Comic book spinner racks - who's got one? 8 8

[BGPhilbiln]

I note that this topic has lain fallow for quite awhile, but I wanted to check in to see if there is more knowledge concerning the Spinner Rack and its history.

I used to own a non-branded, no-signage spinner rack, but I don't think it was necessarily for comics. Found it in the trash behind a convenience store, brought it home, cleaned it up nicely and the comics fit quite well, but the pockets were *deep* - could hold about 30-40 comics in each. Sold it when I was 13 (along with the bulk of my comics at the time).

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, both Borders and one of the mall booksellers (B.Dalton or Waldenbooks, I'm not sure which) had a particle-board and plexiglass spinner rack that kept the comics in very nice shape while in the rack. The cover was against the plexiglass, leaned forward like in the old racks, but no wires to allow kids to bend the comics over while looking through them. At any rate, I'd *love* to find one of those.

Further, I've been restoring general comic rack signage for several years now (not just spinner racks), but haven't had an opportunity to create a full website just yet, as I'd like to impart to readers their history. Biggest issue is finding information on the first spinners. Comics Racks were sold cheaply to newsstands and other outlets during the golden age, and I expect that spinners came about in the 1950s - but the question is when, and who did it first? Here are some of my restorations (before & after photos): 
 

[FoggyNelson]

Good readin post above 👍👍

[RickSp]

Nice work on those restorations. Would love to find a spinner of some kind here in the UK, that plexiglass style sounds awesome!

[archiecomicscollector]

@BGPhilbilnI have a non-branded, no-signage spinner rack. I would love to add one that features Archie to my collection, but I haven't come across one in my area.  

[fbjacob]

Thanks to all of you for the great photos and advice!  You inspired me to pull my spinner rack out of storage, and the lazy susan bearings work perfectly.  (It’s still stocked with random books to avoid having nice comics within reach of little hands.)  One question:  anyone have suggestions on how to reduce the squeak when it spins?  

[miraclemet]

Not sure if its ok to mention here, but anyone wanting to scratch that vintage rack itch (ok that sounds horrible), I've got a rack listed with Hakes auction closing tonight.

https://www.hakes.com/Auction/ItemDetail/243248/COMICS-READ-ONE-TODAY-WIRE-COMIC-BOOK-SALES-RACK

 

[ThothAmon]

On 2/25/2021 at 2:29 PM, miraclemet said:

Not sure if its ok to mention here, but anyone wanting to scratch that vintage rack itch (ok that sounds horrible), I've got a rack listed with Hakes auction closing tonight.

https://www.hakes.com/Auction/ItemDetail/243248/COMICS-READ-ONE-TODAY-WIRE-COMIC-BOOK-SALES-RACK

 

Care to update on what this sold for?  Inquiring minds want to know.

 

3 minutes ago, BGPhilbiln said:

Thanks! I'll see what I can do about putting one together with a few of the gang, say, Archie with Bettie, Veronica and Jughead, perhaps?

I’d be interested in those myself. 

[BGPhilbiln]

On 2/18/2021 at 5:31 PM, fbjacob said:

 

On 2/18/2021 at 5:31 PM, fbjacob said:

Thanks to all of you for the great photos and advice!  You inspired me to pull my spinner rack out of storage, and the lazy susan bearings work perfectly.  (It’s still stocked with random books to avoid having nice comics within reach of little hands.)  One question:  anyone have suggestions on how to reduce the squeak when it spins?  

Grease is the way to go with the bearing, but you have to be careful to clean it up a lot if you're going to use the rack on carpet as pictured. You don't want any grease getting away from you. The other culprit may be contact surfaces. This is something that would require you to disassemble the rack from the post and stand. It's a job I'd do in a workshop/garage/driveway. I'd recommend inspecting all of the components that contact each other or rub against each other and cleaning them or perhaps polishing those with wear (using metal polishing compound). To lubricate these contact areas, you might be able to use a dry silicone/graphite or Teflon lubricant. DuPont makes a Teflon Non-Stick Dry-Film Lubricant in a squeeze bottle, which you could apply to the affected areas with QTips. Same with, say, 3-IN-ONE Dry Lube. Make sure it's dry to the touch before bringing it back in.

After that, take the balls out of the bearing well. I'd clean up all of the components, making sure to remove all grease and dirt, inspect all of the bearing balls and replacing any that are mishapen or worn out-of-round. Then, pack the bearing well with grease, grease up the bearing balls and put them back into the well (this can require some patience to fit them all back in with the slippery grease). Clean up the outside, reassemble, spin it for awhile with some weight on it, re-clean any areas with squeeze out and Bob's your uncle. 

Edited April 23, 2021 by BGPhilbiln
Left a comment out.

[BGPhilbiln]

On 12/29/2020 at 3:06 PM, archiecomicscollector said:

@BGPhilbilnI have a non-branded, no-signage spinner rack. I would love to add one that features Archie to my collection, but I haven't come across one in my area.  

