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Displaying PSA (and other) graded cards

eadams24eadams24 Posts: 139
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
I've purchased both a Pennzoni Display case and a display case from sportsdisplays.com.

There is a world of difference. Although the sportsdisplay case is a bit more expensive (a little over double the price after shipping) it is well worth it. I was so mad when I got the Pennzoni case. It was poorly constructed, didn't hold beckett or GAI cards even though they specifically stated they did, didn't open and close easily, the cards leaned against the plexi-glass, and basically looked cheap. The sportsdisplay case is gorgeous, truly a work of art. All graded (and non-graded) card fit well. The interior is lined with black velvet which looks nice and doesn't scratch the cards. The glass (not plexi-glass) door opens and closes with a latch that can be locked. Overall, a quality product. I guess you get what you pay for. I'm just aggrevated I had to go through the annoyance of returning Pennzoni's display case and eating most of the shipping. Learn from me...stay away. SportsDisplays is well worth it.

Comments

  • ajmoeller81ajmoeller81 Posts: 258
    I have a Pennzoni Display case as well. While I was a little disappointed with the opening/closing system I think that I got my money's worth. For those that don't know, the door of the case snaps shut like a pair of jeans would. However, it's pretty difficult to get the door open once you snap it shut, they recommend inserting a flat head screwdriver and turning it to pop the case open. This effectively damages the wood but since it's on the inside of the door it's not very noticeable. I have resorted to leaving the case open just a tiny bit so that I don't ruin the frame. These cases sell for $32 regularly on eBay. Compared to the $200 case from sportsdisplays.com I will take the frame with the screwed up door. They hold my PSA graded cards pretty well.
  • boggs301012boggs301012 Posts: 1,135 ✭✭
    In regards to the pennzoni cases. I took to 1 by 1 inch metal squares super glued them above the snaps to prevent damage cost .03 . I told pennzoni about this they offered to build me a speical case that had that for 60.00 . Uhhhh no thanks.


    James
    x
  • eadams24eadams24 Posts: 139
    When I called Pennzoni and told them of my complaints, I told them they had to have heard these complaints before; there is no way I am the only one ever to be bothered by these things. Their response, "We've been selling these for years and no one has ever complained."

    I don't like those people.
  • BigKidAtHeartBigKidAtHeart Posts: 1,799 ✭✭
    If you want a job done right
    then you usually have to just
    do it yourself. That is what I did.
    I built my own display shelves.
    They work just fine.
    ~jeff

    image
    imageimage
  • wick70wick70 Posts: 340
    Bigkid.
    I like the way they look, nice job. Especially when you are able to custom build them to fit anywhere you would want them, that's probably the best way to go.


    Wick

    Enjoy collecting vintage baseball cards, memorabilia and autos
    image
  • AxtellAxtell Posts: 10,037 ✭✭
    I wish they would make a display case with an acrylic over the top to prevent UV damage....be nice to put a clear sheet of tint over it to block out UV and prevent fading.
  • crsportscards33crsportscards33 Posts: 337 ✭
    BKAH, is that a 1989 Donruss wax box hiding under your desk?!?
    image
  • DataDriven05DataDriven05 Posts: 164 ✭


    Can we play guess what's on BKAH's wall?
  • jrdolanjrdolan Posts: 2,549 ✭✭
    OK. I think I see a can of Pringles on the far left, on the bobble-head bookcase.
  • BigKidAtHeartBigKidAtHeart Posts: 1,799 ✭✭
    Ok,
    1 - Yes that is an 89 Donruss wax box
    (and that was an old photo... that was LONG AGO busted!)

    2 - You could very easily attached a piece of Plexiglass to the front
    and if you use some treated with UV blocker (or add your own tint, or what ever)
    then it would help a lot.

    3 - It is not a can of Pringles on the shelf.
    It is a tube with a Commerative CAL RIPKEN Coke Bottle in it.

    My collection has changed a lot since that photo.
    I have gotten away from the modern (for the most part)
    and much more into the vintage.
    I have gotten more Autographed balls, bats and memoriabilia.

    But feel free to guess at what is there in the Photo if you want.
    It would give us something to do until Baseball season starts!

