before post-it notes

I was just thinking about the days before post-it notes.  When I used to make scratchpads for businesses.

It was a messy job.  Somebody would take the logo and business info and make a 4-up layout master. Which we would make a ream of copies of, inserting cardboard every 100 or so sheets. Then we'd take that to the cutter and cut it in to equal sized pads.  Then we'd take all these equal sized pads of paper and cardboard and load it in to a padding frame, which was a big clamp like device with a board behind it that all the pads were pushed up against.  Once you had all the pads in the frame you'd tighten up the clamp and remove the backing board.  This is were it got messy.  You took this "padding compound" stuff, which was a liquid latex like material and, with a paint brush or a piece of cardboard, smear the padding compound all over the edges of the pads. Once you had a good even coat covering the edge you let it set and cure for a couple of hours.  When it was all dried we'd take the pads off the frame and use a knife to separate all the pads from the solid block of paper it had become.  And there you have it, an order of scratchpads/telephone message pads with the letterhead of your business on it.

I suppose they still do this with some companies, but it's easier just to go and buy some post-it notes.