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View Full Version : Poll--- Do you smell your cards?


dog*dirt
03-13-2014, 10:04 AM
Just wondering how many of us like to smell a nice raw card as soon as you have it in hand? Just curious as I know I will at home but have never done it in public setting such as a card show at the local mall:)

t206trader
03-13-2014, 10:07 AM
Have never so much as sniffed a card. Something about sniffing things that other people have touched grosses me out.

I Only Smoke 4 the Cards
03-13-2014, 10:09 AM
By far the weirdest poll as of yet.

The Nasty Nati
03-13-2014, 10:12 AM
Ha I definitely do with old cards like T206 or N28s. That musty smell is usually a good indicator that it's authentic.

bn2cardz
03-13-2014, 10:14 AM
I do it just to check for smoke smell. Ironically, even on my T cards I don't want them to smell like cigarettes.

Runscott
03-13-2014, 10:16 AM
Still remember my first sniffing - a pack of 1967 Philly Gum with a Dan Reeves. Something about the fresh Topps cardboard with gum smell. In fact, I might have to buy a vintage pack, just for the reminder.

mark evans
03-13-2014, 10:31 AM
I'll confess to having a good bit of spare time on my hands, but have never thought to use it for sniffing cards, or much else for that matter.

Peter_Spaeth
03-13-2014, 10:39 AM
Good Lord what next.

conor912
03-13-2014, 10:49 AM
Yes, especially CJ's which are often bleached.

Paul S
03-13-2014, 10:52 AM
I'm a second-hand sniffer for about 60 years. Why would I stop now?

Leon
03-13-2014, 10:52 AM
Good Lord what next.

Maybe "have you ever made out with a card?"

MyGuyTy
03-13-2014, 10:58 AM
Oh man, haha, quite a disturbing poll. Gotta admit though, I've given a "sniff" or two to a few cards. Weirdest smell I've come across was a raw 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth that I bought in the late 90's, smelled strongly of maple syrup....:p

Jay Wolt
03-13-2014, 11:02 AM
I did that while opening packs as a kid in the 60's & 70's since the slab of gum gave it a nice smell & I was the only recipient.
But to sniff 50 year old cards (or older) now would be the equivalent of sniffing beat up dollar bills, and who would want to do that? :confused:

brianp-beme
03-13-2014, 11:05 AM
I admit to sniffing whenever anything about the card makes me question its authenticity or if I feel it has possibly been bleached. I have never sniffed a graded card...in my opinion (don't laugh) one of the reasons why I don't like graded cards. How can you sniff and feel up a card when it is wrapped in plastic?

Brian

Peter_Spaeth
03-13-2014, 11:13 AM
Maybe "have you ever made out with a card?"

How about what's your favorite T206 color? Or who's your favorite T206 player? Always room for innovation.

frankbmd
03-13-2014, 11:17 AM
How about what's your favorite T206 color? Or who's your favorite T206 player? Always room for innovation.

Which T206 player had the largest feet? Did they smell worse than the others?

Exhibitman
03-13-2014, 11:23 AM
Sometimes. Not all old cards have an odor but it is one indicator of age on an item, and chemical residue can often be detected if there is an issue of alterations.

Switch "women" for "cards in the prior sentence and insert dirty joke here...

Jcfowler6
03-13-2014, 11:28 AM
Nothing like a good smelling century old piece of paper/cardboard.

MyGuyTy
03-13-2014, 11:29 AM
Which T206 player had the largest feet? Did they smell worse than the others?

Or the largest.......:cool:

EvilKing00
03-13-2014, 11:31 AM
Every chance i get!

ibuysportsephemera
03-13-2014, 11:33 AM
Slightly OT, but I smell vintage paper items all the time...it can be the difference between something that is old or just reprinted/reproduced.

Jeff

Runscott
03-13-2014, 11:37 AM
Maybe "have you ever made out with a card?"

Are you thinking about that time you slept with your card, but promised you wouldn't do anything?

ethicsprof
03-13-2014, 11:52 AM
a bit far down the priority list.

best,
barry

I Only Smoke 4 the Cards
03-13-2014, 12:08 PM
Yes, especially CJ's which are often bleached.


How do you bleach a card?

Paul S
03-13-2014, 12:38 PM
How do you bleach a card?

Gently

shernan30
03-13-2014, 12:53 PM
I work in exothermics and smell graphite quite a bit, but never a card.