    ~jeff

    image
    imageimage
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,407 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Hi BKAH
    I'm finally working on my room! My wife is painting next week and I'm in the process of ordering some bat racks and few other odd items. Don't have your talent - so not sure what to do about the PSA cards - anyway, there is one set I am completing that will have 67 cards - I would like to keep them together - so the 50 ct. frame is out - unless they custom make me a 70 frame?
    Will take some pics when it's done - also have a ton of framing to do - that too can get expensive.
    Have you done a room in your new house or too busy?
    take care
    your friend
    Mike
    Mike
  • BigKidAtHeartBigKidAtHeart Posts: 1,799 ✭✭


    << <i>Hi BKAH
    Have you done a room in your new house or too busy?
    take care
    your friend
    Mike >>

    PM sent
    imageimage
  • tennesseebankertennesseebanker Posts: 5,433 ✭✭✭
    I have thought about making display cases for myself and others, even to the point of starting my own display case business. But just cant find the time. I was thinking about making several cases on a made to order basis per the customers request. I am fairly handy working with wood but have no time to do it. Maybe in thirty years when I retire I will start a display case business..............
    image

  • BigKidAtHeartBigKidAtHeart Posts: 1,799 ✭✭


    << <i>I have thought about making display cases for myself and others, even to the point of starting my own display case business. But just cant find the time. I was thinking about making several cases on a made to order basis per the customers request. I am fairly handy working with wood but have no time to do it. Maybe in thirty years when I retire I will start a display case business.............. >>

    I actually built mine in the "shop"
    that my father built in his basement
    after he recently retired and wanted a hobby.
    (he thinks cards are silly)

    So since I could not get him into my hobby,
    I joined him in his and we built these shelves.
    image

    (he is even a banker, but in Georgia)
    ~jeff
    imageimage
  • jskirwinjskirwin Posts: 700 ✭✭✭


    << <i>
    But feel free to guess at what is there in the Photo if you want.
    It would give us something to do until Baseball season starts! >>



    That has to be the smallest TV I've seen in years.
    Wonder what the "Queer Eye" guys would think of the display...

    image
  • calleochocalleocho Posts: 1,569 ✭✭
    does anyone know how much it would cost to have a custom made display piece for graded cards.

    maybe add a few fancy features and maybe some security ones as well

    -bulletproof glass

    -tinted UV resistant glass

    -wireless camera which can be access by internet

    -emergency lockdown steel doors in case of a robbery attempt

    -light that would activate by motion sensors inside the case

    -velvet cushions with draped chinese silk

    -humidity control settings

    -corneal ID lock + fingerprint + voice recognition

    -waterproof, dustproof, crushproof etc..lol

    i wonder what cards could i put inside my 10,000 dollar display case?
    "Women should be obscene and not heard. "
    Groucho Marx
  • wick70wick70 Posts: 340
    Don't forget the automatic self-destruct for when the case is infiltrated !

    Wick

    Enjoy collecting vintage baseball cards, memorabilia and autos
    image
  • shagrotn77shagrotn77 Posts: 5,585 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>does anyone know how much it would cost to have a custom made display piece for graded cards.
    maybe add a few fancy features and maybe some security ones as well
    -bulletproof glass >>



    I could really use that. Thugs are always taking shots at my PSA cards image
    "My father would womanize, he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. Our childhood was typical. Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. When we were insolent we were placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds - pretty standard really."
  • RipublicaninMassRipublicaninMass Posts: 10,051 ✭✭✭


    << <i>.

    But feel free to guess at what is there in the Photo if you want.
    It would give us something to do until Baseball season starts!

    ~jeff

    image >>



    89 upper deck low number box below 89 donruss box
  • wick70wick70 Posts: 340
    The cards are easy.......... try to make out the CD's.

    Wick

    Enjoy collecting vintage baseball cards, memorabilia and autos
    image
  • BuccaneerBuccaneer Posts: 1,794 ✭✭
    I finally got around to taking a digital photo of my displays in my home office. I apologize for the very poor quality - it was a borrowed camera and a cheap one at that. I had mentioned in an earlier thread that I had built the display by hand using metal frame mouldings from Michael's. This was something I could do easily and fairly inexpensively since I really don't have a workshop for woodworking.

    The first two "photos" are the displays I built for my PSA Sampler Set. I believe I can eventually fit all of the cards for that set into these three display, plus an extra one that is partially shown behind the monitor for oversized cards (it already has a Mecca Double Folder in it). The second photo attempts to show a closeup of the labels that I created using a labeling system.

    image

    image

    The next two are the bigger displays I built for my 5 sets. They are 36x36 and since I display both graded and raw, I am able to squeeze in 6 rows each. The first shows the 57 and 61 cards, while the second shows the 63-65 cards.

    image

    image
  • eadams24eadams24 Posts: 139
    Steve-
    Could you explain how you made these?
  • calleochocalleocho Posts: 1,569 ✭✭
    those are really cool buc!
    "Women should be obscene and not heard. "
    Groucho Marx
  • schr1stschr1st Posts: 1,677 ✭✭
    OK, let me see how many I can get from Jeff's cases.

