Scott Hingless National Album Qna

I have a set of the Harris statesman Delux and I hate them! I might sell them or just trade them off.

Hi,
When I got back into the hobby it was to collect pre - 1980 US mint / unused stamps. I did a lot of research and the pick came down to Scott National albums or the Schaubuck Hingeless. I was told they migrated the Scott to Schaubuck in the hingeless models. Because of the initial cash outlay, I chose the Nationals - and used Scott black mounts.

Obviously, it comes down to "pay me now, or pay me later". I should have kept track of the bucks spent on mounts, for I wonder how close it would have come to the initial cash difference.

I saw this string that began 5 years ago and found it interesting to note that the Scott National US Hingeless originated some years ago.
For anyone seeking information regarding the choices for US hingeless albums, I hope more updated notes from my own search of my ideal
US Hingeless Album will be of help:

A MAJOR determining factor for me is the number of pages dedicated to house my target US collection years from 1845 to 1930's.
While the layout and quality of several album manufacturers appears to be very impressive, the number of pages each company has
created for these issues varies greatly -- between 97 and 54 pages. Understanding how many issues can be housed has become one of my
key focus. I expect to include certain BOB issues and as many variations of older issues as my budget will allow, so the choice between
an album with 60 pages or nearly 100 pages has led to a clear leader.

Currently, the new Schaubek Scott National US Hingeless Album combines the most benefits I seek:
> Largest capacity -- 97 pages
> Most BOB included (I use an old Scott Specialty peg album for my Revenues)
> Most issues between my collecting dates -- earliest 1840's through 1930's
> Includes Scott Cat numbering (this doesn't matter to some folks, but with so many variations of some US issues,
I am leaning heavily toward the few choices that do include Scott numbers)
> Available with binder and slipcase under $300 (granted the album cost may not be significant if one invests many $1000s or $10,000s in their stamps; but if one's budget is tight, the Lindner and Palo and Lighthouse and SAFE albums all cost another $100 or more)
> Ring system that lays flat (I don't like my old peg Scott album and will eventually replace it with a ring binder system).

Here are my comparisons (sight unseen, but I have requested sample pages):

PALO -- Beautiful looking pages, all illustrations are reproduced in color! 1847 - 1940 across 109 pages;
premium pages lay flat in 5--ring mechanism binder + slipcase; Damage Report? $390

PALO -- USA Documentary & Revenue 1862 - 1963 in 103 pages; with binder $372

SAFE -- Beautiful looking pages, 14-ring mechanism + slipcase. I'd require purchasing 3 different page groups that total 81 pages,
and I have no clue if Officials, Postage Due, Parcel Post are included. Not sure why the stamp pages are broken out as they are in groups with different end dates: 41 Regulars pages 1847 - 1937, 21 Commemoratives pages 1893 - 1945, and 19 Airmails pages 1918 - 2012? Damage Report? $412

LINDNER -- Again, very clean aesthetics and quality 18-ring mechanism; Uses clear acetate overlay "pockets" for your stamps which are hinged on left edge on each page; folks who collect MNH can view/show gum side simply by lifting the overlay, and used/cancelled issues can also be hinged on the illustration -- all in one album; but 1847 - 1936 is fit onto only 54 pages costing $210!
-- so what was left out? Oh! Need to also purchase Officials, Postage Due 1879 - 1992 (but I don't want 1940's - 1990's!)
That's $187 more. Damage Report? $397

LIGHTHOUSE -- Looks equal to the best Euro albums; quality construction; elegant pages; 13-ring mechanism + slipcase. US Hingeless 1847 - 1935 is spread across 60 pages; With a VARIO Binder + slipcase; but I don't think this one includes any BOB; Damage Report? approx $285

LIGHTHOUSE -- Came across maybe a newer US version? 1847 - 1964; same 13-ring system; DP Perfect turn bar binder + slipcase; Damage Report? $399.95
(While I prefer to stop collection after 1930's, I'm looking into whether BOB is included in either of these)

SCHAUBEK SCOTT NATIONAL -- this hingeless Volume 1 covers 1845 - 1934; quality Euro pages; 6-ring mechanism lays flat when open; design follows Scott National layout including Scott cat numbers; Vol 1 utilizes 97 pages and includes most BOB issues except Revenues; Senator multi-ring binder and slipcase; Damage Report? $273

IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH ANY OF THESE ALBUMS, PLEASE ADD YOUR INSIGHTS FOR THOSE WHO MAY SEEK GUIDANCE.

I have a Lighthouse turn-bar US hingeless album from 1979 that I bought at auction (for the stamps really). Very high quality as all lighthouse albums are and in great shape. However, some of the mounts might be loose - one just popped off from the Airmail section as I took it off the shelf to look at it. In looking at it though, it might be that the Airmail section was self mounted, given how skewed the mounts are.

As always the pages are very sturdy.

Anyhow, I also have lighthouse Switzerland and Italy albums from 2013 and these are just great.

If your Lighthouse mounts are self adhesive at the back it's because it's not the original, Lighthouse use glue to fix the mounts in their album, it's why you can lift the back and look at the back of the stamps. SCHAUBEK pages are good too but their binders are lower quality.

Has anyone had more recent experience with US hingeless albums? I'm comparing the available choices for early US through 1930's and BOB + Revenues.
I've chatted with others in the SCF and I've contacted all the manufacturers I'm aware of and have invested lots of time researching online info. But seems that album manufacturers, dealers and retail stamp outlets post limited, even spotty info about these fairly expensive albums. I have had to ask each company basics like how many pages are included, how are pages laid out? And what BOB are included?

Any shared insights from experienced collectors would be much appreciated.

Dan in Syosset, NY