Ticket Stampers

[156441]

I've got hold of what look like a pair of ex BR ticket stamp/grippers today from a local flea market type thing and I'm after a bit of info about them.

Firstly they have the markings of a company called 'MAKO' on the side if this helps (I'll bob a picture on in a mo)

Inside you have moveable numbers in the format of DD-MM-X999 and a ribbon type ink (two exposed reels)

First - What format would the numbers take if used by a guard. In my experiance its usually date + Headcode but on these the letter would be in the wrong place.

Second - The ink needs 're inking' would any of the old hands know how this used to be done or would it be a case of a new ribbon?

Thirdly could anyone give and approximate age on them.

Thanks

 

[ATW Alex 101]

First - What format would the numbers take if used by a guard. In my experiance its usually date + Headcode but on these the letter would be in the wrong place.

I can help you with this query but not any others-sorry.

The format used by a guard would be the date (dd/mm), the TOC then the train headcode. For example, my ticket from London yesterday was marked by the guards stamper and it read

1902WC1D49

To break down

1902WC1D49

Blue Indicates the date as dd/mm so in my case it read '1902' for the 19th day of the second month.
Red Indicates the TOC of the train you're on. So in my case it reads 'WC' for Virgin West Coast
Orange Indicates the train headcode. In my case my train was the 1D49 20:10 London Euston (EUS)-Chester (CTR)

Happy to help

 

[156441]

That's the problem though

I'm assuming these are rather old

They are in the format

Num-num-num-num/Letter/num-num-num

 

[Jonfun]

Whilst I can't say for definite the format of those stampers in question, the BR Blue 'Dormy' stampers print (first of all the stamper serial number, then) DDMM then a 3 digit numeric 'route code', although I'm not 100% sure what the route codes actually were - so it could be possible those stampers were designed to do the same but with an extra letter field for something.

What letters does it give the option of stamping?

 

[ATW Alex 101]

That's the problem though

I'm assuming these are rather old

They are in the format

Num-num-num-num/Letter/num-num-num

Ah right I get you now. Somebody messaged me about it but didnt know what they were on about, I see now. At a rough guess, the first four numbers as you describe would be for the date as in dd/mm. I imagine the latter be something for the headcode. Google doesn't turn anything up and what I said is only a rough guess.

 

[150219]

It's from Great Western's original franchise. It's the date and month, and then the Train ID is in the wrong order. It should read xXxx but the letter has been put in front of the numbers, so the stamp would have read C191 for the 1735 departure from Paddington, instead of 1C91.

 

[BestWestern]

It's from Great Western's original franchise. It's the date and month, and then the Train ID is in the wrong order. It should read xXxx but the letter has been put in front of the numbers, so the stamp would have read C191 for the 1735 departure from Paddington, instead of 1C91.

How bizarre! Was this intentional or a cock up somewhere?

They are very similar to the current Ziffa stampers FGW use now (with headcode in the correct format!), some differences being that the current version lacks the sprung fitting between the grips and the odd raised disc on the top, and the opening flaps on the side to access the digits are now a single unit, this looks to have two separate ones.

A good find!