All stamps in this Group come from machines manufactured by the National Postal Meter Company and its successor the Commercial Controls Corporation (1940).
The franks are horizontal rectangles with separate circular town mark at left.
Three sub-groups exist. The frank in Sub-group HA is larger than in HB and HC and has a straight border line within the faux-perforation outer border. The franks in Sub-groups HB and HC are smaller and have single outer border line. The sub-groups differ also by the meter company identification in the frank, N.P.M. for Sub-groups HA and HB and CC for Sub-group HC.
Three varieties of town mark are found:
* a double circle with outer circle 26.5-27 mm in diameter
* a smaller broken inner circle (BIC) town mark with outer circle 25-25.5 mm in diameter
* a BIC TM with outer circle as large as the double circle TM (26.5-27 mm in diameter). This TM is less common than the others.
The value figures include block-like ornaments consisting of five stacked wavy lines. The right-most ornament is changed to a "½" when necessary. With five-bank value figures () the left-most ornament is inert and always shows. The ornament second from the left can be rotated to print the appropriate dollar figure for denominations above 99 and a half cents. Four-bank value figures () do not have an inert ornament at left.
Meter models: the Model 14 (value range .00½ to 9.99½), the Model 14A (value range .00½ to 1.99½), and the Model 14B (value range .00½ to 4.99½). Two other models were used that could print eighths and quarters of a cent values in one case and tenths of a cent values in the other. The model designations for them is unknown, perhaps 14C and 14D?
Group H meters first appeared in July 1938.
Sub-group HA – Frank 32 mm wide with double outer frame lineedit
Frank is 31 mm wide by 26 mm tall.
"U.S. POSTAGE" curved at top, "AMOUNT PAID" above meter number at bottom.
The value figures have two or three groups of five stacked wavy lines at the sides.
Meter number with "N.P.M." prefix.
Meter numbers in 6000 series plus a small number in the 7000 series for Types HA2.1 and HA2.2.
Type HA1 in 2001 edition
HA1.1. Model "14" series (multi-value), July 1938.
Meter numbers: 6000-6060.
Meter number with N.P.M. No prefix.
TM: DC
V/F:
a. With hour slug at left (6036)
Type HA2 in 2001 edition
HA1.2. Model "14" series (multi-value).
As Type HA1.1 but town mark BIC.
Meter numbers: 6000-6060, not all numbers used.
This stamp resulted from fitting Sub-group HB style town marks onto HA1.1 meters during servicing.
TM: BIC
V/F:
Type HA3 in 2001 edition
HA1.3. Model "14" series (multi-value).
As Type HA1.2 but the value figures are different, with one wavy line group and a zero at left of the decimal.
Meter number 6036 only, used by the Travelers Insurance Company.
TM: BIC
V/F:
Type HA4 in 2001 edition
HA2.1. Model "14" series (multi-value).
As Type HA1.1 but with a long dash inserted between "N.P.M. and "No".
Meter number: 6061-7093, 7106, 7152 plus replacement dies of 6000-6060 series meters.
TM: DC
V/F:
a. With time of day at left
b. With "P- (number)" in the town mark: P-298 (6179), P-469 (6551)
c. Used without town mark
Type HA5 in 2001 edition
HA2.2. Model "14" series (multi-value).
As Type HA2.1 but town mark BIC.
All are replacement dies of earlier HA meters in the 6000 series plus 7057.
TM: BIC
V/F:
a. With "P- (number)" in the town mark: P-599 (6455), P-298 (6179)
b. TM reads BREMERTON, WASH / P.S.N.Y. (6735). (P.S.N.Y. stands for Puget Sound Navy Yard. The meter was used by the Navy Yard Salute, a weekly newspaper published between 1941 and 1945.) [RRR]
Type HA6 in 2001 edition
HA2.3. Model "14" series (multi-value). [RRRR]
As Type HA2.1 but the value figures are different, with one wavy line group and a zero at left.
Meter number 6203 only.
TM: DC
V/F:
Type HA7 in 2001 edition
HA2.4. Model "14" series (multi-value). [RRRR]
As Type HA2.3 but with BIC town mark.
Meter number 6203 only.
TM: BIC
V/F:
Sub-group HB – Frank 26 mm wide with single outer frame line, inscribed "N.P.M.edit
Similar to Sub-group HA but frank is smaller at 26 mm wide by 24 mm tall and has a single wavy outer frame line.
