Hinges

On page 8 of the current (Sept. 15) issue of Linn's, there is a brief story
of a 30 , maybe 35 year old package of 1000 hinges which originally sold for
$.25 (ok, $1,25 or so in today's money) being sold on E-Bay for $15.50.

My question is:
Why couldn't someone "reverse engineer" the high quality Dennison or Fold-o
hinges of the past and sell modern counterparts using the EXACT SAME
FORMULA.

This isn't rocket science. Someone must know how to do it.

From: "John O'Brien"
Newsgroups: rec.collecting.stamps.discuss
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 21:18:11 -0400
Subject: Hinges

On page 8 of the current (Sept. 15) issue of Linn's, there is a brief story
of a 30 , maybe 35 year old package of 1000 hinges which originally sold for
$.25 (ok, $1,25 or so in today's money) being sold on E-Bay for $15.50.

My question is:
Why couldn't someone "reverse engineer" the high quality Dennison or Fold-o
hinges of the past and sell modern counterparts using the EXACT SAME
FORMULA.

This isn't rocket science. Someone must know how to do it.


Subway has the machine and I think it is being used to produce the current
hinges for used stamps. The problem is the formula for the gum used. I can't
prove it but there is a good possibility that some of the ingredents would
not meet EPA saftey requirements.

If I understand it correctly Subway has tried desperately for several
years to refurbish the machines and get them working properly and figure
out how to get the right paper and gum assembled.
..
The EPA possibility may well be a part of the problem as the laws as to
ingredients as well as waste disposal laws have greatly changed over the
years.
..
I have, carefully set aside a sealed envelope of Dennisons from the
25=A2 era. I have often been tempted to open and use them but have not
the heart to disturb history.
..
Charlie Jensen


Live right,
Eat right,
Exercise ... ... ... Die anyway !

I have purchased several packs the Dennis's Hinges from Subway where they
use the old Dennison equiptment and are trying to match the gum. They are
good but not great. They warn you they are for used not gummed stamps.
they don't peal like Dennisons so I save the old origional ones for the more
valueable stamps that I want to be able to peel without a trace. (I'm not a
mount fan for my WW collection). OK $15 is high but if you need a pack,
that may justify a 1000 of the best hinges I'm aware of.

Jim.


"Art Mongan" wrote in message
...


From: "John O'Brien"
Newsgroups: rec.collecting.stamps.discuss
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 21:18:11 -0400
Subject: Hinges

On page 8 of the current (Sept. 15) issue of Linn's, there is a brief
story
of a 30 , maybe 35 year old package of 1000 hinges which originally sold
for
$.25 (ok, $1,25 or so in today's money) being sold on E-Bay for $15.50.

My question is:
Why couldn't someone "reverse engineer" the high quality Dennison or
Fold-o
hinges of the past and sell modern counterparts using the EXACT SAME
FORMULA.

This isn't rocket science. Someone must know how to do it.


Subway has the machine and I think it is being used to produce the current
hinges for used stamps. The problem is the formula for the gum used. I
can't
prove it but there is a good possibility that some of the ingredents would
not meet EPA saftey requirements.

"John O'Brien" wrote in message ...
On page 8 of the current (Sept. 15) issue of Linn's, there is a brief story
of a 30 , maybe 35 year old package of 1000 hinges which originally sold for
$.25 (ok, $1,25 or so in today's money) being sold on E-Bay for $15.50.

My question is:
Why couldn't someone "reverse engineer" the high quality Dennison or Fold-o
hinges of the past and sell modern counterparts using the EXACT SAME
FORMULA.

This isn't rocket science. Someone must know how to do it.

As has been pointed out, there may be a problem with the gums used -
there is a certainty that 2 layers of gum were used - but there is
also the speculation that the glassine/fabric material used at that
time, being very important to their performance, no longer exists.
Considering the miniscule amount of gum in one or two layers, it is
almost impossible to retrieve a single layer or separate out the two
layers. The new Dennis' hinges work (on used-no gum) stamps almost as
well as the old Dennisons - but for mint/with gum stamps they're
terrible.

Reverse engineering works for static material, but hinges are much
different. This is amost like the old Stradivarii violins and cellos.
Exact copies are easily made - but the sound is only 'close'. I
believe that (this may be only an urban legend - but heck it sounds
good) the reason for this is that a specific varnish/oil used in the
originals came from some crayfish that lived in the Canals of Venice -
said crayfish is now supposedly extinct.

We ain't got no more Dennison/Fold-O crayfish!

And, I've seen packets of the original Dennison hinges selling on eBay
for $19.00+. At a bourse about 6-7 months ago I saw packets of them
priced at $25.00 - don't know if the dealer sold any though.

Handshakes,

Dakota

A related question: There used to be hinges which were gummed on
both sides. Actually only half of each side was gummed like this:

g u m
p a p e r
g u m

Are these still made, and if yes, where?

Jan-Martin