Going old school: screw-down holders
 

I recently bought the low-grade T206 Lajoie pictured below, which came in one of GAI's sealed plastic sleeves used for low-value cards. The other Lajoie pictured was purchased ungraded. Because of the way I store all of my Lajoies in a safe-deposit box, I didn't want to run the risk of having these unprotected. I also had no desire to get them graded.

Given how many unused screw-down holders I have left over from the 1980s and '90s, I figured to put two of them to good use. I know the cards don't look as nice as they would in an SGC holder, but paying $6 each plus shipping just for aesthetics isn't something I felt like doing right now. Plus, again, all I want to do is protect these from becoming damaged. Which leads me to my question.

I read all the time posts that convey that very thought ... "I got this low-grade card graded only to protect it." So why not go the screw-down route? I know the horror stories about torquing the screws too tightly and damaging the card. But if you put the card in a plastic sleeve and don't go crazy with a screwdriver, I don't see damage being done to the card. Or can it?

I probably wouldn't put a high-grade or a card with significant value in a screw-down holder, but am I missing something in thinking this is an OK way to go in certain situations?

sleeve, no worries
 

As long as that sleeve is in there I don't see a problem. The main thing about screwdowns is that they are bulky compared to toploaders. I have a bunch of cards in screwdowns that are out on display in my office. None of them are too valuable either...All of my other raw cards are in toploaders due to being easier (smaller) to store that way.

Sounds good to me.

Here is my rare 1954 Bowman Ted Williams in a screw-down holder.

Most of my "big $$$$" cards are in old-fashioned hard plastic holders.

I guess I should place my 1941 and 1951 Ted Williams cards in screw-down holders.



<img src="http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/zanted86/bowmangumcotedwilliams.jpg" alt="[linked image]">


T-Rex TED

Screw Downs
 

My memory of screw down holders:

Many years ago, my friend and I went to do one of the Bob Lee Labor Day shows in San Francisco. At JFK, when we put our carry on luggage cases (which carried all our cards in stackable screw down holders) into the X Ray machine, the person manning the machine thought we had bullets inside and made us open the cases to show him it was actually baseball cards.

We all had a good laugh back then but if it happened today......

I use screwdown holders for all of my ungraded HOF cards. I love the confidence in being able to allow friends to look closely at them, and also how they pretty well match the graded ones as far as storage method.

Hi Ted,
I think we have a few mutual friends!
I talked with Bob Thing last night for over an hour.
Bob took me to shows when I was a young and is the main reason I got so deep in the hobby. Bob's my hero.
Dan Evan is another collector I looked up to!



Take Care,
Bill

Hi Bill

I've known "Skowhegan Bob" Thing since 1981. A great guy in this hobby.

I have emailed you, so we can continue this conversation.

Regards,
Ted Z

I prefer the little plastic sleeve and then a top loader.

The card is easy to pull out (by pulling on the plastic sleeve within the top loader) - and it doesn't move around much within the holder itself.

Screw downs are too big and bulky (and I am not fond of how they look)-
it is much easier to grab a stack of top loaders and enjoy your cards.

imho.

I don't mean to burst your bubble, but that Lajoie on the right looks a little fishy to me. It might be trimmed.

OUCH heres some damage from one
 

An exapmle of damage from a screwdown all corners have chipping. Your cards size would not be an issue in these holders. This early 50s size it more pron to damage like this. But as you can seen for the guy that owned this one sometime in the past it was.

You see damage alot on the tall boy 60s topps cards due to the screw downs, tossed my pile of these recently

I make backdrops in photoshop and use screwdowns. I also normally double the size of the mat and use a clear sleeve. will post some samples eventually. You can also find them on my site. Just click below.

When I go to a card show I like to look through dollar bins with assorted cards from all eras. I like the dealers that use screwdowns for their 1982 Topps Chili Davis RC. If you didn't know any better you would think that card is pretty valuable being screwed down and all.