BBCE 1952 Topps Wax Pack "Brick"

[steve B]

NYC had a few trash barge companies, going back almost to the beginning.

I believe the barge companies were.... how to put it.... independent of the "influences" in the rest of the NYC trash hauling industry.

Going with a regular trash hauler probably guaranteed that at least some portion of the batch didn't get burned or landfilled. But taking it directly to the barge themselves gave them more control.

[Volod]

Originally Posted by steve B

NYC had a few trash barge companies, going back almost to the beginning.

I believe the barge companies were.... how to put it.... independent of the "influences" in the rest of the NYC trash hauling industry.

Going with a regular trash hauler probably guaranteed that at least some portion of the batch didn't get burned or landfilled. But taking it directly to the barge themselves gave them more control.

Right, Steve - that's one part of the puzzle, I guess, but the thing that seems inscrutable to me is why would Berger, or anyone else at Topps, be worried about such "insecurity" with their trash in 1960? Eight-year-old cards would have been considered practically worthless, wouldn't they? If someone, or anyone, wanted them, why not just give them away?

[ALR-bishop]

I know Berger said they did it, but that does not mean it happened. Personally I agree with Dave, but do not care if I am wrong. Neat hobby lore either way.

[Volod]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

I know Berger said they did it, but that does not mean it happened. Personally I agree with Dave, but do not care if I am wrong. Neat hobby lore either way.

+1

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Volod

Right, Steve - that's one part of the puzzle, I guess, but the thing that seems inscrutable to me is why would Berger, or anyone else at Topps, be worried about such "insecurity" with their trash in 1960? Eight-year-old cards would have been considered practically worthless, wouldn't they? If someone, or anyone, wanted them, why not just give them away?

That's hard to say.
I suppose it could affect the local sales if stores were "encouraged" to stock 8 year old cards. And that might reflect poorly on the company.

It's pretty common today for companies to secure even old stocks that are destined for the trash.
The makerspace I'm a member of got a bunch of hardware etc donated from a local branch of a big company when it closed. They had a very good but old machine shop for repairing their equipment. I asked about the machines, not necessarily as donations, but if they could be bought if not donated.
Nope. They were afraid of liability.. If I bought the building I suppose, but the assumption was that it would get bulldozed into a hole or hauled away with the rest of the building if/when it got torn down.

[Volod]

Originally Posted by steve B

That's hard to say.
I suppose it could affect the local sales if stores were "encouraged" to stock 8 year old cards. And that might reflect poorly on the company.

It's pretty common today for companies to secure even old stocks that are destined for the trash.
The makerspace I'm a member of got a bunch of hardware etc donated from a local branch of a big company when it closed. They had a very good but old machine shop for repairing their equipment. I asked about the machines, not necessarily as donations, but if they could be bought if not donated.
Nope. They were afraid of liability.. If I bought the building I suppose, but the assumption was that it would get bulldozed into a hole or hauled away with the rest of the building if/when it got torn down.

Yeah, interesting analogy. But, what I meant in regard to "trash security" is, if Topps viewed the overstock as just something to dispose of (not through their normal wholesaling or retailing channels), why not use the cheapest means available? I can't imagine any liability concern with old cardstock viz dumping or incinerating versus hauling out to sea. What actually seems fishy to me (no pun) about the anecdotal account is that Berger was interviewed in the 1980's, around the time that vintage cards were exploding in value - especially the '52 Topps Mantle - and that hobby atmosphere may have "clouded" his memory about things that were done thirty years before.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Volod

Yeah, interesting analogy. But, what I meant in regard to "trash security" is, if Topps viewed the overstock as just something to dispose of (not through their normal wholesaling or retailing channels), why not use the cheapest means available? I can't imagine any liability concern with old cardstock viz dumping or incinerating versus hauling out to sea. What actually seems fishy to me (no pun) about the anecdotal account is that Berger was interviewed in the 1980's, around the time that vintage cards were exploding in value - especially the '52 Topps Mantle - and that hobby atmosphere may have "clouded" his memory about things that were done thirty years before.

I think if it did happen, it was probably just to keep someone from taking that many cases and selling them to shops either very cheaply, or as part of some sort of scheme.

Considering how much stuff got left in the back corners of warehouses back then it doesn't make tons of sense.

[jchcollins]

You have to admit the Berger story is a bit of a fairy tale. It would be nice if someone else that was there could corroborate it, but of course there never was.

[maniac_73]

I worked for a publisher and all overstock books are returned to manufacturer and destroyed. Noone wants old stock hanging around because it devalues the brand.

[Volod]

Originally Posted by steve B

I think if it did happen, it was probably just to keep someone from taking that many cases and selling them to shops either very cheaply, or as part of some sort of scheme.

Considering how much stuff got left in the back corners of warehouses back then it doesn't make tons of sense.

I agree.