Filofax

[Zoe]

I have been going through all my "stuff" which is both a pleasure and a chore, and came across a 1994 Filofax with lots of paper--and several different weights.

 

All of the paper responded well to two fountain pens on my work space--a Lamy CP1 and a Pelikan Jr. (with cartridges in the Lamy) and Diamine ink in the Jr.

 

Anyone using these?

 

I am certainly going to consider re-claiming this one.

 

Zoe

[dcwaites]

Our local Borders in Campbelltown had some in stock some time ago. They had the right year in the diary part, so I suppose they are still being made.

 

They also had some Moleskines, but at $18 for 32 pages at 6x4 (that's centimetres, not inches) I passed them over.

 

 

[BillTheEditor]

Still around: www.filofax.com

[Zoe]

Yes, thanks, I knew they were still around. What I was wondering is how they went out of fashion.

 

Is it solely based on cost?

 

Or have we seen so many other journal-diaries come into production that the filofax took a very back seat.

 

 

[J English Smith]

Zoe:

 

I admire - always have - the quality and feel of Filofax, but around the time I tried a full-bore planner (1997) (and I started out with a "Day Runner" as my proof of concept first) this little thing called Palm came along. So for the past 10 years, I have kept my calendar electronically and used Palm sync. I don't need a smartphone because of my work, so I still use a Palm Tungsten as my carry schedule.

 

Two years ago, I discovered Moleskines and switched from legal pads for work notes to a single, large reporter's notebook which lasts me about 9 months at a time. One notebook for work notes and a single journal for personal stuff - I use Cahiers for the journal.

 

Most weeks, I print one week at a time from MS Outlook and run my schedule off of that. I really only carry the palm to enter new items.

 

If others did not have to see my schedule, I would use a Filofax or like object. They are well designed and have great variety. I also like that they come in a wide range of price points. You can get 80% of the features for about 20% of the cost of the top of line. The top of the line binders are I must say very very nice.

 

Do more "solo practitioners" use Filofax, I wonder?

[Zoe]

A very thoughtful post. Much appreciated.

 

I had such a bad experience with electronic planners (can't even find mine now) that I prefer the written version. I've even given up the thought of electronic writing as I've had 3 major computer crashes and the loss of 10 years of creative writing.

 

I think in the 80s and 90s I was thoroughly a Filofaxer...and my rediscovery today of this neglected diary compelled me to ask why they lost favour.

 

Thanks, J. English Smith.

 

Zoe

 

Zoe:

 

I admire - always have - the quality and feel of Filofax, but around the time I tried a full-bore planner (1997) (and I started out with a "Day Runner" as my proof of concept first) this little thing called Palm came along. So for the past 10 years, I have kept my calendar electronically and used Palm sync. I don't need a smartphone because of my work, so I still use a Palm Tungsten as my carry schedule.

 

Two years ago, I discovered Moleskines and switched from legal pads for work notes to a single, large reporter's notebook which lasts me about 9 months at a time. One notebook for work notes and a single journal for personal stuff - I use Cahiers for the journal.

 

Most weeks, I print one week at a time from MS Outlook and run my schedule off of that. I really only carry the palm to enter new items.

 

If others did not have to see my schedule, I would use a Filofax or like object. They are well designed and have great variety. I also like that they come in a wide range of price points. You can get 80% of the features for about 20% of the cost of the top of line. The top of the line binders are I must say very very nice.

 

Do more "solo practitioners" use Filofax, I wonder?

 

[J English Smith]

Zoe:

 

You're welcome. I'm really interested in this too. Most of us here really gravitate towards writing when we can rather than keying. Where I have wound up if really a modified method - keep it electronic but print, then really run the week off of the hardcopy, add notes via pen and write the TO DO list each day in ink.

 

The one other good thing about an Outlook schedule is, of course, backup. If you lose a Filofax - there's no copy. If you lose a Palm - no biggie (especially if your company just buys you a new one).

