If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Whatever happened to peelable stamp hinges?
A few weeks ago, I finished my last pack of Stangib stamp hinges,
vintage probably mid-80s. So I bought some new ones. They looked different from the old ones, but I didn't worry about that - technology advances over time. All went well, until I put a stamp in the wrong place and had to remove it. The hinge was hard to remove, and took stamp fibres with it when it did come off. So I tested another over a week, with the same result. In 15 or 20 years, the product has changed from good to unusable. I sent the hinges back to SG with a covering letter saying I don't think they're fit for purpose. I await my refund. I bought some Prinz mounts, tested them for a week, and found them just as bad. This appears to be a deliberate downgrading of the product to something that cannot be used without damaging stamps (or soaking them). I have seen it suggested that this is because hinge-manufacturers also make plastic mounts, and want to promote the more expensive product. I use plastic mounts for mint and more valuable stamps, but I can't justify spending at least 2 pence on mounting a stamp that may be worth considerably less. So, the question. Does anyone still make genuinely peelable stamp hinges? Someone suggested Dennis's Hinges from Subway Stamps are the best around, but are they good enough? And is there anything better out there? TIA. Colin McKenzie |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Whatever happened to peelable stamp hinges?
Colin McKenzie wrote in news:436e12de$0$27986
: A few weeks ago, I finished my last pack of Stangib stamp hinges, vintage probably mid-80s. So I bought some new ones. They looked different from the old ones, but I didn't worry about that - technology advances over time. All went well, until I put a stamp in the wrong place and had to remove it. The hinge was hard to remove, and took stamp fibres with it when it did come off. So I tested another over a week, with the same result. In 15 or 20 years, the product has changed from good to unusable. I sent the hinges back to SG with a covering letter saying I don't think they're fit for purpose. I await my refund. I bought some Prinz mounts, tested them for a week, and found them just as bad. This appears to be a deliberate downgrading of the product to something that cannot be used without damaging stamps (or soaking them). I have seen it suggested that this is because hinge-manufacturers also make plastic mounts, and want to promote the more expensive product. I use plastic mounts for mint and more valuable stamps, but I can't justify spending at least 2 pence on mounting a stamp that may be worth considerably less. So, the question. Does anyone still make genuinely peelable stamp hinges? Someone suggested Dennis's Hinges from Subway Stamps are the best around, but are they good enough? And is there anything better out there? TIA. Colin McKenzie I know what you mean. Today, I removed a couple of stamps from an old album page where I had mounted them in the 1970's. They peeled off so easily. I can't imagine why someone can't "reverse engineer" the adhesives used in those hinges.I've heard two explanations: 1. That the ingredients were found to cause cancer. 2. That the wastes from the factoies were pollutants. I believe that these are urban legends. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Whatever happened to peelable stamp hinges?
Hello Colin:
Subway Stamps has purchased the old Dennison hinge equipment and reverse engineered old fashoned peelable hinges. http://www.subwaystamp.com/ G&K (part of the Subway Family) has purchased and rebuilt the original machine Dennison used for over 50 years to manufacture the best stamp hinge that was ever made. G&K is now using the original machine (completely rebuilt), the original Dennison gum formula and special glassine made to the original Dennison specifications. They have named these after their grandson, Dennis, look for "Dennis's Stamp Hinges", Just like Grandpa used. So far they have developed the Formula A stamp hinge for ungummed stamps. They are still working on a Formula B hinge for gummed stamps. ====================================== The following is from the Winnipeg Stamp Club (2004) THE SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT HINGE BY LEN KRUCZYNSKI Though Dennison Stamp Hinges have not been manufactured for many years, they are prized by collectors. These familiar greenish hinges have remarkable adhesive properties: although holding the stamp firmly in place, they peel easily, never ripping or taking apiece of the stamp (or album page) along with it. I recently opened a packet of Dennison hinges that had been purchased in the early '70's (priced at 35 cents per 1000): the hinges were still flat, separated easily and functioned as well as the day they were made. Now, the first thing that comes to mind to explain the remarkable adhesive ability of the Dennison hinge is that it must have something to do with the gum. Being a chemist by training, I decided to use Chemical Analysis to see if Dennison gum was different from any other. The method of analysis used is called Infrared Spectroscopy: an infrared beam is passed through a thin layer of the gum, producing a trace which, like a fingerprint, is unique to each chemical substance. The gum rinsed off three hinges was sufficient to do the analysis. In the process of removing the gum from the hinge, I weighed