Old Timer Needs Some Help On Supplies Info

Hi,
I have some questions on topics that I haven't kept up on very well over the last 20 years. Any knowledge would be appreciated.

1. Hinges ( when I last left collecting , there was a big debate on which hinges were really "peelable" after an extended time. Glassine was hazardous to make, etc.... So what hinges do you recommend as being easiest to remove?

2. Plastic mounts. Basically a similar discussion on the plastics and the adhesives used. I always used scotts and prinz, still have a bunch and the adhesive is still good, even though I usually use hinges on the mounts. Again, which is your choice or should they still be used?

3. For covers, I used thin mylar types of envelopes to enclose the cover and then mounted them with photo hinges. After 20 yrs, there seems to be no damage from this method, but is there better material for mounting covers?

Thanks for any input.

Jim

Hi Jim,

You asked for them, so here are my opinions on mounts and hinges.

Mounts - I don't use them. I don't believe in the MNH fad or gimmick, however real it might have become. However, from what I have seen from stamp lots purchased, mounts like the Showgard Mounts and Scott Mounts are probably best. Crystal Mount glue discolors over time and ruins albums. Someone has said they can also add a glaze to some stamps though I haven't seen that. The seal-in style pouches can be downright dangerous and effect the perforations. A properly chosen for size Showgard style mount seems best since they don't appear to shrink or close in on the stamps like the pouches do.

As for hinges, the situation is pathetic. Nothing at all like the Dennison's and Fold-O-Hinges of yesteryear. They're even cut sloppily, today. From what I've used of modern hinges, Prinze will peel off stamps easier than Supersafe, but the Supersafes peel more easily from pages. Both are made in Germany. There is a Dennisen hinge out of Canada, I believe ("en" rather than "on") that's junk and more like the German hinges mentioned than the original Dennisons. And I believe it's Subway Stamps that purchased the Dennison hinge making machinery and puts out a hinge called Dennis' -- or something like that -- with a kid on the package and says they are for used stamps only. Too bad that they have the equipment but not the glue formula!

Have seen 30 and 40 year old packages of Dennison and Fold-O-Hinges sell for $10-$20 per package on ebay! I have some of these and only use them on mint stamps that have never been hinged or were lightly hinged. Anything used or with a hinge remnant or sometimes even a common never hinged stamp gets a Supersafe hinge right now.

I don't collect covers so can't give you my input, there.

I buy the Prinz mounts in long strips and cut them to size for stamps and covers. I always use larger sizes than recommended to leave a millimeter or more around the stamp, because I don't want a tight fit. The stamps never fall out, but sometimes I do slip in some tongs and straighten them up a bit.

For large blocks, covers and revenues on documents I also use large sized Prinz mount strips (89mm - 120mm), and select a size which provides a margin all around so I can slip the item in and out easily to look at the back side. Lately I have been buying them from www.BrooklynGallery.com.

The cost is about 70c per strip. Most of the covers and stamps I am mounting cost at a minimum 10-100x that ($7-$70), so I don't consider the mounts too expensive.

I use a lot of blank pages and usually provide some identification and a little write-up with each item. I also use Prinz mounts for the PF certificates (and sometimes even the folded invoices for expensive items) to mount them in the album along with the stamps on the back side of pages.

Gentlemen, Thank you for your input, it is not too surprising as I did check some suppliers and ebay, and noticed the odd spellings of hinges. I do have a couple of unopened Dennisons, and a ziplock bag of about 1000 hinges ( Haa don't ask me why, I can't remember why they are in the bag....maybe a collection box had them!
The MNH "gimick" is here to stay just as the MS grading system in coins. I guess it had to come. Visited a stamp grading site and they were using numbers for grading on a "100" scale. I really wanted to reduce my collection, but as I have gotten them down and started going through them , I remember why I collect in the first place. Hey it keeps me young!

Jim

modern_who

About two years ago, I attended a stamp show at White Plains, and there was a dealer, who had 50 packages of Fold-o-hinge, at $3.00 per package.

I told him I would give him $100.00 for all 50, and he said sold..

I'm set for a good ten years, and I agree 100 percent, with you, they are the next best to the good old Dennison's

quote:

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Visited a stamp grading site and they were using numbers for grading on a "100" scale.

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What makes me think this type of grading system is being forced on the hobby by people wanting to sell their costly grading service to collectors.

quote:

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I told him I would give him $100.00 for all 50, and he said sold.

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Great buy, Bob. You probably couldn't have done better if you bought gold!

If your wife wants to put them in the dumpster someday, you can send them to me for safe keeping!

You guys are just so funny

I have no local to buy supplies and have to get everything online. I didn't realize hinges were made of gold.

Dianne

Bobggg.......

What a sweet deal on the Fold-o-hinges.....I've seen them selling for $10.00 a pack on ebay !!

i forgot the image !