NonSports Forum

Net54baseball.com
Welcome to Net54baseball.com. These forums are devoted to both Pre- and Post- war baseball cards and vintage memorabilia, as well as other sports. There is a separate section for Buying, Selling and Trading - the B/S/T area!! If you write anything concerning a person or company your full name needs to be in your post or obtainable from it. . Contact the moderator at leon@net54baseball.com should you have any questions or concerns. When you click on links to eBay on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. Enjoy!
Net54baseball.com
Net54baseball.com
T206s on eBay
Babe Ruth Cards on eBay
t206 Ty Cobb on eBay
Ty Cobb Cards on eBay
Lou Gehrig Cards on eBay
Baseball T201-T217 on eBay
Baseball E90-E107 on eBay
T205 Cards on eBay
Baseball Postcards on eBay
Goudey Cards on eBay
Baseball Memorabilia on eBay
Baseball Exhibit Cards on eBay
Baseball Strip Cards on eBay
Baseball Baking Cards on eBay
Sporting News Cards on eBay
Play Ball Cards on eBay
Joe DiMaggio Cards on eBay
Mickey Mantle Cards on eBay
Bowman 1951-1955 on eBay
Football Cards on eBay

Go Back   Net54baseball.com Forums > Net54baseball Postwar Sportscard Forums > WaterCooler Talk- Off Topics

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-30-2015, 01:05 PM
steve B steve B is offline
Steve Birmingham
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: eastern Mass.
Posts: 8,087
Default An interesting article about another hobby

Somewhat long, but it's interesting to me since it involves some of the same things we discuss from time to time.

There's history, technical stuff about the collectible, and a controversy that keeps coming back even after a century.

It also involves technology and PSE which is the Stamp side of PSA.

http://www.linns.com/en/insights/us-...range-fra.html


Steve B
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-12-2015, 01:24 PM
PolarBear's Avatar
PolarBear PolarBear is offline
Don
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 633
Default

Sorry, I couldn't get past the headline without losing consciousness.

"‘The stamp of controversy’: the 1917 unwatermarked 30˘ orange Franklin stamp, perforated 10"
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-15-2015, 12:37 AM
steve B steve B is offline
Steve Birmingham
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: eastern Mass.
Posts: 8,087
Default

I'm not surprised. If you're not into it, it's about as dull and complicated as it gets.

Anyway, capsule summary. Realized it was a bit long still, but can't make it any shorter.

Watermarked paper was used to help prevent people from faking stamps.
Except that it wasn't all that effective.
(Took them a bit over 20 years to figure that out)
They also played around with how many holes were in between stamps.
About the time they abandoned watermarks they changed the number of holes.

They said they didn't make any 30cent stamps with a particular combination.

Except a couple sheets were found.
Or maybe not -
The dealers that didn't get any didn't believe they were real.

Now, PSE says the variable light thingamajig shows a watermark, but won't say what settings they use. Or where they think the watermarks are.
If that was known, since it's marked on each one where it was on the sheet the assumed watermarks could be matched up with the known pattern and verified or disproved.

So so far they have decertified 5 expensive stamps and recertified them as the fairly cheap variety. (3250 vs 260 catalog value)

Steve B
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-16-2015, 09:36 AM
Eric72's Avatar
Eric72 Eric72 is offline
Eric Perry
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Philadelphia Suburbs
Posts: 3,405
Default

I found the article to be fascinating. Of particular interest to me was the following line:

"For wet watermark detection, many experts prefer to use Ronsonol brand lighter fluid, which is both toxic and flammable."

So, some collectors put their stamps in direct contact with lighter fluid? That simply amazes me. I imagine it does not damage the stamp, or else collectors wouldn't do this. I also wonder how that collecting community first discovered it was a safe method to use..."hey, guys, watch this."

On another note, I often found myself thinking about T206 collectors while reading the article. It seems as though there are quite a few traits they have in common with the stamp collectors written about on Linn's. They desire to determine sheet layouts, look for variations, they disagree over the "legitimacy" of certain variations, etc. It sounded very familiar.

Glad I had time to read this. One of the few bright spots about being home with the flu.

Best regards,

Eric
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-16-2015, 10:29 PM
steve B steve B is offline
Steve Birmingham
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: eastern Mass.
Posts: 8,087
Default

The Ronsonol isn't the worst thing. It's only "light petroleum distillate" or white gas. The same stuff Coleman lanterns used to run on, and maybe still do It's been a while.

Stuff previously sold/preferred as watermark detection fluid.
Benzine - Cancer hazard
Trichloroethane - Banned as an ozone depleting substance and also a bit unsafe.
trichlorotrifluoroethane - Not familiar with it, but adding fluorine to something generally doesn't make it safer.

Pretty much any non- water based fluid that won't leave a residue is fine. And for many foreign stamps watermark fluid is not needed. Just hold them up to the right light, or against a dark surface and it's seen fairly easily sometimes very easily.

Yes, there's quite a few common traits.
There's also a vast number of collectors who either don't care about that stuff, or who actively complain about and avoid it. (I love it when they're also part time dealers! )
The stamp term for hunting plate flaws is "flyspecking" And is usually at least a bit of a putdown.

Steve B
Reply With Quote
Reply



Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Interesting Article shelly Autograph Forum- Primarily Sports 2 07-28-2013 12:36 PM
Interesting Article Tsaiko Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions 0 12-29-2011 11:35 AM
Interesting CNN article 55mntclimber Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions 9 10-07-2010 09:30 AM
1974 Article about the Hobby......... teetwoohsix Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions 10 04-08-2010 08:23 PM
I'm glad I'm a vintage collector-Interesting article about hobby Archive Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions 49 09-09-2005 08:08 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:49 PM.


ebay GSB