Swingline

Swingline is an American office-products brand specializing in staplers, staples, hole punches, and related desk accessories. It operates as a division of ACCO Brands Corporation and is particularly associated with the desktop stapler format that can be opened from the top for rapid staple replacement. The brand's products have been used in offices, schools, homes, and other workplaces, with staplers remaining its defining category. The business began in New York City in 1925 under the name Parrot Speed Fastener Company. It was founded by Jack Linsky, a stationery entrepreneur who had previously imported German-made staplers through his wholesale business. Linsky's experience with office supplies led him to develop an improved stapler design based on an open-channel mechanism. The design allowed users to access the staple channel more easily than with earlier devices that required a screwdriver or comparable tool to open. The company established manufacturing operations on Varick Street in Manhattan and later opened a facility in Long Island City, Queens, in 1931. In 1939, the business adopted the name Speed Products and introduced a top-opening stapler. The design was marketed under the Swingline name from 1935 and became influential in the development of the modern full-strip desktop stapler. The corporate name changed to Swingline in 1956, bringing the product name and company identity together. Swingline's most prominent product milestone came in 1968 with the introduction of the Swingline 747. The metal desktop stapler became the brand's best-known model and helped establish a visual and functional identity that continued for decades. In 1970, Swingline was sold to American Brands for $210 million. Jack Linsky was president and chairman at the time of the transaction, while his wife, Belle Linsky, served as treasurer; the couple owned 19 percent of the company's stock. In 1987, Swingline became part of ACCO, then operating within Fortune Brands. The Long Island City factory remained an important part of the brand's local identity for much of the twentieth century. Its large Swingline sign, approximately 60 feet high and 50 feet wide, was visible to travelers using nearby roads and rail lines and became a recognizable Queens landmark. ACCO closed the Long Island City plant in 1999 and moved production to Nogales, Mexico. Approximately 450 employees lost their jobs. The closure attracted criticism from New York political leaders and was discussed in the context of North American Free Trade Agreement-related manufacturing relocations. The factory move marked a major transition from Swingline's historic New York manufacturing base to a more geographically distributed production model. Swingline also acquired an important element of popular-culture recognition through the 1999 film Office Space. A custom-painted red Swingline 646 stapler appeared prominently in the movie, creating demand for a red Swingline stapler among viewers. In 2002, the company responded by introducing an official red Swingline 747. The episode helped make the brand's staplers recognizable beyond the conventional office-supplies market. Today, Swingline remains an ACCO Brands office-products brand. Its identity continues to be anchored by staplers and staple-related products, while its broader range includes hole punches and desk accessories. The brand's historical significance rests on its role in popularizing accessible top-opening stapler construction, its long association with New York manufacturing, the enduring Swingline 747 design, and its unusually strong connection to Office Space.

Swingline traces its origins to New York City in 1925, when Jack Linsky founded the Parrot Speed Fastener Company. Linsky had entered the stationery trade as a teenager, later operating a wholesale business that imported German staplers. His experience with these products encouraged him to develop a stapler with an open channel that could be accessed without a screwdriver. This approach became the foundation for Swingline's later product identity. The company initially operated on Varick Street in Manhattan and expanded its manufacturing presence to Long Island City, Queens, in 1931. In 1939, it changed its name to Speed Products and introduced a top-opening stapler that made replacing a full strip of staples more convenient. Although the design was associated with the Swingline name from 1935, the company did not formally adopt Swingline as its name until 1956. The top-opening construction eventually became a standard format for desktop staplers. In 1968, the company introduced the Swingline 747, which became its most recognizable product. The model's durable construction and distinctive desktop form helped establish Swingline as a prominent office-supplies brand. Swingline was sold to American Brands in 1970 for $210 million. Jack Linsky remained president and chairman at the time of the sale, and Belle Linsky was the company's treasurer. The Linskys held 19 percent of the stock. Swingline became part of ACCO in 1987, within the Fortune Brands corporate structure. For many years, its Long Island City facility was both a manufacturing site and a visible symbol of the company. The building carried a large Swingline sign that could be seen by people traveling between Manhattan and Long Island, making it a familiar Queens landmark. The company's New York manufacturing era ended in 1999, when ACCO closed the Long Island City plant and moved production to Nogales, Mexico. About 450 workers were affected. The closure generated criticism from New York officials and became part of broader public debate about manufacturing relocation and the employment effects associated with NAFTA-era restructuring. Swingline later gained an unusual form of cultural exposure through Office Space, the 1999 comedy film. The movie prominently used a custom-painted red Swingline 646 stapler. Although the prop was not initially a standard red retail product, audience interest led Swingline to release an official red 747 in 2002. The product launch connected the brand to one of the most recognizable office-related props in popular culture. Swingline remains an ACCO Brands division focused on office products. Staplers continue to define the brand, supported by staples, hole punches, and desk accessories. Its history combines product innovation, corporate ownership changes, manufacturing globalization, and a lasting cultural association with the red stapler.

