Showgard Mounts

dcaraz1949, damage to stamps from the G mounts usually occurs due to
a) using too small of mount size and compressing the perfs
b) creasing the stamp when trying to get the flap over the stamp

There is a downloadable sizing gauge at http://showgard.com/Sizeguides/Mount%20gauge.pdf, and there are also online resources (such as http://www.ihobb.com/c/SHOWGARD_MOUNTFINDER.html) that provide mount sizes for US stamps.

Davo albums also used the top loading mounts but have also switched to G mounts.

Stamps don't move by themselves when the album is sitting on the shelf. I have rarely had any stamps move significantly in a top loading mount, but I also don't flip through pages like I am reading a magazine.

That being said, I do prefer the G mounts..they do give a sense of greater protection.

I have used Hawid top load (open on 3 sides) for nearly 40 years and never damaged a stamp. Split-back mounts are dangerous for already-specified reasons. I do not like them and will never recommend them to a client. Never.

Each to his or her own, but, for me, life's too short for Showgard mounts. Like Bill, I've never had trouble with Hawid or Hawid-style.

Dekka37, I think I Brake For Stamps makes a great point...changes in materials (usually done to reduce manufacturing costs and increase profits) is a likely culprit. We see changes every day that often produce an inferior new product that exhibits problems not seen previously.

Dekka, it seems to me that the curling problem is much more likely to occur with the uncut strip mounts.
I'm sure many more collectors purchase the strips and trim them to size. I have a few pre-cut "G" mounts which seem likely to hold their shape better. Having purchased new Hingeless Albums with pre-positioned clear mounts, I am not currently stocking the mount strips.

Nothingman, thanks for your suggestions, but I have already purchased two new Hingeless US Albums so I'm currently moving all my hinged stamps into the pre-installed top load mounts in my Mystic Premium binders.

Hieronymus and medoc and area66, thanks for your comments about top load mounts. Once I live with these new Hingeless Albums I'll report on the quality.

dcaraz - I think you are right. The curling happens with newer strips. I had used showgirl for years with good results. The I started noticing these problems. I switched to Scott/Prinz and the problem went away.

Also I did not know about the concern with split back mounts and gum. I haven't noticed that problem but once I put a stamp in a Album I rarely take it out of the mount. I am going to have to think about this.

Thanks. Guys.

Family,

I can't speak to curling on the newer Showgard mounts, but I've got some that are over 40 years old and they still look great. All of my mounts are cut by me and; on that note; I have a Showgard cutter (also 40+ years old) that has made over 5.000 cuts. The handle loosens up occasionally, but I just carefully tighten it up with a phillips screwdriver. How long do these things last? Its good as new and I expect it will last longer than me!

Jack Kelley

For those of us who prefer the ease of top loading mounts, I found out at the ASDA Spring Stamp Show that the Showguard folks also market the Howid line which is their clear top loading mount brand -- both cut to size and strips.

For older mint stamps, the use of split-back mounts may present problems. For the most part, these problems vanish when using the same mounts with modern self-adhesive stamps.

Those of us who have open mind understand that. With self-adhesive, bloc and souvenir sheet, G mount are a better fit, but for old brittle stamps they can cause problems. I don't have Showguard but I keep an inventory of Untirade G and Open and also Lighthouse Open, it's depend from who I order them .