shrink wrap or no shrink wrap?

[stringfellow]

I have numerous sealed 5200 games. Some have shrink wrap and some don't. I was wondering which way they came from Atari and should I leave the shrink wrap on.

[Dauber]

I wouldn't leave shrink wrap on. The effective word is "shrink." The longer it's on, the more likely it is to continue to shrink and affect the box. I have a Moon Patrol (2600) I bought sealed that had that shrinkage problem.

[+-^CrossBow^-]

Shrinkage is always an issue isn't it?

 

Seriously though, I was advised sometime back that Atari didn't originally shrink wrap the games and shipped them just glued sealed from the factory. So games that you found with shrink wrap were likely done by the merchant selling the games. Like Kaybee or whoever. Even during the revival era the hang tabs were usually stuck to the back of the boxes directly but again I don't believe Atari attached those hang tags.

[ntavio]

5200 games originally came with the box glued shut; no shrinkwrap for you youngsters.

 

 

But that was 1982!!!!!!

[Osgeld]

I wouldn't leave shrink wrap on. The effective word is "shrink." The longer it's on, the more likely it is to continue to shrink and affect the box. I have a Moon Patrol (2600) I bought sealed that had that shrinkage problem.

 

At first I thought, well at some point its going to hit its original size, but yea shrink wrap is like a single bb sized ball extruded a mile long and wide, that and I am all sure we have seen those cardboard boxes with the wrap on where the box is caved in the middle as it sat in a display case for 20 years

[bah]

My first Atari was a 1979 2600. I have boxes from back then that are both ways and even one later box with the small tab that was glued shut and shrink wrapped with a hang tag stuck to the outside. Quite possibly the hang tag was added by Kay Bee (toy store), but I don't think they would shrink wrap something that was a behind the counter item. Oh and that shrink wrap has not continued to shrink. The secret is heat.