Antique Mail Room Machines 

Addressing machines are used to print names and addresses on mailing labels, envelopes, form letters, and other items. These machines eventually led to a considerable savings in clerical labor for companies with large mailing lists, such as insurance companies, publishers of periodicals, and companies that used direct mail advertising. 

The earliest known patent for an addressing machine was awarded to a Canadian, Robert Dick, in 1859. An illustration from the 1859 patent is reproduced top right. Patents for improvements on Dick's machine were awarded to William H. Clague and Robert B. Randall in 1871, Elias Longley in 1875, and Dick in 1875, 1884, and 1889.  1894, 1899, and 1908 patent dates also appear on this type of machine. This patent history indicates that this type of machine was marketed for at least 50 years.  The second photo to the right shows a machine based on the 1875 Longley patent that was made by the Mather M'F'G. Co., Philadelphia.

According to the 1859 Dick patent, a user of his addressing machine was expected to use a printing press to print columns of names and addresses on sheets of paper.  The individual columns of names and addresses were then cut apart and glued together end to end to form a roll.  The roll was put on a spool in the back end of the addressing machine (the end to the left in the first image in the column to the right).  The paper was fed through a number of rollers, which moved the paper through a tank containing liquid adhesive, and then to a cutter at the front of the machine.  The machine was placed on a stack of envelops, newspapers, or other items to be addressed.  When the first name and address came out of the machine, it was cut off the roll and at the same time pressed onto the top envelope.  That envelope was removed, and the process continued.  The patent claimed that two people with one machine could address 4,000 items per hour.  Dick proposed that the same technology could be used to produce account statements that could be attached to cards and mailed.

A number of other addressing machines were patented during the 1870s and 1880s, including ones by McFatrich (1870), Darling (1873), Edison (1877), Belknap (1877), and Dennis and York. Leffingwell (1926) reports that "a patent was issued to James McFatrich, of Lena, Illinois, on October 4, 1870, for a machine called the 'McFatrich Mailer' which was, so far as is known, the first addressing machine. [Evidently, Leffingwell was not aware of the Dick machines.] Securing a license from the inventor, the Shniedewend & Lee Company, of Chicago, manufactured the mailer during the full term of the patent, beginning in 1880. This company was succeeded by the Challenge Machinery Company, in 1893.  The name was changed to the Mercantile Addressing Machine Company.  McFatrich was not alone in this pioneering, for in 1877 Frank D. Belknap, of Wooster, Ohio, made an attempt to get away from hand addressing. He wrote the names and addresses on a sheet of parchment paper with an electrically operated pen and obtained additional addresses by passing an inked roller over several sheets of parchment containing the master addresses, the envelope or matter to be addressed being placed under the sheet. When the typewriter came into commercial use, parchment paper, instead of being used in long strips as in the earlier models, was cut into individual pieces and pasted to a cardboard frame, thus making the first addressing machine stencil.  These stencils were inserted into the typewriter, one at a time, and the name and address cut into the paper by the needle-point type with which the early stencil-cutting typewriters were equipped.  The stencils were then fed through the addressing machine and the envelope addressed, the outline of the letters being dotted." (W. H. Leffingwell, The Office Appliance Manual, 1926, pp. 406-07) According to a 1924 account, "The original addressing machine invented in 1878 by Frank Belknap, now the Rapid Addressing Machine Company [which was founded by Belknap in 1885], was designed as an aid in addressing envelopes. The characters were cut on a strip of paper. Perforations on the side, similar to the perforations on the film for moving pictures, afforded a means of drawing the strip through the machine. Later, separate cards made up of a piece of parchment paper pasted to a cardboard frame were used." (The American Digest of Business Machines, 1924.)

"In 1890, another inventor, Walter E. Crane, brought out a keyboard machine which embossed names and addresses on paper and metal. Thin brass was used. The thin brass was in continuous long strips. To print the addresses, the continuous strips of brass were run over a drum on high-speed addressing machines." (Leffingwell, pp. 407-09.)

"In 1892, Joseph S. Duncan, now President of the Addressograph Company, invented a machine that imprinted names and addresses from rubber type glued on a block of wood. He later designed a metal frame in which might be set individual pieces of rubber type. Later came the Graphotype, a machine for embossing type on metal plates." The earliest advertisement that we have found for an Addressograph machine dates from 1896. The ad states that the machine could address 2,000 envelopes per hour. The ad shows the machine (left, with enlarged detail to right), which bears an 1896 patent date. The address plates, which were connected to form endless chains, appear to use rubber type. 

