Wednesday 29 February 2012

1/3: New Around the Rings Article

The first Thursday of the month brings my next Pin Points article on Around the Rings. This month it's the subject of Internal Pins.


Click here to read the article.

Monday 27 February 2012

27/2: The 'Classic' Look Returns

If proof were necessary that I do listen, I've reverted the blog back to the old look and feel. I still think the new style has its merits and provides a more interactive experience, but I appreciate that it makes using the blog a little more difficult than it needs to be.

Coupled with the fact that older browsers and iPads were struggling to display the news items means I was cutting off readers, and that's not the point of a new style.

So, until the templates are more versatile and support mobile browsing, we resume normal service. Thank you to those of you who gave me the constructive feedback, I'll bear it in mind if I try to change the look again.

Saturday 25 February 2012

25/2: New look for the news blog

Don't panic, you've come to the right place! I'm trying out the new Blogger templates for the London Pins blog.



There are number of views which the reader can select using the menu bar at the top. Hopefully you'll find a view you like. The new views do not show a sidebar for labels and comments, but the articles get more space on the screen and it's easier to move between articles. Click on the labels at the bottom of an article to filter by a particular label then click on the menu bar view again to clear the filter and return to a full view.

Thursday 23 February 2012

23/2: Coca-Cola Pin Trading Centre Volunteers - Last Call

Regular readers will remember that a while ago, I mentioned that Coca-Cola had asked me to pull together the names of anyone who would like to volunteer to assist in the operation of the Coca-Cola pin trading centres (CCPTC) that will be in the Olympic Park and Hyde Park.

Lots of you responded and I have a list of names already. I will email those people within the next 24 hours to confirm you are on the list. If you haven't heard from me, please contact me again.

This post is really a last call to say that if you would like to sign up as a volunteer, then please let me know as soon as possible. I need to submit the list of names very soon. Please remember that signing up does not guarantee that you will be offered a place as Coca-Cola can only accommodate so many volunteers. I have no idea what that number is.

As mentioned in a previous post, there will be a selection process that involves an interview. Nothing too severe I imagine (hope!).

So if you think you'd like to be involved in helping to staff the centres, please get in touch.

This is not asking you to sign up to actually trade or reserve a place to trade, I'm sure that will be coming later.

Please get in touch at info@londonpins.co.uk

On a related note, at the pin meet on 10th March, a member of the CCPTC team will be attending to share some information with us. For those of you that have expressed an interest in volunteering but cannot make the meeting, don't worry. I'll post the information on the blog as soon as I can after the meeting. You will not be disadvantaged by not being at the meet.

Remember however, and this is only my opinion - not from Coca-Cola, that the interviews are most likely to be in London. Those of you who live outside of London may need to travel in. I could be wrong, so please don't quote me, its just my opinion.

Wednesday 22 February 2012

23/2: EDF Countdown Pin

The latest in the superb series of EDF Paralympic Countdown pins has been released. The 200 day to go pin continues the venues theme and shows the 'Pringle' shape of the velodrome.

EDF0017
The scan does not do this pin justice as it looks a lot better in the flesh. As for the 300 day pin, it combines the venue with a panel containing to EDF and Paralympic Games logo and the date of the 200 day milestone stamped too. This pin is limited to 600 pieces.

Sunday 19 February 2012

19/2: Pin Meet - May

At previous pin meets, we've discussed the possibility of having monthly pin meets in the run up to the Games. We've also discussed the option of having a meet to coincide with the start of the torch relay, and holding that meet at Land's End.

I've canvassed the opinions of those that have attended the previous get-togethers as to the location for a meet in May, and the vast majority agree that whilst a meet at Land's End would be a excellent and appropriate event, the practicalities for most would mean they wouldn't be able to attend.

Therefore I would like to propose the meeting in May to coincide with the start of the torch relay, but to hold it at the usual place in Stratford.

The details are...

Date: Saturday 19th May 2012
Time: 2.30pm
Venue: The Railway Tavern, Angel Lane, Stratford, London, E15 1DB

As usual, the pub's owners have very kindly allowed us to use the conservatory free of charge and continue to be very supportive of our group.

