https://www.ebay.com/itm/256099662210

American Business Systems Co. at 212 Summer Street, Boston, MA manufactured six drawer wooden card indexes some time circa early 1900s.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334894285475

On a postcard dated 1942-07-01, the Wabash Cabinet Company announced the "Removal of its New York Office on July 1st to 60 EAST 42nd STREET, (Lincoln Building)".

Following a pattern seen in many modern wooden recipe card boxes to hold the current recipe one is working on, Jeff Sheldon has cut a long thin slot into his card holder to allow one to stand up today's card in the front as a means of displaying and featuring what needs to get done.

Overall measurements for Steelmaster Index Card file for 4 x 6" index cards are 16” deep x 12.25” wide x 5.25” tall.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125930697280

https://www.ebay.com/itm/256044173366

Vintage Remington Rand Library Card File Single Half Table Top Index Dovetail - eBay

$16.00 + tax + $15.48 for shipping

https://www.ebay.com/itm/155447667554

This Catalog has a page with the various sizes of card catalog boxes available from Cole Steel in 1950s. The external sizes can be useful for placing the individual card sizes for some of these boxes on the secondary market.

They also include approximate card capacities.

https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/charging-tray-for-library-readers-tickets-14436111112.html

A wooden 5 tray charging tray with lid! This could make a fascinating portable zettelkasten. It has options for both 2"x3" and 3"x5"Cards.

https://www.carrmclean.ca/charging-trays-and-guides.html

http://www.shopbrodart.com/Library-School-Furniture/Adult-and-Teen-Furniture/Computer-Furniture/Card-Catalog-Trays-and-Cabinets/_/Brodart-Wood-Charging-Trays2/

Brodart Full-Length Single Charging Tray<br /> Full- length charging tray with 1,000-card capacity<br /> Price: $96.32

• Adjustable steel follower block with automatic lock
• Felt pads on tray bottom protect desktop
• Full-length charging tray for countertop use
• 4"H x 4"W x 16"D
• Holds 1,000 5"H x 3"W cards
• Includes antimicrobial finish
• Made in the USA

See also: https://hypothes.is/a/ao89RMQmEe2zIvsu3lf6kw for a smaller version

http://www.shopbrodart.com/Library-School-Furniture/Adult-and-Teen-Furniture/Computer-Furniture/Card-Catalog-Trays-and-Cabinets/_/Brodart-Wood-Charging-Trays/?q=tray&s=MToyNTY6NDo6Ojo6OjA6

Brodart Mini Single Charging Tray Mini single charging tray with 600-card capacity More Info Price: $76.76

• Adjustable steel follower block with automatic lock
• Felt pads on tray bottom protect desktop
• Mini charging tray fits on your lap
• 4"H x 4"W x 8"D
• Holds 600 5"H x 3"W cards
• Includes antimicrobial finish
• Made in the USA

This could be used for a modern day Memindex box for portrait oriented 3 x 5" index cards.

Gunn Desks and filing cabinets

Example advertisement of a wooden office desk with pigeonholes and a small card index box on the desktop as well as a drawer pull with a typewriter sitting on it.

Federal Steel Fixture Company manufactured a variety of steel office furniture including desks, cabinets, lockers, filing cabinets, shelving, and card cabinets.

A fascinating combination of office furniture types in 1906!

The Adjustable Table Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan manufactured a combination table for both telephones and index cards. It was designed as an accessory to be stood next to one's desk to accommodate a telephone at the beginning of the telephone era and also served as storage for one's card index.

Given the broad business-based use of the card index at the time and the newness of the telephone, this piece of furniture likely was not designed as an early proto-rolodex, though it certainly could have been (and very well may have likely been) used as such in practice.

I totally want one of these as a side table for my couch/reading chair for both storing index cards and as a temporary writing surface while reading!

This could also be an early precursor to Twitter!

