Test coins or tokens were used by GPO engineering staff when maintaining coin boxes
and postal equipment.
There were two types, one type called the "Tokens, Coin Box No..."
which were
solely used to test coinboxs, once installed, as the coin would go into
the cash box and be un-recoverable by the engineer. They were engraved
with the name of the District and had a serial number. The areas kept
a list of the serial numbers and any held by engineers were logged in their tool account. Only the Postal Division had access
to the cash boxes as they collected the money and cleaned the kiosks.
Recovered test coins, during coin sorting, would be returned to the Telephone Division.
The second type were test coins which were called "Disks, Test No..."
and these were used in the workshop for testing coinbox mechanisms and Stamp
Vending machines that had
undergone repair. In this case the coins were designed to be oversized or
undersized and different weights so that failures could be simulated.
They were supplied as a set.
Click here for pictures of Disks, Test.
GPO Coin Tokens made from Brass (equivalent to 1d)
The lower token is a Token, Coin Box No. 4 which is designed to be rejected when testing
as it is under weight
Test Coins from the Northern District of London which would centred
around Studd Street
Older NTC and GPO Test Tokens
Tokens, Coin Box
Tokens, Coin Box No. 1
Brass test token. Found in the 1928 Rate Book. Used for Testing
Coin Boxes.
Tokens, Coin Box No. 2
These were used by Service Inspectors and engraved with the letter "D".
Used for Testing Coin Boxes.
Tokens, Coin Box No. 3
Superseded No. 1 and No. 2 in 1944. Used for Testing Coin Boxes.
Tokens, Coin Box No. 4
Superseded No. 3 in 1958. Used for Testing Coin Boxes.
This is equivalent to an underweight 1d.
Drawing - 90170.
Tokens, Coin Box No. 5
Dodecagon shaped mild steel text coin.
Equivalent to 3d.
Drawing - 91231.
Tokens, Coin Box No. 6
Equivalent to 6d.
Drawing - 91231.
Tokens, Coin Box No. 7
Equivalent to 2s.
Drawing - 91231.
Disks, Test
Disks, Test No. 1
For Stamp Selling machines.
4 steel disks in leather case.
1 each of 1/2d. and 1d. minimum diameter "go".
1 each of 1/2d. and 1d. maximum diameter "go".
For routine maintenance testing.
Disks, Test No. 2
For Stamp Selling machines.
10 steel disks in leather case.
1 each of 1/2d. and 1d. over diameter "not go”.
1 each of 1/2d. and 1d. under diameter "not go".
1 each of 1/2d. and 1d. minimum diameter "go".
1 each of 1/2d. and 1d. maximum diameter "go".
1 each of 1/2d. and 1d. over thickness "not go".
For testing machines at repair centres.
Disks, Test No. 3
For Stamp Selling machines.
4 brass disks.
1 each of 1/2d. and 1d. minimum weight "go''.
1 each of 1/2d. and 1d. under weight "not go".
For testing coin-weight adjustment.
For routine maintenance and repair centre testing.
Specification - S244.
Disk, Test No. 5
For Repair Centre Testing of Boxes CC 705.
7 steel disks in wooden box or leather pouch.
1 each of 1/- Accept and Reject diameter.
1 each of 6d. Accept and Reject diameter.
1 each of 3d. Accept and Reject diameter.
1 of 3d. Reject Thickness.
Disk, Test
No. 5 (1960)
Repair Centre testing of BCC 700D, 705D and 735D
4
disc gauges in a hardwood box.
Originally Chromium Steel, they were changed to Stainless Steel in 1967.
1 each of 1/- Accept and Reject diameter.
1 each of 6d. Accept and Reject diameter.
Drawing - CN2414.
Disk, Test
No. 6 (1971)
Repair Centre testing of BCC 700D, 705D and 735D
6
steel disc gauges in a wooden box.
1 each
of
2p
Accept
Minimum
and
Maximum
diameter.
1 of 2p Reject
Minimum
diameter.
1 each
of
10p
Accept
Minimum &
Maximum diameter
1 of 10p
Reject
Minimum
diameter.
Drawing - CN9056 (Case).
Drawing - CN9055 (Disk set).
Disk, Test
No. 6A (1982)
Repair Centre testing of BCC 700D, 705D and 735D
6
steel disc gauges in a wooden box.
1 each
of
5p
Accept
Minimum
and
Maximum
diameter.
1 of 5p Reject
Minimum
diameter.
1 each
of
10p
Accept
Minimum
and Maximum diameter.
1 of 10p Reject
Minimum diameter.
Drawing - CN9056A (Case).
Drawing - CN9055A (Disk set).
Disk, Test No. 7A
Obsolete in 1984.
Disk, Test
No. 8 (1980)
3 steel disc gauges
in
a wooden box.
1
of
50p
Accept
Minimum diameter - marked A MIN.
1
of
50p
Maximum diameter
- Marked A MAX.
1 of 50p Reject Minimum diameter
- Marked R MIN.
Drawing - CN13553/1 (Case).
Drawing - CN13553/3 (Disk set).
Disk, Test
No. 9 (1982)
Comprises 2 test disks for calibration
of
Coin Telephone No. 23B.
Made of "Hard" Nickel Silver.
The Disks are labelled 9H and 9L.
Specification - S1550.
Disk, Test No.
10
Issued in a wallet with a link for setting test conditions.
First use: Coin Telephones Nos. 24A and 25A.
Disk, Test No.
11A (1985)
2 disks made of stainless steel.
1 of 50p - Marked 11H.
1 of 50p - Marked 11L.
Drawing - CN13984/2 (Case)
Drawing - CN13984/3 (Disks)
Disk, Test No.
11B (1987)
3
disks, made of stainless steel.
1 of £1 - Marked 11H £1.
1 of 50p - Marked 11H 50p.
1 of 50p - Marked 11L.
Drawing - CN13984/2A (Case)
Drawing - CN13984/3A (Disks)
Coin Counting Machines
1946
1954
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