The mailing room franking machine

The mailing room franking machine! Those were the days, weren't they?

For those who may not be familiar, a franking machine is a device that prints postage stamps or franking marks on envelopes and packages, allowing businesses to send mail without the need for individual stamps. Franking machines were commonly used in the past, especially in large organizations, such as corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.

The mailing room franking machine was typically a large, industrial-grade device that was installed in a dedicated area, such as a mailroom or shipping department. It was usually operated by a trained staff member who would feed the machine with pre-printed franking labels or stamps, and then insert the mailpiece into the machine.

The machine would then print the postage and franking mark on the mailpiece, which would include the sender's name, address, and any relevant information, such as the date and time of mailing. The franking mark would also serve as proof of postage, eliminating the need for individual stamps.

Franking machines were popular in the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s, when mail volumes were high and postage rates were relatively low. They were often used in conjunction with other mail processing equipment, such as sorting machines and automated packaging systems.

However, with the advent of digital technology and the rise of online postage services, franking machines have largely become obsolete. Today, many businesses and organizations use online postage services, such as Stamps.com or Endicia, to print postage labels and send mail.

Despite their decline, franking machines remain a nostalgic reminder of a bygone era, when mail was a more labor-intensive and manual process.