41 Years Of Machins -- Time For A Change?

2009 marks the 41st year that Britain has used the Machin head definitive. Things have changed a lot in the world since 1968, yet the Machin head remains constant. In that time, Commonwealth countries have had numerous series of definitives, more contemporary to the Queen's advance in age, yet on UK stamps, she always remains a little younger than "39 years and holding". Even Arnold Machin's bust, which had been used on UK coins, has given way twice to newer depictions of the Queen.

Is it time for the UK to finally get rid of the Machin, or shall we continue to be given variations in colour and denomination for the rest of her reign?

Why ruin what seems to be a good thing? And for many collectors of Machins, too.

It is a popular series to collect. I like the simple elegant design. Keep it going.

In short, yes.
We shall continue to be given variations in colour and denomination for the rest of her reign.
We will also continue to get the odd contrived error to fill the Royal Mail directors pockets.
And we will also continue to get Machins that cannot be soaked off paper, even after the previous Machins that cannot be soaked off paper have been found out.
In other words, collectors will suffer, non-collectors will go about their daily business ignorant of what's going on...and the bosses of RM will get rich.

As an after thought, listen to this.........
The Machin High values have not been available in Post offices for a few years. One can only buy them from the philatelic service. [i.e mostly for collectors then].
Recent changes to the machins mean one cannot soak them off paper [yet]. Royal Mail through all their infinite greedy wisdom have also decided to change the high values. Why ? When they serve very little postal use, why change them ?
I estimate that over 35,000 collectors worldwide will buy the new Machins with security features. That's 35,000 x £11.50.
But then there are many who collect plate blocks,colour blocks,gutter pairs,cross-gutter blocks,regular blocks....need I go on. And there are probably more than 35,000 machin collectors who want to be complete.
On that ''almost non-postal' issue alone, Royal Mail will earn more money than I will in a lifetime.
What's worse, they knew it.
Stuff the collectors and stuff their pockets full of lovely cash.

Yes, the Machins will live on.
God save our Queen.

Londonbus1......and to heck with collectors !