4815162342
03-13-2014, 12:58 PM
Have we run out of stuff to talk about?

I Only Smoke 4 the Cards
03-13-2014, 01:18 PM
I work in exothermics and smell graphite quite a bit, but never a card.


Why smell the graphite?

I Only Smoke 4 the Cards
03-13-2014, 01:25 PM
Gently


I am interested to learn more. People actually soak cards in bleach? How does that work without destroying the color?

Paul S
03-13-2014, 02:08 PM
I am interested to learn more. People actually soak cards in bleach? How does that work without destroying the color?...

Exhibitman
03-13-2014, 02:11 PM
Why smell the graphite?

Because sometimes you just have to stop and smell the graphite.

shernan30
03-13-2014, 02:20 PM
Why smell the graphite?

You can tell the quality of graphite from the smell. Its not something you can just pick up. I've been in the industry for 8 years and just recently have been able to figure it out.

GoldenAge50s
03-13-2014, 04:46 PM
I always thought smelling a card was a prerequisite to complete ownership--kind of like a stamp of approval.

Theo_450
03-13-2014, 05:07 PM
I have smelled quite a few! Just for fun though.

I work with several geologists (rock lickers). They lick some types of rocks to help identify them.

At least I don't lick cards!

Jcfowler6
03-13-2014, 05:48 PM
What if it smells bad? Does it ruin the moment?

39special
03-13-2014, 06:00 PM
Has anyone ever smelled other peoples cards?

kmac32
03-13-2014, 06:09 PM
Oh yes, the illusive scratch and sniff Ruth card! LOL

Jcfowler6
03-13-2014, 06:12 PM
Has anyone ever smelled other peoples cards?

If they're not looking.

Jcfowler6
03-13-2014, 06:13 PM
Do you think it is good business to disclose the smell of your cards when selling them? If they smell bad do you say "Has a strong musty smell" for example? Or is this ok left unsaid?

EvilKing00
03-13-2014, 07:14 PM
Are you thinking about that time you slept with your card, but promised you wouldn't do anything?

Be very careful of paper cuts!

slipk1068
03-13-2014, 07:50 PM
I don't like musty smell on my cards, so YES I do sometimes sniff large lots of card before I buy them. If musty cards were never water/flood damaged, it is likely they were stored for many years in a damp, wet environment. This can't be healthy long-term for cardboard.

It doesn't mean I sniff hundreds of cards. A box of 100 cards can smell of mold/mildew as soon as it is opened. If not, sniffing 1 card will usually suffice. A few musty cards can pollute an entire box.

I was recently at a show where a dealer had large lots of 50's-70's Topps cards. I didn't need to sniff his cards. I could smell them just from walking past his table.

CardboardCollector
03-13-2014, 09:02 PM
I smell all my tobacco cards. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un-AY204Ir4&t=0m37s)

JasonL
03-13-2014, 09:10 PM
that is to say, I always smell the card that is the first I have ever owned of that issue...is that weird?:D:o

Michael B
03-13-2014, 09:33 PM
Maybe "have you ever made out with a card?"

Leon, you can come clean on this. You mention that you like to collect type cards. Is this one your type? If it is, I have a few questions:

Was it your first?
Did you respect it after buying it?
AND - this is too easy
Did you use protection? If so; soft or stiff card sleeve (card condom)?

teetwoohsix
03-14-2014, 01:53 AM
I definitely take a whiff of any ungraded card I acquire :)

Sincerely, Clayton

JasonL
03-14-2014, 04:25 AM
Oh yes, the illusive scratch and sniff Ruth card! LOL

Ruth probably smelled of tobaccy beer and hot dogs

Paul S
03-14-2014, 07:48 AM
I once had a card smell ME! I put it on consignment.

frankbmd
03-14-2014, 08:38 AM
First of all I would like to thank the OP, dog dirt, for this thread. What is the next thing that comes to mind when you think of dog dirt?.............the smell. Exactly. And what is the most common detection device used to track these odors?...........the nose of a dog. Precisely. This background information has led me to the following ground breaking T206 research which I am gladly willing to share here, although it probably deserves a thread of its own.

A nose may be viewed from the front or from the side in profile or at any angle in between, but not from the rear. I believe that one of the endearing qualities of the T206 set, based on my research, is the fact that every single image on the cards in this set shows the players nose without exception. Even the catcher's masks seen in the set do not obstruct the view of the players' nose. Wow. My research though has discovered that one nose is only partially seen on the card being obscured so that less than half of the nose is seen.

