MORE SURVIVING SVMs and THEIR HOUSINGS
On the left, a really fabulous restored Type A machine at the Inkpen Post Box Museum. These are the original style SVMs introduced before the first World War. The mechanism is much simpler and shorter than the later D and E types.
The raised value against a chequer plate background is all cast into the brass front; truly superb.
The brass plate is a modern copy of the original enamel notice.
More prosaically, but nonetheless interesting, shown at right is another nice Case CI Type K Mk2 this time at Gashouse Lane, Sutton Bridge in Lincolnshire. The bays both carry the cast Out of Order notice. Photo: Trevor Whiteman
On the left here is a nicely preserved example of a CI Type K Mk1 from Overton Post Office in sunny Hampshire. On the right a similar case, but this time from the most Easterly point in the British Isles, Lowestoft. Along with the WB87 wall box these two are situated on the Down platform of Lowestoft Central Station.
Right hand: The sea air has done no favours for this North Devon survivor at Lynemouth SPO. The coin chutes were heavily blocked with litter, but at least one hinge arm is visible on this pair of Type F housings.
Left side: This pair are still in situ at Attleborough Crown office in Norfolk. The left hand machine is the Type F booklet vendor while the right hand bay held a Type G1 machine for Machin coil strips.
Above Left: A 2005 sale at Bonhams of London produced this Type Q machine which has a new home in Southport.
Above Right: These two machines (respectively Type D and F) are in the restored TK31 Kiosk K4 at Cranmore Station, East Somerset Railway.
Right hand: A surviving machine in the end of a PB29 in Leytonstone East London. Several of London's PB29 & PB30 boxes still have mechanisms in situ, mostly B4 1p mechs.
Left: A superbly restored Case C1 Type K Mk1 in a private collection in Scotland (Photo: Gavin Dickson)
A super picture from Gerry Cork of the LBSG of this well preserved Case CI Type K Mk1 at High Salvington, Worthing West Sussex. The SPO is still open and you can also see there a nicely maintained G6R pillar the other side of the doorway. The glass hoods appear to have been painted with black "anti-vandal" paint, which could be tricky to get off if the case ever enters preservation!
Peter Relf of the LBSG found this excellent SVM still in situ in the closed Post Office at Leominster in Herefordshire. It is a regular mechanism for dispensing 50p booklets of Type F.
Further Afield:
Left: A superb pair of Mounting Plates Type E with what I think were 10c coil mechanisms in the "History Corner" of the Hong Kong head Post Office in Central, Hong Kong. The pictures displayed around the walls show that there were large numbers of E plates in use all over the former colony. It also notes that most were removed from 1999.
Left: This group is outside the Royal Mews in Windsor, Berkshire. The machine housing is the AIF Case CI Type K Mk2 and it is fitted with a 50p booklet vending mechanism. Next to it is the A size EiiR pillar box which is in use and next to that is the so-called Air Mail box. Actually its a regular George V B pillar fitted with a double time plate holder and painted Royal Blue. It should be Air Force Blue and it should have an oval Air Mail sign on the top, so it is particularly inaccurate. It is there to commemorate the first Aerial Post which was flown from Hendon to Windsor in 1911.
George Redgrave sent these excellent close-ups of the surviving installation at Broadbridge Heath SPO, near Horsham, West Sussex. The E plate carries the Not in Use plate while the other casing is clearly that of a type G1 coil machine. This seems to have been a popular pairing.
Phil Deller sent in this superb picture of the PB29 at Ealing Village in West London. The locale and the box are contemporary being erected in 1932. The mech again appears to be a B4.
LEFT: These beautifully restored E plates are to be found in the side of newly-restored Mobile Post Office GPO2. Owned by the BPMA, it is in the middle of a project to fully restore it to original 1937 condition. Hoods were not needed as an overall awning was provided along the full length of the vehicle and glass hoods would have protruded too much when the vehicle was in motion.
The mech is a 1d B4 coil.
.jpg "Sidbury SPO (Worcs)")
These machines are situated at Worcester Sidbury PO and show the original housing plate for a Type G coil together with the electro-mechanical Hillday B52 machine.
The Museum's own Type R housing now fully restored with new stays and machine retaining plate. The notice plates refer to the later type E mechanisms that vended 2d stamps in exchange for two pennies. It has since been fitted to our 1910 Edward VII pillar box.
The rather nice Ludlow at Ratby, Leicestershire is situated next to this E mounting plate. Note that the hood and glass are also painted red!
The Finer Details of Stamp Vending Machines
Close up of the notice plate at Steeple Bumpstead, Essex appertaining to a long-gone coil SVM formerly attached to a pillar here. This one refers to the 1d and 3d single coin B4 mechanisms.
On 22 Feb 2007, the plate was donated to CVPHM by Royal Mail. It has since been fitted to our 1910 Edward VII pillar box.
This shot of the inside of a K2 housing shows clearly a raised casting indicating that the case was made by Carron Company in 1951 and is a K Mk2. Externally there is no difference between AIF and Carron housings.
The PB29 at Leyton, East London still shows two notice plates indicating that a Type C mechanism vending two halfpenny stamps for 1d was fitted. The corroded one urges you to "Wait for the coin to Drop" before inserting a second coin.
The loading instructions were carried on an etched or printed metal plate attached to the protective cover of the B4 mechanism.