 

In a perfect world, the elegance and quality of the Filofax are appealing to me. But even in my c. 1997 Day Runner, I found I was punching and inserting things printed off the computer - address lists etc. It was right at the break point between paper and PC.

 

Crashes are no darn fun and of course, far more problematic for standalone PCs rather than corporate ones with backup provisions...

 

I like the Mole solution for my notes better than where I am with schedule things...it's cleaner and more elegant.

 

J

[Zoe]

J:

 

Electronics are so alluring and provocative in their ease, and I have fallen thrall to the online blog, but in the end there is nothing as beautiful as the pen on paper. And, not so strangely, I find I write differently and/or think differently in the two forms.

 

And I am more passionate about paper than I am about fountain pens. :meow:

[J English Smith]

That's so true, Zoe. I find that for me the magic thing that gets me writing more...has been using a journal/book that is nice, but not heirloom-y. While Mole paper is not the absolute best, there is something about the off white color and "balance" (dimensions, quality/durability of the cover etc.) that encourages me to use it. I like the smoothness of apica paper, but I wish the covers were thicker.

 

I do like writing longer things on the computer (short stories etc.) but for journals, notes and poems...gotta be paper and pen.

[Zoe]

D'accord, J.

 

That's so true, Zoe. I find that for me the magic thing that gets me writing more...has been using a journal/book that is nice, but not heirloom-y. While Mole paper is not the absolute best, there is something about the off white color and "balance" (dimensions, quality/durability of the cover etc.) that encourages me to use it. I like the smoothness of apica paper, but I wish the covers were thicker.

 

I do like writing longer things on the computer (short stories etc.) but for journals, notes and poems...gotta be paper and pen.

 

[tawanda]

I think filofaxes went out of fashion because of their popularity, it happens a lot. Something becomes so popular that it is then seen as common, and nobody wants to be seen dead with them.

You can still get them easily here in the UK. WHSmith carry a good stock so I suppose they must still be in operation.

The reason I know this is because a month ago my daughter and I were in a charity shop looking for fancy dress clothes when she spotted two empty filofax covers. They were thick black leather, with the logo on the outside and on the lining. At 80 pence each I couldnt resist them.

I went into my local Smiths and filled them both for about £6, then gave one to my husband and kept one for myself.

I havent used it yet as I have a Moleskine 18 month diary (bought just the week before I found the Filo's), and IMHO the A6 size is a little too small for my general puropses. But Ive kept it anyay, because it is great to look at and a real piece of history.

Perhaps I'll get round to using it when I begin University again in the autumn.

TTFN

Tawanda

[david6]

Oh I can't be without my filofax. They are excellent to use and so easy to add paper for notes in the diary section whenever I want. If you want to buy one just have a look at their website which gives a massive selection to choose from. They also seem to be very fountain pen friendly which is a bonus

 

David

[twdpens]

I don't know if it's still available, but Filofax "Cotton Cream" paper takes fountain pen ink very well indeed. That was my paper of choice when I used a Filofax (I've been using Moleskine diaries for the past few years but I will probably go back to Filofax for next year). The standard paper is OK, but will feather and bleed through with thin inks like J Herbin and Diamine.

 

Filofax is the parent company of Yard-O-Led, by the way. Filofax suffered somewhat under its previous owner (an American company) but was sold to Charles Letts in 2001 and has certainly benefited from the change in ownership.

 

HTH,

 

Martin

 

Edit: Cotton Cream is still available

Edited August 6, 2008 by twdpens

[ThaIwan]

I switched to a Filofax (Kendal Personal Size) end last year. Had enough of slowish outlooks, a diskcrash and losing data, great web applications but poor connection etc. So I switched back to paper. Great piece but need to utilize it better though. My pens and other notebooks are well utilized.

