Show Your Specialty Gauges

[coastwatcher]

Like most collectors, I have a perforation gauge, several in fact, but I also have a few specialty gauges. Although I don’t use these gauges on a daily basis, there are certain situations where I find them to be very useful.

Sonic Imagery Labs Precision US Specialty Multi-Gauge

I recently showed this gauge in another thread, but thought I should post it again here. This is probably the single most useful gauge that I have ever seen for a classic US collector.

[coastwatcher]

Kiusalas US and Canadian Specialty Perforation Gauges

These gauges were developed by Richard Kiusalas in the 1960s for use on US and Canadian stamps. The US gauge is replicated on the Precision US Specialty Multi-Gauge. On a side note, these gauges are quite collectible themselves.

[coastwatcher]

Trafalgar Series Gauge

To be quite honest with you, I have no idea who makes this gauge and ran across mine on eBay. Other than having several different ways to measure perforations on the front and the back, it illustrates watermarks used on classic era British Commonwealth stamps. This last feature is actually the reason that I bought it, because I was getting tired of having to flip back and forth between the listings and the watermarks shown in the front of my Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue when identifying stamps.

[guyana1230]

I have the Trafalgar one in a different colour;



and a Lighthouse one;



plus a clear one:



I use all three at different times, the clear one being great for stamps still on paper etc.


I don't understand coastwatcher,'s ones that are for just USA or just Canada, a perforation is the same where-ever it comes from

[Phil]

I have the Linn's Multi Gauge. The clear plastic makes it easy to use but it a little long and awkward to use in some situations. Something that's smaller an more compact - like that Lighthouse one may be just the thing. But the Trafalgar looks really cool.
I will just have to but both.

[coastwatcher]

guyana1230, Most worldwide perforations are spaced using the metric system and, therefore, standard perf gauges measure how many perforations are counted within a 2cm (0.78") length. While a standard perf gauge will work fine on US and Canadian stamps, they are actually spaced using the imperial system of measurement and the spacing of the perforations is measured in thousands of an inch. Because of this, sometimes the holes don’t line up exactly on standard perf gauges, but they come close enough that millions of collectors have used them for years without any major issues.

[khj]

[ coastwatcher already replied while I was typing...]

Jun 2, 2021 16:19:19 GMT -5 guyana1230 said:

I don't understand @coastwatchee's ones that are for just USA or just Canada, a perforation is the same where-ever it comes from

Good point.

Standard perforation gauges are designed to only measure the average perforations in metric (perforations per 20mm).

Specialty perforation gauges, such as the Kuisalas, measure the distance between perforation hole centers in thousandths of an inch rather than holes per fixed distance in metric, as the perforation machines in North America during that period were based on the English measurement system. While the difference may seem very minor, the Kuisalas gauge can differentiate between 10-79, 10-80, 10-81, whereas the they would all appear perf 10 on standard gauges.

In addition, the Sonic Imagery Labs gauge will also distinguish between small/large hole varieties that occur on a couple of the US Liberty Series stamps.

[sforgca]

Jun 2, 2021 17:34:04 GMT -5 khj said:

 khj In addition, the Sonic Imagery Labs gauge will also distinguish between small/large hole varieties that occur on a couple of the US Liberty Series stamps.

This is a common problem with forgeries & reprints. They may have similar no of perfs but the size of the holes are often different since different perforators were used

[coastwatcher]

Jun 2, 2021 17:34:04 GMT -5 khj said:

[ coastwatcher already replied while I was typing...]

[khj]

I'd type with 2 fingers, except that would only result in twice as many typos!

[coastwatcher]

Today, I ran across an article, entitled Guide to Expertizing U.S. Stamps for Genuineness, by Randy Shoemaker of the PSAG (Philatelic Stamp Authentication and Grading). I found what he had to say about perforation gauges to be quite interesting, especially what he had to say about the Sonic Imagery Labs Precision U.S. Specialty Multi­Gauge.

