At the forefront since 1880

According to an interesting story, an old sailor returned from his travels with a batch of raw rubber he had acquired along the way. The rubber now had to be turned into money, preferably in a way that would provide a livelihood for years to come. Eventually, he decided to gather a few skilled craftsmen around him, primarily engravers and mechanics, and together they began manufacturing stamps, dies, signs and other marking products.

Gradually, the new company established itself in the Grand Duchy of Finland. At the beginning of the century, the company was converted into a limited company and given the name Osakeyhtiö Helsingin Kautsu-Leimasin Tehdas. Already in the early years of the new century, impressive product catalogues were published and used to market the company's products to authorities and businesses.

Many of these products are still part of our range today, albeit in a more simplified form. For example, we can no longer offer the combination cigar cutter and stamp.

Much has changed since the days when an official would personally visit us to sign for a received stamp or seal in an official stamp register supervised by the police authorities.

Finland's independence and the development of the economy further accelerated the company's growth. In addition to our own products, various mechanisms and accessories were imported to facilitate the use of rubber stamps. Numbering and dating machines were also imported, primarily from Germany.

Gradually, engraved stamp moulds were replaced by originals produced using typesetting machines and, later, computers. Photographic techniques were then used to produce the compression matrices required for vulcanising the stamps.

Another major step forward came when OY Helsingin Leimasintehdas became the first company to introduce the pre-inked Perma Stamp to the market. This user-friendly, labour-saving invention has, during its 14 years on the market, increasingly replaced the traditional rubber stamp in office environments. Its black body and distinctive triangular knob have become familiar features on tens of thousands of desks.

Continuous product development and a strong commitment to quality have enabled Oy Helsingin Leimasintehdas to remain a Finnish, leading full-service supplier in the marking industry for now 113 years – and the development continues.

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