The preceding is consistent with the fact that the earliest patent date observed on a Graphotype machine is 1899. On a standard Graphotype, a letter was dialed and then a handle was pulled to emboss that letter on a metal plate. 

In 1899, Addressograph advertised the foot-powered No. 2 addressing machine, which was similar in appearance to the 1896 machine pictured to the left, for use with metal plates connected to form continuous chains. The price was $40. Until at least 1910, Addressograph offered two types of address printing machines, ones that used plates with sliding rubber type and others that used embossed metal plates.

In 1907, Addressograph offered Card Index Addressographs that printed addresses using separate plates that were loaded in a vertical hopper. These machines, one of which is pictured to the left, were $73 including an oak cabinet.  Immediately to the right is a picture of one of the metal plates. 

In 1907, the Addressograph Co. advertised "30,000 Addressographs in Use."

While the first Graphotype patent dates from 1899, initially customers using metal address plates may have been required to have the addresses embossed on the plates by the Addressograph Co.  However, by 1910, Addressograph was selling its Office Graphotype. According to a 1910 ad, "The Office Graphotype is an electric motor driven machine for stamping addresses on metal plates. It was designed especially for users of the Metal Card Index System." The machine was $350. An illustration is provided top right. An Addressograph machine is pictured in the 1911 catalog of Hesser Business College, Manchester, NH.

Eventually, Addressograph offered hand and electric-powered addressing machines to print addresses, as well as foot-powered models. In 1924, Addressograph printing machines ranged from $37.50 for a hand-operated model that could print about 1,000 addresses per hour, and $190 for a foot-operated machine, to $1,500 for a large automatic-feed electric machine that could print 9,600 addresses per hour. Hand operated Graphotypes were $145 to $260, electric models were $395 to $460, and the keyboard model was $850. 

A number of companies in addition to Addressograph produced hand-operated, foot-powered, and electric addressing machines in the early 20th century. Additional brands marketed during 1904-25 were the Addressall, Belknap/Rapid, Elliott, Meacham, Montague/Direx-All, Rogers, Standard, and Velox. Some of these machines used metal plates like those used with the Addressograph, while others used fiber stencil address cards.

 Belknap Rotary Rapid Addressing Machine, 1902 ad

"In 1897 Sterling Elliott devised an addressing system.  His machine embodied principles of construction and operation not found in the others.  It was designed primarily for his private use and was not marketed until 1900."  (Leffingwell, p. 410.) The Elliott Addressing Machine Co. introduced fiber address stencil cards during the first decade of the 20th century. Addresses were cut on the fiber cards using a standard typewriter. To print addresses, ink was forced through the stencil cards. (The American Digest of Business Machines, 1924) In 1914, Elliott advertised its hand, foot, and electric powered printing machines for $35, $90, and $185, respectively. In 1917, the price range was $50 to $200. In 1924, the price range was $35 for a hand model to $500 for an automatic feed model. An Elliott Hand Crank Rotary Addresser from the 1920s-1930s is pictured to the right.

     Elliott Addressing Machine (left) and Office Stencil Cutter (right), 1905     

In 1907, Addressograph was marketing its Dupligraph machine (pictured right), "the highest development of the process of producing imitation typewritten letters." The machine simultaneously printed the text of a letter (prepared using sliding type), a name and address (using an Addressograph plate), a choice of salutation (Dear Sir or Gentlemen), and a signature (in a different color ink), all at the rate of 800 to 1,200 per hour.  In 1927, American Multigraph introduced the Addressing Multigraph, which used metal plates to print addresses and form letters simultaneously.  In 1931 Addressograph and American Multigraph merged to form Addressograph Multigraph.

The following two photographs were taken at an Addressograph sales outlet in 1929.  The first shows a room with ten Addressograph machines of various types, including three Graphotype machines.  The second shows a shop with men working on two Addressograph machines.  In the latter photo, the machine on the left is a desktop manual Addressograph attached to a work stand.  The machine on the left is labeled Automatic Envelope Feed Addressograph.

   
Addressograph Machines, 1929

Dick addressing machine, 1859.  This illustration shows the machine atop a stack of papers.  "A" identifies the paper column of addresses as it emerges from the tank of liquid adhesive inside the machine. "D" identifies the cutter that is pivoted down to cut off one address at a time and press it onto the top paper.


