Stamp Hinges

Was looking around the internet and found a store in GB that sells their own hinges.

http://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/w...oduct/866934

Can anyone tell me more about them?

These will not have been made by W.H. Smith. They are yet another example of the "Own Brand" nonsense rife in the UK. Why anyone believes this type of marketing is beyond me. They will have been made by one or the other of the remaining stamp hinge manufacturers and they are unlikely to be peelable. W.H. Smith will get them cheaply by ordering large quantities. Save your huckleberries.

Terry

A good point made in the previous post is that the packaging of the stamp hinges shown do not indicate anywhere the word "peelable" ... therefore we must assume that they are NOT peelable, making them next to useless for most stamp hinge applications.

Also, since the OP was based in the US, we might as well note that the UK to US currency conversion would mean that the package of stamp hinges would be (USD) $6.67 +/- and shipping charges to the US would probably be so high as to make the product of limited value, compared to what is still readily available in the US market.

A well made point on shipping costs wt1. I occasionally pick up a couple packs of Dennison's or Harold Cohen's original hinges. Can still be found at reasonable shipping cost, though the majority I see are eye wateringly well above actual shipping cost. I don't mind paying the premium on the hinges, but I do mind being robbed on shipping costs. Two separate packs of Dennison's on the bay sold for similar amounts but $25 shipping for one pack of Dennison's to the UK from one seller, $7 shipping from the other. Guess who got my money?

Terry

In Europe, most stamp hinges are made by Prinz Publications in Germany.

Wt1, I agree with you on the price aspect. And also with the quality of the remaining stock of other older hinges. I picked up some old Minkus branded hinges for a song. They were made by the Cohn company for them.

I guess I am just disappointed that nobody in this modern day can come up with a formulation for a good hinge that won't rip the snot out of a stamp. I am afraid that from a profit standpoint it isn't going to happen soon. Not enough money in it.

It needn't cost any more to change the adhesive. The stuff is out there all it needs is the will to change the adhesive order. And clean the coating machinery.

Terry

I was told by someone who used to make good peelable stamp hinges that they used to use both glassine and gum arabic to do it. They had problems finding a supply of both at a reasonable price so that they stopped making them.

I was recently checking up on the crazy idea of trying to make up a batch of hinges for myself. You can get the gum arabic on ebay. You can get it in powdered or liquid form. It probably will take some experiment time to find the right mixture and then there might be some consistency problems.

I think it is the liquid gum Arabic (Acacia gum) which one could try lightly brushing on glassine sheets and then letting it dry. Try some on one side and some on the other side. I think, but I am not sure that the gum was on the dull rather than on the shiny side, but I could be wrong. It may be a messy job so be careful and also test it on different papers rather than stamps first to check peelability since it did leave a residue on whatever it was stuck to which is probably what made it peelable. (Also, it is important not to wet hinges too much when using them and to let them dry first before trying to peel them off.)

From what I recall reading, the Gum Arabic based peelable stamp gum was applied to the glassine sheets in two separate coats. The first coat being allowed to dry fully before the second coat was applied. This created a separation "flaw" between the two layers of gum which resulted in the easy peel characteristic of the hinges.

Shortages of Gum Arabic may have occurred during World War ll, and later during periods of unrest in Egypt and other North African countries, but since the late 50s onward Gum Arabic has been readily available in the art world as a painting medium. I think it more likely that the second coat was scrapped as a cost saving resulting in today's horrible hinges. I don't believe the horse bone/marrow gum ingredient hazard to health nonsense.

Terry

Edited for typo. TC.

I believe what Terry posted is the correct way . One important step is missing in your discussion and could be a key factor . The glassine paper was fed thru a series of rollers. This machine heated the tub of glue and the glue was heated before applied ,this was their secret ,it was the right temperature and was applied thinner than any one else, and as Terry said it was a two step coating .Remember if the gum is heated and applied ,it will coat the glassine with a thinner flim and a more even coat as it drys .

Well if I do get off the ground with this and try it I would be using the liquid. Since some stamps do use the gum Arabic for their sticky backing it shouldn't be a problem with most stamps. I probably would not use it full strength out of the bottle though. Given that, I think the liquid other than the gum Arabic in the bottle is just a water medium so cutting the strength should be no problem. I checked up at a local Hobby Lobby and they want over $10 for a few ounces of liquid. May need to find a regular art store or ebay to be cheaper.

Hi vacuum man,

You will have more control over the gum consistency if you use powdered gum arabic. It should also be cheaper than the bottled variety which will have water already added. And whatever else the producer decided to put in the mix. I use the powder/crystals in making my own India Ink.

But for general purpose glue you could start with this...

Put 3 tablespoons of Gum Arabic powder/crystals in a cup and add 1 tablespoon of glycerin.
Add 1/2 teaspoon of water.
Mix vigorously until everything combines to form a paste.
Add more water a little at a time to dilute the paste to the required consistency.
Spread thinly in application and allow to dry.

Do please let me know how you get on.

Terry