This will be hard without pictures, so bare with me as I attempt ever complicating metaphor and text graphics. For discussion purposes I will use comics in my example, but any flat media (stamps, records, coins, baseball cards, centerfolds) would work.

As a comic book collector, I must admit to some ignorance as to the more “proper” ways of collecting, namely organization and care, but I believe this system would help and highlight some of the amazing art that can be found on comic book covers.

A series of tracks would be put on the wall, either one per row or two (one top and bottom) for stability. Each track would be somewhat { shaped to allow for the comic holders, discussed below.

Each comic holder would be shaped like this ]C[ (c for comic). The left rollers (or right, if you like manga), would have a locking mechanism so that to remove you would need to push up and pull out or something. Containers would not have to be removed to access comics, however, as the top is an open slit and the back has a U shaped top to aid in comic removal.

I said rollers before because I picture the entire collection being able to be flipped through like poster displays in the store, but also rolled along the length of the track as certain series grow or for the display function.

The display function would be to highlight rare, pretty, or first issues. The comic could be pressed flat against the wall so the right side temporarily locks into place (or becomes harder to slide) and makes the comic both a framed piece and a place holder for the rest of the collection.

(As in Spiderman #1 (rest of collected Spiderman) Action Comics #1 (rest of Superman collection).

When collected tightly perpendicular to the wall, a large amount could be stored on the wall, away from damp floors or grubby children’s fingers. A two track system would also lend more weight support.

Better protected, better organized, better presented. Perfect for the den or rec room.

Further ideas: could be incorporated with a shelf system or lighting on a similar track system (baked, I believe).
-- JeremiahBritt, Dec 07 2004

No objections other than the natural damage caused by sunlight - artwork would fade.

I like the idea. It'd be a nice way to allow for constantly-changing displays of memorabilia. Could be designed to be modular (corkboard, like on work benches or K-Mart shelves) to allow for larger objects like banners, jerseys, or not-guilty verdicts.

Oh, and to be a grammar pig: "Bear with me," rather than "bare."

Bread!
-- shapu, Dec 07 2004


The comic holder sleeve could be slightly tinted or polarized to reduce fading, though the whole point of this is a modular gallery to highlight a collection, so maybe stay lucid and keep it in an interior room.
-- JeremiahBritt, Dec 07 2004



random, halfbakery