Curled-Up Vs Flat, Folded Hinges: Are Old-Fashioned Ones Dependably Flat?

I collect worldwide from assortments, so my stamps are common enough that hinges are okay to use. However, I'd like to be sure they're not so curled up that they take a lot of time to separate and apply.

Looking at ebay, Dennison and Fold-O-Hinge are on offer. I used both about 60 years ago, but I don't remember either being curled up.

If I pay (a lot) for the old hinges, can I be sure they're not curled up?

Yuo should ask the seller that question.

The answer is normally, no, even after all these years. Part of it is that the gum is a different type that is more thinly applied on the older ones that you mention. There is more variability over the years with Fold-O, in my opinion, in terms of peelability and the later ones (1990s?) aren't so peelable. If you're going with old hinges and don't mind the prices, I'd stick with Dennisons.

Opinion.
One cannot defeat humidity, from hinges stored in a previous location.

Curled is common, curled and creased is common, mangled is common.

All are easily fixed in seconds.
One needs (MUST) to own long pointy tongs/tweezers, and the dexterity
to do the following.

Pick up a block of mangled, straighten the best one can do by fingers,
as you slide the block into the legs of the tongs lengthwise.
(It's easier than you think)
Bend the hinges over one leg of the tongs, so they are creased lengthwise, (GUM OUTSIDE) now pinch between thumb and finger, as you remove the tongs.
They are now creased lengthwise, and become miraculously in order.

Lay on the desk, gum down, crease inside, they can now be picked up with a tacky finger, one at a time.
If you can master the dexterity in a block of 10-20 hinges
you have it.

"I have never met a hinge I cannot use"
(But some I won't use..blue etc")
My preference...Prinz

Legitimate vintage Dennisons or vintage Cohn (Chicago, Illinois) Fold-O-Hinges, either flat or folded, should be perfectly fine. There are always a couple hinges which are messed up, but they can usually be salvaged.

The bigger problem is you have to know what they look like, and how they feel - i.e., you have to be able to tell the difference between the real deal and modern crap hinges put in vintage paper packets... There are some low-life chumps who actually do this on ebay.

I use a lot of vintage hinges. My favorites, more or less in order, are:

1. Dennison
2. Fold-O-Hinge
3. Harris Honor Bilt
4. Western Hinges

All of these are vintage hinges, either flat or folded (flats are usually a bit cheaper).

John

Vintage GB hinges were often sold in tins. In my experience, the problems with them aren't around curling, but the ravages of climate, leading to bricking or considerable discolouration.

Last evening, removed some Hungary stamps from sale sheets,
all with blue hinges, usually these create thins and holes in Album pages.

These peeled like Dennison

More and more I am coming to the conclusion, it is how the individual collector is experienced in hinging, with moisture etc, against the
"wet on the tongue" tribe.

Thanks, rod222; very ingenious solution. I need no longer fear curled hinges

Wow! that make me happy.

They are a bit like us humans, a bit twisted here and there,
but with gentle persuasion, we can all be OK.

The only thing left, (If you want to be a hinge master)
is the ability to judge "tacky" for moisture,
and do not press the satmp to the album page too hard
(It squeezes the gum out and welds the stamp to the album page)