Stamp Finder : Jacob Rabinow

Stamp Finder
1954-64

Determining the location of a stamp on a mailed envelope is important for two reasons. First, the stamp must be canceled so that it can't be used again. Second, the position of the stamp - always in the upper right corner on the front of the envelope - indicates how the envelope should be oriented for further processing. Rabinow invented a profilometer made from a phonograph cartridge and its stylus to "scan" a postcard or letter to find the location of the stamp.