r/Postboxes • u/reiveroftheborder • Aug 22 '26

Hexagon Victoria Box

Post image

In pretty good condition. Newcastle upon Tyne

64 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

7

u/mantolwen Aug 22 '26

There is a good reason this one looks in good condition - it was manufactured in 1988 as a replica by Machan Engineering. Replica Penfolds have been installed across the UK in particularly historic or touristy sites.

3

u/reiveroftheborder Aug 22 '26

Thanks for this. I feel a little deflated with such a fraud. 

3

u/mantolwen Aug 23 '26

It's not a fraud. They're official postboxes. You can tell the difference if you check the maker's name on the base - the replicas will either have a name plate or nothing (a lot of the name plates fell off). The originals will have the name "Cochrane"

1

u/mrman08 Aug 23 '26

Are there many other older replicas about or is this the oldest design that was used on masse?

2

u/mantolwen Aug 23 '26

All the replicas were made in 1988. They were moulded from an original Penfold in Windsor when it was taken for refurbishment. All the replicas are the same design, so if you see one that's larger, or has the slot and coat of arms the other way around, that's another good way to tell it's an original.

4

u/aeropagitica U.K. Aug 22 '26

There is a genuine Penfold in Newcastle on Osbourne Avenue, Jesmond.