The Swiss company Hasler entered the U.S. postage meter market in 1981. Their U.S. agents were called IMS Hasler and later LEO Hasler until 1987 when the company merged with two other Swiss telecommunications companies to form the new mega-company ASCOM. The postage segment of ASCOM was called ASCOM Hasler. In 2002 ASCOM sold ASCOM Hasler to Neopost and since then Hasler brand meters have been distributed by Neopost USA.
All Group L franks are from mechanical meters and contain a profile of a complete eagle as a motif. Sub-group LA describes stamps with rectangular franks, and Sub-group LB describes open franks with outer frame line only at right.
Meter model: Mailmaster (5460 series, 6363, 9363, 9763, 133, and F-101). Both 3- and 4-bank meters are part of the Mailmaster family. Some 4-bank machines can print postage values up to 99.99 and others print values up to 9.999. Three-bank meters can print values up to 9.99 or .999. The 5460 series meters allow the removel of the slogan by flipping a lever. The other models (all ending in 3) do not have this feature.
Mailing machine models: 202 series (semi-automatic), 204 series (tape dispensing), 305 and 307 series (fully automatic)
All meter numbers have "H" prefix. Variations exist in the size and width of meter number digits and also in the font style used. This is most apparent in the numeral 3 which normally has a flat top but not always.
Group L meters were first used on July 24, 1981.
Sub-group LA – Wide rectangular design with profile of eagle at left facing right[edit | edit source]
"U.S. POSTAGE" in panel at top, large "H" with "METER" above number in panel at bottom
Three solid stars stacked at right
Only 3- and 4-bank value figures are known, but it is possible 5-bank meter versions (printing postage values up to 999.99 or 99.999) were used.
Meter numbers are known in both 7-digit 2000000 series and in 6-digit 200000 and 300000 series.
Earliest known use, July 24, 1981.
Type LA1 in 2001 edition
LA1.1. July 24, 1981.
Meter numbers in 2000000 series with 2131700 the lowest number found, also 328465
Both 3- and 4-bank models were used. The stamps are indistinguishable unless showing a postage value over 9.99.
V/F: 00.00 (Range: 00.01 to 09.99 or 99.99 depending on 3- or 4-bank model)
A. Large single circle town mark, 27 mm in diameter
e With meter number in 300000 series
B. Small single circle town mark, 23 mm in diameter [R]
D. With date but without town mark
Town mark size/type undetermined:
b. With decimal missing from the value figures
c. With town, state and ZIP code in the town mark
d. With town and ZIP code but not state in the town mark: DALLAS-FORT WORTH AIR PORT / 75261 2404355, 2835729
Type LA2 in 2001 edition
LA1.2.
As Type LA1.1 but able to print decimal fractions of a cent.
Meter numbers found in 2000000, 200000 and 300000 series.
V/F: 0.000(Range: 0.001 to 9.999)
A. Large single circle town mark, 27 mm in diameter
c. Missing colon (On machines proven to print fractions) 297675, 390901
B. Small single circle town mark, 23 mm in diameter
C. Medium single circle town mark, 25 mm in diameter
D. With date but without town mark
Town mark size/type undetermined:
b. With decimal missing from the value figures
Type LA3 in 2001 edition
LA1.3. Meter model "133".
Mailmaster sub-model 133.
As Type LA1.2 but 3-bank value figures cannot print fractions of a cent values.
V/F: 0.00 (Range: 0.01 to 9.99)
A. Large single circle town mark, 27 mm in diameter
B. Small single circle town mark, 23 mm in diameter
D. With date but without town mark
Town mark size/type undetermined:
b. With town, state and ZIP code in the town mark: 2584850, 2584863
Sub-group LB – Wide rectangular design with profile of eagle at left facing right[edit | edit source]
Frank without outer frame lines except at right with eight small stars immediately inside.
Meter number in one line at bottom with "H METER" prefix.
Three-, 4, and 5-bank value figures were used.
Earliest known use, November 17, 1983.
Type LB1 in 2001 edition
LB1.1. Hasler "Mailmaster". July 24, 1981.
The frank is 32.5-33 mm wide as measured from the left edge of the eagle to the frame line at right.
The right-most digit in the value figures falls under the "G" of POSTAGE.
Meter numbers in 200,000-500,000 series and in 2,000,000 series.
Both 3- and 4-bank models were used. The stamps are indistinguishable unless showing a postage value over 9.99.
V/F: 00.00 (Range: 00.01 to 09.99 or 99.99 depending on 3- or 4-bank model)
A. Large single circle town mark, 27 mm in diameter
B. Small single circle town mark, 23 mm in diameter
C. Medium single circle town mark, 25 mm in diameter [S]
D. With date but without town mark [R]
Town mark size/type undetermined:
b. With town and ZIP code but not state in the town mark: DALLAS-FORT WORTH AIR PORT / 75261 2404066, 2574500
c. Town, state, and ZIP code at top of town mark, blank at bottom: ALEXANDRIA LA 71301 526417
d. With zero preceding a 6-digit meter number: 0289584[RRRR]
Type LB2 in 2001 edition
LB1.2. Hasler "Mailmaster".