I will of course approach the friendly sponsors, especially as 2 of them are presenting partners of the torch relay, and see if they are are to offer any pins to the collectors who register and attend.

As usual, please confirm your interest in attending by emailing me at info@londonpins.co.uk. Any freebies will be distributed in the order that people sign up.

I know we haven't even had the March meet yet, but now the events are getting closer together, it is inevitable that arrangements for meets will have to run in parallel.

There's no meet arranged for April yet. As Wednesday 18th is the date of the 100 day to go milestone, I'm trying to see if there are any LOCOG or sponsor events that we could be a part of. Failing that, maybe Saturday 21st April would be the best date for a meet, although at this stage I have no venue booked. If possible, you may want to leave your diaries free on that day, just in case.

I hope to see as many of you as possible at the meet in May. At the moment we have around 25 people registered for the meet in March - lots of 'regulars' still to sign up yet. Please remember to drop me an email if you plan to attend either meet.


Wednesday 15 February 2012

15/2: Diversity: Faith Pin

You may have seen the press releases last year when the latest in the Diversity set of pins was issued. The Faith pin follows the LGBT, Inclusion and Age pins.


For those that are collecting this range, you face the toughest challenge yet. That's because the pin is now sold-out. Before you wonder - you didn't miss it in the shops. The pin has been completely sold  by LOCOG rather than being launched by Honav to the retailers like every other pin (apart from the Ticketing pins).

I'm not sure where or when we may see these pins, but given the subject matter, it's probably a good bet that they'll be distributed amongst religious organisations.

Anyone seen one around?

How long until we see them on eBay at inflated prices?

This is pin 1075 and at the moment I have no information on issue size.

Update 17/2: Issue size confirmed as 2,012 pieces.

Tuesday 14 February 2012

14/2: British Trees Set

A new boxed set of British Trees has been announced. This is a set of 17 pins and I understand they will not be available individually.


These are pins 0801 - 0817 and are limited to 2,012 pieces each. The boxed set is priced at £135.

The trees that have been selected are...

  • English Elm
  • Horse Chestnut
  • Maple
  • Alder
  • Silver Birch
  • English oak
  • Willow
  • Cherry Blossom
  • Blackthorn
  • Ash
  • Sycamore
  • Beech
  • Aspen
  • Yew
  • Holly
  • Lime
  • Pine

Two of the pins are shown below in more detail

Pin 0806 - English Oak

Pin 0815 - Holly

Each pin combines a silhouette of the full tree as a frosted silver background with the name of the tree stamped in silver too within the silhouette. Laid over that is the leaf and sometimes the fruit of the tree, both in coloured enamel with the shadow of the let picked out as shiny silver. Finally each pin bears an coloured Olympic Games or Paralympic Games logo. These are a very well designed set of pins as they combine so many elements and different styles of manufacture.

The pins are arranged in the boxed set in a tree shape to finish off the package. Unfortunately, there is no inlay card or any details about the trees on the packaging, which would have been a great feature. In my opinion, one of the best sets we have seen so far.

Monday 13 February 2012

13/2: Local Leaders Pin

Those of you that signed up to the Local Leaders programme on the London 2012 website may have received an email today inviting you to email for a pin badge.


I have no idea what the pin looks like or what sort of reference it will have.

More details and an image when the pin arrives.

Sunday 12 February 2012

12/2: Nations and Regions pins

A new pin issued by the Nations and Regions team within LOOCG has been spotted. This one is a map of the UK in the London 2012 style with both games and Paralympic Games logos.


I have no information on issue size or reference at the moment. I presume this has been issued centrally rather than by one or more of the regions. 

Thanks to a reader for this information.


12/2: More NBC Sports Pins

Following the 2 moveable sports pin issued by NBC last year, another 13 have now been released. As before these are all retail pins designed for the US market and therefore not available in the UK.



The sports represented this time are...

