Stamp Cabinet

that would make a killer cabinet for a fountain pen collector.

Stamp cabinets and workstation ideas have fascinated me. I started designing one a long time ago but it was a time in my life when I worked and traveled too much to be focused enough. One "innovation" was to build a small light box into the desk/cabinet for perfing stamps. The light coming in from behind works perfectly with the SG perf gauge, making the registration lines super crisp as you line the stamp up. Of course, the workstation should have a swivel-mounted LED-lighted magnifier of at least 5X if not 7 (sort of like the table-mounted Ott-lite).

Another "innovation" is to shape the work top like a cashew-nut. This allows the the table to literally wrap around you, taking advantage of space to your sides for laptops, lighting, catalogs, etc. Part of the surface should also include a flippable board with one matte black side, and one white side. This would be very helpful to evaluate shades and a matte black surface is essential to evaluate a stamp for short perfs or rounded corners.

Cubbies designed specifically for standard glassines, stock cards, 102's, tongs, hinges, watermark trays and fluid, magnifiers, etc would be part of the package as well.

My current storage method is very similar to Jenny's except my plastic containers are in a cabinet and Jenny has A LOT more material than I do. I plan to build some IKEA cabinets into my family room over the next 2 months and will upload photos when done.

I realize this photo isn't very good, but this is an image of the storage system used by Downtown Stamp Company. I could definitely get into having this much stuff!

sherm, all good ideas. My cabinet will be more of a temporary storage unit with shelves that slide out and allow me to bring unsorted stamps to my work table. It will be kind of a way (sp?) station.

I dream of library card catalogs and 104BKs...




Too bad they cost a ton to ship (if they will even ship), or are very hard to find for a good deal in my local market. I don't mind refurbishing it, just really don't want to build from scratch.

But a closet, bookshelf, and a desk will do for now...

Modul8ted, that picture TOTALLY speaks to me! And I bet various types of stock cards would fit perfectly. If only...

I wonder how many of those storage containers like the one that Jenny showed were thrown out by libraries. For now if you have a good thrift store keep your eye out for a bookshelf system. The store where I work has stuff all of the time. At least the wood would like nicer. But I for one like the plastic tubs which at some point you could organize in the actual tubs. My tubs sit underneath the two desks I have.
Tom

Those cabinets in the stamp company are card cabinets... Saw some on ebay a while back for 100-120 a piece but shipping would have doubled the cost.

My winter project is finding where to put the family photos that were evicted from, what is now, my stamp cabinet.

http://decorandthedog.net/decorandt...net-tutorial I am actually going to try to do this!

I use plastic totes to store items I have not been through. I have an eighteen gallon tote with US on paper a lot of duplicates. Keep foreign countries separated in plastic shoe boxes if I have a lot of that country otherwise in envelopes, They don't appear to be hurting the stamps. I have way too many stamps but hope to work on them more when I retire in 10 to 12 years.

cet_qq,

I did that too. Last year and still catching Hell for it!

Jack Kelley

Someday I'm going to have to deal with this but for now my stamp class is taking priority.