firstfrog2013
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Posts: 3,276 
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
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Post by firstfrog2013 on Oct 4, 2014 23:46:00 GMT
Can someone point me in the right direction? I am getting past my prime and my eyes are getting weaker.I am looking for an uncomplicated way to flyspeck my stamps a bit.I have been using a 20x glass and my favorite(don't laugh) an old plastic glass circa early chemistry set type deal.The plastic one has a smaller diameter circle in it which must be a 30 or 40 x as it has been a blessing for details.I am looking to upgrade to something to ease my eyes and shakey hands. I see most are not too pricey but tell me what you use.
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rod222
Member
Posts: 11,047
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Oct 5, 2014 0:25:43 GMT
Can someone point me in the right direction? I am getting past my prime and my eyes are getting weaker.I am looking for an uncomplicated way to flyspeck my stamps a bit.I have been using a 20x glass and my favorite(don't laugh) an old plastic glass circa early chemistry set type deal.The plastic one has a smaller diameter circle in it which must be a 30 or 40 x as it has been a blessing for details.I am looking to upgrade to something to ease my eyes and shakey hands. I see most are not too pricey but tell me what you use. Circa $140 ? Epson scanner (Epson Perfection suggest an Epson perfection V200 photo or later) Stamp collecting becomes a different experience with a scanner I'd risk to say, without scanning technology, I would not be collecting stamps. You can pick up the hairs on a perforation with a good scanner, There is a learning curve, but well worth it. Plenty of members here to assist |
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Admin
Administrator 
Posts: 2,676
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Post by Admin on Oct 5, 2014 0:26:51 GMT
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firstfrog2013
Member
Posts: 3,276
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
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Post by firstfrog2013 on Oct 5, 2014 0:54:40 GMT
scanner ?? Smart phone??? Really guys I'm not into it .I have an antique desk top and my phone of necessity is a military style flip phone it has survived being run into the mud under the tractor.What I have in mind is SIMPLE not looking for digital led usb friendly.
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Admin
Administrator
Posts: 2,676
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Post by Admin on Oct 5, 2014 1:02:34 GMT
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rod222
Member
Posts: 11,047
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Oct 5, 2014 1:11:57 GMT
scanner ?? Smart phone??? Really guys I'm not into it .I have an antique desk top and my phone of necessity is a military style flip phone it has survived being run into the mud under the tractor.What I have in mind is SIMPLE not looking for digital led usb friendly.  Right, we'll scratch a line through those. Next up, battery lit magnifying glass, I see lots with members at club auctions. Possibly what Jack linked to, but when I visited, I could not see an image of the item.Second try successful, yep, that one looks good. One member here suggested an WW2 aircraft camera lens, but that may be over the top.  |
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firstfrog2013
Member
Posts: 3,276
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
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Post by firstfrog2013 on Oct 5, 2014 1:25:52 GMT
Mom has one like it, it's not really powerful enough for fine detail work.I saw a couple mini microscope type things but know nothing of them.I'm really hoping someone has found the perfect hand held loupe that works.I think Mom used to have a little folding metal thing that was pretty good,I haven't seen it around in years so I can't try it to see if that's what I want.
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Admin
Administrator
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Post by Admin on Oct 5, 2014 1:43:41 GMT
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tomiseksj
Moderator 
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,385
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Oct 5, 2014 1:54:41 GMT
I have found this 2-LED, 45x mini-scope to be perfect for detailed viewing when I don't want to take the time to scan the stamp or set up the USB microscope. The $2.99 price from this seller is hard to beat! |
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firstfrog2013
Member
Posts: 3,276
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
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Post by firstfrog2013 on Oct 5, 2014 2:13:24 GMT
Steve I ordered one as you say hard to beat the price and FREE shipping to boot.I'll see if that does the job.In the mean time everyone keep throwing out suggestions I don't mind owning a few things.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,385
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Oct 5, 2014 3:19:12 GMT
Here is another item that I use periodically, a digital microscope that hooks to your computer via USB cable. The price on this one seems higher than I recall paying so, if you're considering it you might shop around for a better deal. The beauty of this one is that it allows you to view the item on your computer screen. It also lets you capture images of what you're viewing. |
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,655
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Oct 5, 2014 3:35:25 GMT
I have a bunch of magnifiers, but I always grab my little 30x loupe first.
