Although this may be minutiae, there is nevertheless an interesting discussion on StampCommunity about a heretofore "undocumented" binder variation for the Scott Internationals. I'm not sure how to intelligibly describe it, so check out the message thread and its helpful photos: https://www.stampcommunity.org/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=81830
Unrelatedly, I'm not completely clear about when Scott started offering hinged post binders (as opposed to the much older spring backs). I know that someone sold on eBay a 1939 Big Blue that was hinged post. And the 1940 Scott Catalog, which would have been published in 1939, talks about hinged post binders as being new (in the advertising at the back). This would not only have been for the then "Juniors" but also for the National, Specialty, etc.
The famous stamp collector Josiah Lilly said that there were 100,000 postage stamps he wanted for his collection and he succeeded in acquiring 77,000. My considerably easier target is 35,000 of the more common stamps from 1840-1940 contained in the Scott Blue International Album Volume 1. This blog will record my progress, provide general information about Classic era philately and hopefully encourage other "Blue" collectors.
Monday, September 5, 2022
Early Big Blue Binders
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For some reason, I'm fascinated with a lot the mechanics of stamp collecting (as well as the stamps!). These include ways of mounting stamps, different kinds of albums (springback, ring, two-post), and the construction of the binders themselves.
This different Scott International binder with the flaps obscuring the rods seems to have been an experimental model that "escaped" somehow. Such failed attempts usually get disposed of, but maybe someone at Scott just took it home? It's a bit over-elaborate for my taste. Not very good-looking is what I mean.
The standard, now somewhat old-fashioned Scott binders used their two-square-post and wire system to hold the pages in the binder, but from regular use over the years, this method eventually fails in a number of ways. Scott moved to three-ring binders some time back -- for Specialty and National albums -- to remedy these problems. But they have their own drawbacks like tearing the page holes and being unusually wide so they hang off bookshelves. Also I don't like three-ring binders, but that's my problem.
On the older two-post binders, the paper cover (Scott called it "Fabrikoid") sometimes peels off the cardboard from the weight of the pages along with rough handling. This can be remedied with the application of a glue syringe filled with very watered-down Elmer's glue. It needs to be very runny to work. Just shove the needle through the heavy paper up from the bottom and down from the top along the hinge and pump out the glue, Then smooth it out and leave it with some weight on top. It will dry to hold the paper in place again.
Or the hinge -- which is just that heavy Fabrikoid paper bending over and over again -- can bend itself to death over time and split. This can only be partly remedied sometimes with some glue but tape can help a lot. Choice of tape matters. Most tapes , even so-called "library tape," lack sufficient adhesive strength for this job. All brands of "duct" tape, including Gorilla tape, will eventually come loose and their adhesive makes a real mess. It's to be avoided. "Gaffer's tape" seems to work best.
Wide tape is not recommended as it will soon peel off and it will catch on slipcases as you pull the binder in and out if you use those. Narrower tape, maybe 1/2", will hold well and doesn't seem subject to as much flexing and rubbing which makes the tape peel up. I've have good luck with green and dark blue 1/2" wide gaffer's tape to tighten up loose hinges on both Scott International and Specialty-type binders.
Lighthouse binders now have a clever two-post system of their own that uses a wire that remains in place and is "caught" by two pivoting clips. It seems as good as, if not better, than the old Scott two post wire system, but I still like that system because it's so simple -- and often repairable.
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