The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-01-30
Machine to Impress Stamp on
Envelope Invented.
Heavy Losses Through Rcbberies OF
Postoffices VIII Be Avoided, 1t
10 Claimed, by Use of
This Device.

Kansas City.-A machine to stamp
postage, which will render unneces-
sary probably rs per cent. of the post
age stamps now in use and practically
put an end to the loss of stamps by
postoffice robberies and by petty
thefts in large business concerns. is
the invention Of w. d. Nelson. assist
ant fire warden of Kansas City.
In this city alone it is estimated
that business firms are out $4,000
year through the loss Of stamps that
are dishonesty appropriated, or
! stolen" said Mr.. Nelson. MY machine
will stop this absolutely, saving the
business men of the country hundreds
of thousands Of dollars annually"
For ten years Mr.. Nelson was en-
ployed IN the rCstoffice here, and he
isas practical knowledge of the stamp
business, says the Star. The neces-
tity of the machine he has invented
occurred to him while he was engaged
in this work, and six years ago he
perfected his idea. He submitted his
| plan to the government officials in
Washington, but received little en-
enlargement, as they told him that his
! idea was not feasible because its prac-
| tical adoption would require too
radical revision OF the postoffice regu-
lations.
Recently he learned that the gov
| eminent is considering the adoption
of machine almost exactly like his.
! Now he purposes to assert his rights,
and as he was the original inventor
and his suggestion to the postofiice de-
partment six years ago is a matter of
record, he expects to win his conten'
ton.
Mr.. Nelson's machine will stamp let
ters with great facility, the postage
being represented by an impression
instead Of the ordinary postage stamp.
Each machine will represent spe-
Gifted amount of postage. Should a
firm want 500 worth of postage, the
government, which Is to retain the
ownership of all the machines, would
place 500 machine in the possession
OF the firm. After that amount OF
postage has been used, the machine
will lock automatically and no more
impressions" will be Forthcoming
from it. Each machine will have q
certain individuality. consisting Of 9
number and when desired the name
Of the firm using it. This number and
name will be stamped on each letter
with the postage. Thus every letter
will carry an Identification quite dis
couraging to the postage pilferers.
1.-The government sustains an enorm
Gus loss every year from postoffice
robberies in small towns said Mr.
Nelson. "My machine will prevent a
least two-thirds Of this loss. O.
course, in small individual sales the
postage stamp would still be in vogue
but for all large sales the machine
would be invaluable. 1t would b.
used SO extensively that even in the
small towns only small stocks of post
age stamps would be necessary anC
the incentive for robbery would b.
greatly minimized."
When the inventor had demonstrat
ed the practicability of his idea loca
Du0AASSo Hcu VOIuHtSSISu " UulAu
factory for the manufacture of thu
machine. All the royalty they asket
from the government was an amour
equal to the cost OF the paper ant
printing of postage stamps, thus say
ing the government the expense o
mucilage, the most important item il
the manufacture of postage stamps
Two kinds Of mucilage are used OF
stamps. There is a summer style il
mucilage and different kind used il
winter.
MY greatest difficulty was in max