The only moustache in the set is the claim to fame of Mr. Titus. We all know that.

Now the only partial nose in the set will heretofore be the claim to fame of this T206 card.

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images/show/frankbmd/t206-psa/10446/huggins-mouth

I am happy to share this groundbreaking discovery with Ted Z, T206resource & dog catchers everywhere. Have a good day. I must now rest.

ullmandds
03-14-2014, 08:51 AM
frank...how many of those did u buy before posting this response?

bn2cardz
03-14-2014, 08:51 AM
First of all I would like to thank the OP, dog dirt, for this thread. What is the next thing that comes to mind when you think of dog dirt?.............the smell. Exactly. And what is the most common detection device used to track these odors?...........the nose of a dog. Precisely. This background information has led me to the following ground breaking T206 research which I am gladly willing to share here, although it probably deserves a thread of its own.

A nose may be viewed from the front or from the side in profile or at any angle in between, but not from the rear. I believe that one of the endearing qualities of the T206 set, based on my research, is the fact that every single image on the cards in this set shows the players nose without exception. Even the catcher's masks seen in the set do not obstruct the view of the players' nose. Wow. My research though has discovered that one nose is only partially seen on the card being obscured so that less than half of the nose is seen.

The only moustache in the set is the claim to fame of Mr. Titus. We all know that.

Now the only partial nose in the set will heretofore be the claim to fame of this T206 card.

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images/show/frankbmd/t206-psa/10446/huggins-mouth

I am happy to share this groundbreaking discovery with Ted Z, T206resource & dog catchers everywhere. Have a good day. I must now rest.

The only real issue with this is that, from what I understand, the OP, Andrew, collects t205s not t206s. So you need to do the research again for the t205 set.

dog*dirt
03-14-2014, 09:17 AM
The only real issue with this is that, from what I understand, the OP, Andrew, collects t205s not t206s. So you need to do the research again for the t205 set.


Actually I have a number of both T205 and T206 but more T205s. However the best smelling cards imo are T3 Turkey Reds;)

I started this poll because I thought it to be funny and interesting. The reason I began to use my nose was that a few years ago I bought a card and upon removing the card from the top loader it was stiff and brittle and had the smell similar to lighter fluid or turpentine. I have since found the sniff test as both enjoyable and a way to detect chemical alteration.

bn2cardz
03-14-2014, 09:44 AM
Actually I have a number of both T205 and T206 but more T205s. However the best smelling cards imo are T3 Turkey Reds;)

I started this poll because I thought it to be funny and interesting. The reason I began to use my nose was that a few years ago I bought a card and upon removing the card from the top loader it was stiff and brittle and had the smell similar to lighter fluid or turpentine. I have since found the sniff test as both enjoyable and a way to detect chemical alteration.

I guess I have just gotten it in my head that you are the t205 guy (along with J0shua Le.vine and @ndrew woo.dfin) as you three guys always show up in the t205 threads or in PM regarding t205s.

I Only Smoke 4 the Cards
03-14-2014, 10:16 AM
Actually I have a number of both T205 and T206 but more T205s. However the best smelling cards imo are T3 Turkey Reds;)



I started this poll because I thought it to be funny and interesting. The reason I began to use my nose was that a few years ago I bought a card and upon removing the card from the top loader it was stiff and brittle and had the smell similar to lighter fluid or turpentine. I have since found the sniff test as both enjoyable and a way to detect chemical alteration.


What do people so with those chemicals?

auggiedoggy
03-14-2014, 02:16 PM
Ha I definitely do with old cards like T206 or N28s. That musty smell is usually a good indicator that it's authentic.

+1

Cliff Bowman
03-15-2014, 09:06 PM
I've never smelled any of my cards, but when I was heavy into collecting 60's and 70's Marvel comic books I couldn't help but notice the odors they gave off when I looked through them, especially if they were uncirculated warehouse copies.

auggiedoggy
03-16-2014, 11:40 AM
Does PSA smell the cards? Its all part of the authentication process, ... right? :D

MooseDog
03-17-2014, 08:39 AM
I did that while opening packs as a kid in the 60's & 70's since the slab of gum gave it a nice smell & I was the only recipient.


Likewise, I'll confess to snorting the bubble gum dust off of my Topps cards back in the day...