More of our Elizabethan collection
Our specialised collection of Lamp letter boxes of the Elizabethan era now runs to 12 examples illustrating the major design changes since 1952. The earliest EiiR lamp box perpetuated the so-called 1940 Pattern introduced in the reign of George VI and is by W.T.Allen, (LB214).
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| GviR box 1940 Pattern by W T Allen, LB213 |
EiiR Box 1940 pattern (1952) by W T Allen LB214 |
No Makers name, Allied Iron Founders LB215 |
Carron Company Stirlingshire,medium lengthname justified right, LB216/3 |
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| Carron Company Stirlingshire right justified short signature LB216/2 |
Carron Stirlingshire signature on 1977 Pattern box with UCPH LB218/2 |
1977 Pattern with side fixing lugs by Lion Foundry Kirkintilloch LB219/2 |
Carronade 1980 pattern with UCPH, LB220 |
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| LB217/1 is the latest addition to our collection. Although this box is badly damaged around the aperture it does show the salient features of the design. This is a 1977 pattern box with side fixing lugs, but retaining a traditional rounded-profile collection plate holder. The signature of Carron Company / Stirlingshire is 3 7/8" long and easily distinguished from the later LB218/2 and 218/3 which we have. The CP is unique to the Carron boxes and not interchangeable with earlier designs, unlike the UCPH fitted to later designs such as the LB218. |
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However, the contractsoon passed to a number of different foundries:
- LB215/2 Allied Iron Founders
- LB216/2 Carron Company
- LB216/3 Carron Company Stirlingshire
- LB217/1 Carron Company Stirlingshire 1977 pattern
In 1977, the design was changed so that the cast front was fitted to the galvanised steel back by four rivetted lugs rather than 6 internal screws. These are henceforward known as "1977 Pattern". For the first three years the round profile Cp was retained. However, from 1980, they were always supplied with a Universal Collection Plate Holder (UCPH).
- LB 218/2 Carron Stirlingshire (No "Company") and fitted with Universal Collection Plate Holder (UCPH)
- LB219/2 Lion Foundry Kirkintilloch
- LB220 Carronade
- LB221/2 Machan Scotland
- LB222/2 Abbott Engineering
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Machan Scotlandreplaced Machan Engineering as the signature from 1987, but the boxes still carried Post Office branding
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Abbott Engineering with name on door rather than raised plate. LB222/2 |
Machan Scotland on a Royal Mail branded box LB223/4 |
Machan Scotland on a Scottish Crown Royal Mail box LB223/4S |
In 1994, the letters business of the Post Office was split from the retail business. The former retained the title Royal Mail Letters whilst the later became Post Office Counters Ltd. This necessitated changing the castings yet again so that in future they would read Royal Mail rather than Post Office
- LB223/4 Machan Scotland
- LB223/4S Machan Scotland with Scottish crown
I hope that gives you a flavour of some of the changes that have ocurred with these boxes over the years.
Back to Elizabeth II title page| More Elizabethan Boxes
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