The press stud or snap fastener or popper on your organiser performs a very vital function in keeping the organiser closed. There are alternatives such as zipper closures or elastic, but the humble snap fastener is the one that seems to have the dominate position for ring bound organisers.
The snap fastener has been around since the late 1800's, before the ring mechanism came along.
It comes in two parts, each part is made up of two halves that are riveted together.
We consider there to be a male and female part to the press stud. The female part has a small spring inside it which 'grips' the male part when pressed together.
Which part goes on the strap and which part goes on the cover seems to vary, even any looking at the same brand. Filofax doesn't seem settled on which part should go on the strap, on some it is the female part on others it is the male part.Starting with two Filofax single popper fastenings, the first is a Holborn, that has the male part on the strap and the female part on the cover.
And this is a Malden in the opposite configuration.
It is less critical with single press stud compared to multiple ones. Although to my way of thinking putting the female part on to the strap is better because if the spring fails it is easier to change it on the strap compared to changing it if was on the cover.
Some organisers have 'multiple popper' options to allow for adjusting the length for the strap depending on how full your organiser is.
This is a Launer organiser from the 1980's more details here. The female parts are located on the cover and quite widely spaced apart.
On the 'longest' option for the strap the other popper does show.
On the shortest it is covered over by the strap.
A Filofax Belmont, again two poppers but much closer together. Notice the slight dimple on the strap next to the popper from being pressed against the second popper on the cover.
As well as on the shorter fastening.
With the majority of organisers you get what they have made for you, there is no choice about how many poppers there are and where they are located. Unless you buy a Van der Spek Custom, then you can choose not only the length of the strap, but also how many popper there are if you add an extra 12mm or more.
On my Dark Brown and Yellow A5 organiser, I asked for a slightly longer strap with double poppers.
On reflection though I think I should have requested it to be male on the cover with the females on the strap not as it is now.
With the two male fasteners on the strap, it results in a slight 'dimple' in the cover of the leather. Not a big deal just noticeable under the bright studio lights used in these photographs. Although, I suspect the same might happen if it had been the opposite way around as the leather is so soft.
On organisers that have the cap of the press stud exposed on the outside strap, like early Filofax Winchesters, the cap can often suffer damage from constant use. Early ones only had a plastic cap which often cracks and falls off.
Alan Marshall perfected a great repair for these which you can read about here.
Poppers, Press Studs, Snap Fasteners, simple things I know, but quite essential for every day use of your organiser.
