APSCO Products Canada
Automatic Pencil Sharpener Company of Canada Limited was incorporated in Canada on January 17th, 1933. This company was a subsidiary of the US company based in Chicago, IL which started in 1905. This is around the time that several US pencil manufacturers opened subsidiaries in Canada. The company would be renamed APSCO Products (Canada) Ltd in August of 1953. It made a variety of office products including pencil sharpeners, hole punches and staplers.
An article from the National post from November 28, 1964 notes the sale of this company:
"U.S. Firm sells subsidiary - Apsco Products (Canada) Ltd., a supplier of stationary items, was acquired from its American parent, Apsco Products Inc. on Oct. 27, by Ralph M. Roger of Toronto. He had been manager of the Canadian operation since 1953. Gross annual sales to retail stationers are about $1 million. Products sold include pencil sharpeners, staplers, punches, etc. American firm remains an important supplier of these items to Canadian company."
"U.S. Firm sells subsidiary - Apsco Products (Canada) Ltd., a supplier of stationary items, was acquired from its American parent, Apsco Products Inc. on Oct. 27, by Ralph M. Roger of Toronto. He had been manager of the Canadian operation since 1953. Gross annual sales to retail stationers are about $1 million. Products sold include pencil sharpeners, staplers, punches, etc. American firm remains an important supplier of these items to Canadian company."
Sharpeners
The most well known product that APSCO sold were pencil sharpeners. The most common were the Giant and the Chicago. The Chicago, named for the city the company was founded in, was a budget sharpener with just one size pencil hole. The Giant had six different sized holes for pencils of different diameters. Both of these sharpeners had dual rotating cutters.
APSCO Giant sharpener circa 1940
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Moyer's 1940 School Supplies Catalogue p86
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Moyer's 1940 School Supplies Catalogue p87
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Ralph Roger
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Ralph M. Roger was a key figure in the history of Apsco Products Canada Ltd. He started working as a Canadian representative of APSCO in the 1940s, because the manager of the Canadian subsidiry in the 1950s and went on the purchase the Canadian company in the 1960. As the president of Apsco Products Canada Ltd., he transformed a small post-war enterprise into a respected company known for its integrity and commitment to both customers and employees. Below is an article about his life that was printed in COPA (Canadian Office Products Association) journal in November/December, 1978. (My thanks to Ralph's daughter for sharing this article with me.)
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Ralph Roger at work in the office of Apsco Products Canada at 29 Bermondsey Rd, Toronto, Ontario.
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Firm reflects founder’s philosophy
“A man’s reach must exceed his grasp — or what’s a heaven for?” Browning wrote this line in an attempt to define the motivating force of the ‘Renaissance man.’ But while Browning saw his character as a historical enigma, we know the renaissance man is a type rather than an individual—that, from time to time, he appears among us, regardless of era, inspiring the same respect, the same fascination, and the same—often frustrating—desire to isolate and analyze.
Ralph Roger, president of Apsco Products Canada Ltd., died October 10 of this year, of a progressive illness that could not be arrested. Speaking to his associates and friends (most were one and the same), his professional record more than qualified him as a Browning prototype who not only reached beyond his grasp but held on to his principles, “turned on” his peers, and transformed a post-war idea into a successful operation that is as well known for its integrity as it is for its products.
A favorite Roger guideline was the one stating that Apsco’s success was in direct ratio to its customers’ success. And, to help make those customers successful, he conducted regular dealer seminars on sales management and inventory control. He taught evening classes in Sales for six years with the University of Toronto and was a frequent editorial contributor to Canadian Office Products and Stationery Buyers’ Guide and Office Products Magazine. He also acted as guest lecturer for programs involving O.P.M.'s editor Robert Diamond. All fees resulting from these “free-lance” ventures were directed to the Canadian Office Products Association, of which he was an active—often vocal—member for more than 25 years.
Many writer/speakers in our industry fall into the category of “teach rather than do.” A contradiction to the rule, Roger’s own company is the working model of his philosophy.
He started in the office products field in 1946 as Canadian representative for the U.S. corporation American Pencil Sharpener Company (APSCO). In the late Fifties, he purchased the Canadian company and the name—which was altered to Apsco Products Canada Ltd. The firm’s location—first a small site in downtown Toronto, then a larger building on Bermondsey Rd.—now comprises 30,000 sq. ft. of office, showroom, and warehouse space on Gordon Baker Rd., Scarborough. There are 28 employees.
“Support of his staff,” says Jim Roberts (12 years with the company and now president), “was just as important as the support of his dealers. The average tenure of service for our staff members is 18 years. A typical gesture was Ralph’s practice of giving each office and warehouse employee a substantial bonus based on monthly sales. Even a part-time student received a cash reimbursement for his help in making the month a success.”