Folks have certainly mentioned other incarnations: - annotations in books (person to self), - postcards (person to person), - the telegraph (person to person and possibly to others by personal communication or newspaper distribution)

but this is the first version of short note user interface for both creation, storage, and distribution by means of electrical transmission (via telephone) with a bigger network (still person to person, but with potential for easy/cheap distribution to more than a single person)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/364064561931 Vintage The CE Ward Co. Wood Index Card File Box HTF

The width of the drawers of both McDowell & Craig and Steelcase desks is just wide enough to accommodate two rows of 4 x 6" index cards side by side with enough space that one might insert a sizeable, but thin divider between them

I suspect that this is a specific design choice in a world in which card indexes often featured in the office environment of the mid-twenty first century.

Were other manufacturers so inclined to do this? Is there any evidence that this was by design? Did people use it for this? Was there a standard drawer width?

The metal inserts to section off the desk drawer area could have also been used for this sort of purpose and had cut outs to allow for expanding and contracting the interior space.

Keep in mind that some of these tanker desks were also manufactured with specific spaces or areas intended for typewriters or for storing them.

https://www.antinet.org/wooden-antinet-waitlist

2023-03-06: Noting that the list price on this has now dropped to $495 including shipping. He's also closed the wait list, which I'm guessing was set up to both collect email addresses as well as to test market the demand for such a box at his various price points.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255991930646?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11021.m43.l1120&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=0f6517c566d94de08c6b921ab3252194&bu=45618614899&ut=RU&exe=0&ext=0&osub=-1%7E1&crd=20230226034744&segname=11021

https://www.amazon.com/Container-OakRidge-Products-Mailbox-style-Certified/dp/B00X6L1HFW/

Finally a physical zettelkasten box for your sharpest and most dangerous ideas!

https://www.harpgallery.com/shop/item42735.html

https://www.harpgallery.com/photos/42/7/35/card42735file3.jpg?v=1664570467

Photo here indicates offices at:<br /> - [255] Canal Street, New York - [???] Chestnut [??], Philadelphia - [???- ???] Mission [??], San Francisco

With manufacturing in Ilion, NY

Refinished 4 drawer 3x5 sold for $750 on 2023-01-11

https://www.ebay.com/itm/115316277621

Clarke & Baker Co. had offices in New York and Philadelphia

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255962754535

Clarke & Baker, 280 Broadway manufactured card index boxes in the early 1900s.

https://www.antinet.org/wooden-antinet-waitlist

$995 for a single wooden, two drawer card index is a lot on the ridiculous side. Once can get rare vintage ones in excellent condition online for nearly a tenth the price!

Restored fine furniture versions with several dozen drawers go in this range.

Possibly the worst is that these don't even have following blocks to hold partial drawers of cards upright.

link to: https://boffosocko.com/2022/12/26/the-ultimate-guide-to-zettelkasten-index-card-storage/

https://www.reddit.com/r/antinet/comments/10h23fm/wildly_aspirational/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFs3_COOMp8

He opens up saying that he uses some small plastic containers for mushrooms that he got from the supermarket for storing his notes/slips! This is definitely a unique form of zettelkasten box!

He talks about the benefits and some of the joys of using analog practices, particularly in analogy to music and arts.

"meine kleine zettelkasten show" sounds like it ought to be a Mozart compisition like Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

https://www.target.com/p/6qt-clear-storage-box-white-room-essentials-8482/-/A-80162146

6qt Clear Storage Box White - Room Essentials™<br /> Outside Dimensions: 13 1/2" x 8 1/8" x 4 5/8"<br /> Interior Dimensions at bottom: 11 1/2" x 6 3/8" x 4 3/8"<br /> Ideal for a variety of basic and lightweight storage needs, for use throughout the home<br /> Opaque lid snaps firmly onto the base and provides a grip for easy lifting<br /> Clear base allows contents to easily be viewed and located<br /> Indexed lids allow same size storage boxes to neatly stack upon each other<br /> BPA-free and phthalate-free<br /> Proudly made in the USA

