Did you know who invented The Notepad?
It was a Tasmanian, J.A Birchall and it took 500 years of human evolution for Mr. Birchall to change the way we look at single sheets of paper. In 1902 he decided to stick them together to form the first notepad!
J.A Birchall was the once owner of Birchalls bookstore here in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.
Founded in 1844 by Samuel Tegg, then a few owners until it became Birchalls, then owned by the Tilley family in 1969.
Birchalls was oldest bookstore in Australia at the time of its closing in 2017. The store sold other items as well, such as hobby things and so on. The store closed due to retirement of the Tilley family who couldn't find a buyer for the store as it was.
In 1902
Birchalls in recent times
An interesting bit of history. It's too bad that no one wanted to continue with the store. I bet it was very popular.
ReplyDeleteIt was a very popular store Bill and it's most unfortunate that no one wanted to buy it.
DeleteInteressantissima questa notizia.
ReplyDeletePer me il bloc notes deve essere sempre a portata di mano
Even with computers/phones etc we still need a notepad and pen to write on.
DeleteThat's interesting!
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting when I accidently came across the invention.
DeleteAll praise to Mr Birchall. I always have note pads to hand.
ReplyDeleteWe do in this house too EC.
DeleteI did not know this, an Aussie, that's cool.
ReplyDeleteI have a note pad sitting by me, in fact I am writing this comment in it before typing it up on your blog.
I also really like a good bookstore.
That's interesting what you do Jo-Anne.
DeleteWhat a fascinating piece of history! It’s amazing to think that J.A. Birchall revolutionized something as simple as a notepad, making it so integral to our daily lives. I've just posted a new blog entry about styling jeans and a tank top for a date night. You can check it out here: https://www.melodyjacob.com/2024/07/how-to-style-jeans-and-tank-top-for-date-night.html. Hope you find it inspiring!
ReplyDeleteI was pleased I came across this information Melody and just had to share it.
DeleteHello Margaret,
ReplyDeleteNice to see the different of that shop of the past or now. Very nice.
Greetings, Marco
A vast difference Marco. Shame no one wanted to buy it though.
DeleteWhat an interesting thing to learn and I had no idea. The store certainly evolved into a very modern business. With the advent of Officeworks, I suppose no one wanted to take on the business, but what a shame it closed.
ReplyDeleteI didn't have any idea until I just happened to come across it on the internet. It sure become a good business; youngest sister-in-law worked there for several years until she married. I expect no one wanted to buy it because of the larger stores selling some of the products Birchall sold, however there is a gap that no one sells exactly what they sold.
DeleteThat's very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI always keep a note pad to hand, I find them so useful.
All the best Jan
It is interesting Jan and who would have thought way down on the other side of the world from you a man invented a notepad.
DeleteI couldn’t live my life without notepads.
ReplyDeleteWe use them too, mostly for the shopping list.
DeleteI never knew that. Interesting to see the store is kept til this day
ReplyDeleteI didn't know it either until I just happened to come across it one day recently. Shame they had to close.
DeleteI love notepads and when I see packs of five in A5 size I buy several at a time, they're so handy for everything, especially shopping lists.
ReplyDeleteThat's what we use our note pads for too...couldn't do without them.
DeleteFancy that invented by a Tasmanian. Interesting how mwny things Australians have invented. I googled it once and was amazed at how many things have been invented bty aussies. Shame the bookstore had to close.
ReplyDeleteYes, Diane, it's amazing and I was surprised as you to find that out recelty.
DeleteNice to see the difference in the store's.
ReplyDeleteI always use notebooks.
Greetings Irma
In this house we do too.
DeleteMargaret, this is such an intriguing piece of history! I never knew that a Tasmanian was behind the invention of the notepad. It's fascinating to think how something so simple has become such an essential part of our daily lives. I agree with everyone here—there’s nothing quite like jotting things down on paper.
ReplyDeleteI never even thought about ''who' invented the notepad Veronica until I came across the article. Yes, it certainly is simple invention but a great one.
DeleteAhora el bloc de notas de papel, lo está sustituyendo el móvil.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.
That's very true in one way, but many still use notepads, I see lots of people in the supermarket with their paper and pen.
DeleteA fascinating article Margaret. I have sent this to my hubs as he goes nowwhere without a notepad in his pocket.
ReplyDeletenowhere that should have been. My fingers didn't follow my brain ;)
DeleteGlad you sent it to him, bet he gets a surprise to know of the invention and where.. Same happens to me sometimes, fingers go after or before the brain..lol
DeleteI understand why bookshops have closed all over the country, but yours was a historical icon.
ReplyDeleteSince I now depend on my local newsagent for academic and popular journals, I suppose it is a compromise we will learn to live with.
Yes we do have to learn to live with it, fortunately we have several newspaper shop that still carry novels, and a good bookstore in the city.
DeleteMe dio pena que esa tienda cerrara tenia tanta historia. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteMany people in our city were sad when Birchalls closed., and yes so much history attached to the store and it's name.
DeleteUna pena que haya cerrado. Yo también uso muchos Bloc de notas. Muchos besos.
ReplyDeleteI think most people use notepads for many things. It is a pity Birchalls closed with all that history, but I get that no one wanted to buy it.
DeleteI'm glad he did. As for the store, I'm always sad to see that.
ReplyDeleteYes, another one bit the dust so to speak Bill. Such a shame as larger stores and online shopping deter people from going into the city sometimes.
DeleteNo ño conocía esto Margaret.
ReplyDeleteMuchas gracias por compartir.
Saludos
You are welcome, it's amazing what we find out sometimes.
Deletedear Margaret thank you so much for sharing the story how first notepad was made and when :) i wasn't aware of it actually
ReplyDeletenow i know it was invented in your area and by some very wise man who owned store here for generations .how nice store still exits
best wishes
Such a simple item it the notepad and I never thought of anyone inventing it, Baili.
DeleteSad it closed...
ReplyDeletehugs
Donna
It is sad Donna, and in the Mall where it was is not the same without Birchalls being there, but as the young ones grow in age they won't even know Birchalls was once there.
DeleteBello homenaje que rindes al recuerdo de este espacio, hoy ya cerrado.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteAncient bookstore with their memories... I really love spend my time in bookstore and windowshopping with so many book and comic....
ReplyDeleteYes, one can have a great time looking and seeing what is new or old in bookstores.
DeleteI never knew where the notepad was invented.
ReplyDeleteMany kinds of notepad still make our lives convenient.
Very convenient invention and I didn't even think about it being invented!
Delete