If you want to buy a Vintage Filofax, which models should you be looking at? Which ones do you consider to be good quality? And for each of the models you recommend what is a sensible price to pay?
Yep it is a tall order, I know we all have our favourites.
Remember what we consider vintage is an often discussed topic here on Philofaxy. In 2024, 20 years is still only 2004, well in to the 'modern' era in my opinion. 30 years is getting close to vintage in 1994, but may be older still would be better?
Please leave your favourites and also ones to avoid in the comments below...
Please leave your favourites and also ones to avoid in the comments below...
I love the Kendals. I have them in various sizes now. The mini is definitely my favourite as I use it as a wallet. Although the one in the photo looks interesting
ReplyDeleteThe big year of change at Filofax was 1991. Up until then just about everything was made in-house and in the UK (a few binders were made in Italy and USA). I can’t think of a binder from the 1980s that wasn’t of excellent quality. All these to my kind are “vintage”. In 1991 the decision was made to take Filofax ‘down market’ by outsourcing production to the far east Quality was to be to a lower specification (both binders and rings) but the aim was for new short-run designs to appeal to a younger market and retail selling price would be lower. The first model was the Windsor. In-house production was wound down and ceased by 1994. There’s no doubt that this decision saved Filofax as a company and many of the newer models are appealing and popular (Malden, Holborn etc). Some outsourced organisers are now 30 years old, but ‘old’ is not the same as ‘vintage’.
ReplyDeleteVintage is only a good as the filofax itself, as in vintage can be poor quality, damaged or unlikely to give you a long lifetime. Depends on how well it was treated. Spend a lot on a worn, rare but desirable vintage filofax model and you might not be any better off than a new Holborn.
ReplyDeleteMy first two filofaxes were faux leather. In use they were no better or worse than my Holborn or used finsbury. I have no vintage but have been looking and anything in my range looks a bit ragged. So I've been put off them for now. Especially since a vintage won't actually add anything to the main purpose of my filofax, namely organisation of my life. I could do that just as easily in a ten pound clipbook.
Having said that I always thought pre 1994 was supposed to be better and therefore vintage. However I also thought 80s was even better. No idea about early filofax products. Didn't they operate from 1930s s a company?
Tim has explained it very well above - products up to 1991 are the ones to watch out for. The characteristics of the Filofax offerings changed markedly after that.
ReplyDeleteFortunately there are many surviving examples around still, especially from the mid 1980s onwards when the volume of sales was high. Many will have sat in drawers with little or no use, but the durability was high, and even the well used examples are a good choice.
Pre 1980 Filofaxes are a lot scarcer, mainly because annual production volumes were much lower then. These are probably the most desirable of all the vintage models, but generally you can find close equivalents from the 1980s.
A good, staple vintage choice would be a 4CLF (Winchester), which is pretty much the archetype of old school Filofaxes. You may be able to pick one up in the UK for around £50 if you keep an eye out on the auction sites, although you will probably face competition from resellers, as these models can command a lot more.
ReplyDeleteAnother Bridle A5 in tan (or is it chestnut?). That's the binder I regret selling on.
ReplyDeleteI would dearly love a personal green Filofax Dundee. I've coveted one of these for years, but never found one. There was a brown one on Ebay recently for USD$750.00. Had it been green - I'd have been seriously tempted, but I would think USD$500 a more reasonable price. The style of it, the internal layout, and the stunning appearance just send this one to the "Top of Class" for me.
ReplyDeleteI have two late 1980's leather Filofaxes which I am looking to rehome.
ReplyDeleteOne is a Filofax 4 CLF 5/4 absolute unit of a Filofax and the other is a Filofax Slimline Executive
Both are in a dark burgundy, full leather, with many many OG Filofax inserts.
The question is are they worth anything and where is the best place to sell them?
FWIW I am in the UK and I hate eBay... :-)
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