Irvin Staplers

A. H. Irvin Co (AHICO)
Curwensville, PA

The Alex. H. Irvin Company was a distributor for the E. H. Hotchkiss Co. (they were the exclusive distributors of Hotchkiss Staplers in the U.K.).   Starting on the mid 1890's, Irvin also marketed strip (herringbone) staplers under their own name.

Although the ad shown on the right indicates that Irwin was a "maker", The A. H. Irvin Co. did not manufacture staplers.

The early models (such as the "New Giant Paper Fastener") were made by the The Jones Mfg. Co, maker of the Star Paper Fasteners.   Jones later became the E. H. Hotchkiss Co.

Later models, such as the New Irvin Model No. 1A (shown in the photos below) were made by the B. Jahn Munfacturing Company of New Britain CT.   The New Irvin No. 1A was based on two 1921 patents (patent numbers 1387268 and 1387269), issued to Berthold Jahn & Ernest E. Kahl of New Britian, CT.  

The underside of the New Irvin No. 1A is stamped:

"M'F'R'D EXPRESSLY FOR ALEX H. IRVIN CO CURWENSVILLE, PA. U.S.A."

At first glance, the Irvin New Model 1A looks similar to the less ornate versions of the Hotchkiss No. 1 herringbone strip staplers made in the 1920's.   However, the Irvin model is far superior.   The Irvin No 1A uses nickel-plated stamped steel components for the base, body, and cap of the stapler.   In addition to being many times more durable than the cast "mystery metal" that Hotchkiss used, stamped components are much cheaper to manufacture.

The New No. 1A also feature a lever (on the back of the body) that released the strip of staples so that they can be removed.   The Hotchkiss No. 1 never had this handy feature.

Irvin fasteners are quite rare.   You encounter about 50 Hotchkiss staplers for every Irvin that you'll find.   As a result, the Irvin staplers are more expensive.   You can expect to pay up to $100 for a Model No. 1A in a condition similar to the example in the photo above, or up to $350 for a "tailed" New Giant Paper Fastener.

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