Perf Measurements

When measuring perfs on a US stamp, if the perfs say 14 x 13.5
do you measure that H then vertically or the otherway around?

I believe it is H first & then the vertical.

i read up on it.. first number is top and bottom
second number is side to side

Which is the same for Canadian stamps.

Hello, On the subject of perf measurements, I have this question. I know that you put the zero line in the center of a perf and count the perfs in 2 cm. Do you count the perf you are lined up on or just the ones between the zero line and the 2cm line. It still confuses me.
Thanks
David

I guess it really depends On what type of gauge you use.

I use 3 different types of gauges and each one is different in how you align the stamps.

Hi stampvirgin, I don't have a gauge and have to rely on using a ruler marked off in cm.
Thganks
David

Then I would start in the middle of a valley and measure the number or perfs in the 2 cm. - Jeff

Hmm was wondering how to do this correctly. I forgot over the years, uncle showed me a long time ago

I think this was posted here somewhere, but it fits this thread:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-38SfQQZqQ

By the way, I still use this same type black aluminum perf gauge. I got it in an HE Harris "kit" when I was a kid.

Kirk

Good discussion on measuring perfs in this topic:
https://goscf.com/t/8927

I am not sure I like his fingers all over the stamp and especially on the gummed side. Also a transparent odontometer I think is preferable to the one used on the video as you can use it on the stamps as they sit securely in the album.

I am not sure if you are allowed to post links to another forum, but one of the members of the XXXX.com has developed an odontometer that can be used on scanned images (600dpi), if interested just PM me for the link.

:)

I didn't check to see if this was already mentioned in the other thread, but for compound perforations, the measurement starts from the top of the stamp, and then proceeds in a clockwise direction. You only need to record the gauge up to a repeating pattern. And yes, there really are stamps that have compound perforations of 3 or even 4 different numbers!

Yes, Perf14.

I agree about fingers on the stamp -- I should have cautioned against that in my post.

The scanned image of the odontometer has been posted here too, but I don't think the word "odontometer" was used, so I didn't find it in my quick search.

Kirk

Let your perfs measure your perfs.
The best perforation gauge is a stamp.

It is very easy to make a mistake with a perforation gauge.
I only use a stamp, of the same issue, to measure my perfs.
It is always right and just so easy to do.