TUBES FROZEN IN TIME

[ken]

i HAVE ABOUT 200 ROLLS FROM THE 30'S TO THE 50'S THAT i CANNOT OPEN.sOME ARE THE OLD TIME ROLLS ANS SOME ARE NEWER.dUE TO HOW THEY WERE STORED,i CANNOT EVEN TWIST THE TOPS.aNY IDEAS ON HOW TO GET THEM OPEN WITHOUT DAMAGING THEM.tHEY ARE AL BU COINS. I had thought of maybe freezing them and gently cracking them open with a mallet??? tHANK YOU kEN

[Dick]

You might try using the wifes small finger-nail sissors to trim the end. Ot use a toothpick and insert inside the folded, (rounded 0 end, trying to spread the roll.

[ken]

The rolls have basically shrunk around the coins and there is absolutely no play in them.SUPER,SUpER SUPER TIGHT THEY ARE ALL GEMMY COINS,i do not want to use anything that would damage the coins.These were put away in the early to mid 50's as the newest date is the 55s rolls and there is about 25 of them alone.Many from the early 50's and about 100 from the 40's with about 3 dozen from the 30's.Roughly 200 rolls in all.I am 95%+ positive they have not been searched.Got about 15 55 rolls that are pristine.All are in round old tubes and the guy that had them was a banker back then and just has then rolled up for better storage.Been setting for some time since he died several years back.From what I can see they are all full red coins.Just need to get them open without damaging them.I got them all for $5.00 a roll due to them being frozen and can't be opened in the conventional way.Let's see what any other suggestions our friends may have.I have lots of time now as I'm back on workmans comp due to an ulner nerve problem that requires surgery.My ring,pinky finger and half my palm going up the inside of my left arm is knumb.

[Dick]

I see what you mean. The onlt thing eslewise i could suggest is a large fingernail clipper to bite thru the end roll, and weaken it so you can tear it open.
Make the cur perpendicular to the roll.
Good lucl!
with that condition of the left hand, and the nerve involved, you have lost over 50% of the strength in that hand.
Dick

[ken]

Yes Dick,Extremely weak in that arm.Thank the good Lord I'm righthanded.The tubes are kinda like acrylic.Not hard plastic tubes like today.The tubes are round though.I am very puzzeled as to how to get them open.I think the freeze thing may work best.I will try it with 1 roll on a soft bathtowel or something like that.The end coins look pristine

[coop]

I wouldn't freeze them. That just creates moisture and will turn them green. I used to smack them on the edge of the tube and break away the plastic to get mine out. But alas. No more tubes for some time. Those are the ones to buy as they haven't been searched yet. When I see them I buy them all.

[ken]

Hi Coop,Yea Coop,I bought EVERY ROLL THAT WAS AVAILABLE AT $5 EACH.MOSTLY 40'S AND EARLY 50'S WITH A FEW DOZEN MID TO LATE 30'S.hAD THEm FOR ABOUT A YEAR OR SO NOW.nOW THAT i HAVE SOME TIME BEFORE SURGERY,i THOUGHT i'D CHECK THEM OUT.aLL WHEATIESI was going to freeze 1 ROLL theN open it right away to be sure they wouldn't be damaged(ie moisture as you said).Do you think that would be ok or just try what you said 1st.Ken

[coop]

I would not freeze them. I would try to crack them out. I used it seems a pair of side cuts to smack them on the side of the tube till they cracked opened. The idea of a hammer seemed to not be the answer. Just cracked and removed them the best I could.

[ken]

OK thanks Coop.

[coop]

Ken: I forgot to mention I had the tubes on carpet that was padded. That helped absorb the impact and the plastic was all that suffered.

[eagames]

Ken,

Be careful not to make your injury worse. This looks like an easy task but I've fought with those tubes and it's not easy. If you hit them they'll bounce at you and still not open. Those tubes are hard but not brittle.
I tried brutal methods and nothing worked but it might have helped loosen them for the next step. I pry to get the first few end coins out then after a few are out I did what Coop said, tap the corner on something hard like cement and all of a sudden just when I'm ready to give up the coins started to come out.

Sounds like you got a deal on that group! A few 30s rolls are worth big $

[ken]

I don't know how well the breaking will work as the tubes are acrylic,not a hard plastic.I'll have to "test" 1 roll and see how it goes as I do not want to damage the coins as from what I can see they are pristine.Fukk red and spotless(end coins).I'll let you guys know how I make out.God Bless,Ken

[coop]

Seems like I used a box knife to score the tubes also. It's been 10 years now and it's starting to be more than a blur. LOL

[Dick]

Ken, I thought you had the papwr-wraped rolls.
I had 16 of the 1962 rolls, that were in a plastic, oe acryllic, and they had some sort of lubricant, or something. I had the same problem you are having, and I used a pair of p[liars to hold the toue, and twist off the cap. The coins did NOT com out, not even one! I ended up taking a knife to make a cut in the side of the tube to weakwn it, and put the cap back on and then twisted the cap, and tube, It opened, a little. I ended up cutting open the tuibes, and foune every one of the couins pitted! so much for the BU
I hope you DON'T have the same luck!

[jfines69]

I would use an exacto knife... Slowly cut around the center between two coins about half way through the container... It may take awhile but the coins have been there a long time anyway... Then try to break them open by putting a glove and smacking against the hand... It may take a few more cuts and smacking against the hand but that should work!!!
Jim