Perforation Gauge

I bought a new gauge the other week on ebay because my 35 y.o. cheap-o "Peerless" one is rubbing clean in places. I swear that the new one is not accurate. When I lay the two gauges over each other, they seem the same, but when I put the WFs in, the old gauge works and the new is off by so much it's useless.

How that happens is confusing, but I've had to go back to using the Peerless (new one is the Clearvue Gauge by Unitrade Associates -- a cheap-o thing, too):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Uni-Safe-Pe...em19cdadaa97

I'm thinking of investing in something more expensive, in the hopes it will actually be accurate.

I've read the threads on gauges here, but my question is:

Has anyone bought a good one lately and if so, what is brand and especially -- from where?

I'd rather spend the $ on stamps than on endless gauges, so I'd like to get it right this time.

PS I prefer clear plastic (I think), as I don't really understand how the metal ones are going to be workable for me with poorer eyesight.
Edit: Looking at these:

http://www.slingshotvenus.com/stamp...tyPerf5.html

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PERFORATION...em3f05b53234

Also looked at this type and saw them recommended at SCF, but the sliding scale looks like something my eyes would have trouble with:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Uni-Safe-Pe...em5ae71c6c89

Yep, I use the first link show - the Sonic Imagery Labs Precision Multi Gauge - and I love it. VERY useful tool to me. It does so much more than just measure perfs.

Kurt

I think the best perf guage for value is the one produced by Stanley Gibbons - the Instanta. I've had mine for 30 years (at least). I've bought several others and had a Perftronic bought for me, and I've always gone back to the Gibbons one.

The Uni-Safe Perfect gauge is very similar to the Stanley Gibbons Instanta, just thinner plastic. I have it and like it but don't collect US stamps. The sliding scale thingie is a thing to get used to but once you do you wonder how you used the older types.

I have poor eye sight also and also use a band around the head flip-down magnifier that I got from a model railroad supply shop online.

The Multi Gauge looks nice, haven't seen it myself.

Hi

Linn's Multi-Guage is pretty good, especially for US stamps. For general use I use an old Showgard gauge, which I don't think is manufactured any more.

Another item I use if "perfing" a lot of stamps is the following:
http://www.lindner-usa.com/shop/cat...pg5_englisch

I found that it is easier to check perfs if one puts the stamp face down against the pins.

Jerry B

The Scott/Linn's Multiguage serves the purpose.





The guage is used almost everyday for my classic era WW collection.

Here is the link on Scott/Amos for the guage.....

http://www.amosadvantage.com/scotto...d_part_desc=

I have the the Sonic Imagery Labs Precision Multi Gauge, but I don't use it for measuring perforations (only for specialty measurements).

I also have the Scott/Linn's Multiguage. In fact, I obtained this gauge first and found the clear gauges were much more difficult for me to see (my eyes are getting worse and I don't have prescription glasses yet). So I never use this gauge.

I primarily use a simple, cheap, metal Uni-Safe aluminum slotted gauge and found it works best for my eyes (for most work). Metal is sturdier and easier to use for me. However, it doesn't measure below 7 (or is it 7 1/2). On the other hand, its only $1.95, so might as well have one of these in addition to the plastic.

For World wide stamps the SG Instanta probably is the best bang for the buck. For US Stamps I use the Scott's / linn's Multi gauge. They are both transparent for measuring perfs on cover amd the Scott's also has a gauge for measuring Postmarks (Not sure if the instanta has this ).

OK, I have the Scott/Linn Multi Gauge is there any on line reference on how to use it, or is there a video some where. I need a visual. Sorry but when it comes to this I am a little confused.

Thanks for the help.

Hi Joe Stamps

I thought the gauge had instructions in the package. Go to this link:


Click on "How-to Articles" and click on "Use a perforation gauge".
The site has a lot of good articles.

Jerry B