knock three times
To save wear and tear on hands, some letter carriers in the early 1900's chose to use wooden, light-weight dumb-bell shaped door knockers, producing a loud cracking sound. Others blew a whistle, a much kinder, less-threatening announcement of their arrival.
If no one was home, they stuffed it back in their satchel (I want one!), took the mail back to the post office and tried again the next day.
To save work hours, the Post Office Department required residents to install mailboxes or letter slots in 1916.
Of course, you need neither a whistle or knockers to enter the Wide Wide World of Cpaphil Vintage Cards.
Thanks for visiting this PFF.
Mail truck photo courtesy Shorpy.com
posted by phil at 10:21 PM
10 Comments:
John Wayne, Buster Keaton, a wonderful postcard and great music. My visit to your blog was a joy. Thanks for sharing. Till next PFF.
This is so interesting. I looked at Shorpy.com -- an interesting collection of vintage photos that I never heard of before. Also found a picture of the door knocker from a link there:
http://www.arago.si.edu/index.asp?cmd=1&con=2&id=17042
This is fabulous, thanks so much for sharing.
debby
Phil! You've done it again! This is fascinating stuff!I've been looking for a vintage mail satchel for ages! I can' be a proper postmistress without it ..sniff..sniff!
...on the ceiling if you love me!
Interesting stuff, Phil. I can see why the wooden door knocker would certainly save on the old knuckles.
It is hard to imagine a time when people didn't have mail boxes, or post office boxes. VERY interesting Happy PFF!
"What knockers." Subtle as always. :)
Interesting piece of postal history. It makes me want to find out what the requirements were in the UK.
i loved your title and this postcard theme is outstanding, congratulations!
happy PFF
xx
Great post....I had no idea...any of it.....thanks for sharing.
Have a beautiful weekend
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