Thursday, November 5, 2009

odd fact known by few


In this extraordinary clip of a mail train from 1903 we see how PFF originated by its inventor Zebadiah "Bud" Reed. Post cards were systematically dropped and picked at the same time!



Today, as you all are well aware, the method has been simplified and streamlined by his great great niece. Although it is said she sometimes dreams of shoving vagabonds off speeding trains with postcards flying every which way.

10 Comments:

Anonymous Christine said...

Ha!
very amusing.

11/06/2009 1:06 AM  
Blogger MaR said...

How interesting!! It's been a long process...
My PFF.

11/06/2009 2:18 AM  
Blogger Marie Reed said...

I'll be kind and gentle with this extraordinarily charming vagabond though. I have a can a beans in my satchel shall we cook them over a bonfire together? This is absolutely amazing! My great great great great grandpappy was welll great! :) Happy PFF!

11/06/2009 2:22 AM  
Blogger Tess Kincaid said...

Gosh, I wonder how many times the bag flew off into the woods?

The man in the film looked just like my gg grandfather, Palestine, who was the postmaster in his little Indiana town. I wonder if this was part of his routine?

11/06/2009 6:32 AM  
Blogger Postcardy said...

Interesting history.

11/06/2009 7:30 AM  
Anonymous Sheila said...

Well now, Marie's kept that secret from us all this time! A great piece of postal history.

11/06/2009 10:18 AM  
Blogger viridian said...

Great history - I am glad they filmed it. It gets the mail where it's going and saves a stop by the train.
I wonder what the penalty was if the mail guy missed the bag?

11/06/2009 10:53 AM  
Blogger Beth Niquette said...

That is a fascinating video. My husband is a train buff--he would love this. Happy PFF!

11/06/2009 12:36 PM  
Blogger AnitaNH said...

You have an interesting blog. The matchbooks are very cool, and so is the word "Phillumeny" which I was careful to cut and paste here to get the correct spelling! Happy PFF.

11/06/2009 2:12 PM  
Blogger steviewren said...

That took some coordination. It seems a little like patting your head while rubbing your stomach.

11/06/2009 4:15 PM  

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