Any 33 Goudey experts out there?

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Posted By: Rick McQuillan

Pardon me if this has been discussed before, but I have some questions and observations about the measurments of 33 Goudeys. I started checking on the measurments after a bought a #149 Ruth. The height was right on, but it measured just a bit narrow. (This card wasn't trimmed, it would probably grade a 2). Anyway, I was concerned about the width, so I started measuring some of my other Goudeys-about 75 of them. (I know what you are thinking-Get a life!)

The height of the cards were right on, except for two that were slightly short and two that were slightly tall. However, about 1/3rd of the cards were narrow by 1/32 or 1/16. We aren't talking about PSA8's here, but cards that would grade 2,3, or 4, with rounded corners. Many of the narrow ones were cards that were poorly centered, like the Ruth, and it seems like most of the red cards, like Ruth #149, had centering and width problems. I also measured an SGC 40 Waner, which was red with fair centering, and it was narrow, a PSA 1 Bengough, also red, but well centered, measured correctly.

I know that 75 cards is a small sample, but is there a reason why I am finding red cards with centering and width problems? Is it because I am too cheap to buy well centered higher grade cards? Has anyone else had any experience with inconsistancies in measurements with the Goudeys? Mine were all raw except for the two that I mentioned, but perhaps someone has some graded cards that are slightly narrow.

Just curious,

Rick