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Type A marker

Our basic marker, 75mm. x 75mm.. (3” x 3”) This marker can be customised with a permanent felt tip pen and stencil to meet your own requirements or used in conjunction with separate letters, numbers or symbols beside it or carved or routed into wooden posts. It is useful for training sessions too, where uncoded markers may be sufficient.

As it is uncoded we can supply in any quantity, unlike other markers which are produced and sold only as complete sets

£30.00 for a set of 15 markers; individual markers £2.50 each

Any quantities greater than 15 are supplied pro-rata to a set of 15 (£2.00 each)

Type B Marker

Type C marker

Type D marker

This is our most popular marker. The marker is like the Type A, but with an additional panel below the marker having three codes. This makes it 100mm x 75mm (4” x 3”). The left hand code is a random 2 letter code, the middle is a random two or three digit number while the right hand box has a single letter from A through to Z. Multiple codes mean several children can be doing the same course, but are unable to swap answers as they are collecting different codes. It also means that on a school site youngsters do not get to remember the codes even if they visit the same point on different courses as they can record different codes on different courses.

The number can be shown on the map so participants can confirm they are at the right marker although we have reservations about this on smaller simpler sites - see Type D marker.

A popular use of the single letter (right hand box) is to use score course style maps (i.e. maps with all controls marked and numbered sequentially 1 - 26). The youngsters are sent to collect the single letters from specified control numbers (e.g. “visit points 5,7,13, 17 and 23 in any order then rearrange the letter collected to make the name of a bird”). It is an easily differentiated activity for mixed abilities and can bring in efficient route planning as well as map reading.

There are three different sets of type B markers, all with A - Z, but otherwise uniquely coded so on larger sites two sets can be used together. They are differentiated by the colour of the right hand letter - Blue, Green or Pink. For codes see Marker codes .

For sites which are not large enough to accommodate two full sets of markers you may want our extended Type B set. This has 35 markers with nine duplicate single letters (A,D,E,L,N,O,R,S and T) which greatly increases the range of words that can be made. See our list of animal and bird anagrams.

These markers are identical to the type B sets, but instead of a single letter in the right hand box these have a combination of a random letter and random single digit number in blue. They are ideal where the single letter is not required There are four 4 different sets of Type C markers available (with all codes unique). If you are re-ordering you can specify that you either want the same set as replacements for an existing set or a different one to extend the number of markers on the site - just give the codes on any marker so we can identify which set you already have. For codes see Marker codes. A common way to use these markers is with the number being the control number for the point and printed on the map. This means participants can confirm they are in the right place. They then record the letter pair or number/letter combination. In competition one person / team can record the letters on the left, the other the letter/symbol on the right.

These markers are the same size as the Type A (75 x 75mm) markers but have a sequential number at the top left, and a random single letter to the lower right. Two sets are available, numbered 1 - 15 and 16 - 30. If both sets are purchased all letters of the alphabet are included plus duplicates of E, O, R, and S. They can then be used in a similar way to Type B sets with participants collecting letters which they then re-arrange as an anagram to fit a clue. Usually the marker number will relate to the same number on the map.

On smaller simpler sites we are not great fans of using numbered permanent markers where the control marker number matches the number on the map. It does mean that participants can confirm they are in the correct place when they find a marker but we have observed groups of youngsters sweep searching the area, and noting the letter of any marker they came across in the appropriate box on their control card. The instructor (who was being assessed at the time) thought that they had done well, with most youngsters finding most markers on their course, without realising that in a good many cases these had been found by random searching without using map reading skills If markers have no control number then the only way youngsters know they are in the right place is by map reading. Markers should be placed reasonably far apart and simple descriptions of sites given, e.g. Building corner.

Standard set (26 markers) A through to Z £60.00

Extended set (35 markers) £80.00

9 marker conversion set to covert a Type B set to an extended Type B set £20.00

£30.00 for a set of 15 markers. Specify if you want 1 - 15 or 16 - 30 when ordering

£60.00 for a set of 26 markers

Special Markers

We have a number of “special markers” , “START”, “FINISH” a combined “START/FINISH” and blank Type B/C markers. (Type A are are blank Type D markers) The last are useful if one marker from a B or C set is vandalised or needs to be replaced. Any code can be hand written on the marker with a permanent pen. We are normally unable to supply individual markers from Type B or C sets as these are manufactured as large sheets of 104 markers, exactly four complete sets. Customised replacements are possible but are expensive and only available with long waits.

