The Lateral Filing Cabinet And It's History

As with anything that has been invented, the lateral filing cabinet has a history. Most things that we use on a day to day basis have been improved upon and tweaked several times before finding the way to make it work the best. Well, this cabinet is no different. The first original file cabinet was created around the 1880's and was a horizontal box that could be locked and was fire proof to keep your documents safe. This first prototype was changed with the invention of the standard vertical cabinet. This type was very well received and has been popular ever since. This is by far the most common cabinet available, however, the lateral filing cabinet has been making a name for itself since the late 1990's when the face of filing changed forever. There is now another option and people are happy to have choices.

With the time between the first invention and the lateral filing cabinet, there was a change in the way we stored our important documents. The earliest style of organization was to bundle papers in groups or in envelopes and set them in the cabinet. This was pretty troublesome when it came time to find a certain piece of paper. The method evolved to storing papers in hanging file folders. This was much easier as you could have your files placed in some type of order, such as alphabetically or numerically, and this was essential to true organization. The lateral filing cabinet became popular as people were able to use a cabinet of different size and stature. Not to mention the ease of filing side to side rather than front to back. Keeping important papers orderly and accessible has never been easier.

Lateral Files and Their Purpose

Even though the vertical filing cabinet is the most well known among most companies, it is not the only filing choice available to you. Lateral files are growing in popularity and are proving to be quite useful in many instances. They are being used in offices that have a large abundance of files and the need to access them in a speedy manner. They are easier to use than the vertical cabinets as the drawers open up all the way and you are able to see each file and the tabs on the folders. There is no longer a need to reach into very back and pull out eight or nine folders when you are trying to get to the one you need. Instead, you are able to see exactly what you need and pull only that file.

The most common feature of the lateral files is the ability to file in either the standard front-to-back way, or in a side-to-side manner. This versatility has proven to beneficial to many office staff. Sometimes you have a need to keep your files in one particular direction and having that option available to you is a plus. There is another perk that is becoming quite popular. In the lateral files that have five drawers, there is an optional flip down drawer front that enables you to see all the files and folder tabs without the need to stand on a chair or a ladder. This is a very nice feature that has gotten rave reviews. Whichever method you prefer, take a look at the options that are available and see how they can help make your office run just a little bit more smoothly.