Album Review: United States Albums

dcaraz

The Schaubek and Lighthouse pages are designed to fit a range of binder types, hence the range of cuts. I have lots of over-stuffed Schaubek albums, and none has developed page tears from the cutting. Lighthouses's pages are more robust still.

Geoff

Does anyone understand why Schaubek hingeless pages have these rather large elongated oval cutouts on every page? Does this allow pages to lay flat? Seems this deign would weaken pages making them more vulnerable to tearing after long use. This is a sample page of the newer Schaubek/Scott National; sample page is from AMOS Publishing.
I'm researching all the current hingless US albums and like having the Scott numbering and layout, but concerned about this page design.

Schaubek makes springback binders. Some collectors prefer that type of binder. The pages in a springback binder will lie flatter with the cutouts.

All of your input makes sense. I'm glad area66 has good experience with Lighthouse. I am eagerly awaiting sample pages from Lighthouse, Lindner, SAFE & Davo.

I was surprised the AMOS Schaubek/Scott pages are lighter weight than the paper stock used in Mystic's Standard Heirloom. Also decided against albums with color stamp illustrations. Palo pages look very sharp on PC monitor, but when loaded with stamps pages printed in 4-color make it very difficult to tell which issues remain missing.

Obviously collectors have varied preferences. The only albums I have experience with are two Scott designs, and an unused mint Mystic Heirloom which I own. The cheap older 2-post albums use the thinnest poor quality paper stock. The old Scott 2-bar album now houses my US Revenues which are hinged on older Scott National pages which are much better quality. The Mystic Heirloom is the nicest of the three. Only reason I haven't moved my collection into the Heirloom is my interest in going hingeless.

Of course these 3 albums each accepts one page type and do not accept any other page formats, so the Euro page approach that fits multiple binder types adds flexibility.

I'm gone try to explain the Lighthouse turn bar, but it's not easy for me in English;

The main advantage of the turn bar is when you want to open the album to add, remove or rearrange the pages; if you look on the photo, you will see a plastic bar with 3 pins on it; when you split an album the plastic bar will stay with the first part and the 2 metal post with the other part, so the pages are always align together. The turn bar is good when you add supplement, in your case it will not be needed
The groove in the pages help to keep the pages flat when open, but the binder not, so you have to put a weight on the binder cover if you want to have the first pages open flat.

Now for your special case; Lighthouse pages are very similar to the Schaubek you show, so it will not make a difference in your choice. I will talk about Lighthouse album of US because I don't have the Schauber ;

1- Regular
2- Commemorative
3- Coil in pair
4- Air
5- 4- Register
6- Confederate
7- Office in Shanghai
If you are after the revenue, duck stamps, envelope stamps and all those kind of BOB, Scott have them, but Scott quality is just not the same level. If I was collecting those BOB I will my reg et comm in a Lighthouse and purchase the Scott pages for the BOB

you have 3 hours to grap a Lighthouse a real good price with some stamps

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/US-Mint-USED...370549124917

Hi area66,
THANKS. I really like your illustrations that show the turn bar design. I am still receiving sample pages...so far I have compared Schaubek/Scott and Palo and Lindner pages.
Right now, I must admit that the Lindner hingeless crystal clear overlay is far easier to insert stamps into than the other mounts I've seen. I just have to accept not having Scott ID #s. I have decided against color stamp illustrations (black and white illustrations allow us to view which stamps remain missing. I'm still waiting for sample pages from SAFE, Lighthouse, and Davo.

After weeks of comparing current Hingeless US Albums, I've narrowed choices down to two finalists.

SAFE Album dual system includes two pages with a clear plastic overleaf with pockets aligned over the black & white stamp images printed on heavy off-white cover stock. Lindner-T System also uses a twin page format, but the clear plastic sleeve with stamp "pockets" is smaller than the full page used by SAFE, and the clear overlay is affixed to the Lindner album page.

Both manufacturers print a heavy black border framing every stamp illustration. I think this frame makes for an outstanding presentation when the stamps are inserted into place. These two systems are very similar and I think both are superior to the Schaubek/Scott mounts which are affixed to the page along the top edge and rely on a split backing that can cause damage to the stamp when inserted if not done very carefully.

So, it looks like I'll forgo Scott cat numbering in favor of the more secure mounting approach.
Does anyone own and use the US SAFE Hingeless pages for USA Regulars 1847 - 1937 (Product #2461)? I need a few last details to make my purchase. I can't find a description of this 41-page set -- does it include images and space for Officials? Drives me nuts that things like this are not clear on manufacturer's websites!

dcaraz1949.....
why not just call SAFE and ask them.
Im sure they would be willing to send you a sample
and can answer questions better than anyone here.

Kevin,

Makes good sense! I have been in touch with Kurt Braun at SAFE. Kurt has answered all my questions I had thought to ask and he sent me a nice page sample. I simply forgot to ask about Officials. Knowing dealers are not likely to check emails on the weekend, I posted this question on SCF.

Besides, my goal within this SCF is to reach out and make friends -- who happen to enjoy collecting. I'm sure a number of SCF folks know the answer to my questions. The Community includes an amazing number of extremely knowledgeable collectors. It's just luck of the draw if the right members happen to see your question.

When I make my final decision and purchase my new album home for my growing US collection I plan to combine all the relevant insights that have been shared on the subject and post a detailed article on comparing and choosing a Hingeless US Album. One thing I've learned while researching this subject is that online detailed descriptions about stamp albums is sketchy at best.

Unless you collect Mint NH with perfect GUM, they are no real advantage to SAFE album.

area66,

I really appreciate you posting photos of your US Lighthouse. Looks like a great album. For some reason it took the Lighthouse dealer 2 weeks to respond to my email questions. They said a sample page will be shipped today. I'm looking forward to comparing the Lighthouse mounts.

Reason I'm considering SAFE or Lindner is that I don't like the mounts used by Schaubek/Scott National pages. The split along the back side means you have to place the stamp under both the top half and the bottom half of the mount without damaging the stamp.

My sentiments exactly! I am fortunate to have only purchased volume 1 from ebay for considerably less than retail.

To this day, I have not found an album I have been satisfied with. My favorite page designs are those made by other SCF members - and when I get to the point in my life when I have the spare time, I will make my own albums. Until that time comes, I will have to live with what the market provides ...

Brian

area

As dbuss pointed out to me earlier in the thread, the SAFE albums do permit housing of both mint and used copies if the illustrated paper page is used to mount the used version. Otherwise, agree that a solid plastic sheet has little in the way of advantage over a Lighthouse page with mounts. Stamps generally don't move around much.

Geoff

GeoffHa I own at least 1 album of all the one dcaraz is trying to evaluate, and of course I know you can put used one on the printed page of the SAFE. It's just I don't see advantage unless you want to see the back of the stamps , think that I don't need.

Before my US Lighthouse I have a DAVO , when I see the Lighthouse , I prefered the color of the page, but some day I hate that album, especially the coil in pair. No album is perfect, My perfect one will be one I print myself on Lighthouse type blank pages, but then I will have to redo some few time when I add new special stamps .... this is why I use cheaper paper in plastic protector, not looking as good but cheaper to replace