Stamp Tweesers/Tongs ?

I have thinking about for a while.

Does anybody know if there is such a thing as pure silver stamp tweesers/tongs?

Small size with small rounded end that is bent near the base would be nice.

I use an antique pair:



They really grip the stamps well.

I think you have to go vintage, because I don't know of a current producer of stock tongs in sterling. You could have Asprey in London fabricate a pair for you, which would be ostentatious, and quite delicious.

Keep in mind that if you handle mint chalky paper stamps with anything made from silver, the silver will leave small black marks that are nearly impossible to remove. One of the classic tests for chalky paper is to very gently drag a piece of sliver wire (or the silver post of an earring) on the very edge of a perf. If a mark is left that looks like a thin pencil mark, the paper is chalky. Ordinary and most glazed papers do not react to the silver test.

Yes, I think you would want work-hardened sterling silver (92.5% silver) rather than fine silver (100% silver). Fine silver would be too soft. I have some nasty covers that might best be handled with Cjd's tongs.

I think I last saw tongs like Cjd's in the Viggo Mortensen, Omar Sharif 2004 action adventute Hidalgo when Omar suspected Vito of improper behaviour with his daughter!

Handling her sugar cubes?

Thanks for the help.

I have a German made Pi 21 and the chrome is wearing off and high up where the tongs meet on the inside it is rusting believe it or not!

Have had this stamp devise for longer than I can remember.

Might get a quote or 5 from some jewelers... maybe.

For myself, I like the Lighthouse long pointed model. They show zero signs of use so far, and if one ever did wear out, I'd replace it with the same model.

If yours isn't a Lighthouse, you might try that, first.

My 2d.

My stamp tongs are 24 kt gold ,the were given to me by Stanley Richards of the stamp firm Daniel F. Kelleher back when they were in Boston . He gave a set to all his regular buyers back about 10 years ago .

Dull tongs sound more friendly to use on stamps than sharp tweezers.

The Lighthouse/Leuchtturm 15cm Deluxe straight, narrow tongs could go right through a stamp, if you are not careful. It's never happened to me. They zip in and out of Vario pages with ease.

I've found at least one valuable function for the 24k gold plated tongs...I got one for my daughter, so that she could never again say, "no, I think these are mine."

Stamp tweeser as we call them in Aussie,maybe the UK as well, are not the splinter type tweesers that are sharp.


Forgot! Tongs are something we cook with in Aussie! Not to be confused with the Aussie Thongs.

Does anybody know where I might find a pair of longer-than-usual tongs? I've seen them before -- I've even used them at dealers' tables. They're especially helpful if you're trying to remove a smaller item that ends up sitting at the bottom of a large 8-1/2"x11" dealer sheet or a regular page protector.

I've looked at the stamp supply sites I know of and haven't seen anything. Regular tongs seems to be about 4-3/4" long, and longer ones are about 6". I would guestimate that the ones I used and am looking for would be maybe 8-9-10" long.

Philatarium,

You might try surgical tweezers. I have seen long ones at the hospital and also on trips to the swap meets.

This is what I use. An antique combination stamp tongs/mount cutter/.15 caliber pistol. Ideal for stamp collecting and home defense!






-IBFS

OUCH~!