Stuck thick booklets

[Elgarian]

Now here's a really tough question - or rather, three questions. (There are times, Ladies and Gentlemen, when one must stop lounging around enjoying the music, and face up to these serious issues squarely.)



These 2CD sets both have very thick booklets, jammed tight under those little plastic holder things.

1. How do I get the booklet out of the front of the CD case without damaging it?
2. When I do, how do I get it back in again without damaging it?
3. How did they get the booklet in there in the first place without damaging it?

[Elgarian]

Presumably you are all too distraught to reply: half of you sitting there wrestling with your copies of L'Allegro, and the rest weeping over your mutilated booklets.

Well, those of you with mutilated booklets - I'm sorry but it's too late to help you. Carry on weeping.

For the others - smile, for help is at hand. I wrote to Hyperion; I mean, those guys should know. They recommended putting it into the case upside down, but the blood rushes to my head when I do that, so I tried to devise a better method. And here it is:

Do not attempt to slide the booklet in from the end. You'll end up with a bad case of spinus corneri mutilatus. No, here's the secret. Lay the case flat, with the front open. Lay the booklet in the plastic front flap with the top of the booklet lying just below the two plastic studs. Press the top of the booklet down firmly, and slide it upwards. You will find that it will slide obediently under the top two studs. If you've got this far, take a break. You've done well.

Next, ever so gently bend the booklet along its middle - yes, you'll worry about making a fold in the spine, but just go gently, easing it upwards in the middle until you see the bottom of the booklet coming clear of the bottom two studs. Press gently on the bottom edge and let it slip under the studs. Voila.

Well done. You have reached Hyperion L'Allegro Booklet Heaven.

(Unless you've put it in back to front.)

[Que]

Presumably you are all too distraught to reply: half of you sitting there wrestling with your copies of L'Allegro, and the rest weeping over your mutilated booklets.

Well, those of you with mutilated booklets - I'm sorry but it's too late to help you. Carry on weeping.

For the others - smile, for help is at hand. I wrote to Hyperion; I mean, those guys should know. They recommended putting it into the case upside down, but the blood rushes to my head when I do that, so I tried to devise a better method. And here it is:

Do not attempt to slide the booklet in from the end. You'll end up with a bad case of spinus corneri mutilatus. No, here's the secret. Lay the case flat, with the front open. Lay the booklet in the plastic front flap with the top of the booklet lying just below the two plastic studs. Press the top of the booklet down firmly, and slide it upwards. You will find that it will slide obediently under the top two studs. If you've got this far, take a break. You've done well.

Next, ever so gently bend the booklet along its middle - yes, you'll worry about making a fold in the spine, but just go gently, easing it upwards in the middle until you see the bottom of the booklet coming clear of the bottom two studs. Press gently on the bottom edge and let it slip under the studs. Voila.

Well done. You have reached Hyperion L'Allegro Booklet Heaven.

(Unless you've put it in back to front.)

And after you successfully liberated the booklet intact: break off the nooks (studs) inside the plastic front of the jewel case. (a tiny blow with blunt screw driver will do, use a sharp knife to remove rough edges.) You can now simply lay the booklet on the CD, and close then gently close the case.

Q

[Elgarian]

And after you successfully liberated the booklet intact: break off the nooks (studs) inside the plastic front of the jewel case. (a tiny blow with blunt screw driver will do, use a sharp knife to remove rough edges.) You can now simply lay the booklet on the CD, and close then gently close the case.

Oh.

Well ....

(Cough)

Hmmmm.

Next week, we will discuss how to make your own miniature statue of Handel, using a sledgehammer and a walnut.

[Que]

Next week, we will discuss how to make your own miniature statue of Handel, using a sledgehammer and a walnut.

Maybe we could sing our favourite Handel aria during the operation.

Q

[FideLeo]

Maybe we could sing our favourite Handel aria during the operation.

Q

"Va tacito e nascosto,
quand'avido e di preda,
l'astuto cacciator.
E chi e mal far disposto,
non brama che si veda
l'inganno del suo cor."

[Elgarian]

Maybe we could sing our favourite Handel aria during the operation.

Of course; all sledgehammer operations will be conducted in time to the music:

Do(bang)po(bang) notte (bang), atra e funesta (bang) ...

