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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                                 July 24, 1998


General Binding Corporation
One GBC Plaza
Northbrook, Illinois 60062

                 Re:      9 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2008

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                 I am the Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of
General Binding Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
General Counsel of Baker School Specialty Co., Inc., a Massachusetts
corporation, GBC Business Equipment, Inc., a Florida corporation, GBC India
Holdings Inc., a Nevada corporation, GBC International, Inc., a Nevada
corporation, GBC Metals Corp., a Nevada corporation, Ibico Inc., an Illinois
corporation, Pro-Tech Engineering Co., Inc., a Wisconsin corporation, Sickinger
Company, a Michigan corporation, U.S. Ring Binder Corp., a Massachusetts
corporation, and VeloBind, Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (collectively,
the "Subsidiary Guarantors").  Reference is made to the Registration Statement
on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") being filed by the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), relating to the
registration of $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 9 3/8%
Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 (the "Exchange Notes") for the purpose of
effecting an exchange offer (the "Exchange Offer") of the Exchange Notes for
the Company's outstanding 9 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 (the "Old
Notes").  The Subsidiary Guarantors will issue guarantees (collectively, the
"Guarantees") of the obligations of the Company under the Exchange Notes.  The
Exchange Notes and the Guarantees are to be issued pursuant to the Indenture
dated as of May 27, 1998 (the "Indenture") among the Company, the Subsidiary
Guarantors and First Union National Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee").

                 I am familiar with the proceedings to date with respect to the
Exchange Offer and the proposed issuance of the Exchange Notes and the
Guarantees and have examined such records, documents and questions of law, and
satisfied myself as to such matters of fact, as I have considered relevant and
necessary as a basis for this opinion.

                 Based on the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:

                 1.       The Company and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors is
a corporation existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction
of incorporation.

                 2.       The Company had corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver the Indenture at the time of its execution and delivery and
has corporate power and authority to authorize and issue the Exchange Notes.
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                 3.       Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors had corporate power
and authority to execute and deliver the Indenture at the time of its execution
and delivery and has corporate power and authority to authorize and issue the
Guarantee to be issued by such Subsidiary Guarantor.

                 4.       The Exchange Notes will be legally issued and binding
obligations of the Company and each Guarantee will be the legally issued and
binding obligation of the Subsidiary Guarantor issuing such Guarantee (except
to the extent enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar
laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by the effect
of the general principles of equity, regardless of whether enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) when (i) the Registration
Statement, as finally amended, shall have become effective under the Securities
Act and the Indenture shall have been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939, as amended, (ii) the Old Notes shall have been tendered to and
accepted by the Company and (iii) the Exchange Notes shall have been duly
executed and authenticated, and the Guarantees shall have been duly executed,
as provided in the Indenture and the resolutions of the Board of Directors (or
authorized committee thereof) of the Company and each of the Subsidiary
Guarantors authorizing the foregoing.

                 I do not find it necessary for purposes of this opinion to
cover, and accordingly I express no opinion as to, the application of the
securities or blue sky laws of the various states to the issuance of the
Exchange Notes and the Guarantees.  For purposes of the opinions in paragraph
1, I have relied exclusively upon recent certificates issued by the appropriate
government official of the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company and
each Subsidiary Guarantor.

                 I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit
to the Registration Statement and to all references to my name included in or
made a part of the Registration Statement.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        /s/ STEVE RUBIN