be omitted in substantial portion from the mailing machine without affect the system performance of remain modules or the system controller referring to fig1 and 2 a mailing machine generally indicated as 11 and in accordance with the present invention employs a novel subsystems modular architecture comprising a scale module 13 a transport module 12 a postage meter module 15 a tape feed module 17 a inking module 19 and a platen module 21 the modules are located within the mailing machine 11 such that the scale module 13 is located frontwardly of parallel support walls 33 and 35 the support walls 33 and 35 are fixably mounted to the mailing machine base 30 in lateral spaced apart relationship mounted to the base plate 30 between the support walls 33 and 35 is the ink module 19 mounted above the ink module 19 to the support walls 33 and 35 is the postage meter module 15 the platen module 21 is mounted to the base 30 just below a registration portion of the postage meter 15 to be described more fully later in addition the mailing machine has mounted to the wall 35 the tape feed module 17 coactive in the preferred embodiment with a tape cutting mechanism 230 referring to fig1 and 3 the scale module 13 most suited for the present invention is of the resilient type more fully described in co pending application serial no.