Archery
Athletics
Basketball
Cycling
Diving
Equestrian
Football
Gymnastics
Rowing
Sailing
Swimming
Volleyball (again, although I think this is Volleyball, whereas the previous one was Beach Volleyball)
Waterpolo

Two of the pins are shown and all have been added to the media section of the website

As like the previous sports pins from NBC, all these ones have moveable parts, for example, a flying arrow or jumping horse. They are all priced at USD15.99 and manufactured by Aminco for the US market only.

12/2: New McDonald's Pin

Last week, the Olympic volunteer programmer held it's first induction briefing for the first 10,000 Gamesmakers. The training of the volunteers if being carried out in part by McDonald's and there were reports of some McDonald' representatives wearing a silver pin.

WWL-MCD0005
I believe this is the pin in question and combines a silver London 2012 logo including coloured Olympic rings with the McDonald's name (but not the logo).

I have been told that the issue size for this pin is 200 pieces but need to confirm that. If it's true, that would make this an internal only pin. I'm reliably informed that there were no pins on offer at the Gamesmaker event.

12/2: Logo Pins

There are a few logo pins around that, whilst they have been available for a while, have not been widely announced. I came across them this week and thought that they were a new issue, but have been reliably informed that they are not new. The confusion may have arisen as these are designed for the high volume market (supermarkets etc.) and are therefore not targeted at collectors.

The pins are standard logos in the 4 London 2012 brand colours, but in a 'mini' size of 18mm x x20mm and are pin number 0451 - 0454. These pins are limited to 350,000 pieces each whereas the original logo pins are unlimited and can made as required.

Pin 0451

There is also a new version of the Union Flag logo pin. This is pin 0987 and has an issue size of 1.5 million pieces. it is the same size as the original logo pins. This pin is not a cut-through pin, i.e. the gaps between the numbers are filled-in. The pin also appears to have a resin layer over it rather than the standard enamel finish.

Pin 0987

This is now the 9th version of the Union Flag pin in the range of 2,012 pins and looks to be the replacement for pin 0011 which may be close to selling out despite its 100,000 issue size as it has proved a very popular design I understand.

Tuesday 7 February 2012

5/2: Freshfields - Latest Sponsor to Issue Pins

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer are the latest sponsor to issue pins. As a Tier 3 partner, it's likely that these pins are only for internal use and are not for issue to the public.

They have released 2 pins (FB0001 and FB0002) which combine their logo and company name with the Games logo and Paralympic logo. The logo pin seems to have raised letters made in the pressing of the pin whereas the Paralympic version seems to be a combination of printing and enamel. No information on issue sizes.

FB0001 
FB0002

Thanks to a reader for the information and images.

Friday 3 February 2012

3/2: Mother's Day Pin and More...

New issues spotted on Glamorous Living's site tonight in addition to the pubs and bars set mentioned earlier.

To complement the Father's Day pin issued last year, London 2012 have issued a Mother's Day pin in advance of March 18th, the day on which it falls this year (incidentally my Mum's birthday!).

Pin 0577

The pin shows a bunch or pink roses and a pink London 2012 logo. The Father's Day pin was limited to 2,012 pieces and I would assume the same for this pin too.

The next pin is Mandeville playing 7-a-side football. This is the second pin of Mandeville playing football as the previous one (0495) was 5-a-side football,


The final pins are large, medium and small versions of a printed Union Flag logo.

Pin 0702

Pin 0703

Pin 0704
No issue sizes on these 3 pins, but expect them to be large.

Thursday 2 February 2012

2/2: New Around the Rings Article

My latest piece for Around the Rings has been published today.

This article focuses on the Royal Mail stamps issued between 2009 and 2011 and the pins that came from them.


Click here to read the article.

2/2: Pubs and Bars Set

A new set of pins has been announced in the British Life series. The pubs and bars boxed set consists of 11 pins.


These pins show characteristic images to represent pubs across the country and display...
  • a pub meal
  • a fireplace
  • a 'last orders' bell
  • a pub quiz notice
  • a dartboard
  • a jukebox
  • a pool table
  • a bar stool and bar
  • a hanging basket
  • a pub
  • a beer garden
These are pins 690 - 700 and are each limited to 3,000 pieces and I understand are only available in the boxed set.