As Type LB1.1 but can print postage values including decimal fractions of a cent.
Meter numbers in 200,000-500,000 series and in 2,000,000 series.
V/F: 0.00 :(Range: 0.001 to 9.999)
A. Large single circle town mark, 27 mm in diameter
f. Large (A) town mark with dashes at the sides separating town at top and state at bottom: seen on meter 450209(Possibly very scarce]
B. Small single circle town mark, 23 mm in diameter
C. Medium single circle town mark, 25 mm in diameter
D. With date but without town mark
Town mark size/type undetermined:
b. Assembly error. Value Figures 0.000 with right-most digit a full size zero rather than a colon or small underlined digit. (289001, 304716, 342131)[R]
c. With town and ZIP code but not state in the town mark: DALLAS-FORT WORTH AIR PORT / 75261 2404066, 239??2
d. Town, state and ZIP code at top of town mark, blank at bottom: RICHMOND VA 232 2544410[S]
e. Town mark with inverted number "3" in the ZIP code: MAILED FROM ZIP CODE / 11543 322697(RRR-RRRR]
Type LB3 in 2001 edition
LB1.3. Hasler "Mailmaster".
As Type LB1.1 but 3-bank value figures cannot print fractions of a cent values. [S]
Known only with large single circle town mark, 27 mm in diameter
Meter numbers in 300,000-500,000 series and in 2,000,000 series.
V/F: 0.00 (Range: 0.01 to 9.99)
B. Small single circle town mark, 23 mm in diameter
C. Medium single circle town mark, 25 mm in diameter
D. With date but without town mark [R]
Town mark size/type undetermined:
b. Town mark blank at top, state alone at bottom: CA 355423[RRRR]
Type LB5 in 2001 edition
LB1.4. Hasler "Mailmaster". [RR]
Frank is same width as Types LB1.1-LB1.3 (32.5-33 mm between left side of eagle to right frame line) but with the eagle's head truncated to accommodate a wider 5-bank value figure field.
A. Large single circle town mark, 27 mm in diameter
B. Medium single circle town mark, 25 mm in diameter
Meter numbers in 300,000-500,000 series.
V/F: 00.00 :(Range: 00.001 to 99.999)
NOTE: Few meters of this design were put into use. Hasler soon realized they would have to widen the die to accommodate the wider 5-bank value figures.
Type LB4 in 2001 edition
LB2.1. Hasler "Mailmaster".
Wider frank, 33-35 mm between left side of eagle and the right frame line.
Meter numbers in 300,000-800,000 series.
V/F: 00.00 :(Range: 00.001 to 99.999)
A. "U.S. POSTAGE" 16 mm wide.
-1. Large single circle town mark, 27 mm in diameter
a. With large number in decimal position (assembly error) (432690)
b. Misspelled town name in town mark
- ARLINGTON HEIHTS (602494)
e. Large (A1) town mark with dashes at the sides separating town at top and state at bottom. Seen on meter 498673(Possibly very scarce)
-2. Small single circle town mark, 23 mm in diameter [R]
-3. Medium single circle town mark, 25 mm in diameter
a. With top of town mark blank, town and state at bottom:
- SEATTLE WASHINGTON (463633)
- SEATTLE WA. (458168, 502692)
B. "U.S. POSTAGE" is wider at 18 mm.
-1. Large single circle town mark, 27 mm in diameter
a. 7 digit meter number starting with "0" (0548309)
d. Town mark reads: SUB GMF / MD (715172)
-2. Medium single circle town mark, 25 mm in diameter
Town mark size/type undetermined:
b. With ZIP code but without state in town mark: PIEDMONT TRIAD AREA 27102 703807
c. Town mark reads: MAILED FROM SCF 230 / VA.
Type LB6 in 2001 edition
LB2.2. Hasler "Mailmaster".
Wide frank as with LB2.1 but with 4-bank value figures including fractions of a cent.
Meter numbers in 400,000 series.
V/F: 0.00 :(Range: 0.001 to 9.999)
A. Large single circle town mark, 27 mm in diameter
a. With top of town mark blank, town and state at bottom: SEATTLE WASHINGTON 463628
B. Small single circle town mark, 23 mm in diameter
C. Medium single circle town mark, 25 mm in diameter
Unlisted in 2001 edition
LB2.3. Hasler "Mailmaster".
Wide frank as with LB2.1 but with 4-bank value figures not including fractions of a cent.
4-bank denomination shifted to the right compared to type LB2.1.
Meter numbers in 400,000 and 500,000 series.
V/F: 00.00 (Range: 00.00 to 99.99)
B. Small single circle town mark, 23 mm in diameter
C. Medium single circle town mark, 25 mm in diameter
Unlisted in 2001 edition
LB3. Hasler "Mailmaster". [S]
Very similar to LB2.1B2 but with slight differences that indicate it comes from a different Mailmaster sub-model.
Frank is 33-34.5 mm wide, midway between the LB1 and LB2 types.
Meter numbers in 100,000 series (the only LB stamp with meter numbers in this series) and 800,000 series.
Seen only with medium single circle town mark, 25 mm in diameter.
00.00 
DALLAS-FORT WORTH AIR PORT / 75261 
[RR]
