POSTAL LETTER COUNTING.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2397, 8 December 1881, Page 4

POSTAL LETTER COUNTING.

When the enormous number of letters passing through the Post Office daily and the haste of despatch are considered, it will be conceded that it ia no easy matter to ascertain with accuracy the exact number transmitted during a yoar or any other given period ; and yet for statistical purposes this m not unfrequently an important matter. She enumeration is at present mec tally performed by the stamper as the letters pass under his hands, and this method is, of course, open to objection on the score of human fallibility. In order to render the process of counting infallible, Mr E. .Ferguson and Mr H. B. Kempe, of the General Post Office, have invented and patented a method whereby perfect acocraoy is attainable either by mechanical or by electrical means. Injthe first case a •mall counter, similar to an engine counter, <ii placed in the head or handle of the hand stamp, and each time the stamper presses it upon the letter it is registered on the counter. At the close of the day the stamp is opened, the number of letters stamped read off and registered, and the oounter set ready for the next day's work. In the second case, two methods have been devised for electrically the object. In one the striking of the inking pad causes electrical contact to be made, which transmits a current to a oounter aimilar to that of a gas meter, and so registers erery letter stamped. The other method is aimilar in principle, but a lever stamp is employed. This invention is ingenious, and has the merit of being both simple and effective, thus commending itself to notice as a mean* of correctly registering the number of letters passing through the post.—London Paper.