I told my husband that I was getting dizzy checking microprinting with my loupe. We joked that I was in danger of becoming a loopy louper! nyuk nyuk!
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BC
Departed
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Vancouver, BC Canada
Posts: 836
What I collect: Worldwide USED up to the 1960's, later years from countries that came into existence after then, like Anguilla, Tuvalu and Transnistria.
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Post by BC on Oct 5, 2014 4:35:22 GMT
LOL Philatelia!
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Jerry B
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Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on Oct 5, 2014 6:33:19 GMT
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Ryan
Moderator
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 2,749
What I collect: If I have a catalogue for it, I collect it. And I have many catalogues ....
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Post by Ryan on Oct 5, 2014 8:06:15 GMT
I have a number of different magnifiers that I use. Like James, I have a plastic one with the smaller, higher magnification disc and a larger, lower power main disc, and that one gets used a lot - it came in a children's stamp collecting pack that we got in school around Grade 6 or so. I have had numerous different digital microscopes and I like those as well. I have a goofy little loupe with gradations on the outer edges that was recommended for use with Machins for determining value settings. I have a headband magnifier and as my eyesight gets worse, I use that more and more for basic stuff like trying to read a Michel catalogue (the print is way too small on those things). But like Jerry, the linen tester is the one I like the most. I have three of them so they're always at hand regardless of where I might be in the house (three sets of bent spade tongs too!).
Ryan
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firstfrog2013
Member
Posts: 3,276
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
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Post by firstfrog2013 on Oct 5, 2014 11:50:47 GMT
Jerry,you hit it that's what I remember Mom using years ago.Do they come in higher powers or are they quite adequate? At $40 the digital microscope looks like a good deal is it easy to figure out or would I be waiting for my kids to come school me? You laugh at me but, my wife waits for me to figure out her 'puter problems.She retired from payroll programming but knows less than me as her computers occupied large rooms and she just wrote command codes.
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firstfrog2013
Member
Posts: 3,276
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
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Post by firstfrog2013 on Oct 5, 2014 13:45:42 GMT
Ryan you wrongly credited James. I was the one still using the little plastic toy.It finally struck me the other day I really need to move on a few years.If that is my primary glass of choice, it's sad.I sometimes have trouble confessing how primitive I operate.I think I try to be too frugal at times.Those college loans threw a shock to my budget for sure but, spending a few bucks on myself is not going to make a big difference in my life style.
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Jerry B
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Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on Oct 5, 2014 15:26:00 GMT
Hi firstfrog2013 What is wrong with JCL and large mainframes? I started out doing FORTRAN and patch panels. Now I am doing VB.NET programming and in some ways JCL, BAL and COBOL were a lot easier. Certainly less to remember. Think about it, your wife and the rest of us "mainframers" essentially programmed everything in 16K (my first machine) to 128K machines. Now we don't mention anything under 1G. I have 1-1/2 inch and 3/4 inch linen testers. The larger one I use all the time and it is about 5x or 6x. The smaller one is 10x. With linen testers it seems that the higher magnification gives rise to a smaller unit (lens size or viewing area). They are more than adequate. The little handheld microscope could be used if real close detail is necessary. Other than the 2 sizes of Linen Testers I have I have seen none with a single lens and more magnification. Look at the Precision Graphics site. If I was buying a new Linen Tester I would pick the SKU: 1304 double lens 8x model or the SKU 1900 6x model with a larger viewing area (similar to mine). A larger viewing area makes a big difference. The prices are a lot cheaper than 15 years ago. I paid about $21 for each of my testers. Precision does have a 15x pocket microscope www.pgiinc.com/categories/Microscopes/ . Jerry B |
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firstfrog2013
Member
Posts: 3,276
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
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Post by firstfrog2013 on Oct 5, 2014 17:29:15 GMT
The wife reminds me all the time she started out from high school punching data entry cards.Most memorable to me is the day she crashed the whole system on a holiday weekend and worked thirty hours straight so all state employees would be paid on time.Think she was proud of herself she could take out the whole system single-handed.They retained her services to write new system shortly before she retired as she was the only programmer still around that had written out going system and new corp didn't understand workings of the old one.