Thanks! I'll see what I can do about putting a placard together with a few of the gang, say, Archie with Bettie, Veronica and Jughead, perhaps?

[Domo Arigato]

9 hours ago, ThothAmon said:

On 2/25/2021 at 1:29 PM, miraclemet said:

Not sure if its ok to mention here, but anyone wanting to scratch that vintage rack itch (ok that sounds horrible), I've got a rack listed with Hakes auction closing tonight.

https://www.hakes.com/Auction/ItemDetail/243248/COMICS-READ-ONE-TODAY-WIRE-COMIC-BOOK-SALES-RACK

 

Care to update on what this sold for?  Inquiring minds want to know.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 24, 2021 by Domo Arigato

[Robot Man]

Sounds crazy for that one. As far as racks go, that one seems pretty common. 

[BGPhilbiln]

On 4/23/2021 at 12:05 PM, BGPhilbiln said:

Thanks! I'll see what I can do about putting a placard together with a few of the gang, say, Archie with Bettie, Veronica and Jughead, perhaps?

Okay, here's what I came up with. I used as much original art as I could resource and kept the period to around 1968-1972, which is when this rack topper was first made. I did one with blue as an added color (when silkscreening onto steel - which is what's necessary to reproduce these faithfully - that adds another entire screen and increases cost of reproducing it) and one with only the original colors. Let me know what you think!

If anyone wants a large TIF version, let me know and I'll set up my DropBox for guests to come get them.
 

[BGPhilbiln]

10 hours ago, BGPhilbiln said:

Okay, here's what I came up with. I used as much original art as I could resource and kept the period to around 1968-1972, which is when this rack topper was first made. I did one with blue as an added color (when silkscreening onto steel - which is what's necessary to reproduce these faithfully - that adds another entire screen and increases cost of reproducing it) and one with only the original colors. Let me know what you think!

If anyone wants a large TIF version, let me know and I'll set up my DropBox for guests to come get them.

 

UPDATE - Jughead's ears were bothering me. I realized that I'd used original art from the cover of Archie's Pal, Jughead #59, which was from 1960. Looking at an almost identical Jughead facial expression from years later (Archie's Pal Jughead #101), I realized that they had not exaggerated his ears like this on anything resembling a regular basis. The old cover had Archie and Jughead's faces taking up more than 1/3 of the cover, so I think this may have factored into the artist (Samm Schwartz) having added more detail than necessary. Here are the new signs again with normal ears for Jughead.
 

[BGPhilbiln]

@archiecomicscollector - How's this look (above)? 

Edited April 26, 2021 by BGPhilbiln
Emoji replaced my text.

[Iconic1s]

This is a really cool thread and you guys have some awesome spinners/racks. I looked for a vintage one for awhile but couldn’t find any with the correct condition to price ratio for me... maybe some day. I finally decided to order one from spinner rack. I’m really happy with it. I wanted to have reader copies of my main set on display. I made the topppers myself. I basically scanned one each of the Superman titles at the time and had them printed on heavy card stock.., nothing too fancy but I’m happy with the rack and toppers.  P.S. I have since blocked all light from coming in that window.

[ADAMANTIUM]

6 minutes ago, Iconic1s said:

This is a really cool thread and you guys have some awesome spinners/racks. I looked for a vintage one for awhile but couldn’t find any with the correct condition to price ratio for me... maybe some day. I finally decided to order one from spinner rack. I’m really happy with it. I wanted to have reader copies of my main set on display. I made the topppers myself. I basically scanned one each of the Superman titles at the time and had them printed on heavy card stock.., nothing too fancy but I’m happy with the rack and toppers.  P.S. I have since blocked all light from coming in that window.

Awesome! Man seeing all those issues together make me remember how many I found at the various Newsstands when young. I believe I even had a copy of that wizard at the bottom!

 

[archiecomicscollector]

On 4/26/2021 at 12:41 PM, BGPhilbiln said:

@archiecomicscollector - How's this look (above)? 

LOVE!!!

[lordbyroncomics]

On 12/29/2020 at 6:06 PM, archiecomicscollector said:

@BGPhilbilnI have a non-branded, no-signage spinner rack. I would love to add one that features Archie to my collection, but I haven't come across one in my area.  

Oh, it just occurred to me that my band follows you on Instagram! I'm always in awe of your collection and the new additions.

[comicginger1789]

Came across this for sale...I have no idea if it’s old or new or a repro. It apparently came out of a general store. Figured the folks here could enlighten me!

UPDATE: Came out of a closed up store, along with a little golden books display rack/shelf advertising the little golden books for sale at 15 cents...so maybe this is from around the 60's/70's?

Edited May 28, 2021 by comicginger1789

[Beige]

Thanks to the good lady wife - I now have this.

She saw a guy giving it to a salvage yard - asked for it, and the guy said she could have it.

She also got the card inserts made up for the top - which she had welded together again.

 

Not an old one, but does the job, and I'm very happy!