Hobby Oddities: ProGard’s Pro-Index Card Storage System

What is ProGard’s Pro-Index Card Storage System?  The idea is quite simple.  Upon placing your cards in the specially made holders, you then snap them into the bottom of the box.  The holders have horizontal pegs which form a hinge when connected.  Once the connection has been made, you’re able to flip through your cards without having to worry about them falling all over the place.

Based on my personal experience, these holders can be a pain to get and keep closed.  In order to get the cards in the holders, both halves of the holders need to be taken apart.  Once the cards are placed inside, you then need to press both halves back together.  If you don’t do this correctly, once they’re placed in the box its easy for the holders to pop open.  Another drawback is that they only came in one size.  Thicker than normal cards will not fit.

I always thought these things looked like a tank.  Hidden inside (at least mine did) was a Pro-Index Commemorative Coin.  It had a special slot for it to fit and all.

In the end, ProGard’s Pro-Index Card Storage System didn’t make it.  The lack of expansion along with holders that wouldn’t stay together pushed collectors away.  It wasn’t a very flexible way to store your collection.  Albums and standard white cardboard boxes give the collector a bit more freedom.

ProGard did issue a Pro-Index Card Storage System that held top loaders.  The slots for top loaders look to have been fitted on top of the slots made for the holders which used the pegs.  Its possible the peg model wasn’t selling well and they decided to make this modification.  Or they just wanted another model available.  Neither one garnered much attention.  They came in a variety of colors – black, blue, red, and yellow.  Black is the most common color.

ProGard is/was a registered trademark owned by ENOR Corp. out of Cresskill, NJ.  For awhile they made all types of card supplies such as snap-lock cases, sports card mini albums, top loaders, polypro sleeves, semi-rigid holders, card storage boxes, and snapgard holders.