the three hinges before and after gum removal in order to calculate the percentage of the weight being due to the gum. The results of the chemical analysis are startling. All hinge makers use the same gum: dextrine. Dextrine is manufactured from potato or corn starch by boiling with minute amounts of acid. It has been available commercially since the '30's. It is very common: it is the gum on most envelope flaps and has been used on Canadian stamps up to the '70's when it was replaced by Poly Vinyl Acetate, or PVA for short. Hinge manufacturers have tried to capitalize on the remarkable adhesive properties of the Dennison hinge. Collectors may have been fooled into buying "Dennisen" hinges, marketed in a package similar to the blue and red Dennison package. More recently, Subway Stamp Shop (2121 Beale Ave, Altoona, Pa. USA) is marketing the Dennis hinge, claimed to be manufactured on, and according to, Dennison specifications of paper and gum. Here are the results of my analysis of six different stamp hinges put into three categories: 1.THE BEST: peel easily, never rip, never take a "divot" out of the stamp or album page. Dennison (26 % gum) 2.ACCEPTABLE: peel if you are very careful; sometimes rip, sometimes take a "divot" out of the stamp and/or page. Dennis (16 % gum) Unitrade (33 % gum) 3. POOR: almost alway rip when removal attempted; often removing part of stamp or page. Gibbons (39% gum) Fasto (42 % gum) G&K(38 % gum) And now for some comments and conclusions. Gibbons hinges are made in Germany, as are Fasto; they appear to be one and the same hinge. G&K hinges are also marketed by Subway. One striking trend that may explain Dennison's secret is the amount of gum. The best hinges have a smaller amount of gum. The only conclusion that I can come to at this point is that Dennison's secret may lie in that greenish (glassine) paper. Does it have some sort of wax that causes the peelability? The hunt for the perfect hinge goes on! Blair |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Whatever happened to peelable stamp hinges?
Hi Blair,
Someone once told me long, long ago that the Dennison hinges actually had 2 layers of gum instead of one. The peelability came from removing "gum from gum". I do not know how true this is but it is a thought. Jerry B |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Whatever happened to peelable stamp hinges?
Colin McKenzie wrote:
So, the question. Does anyone still make genuinely peelable stamp hinges? Someone suggested Dennis's Hinges from Subway Stamps are the best around, but are they good enough? And is there anything better out there? Colin, I have some of the Dennis's and they don't peel worth a darn either. They are NOT "Just like Grandpa used!". Other members of our club got the same results as I, they don't peel but they sure stick well. John D. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Whatever happened to peelable stamp hinges?
Did you use them on stamps with NO gum?
Blair |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Whatever happened to peelable stamp hinges?
Not sure who you meant here but if it was me (John), yes, these were all
on used, soaked, and dried stamps. Dennis's didn't come off worth a darn. Just my experience and a few others too. YMMV John Blair (TC) wrote: Did you use them on stamps with NO gum? Blair |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Whatever happened to peelable stamp hinges?
I guess that mounts and stockbooks
are the only viable alternative. Blair |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Whatever happened to peelable stamp hinges?
Blair (TC) wrote:
I guess that mounts and stockbooks are the only viable alternative. When compared to the Dennis's hinges, yes. Besides, if they were the exact same thing as the originals they'd have a green tint to them. Dennis's are white. They only peeling Dennis's do is the paper from the back of your stamp causing a mega thin at best, a hole at worst! John |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Whatever happened to peelable stamp hinges?
John DeBoo wrote:
Blair (TC) wrote: I guess that mounts and stockbooks are the only viable alternative. Which appears to be what the manufacturers want people to think. When compared to the Dennis's hinges, yes. Besides, if they were the exact same thing as the originals they'd have a green tint to them. Dennis's are white. They only peeling Dennis's do is the paper from the back of your stamp causing a mega thin at best, a hole at worst! Not good news. I think I'll see what's available in India when I go there next month. If their motorbikes are anything to go by, I might get lucky. Meanwhile, mounting my collection is on hold. I'm not happy. Anyone remember if the old hinges had patent numbers on the packs? If so the patents might reveal how to make decent hinges. I do remember that the good Stanley Gibbons hinges had a spotty appearance. Colin McKenzie |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Stamps, Trains, Slotcars, Paintings & Models | Stamp Master Album | US Stamps | 0 | August 28th 04 12:25 PM |
Canada Issues New Olympic Stamps | Stamp Master Album | US Stamps | 0 | July 31st 04 12:46 PM |
New Finland Stamp Issue | Stamp Master Album | US Stamps | 0 | May 29th 04 11:38 AM |
Poggiali World Champion 250cc Stamp Pane | Stamp Master Album | US Stamps | 0 | April 24th 04 11:42 AM |
South Africa "100 Years of Flight" Stamp Issue | Stamp Master Album | US Stamps | 0 | February 28th 04 01:42 PM |