In 1952, the Toronto Post Office (probably Postal Terminal "A") began using numeral machine cancellations which had a number positioned in the centre of the seven wavy line obliterator. The numerals were located within breaks of the 3rd,4rth and 5th wavy lines.
Numbers 1 to 8 are reported to have been used. The numeral cancellations were not used with equal frequency. I have yet to see an example of the "1" obliterator, but have several examples of the"4" obliterator in my collection, with usages up to 1970.
"2' Obliterator
July 2, 1963
"3' Obliterator
July 7, 1960
"4' Obliterator
July 15, 1959
The "4" obliterator, whose use continued until at least 1970, was the last of the numeral cancellations in use.
February 17, 1970
"5" Obliterator
August 24, 1955
"6" Obliterator
June 15, 1953
"7" Obliterator
January 12, 1956
"8" Obliterator
December 18, 1952
Different Numerals on the Same Cover
The cover below received the "5" numeral cancel with 7:30 pm time indicium on July 5, 1960. The obliterator failed to cancel the stamp and the cover was later passed through a different machine, the "3" obliterator , with 9:30 pm time indicium.
July 5, 1960
"5" obliterator (7:30pm) and "3" obliterator (9:30 pm)