1. 2002Official red Swingline 747 launches

   Swingline releases a red 747 stapler after demand generated by the red stapler shown in Office Space.

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2. 1999Long Island City plant closes

   ACCO closes the historic Queens plant and moves production to Nogales, Mexico.

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3. 1987Swingline becomes part of ACCO

   Swingline becomes an ACCO division within the Fortune Brands structure.

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4. 1970Swingline is sold to American Brands

   American Brands acquires Swingline for $210 million.

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5. 1968Swingline 747 is introduced

   The 747 becomes the company's best-known stapler model and an enduring symbol of the brand.

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6. 1956The company adopts the Swingline name

   Swingline becomes the company's formal name.

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7. 1939Speed Products introduces a top-opening stapler

   The design permits easier access to the staple channel and helps establish the format that became associated with Swingline.

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8. 1935The Swingline name is applied to the top-opening stapler

   The company's top-opening stapler is marketed under the Swingline name, which later becomes the corporate identity.

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9. 1931Long Island City manufacturing operations begin

   The company opens a manufacturing facility in Long Island City, Queens.

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10. 1925Parrot Speed Fastener Company is founded

    Jack Linsky establishes the company in New York City, creating the business that would become Swingline.

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A practical office-products brand built around dependable stapling, familiar desktop designs, and broad workplace use. Its heritage combines functional product engineering with strong recognition from the Swingline 747 and the red stapler associated with Office Space.

• Swingline 747Desktop stapler1968

  Introduced in 1968, the Swingline 747 is the brand's signature desktop stapler. It represents the mature form of Swingline's metal stapler design and is widely associated with the company's reputation for durable, straightforward office equipment. The model became particularly prominent after a red version was introduced in response to interest in the stapler featured in Office Space.

• Swingline red staplerDesktop stapler2002

  The official red Swingline stapler was introduced in 2002 as a commercial response to the popularity of the red stapler used in Office Space. The retail product was based on the Swingline 747 rather than the custom-painted 646 prop seen in the film. It transformed a conventional office tool into a recognizable pop-culture product.

• Swingline staplesStaples

  Swingline's staple products support its desktop and heavy-duty staplers. They form the consumable component of the brand's core office-filing and document-assembly business.

• Swingline hole punchesPaper punch

  Hole punches extend Swingline's office-products range beyond stapling. These tools serve routine document organization and filing tasks in workplaces, schools, and home offices.

• 2002Office Space red stapler response

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  Swingline capitalized on audience interest in the red stapler prominently featured in the film Office Space by introducing an official red version of the 747 stapler.

  Outcome. The launch reinforced Swingline's cultural visibility and made the red stapler an enduring extension of the brand.

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• 2002Launch of the red Swingline 747Product launch

  A custom-painted red Swingline stapler became prominent in Office Space, creating consumer interest in a red version of the product.

  What changed. Swingline introduced an official red 747 stapler.

  Aftermath. The product linked Swingline's flagship stapler to popular culture and broadened recognition of the brand.

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• 1999Relocation of manufacturing from New York to MexicoStrategy

  ACCO decided to close Swingline's long-standing Long Island City manufacturing plant after decades of operation and transfer production to Nogales, Mexico.

  What changed. The Queens facility was closed and production was moved to Mexico, affecting approximately 450 workers.

  Aftermath. The decision ended Swingline's historic New York manufacturing presence and drew criticism from New York officials amid debate over trade-related manufacturing losses.

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• 2002Swingline introduces an official red 747 stapler

  Following demand generated by the red stapler featured in Office Space, Swingline released an official red version of its 747 stapler.

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• 1999Swingline closes Long Island City manufacturing plant and moves production to Mexico

  ACCO shut the Swingline plant in Long Island City, Queens, and transferred production to Nogales, Mexico. Approximately 450 workers lost their jobs, making the closure a major local manufacturing loss.

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1. Swingline