Hi Am looking at options for identifying watermarks especially in older issues. I bought a Morley Bright watermark detector some time ago which uses an ink pad and pressure to highlight the watermark, however I had to purchase a new ink pad a couple of months ago and despite numerous exchanges with the supplier, this is not fit for purpose. (not enough ink in replacement sachet) Has anyone any suggestions of what method I could use - obviously cost is a factor in deciding which will be for the best. Thanks in advance for your help. Stuart
i have the best luck with Ronsonol; I am able to determine the watermark in about 2/3 of the stamps I look at. I put the stamp against black page or in a black ridged tray. Occasionally I also hold it up the light.
I have used Morley Brights with far less success, even with a fresh ink bladder.
I consider myself an unaccomplished watermark sleuth, just to provide perspective
David
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"Save the USPS, buy stamps; save the hobby, use commemoratives"
H David I presume Ronsonol is some form of lighter fluid - does this not cause any damage to the stamp - presumably only to be used in a well ventilated room. Stuart
I have had a good experience with scanning the back of the stamp against a black background. I increase the size of the stamp, change the colors to gray scale and adjust the contrast. I find this makes the watermark pop out quite well.
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy.. 30 Mar 2011 01:56:37pm
re: Identifying Watermarks
Years ago a neighbor was discarding an old lamp that had a black stone base. It has a small chip on one corner probably from her husband trying to knock sense into her head. Anyway, I took the base from the lamp and have used it for wellover thirty years now as a platform to check watermarks. It is about ten inches on a side, one inch thick and quite heavy with a few white streaks that do not affect its usefullness. I continue to mention "Rubbing Alcohol" as my fluid of choice since it is much less expensive than lighter fluid or other chemicals often recommended and it seems to be a tad less dangerous than lighter fluid. At least it seems so to me. It evaporates quickly from the stone base and does not leave any residue that I have noticed. But like all such long chain carbon molecules it does give off fumes and could be dangeous if it is used carelessly. No Fumar !!! Ne pas Fumar !
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".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
Stuart, yes, Ronsonol is a lighter fluid. Comes in flask with retractrable spout. Pretty cheap. Ventillation is a good idea. And, to quote Charlie, "ne pas fumar" and, in the language of my ancestors, "Nem dohányzom."
I don't get 100% of the WMKs; and early US are notoriously tricky anyway, so it may not be my fault or Ronsonol's.
I'm going to try Tim's method next week with some early German stamps I got from Miquel.
David
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"Save the USPS, buy stamps; save the hobby, use commemoratives"