T206 150 vs 350 & 460 Image Quality: Eddie Plank, A Broken Plate (?), & Everyone Else

[Pat R]

A lot of people claim the difference in the quality/clarity of the images between the 150's and 350's is from the wearing down of the plates. I'm not a believer of that theory, if that was true you would see some of the 150's that were printed near the end that look like the 350's and I've never noticed anything like that and with the Plank's I don't think his 150 plate got used enough to come close to wearing it down.
I think it probably has to do with using a different press or printing method or something else.

To me the difference in the 150 and 350 Cicottes is similar to the planks.

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I have quite a few 150/350's that I'll post later

[wolf441]

I wonder if it could have anything to do with the amount/quality of the inks used?

It seems like something that a large corporate enterprise would look into during a product life cycle, using either less ink or ink of a cheaper quality to save $$ on the printing process...

[Pat R]

Originally Posted by wolf441

I wonder if it could have anything to do with the amount/quality of the inks used?

It seems like something that a large corporate enterprise would look into during a product life cycle, using either less ink or ink of a cheaper quality to save $$ on the printing process...

I don't think it was less ink or a cheaper ink Steve, I think it might have been something like a faster or larger and maybe new press.

Here are a few more 150/350 pairs, all the 150's are on the left and the 350's are on the right

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[brass_rat]

Great thread, Bryan -- and congrats on such an outstanding Plank 150 example.

I've often noticed a prominent in the 150 vs 350 green Cobbs as well, but it's not as dramatic as the Plank.

Those are some good comparisons, Pat.

Steve

[Luke]

I'm not sure it adds much to the discussion, but I wrote this little article a while back and it has a few scans comparisions:

https://www.thatt206life.com/2016/11...-look-to-them/

[3-2-count]

Not all 350 series T206's are as washed out as much as that Authentic Plank is which sold in Mile Highs auction recently.

I've seen other T206 Planks with a 350 series back which have far better color & registration than that example displays.

Being that it is an older slab/submission maybe it's had more exposure to direct light in some way effecting its image. Just my two cents.

That being said, the 150 series is my back of choice!

[Jobu]

Thanks for those additions Pat and Luke. Luke, good article that I missed! As to your question of when in the 350 run whatever caused this would have happened, I would think it would have had to have been at the start of the run given that there are so few 150 Planks.

I'll poke Steve B and see if he has any thoughts on a potential cause here.

[darwinbulldog]

It's distinct enough that I can generally tell if a T206 is a 150 or not from a front scan, but the Planks are on another level altogether, more like Type 1 vs. Type 3 Coupons.