Washington-Franklin Star And "A" Plates

OK, I know I've read it, but just can't find it now. Open star, Solid star and "A" plate designations on Washington-Franklin plates were used to distinguish spacing between stamps on the outer rows of the stamps in an attempt to solve the problem of perforation. I need to know what spacing went with which designation. I'd be Appreciative of anyone who can give me this info.

You can take a look at this for a quick description of what your looking for with some great examples:

http://www.americanstamphistory.com/

After you pull up the site go to the section on printing methods and about 4 pages in to that section you'll hit WFs, "stars" and "A"s.

Also there's a nice two page article titled "Star Plates" in The Bureau Specialist, January, 1964, PP. 8-9. Author: Lewis A. Miles.

There's tons of stuff out there on this topic, taking a look at these two will get you up to speed quickly.

Can't get the PDF from the web site to open up--opens, downloads so far then freezes up. L. Miles article does indicate that the "A" plate was for the 2-3/4mm spacing but he does not identify what spacing was identified by the open and solid stars. I'll keep looking---I know its covered in multiple articles--just need to find one of them.Thanks!

It's a shame it doesn't work for you Al. There is some great info in there.

In the WF series there were 5 marginal imprints used by BEP. Some had no stars, some had an open star, and some had a closed star, some had an "A". Stars, A's etc let the the perforating machinery folks know how to set the perforating equipment up. Here's a recap of the five imprints and what they meant:

IX -- No BEP imprint, just a 4 digit number. Pretty sure this was uniform 2mm spacing

X -- <BEP> imprint, open star, 4 digits. 3mm spacing on outside six columns on each side and 2mm spacing on the rest in the middle.

XI -- <BEP> imprint, closed star, 4 digits. I have no idea what the spacing was on this one. I'm sure I've read about it, but I can't find it.... Might be a gradual change in spacing across the width of the plate from 3mm to 2mm and back to 3mm.

XII <BEP> imprint "A" 4 digits. Uniform 2.75mm spacing.

XIII No BEP imprint "A" 4 digits. Uniform 2.75mm spacing.

I'm sorry I couldn't find the data on the closed star spacing. I know I've read it, but I can't find anything now, other than it was first used on plate 4976 to print 2c Lincoln Commems, then used on one plate each for Sc 331/331a (4980), 332/332a (4988), and 343 (4980).

Just tried the web site again. Still freezing up on me. The roman numeral designations are in the Durland Catelogue but with no indication as to what demensions they are tied to. Thanks so much for the information that you have provided. I'll find the solid star info. eventually. thanks again!

Al, you may have a problem with your browser plug-in. They download fine for me as well.

If you want, I can email the pdf's to you. Let me know which one (or all of them). Just send me an email via SCF.

k

More info--

"A Categorization of Marginal Markings: Modified Layout Designations, Part I."

By D'Avino
in The US Specialist, Apr, 2004, p152.

Thanks Carbon12---thats what I needed.

Type X and XI had the variable spacing all others were a consistent 2.75mm.

Thanks Russ! You can always be counted upon to locate terrific documentation. Love this site!

Russ--What's the source for the info you provided? I guess what I really want to know is where did the data on spacing between subjects come from. I know this is a 100 year old issue, and it's probably been answered before. All I can find are second and third hand references. Someone repeating what someone else said, or making a guess.

Who looked at plate proofs, measured them and wrote it down?

I simply can't imagine the BEP worker bees adding a colored-in solid star for no particular reason (especially the same reason the open star was used), and then dumping it a few days later. Just doesn't make sense. In a bureaucracy no body ever changes anything unless it makes their job easier; makes their work go away; or somebody important shoves it down their throat.

Thanks jim

If I remember correctly the information came from an old edition of the American Philatelist. The pictures are from the plate proofs at the National Postal Museum.