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ArishMell · 70-79, M
Interesting!
I'm guessing American. Did they use a non-stop mail-bag collection/ delivery system as used on the British railways, which called their equivalents the "Travelling Post Office" (TPO)?
This used catch-net arrangements swung out from the TPO side, and on line-side poles, to transfer mechanically the special leather bags holding the letters. The normal canvas mail-bags were not robust and protective enough because this worked at full speed, typically around 60mph in steam-traction days when the system was used.
The name "Travelling Post Office" was a slight misnomer. The Post Office and Royal Mail was then a single, state-owned organisation, and the TPO was not a "Post Office" as most customers would recognise that, a High Street building open to the public for business. Instead the TPO was really a Travelling Sorting-Office, its staff using the journey to partially sort the mail for final sorting in the destination towns.
It did not have the luxury fittings as in your photograph!
I'm guessing American. Did they use a non-stop mail-bag collection/ delivery system as used on the British railways, which called their equivalents the "Travelling Post Office" (TPO)?
This used catch-net arrangements swung out from the TPO side, and on line-side poles, to transfer mechanically the special leather bags holding the letters. The normal canvas mail-bags were not robust and protective enough because this worked at full speed, typically around 60mph in steam-traction days when the system was used.
The name "Travelling Post Office" was a slight misnomer. The Post Office and Royal Mail was then a single, state-owned organisation, and the TPO was not a "Post Office" as most customers would recognise that, a High Street building open to the public for business. Instead the TPO was really a Travelling Sorting-Office, its staff using the journey to partially sort the mail for final sorting in the destination towns.
It did not have the luxury fittings as in your photograph!