Let's Talk About Machins

@NSK I enjoyed the images you posted above. Interesting and informative.

About your microscope driver: You can get or borrow an external CD-ROM reader to plug into the the USB port on your computer...I have one and it works well for stuff like this.

Suggestion 2 would be to go to the manufacturers website and see if you can download the driver you need, skipping the CD step.

The agent for SAFE in the Netherlands arranged for them to send me the files through 'WeTransfer.' I also borrowed a CD drive from a family member. This microscope comes with a user manual that is limited to the installation of the software. There is no manual for the software. The installation manual refers to "My Computer" that Microsoft changed to "This Computer" ages ago.

The autorun does not work. The installation software does not work. I installed the driver. AMCAP should recognise the device. It takes two seconds before it gives an error warning that the capturing device was lost.

I notified the agent. They sent me a screen shot of what the software will show. It is completely different from the software they sent me and that crashes because files are missing.

It is a piece of ancient Chinese garbage. I shall be sending it back for a refund.

NSK, sounds like you tried everything I would have tried and even a little bit more. I agree with your conclusion. Hope you can find a better microscope/magnification solution somewhere.

This 1st class gold Machin doesn't look 'right' to me.

Is it a forgery?

I read in the Connoisseur Catalogue that the very earliest printings were somewhat dodgy, which is why I'm asking.

Thanks for looking.

It looks very suspicious.

Yup!

Another Machin endless rabbit hole.

I had a batch of 3p Machins and decided to explore the world of value positions (the 3p position in relation to side and bottom.

I was recording measurement combinations not listed. The short answer is the value positions are NOT all possible positions and on any given sheet the position can vary per Hans at Deegam Publications. Hans told me Myall only measured one stamp per sheet.

For me, it is not definitive enough for identifcation or even including consider.

Here are some images from Deegam showing.

Deegam defined value positions


Typical listing


example measurement

Here is something that may be of interest or reflection. While unpacking my Machin collection from 30 plus years of storage, I came across album pages I purchased in the late 1980's but never ended up using. Apparently I had packed away everything before mounting stamps.





I am wondereing if any of the experienced long time Machin collectors remember this album or used something similiar? It would be fun to see examples.