Instanta Perforation Gauge

The Instanta perforation gauge by Stanley Gibbons has been around for about 70 years since it first appeared around the early 1940's. It has changed slightly since it first came out. The first version of the gauge went from around perforation 10 to 15. The second version went from around perforation 10 to 16. The third version of which there were slight variations over time went from around perforation 10 to 18 which has not changed much even until today. The earlier versions were made of a thick plastic that has yellowed with age. Below is a picture of the first version.

Picked mine up (third version) for 10p at an antique fair when I first got back into collecting a few years back. It's an invaluable piece of kit, and so easy to use! Don't need anything fancy to do the job.
DavidR

Here are pictures of several variations of the third version of the Instanta perforation gauge only and not with all of its different protective sleeves since there are more variations of these in combination with the gauge such as paper sleeve, cardboard sleeve, plastic sleeve:


(Thick yellow plastic with "C.P. Rang Inv.")


(Thick yellow plastic with "Made in England")



(Thin clear plastic with "Made in England")



(Thin clear plastic without patent number)

It is all I use, handy trying to separate stamps perf 11.5 or 11.8!

Does anyone collect any old Instanta perforation gauges? I used to have a collection, but sold it around 20 years ago. I did not see another copy of the oldest first version since then until this year when I managed to buy one after so long.

Wow.... I really need one of those that goes up to 18!

I have only been able to find them that go to 15 or 16.

If anybody has one for sale or trade, please contact me.

Terry.

They're all over ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...guage&_rdc=1

I use the Scott perforation gauge, personally, but that's because my local store only has the Scott gauges.

Do you have any pictures of the Instantas that you have or that you want to trade for?

Here's a picture of the second version of this perforation gauge:

Does the newest version of the "Instanta" still have the gauge lines printed (engraved) on the underside of it?