Editor: Alastair Nixon, 7 Bramblegate, Edgcumbe Park, Crowthorne, Berks, RG45 6JA. Tel: +44 (0) 1344 775378
Email: Web site: http://www.meterfranking.co.uk
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Meter of the Month
My Meter of the Month is a most unusual error, found by Peter Mantell. The frank, from an Optimail machine, has the date completely omitted (apart from the ‘dot separators’). It is likely that this is a machine malfunction rather than an operator error. According to the rules on page 40-4, this makes it a ‘Category B’ (error in manufacture), and probably one of the best that I have seen in this category.
Update on Neopost Sub-series
Peter Mantell reports a new Neopost sub-series, ‘N105’. Richard Goring has kindly confirmed for us that it is from an IJ-25 machine. I have therefore reflected this mapping on the Latest Numbers list on page 105-2.
Richard now has confirmation that N3005931 is an ‘IS-480’ machine. Similarly, Peter Mantell has confirmation that N3006669 is also an ‘IS-480’. This mapping is therefore reflected on page 105-2.
On page 91-3 your editor’s best guess was that the IS-480 would produce the N124 series, but this is therefore now in question. Indeed, Richard Goring has confirmation that N124001 is from an IJ-85 machine, and that N124003 & N1240050 were both IJ-65 machines. We believe that all these machines were upgraded in conjunction with the MAS (Mail Accounting System) upgrades (like the N129 series) and I have therefore reflected this on page 105-2.
Acknowledgements
My thanks this month go to Jim Ashby, David Aspinwall, Merv Dadswell, Alan Godfrey, Richard Goring, Peter Huss, Peter Mantell, Richard Peck and Peter Wood for their reports and communications.
Latest Numbers
Below is the list of ‘Latest Numbers’ as at 30th July 2009 – with updates shown in red. Please could I have the next reports by 26th August, thanks.
Frama (UK)
EcoMail FSC355975 08.07.09 Reported by AN
MailMax FSC909431 21.05.09 See MN 103
Francotyp-Postalia
Optimail? B 0788095 23.03.09 See MN 101
Optimail T402811 09.01.09 See MN 102
Optimail 30 F04111487 29.05.09 See MN 104
Centormail FC5110335 08.07.09 Reported by AN
Mymail FM2119624 20.04.09 Reported by RG
Mymail FM2210997 14.11.08 See MN 98
Ultimail? FU3114958 09.07.09 Reported by AN
Ultimail 65 FU8002495 16.09.08 See MN 101
Ultimail 95 FU9001148 06.02.08 See MN 91
Neopost
IJ-25 N1050018 01.07.09 New (PM), see p105-1
IS-350 (Ex IJ-25) N1170402 05.06.09 Reported by DA
IJ-65 N1208305 18.02.09 See MN 102
Various upgraded N1240400 30.04.09 See MN 103
IJ-80/90/110 N1253904 23.06.09 See MN 104
Various upgraded N1290032 01.06.09 See MN 104
IJ-35/45 N1317890 24.04.09 Reported by DA
IS-430 (Ex IJ-40) N1359997 07.08.08 See MN 95
IS-460 (Ex IJ-50) N1373322 03.03.09 See MN 101
IS-420 (Ex IJ-30) N1384887 04.06.09 See MN 104
IJ-40 N1390095 10.02.09 See MN 102
IS-480 N3006791 27.07.09 Reported by AN
Pitney Bowes
DM50, 55 PB046087 11.07.09 Reported by PM
DP200? PB130122 24.09.08 See MN 95
DP400? PB143184 18.07.08 See MN 93
DP400? PB148004 03.04.09 New (PM), see p105-3
Personal Post PB281132 29.05.09 See MN 104
DM 200? PB311616 01.08.08 See MN 94
DM 225, 300 PB380543 23.07.08 See MN 94
Personal Post PB498451 18.06.09 See MN 104
DM 550 etc. PB525652 27.07.09 Reported by PM
DM 400C / 450C PB613355 30.06.09 See MN 104
Post Perfect PB764194 19.12.08 See MN 100
DM100i PB842059 10.07.09 Reported by PM
Advanced Mail
AABG-GZ FU3114816 29.04.09 See MN 103
Recent Interesting Items
Further to page 105-2, Peter Mantell has discovered a possible new sub-series, ‘PB148’. Judging from the high item count, it is likely that this sub-series has been around and undetected for some time. It is, I suppose, just possible that this is a continuation of the PB147 sub-series that ran from September 2004 for about 6 months, reaching PB147561.
Richard Goring sends this item that bears a mis-spelled town name – with “SHEILDS” instead of “SHIELDS”.
Further to page 104-3, Peter Mantell has found an example where there are 29 characters in the town name (not counting the hyphens) – beating the previous total by 2.
Peter Mantell has found an incomplete postcode on this item. An Internet search reveals that a number of businesses operate from this address. All have the postcode NW9 8UA.
Recent Interesting Items Continued
Richard Goring and Peter Mantell both report examples of IJ-25 machines with vertically mis-aligned print heads. The first is from Richard, the others are from Peter.
