This week’s Stapler is one I picked up a couple of days ago at Goodwill’s half-price day. I’d let this one sit on the shelf for a week and a half because it was busted, missing important bits and ugly as sin. When the price dropped to $1.50, though – I wanted it just to show off it’s unique features (and the Arrow 210 has some pretty unique features). I’d love to find one in nice working condition with all the parts intact.
Beat to heck, top cap insert missing, the entire spring and plunger assembly from the feed system is missing as well.
Thumb latch on the side allows the top to open for loading staples, although it’s designed primarily to be a tail-loader.
Button on the bottom to open up the stapler for tacking on most staplers, on the Arrow 210 instead…
…completely unlatches the top section from the bottom for tacking. A lot of parts can easily come off this stapler and get lost. I bet not many of them are intact.
The two separate parts…
Then just snap back together again…
And there’s the really interesting feature: a THREE-WAY ANVIL! The Arrow 210 takes “standard” staples.
Makes normal (interfold is the proper term for it) staples.
Makes “splayed” (Exterfold is the proper name) staples
and ALSO makes a staple where the legs are both folded to the right. This allows you to just pull up on the staple to remove it without damaging the paper. It’s a “temporary” staple that works sort of like a straight pin.
The Arrow 210 is a *BIG* stapler. It is significantly larger than even my Aceliners, and is a bit heavier as well (more solid than an Aceliner? That’s SOLID!), even when beat all to heck and lacking half it’s feed system, it still will staple. I bet a good one with all the parts intact would be a sharp-looking stapler too. I’m on the lookout for one, maybe in green, in much nicer condition.
EDIT:
Hey, I eventually did find a green one in complete, working condition! It’s still pretty well-used, with lots of scratches and worn spots – as befits an excellent stapling machine that was trusted and loved, but it’s got all the parts and works great! (:
Want to know more about the Arrow 210 Stapling Machine?
Great stapler, love the patina, it speaks of untold years of use. Thanks for posting.
Another cool stapler, Ted.
The splayed staple – neglected and forgotten, but not here – here it lives!
Just sharing – A third grade student of mine in 1966 gave me a green Arrow 210 stapler for Christmas, that I used for the next 32 years of teaching. I retired 18 years ago – stapler is now 50 years old! It looks and works just as good as new! (A picture of the student is taped to the bottom of the stapler!)
I got a green one two days ago, so beautiful…in excelent condition…with those tiny scratches…complete with all its parts in place….I love it.
Hi , I have a question. What would be the benefit or purpuse of exterfold stapling?
Exterfold is roughly equivalent to straight-pinning, which was a common way to attach papers to each other before there were staplers. Benefit: ease of removal.
d’accord…
I have my father in laws Arrow 210 and use it all the time!!
I ‘inherited’ my Grandma’s red Arrow 210 more than a decade ago.
Everything works, all the parts are there, and we use it regularly. I love this durable, sturdy Beast! The multiple stapling configurations just make it even better. No other stapler comes close!
You could fend off a Zombie office attack with this heavy-duty tool, clean it up and just go back to stapling afterwards. Sturdy and clearly built to last.
Randomly went online to check its value today and found your article on it
Inherited my mom’s arrow 210. Cannot figure out how to load new staples in it! Any advice from anyone?
There’s a chrome tab on the back of the stapler (see last photo of the green one in this post). the instructions are engraved on it. If you’re missing that tab, then you’re missing the stapler follower spring, and you won’t be able to load staples.
My Arrow 210 belonged to my Grandpa then my dad then me. It is in perfect condition and I’ve used it all the time for the last 20 years or so. This is a great, solid workhorse of a stapler. A good friend just gave me a vintage Swingline 13 (in perfect condition) to add to my collection. I also have a Marvel 2 hole punch that could double as an anvil. They don’t make quality products like this anymore
My Arrow 210 was given to me by a VP of sales who was leaving the company back in 1985. It has been the only stapler I have ever used. It has traveled with me back and forth cross country.
They don’t make anything close to it.
Whew! Thanks for this. I’d been trying to figure out how to load staples into the Arrow 210 that came from my dad’s long gone drug store! The stapler still works great, and it’s probably been around since the store was re-built after a fire in the 60’s. Good equipment lasts a LONG time. Why buy cheap plastic junk when you can have a great older product?
Just found a nice clean gray one at Goodwill yesterday, also for $1.50! When I tried detatching the top from the base, though, either the hinge pin fell out and I lost it or it was missing this part to begin with.
Can you tell me anything about this pin? I’m assuming it’s spring-loaded like the spring bar on a watch band, but I could be wrong. Does it seem likely that it could fall out by accident? If so I’ll keep crawling around on the floor with a flashlight looking for it. Otherwise I’ll try to find or fabricate some sort or replacement.
I don’t recall there being a pin, unless you mean the latchpin that the hook in the base locks onto. It’s sort of a friction fit. Now that I look at the photos, I can’t remember if that latchpin comes out, though. seems pretty well set in there. see photo here to compare to yours:
http://munk.org/typecast/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/IMG_7308.jpg
also, added your blog to the Typosphere blogroll (:
I can’t tell exactly what it is from your picture but mine is definitely missing the screw/pin/nubbin that guides the stapler in the curved tracks in the baseplate: https://briangoode.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/imag1776.jpg?w=2200
Also, look how the vertical walls on the base of mine has little pinstripes stamped into it. It doesn’t appear that you’ve got those, though they both appear to be “Version 1″‘s
huh, yep, looks like you’re missing that bit. Well, if you’re going to the Nov 11th Phx Type-In, I’ll bring my tail-less yellow 210 and you can have it for parts. (:
Thank you, that would be great! Yes, I’ll be there with my Hermes 3k and Remington (Brother) 666. See you then!
Thank you for this wonderful post. We bought one of these staples at a garage sale, and never realized what a gem we had!
Hi! I found your blog while searching for info on my stapler. It is a vintage Arrow but looks a little different than the ones in this blog post. I cannot figure out how to open mine. Is there an email address I can send you photos to?
J’ai ce modèle Arrow 210 elle va encore bien mais je ne sais pas comment charger les agraffes.
Question: I have the avocado green model 1, it appears (got it from my Uncle, who got from his aunt, who got it from the bank she worked at in the early ’60s!). Amazingly good condition… excellent in fact! Nothing rubbed/worn off except the chrome in the lettering of the top inset.
Having trouble reloading it, however…
The spring-loaded traveller works and all parts are present. No, it’s that I can’t get the staples to pass under the mount pin at the head of the staple magazine. They’re standard ¼” staples but they hit that post. You can see the post in the second pic near the top of the listing.
For now, you have to put in 15-20 staples at a time between the post and the impeller blade that drives the staple. Works, but stupid as this unit is a high-capacity stapler, obviously!
Any thoughts would be most appreciated.
Tanx! Chuck
Cannot find staples anywhere that fit my Arrow 210 version 1 stapler. I have the same problem. Measured the spring loaded push bar and I figured I need 3/8″ wide (not 1/4″) and 3/16″ high staples to fit under that bar! HELP, or I will have to buy another stapler.
I went on line to see if I could find anything on my arrow 210. Didn’t realize it had a mini cult following, but it absolutely should. Had it since I was about 8 and am now 65. It still works great. Who knew all those years ago that my mom was picking out a classic. Just ordered a swingline 747 for my husband (he kept coming into my office to use my Arrow) and it is not as heavy as mine with plastic parts. This stapler will out live me. I guess I should leave it for my kid in my will. They don’t make quality like this anymore. I am spoiled and will never give it up. How do you tell which model and version you have?
usually engraved on the bottom.