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firstfrog2013
Member
Posts: 3,276
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
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Post by firstfrog2013 on Oct 5, 2014 19:12:30 GMT
I think I;m sold on the digital microscope and I've purchased a linen tester as well as the pocket mini microscope.Will I have problems with the digital thing my antique computer runs xp. I had memory upgrade five years ago I know I started with 386 unsure what was added.
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Ryan
Moderator
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 2,749
What I collect: If I have a catalogue for it, I collect it. And I have many catalogues ....
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Post by Ryan on Oct 5, 2014 19:24:50 GMT
It's quite possible that the digital microscope might be fussy about what kind of operating system you have (make sure you look for compatibility listings when you buy the scope). I've had problems in the past with some digital microscopes fighting with the webcam software on my laptop (they both use the same driver, I think). And if you have multiple microscopes like me, then one microscope's software could fight with another microscope's software, and an old microscope that used to work might no longer work once the different software is installed. Still, I like my digital scope a lot and now that it's settled in and working nicely with its neighbours I'm happy with it.
Ryan
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Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on Oct 5, 2014 21:42:25 GMT
Hi firstfrog2013
Did you buy the Precision Graphics magnifiers and microscope? If you get the digital microscope make sure there are driver updates for Win 7 and /or Win 8.
There are 2 programs that will tell you what is on your computer.
1. Navigate to start | Run...
2. Dialog will open.
3. Type msinfo32 in Open box
4. Click OK
The other program is DeviceManager.
1. Navigate to start | Run...
2. Dialog will open.
3. Type devmgmt.msc in Open box
4. Click OK
Do not change anything. Just look. Inadvertently changing something could make the machine useless.
Jerry B
P.S. Old "mainframers" always crashed one thing or another.
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firstfrog2013
Member
Posts: 3,276
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
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Post by firstfrog2013 on Oct 5, 2014 22:11:16 GMT
I did my shopping wound up with 8x linen tester and the mini microscope Steve mentioned,I am bidding on usb microscope.I followed directions and it told me I have 512 mb of memory with 2gb of virtual.The scope says it works with xp so maybe I'll be moving into this century only fourteen years late.
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rod222
Member
Posts: 11,047
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Oct 5, 2014 23:30:28 GMT
There are 2 programs that will tell you what is on your computer. This Free Program does it all with 1 click........... www.piriform.com/speccy |
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Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on Oct 6, 2014 6:16:58 GMT
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I.L.S.
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I am in Clearfield, Pa. I love US Classic covers!
Posts: 2,113
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Post by I.L.S. on Oct 6, 2014 7:48:51 GMT
I been looking at those digital microscopes too and always wondered if they're "worth their salt" so-to-speak? I don't have a lot of petty cash like I u used too so I really am hesitant to buy one. I might though because this thread was very helpful to me so far. I still think I might do an upgrade of my poor old Jewelers loupe though anyway! It's a 40X made by SE co. (pretty much just a generic one), but in it's defense it has served me well for years. Thank you for the very informative posts! -Jeffy
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Ryan
Moderator
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 2,749
What I collect: If I have a catalogue for it, I collect it. And I have many catalogues ....
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Post by Ryan on Oct 6, 2014 10:13:40 GMT
I suppose the biggest advantage I find to digital scopes is that I can take a screen capture and turn the magnified image into a file that I can save. I can't do that with a magnifying glass. Other than that, there probably isn't any big reason for me to have a digital microscope (although I do have fun with it just looking at random stuff). I continually use my linen tester (that's why there are three of them around the house) but the scope only comes out when I'm trying to save a .JPG for some reason.
Ryan
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,385
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Oct 6, 2014 14:17:00 GMT
I suppose the biggest advantage I find to digital scopes is that I can take a screen capture and turn the magnified image into a file that I can save. I can't do that with a magnifying glass. ... Here is an example of a capture I just took with my digital scope.  |
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firstfrog2013
Member
Posts: 3,276
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
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Post by firstfrog2013 on Oct 6, 2014 21:11:21 GMT
Steve I some how recognise that crown I looked at couple thousand recently.Name that stamp anyone???
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firstfrog2013
Member
Posts: 3,276
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
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Post by firstfrog2013 on Oct 7, 2014 11:24:58 GMT
WOO Hoo I won my digital microscope total cost with shipping $25 and change Not a bad price to move forward a couple paces.Can't wait to try it out.It's like Christmas two new magnifiers and a digital toy,plus my normal cindy stuff.I'm trying not to think about the budget end of it.
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