Why Can't I Buy A Good Stockbook?

A few years ago, I purchased a set of 5 small stockbooks. They're about 6" x 9" in size and I think each has 6 pages. I don't remember the manufacturer without checking them.

Each page has a mylar film between the pages. They're very nice books except for one small irritation. The heavy cardboard pages have a slight curve to them -- meaning stamps insert easily on the front of the pages, but it's practically impossible to slide them into the strips on the backside of the page.

I figured it was just me and never tried to return them. I just live with it.

About a year ago, I bought a new stockbook. Nice full-size in a faux leather binder. It has glassine interleaves between each of the 32 pages (64 sides). When it arrived, I was sad to see the pages had the same curved effect. It's as if it was in a warehouse under a ton of other books and the pressure warped the pages.

I don't think I'm making myself clear, so here are some scans of the "edge" of the book. First scan is the front edges of the pages which form a curve rather than line up flush like a regular book. Second scan is the spine showing the rounding, but I believe it was supposed to be square like a book.

Is it just me?





It wasn't cheap but I've had it too long to return it, but I'm just curious if you've had the same problem with your stockbooks.

KirkS

i bought several lighthouse books awhile back..
mine have 32 sides.. 16 pages with glassine on every page.. no warping or bending with these..
got them at subway.

Kirk,

I've got a Lighthouse 32-page, two sided stockbook with glassine interleaves. It has a slight curve on the spine but it is not nearly as pronounced as yours. But the pages are flat and there is no issue with inserting stamps on either side.

Steve

I only use Lighthouse stockbooks, and I have quite a few. Mine have never warped at all. Crystal-clear strips as well. Recommended

I use the Supersafe stockbooks as that is what I can find at Hobby Lobby ;). I don't recall any pronounced warping. However, I could see depending on how they are stacked and how much weight is placed on them could cause warping.

Stamperdude has a point. Stockbooks, like albums, are intended to be stored in a vertical state. Stacking them horizontally will lead to problems.

How are they attached to the SPINE of the book?

could you slide a piece of sturdy bookcover cardboard down inside the spine for support?

No. I can't do that -- it would further damage the spine.

Kirks.. new stock book?

Not new in the sense I bought it more than a year ago. Totally new in the sense I've never used it.

I can't remember the manufacturer, but it wasn't cheap. I think it might have been from Lindner, but I'm not certain. It has 32 pages (64 sides) with double glassine interleaves. All very nice quality, except I think it must have been stored flat and the spine distorted/curved.

KirkS

it really sucks when stuff like that happens..
i can agree with you and everyone else, these things are meant to store upright..

I should have returned it as soon as I received it, but it was during one of those busy times. So I told myself, "Self, send that back as soon as you get time. And then I never got around to it." It's a little embarrassing to admit because I lost money by being lazy.

welcome to my world...

KirkS, I think we have all been there, I have a tom tom GPS looking at me right now that burned out which I waited a week too long to take care of. now I own a very expensive paper weight.

better its a item rather then a health issue!

Lighthouse for me, stored vertically, replaced every 7 years.

Look on the bright side, Edwin, yu can use it to weight down all the maps on the dash of your car
This has been a very helpful thread - the benefit of others' hindsight gifted to us newbies!