Peeling the "Passed" Stickers ?

<p>I always removed them. When I was coming up in photography, the "passed" sticker screamed "newby" to me.</p>

<p>True story: when I was about nineteen, I crossed the border into Canada with a band so I could photograph them in a Vancouver nightclub. On our return (at 0300), the US Border Patrol / Customs folks decided that our van needed a full inspection.</p>

<p>When they got to me and my camera bag, the agent wanted proof that I had purchased the equipment in the USA. The reason he was suspicious: "You don't have the 'passed' stickers on your equipment."</p>

<p>I blurted the first thing my slightly alcohol-addled nineteen-year-old brain thought of: "Surely you can't be that stupid!" He confiscated all my equipment.</p>

<p>Fortunately for me, I had an hour to stew about it while they destroyed the van. I remembered my itemized insurance papers, a copy of which were in the bag, under the floor board (a 'hidden compartment' - ooooh). I ended up leaving with my gear intact.</p>

 

<p>I always remove the stickers, tags, transparent screen protectors, anything that isn't actually functional. As has been said before, it' like leaving price tags on your gear. I have a huge quantity of old gear acquired in the last five or six years, I've peeled, scraped, rubbed, or soaked that tag off of everything. And what's more, I have no problem at all with oval marks being left behind. I think the secret is a good rub with Nozoil ®. Works every time.</p>

<p>With the Time Magazine Promotional camera, the sticker is an important structural element of the camera! I like to refer to it as a, "Load Bearing" sticker. </p>

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<p>I'm looking for cameras with "FAILED" stickers.</p>

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<p>It's usually written in code.... "HOLGA"</p>

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<p>I always remove the stickers, tags, transparent screen protectors, anything that isn't actually functional.</p>

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<p>I often see people driving around in new cars with the protective plastic covers still on the seats. They think they are keeping them in nice condition. They are - for the next purchaser. Meanwhile they are driving around sitting on plastic.</p>

<p>I used to have a neighbor who left the plastic covers on her lampshades, plastic runners on high-traffic areas of her carpets, even plastic covers on the furniture. I never understood the mentality. I also think of Minnie Pearl when I see somebody shooting a camera with one of those stickers still on it. But I never say anything.</p>

<p>Seriously folks, the adhesive turns acidic with the combo of age and warm storage. Painted surfaces are especially affected/marred by this transformation. These stickers <strong>weren't</strong> designed to stay on the camera & lenses for such a long period of time.</p>

<p>Chrome on the other hand, does better because it's less porous and more resistant than the painted finishes to this mild acid.</p>

<p>If you have to have them, peel off the really clean ones & save them in a small zip-lock baggie or a film container.<br>

Then later reapply them when you finally go to sell the equipment.</p>

<p><strong>Dave </strong>- obviously your F3 was inspected but didn't "pass", I think its hopeless - you should send it to me, I'll use it as a bookend or door stop or something... You don't want it, right? ;)</p>

<p>Peter, it's been sold, that was one of the photos I used for the auction. I have my other one which while not as pretty as the one I sold, is still in good working condition, and doesn't have the dry sound when the film is wound (which was probably caused by hardly being used over the course of 25+ years!!). It's the only "Inspected" sticker I've ever seen though, perhaps it wasn't sold for export to the USA, maybe Canada?</p>

<p>To some folks those stickers are like fetishes and idols.</p>

<p>My usual practice was to remove 'em from equipment I bought new, leave 'em be on gear I buy used and not worry when they fall off. Eventually they fall off, usually into the bottom of the bag. My F3HP has that telltale oval etched into the finish. I like it. Goes well with the dings, dents and brassing.</p>

<p>I wonder if I should turn my socks inside out before I put them in the wash. If so, should I do the reverse before I put them in my sock drawer after they're dry ?</p>

<p>I'm sure the value of the Time classic would be seriously diminished by removing the sticker.</p>

<p>Gene - you know all those efforts would be wasted unless you can make your washer and dryer spin the other way, you know, like they do in Autralia ;)</p>

<p><strong>Gene</strong>, you <em>wash</em> your sox? And have a <em>drawer</em> to keep them in? I just <em>wear</em> mine, all the time...</p>

<p>To me the quality is not just having the sticker on a piece of equipment but how long these stickers last. Whoever designed them did a great job. I have seen equipment go through Hell and back but the stickers stay in place.</p>

<p>I would not take the stickers off anymore than I would throw out original boxes. </p>

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<p>Gene, you wash your sox? And have a drawer to keep them in? I just wear mine, all the time...</p>

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<p>What? All of them at the same time?</p>

<p>I don't like sock drawers. I had a drawer with twenty three socks in it and not one matching pair!</p>

<p>I'd certainly remove a 'Passed' sticker if it looked somewhat dog-eared, but a good-looking one adds a certain je ne sai quoi to a camera or lens's appearance so I'd let it stay. Aside from mere 'Passed' stuff, just one of my umpteen Japanese cameras and lenses has that Holy Grail of the much rarer 'Inspected' JCII sticker on it, and it's in nice nick too - so it's definately a stayer! So, what is it you ask? Well, it's actually a Nikkor 28mm F3.5 lens that came with a Nikormat FTn. (Pete In Perth)</p>

<p> IIRC the Inspected sticker means that that camera was actually tested by an inspector to reassure that things were well. The inspector had a whole list of things to check for on the camera that they hand inspected.</p>

<p>They can leave a bright pristine oval spot while around them there is a patina. Thus the mark often stands out like a sore thumb, especially on paintwork. Get rid, or re-attach them somewhere where they will not matter. I hate the little blighters - they serve virtually no real purpose.</p>

<p>I just noticed my Nikon 500mm f8 Reflex-Nikkor still has the Passed sticker and I'm leaving it there. Helps to tell the story of the lens and how little it was used since it was made in the mid 1970s.</p>

<p>This is the fruitful market tended by unprincipled hucksters within which they exploit the innocent via the time-tested formula of sticking nice new gold ovals to dodgy cameras to inflate the price.</p>

<p>Oh boy...I have some of those dreaded Passed Stickers, not only that, I have the dreaded Snake Skin also. I should be banned from this forum.</p>

<p><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/diecastdeluxe/cameras3/YASHICAFX-7c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="704" /></p>