    Top Row First case:
    unknown tobacco card
    unknown tobacco card
    1951 or 52 Bowman (not clear enough to see, possibly Enos Slaughter?)
    1953 Topps Roy Campanella
    1957 Topps Roy Campanells (GAI?)
    1957 Topps Ed Mathews
    1959 Topps Willie Mays
    1959 Topps Hank Aaron
    1959 Fleer Ted Williams (not sure which #)
    not sure
    1961 Fleer (Ruth?)

    Second Row:
    Nu-Scoops (Dimaggio?)
    1963 Topps Sandy Koufax
    1965 Topps Willie McCovey
    1965 Topps HR Leader
    1967 Topps Willie Mays
    1966 Topps Jim Catfish Hunter
    1966 Topps Ernie Banks
    1966 Topps Pete Rose
    1966 Topps (Cepeda?)
    1966 Topps Bucs Busters (or whatever that card is called)
    1966 Topps Bob Ueker

    Third Row
    1966 Topps Mickey Mantle
    1967 Topps Mickey Mantle
    1968 Topps Game Mickey Mantle
    1968 Topps Game Willie Mays
    1968 Topps Game Pete Rose
    1968 Topps Game Brooks Robinson (Can't tell because of the glare, might be Yaz)
    1968 Topps Game Hank Aaron
    1968 Topps Juan Marichal
    1971 Topps Yaz
    1971 Topps Reggie Jackson
    1972 Topps (Aaron IA?)

    4th Row
    1972 Topps (unknown)
    1972 Topps (unknown)
    1972 Topps Johnny Bench
    3 SSPC cards
    1976 Topps ATG Cobb
    1978 Topps Pete Rose
    1978 Topps Nolan Ryan
    1978 Topps Mike Schmidt
    1980 Topps Rickey Henderson

    Bottom Row

    1955 Bowman (unknown)
    1956 Topps Roy Campanella
    1956 Topps Jackie Robinson (SGC?)
    1956 Topps (Nellie Fox?)
    1982 Topps Cal Ripken Jr.

    Middle Case
    Top Row
    1981 Topps Ozzie Smith
    1981 Fleer (Ozzie Smith?)
    1981 Fleer Rickey Henderson
    1982 Donruss Pete Rose
    1982 Donruss (Reggie Jackson?)
    1982 Donruss Cal Ripken Jr.
    can't make out the last card

    2nd Row
    1983 Donruss Wade Boggs
    1983 Topps Wade Boggs
    1983 Topps Tony Gwynn
    1983 Fleer Tony Gwynn
    1983 Fleer Ryne Sandberg or Pete Rose (can't tell)
    1985 Topps Roger Clemens
    1985 Topps Mark McGwire

    3rd Row
    1986 Sportsflics Barry Bonds
    1986 Sportsflics (Bo Jackson?)
    1986 Topps Traded Jose Canseco
    1986 Topps Traded Bo Jackson
    1986 Topps Traded Barry Bonds
    1987 TRU Barry Bonds
    Can't see last card well enough

    4th Row
    1987 Donruss Opening Day Barry Bonds
    1987 Donruss Barry Bonds
    1987 Donruss Mark McGwire
    1987 Donruss Rafael Palmeiro
    1987 Donruss Greg Maddux
    1987 Topps Barry Bonds
    1987 Topps Mark McGwire
    1987 Topps Bo Jackson
    1987 Topps Rafael Palmeiro
    can't tell (Sportflic?)
    1987 Fleer Update Mark McGwire
    1987 Fleer Bo Jackson
    1987 Fleer Barry Bonds
    1987 Fleer Greg Maddux

    Bottom Row
    1987 Fleer Matt Williams
    can't tell the next 2
    1989 Topps Randy Johnson
    can't tell the next 2 because of glare
    1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr.

    3rd case
    Top Row
    1989 Upper Deck Mark McGwire
    1989 Upper Deck Craig Biggio
    1989 Donruss Craig Biggio
    1989 Donruss Gary Sheffield
    1989 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr
    1989 Bowman Nolan Ryan
    can't tell next card (Classic?)
    1990 Bowman Frank Thomas
    1990 Topps Frank Thomas
    1990 Topps Sammy Sosa
    1991 Fleer (Update Jeff Bagwell?)

    2nd Row
    1990 Classic Update Frank Thomas
    1991 Upper Jeck Michael Jordan

    After that it gets too out of focus for me to be able to identify them. I can see 3 Jeter Rookies on the next shelf (UD, Topps, and Bowman), and a 1994 UD Arod next to it, but the rest is too much of a blur to me to see them correctly.