Quote from article:

“Perforation gauge - You can get commercial perforation gauges but almost all are really technically worthless for good examination. The only satisfactory gauge I've ever used is the United States Specialist Gauge for United States stamps (also separately available for Canadian stamps and costs about $20+ if you can find them) by Kiusalas (copyright 1965). These gauges are made of strong aluminum and have the proper spacing and pert hole size for US & Canadian stamps. This is absolutely critical for detecting reperforated stamps. They are very difficult to come by since they are no longer manufactured. A possible substitute is the Sonic Imagery Labs Precision U.S. Specialty Multi­Gauge on transparent acetate. However, I strongly suggest ONLY the "10 Measuring Devices" version. The '11 measuring device' version is NOT ACCURATE in some of the measuring devices and should be passed on if the '10 device version' is available. The pert gauge is OK on the "11" but other measures are a bit off.“

If you are interested in reading the entire article, it can be found here on the PSAG website.

[JerryB]

Hi Coastwatcher

Coastwatcher: because I was getting tired of having to flip back and forth between the listings and the watermarks shown in the front of my Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue when identifying stamps.

In my friend's store there was a book that had all the Scott watermarks illustrated.  You'll have to look around for it. I don't remember the name of it.

Suggestion:  Why not copy, or scan, the page of watermarks and create your own 'book'   My friend used to do exactly that so we did not have to go 'flipping around'.

Jerry B

[angore]

I make reference pages with images of watermarks to prevent flipping. I keep some in a general reference binder and others are in with album.

[JerryB]

Hi Coastwatcher

I did a little searching and following:

www.abebooks.co.uk/book-search/title/worldwide-watermarks-and-perforations/author/felix-ervin-j/

www.abebooks.com/Buxton-encyclopedia-watermarks-B.H/31013338273/bd

www.amazon.com/s?k=stamp+books+for+collectors&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpov2uunl9AIVXAaICR3Jsg7PEAMYAiAAEgLzZvD_BwE&hvadid=178119678167&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9010790&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=5330149457586447838&hvtargid=kwd-59593754078&hydadcr=2145_9908470&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_1xdoce9twj_b


Go to this Amazon Link:
The stamp collector's guidebook of worldwide watermarks and perforations, Hardcover – January 1, 1966

I cannot create a link as a can of Dr. Pepper keeps getting inserted into the link???


There are others .  You just have to do a little "Googling".

Jerry B

[coastwatcher]

JerryB, Thanks for taking the time to do that! I have to run out of town for a bit today, but, when I get back this evening, I have a feeling that I may be adding a new volume to my philatelic library! 

[sforgca]

OK - this is "near topic"
Years ago when I scanned (for better details) I used an app called EzPerf which is still available free
It does require a specific DPI scan and not much use for rough perfs but very accurate for most uses and it can measure overprints.
Worked well with compound perfs
Anyway just a possibility??

[khj]

Dec 15, 2021 7:41:31 GMT -5 JerryB said:

www.abebooks.com/Buxton-encyclopedia-watermarks-B.H/31013338273/bd

I think I actually have this somewhere. Somewhat useful, but not to the point that I actually use it. Not even sure where it is now, and don't remember the specific reason I decided not to use it. Keep in mind, it only covers watermarks up to 1965. And if you are a specialist, it definitely won't be comprehensive.

Regarding , it's everywhere (or at least it should be!). But yes, if you have a "D" and "P" together embedded anywhere, the BBCode parser will convert that to . There's a way around it, but it's non-trivial and I'd rather see the .

k

[I.M. DeBear]

Years ago, I created this incredibly useful mnemonic device for the first four British Colonies watermarks: CAMS, as in 'My Ford has overhead CAMS.'
It goes like this:

#1 - CC
#2 - CA
#3 - CA Multiple
#4 - CA multiple Script

Works for me

[sforgca]

Dec 15, 2021 10:45:32 GMT -5 sforgca said:

OK - this is "near topic"
Years ago when I scanned (for better details) I used an app called EzPerf which is still available free
It does require a specific DPI scan and not much use for rough perfs but very accurate for most uses and it can measure overprints.
Worked well with compound perfs
Anyway just a possibility??

Just an addition
I also used PERFOMaster4000 which is completely free, accurate and with lots of features
If I remember it even aligns and auto crops the image

[khj]

Dec 17, 2021 13:12:42 GMT -5 sforgca said:

I also used PERFOMaster4000 which is completely free, accurate and with lots of features
If I remember it even aligns and auto crops the image

PERFOMaster4000 download

Current version as of this posting is 1.5.1. The older PERFOMaster3000 did not do batch processing. Haven't used the 4000, so not sure it supports batch processing.