The "Arbeitsgemeinschaft Briefpostautomation e.V." (Study Group Postal Automation) founded 1968 by visionary philatelists, researches and documents the postal technology from the very beginning of the mechanisation to present day's automated mail processing all over the world. It spans from the first cancellation machines more than 100 years ago, to the latest electronic coding and sorting systems in mail centres in all countries. It includes:
Vending machines for stamps and booklets, stamp dispensers,
self service mailing systems (ABAS, PIA), self service post offices,
franking machines, computer postage, aso.
Automation at the counter:
Registered mail processing, bar code labels,
counter printed stamps, counter terminals (i.e. EPOS, Riposte) etc.
Automation for mail processing:
Culler/facer/cancelling machines, coding desks, address readers,
video coding systems, forwarding/return automation
All the means necessary for automation:
Standardizing of letter sizes, mail codes in addresses and
cancellations, luminescent stamps, orientation marks aso.
The ArGe BPA is an center-of-interest in this collecting field.
it researches and documents postal automation all over the
world, keeps close contact to manufacturers and post organisations, cooperates with five sister study groups in other countries, has international members in countries from the USA to Japan, meets once a year for the members meeting andpersonal information exchange,
arranges regional meetings from time to time, issues a 60 page publication in German language each quarter(including new coding formats, decoding information aso.),
issues special circulars with information about special events, offers selections of older and hard-to-get items, assists in making collections fit for exhibitions.All this you get for an annual membership fee of EUR 25,-.
Roll Goebel, Bergstr. 15 A, D-31061 Alfeld, Germany
or from
Heinz Friedberg, Hofheimer Str. 1, D-63128 Dietzenbach, Germany
e-mail hfriedberg@t-online.de
