I'm Visiting the Dansco Plant This Monday (August 4th) - What Should I Ask?
AlbumNerd
Posts: 253 ✭✭✭✭
Hey everyone,
I have some incredibly exciting news to share! This coming Monday, August 4th, I'll be visiting the Dansco manufacturing plant in Sumas, Washington to do some research on the company's history.
As a long-time admirer of their albums, I'm thrilled for this opportunity to look behind the scenes. My goal is to learn as much as I can and share the story of this iconic company with the coin-collecting community.
To make this visit as valuable as possible for everyone, I want to bring your questions with me. What have you always wanted to know about Dansco? What topics should I be sure to explore?
Here are a few areas I'm planning to dig into:
The Early Days: Who founded Dansco and what were their first products? How did the classic brown albums come to be?
Manufacturing Process: How are the albums actually made? What materials do they use, and what does the production line look like?
Company History: I'm curious about their move from Los Angeles to Washington, how they've handled production challenges over the years (including the recent floods), and who did the historical research for the inside covers.
Future Plans: What's next for Dansco? How do they decide which new albums to make, and what can we expect in the future?
Let me know what you think! Post your questions below, and I'll do my best to get them answered during my visit on Monday.
I can't wait to see what I can learn and report back to you all.
Dansco Dude
Comments
I hope you make another YouTube video of your questions/answers along with your commentary.
The last one you did was so well done and informative.
-I think I'd ask if they are planning on producing any 7070 type gold pages.
peacockcoins
Did they know that Sumas was in such an extreme flood zone before they moved there?
Describe some unusual or weird special order displays. And yes a video of your visit would be excellent. Peace Roy
BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW
With the introduction of the Whitman brand premier albums, will they be doing anything special to attract and keep customers? With so many collecting foreign series, what do they have planned to increase their offerings.
Are any of their products geared towards slab storage and if not will they be? James
I would ask about their World coin albums- including but not limited to Australia, Ireland, UK, Europe and all Central American countries. I would be interested to see if they are willing to share what percentage of the total production of theses albums were exported for overseas use. I would ask if Dansco is exploring whether type sets for various countries might be introduced... or even a Monarch type set for various European Countries.
And to keep this on point as to US coinage... I wonder if there would be plans to issue albums just for varieties within certain series. I would think there would be interest in Morgan and Peace Dollars... and it could generate greater interest in other varieties within other series that have been recognized or are in the need of recognition.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
What are they going to do to keep up with collector demand and how are they going to handle growing segments of the market and keep pace with classic coins? There are albums I have that are close to 25 years overdue for an update! Another good question would be how they choose what coins to include in the album? Perfect example is that most modern quarters now have a PDS business strike and clad proof and silver proof, but only the PD and proof issues are included. The reverse proof issues have largely been ignored as well forcing collectors to make their own custom pages. Earlier modern proof coins are also not included in the, "with proof" albums. Why were those coins left out?
Why are many of their albums such a disaster as far as the inclusion/exclusion choices? It's as if no one on their staff has ever seen a red book.
Some are fairly simple issues, like including the 1869/69 Indian Cent, a variety which no one has collected in an album since 1972 and back then everyone thought it was a 69/68. The really confusing part is that the Indian Cent albums they made 15 years ago didn't have that variety. They went backwards. What's next, adding the 1924-s goiter Lincoln to their next batch of Lincoln albums? Who's making these stupid decisions?
Another example: Their Seated albums are unexplainable disasters, such as the Seated Quarter album NOT having a space for the widely collected 1842-o small date, but instead has a space for the 1842 small date proof. Proof? Really? Not to mention there are only 7 known. Does anyone at Dansco think someone who has one of these if going to plug it into their cardboard album?
Or, take the Seated Dollar album. It doesn't have a port for the 1871-cc but does for the other 3 Carson City issues. The 71-cc isn't even the rarest of the 4.
I could go on but you get the idea. I've always liked Dansco albums but they seem to have no idea what their audience would actually want in an album.
I would ask if they plan on expanding the Mexico offerings. For me, I loved collecting the 1943-74 pyramid 20 centavos when growing up, but never saw an album for those, Or maybe offer custom albums for a series like this if the demand is low.
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
Ask them what in the world is going on with the Dansco 7070 Gold page? It would be nice if they would produce some because one supplementary page shouldn't cost 2-3x the album. THKS!
The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
BOOMIN!™
Wooooha! Did someone just say it's officially "TACO™" Tuesday????
This is their old location in LA. Tell them we hope it doesn't turn into this in Washington!
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Any freebies?😀
On a curious note, why did Dansco change the album cover of the Indian cents twice?
peacockcoins
What do they consider to be the 'growth' areas for their business?