Longley addressing machine, 1875, serial no. 918. The vertical bar in the middle of the photo is the cutter. The item to the right is the tank for liquid adhesive.  This tank, which appears to be handmade, fits into the machine.

Dick addressing machine, 1889 patent model.
Courtesy of  Barry Baldwin.  
For sale on his website, 
Patent Models from the 1800s 

Graphotype, 1910 ad


Graphotype Model 6142,
 patented 1917


Woman with Keyboard Electric Graphotype at 24th National Business Show, 1927


Hand-Operated Addressograph Model H3 Patented 1904-12


Office with Electric Addressograph (left) and Graphotype, Washington, DC, c. 1922, detail.
Lib. of Cong., Prints and Photographs Div., LC-USZ62-111333


Electric Addressograph, 1923


Elliott Addressing Machine
Courtesy of Martin Howard Collection
www.antiquetypewriters.com


Elliott Hand Crank Rotary Addresser, 1920s-1930s.

Perfect Envelope Sealer, 1906 ad

Simplex Envelope Sealer, 1908 ad

Reynolds Envelope Sealer, patented 1910

Image coming H
Standard Envelope Sealer Model C, c. 1916-27



Standard Envelope Sealer
Model F.  
Courtesy of Martin Howard Collection
www.antiquetypewriters.com



Standard Envelope Sealer Model H, patented 1914-18

Elliott Envelope Sealer,
c. 1924-39

Stamp Affixers

Stamp affixers served two purposes. First, they mechanized the process of affixing stamps to letters. Second, they made it more difficult for employees to steal stamps. A 1900 ad claimed that the Klein Stamp Sticker, which was patented in 1899, had a capacity of 300 stamps and moisture for 2,000 stamps. The illustration to the immediate right shows that the stamps were stacked vertically inside the machine. The Alert Post Stamp Machine was advertised in 1905.

Stamp vending machines were introduced shortly after 1900. Initially, private companies made coils of stamps from sheets issued by the government. The US Post Office began to issue coils in 1908, and shortly after that a number of companies began to market stamp affixing machines that used coil stamps. 

The White Stamp Affixer, which was advertised during 1910-16, was a desk-top machine. The National Stamp Affixer (pictured to the right) was another desk-top machine. The Automatic Envelope Sealing and Stamping Machine, which was advertised in 1911, sealed and stamped 5,000 to 8,000 envelopes per hour, using coils of stamps purchased from the post office.

The Multipost Stamp Affixer & Recorder, a smaller handheld device, was patented in 1911 and advertised from 1910 to 1940. The Kendall, Postamper, Simplex, Standard, and Wizard stamp affixers, which were advertised during 1912-27, were similar to the Multipost. According to a Postamper ad, "One stroke of the plunger affixes the stamp and also counts it. A measured drop of water moistens the envelope and a rubber cushion presses the stamp to the moistened surface. Double lock safeguards your stamps. One for the cashier who puts in the stamps--the other for the operator, so that no stamps can be taken without his knowledge."

Stamp Perforators

"The Cummins Stamp Perforator prevents all thefts of postage stamps.  This method was authorized by Postmaster General Meyer's ruling of May 4th, 1908, as follows: 'It shall be permissible to puncture or perforate letters, numerals or other marks or devices in the Unites States postage stamps.  The punctures or perforations shall not exceed one thirty-second of an inch in diameter.'" (System, Oct. 1908) 

Metered Mailing Machines

In 1920, several years after Pitney invented a postage meter, Congress approved metered mail. Pitney-Bowes introduced the first postage meter and permit printing machine in 1921. The machines not only printed pertinent postal information on envelopes but also sealed the envelopes. "Metered permit mail is imprinted with the mailer's license and meter number, together with the postmark. This operation is performed simultaneously with the sealing by a permit printing machine. The meter is a detachable portion of such machines and it is taken to the post-office where it is set by the postmaster for the amount of postage desired, which is paid for at that time. It locks when this amount has been used." (Office Equipment Catalogue, 1927, pp. 71-72)

The first Pitney-Bowes machine, the Model A, sold for $1,350 and leased for $10 a month. The second, introduced in 1924, sold for $735. Because the equipment was expensive, in the 1920s use of Pitney-Bowes machines was limited to companies and other organizations that sent a large number of letters. During 1921-27, 2,849 Pitney-Bowes machines were installed. (W. Cahn, The Story of Pitney-Bowes, 1961, pp. 66-67, 81.) By 1927, the International Postal Supply Co. was marketing Sealometer postage metering and sealing machines in competition with Pitney-Bowes.

