Let's Talk About Machins

Presumably cut with the perfs to show whether they are accurate - like with the traffic light prints, for accuracy of colour placement. To be honest, if the hole is there for that reason, I can't see it serves much purpose. It would be readily apparent to the eye if the perfs were off line.

These holes are perforation guide holes and can give a lot of information about where in the sheet the stamps are and also if the stamps are from the dot or no dot panes. There is a missing "s" that goes with the "n" and the "o" surrounding the box (it has been sliced off). S is Selvedge. O is off-side and "n" is near-side.

Machine vision techniques could be used to scan and compare the position of the hole and the surrounding square and used in automatic recalibration. That comparison would be much harder and less precise based on perfs.

OR an 'N' and an 'O', and an 'S'.
Thank you cor clarifying that.
I have not read up on Machins as much aas I could I suppose.
Nice to know, neat info, nice to have (by accident even).

Do any of you have favorite dealers you trust for MNH Machin material?

I've used Hampstead Castle in the U.K., and Jet Stamps in the U.S. Also, Norvic Philatelics in the U.K. for recent security Machins.

Robert

shermae

Don't collect Machins, but I buy a lot of supplies from Dauwalders of Salisbury, who also sell a wide range of GB stamps. Their service has always been first class. Take a look at their website, perhaps - www.worldstamps.co.uk

Regards.

Geoff

Wow, what a fantastic thread. This is the first time I've ever read a complete thread, beginning-to-end without skipping right to the end at some point. It is also the first thread I have bookmarked. The first! Thank you so much, Novato.
There are two questions I have about it, though:
First - I do want to become a Machin collector. At this point, I only collect MNH machine for my Davo GB collection. For this, however, I'd like to buy Robin Harris' Machin Album pages (either Novice or Intermediate) to fill them with used stamps. That seems to be the way to go according to what I'm reading here. I like the idea of having my Machins all together in one place. The question is: what kind of paper should I purchase? There is a Staples fairly close to where we live. I've read that only a specific type of paper should be used.

Second: This thread seems to have pettered out. Is there any chance of resurrecting it? I'd love to hear from all of the participants here; and new ones, too!

Jack Kelley

I just read this thread completely too! When I started to collect stamps again, in the first batch of stamps I received, there were a lot of machins and I said to myself that it would be great to collect those specifically. Then I realized there were several variations and by reading this thread, I realized this is even bigger than I imagined. I am trilled!! Next step... Level 1 completion :) I would love this thread te be active again too! Thanks for resurecting it Jack!

There are 461 Machin definitive stamps to collect at level 1. Level 1 takes into account value, color, size and shape, and design. Higher levels take into account such aspects as method of printing, printer, perforation, direction of printing, phosphorescence, source (sheet, booklet, etc.), gum, paper, value types, value settings, head type, plus a few others. A complete collection at level 3 would have thousands of Machin stamps in it.

By the way, Hong Kong also produced a definitive series using the Machin head design.

Happy collecting,

Robert

Finding used se-tenants (from booklets, s. sheets, or coils) can be challenging...at least here in the USA.

I thought I would fast track my Level 1
I am missing about 40 issues,
I emailed a British "Machin Specialist" with my request,
"Sure, think we can help, email us a list of what you are missing"
I did that......never heard from them again.
Strange days indeed.

Steiner Page 8.

Bob, new discovery Postmark.....Malvern Links Unlisted.

good catch! congratulations. Love the used Machins. Are dusted for years on my shelves thank you all for good memories.

O.k. Rod, you piqued my curiosity. So, I was compelled to google "Malvern Links" to learn a little more geography and trivia from Wikipedia.

Did you know that Malvern Links is an old neighborhood in Malvern, Worcestershire? Or, that "link" refers to the ridge on a hillside?