O-Pee-Chee, shaggy edges and my dwindling sanity...

maniac_73 · #1 12-17-2020, 10:26 AM

The whole purpose of grading is to rate the card as close to factory pristine condition as possible. OPC used a wire cut process which leads to "jagged edges". This is a feature of the card and taken into account. A smooth edge opc would be altered as thats not how they come from factory and pulled from packs.

irv · #2 12-17-2020, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maniac_73

The whole purpose of grading is to rate the card as close to factory pristine condition as possible. OPC used a wire cut process which leads to "jagged edges". This is a feature of the card and taken into account. A smooth edge opc would be altered as thats not how they come from factory and pulled from packs.

I always believed the same but Samosa explained it in the Hockey thread. The machine was actually called a slitter machine, I believe?

This was discussed in this podcast that he also posted. In OPC's haste to get cards to market to keep up with demand, the blades weren't always sharpened as often as they should have been.
I don't remember where this is talked about in this long video/podcast but it is and pics of it are also shown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apwx...portsCardsLive

steve B · #3 12-17-2020, 11:35 AM

What Maniac and Irv said.

With edges etc, it's more about them being "as manufactured" OPC just didn't do smooth cuts. That's as much a product of the cardstock used as it is the slitter knives.

To not accept that rough factory edge would be odd. Sort of like downgrading a 51 Topps for having round corners and perforations.

Now if the typical factory edge was perfect, then a rough one could be seen as a manufacturing flaw and graded lower.

YazFenway08 · #4 12-17-2020, 11:48 AM

as always, I appreciate all the comments. I had not been thinking in terms of accepted factory pre-conditions with the o-pee-chee cards. And it explains a lot of the variability I am seeing with the cards and their respective gradings

and in answer to one of the posts...I do like the cards with the imperfections and all...I just wanted to make sure that if I decided to pay a premium for a graded one, I should better understand the dynamic. I had already become more comfortable with paste on the back of venezuelans and staining on same candy issues....now I understand o-pee chee better

maniac_73 · #5 12-20-2020, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irv

I always believed the same but Samosa explained it in the Hockey thread. The machine was actually called a slitter machine, I believe?

This was discussed in this podcast that he also posted. In OPC's haste to get cards to market to keep up with demand, the blades weren't always sharpened as often as they should have been.
I don't remember where this is talked about in this long video/podcast but it is and pics of it are also shown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apwx...portsCardsLive

Interesting, gotta check out that podcast thanks!

JustinD · #6 12-20-2020, 10:16 AM

I love opc, growing up in Michigan it was awesome when we would take a vacation to Toronto and I could come back with that coveted trade material.

I still value high grade opc at well over listed value due to it not existing, rough cut or not. I have several 10s in my Parrish collection that are or were the only in existence at one time and cost well less than Topps that had many multiples more. If you are planning on that route, my only advice is this; buy it when you see it because you won’t again and be prepared to really wait between finds.

maniac_73 · #7 12-20-2020, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustinD

I love opc, growing up in Michigan it was awesome when we would take a vacation to Toronto and I could come back with that coveted trade material.

I still value high grade opc at well over listed value due to it not existing, rough cut or not. I have several 10s in my Parrish collection that are or were the only in existence at one time and cost well less than Topps that had many multiples more. If you are planning on that route, my only advice is this; buy it when you see it because you won�t again and be prepared to really wait between finds.

Its funny because growing up in Canada I was always annoyed that we could only get OPC as I knew the name Topps lol

gustomania · #8 12-20-2020, 11:27 AM

Love OPC and shaggy edges, just love that about OPC

irv · #9 12-20-2020, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maniac_73

Interesting, gotta check out that podcast thanks!

You're welcome.

They start talking about it right before the 15 minute mark, maybe a bit before as someone asks questions about it.

Piquettethecat · #10 01-07-2021, 03:34 PM

Actually it isn't true they used a wire cut, at least according to the guy that owned the company. A fellow named Gary Koreen owned the company from 1980 until the mid-1990s. He started working there in the 1960s, and lives in the city where I am. I was introduced and had the good fortune to chat with him at length about the card business. He says they used the same cutting process as Topps, but didn't sharpen the blades regularly. That would explain why some years -- 1969 OPC hockey, for instance -- don't have rough edges and why there are different levels of rough edges within the same year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by maniac_73

The whole purpose of grading is to rate the card as close to factory pristine condition as possible. OPC used a wire cut process which leads to "jagged edges". This is a feature of the card and taken into account. A smooth edge opc would be altered as thats not how they come from factory and pulled from packs.

Stampsfan · #11 01-08-2021, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piquettethecat

... That would explain why some years -- 1969 OPC hockey, for instance -- don't have rough edges and why there are different levels of rough edges within the same year.

100% accurate. I am of an age where my OPC hockey collection as a kid ranged from 1967 to 1972. I still have the cards I purchased from nickel and dime packs. While I've upgraded a few cards, my sets today contain 95% to 100% of the same cards I purchased as a boy.

When I look at those sets, I do not have many OPC rough cuts. When I got back into collecting in 1990, I noticed the sets from after my youth seemed to have way more rough cuts than my sets as a kid. And I can guarantee I've never trimmed any of those cards.

This is not a scientific experiment with accurate metrics, just one guys observations.

One other note... I also have many cards I pulled from packs that are noticeably different sizes. I recall noticing that as a kid.

Piquettethecat · #12 01-07-2021, 03:34 PM

One other note -- apparently all hockey was printed in about six weeks between mid-Nov and Christmas, with the intent to distribute it all starting Jan. 2. The conversation with Mr. Koreen was very revealing.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
T206 Shaggy Shag	eliotdeutsch	T206 cards B/S/T	0	08-13-2019 11:29 AM
1940-41 O-Pee-Chee Turk Broda SGC Mint 9 - The Finest '40 O-Pee-Chee in Any Holder!	sportscardslover9	Everything Else, Football, Non-Sports etc.. B/S/T	1	08-02-2019 10:37 AM
1940-41 O-Pee-Chee Turk Broda SGC Mint 9 - The Finest '40 O-Pee-Chee in Any Holder!	sportscardslover9	Ebay, Auction and other Venues Announcement- B/S/T	0	08-01-2019 03:29 PM
Mantle sanity check, please :-)	Mr. Zipper	Net54baseball Sports (Primarily) Vintage Memorabilia Forum incl. Game Used	12	07-11-2011 03:57 PM
Frosty edges	Archive	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	5	03-06-2008 06:21 PM