Does Anyone Here Collect Early Machine Cancels?

I have a lot of covers with early machine cancels. I don't have a good reference book and was trying to find one. Is there one that covers most of the makers and styles? Most of the covers are from 1880' to 1915.

This website is useful

http://swansongrp.com/machtest.html


(BTW the second one you show is a hand cancel, not a machine cancel).

Anybody who works with early US machine cancels should have the 2 Langford catalogs [Flag and Doremus].
The current versions are now half price through the society - a great deal!
http://www.machinecancel.org/publications.html

I've found the book "Postmarks on Postcards" by Richard W. Helbock a good starter guide. It covers a lot of the early 20th century machine cancels as well as other types of postmarks.

There is no doubt that the Langford books would be a great asset. As stated though they cover flag and Doremus type cancels. Postmarks on Postcards by R W Helbock sounded better when I read about it because it covered more of the different types. As the title states though it is 20th century. I do have a lot of 20th century but also a lot of 19th century. I'm thinking of a broad reference book that covers the experimental and early use of machine cancels. That actually may be 2-3 different books but hoping to keep some cost down. Also a reference on which towns used experimental machine cancels and dates. Always looking for EKU covers.

I started with "A COLLECTOR'S GUIDE TO U.S. MACHINE POSTMARKS 1871-1925, with EXAMPLES OF LATER TYPES, by Rusell F. Hanmer, Ed-1989, published by D.G. Phillips Publishing, No. Miami, Fl. The guide will give you a basic understanding of the Manufacturers with the Dial and Killer styles.

Machines cancellations is a fun study area. CHASA mentioned two Langford books -- both are good reference books --but only if you are going to collect those style cancellations. The question is "What are you going to collect or specialize in?" based on that, pick your books. Joining the Machine Cancel Society is also good; I'm a member and they published and excellent journal.

Hal

P.S.

The first cover has a Times-Cummins cancellation; the third cover has a Columbia Machine cancellation; and the middle was identified.

Thanks Hal. I thought the third cover was The Pneumatic Machine Co.