Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1892 — The Latest London Postal Device. [ARTICLE]

The Latest London Postal Device.

London Daily News. A great impetus to the rapidly developing express delivery service of letters is anticipated by the postoffice authorities from the introduction of an automatic call and writing box, which it is proposed to erect at railway stations and in other public places in London. The first box, which was opened as an experiment at Charing Cross station yesterday, was well patronized by the public, and the first letter sent through its agency reached the comptroller of the London postal service at the general postoffice in less than half an hour from its dispatch. The box -is an ingenious one, worked by the customary plan of placing a penny in a slot. After this, on pulling out a drawer in the usua’l way a stout white card for writing purposes and two envelopes—one to qover the message and the other to contain the messenger's fee—are turned out of the box. At the same time a slidiug writing desk becomes fixed iu front of the box, and simultaneously a bell is rung at the nearest postoffice and a messenger is dispatched to the automatie box. Meanwhile, the purchaser having written hiS letter, can inclose it in an envelope and drop it into a receptacle provided for the purpose beside*the box; so it is not necessary to wait until the express messenger comes.