Cushman & Denison something...

[mikeswrenches]

Another tool guy brought this over the other day wondering what it was for.  A google search found that C & D was a large maker of office equipment.  Also inventor and producer of the paper clip as we know it today.

Anyway, this "what's it" is 5 in. long.  The plunger is 3/8 in. in diameter.  The depression in the base is at most 1/16 in. The arm with the plunger moves about 1 1/4 in. before it covers the depression, at which point the plunger is pushed down to do something.

Stamped in the side is:  The " Perfect' Seal; Pat. Appld for; Cushman & Denison Mf'rs.; N.Y-U.S.A

Mike

[mvwcnews]

I've seen very old legal documents with pages fastened by a circular brass "something" that works similar to one half of  the   snap fasteners that were used on clothes before the advent of velcro  or a grommet without the center hole punched clear  -- perhaps this was the tool to apply that kind of fastener.

( http://books.google.com/books?id=u11YAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA14-PA15&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U0CSna0soXw1hqEk_gL-Vh1ucQ2KQ&ci=10%2C74%2C891%2C1251&edge=0 ) is a 1922 full page ad showing Cushman & Denison paper fasteners. 

 I don't see the kind of round thing I have in mind, so perhaps the time is wrong or they called it something else.

[mvwcnews]

I looked some more when I got home from work;  here's an image of the Denison Perfect Sealer  from January 10, 1903  NEW ENGLAND STATIONER AND PRINTER  ( http://books.google.com/books?id=1fFYAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA7-PA28&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U0fTgSzDBA2bjN7risA6ISEQ6PNyQ&ci=336%2C49%2C619%2C1272&edge=0 ) but the piece does not say what the sealing substance was.

[mikeswrenches]

Stan, I found a site called:  Officemuseum.com that I thought for sure would have a picture of the fastener and its usage, but no luck.

Thanks for your help.

Mike

[rusty]

This says what they are made of, but it only helps a little...

[Rob H.]

Only helps a little? This one seems completely solved to me, are there any unanswered questions about it?

[humber2]

This says what they are made of, but it only helps a little...

The seal is heated wax formed with an impression from the company die in the tool.

[rusty]

It is 'safer than wax' , so I would assume it doesn't use wax..

I think the weird thing in the top right corner of the ad is the seal piece, which I suppose is a kind of circular metal piece with folded feet that acts like a staple. I just wish the ad was a little more detailed about it.
 

[bear_man]

mvwc, thanks for the link.  At least now I'm closer to knowing the origins of several clips my mother had when she passed on.  I have a very few of the "Ring Clips," maybe two of the "Standard Clips" and at least one of the "Ideal Clips or Clamps."  I'd suspected my mother kept them from her father's stuff.
     Mike, and what a beauty the tool is!

[Chillylulu]

This says what they are made of, but it only helps a little...

The seal is heated wax formed with an impression from the company die in the tool.

Most modern seals emboss the paper. Wax is not allowed for official corporate seals, and hasnt been for over a century.

Chilly

[Aunt Phil]

Look at the ad Rusty posted and the use of the device becomes very evident.
The C shaped section slips into the sealer envelope, and the top carrys what is essentially a poprivet for paper to "seal" the envelope in a manner that will make attempts to tamper with the content readily evident.

Wax seals and other seals were created to insure confidentility of documents.
Red tape was used in combination with seals, both wax and glued on and embossed to insure multipage documents weren't tampered with by inserting or removing pages.
These systems all relied on the originator of documents retaining absolute control of the security devices.

The shortcoming of all such systems was absolute control could not be maintained.

[Billman49]

I have seen similar whatsits in the past year or so - the seal is like a small bifurcated rivet/staple - I guess it would be possible to place a wax seal over one of these to prevent tampering and removal of pages from the document...

This particular tool appears to be designed to just seal envelopes, but the system has wider applications - prior to the introduction to the modern stapler..

Wax seals may no longer be used on documents, but they are used to seal envelopes and bundles of documents (i.e. over the knot on the ribbon)...

A useful site: http://www.officemuseum.com/stapler_gallery_single_staple.htm