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Envelopes That Have to be Licked.

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westv

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Why, in 2023, are envelopes still made that have to be licked to close them?
It's 2023 not 1823.
 
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Mcr Warrior

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In answer to the OP's actual question, it's a question of cost, as slightly more expensive "self seal" envelopes are now widely available, but the latex strips used in them tend to deteriorate and lose their stickiness if the envelopes are not stored properly or used within 12 months or so.

The older version envelopes, which usually use gum arabic as the adhesive, tend to be both cheaper to manufacture and longer lasting, but the downside is that they taste really awful if you have to lick one or more of them.

As @75A suggests, a damp cloth (or sponge) is then your friend.

You pays your money and takes your choice! ;)
 
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swt_passenger

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If you have a “Pritt Stick” or similar it will solve both problems, the taste of glue and the failed self seal…
 
Mcr Warrior

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swt_passenger said:
If you have a “Pritt Stick” or similar it will solve both problems, the taste of glue and the failed self seal…
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They will indeed, but Pritt Sticks also tend to lose their stickiness after a period of time. At the end of the day, it probably all partly depends on just how often / how many envelopes you're sending out, I wouldn't bother with a big box of as many as 100 or more self seal envelopes if you won't have used them all in the next 5 years as you'll probably then become unstuck!
 
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swt_passenger

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Mcr Warrior said:
They will indeed, but Pritt Sticks also tend to lose their stickiness after a period of time. At the end of the day, it probably all partly depends on just how often / how many envelopes you're sending out.
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I think when I worked in an office we had a sort of wetted roller device for envelopes, about saucer sized? Or was that supposed to be for stamps?
 
Mcr Warrior

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swt_passenger said:
I think when I worked in an office we had a sort of wetted roller device for envelopes, about saucer sized? Or was that supposed to be for stamps?
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Could be used for either, but primarily for stamps, IIRC. But no-one ever seemed to change the water in the 'reservoir' which soon became decidedly yucky!

Last used one of these gizmos, half a lifetime ago!

P.S. Still available from the usual second hand goods online platforms, but surprisingly somewhat expensive!
 
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Mcr Warrior said:
Could be used for either, but primarily for stamps, IIRC. But no-one ever seemed to change the water in the 'reservoir' which soon became decidedly yucky! Last used one, half a lifetime ago!

Still available from the usual second hand goods emporio, but surprisingly somewhat expensive!
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I’m thinking about 30 years ago myself… amazing how it‘s little details that you remember…
 
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kermit

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Slightly off topic, (sorry!) but how many trees had to be felled to manufacture the backing sheets on completely-unnecessary self adhesive stamps since they rose to prominence? Off we go, to Hell in a Handcart..........Lick a Stamp to Save the Planet!!
 
Springs Branch

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Mcr Warrior said:
The older version envelopes, which usually use gum arabic as the adhesive, tend to be both cheaper to manufacture and longer lasting, but the downside is that they taste really awful if you have to lick one or more of them.
. . . . . . .
You pays your money and takes your choice! ;)
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I think that's what George Costanza's fiancée found out!
 
Mojo

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In an era of trying to do away with unnecessary, environmentally-damaging, and unrecyclable (to your average domestic consumer) plastic, why should the envelopes that you pull off a plastic cover from the sticky strips, still allowed?
 
Lucan

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I like the taste too.
Anyway, some offices used to provide a damp roller gadget; even I would not want to lick them all day if it were my job to post letters.
 
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westv

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Mojo said:
In an era of trying to do away with unnecessary, environmentally-damaging, and unrecyclable (to your average domestic consumer) plastic, why should the envelopes that you pull off a plastic cover from the sticky strips, still allowed?
Click to expand...
Hygiene.
 
najaB

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Mojo said:
In an era of trying to do away with unnecessary, environmentally-damaging, and unrecyclable (to your average domestic consumer) plastic, why should the envelopes that you pull off a plastic cover from the sticky strips, still allowed?
Click to expand...
In my experience it's never been plastic, rather waxed/coated paper.
 
McRhu

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As long as they're rectangular: four corners. No round envelopes for me! No way Hose.
 
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