Alan Godfrey and Peter Mantell report examples of Frama MailMax town dies where just the county is given.
Recent Interesting Items Continued
Further to page 55-3, Peter Mantell reports that N1204504 from BFPO 39 in Germany now carries the slogan text “BFPO Dulmen”. Peter points out that if you visit the BFPO website http://www.forcesresources.co.uk/bfpo_locations.php, you will find that BFPO Dulmen is actually BFPO 44 and some distance from Bielefeld. As there are a number of BFPO’s in the surrounding area, it is possible that BFPO 39 acts as a Mail Centre for the other BFPO’s in that region. As on previous occasions, this item has been hand-stamped on the reverse with ‘Joint Services Parachute Centre (Lippspringe) B.F.P.O.16.
Peter Mantell reports this rarely seen pre-loaded slogan, produced by an IJ-25 machine.
Your editor has found this unusual item with both ‘URGENT’ and ‘NOT A CIRCULAR’:
Merv Dadswell reports this item from an EFS 2000 machine with the town die inverted – a great find!
Pitney Bowes Postscript Magazine
The Summer 2009 edition of the Postscript magazine can be downloaded from the Pitney Bowes web site http://www.morethanmail.info/landing-pages/postscript/postscript.htm
This edition includes (amongst others) the following topics:
DIGITAL MAILING REVOLUTION
Enjoy the benefits of a digital franking machine today
MAILROOM IN ACTION
Two page report on the mailing event of the year
EXPORT OR DIE
How Royal mail can help you export your way out of recession
WE CALL IT THE MAILSTREAM
How Pitney Bowes can help you streamline every aspect of your mailing operation
Advanced Mail
Alan Godfrey reports the first sighting of an Advanced Mail item from the N129 series. Please note that I omitted this series from the table on page 102-3 in error – my apologies.
Richard Goring reports the first sighting of an ‘Invalid Value’ die in blue ink and with an Advanced Mail slogan.
Interesting Items from the Past
Jim Ashby writes to say that he has often wondered about the small line that is commonly found in Universal HS townmarks, just above the date – see example below.
From studying the International Postal Supply patents and user’s manual (the Universal HS was based on the IPS Model M cancelling machine), Jim concludes that it is highly likely that this was caused by a retaining spring that held the date slugs in place. The only difference is that the date slug and spring arrangement is upside down on the Model HS. Jim kindly supplies a drawing of the clutch and die arrangement of the Model M.
Meanwhile, your editor has found an example from a Neopost Model 205 machine that shows the effect of a protruding plate-retaining screw.
This kind of effect is frequently seen on franks from ‘pre-ink-jet’ machines, but this is a particularly good example:
Roneo-Neopost Insurance Machines
Jim Ashby sends two items recently obtained relating to the Neopost National Insurance machine, which could be fitted with detachable FV1 meters/printing heads. The first is an advert, apparently obtained from the British Industries Fair in 1947, showing facsimile impressions on the front, and a photo of the machine on the back.
The second appears to be a National Health contribution card franked with genuine impressions from 1938. The absence of the holder’s name and number probably imply that it was a demonstration card. What can’t be seen very well in the scans is that the central value figures are embossed… this leads to circular indentations which are more visible on the back of the card. Embossing of impressions is one of the factors included in the patent for these machines as a possible security measure. Compare these with the 1955 Neopost Specimen card illustrated on page 77-7.
Instructional Marks
Jim Ashby sends this ‘REVENUE MANAGEMENT’ handstamp (below left) from Chester Mail Centre and Richard Goring reports this ‘IRREGULARITY NOTED’ handstamp (below right) from Southampton Mail Centre.
Meter Thematics from the Past
Your editor has found six 1930’s slogans from MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) Pictures Ltd.
Meter Thematics from the Past continued
Meter Thematics
Alan Godfrey has found this attractive design from Bluebird vehicles.
Peter Mantell reports another bird thematic – this time from Falcon Foodservice.
Meter Thematics Continued
Richard Goring has found this attractive heraldic shield from the London office of the Government of Gibraltar.
Coats of arms are plentiful on meter franks form schools and colleges, but this particular item from Peter Mantell certainly has the ‘wow’ factor.
Staying with heraldry, here is one from the British Forces Foundation, found by your editor.
I also like this one that I have recently found. It shows Arnie the Active Swansea Aardvark (aka Active Arnie) who, apparently, is the excitable young mascot that has been adopted by Swansea Council.
Meter Thematics Continued
Your editor has found this very unusual slogan that shows a fingerprint!
I have also come across this attractive slogan being used by Gateshead Council. It depicts the famous statue, “The Angel of the North”.
Your editor has found this unusual railway thematic from Clayton Equipment Ltd. Peter Mantell advises that such locomotives are used for mining and tunnelling work.
Staying on the railway theme, readers will recall that on page 98-9 I illustrated a stunning ‘Gauge 0’ railway thematic in the form of a PPI. Your editor has now found the very same design but this time on a meter frank. It must, therefore, automatically receive my ‘Meter Thematic of the Month’ award!
Meter News Page 105-1 of 12 July 2009