Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

APPENDIX VI.THE STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.For some years after the inception of the bank thebranches were few in number, and their orders for stationerywere sent in to the head office and placed by the latter withlocal stationers or bookbinders, who subsequently shipped thegoods direct to the branches. Then, as the bank grew andmore branches were opened, it was found advisable to keep onhand a small supply of the various books and forms in generaluse, and these were kept in a stationery cupboard at headoffice. Later a stationery room was provided, where thestock on hand could be stored under the supervision of asenior officer, usually the stock transfer clerk. As the ordersfrom the branches came in, they were made up and the packingand shipping looked after by one of the bank messengersas a part of his regular duties.After a few more years the growthof the bank and thecontinued extension of its system of branches led the generalmanagement to the decision that it would be both wise andeconomical to establish a regular stationery department underthe supervision of a practical stationer. This decision wascarried into effect in 1891, shortly after the removal of thebank to its present head office building. All the books andforms used by the branches were carefully revised at that time,and numbers were given to the various standard forms. Asmall printing plant was installed, which in addition to printingmany of the forms used by the branches, was used also to printfrom type the head office circulars to the branches, which hadin the past been prepared on a duplicating machine. Thefirst printed circular was issued on June 5, 1891, and theimprovement in appearance and legibility was very marked.