(Ariodante meets Alberich)

[Elgarian]

break off the nooks (studs) inside the plastic front of the jewel case. (a tiny blow with blunt screw driver will do, use a sharp knife to remove rough edges.) You can now simply lay the booklet on the CD, and close then gently close the case.

WAIT!

Lay down that screwdriver and pause for a moment. You can have your cake and eat it!

It isn't necessary to remove all four studs. Merely remove the top two, or the bottom two. You can then easily slide the booklet under the two remaining studs with ease; the booklet lies comfortably in the front flap, and the remaining two studs are sufficient to hold it in place because the fit is a snug one with such a thick booklet.

To those who have already removed all four studs, what can we say, except offer sympathy? These are the risks we take, operating at the limits of known facts: working at the cutting edge of CD case stud-removal techniques.

[Brünnhilde forever]

Fascinating, educational and of course amusing discussion about solving the problem posed by thick booklets insertion into narrow slots. Amusing to me, seeing the male trend of reaching for instruments, tools, of destruction, macho violence, instead of the peaceful, harmonious solution, like the one I came up with. Nothing gets destroyed, all done very gently without the possibility of causing the very painful gauging of fingers, hands or other useful body parts. 

[Elgarian]

Amusing to me, seeing the male trend of reaching for instruments, tools, of destruction, macho violence, instead of the peaceful, harmonious solution, like the one I came up with. Nothing gets destroyed, all done very gently without the possibility of causing the very painful gauging of fingers, hands or other useful body parts. 

Yes, alright, but you can't make a miniature statue of Handel using your method. 

[bhodges]

Interesting thread.  I've only had one disc with a really severe problem: Susan Graham's Songs of Ned Rorem disc.  When I first opened it I did manage to wrest the extremely thick booklet (i.e., all the song lyrics, and in several languages) from the case, but then getting it back in was impossible.

--Bruce

[DarkAngel]

And after you successfully liberated the booklet intact: break off the nooks (studs) inside the plastic front of the jewel case. (a tiny blow with blunt screw driver will do, use a sharp knife to remove rough edges.) You can now simply lay the booklet on the CD, and close then gently close the case.
Q

I have several thousand CDs and can't remember ever having a problem removing booklet mounted in front of jewel case...........
If I did come across one I would try Q's remedey to modify jewel case

I do notice that jewel cases that use two small round raised round dot retainers to hold booklet in place from sliding out over time will
create two corresponding indents in the end edge of your booklet 

I will often replace these jewel case with design that uses raised bar shaped retainers that do not deform the edge of your booklet

[Elgarian]

I've only had one disc with a really severe problem: Susan Graham's Songs of Ned Rorem disc.  When I first opened it I did manage to wrest the extremely thick booklet (i.e., all the song lyrics, and in several languages) from the case, but then getting it back in was impossible.

My commiserations. I feel your pain. It is, I admit, a rare problem - but a source of great torment for we afflicted few. The only other example in my own collection is the Groves/Liverpool Phil Caractacus:



Its booklet has been a tattered-edged wreck for years now.

[karlhenning]

Mm.  The booklet for the Craft Gurrelieder.

[drogulus]

My commiserations. I feel your pain. It is, I admit, a rare problem - but a source of great torment for we afflicted few. The only other example in my own collection is the Groves/Liverpool Phil Caractacus:



Its booklet has been a tattered-edged wreck for years now.

      Now you've done it.

      Seriously, (or Serially, if you're a Modernist) I have Caractacus and the booklet is not in the best of shape.

      Here's another damaged fatbook :

     

     

     

[Elgarian]

Now you've done it.

Nice one! Actually, I thought I'd be safe posting about a shredded Elgar booklet.

[nut-job]

If your biggest problem is getting thick booklets out of your CD cases without crinkling them, I can only assume that you are independently wealthy, or the king of a small tropical island in the south pacific. 

[Elgarian]

If your biggest problem is getting thick booklets out of your CD cases without crinkling them, I can only assume that you are ... the king of a small tropical island in the south pacific. 

I knew someone would guess my secret sooner or later.

[Que]

I knew someone would guess my secret sooner or later.

I'm sooo jealous: on a tropical island with all those CD's and thick booklets...what a life!


Don't forget a postcard via bottle post for our nut-job.

Q