At 07:04 PM 8/6/2003 +0100, you wrote:
>WORLD'S MOST ASKED STAPLER QUESTIONS:
>#1 Q)Every stapler I have ever seen in my life (with the exception of those
>tiny little ones) has a switch to make the tangs on the staples bend in or
>out. I have yet to figure out what the advantage is to having the staples
>bend out. More puzzling to me is the fact that all stapler companies seem to
>feel that this is an important feature of a stapler, but I have yet to meet
>anybody who uses the bend out option, or even knows why it's there. So why
>is the switch on there?
>A) This is called the Pinning/Stapling switch. It is located on the anvil.
>The pinning function is a carryover from the time before staple removers. It
>makes the staple form a relatively straight form. You can staple two pieces
>of paper together, then pull out the staple. Good for temporary fastening.
>It's kind of a paperclip competitor. You can also use it when sewing.
>Instead of using pins, you just staple. There is also one used on
>Hotchkisses and some Bates staplers that makes one end go in and one go out.
>You pull the side with the crimped down staple to get the staple out.

Ah, thank you. I'm just looking at my vintage Bates Mercury Jr. stapler
with the triangular anvil plate. I found some ancient copper-plated staples
to use with it. They don't make them like that anymore.

It also has a feature that you can unclick the stapler from the base and
use it to staple things into drywall, soft wood etc. Obviously they go
straight in.

Best regards,

Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..."            "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com             Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog  Info for designers:  http://www.speff.com

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