Bookbinding ephemera is fairly rare. Canadian bookbinding ephemera is really rare. A Canadian company advertising desk blotter for an expandable and locking account book post binding? Blue.
Locking and expandable loose leaf bindings are a mechanically complex and under researched sub-catagory of account books. I’m still trying to find an actual example of this binding to examine. I have seen others that incorporate a key and a sliding piece of metal to secure the post binding, rather than the more typical screw head. This part can be locked. Here is a modern version.
Not a lot of information is available online about Business Systems. ” [It] was founded in 1905 to manufacture “loose-leaf accounting systems, perpetual ledgers, order, bill and charge systems, auditing and cost systems” with headquarters in Toronto. Next week I’ll try to untangle a French version from around 1827 with the help of some detailed plans.
The tagline is great — “We make BINDERS that last.” Ironic that it is printed on a disposable desk blotter, which has survived, though. It would be a perfect slogan for any bookbinding school.
Peachey Conservation 