Small stars in each upper corner.
The value figures have one group of five stacked wavy lines at each side.
Meter numbers with No prefix and N.P.M. suffix.
Meter numbers:
all numbers 7094 to 7348
less 7152 and 7169
odd numbers
even numbers
7349 to 7549
7550 to 7748
7749 to 7947
7948 to 8146
8147 to 8345
8346 to 8544
8545 to 8743
8744 to 8942
8943 to 9141
9142 to 9340
9341 to 9539
9540 to 9738
9739 to 9937
9938 to 10052
10100
plus replacement dies for meters in 6000 and 7000 series
Introduced in October 1940.
HB1. Model "14" series (multi-value), July 1936.
TM: BIC (two sizes known: large with outer circle 26.5-27 mm in diameter, small with outer circle 25-25.5 mm in diameter)
V/F:
a. With hour slug reading up at left: (8496, 9355) [R]
b. Town mark circles very thick
c. With "P- (number)" in the town mark: P-599 (9011, 9805), P-989 (7614), P-73 (9745), P-25 (7475)
d. Town and state at top of TM, blank at bottom: CLEVELAND OHIO (7718) (permit number removed from the bottom.)
SURCHARGES:
-1. AD'L 3/8¢ PD (8496)
-2. AD'L .8¢ PD in frame (8496)
HB2. Model "14" series (multi-value).
As HB1 but with double circle town mark.
V/F:
a. With "P-" and number at base of TM: P-469 (7471), P-298 (9990)
HB3. Model "14" series (multi-value). [RRR]
As HB1 but with single circle town mark.
One meter only, 9280 (PATTERSON FIELD BR. / FAIRFIELD OHIO)
V/F:
Sub-group HC – Frank 26 mm wide with single outer frame line, inscribed "CC"edit
Similar to Sub-group HB but inscribed "CC" for Commercial Controls instead of "N.P.M." (National Postal Meter).
National Postal Meter changed its name to Commercial Controls in 1944 after acquiring the U.S. Postal Meter Company.
Meter numbers with CC – prefix. Two sizes of the prefix CC – and cc –.
Meter numbers: 50001-51972 plus replacement dies for meters in 6000-100048 series.
Earliest known use, 25 February 1946.
Type HC1 in 2001 edition
HC1.1. Model "14" series (multi-value), 25 February 1946.
TM: BIC (two sizes known: large with outer circle 26.5-27 mm in diameter, small with outer circle 25-25.5 mm in diameter)
V/F:
a. Town mark inverted, date upright: "MEDFORD OREG." (8888) [RR]
b. Town mark circles thick (6773, 8070)
c. Letters in town mark larger than normal: "UTICA N.Y." (51608), "WHITE PLAINS N.Y. (9799)
d. Date only, without town mark
e. Inner arcs of town mark joined at bottom
f. Large arcs at top and bottom of town mark underlining the town and overlining the state names: (6930, 8627, 8878) [RR]
g. Town and state at top of TM, three short arcs at sides and bottom or with bottom damaged
h. Large arcs at the sides of the town mark overlapping the town name (7305, 7897, 9540)
j. Town mark reads "BREMERTON WASH. / P.S.N.Y.": 6450 (See HA2.2b) [RRR]
k. Town mark with town at top and "L.I.N.Y." (for Long Island New York) at bottom (9540)
l. "INSURED/ No.______" in large rectangle at left (7160)[RR]
m. "REGISTERED/ MAIL" in large rectangle at left, with or without town mark (50761, 51370) [R]
n. Time of day vertical at left of town mark (50326) [RRR]
o. "MUNICE" for "MUNCIE" in town mark (6708) [R]
SURCHARGES:
-1. AD'L 1/8¢ PD.
-8. AD'L 1/10¢ PD.
-a. slug inverted (6511, 7086, 7272, 7574)
-a. in frame (6434, 6729, 6923)
-b. in frame (8882, 50747)
-9. AD'L 4/10¢ PD.
-c. with P.D. instead of "PD." (error)
-10. AD'L 6/10¢ PD.
-2. AD'L 3/8¢ PD.
-a. in frame (6771, 8442, 9085)
-a. in frame
-11. AD'L 8/10¢ PD.
-3. AD'L 6/8¢ PD.
-a. in frame (9606)
-4. AD'L 7/8¢ PD.
-12.1. AD'L .3¢ PD. (6596)
-a. in frame (8372)
-12.2. Adl: .3¢ Pd. (7383) [RR]
-5.1. AD'L 1/4¢ PD.
