Questions About Top Open Mounts... Hawid?

Is Hawid the only choice for top open mounts? Who has the best prices on Hawid? It seems that they are more expensive than split-backs, probably because there are several manufacturers of split-backs. Has anyone actually calculated the price per mount based on cut strips for split-back vs top open? I'm not interested in pre-cut as these are for ww stamps.

thanks

Edit: I think it may be helpful to know I am in the US

I cannot help you on price comparison, but I found the split back type mounts better than top opening mounts. I was put off the top opening mounts some years back when I saw some affixed in albums in which the open top edges of the mounts were curling up from the page slightly. No idea what make they were but I ruled that type of mount out. Split back mounts lie flat and hold the stamps more securely. They are best fixed to the page with a light moistening along the top edge gum only. Heavy wetting may cause some album leaf paper to buckle.

Terry

I can't tell you who has the best price on Hawid, I imagine all the big dealers are all very close to each other on them. I personally get them from Maryland Stamp & Coin, known as Potomac Stamp for their e business. I like them fine and have had no issues, but they haven't beenin my album for decades either. They also sell an assorted size strips Sampler Pack, perhaps just buy one of those and see how you like them...cost is comething like $8. John

There are other top loading mounts, Lighthouse SF mounts for example.

I've been satisfied with the mystic mounts. They seem to have all the sizes I need to get the job done.
Tom

Most likely the modern open top mounts are fine, it was just seeing the curly ones in a hingeless album a few years back that put me off. I have occasionally used the large Hawid strips to cut to fit blocks and multiples and to be fair they do work fine, even when cut down.

Terry

I collect used stamps and rarely use mounts, but if you collect mint stamps, the open top are considered better than the split back. The reason being is that after time, a line can form on the gum on the back of the stamp where the split is. It's probably not a big deal if you're just mounting common mint stamps, but if you're mounting anything with much value, you might want to reconsider. Such things will be noted on any certificates, etc. and will adversely affect the value of the stamp.

Thanks for the replies. I already have some Scott mounts and I don't care for the split-back design. I want open top mounts but Hawid were the only ones I could find. Thanks HFS for the suggestion of Lighthouse.

I've been pricing out mounts and Hawid and Lighthouse both seem to be more expensive than the various spilt-backs available. I also found these Linder top-cut mounts. http://www.lindner-usa.com/philatel...lindner.html I assume top cut means open top...? They sell them by weight but the description doesn't say how many or what sizes you get. Has anyone used these Linder mounts?

Fimpster do you want to sell your split back Scott mounts? Are they clear back or are they black?

They're black, but I'm going to keep them.

So has anybody tried those Linder mounts I mentioned two posts up? They're sold by weight, does anyone know how many and what sizes you'd get in a 100 g or 200 g order?

I've emailed Linder but have yet to get a response.

I wanted to second the LH mounts, that's what I use and so far no issues :)

Washington Press, the White Ace album people, have a mount that's closed on 3 sides and open on top.

My experience has been that the split backs almost never lie down flat on a page, the bottom always sticks up unless you add a bit of moisture to the bottom flap to hold it down. If you use the clear mounts you can overcome this by using a size slightly larger and it often will then lie flat.

Stamps1962
If your having trouble with them lying down flat. Your using one size too small. I've used the split backs for the past four or five years. Mystic to be sure. I've never had any problem with them lying flat. Most collectors tend to crowd the stamps in the mounts.

Same as TinMan. I have used Showgard split back mounts for years and have no problems with them lying flat. I second TinMan in that too small a mount for the stamp is being used. There is also a danger of damaging the perfs if the stamp is too tight in the mount.

Terry

Personally I'm only interested in top open (top-cut) mounts in strips.

The purpose of my original post was to inquire if there were any brands besides Hawid, and their prices. I was hoping some experienced collectors could give me their advice, but I guess from the replies that most people are using split-backs. So after several hours of online research and price comparison I'll post what I've come up with in case anyone else comes here searching for information on open top mounts.

Top open mounts are more expensive than split-back mounts. Just about every stamp dealer sells split-backs, and there are some cheap online discount sellers (i.e Global Stamp), but not nearly as many sellers of top open mounts. The brands available in the US seem to be Hawid, Lighthouse and Linder. Please post if I've missed another brand. One of the reasons the price is so much higher for open top mounts is the S&H charge. I found several places selling split backs with free shipping. Not so with the sellers of top open mounts. Most online retailers are charging anywhere from $5.95 to $8.50 S&H per order! That's nearly as much, or sometimes more, than a single pack of strips. So I broke it down to price per strip for a minimum order including S&H. All of these prices of course get lower as you purchase larger quantities. The following are prices for definitive size strips usually up to 33mm in height. Prices increase for larger sized strips.

Hawid could be the most expensive, depending on where you buy.
-Subway Stamp, 25 strip pack with S&H comes to 80¢ per strip.
-Potomac Supply (MDstamp), 25 strip pack with S&H comes to 56¢ per strip.
-Green Dragon Stuff, 25 strip pack with S&H comes to 47¢ per strip.
-Ebay seller hobbysuppliesco, 25 strip pack with S&H comes to 41¢ per strip.

Lighthouse sells a 30 strip variety pack, and with S&H comes to 69¢ per strip.
-iHobb also carries Lighthouse. A 25 strip pack with S&H comes to 76¢ per strip.

Linder sells by weight. Per an email I received from Linder their 50 gram variety pack has approx. 40 strips. With S&H that comes to 39¢ per strip.

Even though Linder comes in as the least expensive, buying Hawids off ebay gives the benefit of choosing specific sizes.

And lastly, for comparisons sake, I was able to find Scott mounts in a 22 strip pack for as low as 25¢ per strip.

So, for anyone looking at top-open mounts, I hope this price comparison is helpful.

Happy collecting,
fimpster