As a collector I am able to find my prewar items and post war S gauge items in their original boxes on occasion. I know that there is a whole sub category of collecting that addresses the condition of boxes and the effect on the value of the item if its original box is present.
Quite a few of the boxes that I have are very fragile - some of them being almost 75 years old. Many of them have flaps that have become detached. I am looking for sources - articles, or websites, etc. that have infromation on how to repair boxes this old. I am sure there are some folks who would question if the repair decreases the value of the box. I believe that CTT carried an article on repairing boxes at some point, but I don't remember when I read it. I wonder if the types of repairs that are made on old books would work on old cardboard boxes?
I would appreciate any suggestions on where I can find this type of information. I would like to preserve as many of the original boxes as I can.
Thanks,
Greg
Northwoods Flyer
Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby
The Northwoods Flyer Collection
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American Flyer Trains
"The Toy For the Boy"
Checking the old trains.com magazine index, here is the story:
If memory serves, this is pretty specific and I'm not sure how well it applies to other boxes.
Bob Keller
Thanks Bob,
That is the article that I remember. I've just read it and you memory is correct. It is fairly specific to set boxes and corrugated cardboard. It has some helpful suggestion about removing different types of tape. The boxes I have are the individual piece boxes. I've found a few ideas online, but I'm wondering what to do to reinforce the "hinges" on the flaps when they are repaired.
Thanks for looking it up.
I use archival quality self-adhesive linen hinging tape. Its main use is hinging window mats to mounting mat as well as hinging prints and posters. It is also used for reinforcing folders, books and envelopes. It is perfect for reinforcing hinges and/or re-attaching flaps.
Mersenne6,
That sounds like what I am looking for. Do you have a product name for it? How about a photo of what it looks like on a repaired box.
Northwoods, the tape is LineCo
The box is one of those yellow cardboard AF boxes which, whenever I get one, is a crumbled mess. I put this one back together from a series of parts and pieces that were shipped with the station. I'll have to cut a small piece of cardboard to replace the one part of the box which is completely missing.
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