Assignment Book | Beatles memorabilia
Updated: Aug 15
What pupil wouldn't appreciate tracking their school assignments with HELP! from The Beatles? You heard that right! Take your eyes out of your history book for a moment, lift your wooden desktop, prop the lid open, and reach in for your shiny notebook-style assignment book. Even the teachers who "weren't cool" would welcome the cutting-edge, trendsetting assignment book into their classrooms!
Manufactured by Select-O-Pak, this vinyl-covered daily record came with the ever-important two pads of paper. One notepad was labeled "Lesson Assignments" and featured lined, perforated paper with a banner-style photo at the top of each page. The graphic included headshots of John, Paul, George, and Ringo, peppered with music notes, stars, and facsimile first-name signatures. The additional pad contained blank sheets and a banner along the top depicting the Beatles' instruments (Ringo's drumhead displaying a 'B'), various musical notes, lines, and stars. The second pad was studiously labeled "Classroom Notes."
The stylish book (4¼" x6¼") was available in trendy colors such as baby blue, navy blue, blush, sky blue, teal green, black, red, white, royal blue, brown, light grey, nude, light brown, and tan.
The book's exterior included a clear pocket with an insert card that read: "Beatles Approved Assignments and Notes in Permanent Refillable Vinyl Holder. School Identification Card On The Back Of This Label. NEMS ENTERPRISES, LTD. STYLE BT-560. A "SELECT-O-PAK" PRODUCT BY HI-CRAFT.
Belt Manufacturing Company of Canada
The NEMS agreement was with Belt Manufacturing Company of Canada Limited, 1425 Weston Road, Toronto, Canada. The date of the first agreement for the manufacturing license was February 13, 1964, for the “children’s satchels, Open Ring Binders, Schoolbags, Briefcases”, with the initial term for ’2 years.’ The initial license territory listed for distribution was ‘Canada and North America.'
The date of the second agreement for the manufacturing license was March 11, 1964, for the “School Exercise Book – Plain, School Exercise Book – Ruled, Wire bound Notebook – Ruled, School Refill – Ruled,”, with the initial term for ’2 years.’ The initial license territory listed for distribution was ‘Canada and U.S.A.'
Select-O-Pak and Hi-Craft
The Belt Manufacturing Company of Canada sublicensed the “paper report covers, open binder for notes, school assignment for classroom notes (2 sizes), school cards, and identification holder” to Pen-Tab in the U.S. Pen-Tab brands were Select-O-Pak and Hi-Craft.
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