Have they considered pages for first day covers, TPG slabs, mint packaged material?
Do they care or have any idea what their less common items sell for on the aftermarket?
Is all there manufacturing done here in the States?
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
No need to waste Dansco's reps time and energy on such a question.
Each album has the answer right on the inside back cover.
Ask them if they have any innovative R&D coin album prototypes that they would be willing to share
Mr_Spud
A version of this question can be if all their materials like plastic slides and metal pins are made in the usa
I believe their Seated halves album has a slot for an "1866," which, as far as I can tell, is for the unique 1866-P no motto, which is not a regular issue. I stuck a nice, circulated Oregon commem in there as a filler.
They are great albums, though. Very durable and attractive. I'm glad they are back in business again.
Yep, you're right, like I said their Seated albums are some of the worst disasters. Lots of other oddly labeled ports in the half album as well.
The dime album is the best of the bunch and would have been perfect but they decided to drill a random hole in the first page to accommodate the 1838 "partial drapery" variety. Sheesh...
At least they give you an option on the second 1853-O slot rather than labeling it for the 53-O no arrows. All but four of us just stick another 53-O A&R (or other coin) in the "1853-O all kinds" slot.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
If given the opportunity, I would have asked them if they could open up a line of "plain" pages in the various slide configurations for folks who want to do true custom updates for their books.
Or, in lieu of that, offer custom page creation for a modest fee.
@AlbumNerd
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Sorry about the delay, everyone! You will need to wait until next month for my full write-up. I just moved to Los Angeles, and I need to focus on major renovations, as well as putting my personal collection/library back in order.
Everything is kind of in chaos right now 🙃
The Dansco family has asked me to maintain their privacy with photos, so I am not able to share pictures I took showing their internal operations. But I can share this humorous photo I took right outside their entrance
One fun fact I learned was that their operations are just 1000 feet away from the Canadian border. You can see the border crossing when you walk outside the building.
I will update this thread when my write-up is done!
Dansco Dude/Justin
Wish I would have seen this earlier, I would have asked them if they still did custom albums. I have contacted them numerous times over the last 5 years and haven't received an answer back.
Customer service certainly does not appear to be amongst their priorities. RGDS!
The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
BOOMIN!™
Wooooha! Did someone just say it's officially "TACO™" Tuesday????
We hope this......
Dosn't turn into this............
It's not looking good so far.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Not receiving an answer back, although a bit curt, is your answer.
peacockcoins
Since you are going to Dansco, can you ask them the history of th;e 7070 type set?
Also have them read this thread (re the PCGS Registry set version):
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1086493/dansco-7070-what-it-has-and-has-not
His visit already happened, on August 4th.
It took over a month to organize my library to allow me to pull out all the relevant albums and notes to cross-reference my research. I'm now able to write up my visit to Dansco without going insane from the mess.
Before
After
To give more context on what I learned, I combined both my visits to Dansco's manufacturing plant [March & August] into one comprehensive report.
During my two visits, the husband-and-wife team of Steve and Leticia Bruce graciously welcomed me into their facility and answered many questions from collectors. Walking through their factory floor revealed a treasure trove of numismatic history. As a researcher dedicated to the history of both Dansco and the broader world of coin albums, it was an unforgettable experience.
The Dansco family has asked me to maintain the privacy of their internal operations, so I am not able to share pictures of the production process. However, I can share this humorous photo I took right outside their entrance.
Unraveling Dansco's History
Piecing together Dansco's early days is a fascinating puzzle. The company has a rich family legacy, starting with co-founders Paul Bruce and a partner named Daniel in 1937. The history of who Daniel was is part of my ongoing research. Paul's son, John Bruce, took over operations in 1959, and the third generation, Steve Bruce, took the helm in the 1990s. Beyond the family, I was able to confirm several other historical details:
Hobbies Unlimited: Dansco also produced coin folders for a company called "Hobbies Unlimited" in the early 1950s, with some examples bearing a 1952 Dansco copyright.
Competitors Next Door: During their time in Los Angeles, Dansco's office was located just up the street from another album manufacturer, Meghrig.
Early Partnerships: Before Littleton produced their own albums, they partnered with Dansco in the 1980s. You can often identify these Littleton versions by the front, where it reads "Littleton's Prestige Collectors Series."
Leticia shared a remarkable historical photo showing some of the first Dansco employees, including co-founder Paul Bruce.
Design, Philosophy & Operations
Collectors often notice minor changes to folders and albums over the years. I got to ask about the logic behind some of these details and their business philosophy.
