A Net54 Instructional Thread -Trimming
 

I'll bet this current scandal has some of you wishing how can I get a piece of the action. The answer is simple. You can. Just carefully review this instructional thread on the art of conservation/trimming and you will be submitting cards for auction and reaping the rewards in no time

#1 - The Proper Equipment and Grip

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Here one of my students demonstrating the proper grip of the scissors with the third finger and thumb of the right hand. This grip gives both balance and control to facilitate a barely discernible cut.

#2 - Don't Practice on Commons.

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If you succeed in mastering the skills necessary, a common isn't going to be worth your time. The Killebrew card isn't perfect. but a nearly complete border ablation is achieved despite the notch on the lower margin.

#3 - Preserve Centering if Possible

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The excellent top to bottom centering on this card is preserved on the Banks card which required only a lateral ablation.

#4 - Trim With What the Card Gives You

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The Logo on this Clemente extends into the upper border of the card. The thoughtful trimmer carefully preserved the Pirate logo without creating a "Killer Notch" as shown in #2

#5 - Topps Traded 1955

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Not released as a regular issue until the early 70s, Topps Traded cards were inspired by this '55 version. After the Giants left for San Francisco, this card required drastic modification with removal of the "Big Apple" New York from the front of the card.

#6 - Beginnner's Mistakes

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Yogi suffered a damaging error when the trimmer sort of botched the lower left corner and didn't know how to correct his error. The solution to the problem is shown in #7

#7 - Errors can be Corrected.

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Duke's lower left corner was similar to Yogi's. The solution, however, did not result in a razor sharp corner, but rather two razor sharp angles. The result provides increased aesthetic appeal to the Snider card.

#8 - Alteration vs Conversation Defined

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I bet many of you still feel that the examples above are alterations, not conservations, and you may be correct. However, if you feel that you own such an altered card, conservation, or restoring a card to its pack fresh condition, is still possible. Here the trimmer was disappointed in his initial trimming of Ted Williams and elected to restore the card using a carefully crafted border from a Preston Ward card. The result is clearly an improvement. This card would clearly now receive a numerical grade.

#9 - Advanced Techniques (to be detailed in a future lesson)

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Trimming the edges of cards is basically the elementary school of conservation, but provides no restoration of the subject of the card. Here, I would maintain, Sandy Koufax has had his mustache trimmed successfully by an elite card barber.

Too funny!
 

I'm going to get my 1955 Topps cards out and see if I can replicate these results-

You could probably do it left-handed and still get them by PSA. But to be extra safe, be sure they’re shipped to PSA with a Lake Oswego postmark.

Best of luck!

Frank, I truly enjoy your humorous posts, but I wish you wouldn't use haughty medical terms, such as "ablation," which force me to use my dictionary. :D

In discussing professional alteration and restoration going forward I shall restrict myself and use only naughty, not haughty, terms.:eek:

Much appreciated, Frank! :)

But Dear Frank, where could a potential trimmer in residence possibly fence consign cards such as these after the conservation has been successfully executed? Surely, places where these cards are bought and sold are not operating in the broad daylight.

Is that kid available for hire? I am thinking of starting up a little side-business, and with his scissor skills, it should be a perfect match.

Brian

trimming guide
 

While I appreciate your entrepreneurship, Frank, the American dream is over. I have 20 Chinese Companies lined up to trim, er.... Produce, um... Market my conserved cards.

You think churning out Van Goghs and Davincis was fab, wait til you see my 52 Mantles.... No one will ever wonder how many sank into the East River ever again.

But + points for the cut by numbers instructions!

That's a perfect response to the hobby's latest trimming scandal.

+ 1 on both points. Thanks again, Frank.