21 July 2014

Filofax Catalogue 1998

Today we zoom forward (or backwards if you like!) to 1998.  The front cover on this one has a big fold out page, so I had to scan it in manageable sections.





















As with the previous catalogues you can see them on Flickr in slightly higher resolution here.

Before we move on, do you have any catalogues for the period in-between 1993 and 1998?  Please contact me at philofaxy at gmail dot com  to see if we can fill in some gaps. Many thanks.

9 comments:

  1. My mind is now saying Lime Keswick? Lime Keswick? Mmmm, Lime Keswick... *dreamy*

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  2. Thank you again Steve for uploading yet another great catalogue from yesteryear.

    One thing I have noticed is how well designed FF personals from this period still hold their values today. For instance, several York in Tan recently spotted on eBay UK sold really well. The Savannah and Ascots continue to sell exceptionally well, in fact for practically the same prices as stated in this catalogue. The Portland too even with or without out the 30mm still sells very well. All of these FFs were well thought out with sufficient pockets, zipped compartments, full depth pockets and beautiful leather.

    One thing I wish they would reproduced, now that I have spotted it today, is the Day on Two pages with Acton and Notes. I keep thinking of the amount of space, paper and time I would save in my FF.

    Great post!

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    1. Hi Jene
      The Day on Two Pages in that format is still available. Or it is at least on the French site:
      http://www.filofax.fr/store/diaryrefillsdetails.asp?productId=2416 it is in three languages including English. I wish Filofax UK would make this one available even as a Mail Order Only insert.
      We do have our own version of this Day Per View (Day on Two Pages) on our Diary Inserts Page, although I noticed I hadn't created the 2015 version... I've now corrected that error! But it is a lot of paper 370 sheets for 12 months. If you are printing this yourself on the Filofax white paper it is available in 'Value' packs of 100 sheets per pack. Or Cotton Cream in 30 sheet packs but it will not be cheap printing it yourself and €20+postage from France might be the easiest option!

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    2. Just wanted to update you. I purchased the diary from FF Italy which worked out a little bit cheaper. The diary arrived today so I'm now prepared for next year. Obviously I will not put the entire pack in my organiser, just 3-months at a time. I am so excited now. Thanks for the top-tip Steve!!

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  3. Really makes me sad to see all those gorgeous binders and the masses of inserts. Where have you gone Filofax?

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  4. The brochure may look good but I'm not sure that anyone who was working for Filofax in 1998 would want to go back to that period! The company was in the doldrums trying to attract a younger market with models like the Piazza and the Piccadilly. The company then faced an unwanted aggressive takeover bid by Day Runner from the USA. Filofax eventually succumbed in the autumn of 1998. What followed was a torrid time for Filofax as their new American owners had overreached themselves and had no money left to invest in the brand. Day Runner eventually sold Filofax two years later for a fraction of what they had paid for it but this paved the way for Filofax as we know it today - for better or for worse!

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    1. Very interesting Tim. I'm currently doing some research into the history (and rapid demise, in historical terms) of the FF Time Management 'system'.

      It turns out that FF acquired the intellectual property rights to James Noon's 'A' Time system, itself an offshoot of his Time/System designs, in 1997. At first glace it looks as if FF then lost interest in the project almost immediately, but with hindsight, it could easily be that the Day Runner take-over was responsible for the project never proceeding very far.

      Interestingly, I gather that James has recently re-acquired the IP rights to the designs, which in some way explains why the range has been reducing - and possibly indicates that it will disappear altogether in due course. James tells me he is working on a re-write of A Time for the 21st Century, which should prove a most interesting addition to the available material on personal productivity/

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    2. Tim, interesting also that the 'visual history' page of the FF website (see under 'Heritage') makes no mention of the Day Runner take-over, neither of the identity of the new owners when DY sold FF. It's as if FF have completely written the episode out of their own history (not uncommon I guess).

      Do you have a source for your info re the take-over and subsequent disposal, please? As someone with an interest in 'proper' historiography I'd be interested to know. Feel free to reply off-line if that helps. davidcpopely (at) gmail (dot) com - thanks!

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  5. Thanks for the wonderful pictorial piece of Filofax history. Thoroughly enjoyed.

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