofax introduced the f embossment (?) ?
ReplyDeleteI was lucky to find a red Winchester (recently) in almost new condition "real calf 4CLF 7/8" but WITHOUT the "f" on the spine...
Hi Franz,
DeleteThere was a post about this question on 9th March.
Your Winchester is likely to date from between 1985 and 1989.