1. ERRORS

The errors in the ATMs come, either from the paper manufacture (design printing, treatments on the labels, ...), or from the thermal printing label process (face value and other data by the franking balances).

The large printing, especially for the first models, and the own process of manufacture, cause that they are quite common, although never justifiable, the errors or varieties in the papers. Different specialized studies on this subject have been made, generally after the meticulous and detailed analysis of large amounts of the first models units, where they have been discovered and shown a great number of differences, some only appreciable with magnifying glass, between apparently identical ATMs. In any case, this is a study of a collecting level much more advanced that proposed by this Web. 

The slight variations are habitual, more or less appreciable, in the tonality of many models of labels. Examples of these variations in the general tonality of the paper can be seen in the models "Mª Stma. de la Estrella" or "Gran Regata 2000".

Other variations are much more important and constitute authentic varieties for some models; in the design tone, as in the case of the "Virgen del Carmen" or "Mª Stma. de la Estrella", or in the use of fluorescent paper in the ATM"Literatura - Cervantes", but this can't be described as a error. 

There exists paper errors quite interesting, as this ones ; The first one is a colour printing error , and the second one is a double error ; a cut error in the manufacture of the label, with of the white fringe in a inverted position, and a printing error of the label (see enlargement).
Usually this kind of errors are detected in the quality controls and they are very rare this ones arriving finally to the Post Offices.
 

		Click on the image to enlarge it
Model 21. Sta. María la Real de la Almudena. Madrid Paper error  (on left)		Model 45. ICOM 2001 Paper cut error

The errors in the process of printing of the labels are, perhaps, the most known ; each type of machine (Klüssendorf, Frama, Epelsa ...) " produces " its own errors. Unfortunately, the interest and value that can get to have these pieces cause that, in some occasions, its errors are induced or forced by the own people in charge of the use and maintenance of the machines...
 

	In the case of the thermal ATMs, perhaps the most habitual is the printing of the value and machine number outside the zone reserved in the inferior part of the paper, with a horizontal or vertical displacement, due to a misalignment of the machine.

	Source : Juan M. Laynez
	Other times is the traction mechanism that fails and ATMs with double printing are obtained or adjust labels "not adjusted" ...

Also the errors produced by erroneous printings of the machines are known, either by bad configuration, or by cause of the ignorance of the operation instructions from the postal clerks in the Post Offices. 
 

	Adjust label and ATM with incorrect dates (27ENE52, 14JUN27).  Image from M. López

Balances printing errors.  To the left, balance with number 0000.  Down, the balance has not printed some of the digits, in machine number and face value.

Attention ! Don't mistake this printing errors with the printing varieties from the adaptation to the new monetary system.

Different printing errors from the balances

Error - curiosity because of the malfunction of the thermal printer included inside the franking balances. In this case the most part of the thermal sensible layer of the paper is "burned".

• See also the errors on FRAMA ATM paper.

Some images of ATMs and postal pieces that can be peculiar by their rarity. 
 

Atm on white paper.  Image from Danny Van den Reeck, Belgique.

Adjust label on white paper. Test label used by the maintenance technicians. Label from J. I. Arratibel. Like a curiosity, see the position and the sense of the security central round cut ; possibly the label did not comprise of a coil and was introduced the other way in the machine.

	The post offices officials use coils of white papers for the practices in the formation courses. The image shows a composition for a shipment by registered mail  (registered letter of 987 gr. of weight); the first ATM correspond to the postage, whereas second it would be the control label of the shipment.  Three franking balances used in these courses are known (nrs. 3194, 3443 and 3493), the three print the text AULA DE FORMACION. Image and information facilitated by J. I. Arratibel.
	Test ATM in Euros, balance 4897 on white paper. Printed in September 21, 2001, it's an ATM franking for an inland registered letter of 20 grs., with postage rates 2001. Source : A. Avalos.

	5-digits ATM coming from a franking balance EPELSA ET-CB (4 digits !!) - number 0009. Maybe a unique rarity, because there exist "normal" ATMs coming from the same franking balance, before and after the date of issue of this ATM, with 4 digits. Image : D. Kuske, USA.
	Again another 5-digits ATM coming from a franking balance EPELSA ET-CB (4 digits !!) - number 0467 ; Rarities in Spain ATM collection. Image : Luís F. García.

	Different models of papers and interesting sequence with error printing from a EPELSA ET-CB balance Source of images ; M. A. Juanes
	The labels of error and test include information of the error code, state of the machine and test of printing, as well as the communication parameters. The balances leave factory prepared to communicate to 9600 Bauds, so that they are possible to be connected to an external modem with no need to open the balance.
	423.814.26 ERROR S---SS------ R--- BAUD RATE 9600 7 BIT DATA PARITY EVEN SWITCH LOWER POS. SERIAL PORT TEST

Cover "perfectly" franked ... with an adjust label !

Cover "circulated" between Valencia and Tarragona, and cancelled on hand (21-02-01). No comments ....

Adhesive label from the box containing the ATM coils, with information about the model, manufacture and storage. Size : 101 x 48 mm. POST ATMS VINTAGE CARS "FORD-T" FROM : 015393 TO : 015424 QUANTITY OF COILS : 32 STORAGE GENERAL CONDITIONS Temperature=22º/23º  Humidity= 50/55% Store in a dry place, far from heat and humidity. Keep the coils in the package until their use. Manufacture date : February 2001