VISITING DANSCO'S MANUFACTURING PLANT

In March and August of this year, I had the incredible opportunity to visit the Dansco manufacturing plant in Sumas, Washington. During my two visits, the husband-and-wife team of Steve and Leticia Bruce graciously welcomed me into their facility and answered many questions from collectors.

Walking through their factory floor revealed a treasure trove of numismatic history. As a researcher dedicated to the history of both Dansco and the broader world of coin albums, it was an unforgettable experience.

The Dansco family has asked me to maintain the privacy of their internal operations, so I am not able to share pictures of the production process. However, I can share this humorous photo I took right outside their entrance.

 

Unraveling Dansco's History
Piecing together Dansco's early days is a fascinating puzzle. The company has a rich family legacy, starting with co-founders Paul Bruce and a partner named Daniel in 1937. The history of who Daniel was is part of my ongoing research. Paul's son, John Bruce, took over operations in 1959, and the third generation, Steve Bruce, took the helm in the 1990s. Beyond the family, I was able to confirm several other historical details:

• Hobbies Unlimited: Dansco also produced coin folders for a company called "Hobbies Unlimited" in the early 1950s, with some examples bearing a 1952 Dansco copyright.
• Competitors Next Door: During their time in Los Angeles, Dansco's office was located just up the street from another album manufacturer, Meghrig.
• Early Partnerships: Before Littleton produced their own albums, they partnered with Dansco in the 1980s. You can often identify these Littleton versions by the front, where it reads "Littleton's Prestige Collectors Series."

 

• Leticia shared a remarkable historical photo showing some of the first Dansco employees, including co-founder Paul Bruce.

 

Design, Philosophy & Operations
Collectors often notice minor changes to folders and albums over the years. I got to ask about the logic behind some of these details and their business philosophy.

• P-S-D vs. P-D-S: Early folders listed mints in the order of Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver. This was later changed to the now-standard Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco to better align with the official Red Book.

 

• Title Format Changes: The fonts and styles on albums sometimes change between print runs. This is simply an aesthetic choice to give the album a fresh look. There is no formal process for when and how styles change.

 

 

• Slipcase Origins: The iconic Dansco slipcases were first introduced around 2003-2004.
• Official Website: There are no plans to revamp Dansco's official website (danscousa.com). The family is happy with its current state as an informational hub for the community. On a related note, they confirmed they do not run the "Dansco Album Store" website and are unsure who operates it.
• Focus on Product, Not Competitors: The family doesn't focus too much on competitors like Whitman. They prefer to run a small, tight-knit operation, concentrating on what they do best: creating high-quality albums that collectors love. It's a remarkably small company, with only about eight employees, four of whom are from the Bruce family.
• Commitment to the Classic Design: This focus also answers a common question about slabbed coins. The family explained that their production process is geared toward the classic, thin-page design for raw coins. The logistics of a thick, binder-style album for slabs don't fit their operational model. So while collectors often ask, there are no plans to produce albums for slabbed coins.
• A Unique Location: The manufacturing plant is right next to the Canadian border. In fact, you can see the border crossing right outside their factory.

 

Niche Products & Lost Histories
Beyond their main U.S. coin series, Dansco has a history of unique and surprising projects.

• Special Edition Albums: Over the years, Dansco has produced albums for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Franklin Mint, and even Marvel Comics. Most collectors aren't aware that Dansco produced these niche albums.

 

After the Flood
The family is still dealing with the ramifications of the major flood that hit Sumas in late 2021. The flood devastated the entire production floor, and I could still see the water stains on the walls. For a moment, the family feared that the company wouldn't be able to weather the storm. It's a testament to their resilience that they are back up and running, although they are still operating below their maximum production capacity.

The Future of Dansco
Perhaps the most exciting part of my visits was getting a sneak peek at what's coming next. Here's what collectors can look forward to:

• The Gold Type Page: The long-awaited update for the #7070 U.S. Type Set Gold Page is planned for another print run next year.
• Libertad Album Update: A new printing of the Mexico Libertad album is planned, featuring an updated page that extends to 2029. This will hopefully be available late this year or early in 2026.
• New Slipcases: They are currently producing new 3/4" slipcases.
• Future Series: They are not hearing much demand from collectors for Canadian albums at this time. As for the 2026 Semiquincentennial, there are no current plans, as they are waiting for the U.S. Mint to finalize the designs and coin releases.

A Call for Community Feedback!
Best of all, Dansco is actively exploring the potential for a Volume 2 of the #7070 U.S. Type Set album. They are inviting collectors to share what coins and series they would like to see included.

This is a fantastic opportunity for us to have a direct impact on the next version of the #7070 U.S. Type Set album. If you have ideas, please send them directly to Dansco at danscocorp@aol.com.

The Ongoing Search
This report covers everything I can share for now, but the research continues! There are still many outstanding questions to answer, such as the logic behind early folder color choices and who Daniel in Daniel Stamp Company was. I am continuing to work with the family to find these answers. Hopefully, a third visit is in store for the future.

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web