Or rather they seem to be called letterbox plates these days.

I like the original brass one here - but didn't like having to polish it.
Lacquer is a temporary fix - but looks dreadful when worn/damaged and even
more work to remove polish and re-lacquer.

Polished chrome I didn't want.

So decided the most maintenance free that I liked the look of would be
brushed stainless steel. Not SS lookalike, but the real McCoy. Something
not that easy to find, after checking the usual sources.

Eventually found what I wanted at a specialist online supplier. And all
the other matching door furniture. Not cheap - but was willing to pay for
quality.

It all looked very good when it arrived.

Was surprised there was no fitting template with the letter plate. Four
fixings one at each corner with what looked like SS rivenuts (but welded
to the plate) and threaded rods - SS cap nuts for the interior.

Drew out a template and got on with it - the opening was larger than the
original.

Only to discover the rods wouldn't screw into their captive 'nuts'.
Assembling it off the door showed just why - they all pointed in different
directions, none was square. Not wanting huge holes with washers in the
door, I decided to complain. No problem they said (after I sent some pics)
we'll replace it and send you a return label for the old.

The replacement arrived today. Did a trial fit of the rods and they are
reasonably square.

But the fixings are 15mm in from the sides. The old one, 10mm. Otherwise
identical. Guess there's a reason they didn't supply a template.

Watch this space. ;-)

--
*Not all men are annoying. Some are dead.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.