Franking machine

The invention concerns a franking machine comprising printing means (34) for impressing postal franks on articles such as letters. The machine further includes a weighing pan (11) coupled to a load cell (35), a microprocessor (41) operative to respond to the output of the load cell (35) for controlling the operation of the printing means (34), and input means (13) whereby the scale of charges appropriate to an article to be weighed and franked can be entered by the user, the arrangement being such that an article can be weighed, the appropriate value of postal charges calculated by the microprocessor (41) and subsequently franked in the same machine.