Dick & Gene ----- one of the reasons I like chip collecting (and gave up coin collecting) is the relative lack of emphasis on "grading" (which I perceive as a primarily dealer created artifice to drive "values" (read that "prices") up. I once participated in a lengthy debate on CompuServe on the subject of coin cleaning; most of the purists agreed that cleaning coins is bad. I guess it depends on what you mean by cleaning -- if it simply means shining up a dull coin, I guess I agree.

On the other hand, I see nothing wrong with cleaning off accumulated chip "gunk". If the time ever comes, as it did with coins, that we divide them into a base-70 grading system and/or that it is considered inappropriate to clean dirty chips (or, goodness gracious, to touch them other than by holding them by the edges), I'll look for another hobby.

Sore subject <g>.

----- jim o\-S