Specifications<br /> Closure Type: Snap<br /> Used For: Organizing<br /> Capacity (Volume): 6 Quart<br /> Features: Portable, Lidded, Nesting, Stackable<br /> Assembly Details: No Assembly Required<br /> Primary item stored: Universal Storage<br /> Material: Plastic<br /> Care & Cleaning: Spot or Wipe Clean<br /> TCIN: 80162146<br /> UPC: 073149215284<br /> Item Number (DPCI): 002-02-9534<br /> Origin: Made in the USA<br /> Description<br /> Organize, sort and contain! The Room Essentials 6 Quart Storage Box is ideal for a variety of basic and lightweight household storage needs, helping to keep your living spaces neat. The clear base allows contents to be easily identified at a glance, while the opaque lid snaps firmly onto the base to keep contents contained and secure. Stack same size containers on top of each other for efficient use of vertical storage space. When storing items away, use good judgment and don’t overload them or stack them too high; be mindful of the weight in each box and place the heaviest box on the bottom. This storage box is ideal for sorting and storing shoes, accessories, crafts and other small items around the home and fits conveniently on 16" wire closet shelving, bringing order to closets. The overall assembled dimensions of this item are 13 1/2" L x 8 1/8" W x 4 5/8" H.

Examples of this and similar products in use as a box for zettelkasten: - https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipN5GmVoIhCwma1czj27bXlVDKIUfbOU3a91dYuPBNZaGsEhcZYllmotxup6OxUHhA?pli=1&key=RlhXMTM0WUpuQ2hlQkdDNzA0S1BmNzVQblo4Ti1n - https://imgur.com/a/rW8TZKt

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304735865527?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11021.m43.l1120&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=9d7415d17d33436c80675948f2a15173&bu=45618614899&ut=RU&exe=0&ext=0&osub=-1%7E1&crd=20221212041023&segname=11021

This is about as close to the form factor of Niklas Luhmann's own zettelkasten box as I've seen.

https://www.metalcabinetstore.com/shopping/products/5157-card-and-multimedia-files-28-d/

MetalCabinetStore.com carries Tennsco card files, but doesn't seem to have any of the Buddy Products. Apparently they're just a distributor and likely just bought out remaining product from Sandusky rather than taking over manufacturing operations.

Alas...

Features include: - follow block (to bunch cards to the front of the drawer and hold them upright without falling over - bail stop - a mechanism to keep the drawer from being accidentally pulled completely out of the case.

http://www.sanduskycabinets.com/flipbook/?page=2

Page 2 of the Sandusky Lee / Sandusky Buddy catalog indicates that page 52 has File Card Storage Boxes, but the page doesn't exist in this version of the 2020 catalog.

https://www.amazon.com/JUNDUN-Holder-Collapsible-Fireproof-3x5-Inch/dp/B0B8TYQQW9/

Jundun manufactures an interesting looking fireproof, zippered, and lockable card index.

https://prosimpli.com/index-card-holder/

Reasonable state-of-the-art of index card holders. Does manage to leave out some of the bleacher display methods, but otherwise not bad.

https://www.reddit.com/r/antinet/comments/wzblc9/card_storage/

This page has links to some of the most common zettelkasten boxes and manufacturers mentioned on the r/antinet Reddit.

https://www.taobao.com/list/product/%E4%B8%AD%E8%8D%AF%E6%9F%9C%E4%B8%AD%E5%8C%BB%E6%9F%9C.htm

https://www.staples.com/Vaultz-Locking-4x6-Index-Card-Cabinet-Double-Drawer-Black/product_2229125

4 x 6" Index card filing cabinet; 2 drawers, with lock

$85.99 from Staples on 2022-11-21

https://www.aceofficemachines.com/steelmaster-by-mmf-industries-drawer-card-cabinet-holds-3-000-4-x-6-cards-14-1-2-x-16-x-6-1-4-mmf263.html

2 drawer box for 4 x 6" index cards.

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16848998233

metal box for 4 x 6" index cards

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/kuggis-box-with-lid-transparent-black-00514033/#content

7 x 10.25 x 6"

This is big enough and just about the perfect size for 4 x 6" index cards. The lid has a slight indent to make it easily stackable.

Robert Green appears to use a Globe-Weis/Pendaflex Fiberboard Index Card Storage Box, 4 x 6 Inches, Black Agate (94 BLA) to store his index card-based notes.

