We have a running survey on the availability (or not) of Robins Faststamp availability from Post and Go machines in PO branches. Now Brian reports that the MA13 Union Flag stamps are available in the unique Self-service branch at Tudor Street, Ludgate Circus, London EC1.Machine 1 has MA13 Robins
Machine 2 has MA13
Machine 3 has MA13
So - unlikely as it may be - we're open to reports of Union Flag MA13 stamps appearing anywhere else. Given that Birds 4, Farm Animals, and Freshwater Life are available across the country and Robins are fighting for space, I doubt that our intrepid reporters will find many!
Incidentally if anybody in the London area would like to supply me with some MA13 Flags, please email so that we can put arrangements in place. Thanks.
Update 25/11/2013 - Machine 2 up and running dispensing Flags MA13, BUT with part printing missing (image e-mailed). Machine 3 no longer has Machins MA13 in it. (Thanks Chris)
Machine 3 has Freshwater Life 2 - Thanks Doug
From 11:31 am transaction: The machine jammed between the two transactions and jammed after it. I’m not sure if it was going to left on pending the arrival of an engineer to replace the printer. (Thanks Dominic)
UPDATE - see this entry
Attended venue today 21/11/2013 :. Machine 1 - Robins, Machine 3 - Machins, Machine 2 was defective due to a software glitch. So whether Flags are still available is unknown.
ReplyDeleteIn your blog posting you have the contents of machine 2 as Machins and machine 3 as Union Flag. They are in fact the other way round, machine 2 has the union flag and machine 3 has the machine head. The usage of Tudor Street seems poor, as there have been around 80 transactions between those illustrated on “Postage Labels Of The UK” accessed via the link in the comments and those I obtained today.
ReplyDeleteUpdate 22/11/2013 - Machine 2 still defective, Machine 3 run out of Machins. An engineer was called at 0910 hrs by Southwark Post Office (02073788763) who look after this unattended site, to fix problems, but by 1630 hours had still not attended.
ReplyDeleteUpdate 25/11/2013 - Machine 2 up and running dispensing Flags MA13, BUT with part printing missing (image e-mailed). Machine 3 no longer has Machins MA13 in it.
ReplyDeleteIs there any possibility of more people being able to obtain 2nd/2nd large MA13 at any of the other venues ? Seem a tad unfair that only two rolls were available at Newcastle and (I understand) - correct me if this is wrong information - that three people took almost all of them !?
ReplyDeleteI suppose it depends on what is in the remaining boxes, and how much the machines are actually used everywhere they go.
DeleteI think we can be certain that the 2nd class MA13 will - eventually - be included at Post Office branches, but that will not be in Hytech/Next Generation machines (unless there is another change of plan). I understand that NCR machines (still to be made ready) will replace the Wincor-Nixdorf where 2nd class are sold - which may be everywhere eventually.
Maybe there will be 2nd class MA13 at Stampex. I'll make sure that suggestion and your concerns are pointed in the right direction.
Surely if 2nd Class at next Stampex, code would be Ma14 :-)
ReplyDeleteGuess most of these new codes will be plentiful before Wincor phased out - remember the panic over Robins Ma12 last year?
Are all the stamps you buy in your PO or supermarket now MA13/M13L ? No, my PO still has Jubilee booklets and our local Morrisons has PRE-SECURITY 1st class large letter stamps.
DeleteThe code relates to either when the stamps are printed or under which year's contract (this seems to change every time we ask RM), and as the MA13 is printed on the stamp not by the machine there could be MA12 and MA13 next year just as there are MA12 this year.
I've been told that there won't be any 2nd class at Stampex or any other venue than post offices. As has been written elsewhere they won't be fitted in the Wincor-Nixdorf machines either
Yes - this is all common knowledge to most PAG enthusiasts. I meant that Stampex (as well as other 'shows') USUALLY offers a new opportunity for RM to create, and therefore, sell 'a new line' e.g. Ma14 2nd Class. Incidentally, it will be interesting to see if/how different the new NCR machine font will be. If visibly different, no doubt it will create many new varieties as an array of old PAG stock rolls are put in the new NCR machines - nationwide.....
DeleteIt will be interesting to see what WH Smiths get for Boston, Carmarthen, Hastings, Kidderminster, Perth, Southport, Swiss Cottage when (subject to consultation) they operate these offices and will Cannock, Kings Heath, Stockton on Tees, Sutton Coldfield, Telford, Uckfield, Wallington, West Wickham, Witney and the other offices they currently run get Post & Go machines.
DeleteAttended Ludgate Circus today reels have been changed around k1 is now MA13 Machin, k2 is out of service what a surprise whilst k3 is pond 2.
ReplyDeleteThe branch did not open till very late today still closed at 11:30 although open at 13:30 not good service I would suggest.
Among other branches visited White Kennet was MA12 Robin, Eastcheap MA13 Robin, Baker Street Rivers, Paddington Flag (NOT MA13) and London Bridge Sheep
They do tend to shut for about ten to fifteen minutes twice a day in the quieter times whilst the equipment (the Post & Go, the Coil Vending Machines, CCTV and Fire equipment) are checked/restocked and the office cleaned.
DeleteTrafalgar Square PO had the following in their four Wincor machines today.
ReplyDelete1. Rivers; 2. Robins MA13; 3. Lakes and 4. Original Machins
Ma13 Robins in Plymouth.
ReplyDeleteUpdate - Ludgate Circus 28/11/2013 :
ReplyDeleteMachine 2 has now been repaired and the Flags are flying again.
Yes they are flags but they are the original issue and NOT MA13.
DeleteObviously the reel has been replaced, since the 28th, when the machine was dispensing MA13.
Delete