Pitney Bowes Document Messaging Technologies Limited history

Although the machine achieved impressive results when tested by the post office in Pitney's hometown of Chicago in 1914, ultimate approval did not come until after World War I.

In 1924, Arthur Pitney retired from the company after a dispute with Bowes and started a company of his own, manufacturing postage-permit machines to compete with PB's meters.

PB's 1929 profit of $300,000 represented a 100 percent increase over that of the previous year.

1940: Company develops omni-denomination meter.

In 1945, anticipating the broadening of its product base, Pitney-Bowes Postage Meter Company shortened its name to Pitney-Bowes Inc.

By 1957, however, due to the virtual disappearance of domestic competition, PB was faced with government antitrust action.

In 1967, the company established a copier-product division whose first product was a tabletop office copier.

The company established leasing companies in the United States and in the United Kingdom in 1977 to support marketing efforts for its business products.

1982: PB enters fax machine market.

The company also laid off 1,500 workers, underwent a costly retooling in 1989, and began to push more sophisticated mailing systems, like its Star system, which picked the most efficient carrier method for each package.

Entering the final decade of the century, PB saw its sales surpass the $3 billion mark for the first time in company history, topping off at $3.2 billion in fiscal 1990.

The company also continued to expand worldwide, nailing down deals with three other countries in 1994.

PB promoted a new chief executive in May 1996, Michael Critelli.

PB had a record year in 1999, with revenue growing 8 percent, to $4.4 billion.