The Adjustable Clampersand is a rare and precious thing: a true Core77-born commodity. Core77 readers may remember the original Clampersand Coretoon by Tony Ruth, showing the typographical tool in sketchy form. And now, with much hard work and horn-tooting, we're pleased to present the fully-fledged and functional Clampersand. The glittering conjunction is made from aluminum, cast at the Batavia Foundry outside of Chicago.

"I always envisioned the Clampersand as an ideal bookend for an open ended shelf," remarks Ruth. "I use them to clamp several books upright into a freestanding centerpiece. Or I simply stand it up by itself on a table. I'd recommend using it to clamp verbally associated objects together into some sort of visual pun: bacon and eggs, salt and pepper, turner and hooch. That sort of thing."

The clamps receive a rough polish and a secondary base grinding, ensuring that they sit flat while clamped. While the Clampersand is fully functional, it is not recommended as an actual shop clamp, because the cast aluminum is a lower strength material than a traditional steel clamp.

Tony Ruth is a designer, illustrator and occasional cartoonist from Chicago, a bacon enthusiast, and inventor of the adjustable Clampersand. Mechanical design by Tim Haley of Tangible.

You heard it (and saw it) here first: git your fresh Clampersands, clamp them around the house, shop and garden for all your bookending puns and visual run-on sentences. Punctuate your projects, support American production, and give kudos to zealous cartoonists.

Available now from Hand-Eye Supply! $40.