Most experiments with self service meters were short lived and sometimes went little noticed. The earliest known were the three di Brazza machines placed in New York in 1897 as discussed in the MSS Bulletin issue 237.

NY Tmes Article on diBrazza Machine
Article in the New York Times copyright © The New York Times
Originally Published October 7, 1897

Here we present a selection of images from a MSS Bulletin issue 261 discussion of a number of other experiments.

USSR “Automatic Post Office”, 1933

This print was made by a coin operated vending machine stationed at the Exhibition of Socialist Communications in Moscow in 1933. The image below left was shown on the cover of MSS Bulletin issue 261. Thanks to Joel Hawkins

USSR Automatic Post Office Close Up

Kahrs Norway, 1900

The Kahrs meter was long accepted as the first meter used in the world until the di Brassa meter was discovered in the late 1990’s. Thanks to Richard Stambaugh

Kahrs Norway Close Up

Wales Machines of New Zealand, 1904

Thanks to Richard Stambaugh

Wales Machines of New Zealand Close Up

Moss Machines of New Zealand, 1904

Thanks to Richard Stambaugh

Moss Machines of New Zealand Close Up

Wilkinson Trial

The Wilkinson trial in London from January to August, 1912 was quite famous and stamp collectors produced several hundred covers. Thanks to Richard Stambaugh.

Wilkinson Trial Close Up

Francotyp, Berlin 1954/1955

These units were used at two locations in Berlin. Properly mailed examples are relatively rare. Thanks to Richard Stambaugh.

Francotyp Berlin Close Up

OMT “Posto Automatico”, 1956 and 1965

The OMT machines were placed at various machines in Rome in 1956 and again in 1965. Thanks to Richard Stambaugh.

OMT Posto Automatico Close Up

Comac of New Zealand, 1964

Coin Machines Ltd. of Christchurch installed a single machine at the post office for six weeks in 1964. Thanks to Richard Stambaugh.

COMAC of New Zealand 1964 Close Up

Comac of New Zealand, 1972

Coin Machines Ltd. installed one machine each in all the major cities of New Zealand in 1972. Thanks to Richard Stambaugh.

COMAC of New Zealand 1972 Close Up

USSR Perm Registered Meter, 1970’s

Not much is known about these registered mail machines that appeared in the USSR and other Eastern Block countries. Perm was the only native maker of meter machines and the only thing known about the company is that it was located in the city of Perm, thus the name used by meter collectors. Thanks to Joel Hawkins.

COMAC of New Zealand 1972 Close Up

Kokuto Koki Kogyo Tests of 1970 and 1974

Little is known (to the non-Japanese speaking) about two tests by this company because information written in Japanese remains untranslated. Requests have been made for assistance in the translation of these documents. Thanks to Richard Stambaugh.

COMAC of New Zealand 1972 Close Up