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month, and the other with letters for the twelve months of the year. (See Figure 1.) As each day and month pass, the respective guide card is set to the back of the box, out of the way. In order that nothing be filed for Sundays, it is well at the beginning of each month to remove the Sunday dates from the index. When one looks at his tickler each morning, that day's tab, with its contents of things for today, stands at the front of the box.

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This tickler is a convenient type. Its index is arranged for the week, but one numbered consecutively from one to thirty-one could easily be substituted.

An Example of the Tickler's Use

On March 3, let us say, General Manager Smith of the Jones Construction Company is out among the trade working up new business and late in the afternoon returns to the office with these notes, his memo system being 3 x 5 cards carried in the vest pocket. (See Figure 2.)

The tickler is ready. Mr. Smith dictates to Mr. Crowell a confirmation of an appointment with the representative of the Kalamazoo Lighting Company arranged by Mr. Barnes, then drops the card behind the March 15 tab. He files the second memo relating to a bid from Hedges and Company under the March 4 date, since he must take up that item with his assistant, Mr. Brown, who has charge of bids. He has already had a promise from Mr. Carson that specifications

from Hastings and Son will reach him April 27, so he drops that memo behind the April guide, to remain there until April 1, when it will be set behind the tab number 27. The fourth memo, relating to a meeting he wishes to attend, he slips behind the March 29 tab. The general manager's mind is free to deal with big things since the details have been committed to paper.

A calendar may be combined with the tickler, the type shown in Figure 1 being especially convenient in this respect. It may be noted that the index shown here is designed for the days of one week, not for a month. If the other sort of index proves of more service, as is likely to be the case, it can easily be substituted.

Simpler Forms of the Tickler Method

The tickler here described is too elaborate for the man who has only a few details to handle. The desk calendar pad is more convenient for his purposes. This pad has a separate sheet for each day of the year, which in addition to such items as the day of the month, the day of the week, the number of days of the year passed, has blank space for memoranda. By simply turning ahead to the proper date, entries can be made for any day of the year. Such a pad is less flexible than the tickler, of course, in that items not attended to on the date specified must be copied in transferring them to later dates.

An even simpler system, which to the man with a minimum of detail is yet entirely adequate, is the weekly reminder pad. One sheet serves for a week, and blank space is provided for each day's items.

The Newspaper Man's Assignment Book

The essential' feature of the tickler system is the fact that everything which must be attended to on a certain day is

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through its use automatically brought to the attention on that day, and at no other time.

The assignment book used by newspaper editors may be mentioned in this connection, since it is really a form of tickler. This book at the beginning of the year is blank, save for dates. But from day to day as the city editor learns of political conventions, social events, lectures, public hearings, and the like, he proceeds to note them in his book for the day

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JUNE 9, 1918

Get 5 girls for sale dresses next
Sat. Dept. 29.

Dept. 30 wants 3 extra stock girls
today only.

Dept. 36 needs 3 or 4 more salespeople Sat.

See why paper chute so dusty.

See if Engineer repaired dumb-waiter 2nd floor.

Tell carpenter to repair packing desk 2nd floor.

Have all lights cleaned on 3rd fl.-
dirty.

Ask Mr. Trinks about towel supply.
Broken glass on table 2nd fl.-repair.
Miss Smith complains slow delivery
Bronx.

Are girls in Dept. 14 on time morn-
ings?

Advance salary tomorrow Miss Neil

No. 1817.

Trans. next Mon. Miss Ahl, 2149, to
Dept. 36.

Why wasn't call made last Thurs.
for wash goods Mrs. James Brown,
107 W. E. Ave.?

Tele. Mrs. Brown and give reason, apologize.

6/17 Mr. Jones will give 3 girls

for Receiving Room.

6/17 Mr. Jones 10 girls for Mon

day sale on tables.

(a)

(b)

Figure 3. The Memo System Devised by a Busy Department Store

Superintendent

scheduled. Later on as these dates are reached, such items serve as assignments for reporters. This simple device, if used methodically, insures well-filled columns to the readers and frequently a valuable "scoop" to the paper.

A Department Store Superintendent's Methods

The system devised by E. A. Colby, who as superintendent of Lord and Taylor's large department store necessarily handles much detail, merits attention as another special form of the tickler. On his rounds through the store Superintendent Colby carries a small loose-leaf memo book, with a page reserved for each department; the number and the name of the department head appear at the top. (See Figure 3a.) When a department head makes a request, the superintendent turns to the page designated, enters the date, the request, and the date when action is desired.

Upon Mr. Colby's return to the office his secretary transcribes the various items upon sheets of the same size but dated consecutively, entering each item upon the second sheet according to the time when action upon it is desired. For example, Mr. Jones, called upon June 1, makes two requests, one of them for immediate action, which the secretary enters upon the sheet for that day, the other for four days later, which is entered upon the June 5 page. Every morning, therefore, Superintendent Colby has before him the list of items which, accumulating upon this page for some time past, demand action today. (See Figure 3b.) By glancing at the sheets of later date he can tell at any time what items have been scheduled for these days and make his plans accordingly.

"My assistant uses the same system," adds Mr. Colby. "In this way I am constantly aware of what he is doing, and should he or I or both of us be absent for any reason, anyone could pick up the sheet for that day and proceed with our work in good order."

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