Abstract: An electronic control system for a marking machine having a moving marking member carrying a plurality of marking symbols in which the marking member is stopped and displaced to mark a workpiece with a selected one of the symbols at a marking location, the control system including means for generating pulses in synchronism with movement of the symbols past the marking location, a register responsive to the pulses for producing outputs corresponding to the symbols, means to select one of the outputs corresponding to a selected symbol, and means responsive to the selected output for effecting stopping and displacement of the marking member to mark the workpiece. The control system is operable to insure marking with a selected symbol and to preclude inadvertent opertion of the marking machine until the control system is reset after each marking cycle.