Apsco’s product line was virtually hand-picked by its founder and now includes Apsco’s own registered brand of pencil sharpeners and staplers, Rolodex rotary card files, Huron copysettes, Hansen and Howard Miller clocks, Rubbermaid office accessories, and Apsco radial rubber bands.
Roger, salesman/administrator/public speaker/writer, was also a humanitarian. He would probably have objected to receiving credit for constant canvassing on behalf of The United Appeal—yet his company is a gold medal winner for the Appeal (an honor given to groups in which more than 90% of the members regularly contribute a minimum of $25 per capita).
But he was not without detractors. Because he was outspoken; he voiced criticism of the industry and its professional organization—while others brooded silently; he instigated the penalty clause for overdue accounts in a commercial field accustomed to a “laissez-faire” attitude; and he told those who thought they knew everything—that they didn’t.
He also paid handsomely for services rendered; encouraged newcomers to the industry; adamantly stuck to a policy of applying the same rules and ensuing limitations to large chains and small, self-employed entrepreneurs alike; and told those who knew their knowledge was limited that he was at their disposal for advice, staff training, and recommendations for service people.
“All at this point,” says Jim Roberts, “all I want the industry to know is that Apsco will continue to operate under the same philosophy.”
Ralph Roger was 55.
November/December, 1978
“A man’s reach must exceed his grasp — or what’s a heaven for?” Browning wrote this line in an attempt to define the motivating force of the ‘Renaissance man.’ But while Browning saw his character as a historical enigma, we know the renaissance man is a type rather than an individual—that, from time to time, he appears among us, regardless of era, inspiring the same respect, the same fascination, and the same—often frustrating—desire to isolate and analyze.
Ralph Roger, president of Apsco Products Canada Ltd., died October 10 of this year, of a progressive illness that could not be arrested. Speaking to his associates and friends (most were one and the same), his professional record more than qualified him as a Browning prototype who not only reached beyond his grasp but held on to his principles, “turned on” his peers, and transformed a post-war idea into a successful operation that is as well known for its integrity as it is for its products.
A favorite Roger guideline was the one stating that Apsco’s success was in direct ratio to its customers’ success. And, to help make those customers successful, he conducted regular dealer seminars on sales management and inventory control. He taught evening classes in Sales for six years with the University of Toronto and was a frequent editorial contributor to Canadian Office Products and Stationery Buyers’ Guide and Office Products Magazine. He also acted as guest lecturer for programs involving O.P.M.'s editor Robert Diamond. All fees resulting from these “free-lance” ventures were directed to the Canadian Office Products Association, of which he was an active—often vocal—member for more than 25 years.
Many writer/speakers in our industry fall into the category of “teach rather than do.” A contradiction to the rule, Roger’s own company is the working model of his philosophy.
He started in the office products field in 1946 as Canadian representative for the U.S. corporation American Pencil Sharpener Company (APSCO). In the late Fifties, he purchased the Canadian company and the name—which was altered to Apsco Products Canada Ltd. The firm’s location—first a small site in downtown Toronto, then a larger building on Bermondsey Rd.—now comprises 30,000 sq. ft. of office, showroom, and warehouse space on Gordon Baker Rd., Scarborough. There are 28 employees.
“Support of his staff,” says Jim Roberts (12 years with the company and now president), “was just as important as the support of his dealers. The average tenure of service for our staff members is 18 years. A typical gesture was Ralph’s practice of giving each office and warehouse employee a substantial bonus based on monthly sales. Even a part-time student received a cash reimbursement for his help in making the month a success.”
Apsco’s product line was virtually hand-picked by its founder and now includes Apsco’s own registered brand of pencil sharpeners and staplers, Rolodex rotary card files, Huron copysettes, Hansen and Howard Miller clocks, Rubbermaid office accessories, and Apsco radial rubber bands.
Roger, salesman/administrator/public speaker/writer, was also a humanitarian. He would probably have objected to receiving credit for constant canvassing on behalf of The United Appeal—yet his company is a gold medal winner for the Appeal (an honor given to groups in which more than 90% of the members regularly contribute a minimum of $25 per capita).
But he was not without detractors. Because he was outspoken; he voiced criticism of the industry and its professional organization—while others brooded silently; he instigated the penalty clause for overdue accounts in a commercial field accustomed to a “laissez-faire” attitude; and he told those who thought they knew everything—that they didn’t.
He also paid handsomely for services rendered; encouraged newcomers to the industry; adamantly stuck to a policy of applying the same rules and ensuing limitations to large chains and small, self-employed entrepreneurs alike; and told those who knew their knowledge was limited that he was at their disposal for advice, staff training, and recommendations for service people.
“All at this point,” says Jim Roberts, “all I want the industry to know is that Apsco will continue to operate under the same philosophy.”
Ralph Roger was 55.
November/December, 1978