In 1930, Pitney-Bowes introduced its Model H, a desktop postal meter and printing machine that did not seal letters. The Model H was $75.

Non-Metered Permit Mailing Machines

In the 1920s, there was also "non-metered permit mail" in the US.  A company printed its permit number and a postmark on letters using a machine that did not have a meter. Payment for postage was made when the mail was delivered to the post office. Pitney-Bowes mailing machines could be used for metered permit mail or, without a meter, for non-metered permit mail.

In 1924-27, the Standard Envelope Sealer Mfg. Co. advertised the Standard Postal Permit Printer and Sealer. The machine, which did not have a meter, automatically fed and sealed envelopes and printed the permit information. In 1924, this machine was $675. 

Alert Post Stamp Machine, 1905 ad

National Stamp Affixer


Multipost Stamp Affixer & Recorder, Patented 1911, Advertised 1910-40


Cummins Stamp Perforator,
B. F. Cummins, Chicago, IL, 1908 ad


Pitney-Bowes Model A Permit Printing Machine.
The Model A was the first Pitney-Bowes machine. It was still marketed in 1927.

Reis O.K. Letter Opener, Patented 1911-19

Lightning Letter Opener, Patented 1912-18

Parcel Labeling Equipment

Stencils were used to label shipping crates by 1860.  The images to the right show: (1) An example of a custom made stencil that could be ordered by mail by 1860. (2) A general purpose stencil that could be used to label a box with letters and numbers or letters only.  (3) A hand stencil cutting outfit. The images below show two rotary stencil cutting machines and a linear stencil cutting machine.  Stencil cutting outfits and machines were used to cut paper stencils used to label boxes.

  

Diagraph Improved Stencil Cutting Machine, American Diagraph Co., St. Louis, MO, 1908 ad.
A similar model was offered in 1905.

  
Bradley Stencil Machine, Bradley Stencil Machine Co., St. Louis, MO, patented 1893-98.

  
Bradley Stencil Machine, Bradley Stencil Machine Co., St. Louis, MO, patented 1893-99, introduced 1898, 
A. J. Bradley, NY, NY, 1915 ad.

In 1870, Power & Wallwork, New York, NY, advertised Holt's Patent Improved Marking Wheel, made by Secomb & Co, New York, NY, "For marking the name of a firm and its place and style of business, upon any package which may be shipped."  The advertisement also stated that this machine "is superseding the use of stencil plate for printing wrapping paper, cloth or paper bags, boxes, &c.  It consists of a cylinder with rubber type, and by simply rolling it over any surface, impressions can be produced almost equal to press work." 

Image coming H

Custom-made stencils of this type could be ordered by mail by 1860



Revolving Stencil Letters & Figures, patented 1868-71, 
still advertised 1928


Stencil Cutting Outfit, New York Stencil Works

The UK introduced both postal rates based on weight and adhesive postage stamps in 1840. Other countries soon followed, and as a result there was a market for letter scales. The photographs in the column to the right show two styles of letter scales that were introduced around 1840. The top one is a candlestick spring scale of a type that was marketed until the 1870s. Below that is an English Roberval balance scale of a type that was marketed until around 1940.

To the left is a Fairbanks letter balance scale of a type that was patented in 1876 advertised by 1878.  To the right is an 1883 ad for a Fairbanks post office package scale..

Montgomery Ward's 1894-95 mail order catalog advertised a Victor letter balance with the same design as the scale in the photo to the right.  Scales of this type were advertised in Germany in 1910.
 

Spring balance scales were advertised by the Gilfillan Scale & Hardware Co. in 1895 (see ad to right) and marketed for decades by the Pelouze Scale and Mfg. Co. The model in the Zodiac pattern to the left was marketed by Tiffany Studios of New York in the late 1890s and early 1900s.

To the left is a bilateral pendulum scale of a type that was patented in Germany in 1904 and advertised in Germany in 1908-10. 

For photographs of a number of additional styles of early postal scales, click on the following links to visit the exhibits at the Canadian Postal Museum and Scales & Weights.

Candlestick spring scale, Jos. Edm. Ratcliff, UK. The candlestick scale was introduced in 1840.  A similar Spring Pillar Balance was advertised in 1855.

Roberval balance scale, England, style introduced 1840. Similar scales advertised 1855 & 1878.


Letter Balance, 1883 ad


Peerless Letter Scale, Marshall Son & co., Boston, MA, 1883 ad