WHAT WAS AND WHAT WAS NOT AT
PAPER WORLD 2004

Dmitry Knyazev

(Russian)

A FEW WORDS AS AN INTRODUCTION

Normally, an article on a trade show would not be published in several months after the show ended. The reader is usually eager to learn about the event as soon as possible, to get the news hot. This article is, however, different from conventional trade show reviews, describing not what there was at the Paper World trade show, but what there was not. This article is a dream, a fantasy on what stamp makers would like to see at this excellent trade show.

PAPER WORLD 200..?

Paper World again confirms for sure its reputation as the Mecca of the office supplies market, a must-visit show. PAPER WORLD 2004 has verified the important fact that man remains "man the writing."

In spite of the omnipresent computer invasion of our life, the genetic need of man to do something with his own hands (write, paint, draw) is confirmed by the never sinking demand for office supplies: paper, pencils, pens, rubber stamps. This optimistic observation should inspire confidence in those in the market.

On this visit to the Paper World show, as on my previous visits, I was glad to see old friends from Germany, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, China, Poland. It was nice to know their businesses are firmly taking their stand in the stamp market.

WHAT WASN'T THERE AT PAPER WORLD

This year, I came to Frankfurt as a member of the group of delegates representing the Russian Guild of Professional Stamp Manufacturers. Delegates from stamp making companies came to Paper World because they were interested in developing their businesses. New ideas, new materials, new technologies - all these things that could give one's business a second wind - that was, above all, what they came to Paper World for. Most of my fellow-delegates had never been to such a trade show, and so they were all full of hopes and expectations. It was clear from our conversations on our way from Moscow to Frankfurt that every group member would like to bring back to Russia something altogether new, something advanced, something one could show his customers and say, 'My dear friends, all the stamps (or daters, ink pads, self-inkers…) we all have been using so far are desperately out of date. I would like to demonstrate to you this miracle. This product will essentially change your work. You'll be able to work speedier (or safer, or steadier, or better…). So, forget about those old stamps of yours, though they are well made and reliable in operation. The time has come to introduce this new achievement of modern technology. Although the new product is twice (or five times, ten times, twenty times…) more expensive than the one you have been using before, it is cost-effective. I am sure you yourselves will find this to be true.'

That's what we hoped for and dreamed of on our way to Frankfurt. How well have our hopes been justified? Of course, we could understand such a miracle would not happen, and yet we hoped, at least for something.

So then, what have we FAILED to find at Paper World booths? We have examined all that was demonstrated at the trade show, and we failed to find the following products that could attract our customers:

Self-inking stamp with a counter of impressions made

Such a self-inking stamp would be useful to those who need, for some reason, to control the number of impressions made with a particular stamp. The reasons may be different. First, it may be for the sake of security in document circulation. The die should be replaced after it has made a certain number of impressions, because it would be easier to illegally duplicate a worn-out die. Second, this kind of self-inking stamp may be useful for producing quality impressions with security inks. The die of a self-inking stamp is constantly exposed to security ink, and some security inks contain aggressive ingredients. The user may need to replace the die after having made a certain number of impressions, in order to prevent the die from distortion under the action of security ink.

There could be up to three counters in a self-inking stamp: one indicating the total number of impressions made with this self-inking stamp, another indicating the number of impressions made with the present die, and the third one indicating the number of impressions made after the ink pad was replaced last time.

Self-inking stamp with a lock

A hard self-inking stamp, made of metal, can be provided with a lock to be closed and opened with a special key or code card, so that it is impossible to make an impression with the stamp when it is blocked. A hard frame guards the self-inking stamp from breaking into and taking out the die. This design is necessary to make it impossible for an unauthorized person to use the stamp.

Blocking a self-inking stamp could be done with either a key, unlocking the stamp before use and locking after use, or a particular code card to be inserted in the self-inking stamp to unlock it.

Self-inking stamp inkpad with an indicator of the number of impressions made

Such an inkpad would be useful to those users of self-inking stamps who want to make guaranteed quality impressions and not depend on the point of view of their employee on the quality of impressions. Sometimes, a secretary considers an impression to be OK, though, in fact, it is too feeble and, possibly, does not meet the requirements for verifying its authenticity. Suchlike inkpads would also be useful to users of security stamps employing security inks. There are security inks shining when exposed to a special sort of light and looking like common ink in ordinary light. This special effect of ink may be lost before the inkpad is out of ink. In this case, the self-inking stamp makes seemingly quality impressions, which are deprived of their invisible security properties. With such inks, it is best to stop using the inkpad before the ink is out of security properties. The indicator provides for the timely replacement of the pad.

Self-inking stamp inkpad can be equipped with one of the various models of detectors or indicators sharing the same purpose, to signal when the limit of impressions prescribed to the inkpad is exhausted. Such inkpads are not refillable (the counter cannot be cleared), because refilling this sort of inkpad would be like refilling the disposable ink cartridge of a pen, technically possible but utterly needless.

Self-inking stamp with acoustic alarm

This stamp is for those users who would like their stamp to know its master and signal if a stranger tries to use it. The alarm signal may be acoustic (sound) or light.

Self-inking stamp with a built-in light source

For those self-inking stamp users who employ inks with security properties invisible with the naked eye. The special light source would help the user to check, when the impression is made, whether the security ink is not out of its special properties and whether the impression is provided with all intended security features.

Note:

Unfortunately, the self-inking stamps depicted above do not exist: they are computer models, based on a real self-inking stamp made in Russia in 1906, from the author's private collection.