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Most enjoyable office equipment (yes I know I have no life)

66 replies

WeeMadArthur1 · 08/10/2022 17:46

I always thought using a laminator was the most enjoyable of ‘office’ tasks, but I’ve just had a clear out of old paperwork and spent the afternoon shredding and it is very satisfying.

The only other contender I can think of is using a label maker, but I can’t really justify buying one. We used to have one at work and I spent a lovely afternoon labelling anything that stood still for long enough.

OP posts:
Trinity69 · 08/10/2022 18:35

I've recently returned to office work after a 13 year break. I'm loving all of the things at the moment but I'm sure it will wear thin and I'll find my favourite! As far as I can tell our confidential stuff goes into a big bign and is collected for shredding. Bit disappointed.

Fleamaker123 · 08/10/2022 18:39

I used to love using the date stamper and ink pad. Date stamping the incoming post. If you picked up a bit of speed it was like working in a post office. It stamped a box and then you wrote in which department it went to 😍
Fantastic!

AlexCabot · 08/10/2022 18:49

The love for the self inking stamper wore off for me because I have to use it constantly.

I do enjoy a flick through the ESPO catalogue, whenever I order sticky notes I always go for the animal shaped ones. Currently have elephants.

I miss fax machines. I bloody loved using one.

ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 08/10/2022 18:51

For while I was in charge of our stationery cupboard, and the budget for it. Oh the power! It was like my dream job, though I was paid too much to be doing that really, but nobody else wanted to do it. I think it has been neglected since I retired, which makes me sad. I miss it the people not so much

Hawkins001 · 08/10/2022 18:53

Photocopiers, as can copy various sensitive information, although the modern ones are quite detailed and keep copies of what was copied.

Greengr · 08/10/2022 18:54

The ESPO catalogue is like the Argos catalogue of old
Might treat myself to a look next week😂

Madlymumming · 08/10/2022 19:11

Back in the dark ages (80s) our office had a hole punch that could punch through about a ream of paper. Lovely job.

AlexCabot · 08/10/2022 19:15

Greengr · 08/10/2022 18:54

The ESPO catalogue is like the Argos catalogue of old
Might treat myself to a look next week😂

The only downside of it is that I have to process the invoices and ESPO ones usually have about 35 lines which is a pain in the arse!

I want one of the puppet theatres for the office. For stress management obviously.

Whichwhatnow · 08/10/2022 19:19

I have a personalised stamp that says 'I certify this to be a true copy of the original' then my name, SRA roll number and 'Solicitor/Commissioner for Oaths'. So I just need to sign.

I got it when I first qualified nearly 8 years ago and it still hasn't run out of ink which tells you how often I actually certify documents 😆 but it certainly makes me feel very happy when I do!

I also used to love the little books of sticky notes in the colours of the rainbow, but that was when I worked in an office and used to print out entire 100 page contracts to mark up without a second thought...

mumda · 08/10/2022 19:21

Played with an electric stapler once. Scary machine. Franking machine was not quite as fierce.

I love making leaflets. When I was a kid I'd sew them. I'd make test books for my little sister and her friends.
As adult I have a binding machine and a long arm stapler. The guillotine and laminator aren't as high up the list as the colour duplex laser printer.

I used to love the Viking catalogue.

notthisagainn · 08/10/2022 19:26

mumda · 08/10/2022 19:21

Played with an electric stapler once. Scary machine. Franking machine was not quite as fierce.

I love making leaflets. When I was a kid I'd sew them. I'd make test books for my little sister and her friends.
As adult I have a binding machine and a long arm stapler. The guillotine and laminator aren't as high up the list as the colour duplex laser printer.

I used to love the Viking catalogue.

Many many years ago part of my job was to sew pages of legal documents together which would have been typed on a manual typewriter. No typing mistakes allowed either and no tippex

BadSkiingMum · 08/10/2022 19:27

I watch re-runs of The Office (US version) partly for the office-machinery nostalgia.

Particularly the printing calculator in the opening credits. I always used to admire those in the Argos catalogue. 😁

FlippertyGibberts · 08/10/2022 19:31

Stapleless stapler

Saving the planet one (non-existent) staple at a time 🌍.

EndlessMagpies · 08/10/2022 19:34

I like a good staple remover.

FuckingHateRats · 08/10/2022 19:35

Not a machine, but I love the scan-to-email function on our photocopier. If I make a resource by hand, or I want to scan an extract, I can have have them sent to my email as a PDF ready to save for next time. So handy!

WeeMadArthur1 · 08/10/2022 19:44

@FlippertyGibberts Stapleless stapler?! How does that work?

OP posts:
RoseandSadie · 08/10/2022 19:44

Pouring one out for the humble post it.
So many hours of joy.
Also particularly enjoy my iPhones ability to scan and convert to PDF and measure. Pretty useful!

ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 08/10/2022 19:54

I've got a staple-less stapler! It's like a punch that makes holes in a few sheets of paper and kind of twists them together. Clever, but the fastening doesn't stand up to much handling.
Unless @FlippertyGibberts knows better?

ShaunaTheSheep · 08/10/2022 19:54

I'm partial to a treasury tag.

I got a label maker for home in the middle of Lidl, with all the varieties of tape Smile

Porkydorky · 08/10/2022 19:59

The electric pencil sharpener! I love our office one so much I got one for home use too. So satisfying, lovely noise and fabulously pointy pencils - you can’t beat it!

FlippertyGibberts · 08/10/2022 20:03

This is what my stateless stapler does:



It works reasonably well for 5 pages or so.

AlexCabot · 08/10/2022 20:04

I've got a weapons grade hole punch. I keep it in a drawer and people have to ask very nicely if they want to use it.

FlippertyGibberts · 08/10/2022 20:04

Oh, here it is (hopefully).

Most enjoyable office equipment (yes I know I have no life)
Fuuuuuckit · 08/10/2022 20:07

I love my laminator and shredder. But my current favourites are the staple gun (great for notice boards/displays) and my very low-tech sellotape dispenser. I shall be borrowing it for Xmas wrapping soon!

SatinHeart · 08/10/2022 20:08

I've got a Supaclip that I'm rather fond of for documents that are too thick to staple easily.