How I Write My Books: Robert Greene Reveals His Research Methods When Writing His Latest Work, 2020. timestamp 0:00:30.

syndication link

https://www.bisley.sk/userfiles/bisley/product/e84b22bf2d7156d048ad076ff74f895d.pdf

https://www.amazon.com/Snap-N-Store-Index-Card-Black-SNS01577/dp/B002VCVCKW/

https://www.amazon.com/Globe-Weis-Pendaflex-Fiberboard-Storage-4X6BLA/dp/B0037852VY/

https://www.amazon.com/MaxGear-Business-Organizer-Storage-Organizers/dp/B07ZB152BG/

https://www.vaultz.com/vaultz-vz01395-black-locking-4x6-index-card-cabinet-double-drawer

These are the type used by various people including Scott P. Scheper.

http://www.shopbrodart.com/library-supplies/archival-supplies/archival-storage-boxes/Archival-Specialty-Storage-Boxes/_/Post-Card-Boxes/

N.B. presuming the 4 1/8" H dimension is even the outer dimension, this means that one can't easily keep tab cut dividers which often go from 4 3/8" to 4 1/2" tall in these boxes with the lids on properly.

Instead, one may prefer their slightly larger microfiche boxes which go up to 4 3/4" which should also presumably fit their microfiche divider guides for sectioning one's work.

Another subtle difference in these two boxes is that the smaller is 60-pt paper versus 40-pt for the larger microfiche box, which means that while sturdy, isn't quite as sturdy.

http://www.shopbrodart.com/library-supplies/archival-supplies/archival-storage-boxes/Archival-Media-Storage-Boxes/_/Microfiche-Storage-Boxes/

These should easily fit 4 x 6" index cards as well as card dividers with taller tabs which commercially don't often get taller than 4 1/2".

See also microfiche divider guides.

reply to GnauticalGnorman

Don't frown at cardboard. Everyone starts their journey with a single card and a humble box. Filling up a first box is an accomplishment that gives you time to dream about the box you want to have.

Of potential interest, the cost of index cards to fill these files will be almost the investment in the box itself. Is this similar to the rule of thumb in the art world that the price of the frame should reflect the investment in the artwork?

Planning and especially overplanning your writing work can be counter-intuitively non-productive. A smarter reading and note taking approach can allow one to be playful and creative in a way that more focused, goal-oriented writing would never allow. It's also an incredibly valuable tool for when one becomes "stuck" and working on something else seems easier or more profitable.

An example of this is the Ahren's extended use of the shipping container metaphor with respect to the zettelkasten. By having a variety of ideas stewing in his zettelkasten, a simple search or link using the word box allowed him to create a fantastic metaphor for reshaping one's note taking practice. It's a bit sad that he didn't take a moment to point this out explicitly (though perhaps this isn't the way things came about?)

Robin Sloan considers himself a "media inventor" by which he means someone who creates containers and things which go into them.

will track mounts and fin boxes work together? Do they share standards?

♿🏳️‍🌈💙Jack Monroe (they/she). ‘I’m Getting Individual Permission from Everyone Sending Me Pics of Their Food Boxes in My DMs to Repost Them Here but without Identifying Information Because I Try to Be Responsible with This Large Platform and There Are ~children~ Involved Here. Disclaimer Done, Now Get Angry.’ Tweet. @BootstrapCook (blog), 12 January 2021. https://twitter.com/BootstrapCook/status/1348917929132367872.

♿🏳️‍🌈💙Jack Monroe (they/she). ‘I’m Getting Individual Permission from Everyone Sending Me Pics of Their Food Boxes in My DMs to Repost Them Here but without Identifying Information Because I Try to Be Responsible with This Large Platform and There Are ~children~ Involved Here. Disclaimer Done, Now Get Angry.’ Tweet. @BootstrapCook (blog), 12 January 2021. https://twitter.com/BootstrapCook/status/1348917929132367872.

boxes natural movement learning freedom

This is a really good key question..

translation respect of context finding common ground difficulty

Herbert's black box of rhetoric.

Black boxes unpacked.

They are, in other words, not black boxes.

This is the black box that Hume hopes to unpack.

I want to highlight the useful understanding of norms as tools: this very quickly begins to unpack the black box that is normal. Lemos turns norms" into Morty's car battery*.

Ramus wants black boxes that cannot be unpacked (or excavated).