Krause, Bensons, Koloman Handler, Ring Alliance ring mechanisms?

If you have bought a non-Filofax branded organiser in the last few years what make of rings it is fitted with can be a bit of a puzzle. 

The ring mechanism as we know it now has been around since about 1915 in one form or another. The only major change has been the grouping of the rings so that they all open at once rather than the groups of 3 rings opening separately. See my earlier post on this. 

The ring mechanism wasn't just used for organisers, it was widely used and still is in a wide range of sizes and configurations, with varying number of rings used 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 etc. 

For something that has been in production so long it isn't surprising that there have been a few company name changes in over 100 years of production. 

Starting with Koloman Handler GmbH in Austria who started with 'book corners' They are credited in 1915 of the invention of the first ring mechanism.

By 1917 in Germany the company Walter Liebhold KG was founded, it was later to be renamed Robert Krause GmbH and Co KG, initially they made metal parts for drive belts and furniture locks. 

In 1922 Koloman Handler had established a production plant in Vienna to make ring binder mechanisms. 

In UK in 1923 Bensons was established by the Bennet Family and sons hence the name Bensons. 

In 1950 Walter Liebhold started production of ring binder mechanisms. 

The 1970's, 80's and 90's saw a lot of change in the ring mechanism makers. 

Bensons got sold to Esselte in 1976, they were an office supply company and are now part of the Acco group of companies. 

As volumes increased and production costs increased. Between 1985 and 1988 Koloman Handler outsourced its production to a facility in Hungary, whilst Bensons sent it's production to facilities in Singapore and Malaysia. They were to move production again to China in 1993 and then selling their production facilities by 1996.

1992 saw the establishment of the Hungarian subsidiary of Koloman Handler with automated production starting at the Hungarian plant in 1995. 

After 3 generations of family-ownership, Koloman Handler GmbH is sold to a financial group in 1998.

Moving in to the 2000's. Ring International Holdings AG (Austria) acquired Koloman Handler (GmbH) and it's Hungarian production facility and we see 'Ring Alliance' established as a trading name. 

Bensons joined the Ring Alliance in 2002 and now sells in the Netherlands, UK, France, USA and Singapore. 

All of Koloman Handlers production was moved to Hungary in 2003.

By 2016 Krause, Bensons, Koloman Handler are effectively all one company under Ring Alliance, owned by Ring International AG, who also own a variety of other companies producing a wide variety of products.

The 'Ring Alliance' product catalogue has all manner of ring mechanisms and stationery accessories in it for you to look at. The have all the different types of ring mechanisms (Pull open, Finger trigger, Lever arch, and others) 

Fascinating to discover how we got to where we are today! 

Even if your ring mechanism doesn't have one of the well known brand names on it, there is a strong possibility that it was made in Hungary or one of the overseas factories. Ring Alliance supply in units of 1000 mechanisms, and will engrave your company name on to the top plate for you. 

Historical source: https://www.ring-alliance.com/history/