    How did I do?

    Who is Rober Maris?
  • BigKidAtHeartBigKidAtHeart Posts: 1,799 ✭✭
    OK, let me see how many I can get from Jeff's cases.

    Top Row First case:
    unknown tobacco card (T206 Honus Wagner Reprint)
    unknown tobacco card (T206 Bill Bradley - real)
    1951 or 52 Bowman (not clear enough to see, possibly Enos Slaughter?) 52 Bowman - Campanella
    1953 Topps Roy Campanella
    1957 Topps Roy Campanells (GAI?) bought graded, being crossed over to PSA very soon.
    1957 Topps Ed Mathews
    1959 Topps Willie Mays
    1959 Topps Hank Aaron
    1959 Fleer Ted Williams (not sure which #) #50 spring injury
    not sure 1961 Golden Press Gerhig
    1961 Fleer (Ruth?) Gerhig

    Second Row:
    Nu-Scoops (Dimaggio?)
    1963 Topps Sandy Koufax
    1965 Topps Willie McCovey
    1965 Topps HR Leader
    1967 Topps Willie Mays
    1966 Topps Jim Catfish Hunter
    1966 Topps Ernie Banks
    1966 Topps Pete Rose
    1966 Topps (Cepeda?) Luis Aparicio
    1966 Topps Bucs Busters (or whatever that card is called)
    1966 Topps Bob Ueker

    Third Row
    1966 Topps Mickey Mantle
    1967 Topps Mickey Mantle
    1968 Topps Game Mickey Mantle
    1968 Topps Game Willie Mays
    1968 Topps Game Pete Rose
    1968 Topps Game Brooks Robinson (Can't tell because of the glare, might be Yaz) Yaz
    1968 Topps Game Hank Aaron
    1968 Topps Juan Marichal
    1971 Topps Yaz
    1971 Topps Reggie Jackson
    1972 Topps (Aaron IA?) Reggie IA

    4th Row
    1972 Topps (unknown) Neikro
    1972 Topps (unknown) Pete Rose
    1972 Topps Johnny Bench
    3 SSPC cards Aaron, Rose, Schmidt
    1976 Topps ATG Cobb
    1978 Topps Pete Rose
    1978 Topps Nolan Ryan
    1978 Topps Mike Schmidt
    1980 Topps Rickey Henderson

    Bottom Row

    1955 Bowman (unknown) CAmpanella
    1956 Topps Roy Campanella
    1956 Topps Jackie Robinson (SGC?) SCD - was crossed over long ago to PSA
    1956 Topps (Nellie Fox?) Ed Matthews
    1982 Topps Cal Ripken Jr.

    Middle Case
    Top Row
    1981 Topps Ozzie Smith
    1981 Fleer (Ozzie Smith?)
    1981 Fleer Rickey Henderson
    1982 Donruss Pete Rose
    1982 Donruss (Reggie Jackson?) Rose
    1982 Donruss Cal Ripken Jr.
    can't make out the last card 82 Topps Ryan (in windup)

    2nd Row
    1983 Donruss Wade Boggs
    1983 Topps Wade Boggs
    1983 Topps Tony Gwynn
    1983 Fleer Tony Gwynn
    1983 Fleer Ryne Sandberg or Pete Rose (can't tell)
    1985 Topps Roger Clemens
    1985 Topps Mark McGwire

    3rd Row
    1986 Sportsflics Barry Bonds
    1986 Sportsflics (Bo Jackson?)
    1986 Topps Traded Jose Canseco
    1986 Topps Traded Bo Jackson
    1986 Topps Traded Barry Bonds
    1987 TRU Barry Bonds
    Can't see last card well enough Toys R Us Bo Jackson

    4th Row
    1987 Donruss Opening Day Barry Bonds
    1987 Donruss Barry Bonds
    1987 Donruss Mark McGwire
    1987 Donruss Rafael Palmeiro
    1987 Donruss Greg Maddux
    1987 Topps Barry Bonds
    1987 Topps Mark McGwire
    1987 Topps Bo Jackson
    1987 Topps Rafael Palmeiro
    can't tell (Sportflic?) 88? Sportflic McGwire
    1987 Fleer Update Mark McGwire
    1987 Fleer Bo Jackson
    1987 Fleer Barry Bonds
    1987 Fleer Greg Maddux

    How did I do?
    Pretty dogone good!
    Now see how you do with the Autographed balls,
    and the Game used bat on the shelf!
    imageimage
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