-13. AD'L .6¢ PD. (6896, 8645, 9395)
-a. in frame (7303, 7513, 9065)
-a. ADL instead of AD'L (7777, 8695, 9539)
-5.2. ADDITIONAL 1/4¢ / POSTAGE PAID (9682) [RRR]
-14.1. AD'L .8¢ PD.
-6. AD'L 3/4¢ PD.
-a. in frame
-7. AD'L 3/5¢ PD. (6826)
-14.2. Ad'l .8¢ Pd. (8136) [RR]
NOTE: Meter numbers 7749 and 7775 with breaks in the outer circle of the town mark are philatelic fabrications.
Type HC2 in 2001 edition
HC1.2. Model unknown (14C?) (multi-value).
As HC1.1 but the meter prints postage values in quarters and eighths of a cent.
V/F:
a. Value figures with wavy lines missing at right [RR-RRRR]
b. Value figures with portion of fraction replacing wavy lines at right (8973).
Value seen: 2 ¾ 1/ [RRRR]
This may be the result of a "1/2" wheel from a Type HC1.1 machine being inserted in error. If the wheel shifted during use it may have printed only a portion of the "1/2". To fix this meter, the manufacturer may have removed the right hand wheel and not replaced it (resulting in variety a).
Type HC3 in 2001 edition
HC1.3. Model unknown (14D?) (multi-value).
As HC1.1 but the meter prints postage in tenths of a cent.
V/F:
Type HC4 in 2001 edition
HC1.4. Model "14" series (multi-value).
As HC1.1 but value figures show zero instead of 5-wavy-line block at left.
V/F:
Type HC7 in 2001 edition
HC1.5. Model "14" series (multi-value).
As HC1.1 but with double circle town mark.
V/F:
a. TM with larger letters and wider space between the circles: 8400 (KANSAS CITY MO.)
SURCHARGES:
-1. AD'L 1/8¢ PD.
-5. AD'L 3/10¢ PD. (7013)
-a. slug inverted
-6. AD'L 4/10¢ PD. (7513)
-2. AD'L 3/8¢ PD.
-7. AD'L 6/10¢ PD.
-a. in frame (7013)
-a. in frame (7513, 8569)
-3. AD'L 1/4¢ PD.
-8. AD'L 8/10¢ PD.
-4. AD'L 1/10¢ PD.
-a. in frame
-a. in frame (9178)
-9. AD'L 0.3¢ PD.
Type HC10 in 2001 edition
HC1.6. Model unknown (14C?) (multi-value).
As HC1.5 (double circle town mark) but prints postage in eighths and quarters of a cent.
V/F:
Type HC8 in 2001 edition
HC1.7. Model "14" series (multi-value).
As HC1.1 but with single circle town mark.
V/F:
a. Town and state at top of TM, blank or obliterated at bottom
b. TM is arch (circle without bottom half) containing town and state
c. Town and state at bottom of TM, upper half blank or obliterated
NOTE: Some stamps that appear to have single circle TM may in fact have TM BIC with worn or broken inner arcs.
Type HC9 in 2001 edition
HC1.8. Model unknown (14C?) (multi-value).
As HC1.7 (single circle town mark) but prints postage in eighths and quarters of a cent.
V/F:
Type unlisted in 2001 edition
HC1.9. Model unknown (14D?) (multi-value).
As HC1.3 but the meter wheel that prints postage in tenths of a cent removed.
SURCHARGES
-1. BULK RATE / AD'L .8¢ PD. framed
Type HC6 in 2001 edition
HC2. Model "14" series (multi-value). [S]
As HC1.1 but meter number prefix "CC — No".
Four meters had this prefix:
7206 (PERTH AMBOY N.J.)
7773 (POMONA CALIF.)
9005 (ENGLEWOOD N.J.)
9009 (MOUNT VERNON N.Y.)
V/F:
Type HC5 in 2001 edition
HC3. Model "14" series (multi-value). [RR]
As HC1.1 but with three stacked dashes at right.
This is an experimental design used by Commercial Controls for a five to six week period in June-July 1952.
) the left-most ornament is inert and always shows. The ornament second from the left can be rotated to print the appropriate dollar figure for denominations above 99 and a half cents. Four-bank value figures (
) do not have an inert ornament at left.
[RRRR]
2 ¾ 1/ 