£3.00 each unless indicated otherwise

Start marker (75 x 100mm)

Blank marker (75 x 100mm)

Finish Marker (75 x 100mm)

Combined Start/Finish marker (75 x 100mm.)

Custom Markers

We can produce special orders, although these will incur considerable extra cost. Prices start at around about 40% above standard sets so from £40.00 for a type D set and £80.00 for a Type B or C set, as special artwork will have to be done for each order and will depend on the amount of extra work involved. We have produced markers with customer specified codes, and for sites with multiple sets on the site we have changed the orange triangle to blue or green to identify different courses. These changes are fairly straight forward but adding a logo is more difficult and therefore costly. In the example shown on the left (from Wycoller permanent course) markers were required to fit already rebated posts and to match the original markers, some of which survived. Ideally order the same number of markers as in our standard sets (26 if each are 100 x 75mm or 15 if each are 75 x 75mm) as this avoids wasted space on the manufacturing sheets, and wasted space costs money! Because special artwork has to be done and the markers then manufactured the lead time on custom orders is 3 to 4 weeks. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

We supply four styles of markers plus custom ones made to your specification. We call these Types A, B, C and D. They are normally available from stock although large or custom orders will take longer to complete. All markers are made for us by a process of gluing a transparent sheet with printing on the underside to a rigid white plastic board about 1.5mm thick. Codes for all marker sets can be found on the Marker codes page.

Drilling

Markers can be glued or screwed in place. They are easy to drill yourself but we can pre-drill them with 4 holes per marker at an additional cost of £12.00 per set for Types A and D (15 markers), £20.00 per set for Types B and C (26 markers) and £27.50 for extended Type B sets (35 markers). Holes are usually drilled as per drilling pattern A but can be drilled in the corners on the orienteering symbol part of the marker only (Drilling Pattern B). The former is the more secure against the markers being levered up, but if this is not an issue (for example if the markers are fixed out of reach), then the latter pattern means the screws cannot obscure the codes at all. Holes are normally drilled 3.5mm., the diameter of the screws we supply, but can be 4mm. on request. Extra markers (e.g. Start/Finish) are drilled free-of charge when bought as part of a marker order.

If drilling pattern B is required please request this when ordering

Drilling Pattern B

Drilling Pattern A

Screws

We recommend the use of stainless steel or brass screws, as steel screws, even zinc plated or passivated ones, can rust over time. We supply cross head A2 stainless steel screws, 3.5mm x 16mm. long either with pan (rounded) heads or 20mm. long with countersunk heads. Pan heads give the best appearance as the markers are not thick enough to countersink but are more expensive.

Pan heads: 10p. each for first 100, additional screws 8p. each

Countersunk: 8p. each for first 100, additional screws 6p. each

Post & packing

Flat rate charge £6.50 per order, regardless of order size. Very small orders, for just a few of markers, p&p is £3.00. We despatch by first class Royal Mail as this has proved exceptionally reliable.

Ordering

We do not have an e-commerce facility. Order by e-mail or phone us, see the Contacts page

We accept official purchase orders from councils, schools, public bodies and orienteering clubs affiliated to the British Orienteering Federation and will send an invoice with the goods. Payment terms are 30 days from invoice date.

Other orders must be pre-paid. We will send an invoice by e-mail on receipt of your order.

We are happy to discuss your order by phone or e-mail and if required provide several quotations.

Payment may be made by cheque or direct bank transfer. We do not have the facility to accept credit card payments. For terms and conditions click here

It is very important that all the children get and keep their map turned the right way round. This can be done by aligning the map to objects they can see, for example, a roadway, the playground, or a fence marked on the map, or they can set the map to north by aligning it with a north arrow laid out on the ground at the start.

Indoors, when starting out with “gym maps” it will be useful if the walls of the gym or hall are labelled with their directions. It does not matter if the direction is “true”, it is easier for everybody if the main axis of the room is called “north-south” or “east-west” even if this is not strictly accurate. These markers are available as a set of four or individually.

Set of four direction markers (75 x100mm) £8.00, or individually at £2.50 each

Large “Orienteering Course Start”

(150 x 75mm) £3.75

Symbolic Start/Finish markers (75 x 75mm and 75 x100mm) A and B £2.50 each, C £3.00