Editor: Alastair Nixon, 7 Bramblegate, Edgcumbe Park, Crowthorne, Berks, RG45 6JA. Tel: +44 (0) 1344 775378
Email: Web site: http://www.nixon48.freeserve.co.uk
Editorial
Perhaps this time’s Meter of the Month is not quite as exciting as some recent examples, but I am curious as to why anyone would want to advertise their business with just a postcode! Certainly it is unusual. As you might guess, I have looked up the user - it turns out to be (the well-known department store) Harvey Nichols & Co Ltd, 109-125 Knightsbridge.
Ascom Hasler InteliPost Machine
Thanks to Patrick Awcock, a live example of this machine has now been recorded. It has the serial number A203600995 from an unknown business in London NW8 (St. Johns Wood). Please note that the image is ‘computer enhanced’ from a black and white photocopy so the colour shade may not be exact.
If there is any hidden meaning to the digits within the serial number, it is not instantly obvious. Could the ‘20’ be the year backwards and the ‘36’ a code for the ‘UK’? Has anyone got any other thoughts?
This month’s edition is just three pages. The other main news item this month involves a new DM machine variant from Pitney Bowes – see Page 22-3.
Acknowledgements
Thanks for news and correspondence from the following:
David Aspinwall, Patrick Awcock and Jack Peach.
Latest Numbers
Below is a list of ‘Latest Numbers’ as at 24th Aug 2002. Please could I have updates for the next issue by 22nd September. Thanks.
Frama
Sensonic 21-2600 FSC 221975 31.05.02 Static for 2 months
Sensonic 2000 FSC 273534 30.07.02
Mailspirit FSC 700599 29.07.02
Sensonic 2000? FSC 900884 25.06.02
Francotyp-Postalia
EFS 2000/3000 EFS 556788 12.08.02 *
T1000 T 003430 20.02.02 Static for 5 months
T1000 T 555877 29.07.02
JetMail FJ0552736 29.07.02
Ascom Hasler
Smile HS 49111T 07.05.02 Static for 2 months
Smile HS 91590T 01.08.02
300 Series HT 31767T 30.07.02
InteliPost A203600995 14.05.02 + See page 22-1
Neopost
4450 1NE 44078 06.03.02 Static for 5 months
SM 22,26 4NE 20383 31.07.02
5450, 5460 5NE 17442 19.07.02
8500, 8550/8750 8NE 43919 15.05.02 Static for 3 months
SM 75,85,95 9NE 50882 15.05.02 Static for 3 months
IJ25 N1109812 02.08.02
IJ25 N1121468 31.07.02 New series
IJ65, 75 N1203022 28.06.02
IJ35, 45 N1300008 20.05.02 Static for 2 months
Pitney Bowes
Paragon PBP 04370 02.11.01 Static for 8 months
Paragon? PBP 81928 08.08.02 *
Personal Post PB251811 05.07.02 +
DM 200, 250 PB308059 08.08.02 *
DM 225, 300 PB378958 05.07.02
Personal Post PB404338 02.08.02
DM 400 etc PB500122 19.08.02 * See page 22-3
Post Perfect PB754037 18.07.02 +
B921 PB929666 06.08.02
SECAP
DP200 ST220875 05.07.02
DP400 ST420640 15.07.02
* This report was kindly supplied by David Aspinwall.
+ This report was kindly supplied by Patrick Awcock.
Pitney Bowes – Digital Mailing & Personal Post
David Aspinwall reports a new machine type with the serial prefix ‘PB5’. The noticeable characteristic of this machine is that the code block only has the item number. The item in question is PB500122 from Thomas Telford (see illustration).
Jack Peach has kindly obtained some further details about this machine:
“PB5 is the prefix allocated to Pitney Bowes DM Series (DM standing for Digital Mailing).
Currently there are six models in this Series:-
Model Length (mm) Weight (kg) Items per Min Max Thickness (mm)
400 985 20.4 90 16
500 1195 27.1 135 16
550 1195 27.1 160 16
800-825 1600 64 180 16
850-875 1600 64 210 16
900-925 1600 64 240 19
With IntelliLink each machine is connected by Modem to the Internet. This enables information to be downloaded from Pitney Bowes' Server and from Mail Carriers which are likely to grow in number in the future. Each of these has its own scale of postage rates which may (will) change from time to time. 'Postage by Phone' is available by the touch of a button and the optional 'MeterNet' enables machines to deal with an unlimited number of accounts. Optional 'Weigh-on-The-Way' deals with mixed batches of mail, weighing and calculating postage for up to 110 items per minute. PPI facilities can be available on all models, future changes in operation can be downloaded from Pitney Bowes as they are introduced.
The now common Automatic Date Change and selection of Slogans etc are available. “
The first recorded use that I have is from an example dated 8th July 2002 – machine serial number PB500067, item 105 (see illustration). Please report any examples dated earlier than that.
Regarding PB4, Jack Peach also reports that this prefix is used for Personal Post machines fitted with integral scales.
Meter News Page 22-1 August 2002