Metcard Handy Hints series

Earliest known issue dated: 5th February 2002

Page last modified/checked: Tuesday, 26 April, 2005
Four different "handy hints" are featured on these Metcards, which are of the basic blue generic design. The four messages are repeated in each series of designators so that J-a1, J-b1, J-c1 and J-d1 all show the same message. Similarly for the other designators J-a2 to J-d2, J-a3 to J-d3 and J-a4 to J-d4. Designators J-a1 to J-d4 (machine issue), and J-a1 to J-f4 (bus issue) are known. The bus issues follow the same sequence with the J-e series corresponding to the J-a series, the J-f series corresponding to the J-b series.


J-a1


J-c3


J-e1 (Bus)

J-b2


J-d4


J-f2 (Bus)

Since their first appearance, these four handy hints slogans have been produced by the millions and, in fact, became the most visible public face of metcard (due to there being more of these produced than what we have termed the "plain blue generic" design). This situation continued, apart from the one exception described below, until December of 2003 when the handy hints series took an unusual turn. This is described on the TMA Handy Hints page.

Quite unexpectedly, during May and June 2002, at least four new handy hints appeared as extremely rare 098 bus issues.
This was the one and only time these hints have ever been seen on Magnadata produced metcards. Further to this, during March/April 2005, a number of earlier Magnadata Handy Hints metcards were released. Included were 082, 083 and 084 bus issues which featured further previously unseen Magnadata Handy Hints.
Note:- The J-c3 and J-c4 are the first appearance of each handy hint on any metcard to date.


J-a1

J-a2


J-b1

J-b2


J-c3

J-c4


J-d1

J-d4


J-e3

J-e4


J-f2

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