Jimjam ... I Would Like More Info On Morley Bright

How do you like using the Morley Bright watermark detector? I got rid of my tray and fluid years ago and want to find a cleaner process for identifying watermarks. Can you give us a full review?

Thanks!

Brian

I can't help with the Morley Bright, but I can recommend the SG Detectamark. Expensive (£99.99) from SG, but it has more than paid me back with finds of inverted and sideways watermarks. It also clearly shows thins and tears.

http://www.stanleygibbons.com/onlin...adaptor.aspx

I found the Morley Bright extremely tiresome and exchanged it for stamps long ago.

The recipient has since exchanged it for stamps........

Brian, the Morley Bright is far from perfect, but it allows me to see many more watermarks than I could before. I tried using (Zippo) lighter fuel and got absolutely zero results, so I had to try something else. There are, no doubt, better ways to view watermarks but they're considerably more expensive. The Morley Bright will do until such time as I can afford the ideal solution, whatever that may be.

I would say that I can see about 60% of the watermarks I could not view before by other methods (soaking in water, holding up to the light or against a dark surface). It seems to work very well for German stamps and Commonwealth stamps. I have no idea why, but it seems to be useless for Swedish stamps. As paradoxical as it may sound, in many cases I can't see a watermark on a Swedish stamp when I can see that there's one there with the good ol' naked eye.

Another down side. To view a watermark, the stamp must be free of hinges and paper adhesion. If it's a used stamp, there's usually no problem about soaking it first, but if it's a mint stamp, most of the time you don't want to wash away the original gum with the hinge or paper remnants. I've put such stamps aside in the hope of finding a different means of viewing the watermark at a later stage.

So my 'review' is inevitably a mixed one. Don't expect - as I did - to suddenly be able to see watermarks all the time. But for me 60% of the time is a massive improvement, so I'm not complaining.

There is something about fiddling with the (safe) watermark fluid and the tray that I like. It has a bit of a ritual aspect to it I guess.

The Morley Bright device is not perfect but for the $20-something you can get it off ebay for (I bought mine from Prinz) its well worth the price.

I share LondonBus's appraisal.
I have one lying around somewhere,
you are welcome to it for $5 plus postage
(or a smattering of stamps)
caveat: provided I can find it, I have moved recently
and may not be able to locate it.

Morley Bright watermark detector seems to reveal only part of the watermark at any one time. The more you squeeze the sealed ink pad the more the partial watermark changes.

If you are new to watermarks this detector will drive you nuts.
Happy Stamping KGV.

Thank you, Rod. Assuming the shipping costs aren't prohibitive, I'll take it. I'm in no hurry ... it's been at least 20 years since I last used one :)

OK Riley,
I search it out today, and if I find it
we can discuss trade.

I managed to locate it Riley,
(and managed to tip over 5000 hinges on the floor whilst doing so!)

I may have the original box it came in, not sure

Is morley bright insta-tector
instructions
plastic protector sheath

Was originally $34
At the reduced SCF price of $5 paypal
(but I'll keep the bonus 12 steak knives)

As is, I don't like it much and will not work
if any part hinge is still attached.

Let us know your decision.

Postage : $4.92 aust to US