Neopost, originally a British company that began manufacturing postage meters in 1924, through a series of mergers and acquisitions became a part of Friden-Alcatel in 1992. The newly merged company was renamed Neopost Group. Neopost entered the U.S. postage meter market in 1998.
All Group M franks are from mechanical meters. The franks are straight-line rectangles containing an inner frame around the value figures and a panel at left containing Nneopost" reading up. "U.S. POSTAGE" at top, meter number with large "N" prefix at bottom. Small stars fill the top, bottom, and right margins.
All have single circle town marks.
Meter models: 4400 and SM58
All meter numbers have large "N" prefix.
Group M meters were first used on February 8, 1998.
Type PA1 in 2001 edition
M1.1.
The frank is wider than tall, 32-33 mm wide by 25-26 mm tall, and contains twelve small stars.
Meter numbers in the N9500000 series.
Dates with numerical month and dashes between month, day, and year as: 02-21-98
V/F (5-bank): ≋0.000 (Range: ≋0.001 to 99.999)
Type PA2 in 2001 edition
M1.2.
As Type M1.1 but the right-most value bank (tenths of a cent) is smaller and underlined.
V/F: ≋0.000(Range: ≋0.001 to 99.999)
Unlisted in 2001 edition
M1.3.
As Type M1.2 but the left-most value bank (dollar) when in the zero position is zero (0) rather than a wavy line triad (≋).
V/F: 00.000(Range: 00.001 to 99.999)
Type PA3 in 2001 edition
M2.1.
As M1 types but with a smaller frank, 27 mm wide by 24 mm tall, with much smaller inscriptions. It contains fourteen small stars.
Meter numbers in the N4700000 series.
Dates with letter months and spaces between month, day, and year, as: JAN 01 '98
V/F (4-bank): ≋.00≋ (Range: ≋.001 to 9.999)
Type PA4 in 2001 edition
M2.2.
As Type M2.1 but prints postage values in whole cents only
02-21-98
