Image of Pitney Bowes DM ad
Image of Pitney Bowes DM ad colorized

1950’s

A breakthrough in
mail sortation.

Pitney Bowes would develop an automatic mail-sorting machine that solved a major bottle-neck issue for U.S. Postal Service. This machine could sort thousands of letters per hour into 300 separate destination boxes.

From 1950 to 2020…

Today, we continue to be a leader in client growth needs with a Presort Services network with 42 operating centers nationwide and the largest workshare partner of the USPS, providing services to the largest mailers in the US, processing more than 17 billion pieces of mail every year.

1950

Pitney Bowes introduces the desktop mail station. Nicknamed “The DM” (desk model), it was the first portable, mass-market postage device that brought the efficiency of metered postage within reach of any size business, large or small.

1950

Image of DM

1950

CEO Walter Wheeler writes a letter to his management team, directing them to “Do the Right Thing” for their customers, employees and the community. Wheeler’s statement of corporate values proved timeless. At Pitney Bowes, we still strive to “Do the Right Thing, The Right Way” every day.

1950

Pitney Bowes becomes listed on the New York Stock Exchange. With nearly 3,000 employees, our company becomes publicly traded. In just one year, the company revenue jumps 17% to over $20MM.

Image of New York stock exchange

1950

During this decade, metered mail increases to half of all U.S. postage. Today, metered mail, permit mail and online postage comprise 89% of all mail.

Image of Pitney Bowes facility

1952

Pitney Bowes signs a partnership agreement with Japan Post, extending our international reach.

1952

Image of Pitney Bowes magazine cover

1953

Pitney Bowes continues our global expansion, partnering with India Post.

1957

Pitney Bowes develops the first automatic mail sorting machine for the U.S. Postal Service, capable of processing thousands of letters per hour.

Image of employees operating mail sortation machine
Image of Pitney Bowes facility

1958

Pitney Bowes promotes the DM model in widely read magazines, such as The Saturday Evening Post. The full-page ads, with their engaging story-telling style, are credited with capturing the growth of 50% of our new business.

1958

Image of Pitney Bowes DM ad