[Shortie]

I got back into using a Filofax when my life got busier. Now the GF has one as well. Hers is packed with cotton cream papers and they are quite FP friendly. But does take a while for inks from wet writers to dry (Pelikan M200, B nib delivering Noodler's ink). I am still using regular paper and am thinking of switching to cotton cream next year. I am not GTD crazed, just using the Filofax as a supplemental memory unit. And thanks to some undisciplined ebaying, I now have 6 of various vintages.

[Zoe]

Quite a nice find. Enjoy those Filofax.

 

Zoe

 

I think filofaxes went out of fashion because of their popularity, it happens a lot. Something becomes so popular that it is then seen as common, and nobody wants to be seen dead with them.

You can still get them easily here in the UK. WHSmith carry a good stock so I suppose they must still be in operation.

The reason I know this is because a month ago my daughter and I were in a charity shop looking for fancy dress clothes when she spotted two empty filofax covers. They were thick black leather, with the logo on the outside and on the lining. At 80 pence each I couldnt resist them.

I went into my local Smiths and filled them both for about £6, then gave one to my husband and kept one for myself.

I havent used it yet as I have a Moleskine 18 month diary (bought just the week before I found the Filo's), and IMHO the A6 size is a little too small for my general puropses. But Ive kept it anyay, because it is great to look at and a real piece of history.

Perhaps I'll get round to using it when I begin University again in the autumn.

TTFN

Tawanda

 

[jdboucher]

I work at a local office supply store. We have a big display of Filofaxes and refills. They haven't disappeared at all. They are pretty popular. I would never personally use one though, too bulky and i don't feel that i need that type of organization. I'll use a moleskine (or some product like it) to just take a note down or something.

[hardyb]

Plus I believe Filofax is connected to the Yard O'Lead Brand.

http://www.filofax.co.uk/store/yol.asp

Edited August 6, 2008 by hardyb

[PaulT00]

Still very much alive. Here in London there are a number of filofax stores - dedicated solely to their products. There's one in Covent Garden, another in Regent Street, and I think there's one in the City as well. Very much marketed as an upmarket lifestyle brand these days.

 

I still have and use an old tan leather personal filofax which I carry around in my kitbag. It's about 20 years old now. However it's mainly used as an occasional notebook, and ad-hoc pen case - the inside of the front cover has a number of credit card slots which allows me to clip up to 6 FPs inside, plus one in the front pen loop, plus a Sheaffer snorkel mechanical pencil in the rear pen loop. The paper is quite thin but very FP friendly, but I do find it a chore to write small enough and neatly enough, and the pages are a bit on the small side.

 

I also have something which is a bit of a rare bird - a 'military' filofax which I don't think they make any more. It's double width with two sets of rings, and the pages overlap when it's closed. Apparently they were produced in that size because they fit perfectly in the thigh pocket of a pair of uniform fatigues...

 

The major problem with any sort of paper-based organiser for me is the fact that all my calendar information is online - both personal and professional - and split across two different systems. Manual syncing to a filofax diary from iCal and Lotus Notes would be an absolute nightmare - and at work I've reached the point of having to book meeting requests even for a half-hour discussion with a colleague because life's a bit wall to wall at the moment. My standard response if someone asks to talk to me for anything more than a quick 5-minute question is 'send me a meeting request in Notes'. I'm really looking forward to the office upgrading to Notes 8.5 because then I'll be able to export my work calendar as an ICS file and import it into an iCal calendar, then that will sync with Google calendar so my partner can see where I'm supposed to be from day to day...

 

[Zoe]

I am thrilled to read that (a) the Filofax is flourishing and not perishing and ( some of us fountain penners use them still.

 

I agree they can be heavier than other choices, and certainly dear, but I for one am pleased I saved mine and that I have assorted papers in it ready to use with my refurbished and new pens.

 

And Martin, I shall use my new Safari Red with OB nib it in as soon as it arrived in the States.

 

Also just reading about where in England these are sold makes me home-sick for Britain and the Continent. Living among cows, dairy farms and horses is wonderful, but not a City.

 

Zoe