P-S-D vs. P-D-S: Early folders listed mints in the order of Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver. This was later changed to the now-standard Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco to better align with the official Red Book.
Title Format Changes: The fonts and styles on albums sometimes change between print runs. This is simply an aesthetic choice to give the album a fresh look. There is no formal process for when and how styles change.
Early Style
Later Style
Slipcase Origins: The iconic Dansco slipcases were first introduced around 2003-2004.
Official Website: There are no plans to revamp Dansco's official website (danscousa.com). The family is happy with its current state as an informational hub for the community. On a related note, they confirmed they do not run the "Dansco Album Store" website and are unsure who operates it.
Focus on Product, Not Competitors: The family doesn't focus too much on competitors like Whitman. They prefer to run a small, tight-knit operation, concentrating on what they do best: creating high-quality albums that collectors love. It’s a remarkably small company, with only about eight employees, four of whom are from the Bruce family.
Commitment to the Classic Design: This focus also answers a common question about slabbed coins. The family explained that their production process is geared toward the classic, thin-page design for raw coins. The logistics of a thick, binder-style album for slabs don't fit their operational model. So while collectors often ask, there are no plans to produce albums for slabbed coins.
A Unique Location: The manufacturing plant is right next to the Canadian border. In fact, you can see the border crossing right outside their factory.
Niche Products & Lost Histories
Beyond their main U.S. coin series, Dansco has a history of unique and surprising projects.
After the Flood
The family is still dealing with the ramifications of the major flood that hit Sumas in late 2021. The flood devastated the entire production floor, and I could still see the water stains on the walls. For a moment, the family feared that the company wouldn’t be able to weather the storm. It's a testament to their resilience that they are back up and running, although they are still operating below their maximum production capacity.
The Future of Dansco
Perhaps the most exciting part of my visits was getting a sneak peek at what’s coming next. Here's what collectors can look forward to:
A Call for Community Feedback!
Best of all, Dansco is actively exploring the potential for a Volume 2 of the #7070 U.S. Type Set album. They are inviting collectors to share what coins and series they would like to see included.
This is a fantastic opportunity for us to have a direct impact on the next version of the #7070 U.S. Type Set album. If you have ideas, please send them directly to Dansco at danscocorp@aol.com.
The Ongoing Search
This report covers everything I can share for now, but the research continues! There are still many outstanding questions to answer, such as the logic behind early folder color choices and who Daniel in Daniel Stamp Company was. I am continuing to work with the family to find these answers. Hopefully, a third visit is in store for the future.
Justin Hinh, aka Dansco Dude
Awesome write-up of your great adventure, thanks for posting this 🌞
Mr_Spud
Hey, there IS a floor!
ANA 50+ year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
Author: 3rd Edition of the SampleSlabs book, https://sampleslabs.info/
Thanks for sharing all this info. I did not expect to see an "After" photo like that when I saw the "Before". Wow, that is a cool collection.
Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
I love how you rearranged your room, who needs a bed anyway?
An example of these Boards at their finest. Thank you for taking the time to organize and share.
If we were all the same, the world would be an incredibly boring place.
Tommy
Thanks for the update!
Thanks for sharing your in depth trip and research. Wishing Dansco a successful future. And your library turned out great! Peace Roy
BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW
I like 👍
Thanks for sharing. The Dansco story is quite interesting.
Can you ask them where my Trime is?
They, or somebody, needs to make a peace dollar album with two spots for the 35s, for both the 3 ray and 4 ray varieties.
Since the Jefferson Nickel album ended in 2023, I hope they get around to making the "next" page.
So true.
And, sometimes those little half dimes too.
peacockcoins
@AlbumNerd said “Hobbies Unlimited: Dansco also produced coin folders for a company called "Hobbies Unlimited" in the early 1950s, with some examples bearing a 1952 Dansco copyright.”
Are those Hobbies Unlimited folders considered to be rare and valuable? I come across them from time to time, but since I’m not into Folders, I never bought any. But I didn’t know they were early Dansco’s.
If you have a moment please share your thoughts on these, thanks.
Mr_Spud
They're rare but not valuable because
a) Not that many people are aware of the connection it has to Dansco
b) Coin folders in general aren't valued as much as albums by the wider community
Dansco currently does not have an American Gold Eagle line. I would love to see each denomination to get an album of its own (MS and MS/PR). Plus do a 4 coin year album (All 4 denominations on 1 line per year). I personally would overlap each line to balance the lines and weight of the book. You could do 1.0-0.5-0.25-0.10 on the first then 0.10-0.25-0.5-1.0 on the second etc....
They don't have any Platinum albums either.
Later, Paul.
peacockcoins