Hobby supplies history

[steve B]

Fascinating stuff.

My one T3 is in a screwdown I made myself from hardware store plastic. So far it's held up fine. The card was pretty well trashed when I bought it.

Oddly, some cards I had in larger screwdowns came out ok, despite the plastic showing some weird damage. The holders look almost melted, but haven't been around any heat.

I remember the Baldwin sheets. And I think the MVP sheets too. As well as the othe early PVC sheets, that I've got a bunch of. They never damaged my cards, but they did stick together after a while.

Interesting that it was a regional thing. I always just assumed the sheets were sold nationally.

I had some doubts about the grading holders, and still do. But they've got a few years into it without the problems I'd expected so they're probably ok.

Keep it coming guys, to me this is a fascinating look at an aspect of the hobby that hardly ever gets a mention.

Steve B

[bh3443]

Hi Steve,
Like I said, you started a really great thread!
I'm due to call my pal Bob Thing and with this topic hot, I'll be calling him later this evening.
I have a dozen questions ready for Bob's input already. Including the pre- Rotman/RW Baldwin details.
I recall a dealer at the 1979 Detroit show who had one of the logo binders full of sheets that specifically fit standard T cards and I recall this collector telling and showing me that not every T card ( E and N as well as other cards)fit in the sheets.

I've begun wondering about card storage/display prior to plastic sheets. I remember some old-timers in the 70's who used a basic mounting system with scrap books and corner hinges. I always felt that method would be problematic as far as the corners and fading issues.

Steve, I think I still have a box of the MVP "Patriotic" test sheets which came 99 in a box with 33 red/white/vlue tinted sheets!

I'll dig up some answers from our friend Bob in Maine and I'll share the details tonight! Should you have any particular questions to relay to Bob, email me at: bh3443@aol.com. It will be my pleasure to help in any way.

Regards,
Bill Hedin

[toppcat]

Some of those old screwdowns were not safe for the cards-I lost a bunch of nice 75 Topps Minis to them back in the day, LOL.

Anyone have the 9 pocket sheets that yellow and brown but amazingly do not affect the cards?

[GasHouseGang]

When you started off on this hobby supplies discussion, the first item I can remember storing cards in was a "baseball card locker" that was available at one of the local stores. Here's a picture of what I'm talking about. These were available in the 1960's and into the 1970's. I have one that includes the Pilots, so it has to be from 1969.

[steve B]

Those cases are really nice! Topps had them as a premium for a couple years, I think the red and green ones. I have those but in pretty beat condition.

I've never seen the blue one.

There was a similar case in the late 70's. Notebookish construction, with a plastic insert.

I haven't seen the pages that turn brown.

Steve B

[ArchStanton]

This looks like the correct thread for this question. Is anyone familiar with Den's Collectors Den in Laurel, MD? I'm sure there were other dealers that did sets like this. When did it start? 1976 is the oldest one I have, but I also have a 1979 set done the same way. The PVC pages have his company name and address on them in the same place MVP would put their name. The pages from the '79 set look identical.

I picked this up at an auction about 10 years ago. It is the first I saw anything from that dealer.

[bh3443]

Good Morning,
It brought a smile to my face to see my pal Denny Ecke's name here.
Denny was the guy with Jim Beckett on the early Sport Americana Price Books.
Denny carried a nice array of supplies and cards and was a wonderful friend as well as knowledgable hobbyist.
One night in Cincinnati after a show, we were out at a Jazz club having a few cocktails and blowing off some steam from a very busy day. I was pretty hammered, and I said to Denny that I was surprised such a big player in the business remembered my name let alone was such a good friend. He smiled and told me that friends were the reason to traveled to so many shows.
It was a few months later that I learned Denny passed away. He was too young for such a tragedy, but I can assure you this great man loved the hobby and will never be forgotten.
His marketing tequniques were interesting, and he was always on the cutting edge of the next hot things collectors needed.
Thanks for bringing up his name and I'll be lighting a candle for my pal Denny in Church tomorrow.
Your Friend,
Bill Hedin