Tuesday, May 31, 2011

The good old days

Benny here...

The Postal Service has a rich history of more than two centuries. Of course, I'm a big part of it -- and so are you.
We have some employees retiring in the next few months and years. Maybe you'll be able to reminisce about the good old days by visiting the Postal Musuem online.


What do you remember about the good old days? Comment here.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did they carry guns? Looks like one on that gentleman's backside....

Anonymous said...

I started out 21 years ago on the LSM's...we used to compete with our error rates. Some of us were pretty good at keeping it below 1% all night!!

Anonymous said...

I remember walking in 25 years ago and there were containers at letter cases where people could lay their cigarette. I was amazed that this was done because of working with paper (letters) and the 'unhealthiness' of it all--sometimes I was next to someone who smoked.

grannybunny said...

I remember when First-Class postage was 3 cents -- postcards 1 cent -- and Airmail letters were on onionskin paper, to save weight. I also remember when it was a penny cheaper to mail a letter if it were unsealed.

hyattvillian said...

Do you know why the "Good Old Days" were the "Good Old Days"?
Because we weren't good and we weren't old!

Anonymous said...

I remember sequencing flats for delivery, casing and sorting trayes of letters, no dps.

A few years ago, the office where I was working experienced a power outage before the dps was run. The old-timers had no problem casing letters, the newer employees were clueless.

Anonymous said...

I like when customers come in and complain about the price of postage. I let them know that it is not as high than it was in the late 1800'&early 1900's when postage was 25¢ per 1/2 ounce. That is .50¢ per 1 ounce letter. So rates are actually cheaper now. Yes us old timers know how to do things when we do not have any power.

Anonymous said...

I also started with the Post Office way before DPS. I use to love to stand (to short to sit and sort)and throw letters. I was amazed at the volume that we could get done in such a short time. I really wished those that complain now about what they have to do would have worked back then. And for the post above on the gun, yes that is a goverment issued gun. Even the Postmasters had one. Gotta love them Great Old Days!!

Anonymous said...

I've worked for the Postal Service since 1984 and I for one sure wish we still lived in the Good Old Days. Things were good and times were simple. And just in case you are wondering YES they were better. YES YES YES I mean the Postal Service!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Isn't the gun-toter pic the Railway Mail Service?

Gotta love the good ole days ;)

Anonymous said...

I was watching Little House on the Praire the other day, and the Post Mistress asked a customer to deliver a parcel for a customer she new was sick. Today, if we handed a parcel to a customer for delivery, someone would go to jail! Got to love the good ole days.

Anonymous said...

When I started in 1967, the Post Office was just starting to use rubber bands to tie out the mail instead of string. I was fascinated with the speed some of the old timers could tie the bundles of mail. Amazing!